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Tari Ogbowei Content Writer and contributor @ TwoCents
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In Politics • 5 min read • Jul 04, 2022 18:21p.m.
The Ruling and Opposition Parties: The Ideal Ying-Yang of Democracy
<span class="html-content"> <p>The world over, there are democratically elected governments. Aside from their will to carry out their constitutional duties, one thing that keeps these governments on their toes, in line and in check is the OPPOSITION.<br></p> <p>Humans, as higher animals, are blessed with the gift of thought and don't always go together in one direction. This is known as herd mentality. This herd mentality however is not synonymous with humans, but rather with other animals. Even when everyone seems to be moving in the same direction, there's always going to be one or two or a few with dissenting views. It is usually said that in every twelve, there must be a Judas which points to the fact that humans will never totally speak with one voice.</p> <p>It is therefore human nature to exhibit pluralism at every point; there's always going to be a spectrum in actions and thoughts. This inherent human quality is one of those that democracy mirrors, which makes it one of the most popular forms of government if not the most popular. Democracy recognises that humans will always have divergent views, accepts this as a strength rather than a weakness and allows for these views to be brought together in a healthy mix.</p> <p>Democracy ensures the majority has its way while it allows everyone to have their say, hence its support and declaration of the freedom of rights which must be upheld to sustain any democracy. </p> <p>In a democracy, to exhibit pluralism, the people are encouraged to form and be a part of different political parties or movements with obviously different psychologies or schools of thought. Even far right movements are tolerated so long as they conduct themselves with decorum and act within the ambits of the law.</p> <p>These movements always try to out do each other and are in a constant tussle for power. This is where the beauty of democracy lies. It gives the people an array of options to choose from on who will govern them. It also gives these political parties equal opportunities to be selected to govern. </p> <p>As the ruling party controls the government, all others are in opposition. The opposition constantly looks for weakness in the ruling party's government or style of governance, plays on it and uses it to their advantage in the elections. With this, a ruling party which has become disenchanted with the masses can be booted out and an opposition party voted in. A ruling party can become the opposition tomorrow and an opposition party can become the ruling party. All in all, democracy ideally offers the best option to the people. </p> <p>America, the benchmark and hallmark of democracy, the world over has two major political parties: the Democratic party and the Republican party. In the UK, there are the Conservative party and the Labour party which are the two (2) largest parties in the country, have alternated government since the 1920s; although there are other parties like the Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party and the UK Independence Party.</p> <p>In the aforementioned places, the ruling party is always forced to be on its toes. They try to give the masses the best so they can continue to enjoy the large support of the people and remain in power. This is because the opposition never gives a break, always watching for faults and weaknesses of the ruling party, like an Eagle watching its prey. </p> <p>In the UK, the opposition even goes as far as forming a shadow government which mirrors relevant positions in the ruling government. One reason for this is to have a ready cabinet just in case they are called upon to take over the government. Another is to shadow or monitor the person with the same portfolio in the ruling government for effective opposition.</p><p>Also, another interesting thing about the politics of the West is that they carry out mid-term elections. These elections measure the preparedness of the present government, consequently giving them a scorecard on their handling of whatever the issues of the day are. For example, issues pertaining to high inflation, gas price and the overall state of the economy will be a contributing factor to how voters will vote in the elections. When the ruling party has performed below par or miserably, the opposition will use these as tools of elections campaign and whatnot to ensure they wrestle power back from the government of the day.</p><p>The opposition starts preparing for the next election immediately after the current election is over, but in Nigeria, the opposition goes into hibernation and slowly wakes up when it is close to another election.</p> <p>Now, the PDP which is the main opposition party in Nigeria went to sleep after the 2019 general elections and is just resurfacing a few months to the next elections. Sadly, this trend is common with all other opposition parties in the country. </p> <p>The onus has fallen on highly placed and influential individuals, religious leaders and generally those who have painstakingly decided to bear the brunt of the current government's failure, calling out the government for their aforementioned failures. After all, what then is democracy about if it isn't a government of the people, for the people and by the people? The people have a voice and it must be heard.</p><p>The gross irresponsibility by the government is appalling and cringeworthy. It limits the excesses of the government and thus, makes the opposition look like toothless, thoughtless, portfolio-wielding elder statesmen. How pathetic!</p> <p>Could this irresponsibility stem from the act that Nigeria is a relatively young and growing democracy? Or is it that the PDP which is supposed to be the major opposition party was in power for too long, it never and hasn't understood the concept of opposition politics or/and how it is played? </p> <p>Whatever the reasons are, the opposition parties must play the politics of the day and sing to the gallery when it is convenient. They should politick and device tools to read the voters' pulse and heartbeat. After all, opposition politics or politics, in general, is often dirty, partisan and contentious. Without the opposition, checks and balances, failings in government among other issues will remain mundane and complacent. This is one of the ideal ying-yang scenarios where negative and positive must coexist for the greater good of democracy. Without one or the other, there is hardly a democracy.</p> </span>
The Ruling and Opposition Parties: The Ideal Yi...
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Queensley Okon
city Ota • 2 years, 6 months ago
My political juggernaut, I must greet you specially!!!! Your face show, your shoe shine
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Samuel Ibok Marketing Supervisor @ Crusader Sterling Pensions Limited
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In Business Development • 2 min read • Oct 21, 2022 08:36a.m.
Data is not King
<span class="html-content"> <p>Before passing judgment on my claim, please read it all the way through. Conversations about data have become topical in most industries. I've heard a few people say things like "I'm a numbers person.&nbsp;</p><p>Well, I came to shake table!</p> <p>First, I believe data is important, but how about telling stories with data? This is because not everyone you pitch to will clearly understand the numbers.&nbsp;</p><p>Quick question: how many "ads" have you seen based solely on numbers? I believe that most people dislike numbers.Besides, your pitch shouldn't be like a maths class...&nbsp;</p><p>That's PTSD for some of us.&nbsp;</p><p>This is my suggestion to entrepreneurs or anyone going for a pitch. Tell stories about your data. If you can sell your story to them succinctly, they will feel your data is right. The numbers should mean something they can relate to.&nbsp;</p><p>Check out this sample of a pitch- Lagos is the city that never sleeps. Most residents are often stressed out and barely have time to eat due to the unending rush in the city. Stress, or exhaustion, is one of the leading causes of death in the state We have created a novel noodle pack which provides enough energy and whose entire cooking time is just 2 minutes.&nbsp;</p><p>This means no one has to go hungry again, and they can live longer! I present to you&nbsp;</p><p>Delight Noodles-saves time, saves lives!!</p> <p>I'm sure you could see images in your mind while reading the pitch!</p> <p>Imagine bombarding people with so many numbers in that pitch. </p> <p>Convert data to stories. Stories sell faster than data!</p><p><br></p> <p>Learn Unlearn Relearn </p> </span>
Data is not King
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Tari Ogbowei Content Writer and contributor @ TwoCents
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In Politics • 2 min read • Jun 12, 2022 16:15p.m.
OBI AND THE TWO THIEVES 😁
<span class="html-content"> Various online polls have been carried out and Peter Obi always comes out winning. It shows that he has the support of majority of Nigerians. He's quite popular among Nigerians especially the youth despite being from one of the most despised tribes in the country. A lot of people are willing to put tribe aside to stand behind and support this man. Personally, I've always felt an Igbo President will do Nigeria a lot of good and he seems just to be the right type of Igbo president the country needs. The way the youth support him and have become interested in politics is unprecedented. The number of people marching to INEC offices around the country especially the South to register for and get their PVCs has never been recorded as there is usually voter apathy. The entrance of Peter Obi into the race brought this change. It feels like they're dragging their fathers' land with their wicked uncles. People are offering refreshment in some areas to encourage others to come get their PVCs too. Some men of God have offered their churches as well as branches to INEC to be used as registration centres while also encouraging their members to register and get their PVCs. Someone even described the PVC as Peter's Victory Card. The support is massive. It can be said that he brings light and hope into the Nigerian political system. <p>Peter Obi is a whole movement. He is a wave that threatens to wash our wicked and greedy uncles away, put them in political retirement and make them insignificant. He feels like a Messiah and without him, Nigerians would have been left to make a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea or rather a choice between sniper and otapiapia 😂 When his picture is put in between Atiku and Tinubu, it's reminiscent of "Jesus and the two thieves" on the cross. The only twist here is neither of them will be going to heaven.</p> </span>
OBI AND THE TWO THIEVES 😁
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Queensley Okon
city Ota • 2 years, 7 months ago
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 you gotta be kidding me
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In People and Society • 2 min read • Sep 16, 2022 07:16a.m.
YOU'RE NOT YET ENOUGH
<span class="html-content"> <p>Most times when people feel insufficient or have shaky self-esteem, we tell them that they are enough and they are great the way they are. Love your self, you're the only you in the world, you're special, and the likes. As someone who has received and given same advice I'd say it's good to hear those words and it could revamp your drive. But, it can also be tricky in the sense that perhaps the person hasn't put in the work.&nbsp;</p><p>I know this because I'm still learning how not to deceive myself.&nbsp;</p><p>From my journey I can boldly say we feel like we're not enough sometimes because we've not done enough. We run back to echo-chamners so we can reinforce our own perspectives. These echo-chamners are subtle tools for radicalism! There's always room for more.&nbsp;</p><p>We must learn to be truthful not just to others but ourselves. Give yourself a honest response to the question "have I done enough"? Kindly note that you don't have to push yourself to the point of exhaustion as that would be counterproductive.&nbsp;</p><p>Contentment is not being comfortable with less! To me, it's gratitude knowing there's a possibility for more. Satisfaction is not the end of hunger! I feel It's okay if you're not yet enough. Besides, what's next after you become enough? This is how I say it- I'm not yet enough for now or I'm enough for now. We can be more than what we are now.</p> <p>Learn Unlearn Relearn </p> </span>
YOU'RE NOT YET ENOUGH
By Samuel Ibok
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Tari Ogbowei Content Writer and contributor @ TwoCents
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In Politics • 3 min read • Sep 02, 2022 22:42p.m.
IS PETER OBI RIGHT FOR NIGERIA
As the 28th of September, 2022, the official date for the start of campaign for the 2023 elections draw nearer, activities have been flying here and there. Candidates are being invited by bodies as well as TV stations all over to discuss their plans for the nation. There are many candidates vying for the most coveted seat in the land but of the lot, three have set themselves apart from the rest. Of the top three, Mr. Peter Obi still seems to be ahead. One may not necessarily want to speak about Peter Obi all the time but he makes it difficult not to. In a positive way, though. He carries this energy and vigour about him which he infuses into the Nigerian political space. It is one that the usually bland and boring political scene lacks and needs as a matter of urgency. His emergence into the scene entrenches the idea of a maturing democracy, moving the populace away from two unpopular choices. It is no longer a two-horse race where Nigerians are clairvoyant, knowing the end from the beginning. Where the power of incumbency is a major factor and takes front row, ensuring the incumbent party will win the election 99% of the time. Since his emergence as the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, he has garnered unbridled popularity and support. This is majorly stemming from the fact that a lot of Nigerians are fed up with the status quo and tired with the institution that the candidates of both the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar represent. Asides these two (2) candidates of the APC and PDP, there are other candidates but why does Peter Obi stand out. Maybe, it's because he is the most experienced, having served as two term governor of Anambra state. Maybe, its because of his antecedents of frugal management skills, reducing operating cost of governance, ability to save lean resources, create infrastructure and deliver the dividends of democracy to his people. Maybe, it's because he is Christian and Igbo and many people feel it is the turn of a Southern Christian; being that in the South, it is only the Igbos who haven't been given an opportunity at the presidency. It just could be because, of the top three (3) candidates, he is the only one who hasn't had a corruption charge levelled against him. It could be that he is running with a  nationalist interest where saving Nigeria comes first. Campaigns haven't officially started but the man is giving off a lot of positive energy. He could be in Sokoto, move over to Imo and then Lagos in one day. Whenever he appears on any platform, he's reeling out figures and statistics of areas that need urgent attention and intervention and asking Nigerians to give him the opportunity to serve and turn things around. He is the only candidate talking about these nether areas, intimating Nigerians of the consequences if left unchecked and assuring Nigerians of his commitment to tackling them. In comaprison BAT's campaign strategy is telling Nigerians that he would continue and consolidate on Buhari's achievements, one wonders on which of Buhari's achievements. The achievements that represent everything that is wrong with Nigeria as a nation? Atiku Abubukar, a serial contestant since 1993 for the office of the President has been silent and largely gone unnoticed save the fact that he's contesting under the main opposition party, the PDP. One begins to wonder if both Mr. Abubakar and the PDP are really serious about 2023 or have a blueprint which they're just waiting for the official campaign date to start executing. While the other candidates are struggling to find their feet, Mr. Obi's popularity has gone viral. In a country where politicians spend so much on campaigns, it is unprecedented that Nigerians are actually using their own funds to campaign for a politician, holding mega rallies and solidarity marches, shutting down streets in support of a candidate. While the question, "Is Peter Obi right for Nigeria" can only be answered if he wins the election, the attitude of Nigerians towards Mr. Peter Obi and the elections is actually right and would go a long way in strengthening our nascent democracy.
IS PETER OBI RIGHT FOR NIGERIA
By Tari Ogbowei
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God is a God of all religions, including the African Traditional Religion (ATR)

by | Asiogu Ugochukwu
I have always believed that the beauty of religion lies in the peoples' unique ways and approaches of upholding it. In other words, religion is best practiced in situations where there are less criticisms of whatever one is revering and whoever one is worshiping. Of course, religion is a way of life and as a matter of fact, it is a representation of man's spiritualism - an aspect of man's lif...
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In Politics • 4 min read • Feb 21, 2023 11:10a.m.
Unmasking the Greatest Politician to Run for President Since 1999 - Part 2
<span class="html-content"><p>Make no mistake, Nigeria’s greatest politician since 1999 is on the ballot for President in this election.</p> <p>He has huge support, has overcome heavy opposition to get to where he is, and will likely win the elections.</p> <p>We shall be unmasking him in this article.</p> <p>In Part 1, we established that a politician is not great because they can win elections by any means possible, including violence, vote-buying, and rigging.</p> <p>Instead, they are great if their track records can instill so much confidence in electorates, that they are willing to commit resources to see that politician serve them.</p> <p>To see how we arrived at that conclusion, you may read Part 1 here: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/yc85ywzz">https://tinyurl.com/yc85ywzz</a></p> <p>The 3 leading candidates in this presidential election have all served in public office:</p> <p>Bola Tinubu was Lagos state governor between 1999-2007. Since then, he has stayed within the National limelight, something he enjoys as a former governor of the economic capital of Nigeria.</p> <p>Atiku Abubakar was Vice President from 1999-2007. He has been contesting for president since 1993.</p> <p>Peter Obi assumed office as governor of Anambra state in 2006. He is a surprise frontrunner.</p> <p>Election seasons are when the books of politicians are opened. Promises are weighed against past works. Investigations are conducted into their politics, businesses, families, and associates.</p> <p>As a result, Nigerians are more informed about the candidates today than we were 9 months ago. And in 4 days, we will be called to cast our votes for who we trust based on their records.</p> <p>And events so far indicate that the 3 leading candidates are not all faring the same in the national consciousness.</p> <p>Bola Tinubu’s indictment for laundering drug money in the USA, and allegations of perjuring his educational records have been at the front of his campaign. His proud reputation as shadow governor of Lagos now haunts him as he is being accused of continuing to control and siphon the state government’s finances. There are concerns he will do the same to the country.</p> <p>His loudest supporters are career criminals and fantastically corrupt politicians – like governor Ganduje of Kano state whose video of collecting wads of dollars in kickbacks is in the public space. Tinubu has not categorically denied any of the allegations made against him. In fact, he has shunned media scrutiny and has often sounded annoyed that people dare to challenge his ambition.</p> <p>Beyond the allegations, his campaign has focused on his achievements in Lagos. Except that most of the “achievements” are from his time as shadow governor, and not when he was the executive governor of the state.</p> <p>Atiku Abubakar’s corruption cases have come to the fore again, including leaked emails and calls where he discussed siphoning money through SPVs as the VP. He has not categorically denied those emails and calls since they came out.</p> <p>His biggest claims of performance as VP have been refuted by former ministers who served with him. Instead, his shambolic handling of the FG asset privatisation drive has lingered in public memory. Nigerians don’t want him to “sell the country to his friends”.</p> <p>Mr. Peter Obi is currently the leading candidate according to most polls. He has been accused of investing Anambra state money into organizations linked to him.</p> <p>However, unlike his two other main opponents, he has repeatedly shown up to deny bad intentions, even offering his financial records to anyone willing to investigate, to prove that he never profited from any investment the state made while he was its chief executive.</p> <p>Beyond that, he has proved to be the cleanest politician on the ballot. He has challenged anybody to bring evidence of corruption against him, and he will stop campaigning. None have been brought forward so far.</p> <p>Mr. Peter Obi’s acute diagnoses of Nigeria’s problems, and his achievements as governor on a shoestring budget – all verifiable from news reports and government records during the period – have massively contributed to his growing popularity.</p> <p>So, how has the public responded so far?</p> <p>Most polls by reputable bodies show that Mr. Peter Obi is in a healthy lead – with many polls showing double-digit margins beyond his opponents.</p> <p>ANAP Foundation is one of the polling bodies which have pointed to a Peter Obi lead. Their polls have correctly predicted the winners of the past 3 presidential elections, and even recently predicted the gubernatorial elections in Osun and Ekiti states in 2022.</p> <p>However, we already established in Part 1 that surveys can be misleading. So let’s look at the actions of the market:</p> <p>An average Peter Obi video or news report on YouTube has at least 2X more views than any of his main opponents. His tweets average 10k likes and retweets and sometimes reach as high as 60k-100k. The other “bigger” opponents rarely ever reach the 5k mark.</p> <p>But then again, his popularity on social media may be waved away by some as a fad. So, here’s another interesting phenomenon in this cycle:</p> <p>Before the campaigns, Obi was mocked by career politicians for lacking elite support. He was asked how he will fund his campaigns. Regular Nigerians responded by crowdfunding for him to ensure that he lacks nothing.</p> <p>His campaign’s budget is clearly smaller than his opponents, but every day, common Nigerians are fundraising to support one rural outreach or radio jingle and to pay the medical bills of supporters who were attacked by opponents of APC and PDP. You can observe these on Twitter.</p> <p>His supporters realized that the party lacks the extensive structure to push his candidacy over the line, so Nigerians are committing their time, money, and material resources to visit far-away towns. They are travelling to their villages and coming down from other countries to ensure that they talk to people and get them to see why Obi is better.</p> <p>If you agree that a great politician is one who can inspire people to look forward to his service, who would you regard as the greatest of the 3 leading presidential candidates?</p> <p>Vote that person for President.</p> </span>
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In Nigeria • 1 min read • Jan 31, 2023 15:16p.m.
A Dysfunctional Masterpiece
<span class="html-content"><p>Redesigning a country's currency has been in practice all over the world. With new and improved security features, redesigned currency makes forgery / counterfeiting less lucrative.&nbsp;</p><p>When old notes stay out for long, it gets defaced, hoarded and oftentimes, settles in the hands of black market traders or criminals who do illicit businesses because money is used as a store of value and a medium of exchange.&nbsp;</p><p>Nigeria through the Central Bank introduced her redesigned notes lately, but the whole process now looks like a dysfunctional masterpiece.&nbsp;</p><p>Mefi's new monetary policies didn't just bring businesses to a halt, it has also ended up paving way for hoarding by the big goons and street money racketeering. Without spending the old and new notes simultaneously till the old notes faces out, the citizens will be dealt with untold hardship due to hyper-inflation .&nbsp;</p><p>The policy has shown significant negative effects on economic activities especially on poor Nigerians due to its timing and short transition period. Nigerians are cash-strapped, inflation is on the rise.&nbsp;</p><p>With banks inconsistency in quality internet banking, Do you think Emefiele got it right?</p> </span>
A Dysfunctional Masterpiece
By Hero James
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Prisca Ogonna
city Abuja • 1 year, 11 months ago
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Jefferson Nnadiekwe Freelance scriptwriter and creative photographer
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In People and Society • 4 min read • Apr 24, 2024 11:51a.m.
Noblesse Oblige
<p>Noblesse oblige. Such a fancy term I hadn't heard of till a few nights ago. I was scrolling through status updates on Whatsapp and came across the term on a contact's status. She had just learned the word and typical with every new thing we learn she too passed it on to me albeit unknowingly. It gets more interesting than it already is when you discover the meaning.</p><p><br></p><p>According to Webster's dictionary, Noblesse oblige refers to the idea that people who have high social rank or wealth should be helpful and generous to people of lower rank, or people who are poor. It's funny that this is a general belief shared by quite a number of people in society, we just didn't know it had a name for it. Now that we know, let's talk about this ideology.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>We can coin the word 'noble' already from it, which means that it is a noble thought. However, does the fact that something appears noble automatically make it valid? Is it really the duty of the wealthy amongst us to help the poor? I mean, we all had our own share of opportunities to become successful didn't we? So why should those who utilized theirs be responsible for the others who did not.</p><p><br></p><p>Most men who are asked their motivation to attain wealth, will tell you first and foremost that it is to be able to give themselves and their families an avenue to a better life. Then a few would add helping others as subsequent reasons. It is after all human nature to think first about our needs as we are inherently selfish (which isn't necessarily a bad thing).</p><p><br></p><p>Having agreed that it is normal to be selfish as humans, let us also bear in mind that in as much as selflessness exists , so do kindness and empathy. Beyond the gratification of the soul, these virtues exists as a form of societal balance. Yes, we all have our opportunities at greatness, and yes, some people make use of said opportunities and work harder than others. However, there are some other factors other than hard work that determines the success of a person. There is chance, time, and may I say; luck.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Honestly, everyone can't be rich - it's chaotic. Can you imagine a world where everyone has the means to get whatever they want? On first thought, it sounds like an utopian world, but careful examination will make it clear that it would be a world driven by unhealthy and toxic competition. This is simply because the wants will certainly outweigh the available resources leading to disruption in the natural order. Therefore, in order to avert that, the universe in its wisdom has set two sides - rich and poor. Even the holy book states that the poor will always be among us.</p><p><br></p><p>By nature, it is the duty of the wealthy/upper class to help the poor/lower class. I say it's by nature because the disparity will always exist - It is not entitlement like a lot of people like to think. Earlier I stated that Noblesse oblige helps maintain societal balance, let me explain.</p><p><br></p><p>Class difference is already an uncomfortable reality, then think about what neglect adds to it. I will give you a hint, a combustible situation. Uprisings and revolutions sometimes are triggered when the less privilege of a given society feel abandoned and neglected to a point it becomes unbearable. If all people of higher rank are concerned about, is gathering wealth for themselves without empathy for their counterparts on the opposite spectrum, it is only a matter of time before chaos ensues.</p><p><br></p><p>I once heard someone say that every human being on earth is fighting to come out of a tunnel, and that the first thing that you do when you eventually come out, is to look back and help the next person out. God blesses men so they can in turn be a source of blessing to other men. Life is fickle, all the wealth we accumulate will not accompany us to the grave when it's our time to go. Isn't it better if it's used to impact several lives while we are on earth?</p><p><br></p><p>Perhaps our government officials and elites should be introduced to the term 'Noblesse oblige'. Who knows, it may just be what is needed for a health and conducive society.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Then there are those who have used Noblesse oblige as a tool in their manipulation kit. But we shall talk about these guys some other time.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
Noblesse Oblige
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In People and Society • 3 min read • Dec 29, 2022 09:31a.m.
Otilo (Izz gone)
<span class="html-content"><p>It always starts with a thought and then a taste. As much as we can all agree that appetite is inherent in humans, I strongly believe that it is learned. Also, when you constantly feed that thought with meat, it becomes a part of your being or identity. The appetite for certain things gets heightened over time, and the inability to satisfy those desires could lead to anxiety. I guess that's why addicts always find a way back to their poison.&nbsp;</p><p>It reminds me of the prodigal son fleeing to the streets because of Sapa!<br></p> <p>A few days back, I saw a young boy in his early twenties waiting patiently for a BRT bus so he could end his precious life. Thank God, and thank those who approached him and dragged him off the road. It was clear that he was under influence. </p> <p>To put it another way, otilo! </p> <p>My Yoruba is rusty, but I could pick off comments about him being a chronic smoker and alcoholic who spent most time hanging out with his peers, who are obviously birds of a feather. It took a lot of convincing to get him stable, and he was still trying to force his way back to the express. Even in his high state, he could recall his parents' phone number, which was quite cute! After his highness took a bow, he regained his sanity, and reality hit him again. He started showing signs of remorse and was in tears. I'm no sadist, but I've seen things like this on several occasions, so I wasn't moved by his tears. Yeah, the tears are not a guarantee of change. His father arrived on the scene and didn't seem very surprised at his folly. I may be wrong, but I could tell his dad drinks and smokes.&nbsp;</p><p>In my mind, I said, "Like father, like son!"&nbsp;</p><p>Let's be real, yeah. Who do we blame—the boy or his dad?&nbsp;</p><p>Most of the time, we jump to conclusions and assume that peer pressure is the primary cause of societal problems, but this is almost always incorrect. Cheers to parents for all they do, but they have to do better.&nbsp;</p><p>What's the point of your grind as a parent if your children, humanity's hope, end up wayward or become a threat to society? The money you provide after toiling is no guarantee that your kids have character. </p> <p>Sometimes you have to stop telling parables and start living them. </p> <p>Quit the blame game and do better. In the end, we are all models for others to follow. And I believe you, young men, can tell right from wrong. Make yourself and your parents proud. Let the fear of missing out not lead you out of the promised land!&nbsp;</p><p>I believe "restraint is what keeps us free."&nbsp;</p><p>Your taste buds fit carry you go where you no know!&nbsp;</p><p>Just because it's cool doesn't mean it can't get you burned!&nbsp;</p><p>This doesn't stop you from enjoying your life as a young person. Let us put an end to the myth that a chilled life must contain traces of vice. If you think these thoughts are unrealistic, I dare you to be better. The truth is, that young man was lucky to have people around to stop him from ending his life, so he technically has a second chance. Not everyone is that lucky. If you're hooked on something that can get you in trouble, give yourself a second chance today.&nbsp;</p><p>Children are our responsibility and our hope. Never forget that.</p><p><br></p> <p>Learn Unlearn Relearn</p> </span>
Otilo (Izz gone)
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In Politics • 3 min read • Aug 05, 2022 19:59p.m.
ETHNICITY OVER COUNTRY: THE NIGER ROMANCE
<span class="html-content"> <p>Since May 2015, when President Buhari assumed office, it has felt like the Niger Republic, one of Nigeria's neighbours to the North is Nigeria's 37th state. </p> <p>The quantity and quality of gifts as well as investments the Nigerian government has made to and in Niger Republic is mind boggling. </p> <p>In Feb, 2020, it was reported that the Federal Government of Nigeria had approved $80.6m for the construction of roads from Jigawa and Sokoto states to the border of Niger Republic. </p> <p>A year later in February 2021, another $1.96bn was approved for a railway line from Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic.</p> <p>The justification for these two projects is to boost trade and investment between both countries. Nigeria would earn revenue through expansion of trade and commerce, while the people of Niger Republic will benefit from the ease of transportation logistics at affordable cost in their import and export business.</p> <p>A government which basically doesn't care about the transportation needs of its citizens obviously cares for the needs of those in another country.</p> <p>Let's pretend to believe the excuse, what about the recent #1.4bn vehicle gift that came to light two (2) days ago. It is purported that it was to help strengthen Niger's fight against insecurity. </p> <p>Nigeria, a country which has been plagued with dire security issues for years now is helping another country fight insecurity. 🤔 Nigeria, the poverty capital of the world is gifting vehicles worth #1.4bn to Niger. As if that isn't bad enough, one would assume that the vehicles would be military grade like Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), MRAPs or even Light Utility Vehicles only to find out that Buhari gifted Niger Republic, 2022 model, Toyota Land cruiser V8.</p> <p>What is the role of luxury vehicles in fighting insecurity? It is an understatement to say something is amiss. The impunity with which this government conducts itself is unprecedented. The Nigerian government under President Buhari has continually toyed with the sensibilities of Nigerians while probably assuming us all to be fools. </p> <p>What beats all of these is the Nigerian government's decision to transport crude to Niger for refining. </p> <p>In November, 2020, the Nigerian government signed an MoU of $2bn to transport crude oil via pipelines to be refined in Niger so we can buy refined products from them. </p> <p>It will interest you to know that Nigeria has four refineries with a refining capacity of 450,000 bpd while Niger has a refining capacity of 20,000 bpd. It is quite interesting to know that our government has the resources to run and maintain a piping system from the Niger Delta all the way to Niger Republic but has no resources to revitalise our own refineries which will reduce Nigeria's high rate of unemployment and ultimately poverty.</p> <p>In light of all this, one begins to wonder if Niger Republic is an annex of Nigeria or Nigeria's 37th state or maybe, an entire region in the country. Maybe, we should it call it the "North North". This queer romance between the Nigerian government and Niger Republic beats reason and defies science. The Nigerian government has invested billions of dollars in Niger, another sovereign country since 2015 but can't boast of investing $500m in the entire South East region. </p> <p>As painful as this is, it shouldn't surprise anyone. President Buhari already has a precedent of choosing ethnicity over country when he became the first and only President and Head of state in the history of modern international relations to vote against his own country in favour of his tribe in 1985 when he secured the election of Ide Oumarou, a Fulani man from Niger as opposed to Peter Onu, an Igbo man from Nigeria for the position of Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Union (OAU).</p> <p>In very recent times, he has told Nigerians that he has relations in Niger and without ambiguity stated that Nigeria's resources under him will be used to service the well being of his Niger relations. </p> <p>All in all, Buhari is not a politician and has no regard for party affiliations or how his actions affect his party's chances in the forthcoming elections. He is rather a tribal chief and a despot with no respect for international boundaries when it comes to his tribe.</p> </span>
ETHNICITY OVER COUNTRY: THE NIGER ROMANCE
By Tari Ogbowei
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Jefferson Nnadiekwe Freelance scriptwriter and creative photographer
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In Literature, Writing and Blogging • 2 min read • Jan 23, 2023 09:33a.m.
Determinism and fairness
Determinism is a widely popular concept. Subscribers to this school of thought, are of the believe that every action of man has been predetermined by a force. For some this force is God or gods. While for others, it is the universe. In essence, the destiny of every human, has been set. We just live according to it. But if this is the case, can we say that some people have been set up to fail or engage in certain actions which lead to doom? And if so, is it fair that there is judgement awaiting us in the afterlife based on our actions on earth; which has already been predestined? To put it simply, are we to blame for our wrong doings and shortcomings? Determinism is a concept that opposes the totality of free will. That is man has no true free will to make choices for himself. Every choice we make, has already been predestined and mapped out. In this case, one can then argue that a man who commits murder did not truly act on his own volition. He only played to a script. Does it then make sense if he is judged and condemned to an afterlife of pain and suffering, based on an action he has no control over? Let's take the example of Judas in the bible. His role in the death of Christ was unarguably very important in fulfilling God's plan. Till this day, the name Judas is associated with betrayal and evil. But one can argue that maybe he was just a pawn. A man destined to betray Jesus. Surely this was not of his free will right? There is no back story that I know of that suggest that Judas had done something like that in the past. We can say that he is therefore a victim of determinism. What about the concepts of success and failure. Are they affected by determinism? Maybe that is why some people do not attain success irrespective of their efforts. Which seems rather unfair. What is the point of toiling and striving for success, if it has been already mapped out that some people are destined to be above others. Determinism in its entirety, seems unfair upon deeper scrutinization. This is one of the reasons a lot of people are beginning to adopt the philosophy of existentialism.
Determinism and fairness
By Jefferson Nnadiekwe
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Wilson U. Uzoeto
city Abeokuta • 2 weeks, 3 days ago

2} Concerning Judas, he was a thief.. and had a track record of stealing..

John 12:4-6

[4]Then saith one of his disciples,...

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In Politics • 1 min read • Jun 05, 2022 11:09a.m.
TWITTER PRESIDENT - PART 1
<span class="html-content"> <p>The run up to the 2023 presidential elections, have come with a lot of interesting developments with many more to unfold in the coming months. In all, one name stands out. PETER OBI. The man's pedigree stands unchallenged. Coming with a track record of effectiveness, delivery and ultimate success from both the business world and politics, it is difficult to find anyone from the current array of contestants who can best him.</p> <p>It seems the older generation has given up on Nigeria or maybe lost the will to fight or maybe it's just age that has caught up with them. I have heard many a time, people from that generation make remarks like "my generation has failed you" or "my generation is the cause of this problem". But the young people have shown that they're willing to fight and change the narrative, so we have an event like the famous “EndSARS” protest with which the youth have used to challenge the status quo.</p> </span>
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In Africa • 3 min read • Nov 20, 2022 22:19p.m.
Why have African societies failed?
Where 2 or 3 Africans are gathered, conversations about our countries are sure follow. And the conversations haven’t changed much for decades. We’ll ask ‘who is to blame for Africa’s lack of progress?’ and answers will range from colonial masters and their legacy, to a global conspiracy by the West, to African leaders and more recently followership. We seem to intuitively understand that someone has to be responsible for the job of moving society forward and our current crop of leaders have failed to rise up to the occasion of real leadership. So who is to blame for Africa’s failure of leadership and development. The answer is simple. But it might not be who you expect. Africa is failing because Africa’s INTELLECTUAL CLASS has failed to rise to the occasion of leadership. “The tail wags the dog”. The dog doesn’t wag the tail. This is a phrase that is used to underscore the fact that often in societies, a very small number of people control the whole society. These people have undue influence on the fate of the collective. The values and effectiveness of this small set of people offers determine the outcome of group. Now back to Africa’s intellectual class… All great nations grow on the back on an effective intellectual class who organize, manage and steer the affairs of their nations (the tail). They are astute students of history, philosophy, economics, sociology and the sciences and are able to firstly on a fundamental level, determine the values by which a society should function, secondly steer the course of political affairs through laws, policies and force, and third are able to set an economic agenda to ensure the development and prosperity of the nation (the dog). Effective intellectual classes possess a set of ideals the society need to aspire to, they set the moral compass of the society. They are also highly industrial, building factories, businesses, media, financial institutions on a global scale , which empowers them to influence the politics of their nations from a position of power. An effective intellectual class is also highly political, acting are guardians of the political realm by ensuring that highly principled emerge in positions of power. They’re also equipped to utilize force to keep the overall system stable. Unfortunately, Africa’s intellectual class has been found wanting. They are unempowered, lack industry, lack vision and have accepted a fate where thugs, ex-fraudsters and drug dealers out muscle and out maneuver them to attain power. They blame leadership for Africa’s failure. Failing to realize that a nation is only as good as its best and brightest. If you intellectuals can’t organize, strategize and lay a vision for the next 10, 20, 30, 50 and 100 years, then the wilderness journey will continue in perpetuity. It’s no surprise that while global educational institutions are becoming billion dollar entities, Africa’s universities are constantly going on strikes because their favorite piggy bank (federal governments) haven’t released funding. These institutions with Africa’s top professors to me are reflective of our intellectual class. If these are our best and brightest, then I’m afraid to say, I don’t see where help is coming from. If Africa is to move forward, it will start with the fixing and reorientation of the intellectual class. Only when we wake up is there going to be a chance for a future on the continent
Why have African societies failed?
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Tobi Igbinedion
city Lagos • 2 years, 1 month ago
Hi Tomi, I'm glad you're talking about this. If we want to retrospect, we have to start from the effects of colonialisms on African count...
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In Politics • 3 min read • Nov 11, 2022 22:52p.m.
HMM
Suliyat sells shoes and bags supposedly. She lives in Lekki in a two bedroom duplex and pays 1.5 million naira every year for rent. The mantra of "God when" keeps flying when she uploads on Instagram and Tiktok and all she does is remind people that she is a "small girl with a big God". Dele has a mansion in Lekki and another in Port Harcourt. He claims to work virtually and receives fluctuating salaries between 4000 to 5000 pounds monthly. His house always has a weird smell that is a mixture of excreta and God knows what. You cannot breathe in his house and would prefer to meet him in an official setting. Every week, there is a new girl in his house but he cannot send money home to his parents who are still homeless. People wonder why it is so and some have even called him names but he keeps telling them that they don't understand. He has already ordered the latest Benz so all is well and good Ekaette has finished university and is about to go for service. The problem is that she does not want to serve anywhere that is not Lagos as it is the "happening place" so she has cooked up strategies to ensure it is so. She has decided to go through her parents to ask that they talk to her aunt who has pull in the NYSC office. A sum has been requested and paid and all she can do is wait for her fate. One way or another, she must land in Lagos or nothing else matters, even if she has to fraternize with the Platoon Leader or an influential Local Government Inspector. Emeka wants to get married but his business has not been giving as much money as he would like. He decided this next trip, he must add money on top and put it on the customers, after all, they have no choice. Anything that was 500 naira is now 4000 naira. Economy is hard and it is not his fault. Man must wack and there is nothing he can do about it. Ena just woke up and would use the whole morning for another round of thinking. What would her children eat now that their dad is not there to support her, and she is not as strong to cater for them as her back issues are becoming worse. If not for the house her husband left and kept away from other assets, she would be on the street. The politician may be coming to campaign again. Maybe she would go and collect the three onions and five cups of rice so at least her children would eat. She is good as far as they have eaten. Osas finally found a job but it looks like the pay is not as promising as he thought it would be. He was expecting a base pay of 200,000 naira and now he is seeing 80,000 naira and a "promise" to increase after years worked. Right now, he is at a crossroad as he is out of options and it has been three years of trying to get something good. It seems he would have to settle until he finds something good and then his japa plans can be built while doing so. To hell with staying in this country for more than a year!! These and more stories are what are prevalent in the Nigerian sphere and these are all victims of an already wicked and corrupt system. Say what you want about them but these are their realities and unless we create a system that actually works, more of these would erupt and we would keep crying and not solving the problem. Decide what future you want for your family Don't sell your vote Use your voice wisely
HMM
By Queensley Okon
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In People and Society • 4 min read • Jun 21, 2022 13:24p.m.
DEMI GODS AND THE FAME MONSTER
<span class="html-content"> <p>How do I enter this terrain with a deftness and alacrity that would not offend the gods mildly? </p><p></p> <p></p><p>Hahahaha, I don't even know why I began my speech like that but let us see how this particular journey evolves.</p><p>Want to find out? Keep reading</p><p></p> <p></p><p>I was listening to Jon Bellion's "The Internet" and let me tell you, everytime I listen to it, I have a thousand pages in my head about how true his message is.</p><p></p> <p></p><p>The advent of the internet made us all famous and now our demigod status has reached an all time high.</p><p></p> <p></p><p>But are we even aware of our status or we just have remained numb, instead wanting more?</p><p></p> <p></p><p>I say this because we allow the illusion of something with "no real estate in the real world" as Bellion puts it to keep us in chains and disbelief of ourselves.</p><p></p> <p></p><p>How, you may ask? I saw a post three weeks ago where someone said we get sad when we have "just" 100 or 50 followers on the net, but imagine if 100 people or fifty people said they liked you or were rooting for you in real life, that would be an esteem boost. Yet, we allow a supposedly small amount of followers determine our self-worth. </p><p></p> <p></p><p>Ironic!!!!</p><p></p> <p></p><p>Life really became dangerous when we all became famous, because the troll or cancel culture is the bedrock of internet terrorism.</p><p></p> <p></p><p>Everyone is a saint in this virtual world of ours and as soon as someone makes a mistake, here comes the horns and pitchforks to slaughter and maim</p><p>Where is the human element of allowing people make mistakes and learn from them?</p><p>I think it's not exactly human but a spiritual leaning because if you observe, people tend to talk about being "human" mostly when they have committed a crime or hurt you.</p><p>Well this was already existent in real life so you could say "art imitating life" or maybe a semblance of it.<br></p><p></p> <p></p><p>What about people pretending to have something or be something just "for the gram"? Bellion's line that says "don't need the book, just need you to think I read it......" paints this picture for us. </p><p></p> <p></p><p>The "fake life" agenda that pervaded the internet has driven most to really dangerous places. A boy sees one person flashing wads of cash and dreams of that spectacular lifestyle. Unknown to him, that person is a fraudster or is posing in someone's house. </p><p></p> <p></p><p>Or is it a girl seeing another female dressed in expensive attire with glowing skin and a flamboyant life, not knowing she is eating excreta to get that paper or is being sponsored by a sugar daddy.</p><p></p> <p></p><p>Of course we know it's not everyone who does this that is engaged in such acts. </p><p></p> <p></p><p>But let us be real, if you got it like you do, would you feel the need to want to impress me? Or is it really an esteem problem, you need to feel admired or worshipped and keeping that attention requires you doing this? Then when it goes awry, you are slaughtered on the virtual cross and people move on to the next victim.</p><p></p> <p></p><p>As Bellion puts it, "no one cares if you are happy, just as long as they think you are" and he didn't tell one lie.</p><p></p> <p></p><p>And people are being destroyed everyday due to traumatic ideals they pick up on the space, because attention in the real world is lacking or they have suddenly become attached to this perception of friends that do not need to be in the room with you? </p><p></p> <p></p><p>Are we slowly losing the essence of human interaction? </p><p></p> <p></p><p>Are we okay with the constant gender Wars and hurt people roaming the virtual street looking for the next patsy?</p><p></p> <p></p><p>Of course it has its advantages and we have seen it in YouTube lessons, creators, virtual workshops and so many more.</p><p></p> <p></p><p>But which is taking the lead, the good or the bad? </p><p></p> <p></p><p>We know when the purpose of a thing is unknown, abuse becomes inevitable, so maybe we have abused it to a degree where survival is out of the question: you are either a slave or apathetic to it.</p><p></p> <p></p><p>Whatever the case, it calls for some serious introspection</p><p></p> <p></p><p>So let's ask ourselves, are we allowing the virtual world keep us chained to some idea or are we using it the best way possible?</p> <p></p> </span>
DEMI GODS AND THE FAME MONSTER
By Queensley Okon
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Loic Bethel Dje
city Nicosia • 2 years, 1 month ago
Introspection gives the right to leverage over challenges
Hi, it's Queensley, thanks for reading my insights.
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In People and Society • 2 min read • Aug 11, 2024 21:06p.m.
The Beast Within
<p>What do you think this topic will be about? </p><p>Take a pause and think...... </p><p>Ever heard the saying Humans are social animals? What's the difference between being a social animal and a social beast? </p><p>Well here's a truth steering every one of us in the eyes, we have a beast that lives within us, yes, you have a beast waiting patiently to break out left unchecked. The devil has long been blamed for humanity's darkest actions, often becoming the scapegoat for our own worst behaviors. After all, it's easier to point fingers at something or someone who can't defend itself. Here and there we hear news of people who attacked innocent victims with no prior history of violence on record, model citizens falling apart with one act done to them leading to the awakening of the beast that existed within the so-called social animal.</p><p><img src="https://www.twocents.space/media/inline_insight_image/night-tiger-beast-hd-wallpaper-preview.jpg" alt=""><br></p><p>This beast has plagued society in so many ways than one, across Africa and beyond, it comes in various names such as slavery, trafficking, human sacrifice, manslaughter, rape, xenophobia, etc. The list goes darker and darker, no one could imagine growing up only to have the instinct to kill and destroy, we know not what to say, it so seems the instinct has always been there. </p><p>Push a social animal to the wall and you will see the beast dwelling within. Some say "No, I can't do that", well I will only meet you with a philosophical quote from Socrate "Man know thyself" a level of self-awareness that many are guilty of not having. </p><p>The society is a mob of emotionally manipulate-able beasts waiting to be used at every and any point, the truth no longer a thing because a well-painted mirage of deception has been fed to their hungry beast giving enough strength to crush skulls and shatter hearts when the deed is done the beasts leaves the social animal back into its abode, reality becomes hideous, guilt becomes the stone that crushes their heart with no place to hide they seek for salvation, well maybe they did, maybe they did not and died in the pursuit of that salvation. </p><p>Know this, the complexity of this world is enough to create a beast within you, but only you have the power to keep it in check, we don't control what happens to us all, but we do control the next cause action. </p><p>Sorry the devil didn't do anything, You did this.</p>
The Beast Within
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In Music and Entertainment • 2 min read • Jun 09, 2022 16:29p.m.
WHAT IF MUSICAL CHAIRS WAS MORE THAN JUST A GAME?
We definitely know the fun children's party game of musical chairs. The game we played as kids at basically every birthday party we attended, mostly before we eat our party jollof, served in a variety of colored plastic plates. I was thinking about this game recently, coupled with my knack for wanting to see the symbolism in the most basic things. Then I thought; what if it was more than just a mere children's party game. What if there is a symbolism to be taken from this game. What if the game of musical chairs, is a representation of our struggles and quest for success in the society. Let me explain. First of all, the basics of the game. Each player has to dance around an uneven number of chairs, and vie for a seating position; once the music stops, beating other competitors in the process. Whoever fails to secure a chair, is out of the game. And the game resets itself, and the number of chairs reduced. So, what is the relation with our society? The uneven number of players to the chairs (if there are 8 players, there would be 7 chairs), mirrors how we always struggle and compete for limited resources and opportunities. It is a fact of life, opportunities are limited, insufficient for the people chasing them. The gifts of nature, are few and depleted, compared to the human population. It is always a constant struggle, a battle of the fittest. For example, a company which aims to fill five vacant positions, would get hundreds of applications. The odds are mostly always unkind. Only the sharpest, fittest and sometimes, the most cunning, gets secures his spot. It has and would always be this way; that is just reality. Just like how the game resets with lesser chairs as it progresses, success in life gets tougher as we progress. Opportunities and the chance of success keeps on reducing, and we have to adjust. The journey gets harder, the higher we climb; our odds gets less favourable. And we have to fend off threats in the form of other competitors. The weak links would keep being cut out, as we move. But we cannot quit. It's a continuous cycle, perhaps which is why players move in circular motions during the game. One may ask; 'what about the music?'. Well, I think that is a symbolism of the good times, and bouts of happiness we experience, as we strive for success. We do not go through life, with a permanent scowl on our faces after all. But just like the music in the game, these moments of joy may also serve as a distraction to us. We would have to maintain focus, if we wish to progress. Enjoy yourself a while, but be attentive, so as not to be caught up in the moment. Like the players in the game, you have to know when to make your move. I would like to know your thoughts on this though. Am I overthinking? Or am I on to something?
WHAT IF MUSICAL CHAIRS WAS MORE THAN JUST A GAME?
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Mwambo Kate
city Yaoundé • 2 years, 7 months ago
Such a thought provoking piece. Wow I could never relate those games to our daily lives like this! Thank you
Hi, it's Jefferson, thanks for reading my insights.
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Computer Science is within the School of Engineering and is widely considered an engineering major. It is also quite related to Electrical Engineering in regards to subject matter, and because my concentrations in both degrees were related it was a natural transition, and many of my undergraduate courses counted for credit towards my master's degree. Specifically, my undergraduate degree was concentrated in artificial intelligence (focused on visual and audio processing), and my master's degree was concentrated in signal processing (also focused on visual and audio processing).
Ifueko Igbinedion
Doctoral Student @ MIT
Hi Opeyemi, I'd recommend Wild Fusions; I think they are the best digital agency in Nigeria and have a good balance of expertise and creativity. Anakle is a close second, definitely with a more creative and daring element, but both great places to gain experience and work with some really bright minds. Sure thing! I'm @ToyinJolapamo on Twitter and Instagram. LinkedIn is my name.
Toyin Jolapamo
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Personally I don’t have much knowledge on European and German robotics aside from their publications, which seem to be on par with every nation. In my opinion everyone is at a very similar level, and leaders can be pushed aside quickly given luck in research findings. I’ll also say that I’m not a Candidate yet, as I have one more requirement for qualifications to complete. I also don’t have an educated perspective on German education to answer that question well, but I always urge students to choose a graduate program that will support them personally and financially towards their ultimate career goal.
Ifueko Igbinedion
Doctoral Student @ MIT
I think this is a bit dangerous. Attempting to ascertain sentimental correlations and apply them to huge financial decisions may work in certain contexts and you could definitely train a model with 99% training accuracy on this task, but future situations that are dependent on complex human action can never be adequately represented by a numerical parameterization and a finite state machine. If the model is not large enough, we will not learn all the possible combinations of interactions. If it is too large, then we only learn the context of our training dataset. That being said, you could do both and get good results during training. Personally, I do not have extensive NLP experience or Bayesian experience in production, but their fundamentals suggest that they would learn this type of model well independently or in conjunction. Naïve Bayes is good for state estimation-based decision making, and NLP can be used to model language and extract sentiment. However, these models depend completely on the input dataset that one utilizes, and the chosen labels (if using a supervised method) that are often subjective. Using data from the internet is also dangerous because it is next to impossible to have humans annotate every piece of training data without spending a large amount of money, and learning from problematic input data can lead to problematic situations.To make this less vague, take the 2016 example where Tay, a chatbot made by Microsoft and trained on Twitter data, became extremely racist in less than a day of online training (https://twitter.com/geraldmellor/status/712880710328139776). Attempting to determine causation in a data driven sense is a slippery slope, and until AI solves the data-driven generalization problem (which I believe may be never) I wouldn't build a system like this in production until I could guarantee significant human supervision and have looked at the ethical implications on those who do not financially benefit from the proposed system.
Ifueko Igbinedion
Doctoral Student @ MIT
The best advice I’ve received about writing essays was “facts tell, stories sell.” I believe that Professors simply get exhausted reading identical looking applications, so the most important thing you can do is tell a story. Allow people to understand who you are, empathize with you, and want to give you a chance. The implicit bias many people have to support people of their own race is because they add their own personal stories to applications of students with similar backgrounds as them, and to compete with this, it is important to tell your story as truthfully and profoundly as possible. If they understand where you come from and want to give you a chance, bias can more easily be set aside.
Ifueko Igbinedion
Doctoral Student @ MIT
Hi Ebenezer, I think this is a really interesting question because a farmer can take great pictures of his/her products and share it on Instagram. It's all about creativity and how you are able to tell a story. His/Her problem will be less about the platform and the ability to reach his/her customers but more about exposure, he/she should definitely not be #land though because that isn't their product, depending on their products, they can look at more popular hashtags like #greens #healthyeating #organic, etc. I have a cousin who is pretty much a farmer, he also makes juices from his products, but check out his page, they sometimes just post images of the farm and the produce - @simplygreen.farms. I hope this answers your question, if he doesn't feel free to clarify further.
Toyin Jolapamo
Senior Digital Communications Analyst @ Oando Plc
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In History and Culture • 2 min read • Feb 03, 2023 10:32a.m.
A Discourse on Imo's Renowned Musical Maestro - Sir Warrior
Formally known as Christognus Ezebuiro Obinna, born in 1947,, Sir Warrior hails from Umuhu, Enyiogugu in present day Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State. It is on record that as a young boy, this fine gentleman believed that God created him to sing and it was in a bid to pursue his dream that he became a member of a men's choral group with a unique specialty in a music form called 'Ese'. By the time Sir Warrior became sixteen years old, he was well known for his amazing voice and beautiful performance of Ese music. Christognus Ezebuiro at twenty -four had already registered a significant trademark with his special genre of highlife music which blended Congolese guitar packing and traditional Igbo rhythms and proverbs. Sir Warrior, at some point in his career, was the leader of the Oriental Brothers International Band which dominated the Nigerian highlife music stage for many decades. Described as a Nigerian boy band formed after the Nigerian civil war (1967 - 1970), it is believed that the band and all of its players helped draw Igbo people out of post -civil war misery through its melodious and deeply expressive songs that reflected life's realities as well as the social happenings in the society. His 1975 album entitled - "Nwa Ada Di Mma" with eight song tracks broughr him much accolades and recognition globally. Also his usage of Igbo proverbs and in his songs was appreciated by his fans such that he earned the title "The Ultimate Star of Music". It also made people see him as one of the greatest Igbo highlife musicians of the 20th century. Sir Warrior died in 1999 at fifty -two years. He is survived by his wife, two sons and brother. Some of his masterpiece include: Uwa Chia Chia, Uwa Sef, Udo ma Ike, Ome mma, Madu Mezie Ndu Ya, Ndi ji ego, Chi awu otu, Anri Aku, Gi nyem ugwum, Hapum Meberi, and the likes. Sir Warrior was indeed a warrior of songs. He will forever be remembered.
A Discourse on Imo's Renowned Musical Maestro -...
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In People and Society • 2 min read • Oct 14, 2022 17:40p.m.
DELULU
I know people have opinions and sometimes these could be misconstrued but today let us see how many of you would fall into that trap. Two weeks ago, I came across a post on Instagram where a film producer blamed the unfavorable reception of his movie on straight people and when I tell you I was amazed but decided to check the comments for more clarity First of all, I have never heard of this movie before the post and I am sure a lot of you did not because I have not seen think pieces or critical acclaim And the comments were proof of that because a lot of people were surprised, wondering what he was talking about seeing as this was the first time they had heard about it And yes, the movie is about two gay guys or has that as its basic theme In fact, those part of the LGBTQ+ community were quick to point out how wrong he was and defending the straights which totally floored me Then there were those among the community who had seen it and gave negative reviews, stating that just because you drop a "gay" themed movie, it does not mean people who are gay would want to watch it. It needs to have substance instead of being a costume I thought to myself, "maybe the world is healing" because never in a million years would I have predicted this. Some expressed how they were tired of just being put out there for sympathy points instead of actually making something interesting Now, notice no straight person called for his head right? They defended themselves isn't it? No one said they would be boycotting because of what he said. There is no public outrage for the insensitive statement and never have I heard a "straight" movie producer or director say their movie failed because "gay" people did not watch it. They always focus on the marketing or say how they could have done better which is what this clairvoyant director should have known. But imagine the outrage if the reverse was the case? Media outlets would run the news to the ground until the person's head is on a spike The delusion of it all People should learn how to speak and what to actually speak on. I know accountability is lacking in this era but do well to learn it. It would do a whole lot of good to your mental health and demeanor all round. Another thing is people would not watch your movie because you have some tokenism in it. If there is no plot or something of value to look forward to, it would flop. Also, if you make a movie, ensure you have a good marketing team because a lot of terrible movies had a good reception because of great trailers and exquisite marketing. No dey dull yourself Now, this is no affront to the community but a call to see the hypocrisy and maybe reevaluate some things. KEEP THE SAME ENERGY!!!
DELULU
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In Literature, Writing and Blogging • 1 min read • Jan 30, 2023 10:15a.m.
A little about the Nkwerre people
Nkwerre is one of the local governments in Imo State, Nigeria. It is a small town of about 80,000 people (according to the 2006 national population census), and home to a few prominent Nigerians. The most popular being the celebrity blogger Linda Ikeji. During the pre colonial times, the town was a center for iron industries and blacksmithing. Nkwerre people take pride in titles, such as 'Nkwerre kwara eshi', and 'Nkwerre pa egbe'. 'Nkwerre pa egbe' refers to the people's ability to produce firearms. It was indeed a great honor for the Nkwerre people to be recognized as skilled and excellent blacksmiths. However, after colonization, the people abandoned blacksmithing and focused on other ventures, majorly entrepreneurship. Blacksmithing, however wasn't the only thing that the Nkwerre people were known to be good at. They were also skilled carvers, weavers and excellent traders. They travelled long distances for commercial purposes, going as far as taking their wares to communities like Opobo, Etche, Ikwerre, Bonny, all of which are in today's Rivers state. They also traded in Bayelsa, Delta, Ebonyi, amongst othet locations. The Nkwerre people hold their industrious spirit in high esteem, as well as their history of blacksmithing. Till this day, the indigenous ruler of the community is addressed as the 'Opia Egbe', meaning the maker of gun.
A little about the Nkwerre people
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Wilson U. Uzoeto
city Abeokuta • 2 weeks, 3 days ago

This is really insightful.. thank you for sharing.

Hi, it's Jefferson, thanks for reading my insights.
I'm a creative screenwriter, photographer, cinematographer and creative director. You can check out some of my works here https://instagram.com/themi...
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In People and Society • 2 min read • Aug 05, 2022 18:10p.m.
WOWZAS!!!!
Do you ever just feel the need to scream at people because of the box they love to put you in? Yeah, me too Like when they tell you, "Ah, Akwa Ibom girls go sabi knack oh", "oh, you are Igbo? Una too like money" You know, the typical stereotypes that pervade societal that have become societal norms I hate them too Matter of fact, I often wonder why preconceived notions are the bedrock of a lot of societies but the truth is, it is inevitable For example, if you met ten Igbo men or women and out of the ten, nine are business-oriented, what would be your first thought? You would make a typical assumption that it is something peculiar with their tribe. It would then come as a shock to you when you meet another six who do not lean towards that area but it becomes hard to convince you otherwise because most of the Igbo people you have met have that tendency. This could be described as cognitive dissonance Where am I heading? Somewhere interesting people Why do we tend to dwell on an idea until it kills us? Is it conviction or stubbornness? Would you believe those same things if you were given clear cut evidence of the opposite? What if you were shown something that challenged your doubt? Or is this just your way of a cult leaning? For example, why would a woman believe all men cheat or a man believe all women have to offer is sex and be so surprised when she or he meet someone who doesn't fit that box they are clinging to? Why is that doubt there? Have you sincerely lost hope to that point that you would not give the benefit of the doubt? And what happens when this doubt has been cleared? Is it okay to make snap decisions? How about more research or at least some questions asked? Why do some Nigerians believe that we cannot make a change with our voices? Why do we believe that the status quo is better accepted than fought? You might say Stockholm Syndrome and you may not be wrong. I mean, when something has happened over and over and seems to become culture, you stop fighting and start getting desensitized. It's why a lot of topics or social issues that were taboo have become widely popular and more are joining the fray. It's the reason why the media would push something not so populär and make it so(*inserts Demi Lovato identity crisis emoji*) My advice: Open your mind but have limitations. Learning is great but not everything needs to change. And yes, even some stereotypes. There are some good ones after all, like left-handed people being creative or men being physically stronger than women. Sometimes, let normal be normal By the way, today is my brother's birthday so I am just making a quick shout-out to him. Love you Johnny Boy
WOWZAS!!!!
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Wilson U. Uzoeto
city Abeokuta • 1 week, 1 day ago

How is that cognitive dissonance, if I may ask?

Hi, it's Queensley, thanks for reading my insights.
I'm a Virtual Assistant, Freelance Writer, and help with your academic research. Reach me here https://wa.me/2348167337301
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In History and Culture • 3 min read • Feb 11, 2023 07:07a.m.
I AM NOT THIS SKIN
I don't know how many of you are real music fans because if you read my title, a particular musician should come to your head Yes, the one and only Indie Arie!!!!!! 🎶🎶I am not my hair, I am not this skin🎶 Okay I will stop now because I have a responsibility to my readers 🌚😎 But Indie is so talented and her voice is so soothing I sometimes forget what that feels like I'm music Everyone just sounds different and good but not soothing She and Sade have a unique ability and I appreciate them so much Anyway, let us get down to business Sometimes I sit and wonder, why do we stay fixated on skin color to determine our worth? Race, skin, whatever, why do we do that? We are very unique, each of us but for some reason, one person or a group of people managed to convince us that one colour is more valuable than the other As if we do not have enough things to fight about as humans, we had to add more division hence the thriving of slavery I mean, look around you, it takes a while for someone to admire someone who is darker skinned than a lighter toned person I remember growing up, people used to only call fair people beautiful and they were always the first pick before the darker ones It never felt right to me because it now generated a dislike for fair people Well not dislike, but it helped form my preference for dark skinned guys. Actually, I always liked dark guys There was just the way they looked that was so beautiful and kept my attention Funny how my dating history tended to negate that but I digress🤣🤣🤣 Yeah, so this was really terrible because that was also the time when bleaching became rampant You would see someone who used to be dark would all of a sudden develop a fairer complexion but the knuckles always have the person away. Of course there were those who did it successfully but you always noted how terrible their skin looked after a while especially without makeup or early in the morning The esteem issue color brought with it was really damaging And you see it in other climes how degrading it is, especially in movies and music. Executives would rather push those who look lighter in complexion, regardless of talent(female rap game now) and if you are darker, they tend to give you makeup that betrays your complexion. It may seem funny but it is not and is really damaging But that's not my direction with this post My point with this post was to highlight something Idris Elba and Nia Long had said recently that really makes a lot of sense even though it rubbed some people the wrong way. Nia Long stated that calling movies "Black" made them dismissive and was limiting the extent it could go. For her, they are movies and doing the same thing other movies are doing. It just limited its reach and it makes sense As for Idris, he stated that he does not want to be called "First Black" anything as for him, it puts him in a box and limits the roles he may get and undermines his talent. For him, his worth is not tied to his skin color or is not his name. He is Idris and it should be based on the value he brings as removing the "Black" in front of his achievements helps break more barriers. I actually agree because I think we have gotten to the point where we attach some irrelevant things to achievements and everyone is desperate to appear different and special, it begins to look like a token adventure and now brings your talent down to skin color or any other addendum and not just the fact that you did a great job. Of course a lot of Black Americans were up in arms with these statements, calling it "erasure" or "them not being proud of being black" or calling them sellouts or "color blind" . I can understand their anger because Black Americans fought through slavery to get into a lot of rooms and these statements to them would look like those fights are being undermined. Some said putting "Black" in front of anything is a celebration of their blackness I'm not really sure what that means, what is "blackness" and why do you need to celebrate it that way? Of course I cannot tell you how to live your life or do your thing but if you don't want reminders of what you went through, why do you always feel the need to remind people that you are "Black"? Or what is the difference between "Black films" and "nigga films" because that is how it sounds or appears to me? And it definitely looks limiting because no matter how good you make a movie, it would just be regarded as a color film rather than just a movie in a certain genre. And here is the thing, they say they are celebrating their blackness but get offended when "white people" celebrate their own whiteness So the question is, are you celebrating your ethnicity or race or you just want to appear superior or maybe it is still an esteem issue because I can understand that? You were mocked for your features but they are celebrated on other people now who aren't the same as you Your hair, your lips, shape(Sara Baartman) were very sensitive points adn still are. I mean, braids are seen as not official in the office which I find comical. But where do we draw the line? For me, these things were borne out of low self esteem but became defense mechanisms which is understandable. But they also are limiting because you say you want to be global but label your work "black business", "black owned", and go on with the "Black movies", "Black Girl Magic" and whatnot. This now becomes limited because you see them ending up being restricted to "Black roles" instead of just being actors And there is the pay gap which is definitely not their fault but is worrisome I don't know but for me, I feel we should start seeing ourselves as more than skin colors because your color determines nothing, you just can't be like the next person. That's how you came out the womb so embrace it Your value should be in the work you out in, your self-assuredness and it should be reflected in the lives you have touched. But hey, I may just be talking out the side of my mouth so what is your take on this?
I AM NOT THIS SKIN
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In People and Society • 2 min read • Jan 16, 2024 22:21p.m.
AVOIDING IT, FACING IT.
Picture this : an email pops up in your inbox with a tricky, important, or stressful problem that needs to be solved. Do you …. 1. Read it through and then ask yourself, " okay , what do I need to do about this ?". or say to yourself, "I'm going to figure this out." 2. Scan through the email quickly, immediately feel overwhelmed and close the email saying, " I'll think about this later". These examples of two different coping strategies. The first is called "problem-focused".. In this strategy, you try to approach the challenge from different angles, look for information about how to address it, or break it into manageable pieces. The second is called 'avoidance-focused". The problem stirs up uncomfortable emotions within you, and because they feel overwhelming , you avoid the problem, pretend its not happening, or personally blame yourself for it. Problem-focused is related to wellbeing, while avoidance - focused is related to depression, anxiety,. That's why , if you are more of an avoidant coper, it's important to learn the skill of problem-focused coping. Start practicing with smaller problems. The next time one pops up (in your inbox, in your home, in your life), and those painful emotions start to arise within you, you just have to do one thing : breath through it. Focus on your breath until your emotions fade away. Don't close the email or walk away from the issue. Breathe in, breathe out. Stay with it. Congratulations! you just faced your discomfort and came out the other side. Now that you're here, you can ask yourself : " what is one way I might start to address this problem?".
AVOIDING IT, FACING IT.
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Samuel Omoyele
city Abeokuta • 3 weeks, 2 days ago

Reading this insight was both amusing and motivating. It reminded me of a conversation I had just a few days ago, where I encouraged a...

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Asiogu Ugochukwu Global Security enthusiast
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In History and Culture • 3 min read • Dec 02, 2022 13:05p.m.
God is a God of all religions, including the African Traditional Religion (ATR)
<span class="html-content"> <p>I have always believed that the beauty of religion lies in the peoples' unique ways and approaches of upholding it. In other words, religion is best practiced in situations where there are less criticisms of whatever one is revering and whoever one is worshiping. Of course, religion is a way of life and as a matter of fact, it is a representation of man's spiritualism - an aspect of man's life that draws him nearer to the metaphysical phase of his existence. Based on the above-mentioned, it is thus unsurprising how people are overwhelmed with all manner of religious doctrines and practices - they are simply connecting back to their root.</p> <p>However, what baffles me most is the fact that with the advent of Christianity and by extension, the Western culture to this part of the globe, Africans have overtime been stylishly compelled to let go of their spiritual root. and pattern of connection with God through Gods and embrace a new religion that their ancestors never knew about. And funny enough, they are happy to acknowledge the new religion even with terms and conditions! </p> <p>More ridiculous is the fact that most Africans have even turned around to accuse their ancestors of having a hand in their misfortunes and I dare ask: is this not madness? But on the other hand, wouldn't it be justifiable for our forefathers to react aggressively in defense of our misguided curses, accusations and foreign-motivated attacks on them? Of course, it will and until we learn "not only to obey our parents in the Lord, but also our ancestors - those who we share their blood, lineage and ancestry", the status quo may remain the same. </p> <p>Africans have to embrace their culture and heritage, not shy away from it. We have to be bold to affirm who we are, where we came from and where we are headed, and not attack our roots. God is God everywhere and anytime. He is in all religions and societies. As such, there is no need for us to think high of some religions over others. Also, there is no need to criticize peoples' choices of religion because it is how they have chosen to worship God. </p> <p>Majority of Americans worship God through the Christian religion, the Arabs worship God through the Islamic religion, the Asians worship God through Buddhism, Hinduism, among other isms we could think of and Africans worship God through a collection of the above-mentioned religions and even more. With this sort of "iberiberism", tell me why we shouldn't be so confused and underdeveloped!</p> <p>Today, one could rarely find a good number of Nigerians that are proud of the religion of their ancestors. Why? The answer is because we have been brainwashed to accept what we already have. And to denounce the same people who have been our shelter right from birth. Interestingly, there is absolutely nothing different from the Christian and Islamic religions and the African Traditional Religion because all of them revere and worship God. So, why the hates, the fights, the blames, the arrogance, the lies, and the unwise display of foolishness on our part? </p> <p>Dear Africans, it is time to look inward and make do with our identity. It is time to embrace our religion even if we decide not to practice it. </p> </span>
God is a God of all religions, including the A...
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Queensley Okon
city Ota • 1 month, 2 weeks ago
I appreciate this thought but also can disagree with it. God is worshipped yes, but the way he is being worshipped is probably what turns...
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In People and Society • 2 min read • Oct 03, 2022 08:36a.m.
Changing the world one stanza at a time
<span class="html-content"> <p>Growing up, we were taught several virtues through songs. Writing this has brought back a lot of good memories. At home, school, and religious gatherings, certain virtues were communicated through songs. I somewhat think that it made it easier to remember those virtues because of the medium through which they were communicated.&nbsp;</p><p>Think of this-- What if we applied this same strategy to the issue of climate change?&nbsp;</p><p>I'm certain we have over a million songs on love, loyalty, politics, freedom, and others. For me, this would be a great strategy to grow our children—the future generations—with the climate in mind. I'm sure most of us only realized the concept of climate change as adults, and some are yet to understand it. There are a number of reasons for that, but that's not the point of this post. Imagine the good that we could have done if we knew this early in life. We cannot recover lost time, but we can consciously make better efforts.</p> <p>Whether or not you believe in climate change, I think it's reasonable to at least make better choices.</p> <p>Humans are very creative people, so I guess we can create songs and teach our children so they can grow up with a consciousness of the climate. </p> <p>Imagine if Africa's biggest artists had one track that focused on climate change in their albums! That'd be laudable, although it probably won't totally change people's mindsets. It's still a good start.&nbsp;</p><p>Just so you know, climate change, according to the United Nations, refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.</p> <p>I believe we can change the world one stanza at a time!</p> <p>Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.</p> <p>Learn Unlearn Relearn</p> </span>
Changing the world one stanza at a time
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In Leadership • 2 min read • Feb 24, 2023 04:18a.m.
"In dire need of compassion and character".
A story was told about a man who was walking near the park and heard a sound from a nearby bush. Having decided to find out where the sound was coming from, he observed that a cat was stuck in a hole inside the bush and it needed help. As the man tried to help the cat get out of the hole, it became apprehensive and aggressive as it scratched the man's hand. As painful as the scratch was, the main refused to back out as it krpt trying to save the cat. While this was going on, a passerby who saw what was happening advised the man leave the cat because it will definitely find its way out sooner or later. This advise did not hold water as the man continued to look out for ways to save the cat. Fortunately, he got drew the cat out of the hole and immediately he released it into the bush, he faced toward the other man and said, "The Cat is an animal whose instinct is to scratch and attack but I am a human being and my instinct is to be kind and compassionate". True leadership is all about carrying everyone along not minding their nature, traits and flaws. It is about understanding people from their own perspective, letting them have a say and not judging them by their reactions to life's conditions. In this story, the cat that was stuck inside the hole represents the average Nigerians whose averageness is simply a 'tush' way of describing poverty while the man who saved the cat represents the hope for good leadership in Nigeria; a leadership that would produce leaders with compassion and love for not only Nigerians but also for the greater good of Nigeria. However, just as the cat kept scratching the man's hands and inflicting pains on him, a lot of Nigerians today have gotten used to sheer wickedness and aggressiveness such that they have become anti-growth and progress. Most of them have lost fate in the country while many others have given up on life, living each day in anguish and pains. But what is more baffling is the fact that these same prople have for several unjustifiable reasons refused to acknowledge compassion and love but instead choose to wail and complain against bad leadership Dear Nigerians, as we head for the polls tomorrow, it is my submission that we should put aside our bitterness, aggressiveness, and bias and vote for the greater good of our country, children and their future. Let us keep our hope alive by holding on to this compassionate gesture we have been shown. Of a truth, nobody is perfect and no leadership is completely right but nonetheless, let us choose benevolent evil rather than a malevolent good. Choose Wisely Choose You
"In dire need of compassion and character".
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In Literature, Writing and Blogging • 3 min read • Aug 25, 2024 21:25p.m.
LAYERS OF MEMORY AND ICE
<p>After you grew, you let yourself slip </p><p>Back to the place where shadows whispered your name, </p><p>Where the hurtful gaze seared through your soul. </p><p>Some say you were blinded by love, </p><p>That was why you endured the verbal slaps, </p><p>The virtual kicks that bruised more than skin. </p><p>You never gave as good as you got </p><p>Perhaps because you never received as good as you gave. </p><p><br></p><p>In moments like this, when I sit and remember you, </p><p>Wet anger boils out of me. </p><p>I want to reprimand you, </p><p>Shake you free from those chains, </p><p>But it’s too late to teach you new tricks, </p><p>Too late to mend what’s already broken. </p><p><br></p><p>Out of the blues, you grew, </p><p>in magnificence, as much as in horror, </p><p>You grew horns as sharp as your newfound resolve, </p><p>Dished out rewards on those who wronged you. </p><p>And though I’m proud of the vileness of your crime, </p><p>A bitter pride it is,</p><p>For what have we become? </p><p><br></p><p>At least they deserved every blow you dealt, </p><p>And if I threw in a punch or two, </p><p>Nothing feels amiss, nothing feels wrong. </p><p>It was a time to let live and a time to live, </p><p>But at what cost to my soul? </p><p><br></p><p>I remember when fondness was your only language, </p><p>It was in the words you gave me and, </p><p>the way you hugged me wholly. </p><p>Not even the street peddlers or beggars can deny the tune your heart sings with. </p><p>But now, the tune has changed, </p><p>The discord now echoes with noisy pain. </p><p><br></p><p>The stern hand still resounds, </p><p>The hard smile before the harder kick </p><p>These days, even your eyes speak of resistance, </p><p>Though your heart remains true, </p><p>A thin layer of ice has formed where once was fire. </p><p><br></p><p>I got so used to your old voice, </p><p>But the one you use now is Greek, Zulu, and Venda to my ears. </p><p>That hard stare buckles my knees, </p><p>Your fangs dig deep when I reach out, </p><p>I am no stranger to them, but, </p><p>they only used to care in my memories. </p><p><br></p><p>I could have forgiven the hurt if you were grey and frail, </p><p>But there’s nothing aged about "65".</p><p>When I sat at your knee, listening to your lonely old tales, </p><p>You should have told me to hold them in place, </p><p>To keep them safe for a day like this </p><p>I would have planned for this rainy day. </p><p><br></p><p>Now, you’re a blank slate, akin to a child, </p><p>And time was never our ally, </p><p>We don’t have all day to fill you with beautiful memories. </p><p>And I’m left here, grasping at the shadows of yesterdays realities, </p><p>Hoping that somewhere, beneath the ice, </p><p>The warmth of your old heart still lingers. </p><p><br></p>
LAYERS OF MEMORY AND ICE
By Chidera Odom
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Godslove Lawrence
city Ikeja • 2 weeks, 4 days ago

Nice Piece Bravo 👏

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Tari Ogbowei Content Writer and contributor @ TwoCents
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In Politics • 3 min read • Jul 11, 2022 21:44p.m.
THE CHOICE OF THE VP CANDIDATE: ITS EFFECT ON VOTING DEMOGRAPHICS
<span class="html-content"> <p>In the past few days, both the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi and the APC candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) chose their running mates. Mr. Obi a Christian from the South chose Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, a Muslim from the northern state of Kaduna while BAT chose a Mr. Kashim Shettima, a Muslim, a former governor of Borno state. </p> <p>While the power to choose a running mate resides with the presidential candidate and the party, the populace cannot be left out. Though, this election for obvious reasons, seems to be between BAT who is running on the platform of the "misruling" party, APC and Mr. Peter Obi who has won the hearts of many Nigerians and seems to be the people's choice, their choices of VP candidate will either add further credence to their candidacy or will take away the little they have, or at least in some quarters. </p> <p>Taking away sentiments, tribal, religious or party, Mr. Peter Obi's choice seems to be the better and more generally acceptable. Nigeria being a multi-ethnic nation with citizens majorly being either Christians or Muslims, it is pertinent to balance both religion and ethnicity in something as important as a presidential bid.</p> <p>Peter Obi has done just that and in doing that, he proves that these two (2) factors shouldn't be the only criteria. Peter Obi's choice buttresses the point that no nation, religion or tribe has the monopoly of intelligent, successful and competent people. We have intelligent and competent people everywhere and it's only normal to engage them to represent us instead of making such important choices on the basis of ethnicity and religion. Dr. Baba-Ahmed who's an economist and founder of Africa's biggest private hospital, Baze hospital has definitely succeeded in the private sector just like Mr. Obi. He also compliments Mr. Obi's quality as a competent leader. </p> <p>Dr. Baba-Ahmed like Mr. Peter Obi has won the hearts of Nigerians with his sterling record. He has gone ahead in the footsteps of Mr. Obi to grant interviews and engage with the media in the few days of his nomination, creating the much needed visibility he, Mr. Obi and the Labour party should have. It has also endeared him to a lot of Nigerians as it makes him and Mr. Obi have this air of accessibility, as is uncommon with other candidates.</p> <p>BAT on the other hand obviously didn't choose a Christian northerner as running mate because he wouldn't have the popularity to get him votes in the North as the North is predominantly Muslim. He rather picked a Muslim just like himself. This makes his candidacy appeal to mainly those of his tribe and religious demography. A larger spread of Nigerians do not buy into his candidacy now that the identity of his final choice for a running has been confirmed. </p> <p>Various bodies have already come out to warn and state their disagreements with his choice of a muslim-muslim ticket. Despite what anyone says, we can't take away these sentiments of tribe and religion in our politics as a nation. It is common sense to keep things balanced as Nigeria is a nation with heightened ethno-religious sentiments which can denigrate at anytime with the slightest provocation. </p> <p>Whatever the case, the election of 2023 is going to be a tightly contested one but how will the choices of VP candidates sway the voters?</p> </span>
THE CHOICE OF THE VP CANDIDATE: ITS EFFECT ON V...
By Tari Ogbowei
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Jefferson Nnadiekwe Freelance scriptwriter and creative photographer
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In People and Society • 2 min read • Jun 21, 2022 13:37p.m.
Money and its power to unmask
There is this popular notion amongst Nigerians; 'you never know a person until he has money'. Another one goes 'money changes people'. On surface level, these seem to be true. But a deeper scrutiny may prove otherwise. A really important question to ask ourselves is: does money actually change people, or does it give them the opportunity to become who they truly are? A lot of times, I've had people say that money makes people proud and arrogant. The truth is, a man who suddenly seems arrogant when he gets money, has always been arrogant. The only difference is, he was in a state of lack before. And we all know that when someone is in need, he has to swallow his pride in order to receive aid. But when he becomes successful, and can afford most of his needs, there is no need to swallow any pride. Hence, making a naturally proud person revert to his nature. With every man, there is who he appears to be and who he truly is. Certain factors however determine which face he wears. True humility, does not require the presence or absence of money. But true humility is a tad difficult to attain. Most people who seem humble, are 'forced' to be. It's not innate, it is just merely a form of adaptation. The weird thing is, a lot of people cannot tell the difference, even in themselves. When I say humility, I do not mean the absence of pride, but rather the ability to channel and control that pride. After all, every man should have a measure of pride. A man who is genuinely humble and nice, remains the same, irrespective of his financial status. Do not be deceived by those who act nice and are eager to please in order to gain favours. These set of people are not nice; a nice person does not have to try to convince you. The thing with money is that, it is a confidence booster. And as such, it allows us become ourselves with no apologies. It enhances our true self, and allows us shed whatever mask that we may have had on. So, no. The truth for me is that money does not change people. I would however like to know what you think..
Money and its power to unmask
By Jefferson Nnadiekwe
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Joshua Omoijiade
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In Nigeria • 6 min read • Jun 10, 2024 09:28a.m.
States, Societies, and the face of Lagosian Residential Architecture
<p>In terms of the numbers, Lagos city has a housing problem. Reports by the World Bank show up to 70% of the population lives in informal settlements or slums, and their residences have no access to the most basic facilities. There aren't enough houses, and the houses are of poor quality. Nigeria is a poor nation by multiple accounts, and all its cities are naturally susceptible to these formations. Furthermore, poverty is not the only specific problem plaguing residential architecture in the city of Lagos; the state is home to a saturated construction industry with big players building what some of the digests and critics define as “ultra-modern” homes. The shanties and Lekki homes share the problem of being utterly inspiring. I grew up in a city where the immoderate variety of design styles do not make it into the songs; the houses are unmemorable attempts at posturing or survival; they do not make it into my dreams.&nbsp;</p><p>In part 1 of this essay, I speak generally and draw a line of correlation between the political failings of the nation, through the absence of shared identity, and the uninspiring situation I have described above. A strong central authority sets the tone for the formation of a cohesive national identity, and this in turn allows citizens to form shared values beyond mere survival or personal gain. These values are what shape the face of beauty. In a given place, the architecture of the home is a crucial point of contact with them.</p><p><em><br></em></p><p><em><img src="/media/inline_insight_image/1000007224.jpg" alt=""><br></em></p><p><sub><em>Photo credit: by Dami Akinbode on Unsplash</em></sub></p><p><br></p><p>First, a brief discussion of political science; Francis Fukuyama states in "the origins of political order" that a modern state forms when a consolidation of central authority gives rise to a meritocratic bureaucracy that can administer public services in a territory. A strong centralised government can create and, or maintain regulations including those concerning architecture and public infrastructure. Strong states look for ways to make their territories legible and easy to access; it makes sense because a legible territory can be easily monitored and taxed. This manifests in services such as bridge and road construction as well as creating building codes that ensure even personal residences, privately built, are within a corridor of predictability.</p><p>Nigeria (and Lagos by extension) has a government rife with patrimonial appointments—a patrimonial government here being one where the ruler(s) treat the state as personal property. The Civil service is staffed with appointees who have risen through the ranks or remained in office as a result of patronage or clientelism. Beyond the poor quality of staffing, the state proves incapable of providing the most basic infrastructure due to one version of incompetence or the other; I live in an estate that has had a poor road connecting to the major road for all of two decades—reasons for this include someone sitting on a contract (taking up the money), or someone else simply forgetting to attend to it. Nigeria’s politically corrupt present and past are well documented in metrics such as the corruption perception index (CPI) compiled by Transparency International, ranking Nigeria 136 out of 175 countries for least corrupt. General political corruption, however, is not the subject of this essay. The consequent poverty, irregular administration of property and land use laws as well as a formation of strong National ideals are.</p><p>As a polity moves from the traditional tribal and patrimonial mode of government, the citizens are forced to gradually drop tribal identities in favour of a more generalised national identity. A person would define themselves first as a Nigerian, for example, before saying they were from a certain village or town. An American might chant "USA" before his designated hometown’s name. This patriotism is born of a formation of shared values and ideals that come about in the context of a strong state that can unify its people. Nigeria remains perpetually on the brink; not quite tribal (although tribalistic on many occasions) but not quite nationally defined in ideals and principles either.</p><p>In ancient dynastic China, first under the influence of the Qin (pronounced Chin), the country's make up was slowly unified under the rule of emperors, as China formed the world's first modern state bureaucracy built on the back of meritocratic appointments. In part two of this essay I draw straighter lines between these strong centralised bureaucracies and the impact on national identity and on architecture in the region; I also contrast this more specifically with the context of Lagos, Nigeria.</p><p><em><br></em></p><p style="text-align: center; "><em><img src="/media/inline_insight_image/1000007277.jpg" alt=""><br></em></p><p><sub><em>Forbidden city China: by Weichao Deng on unsplash&nbsp;</em></sub></p><p><br></p><p>I make the case that the only unifying core value of the average Nigerian is the desire to be able to escape the administration that perpetuates substandard living conditions. This core principle manifests in a pursuit of money that is all-consuming. The logic is sound; if enough money is made one can live out of reach of the poverty that pervades the Nigerian landscape. “Money stops nonsense” “Double your hustle” “If it's not making money it's not making sense.” Nigerians might be familiar with any of these mantras summoning the importance of a sizable bank account. The Nigerian dream is one of salvation through financial freedom. Taken to its extreme, even in religious circles, money with profit becomes deified.</p><p>Returning to Lagos; the capitalist stronghold of Lagos city is a place of pilgrimage for the service of money. Societal values penetrate every aspect of life, and in the financial jewel of Nigeria, the worship of profit does not spare the architecture. In societies with more complex and richer value systems formed on the back of strong national identities, one might have architects designing to profess an admiration for community or perhaps articulate the meek inner city life. Honest, transparent states might design houses that call men of the town to unearth their deeds. Even tribal societies of old have erected their homes with clear priorities backed by their unified value system and identities. A courtyard surrounded by communal homes of one large extended family might show you just how important family is, and apartments in Italy with balconies featuring flowery balustrades looking into the squares or streets paint clearer pictures of where you are.</p><p>The sameness of modern cities is a wider discussion that goes beyond poverty or substandard statehood; the residential architecture of cities to the east and west that we might describe as unique and beautiful, however, face modernist principles armed with strong institutions and clarity on who they are.</p><p><br></p><p><img src="/media/inline_insight_image/1000006909.jpg" alt=""><br></p><p><br></p><p>Lagos has no such good fortune; with an irregular administration of the built environment, featuring laws that can be circumvented by bribery or negligence, the individuals, developers, and designers are treated to a free-for-all. The city is a rowdy discussion of design styles from colonial architecture to the current take on modern architecture; it is a tussle for the display of affluence or cutting of corners to maximise profit. To my left I might look and see a house that has seen no professional attention—it is perhaps unfit for living, the materials failing; the bespoke aesthetics a designer might bring to light, ignored.&nbsp;</p><p>On the other hand, a developer might employ designers of his own; controlling the money and wanting more of it, his brief demands the oblong white and bland cuboids one might find in every gated Lekki estate. When the architects take charge they also, for the most part, bend to no particular ideal beyond profit. When they do not, they impose ideals that are removed from the local context. Between the cracks where these major forces propelling residential design have failed to reach, the common man erects informal settlements removed from this privileged discussion.</p><p><br></p><p><img src="/media/inline_insight_image/1000007268.jpg" alt=""><br></p><p><br></p><p>When I point accusing fingers at the residential architecture that fails to inspire me in Lagos, Nigeria, I channel much blame to the ailing state bureaucracy; the impoverished society it has engendered is lacking not just money but strong unifying values of statehood beyond survival.&nbsp; In the future, I will point to more concrete examples of the architectural failings I described in this piece, and hopefully shed more light on what i believe is a crisis born of another crisis. If Lagos is to create more unique homes that prioritise tenets like well-being or beauty, it might be the case that the government must become more capable; designers and stakeholders might also have to impose a more robust set of principles that reverse engineer a strong sense of identity.</p><p>In part 2 of this essay I further illustrate how the unifying central authority of ancient dynastic China forged a clear identity for its people and its architecture (residential or otherwise) in major cities and then outskirts. I contrast this with how the several disjointed influences on Nigerian and Lagosian architecture have introduced the current landscape with disparate competing styles belied by ideals such as profit, bare bones survival or showing up your neighbours.&nbsp;</p>
States, Societies, and the face of Lagosian Res...
By Joshua Omoijiade
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In People and Society • 2 min read • Jun 14, 2022 11:06a.m.
We are all corrupt!
Let's face it, in this country, basically everyone would have engaged in some sort of corrupt practice at a given time. Whether it is as huge as 'adjusting' figures on an official document, or as 'little' as using influence and connection to bypass protocols. Even the occasional 'wetting of palms' for favours. What else? Others are shamed if they refuse to participate in corrupt practices, or being 'sharp' as we like to call it. You'd most likely be given a hard time, if you insist on doing the right thing as it should be done. I remember once, a family member was threatened by colleagues in his office, for refusal to adjust figures on an official document. I myself, have skipped protocols based on connection (don't judge me). It's everywhere - in schools, work places, community, even churches. Hands up emoji, if you can swear that you haven't been a one-time beneficiary of our dear corrupt country. You may need to think long about this before you answer. Corruption is so much around us, that we sometimes feel odd and out of place, when we do not engage in it. Recently, during a conversation (which happened to be loud enough for me to hear), a man in his righteous anger; wished that those who have engaged in any sort of corrupt practice suffer. I (and I'm sure others) inwardly rebuked it. Certainly, this man does not know the consequences of such wish. In our defence, the country influenced us. You practically cannot live and thrive in this country, without having to bend some rules. We have only adapted to survive. One day, we may finally get to live in a country where things are done the right way, without having to cut corners. But for now, we are all fantastically corrupt!
We are all corrupt!
By Jefferson Nnadiekwe
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Cyrus Majebi
city Lagos • 2 years, 7 months ago
It's the wry smile I have on my face whenever I'm on the benefitting end of corruption. God help us all.
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Joshua Omoijiade
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In Literature, Writing and Blogging • 3 min read • Feb 12, 2023 13:37p.m.
A thought: Why You probably matter.
Up till now, I’ve written on things with more solid footing. My thoughts have been based on experiences in my daily life, and even when I spoke of love in the open or in private logs, I felt my questions fairly articulate. With the topic of cosmic significance, however, it continues to be a lot to wrap my head around. Some of us are not very privileged with unshakable faith, or answers tightly held to the end. I have wondered about the point of it all. In the grand scheme of things, I have wondered about us; the relevance of our sparks and drawn-out lives. These brief moments in the context of infinity. “Human beings existing on a buoyant rock in the middle of everything and nowhere. We are alone and maybe crowded all at once; our beauty is belied by being precious in uniqueness while being utterly unremarkable at the same time” , I once wrote. You might read that and think of gloom, but I thought - no, think - those thoughts with a smile. I find it beautiful.&nbsp; It isn’t that the universe is infinite - we can’t say for sure. But in finite systems and structures, there they are - infinities. There are innumerable combinations of numbers, letters and symbols to make passwords; the possible combinations of those limited musical notes we know are without end, and you will never run out of dreams. Still, if one person’s mind can paint more dreams than we can count, how many things are possible in this cosmos? The universe is a canvas painted with stars, a never-ending masterpiece stretching out in all directions. A place where galaxies swirl and dance, where black holes gobble up everything in their path and where distant suns burn fire that has lasted billions of years. The sheer size of it is staggering; the distances are so vast that light itself takes millions of years to travel between the here and there. And yet, amid this infinite expanse, we find ourselves on a speck of rock, seeking answers to questions that have been asked for centuries, making morning coffee and getting infected by the littlest of things. I might have only made the picture grimmer but I recently found some articulation for my more positive disposition. Why do we think of the significance of things in the universe and wonder only about size? We seem to instinctively maintain that the biggest of things do the most mattering but I recently had my attention drawn by David Deutsch to the way things work on our home planet. On earth, It is often the smallest things that have the biggest impacts. Atoms, the building blocks of matter, create everything we see around us. Single cells, though simple in design, hold the blueprint for all living things. Even invisible viruses can bring about massive change, just think of their ability to disrupt entire societies. And as humans, although we may seem small, our actions and choices have the power to shape the world and leave a lasting impact. &nbsp; Dr David Deutsch is a physicist who believes that what makes these tiny things so relevant is their ability with knowledge. You can only know a finite amount of things, but the reach of your knowledge is positively infinite. So far, nothing can do this as well as us- take ideas, get to meanings and share them with the world or potentially the universe. Viruses matter because they know how to store information and give it over; our cells work this magic, and us - We are important because we know and we can know infinitely more things. We can even pass this knowledge on and make sure it gets updated in the right conditions.&nbsp; For now, this is my position. It might be something I always knew implicitly and it might just be brand new information another human made and shared that made enough sense to me. Till this gets updated with enough rebuttal or i am dissuaded adequately; I’d say you probably matter.
A thought: Why You probably matter.
By Joshua Omoijiade
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In People and Society • 2 min read • Oct 11, 2022 13:51p.m.
Girls, not brides
<span class="html-content"> <p>Hannatu grew up in one of the remote areas in Adamawa state, Nigeria. I didn't even know a place like that existed. She grew up playing with boys, which was a big issue for her parents and neighbours. She was only a child and her innocence blinded her to the prejudice that plagued her society. Boys were boys, but girls were women!&nbsp;</p><p>Also, boys were free while girls were bombarded with a plethora of chains. Their freedom came at a price, and defiance wasn't an option. Accordingly, Hannatu was given out for marriage when she turned 13. From birth, she was betrothed to a man who was her father's age. She became a woman overnight because it was the norm. Culture is, in many regards, peer pressure from the creators of the god concept. At this point, she lost her childhood forever. She could no longer go to their little village school and she was forcefully introduced to BEDmathics. A course she never opted for and wasn't ready for. Like other wives, she had to occasionally sleep with her husband. She was constantly in pain and kept to herself.&nbsp;</p><p>Before she turned 30, some relief workers from the government and UNICEF visited her village. They preached against child marriage and educated the villagers.... By this time, Hannatu's heart was already hardened, and she let her pain rule her. She was at the front of the fight against the relief workers. She wanted other girls to experience what she had felt as a child.&nbsp;</p><p>She had given up on society. She led other women to resist the relief workers. Hannatu was later arrested and she was placed in a rehabilitation center. She was eventually given an opportunity to share her story, which she did. Her story is similar to that of many other young ladies who married as children.</p> <p>There is a need for a strategic alliance between the government and the private sector to address this issue.</p><p>Social media can be used to raise awareness about the detrimental impact of child marriage.&nbsp;</p><p>Children's rights must be preached and protected. It's our responsibility to protect and empower children, as they are our future.</p> <p>Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.</p><p><br></p> <p>'Happy International Girl-Child Day'.</p> </span>
Girls, not brides
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Tomi Walker Product
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In Nigeria • 1 min read • Jan 14, 2023 16:11p.m.
The World Is A Reflection Of The Mind
The world around us is a reflection of the human mind. This is something that I’ve come to internalize and come to believe deeply. You cannot separate an environment from the minds that make up the environment. So what are the implications of this truth? It means that an environment that is beautiful, developed, organized is a result of minds that are equally beautiful, developed and organized. An environment that is chaotic, disorganized, undeveloped is a product of minds that are equally chaotic, disorganized and undeveloped. This might sound harsh, but it is the reality. What it also means is that if you want to build a society that is progressive, you have to focus first on developing minds that are progressive. Everything that brings progress springs forth from a developed mind. The average Nigeria believes ‘if we solve power, we’ve solved 90% of our problems’ or ‘we need to invest in infrastructure to develop’. This misses the whole essence of development. If you want Nigeria to develop, invest in the minds of Nigerians first, and the roads, rails, power and everything else will come. We’ve invested in roads without the engineers to maintain them, rail that crumbled in the absence of rail engineers, bridges and buildings collapsing because of poor workmanship. Investing in infrastructure without investing in the people who will build, maintain and improve the infra shows a fundamental lack of understanding of how true development works. Build the mind of the people. And the people will build the country
The World Is A Reflection Of The Mind
By Tomi Walker
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In People and Society • 2 min read • Jan 05, 2023 15:33p.m.
The Old Man and the Sea
<span class="html-content"><p>I stood there pondering with a smirk on my face. Why is he so slow but so skilled? He waited patiently for his catch, while I was furious for applying all the steps in the fishing playbook without any result. What irritated me the most was the calm that surrounded the old man. He made it look like it was nothing. At least show a bit of frustration so we could all bond over that pain! He didn't flinch. Even when the storm came, he seemed so relaxed. At one point, I just had to confront him for his stillness, and I asked him why with my mouth and eyes.&nbsp;</p><p>His exact words were "expect adversity, embrace the storm, and become one with the sea," and then I rudely interrupted him. I left the pep talk too early, I guess. A few minutes later, I felt a pull, and my eyes lightened like the sunset. I had finally made a catch.&nbsp;</p><p>My first fish!&nbsp;</p><p>Everyone seemed happy for me, and boom, my eyes, and the old man's eyes crossed paths. He still had that poker face, and he winked at me. That wink caused a mental SWERVE, which made everything clear. His words echoed in the chambers of my mind, and my heart skipped. I think the Holy Book should have also asked us to study the sea and learn from it!&nbsp;</p><p>Life is in many ways like the sea. The uncertainties are unlimited, and the outcome of things is not always based on our actions and inactions. Sometimes we do everything right, but everything ends up wrong. In other cases, we somehow feel entitled to win because we didn't skip a step.&nbsp;</p><p>"Morality doesn't guarantee victory, and good people also lose"—don't forget that. Sometimes the storm comes after the calm, or vice versa. It's safer to expect adversity and plan for it. However, "remember that life is better prepared than we are!"&nbsp;</p><p>So yeah, embrace the storm because it is an advantage.&nbsp;</p><p>Besides, "you don't learn to surf on still waters."&nbsp;</p><p>The reality of life is that it could change in a second (either positively or negatively).&nbsp;</p><p>"The old man is one with the sea."</p><p>While experience is not exactly expertise, years on the road would teach you a few things about traffic signs. "Time reveals, light shines, and light blinds." Some of life's most valuable lessons become clear after a storm. It may have been sour for you, but it could be a template or a course for someone else. "Stand still and Ink your journeys" The sea is not the enemy, depending on what you see. Youthful zeal without knowledge is like wildfire.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p> <p>#Swerve&nbsp;</p><p>Learn Unlearn Relearn</p> <p>#LEarn</p> </span>
The Old Man and the Sea
By Samuel Ibok
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Cyrus Majebi Queensley Okon Asiogu Ugochukwu
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Hi, it's Samuel, thanks for reading my insights.
I'm a Creative Writer and Poet on a mission to Tell Stories That Torch! You can find some of my works below https://www.instagram.com/p...
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Tari Ogbowei Content Writer and contributor @ TwoCents
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In Politics • 2 min read • Jun 09, 2022 10:07a.m.
Politics and Stomach Infrastructure
<span class="html-content"> <p>This particular political season has been the most interesting yet and promises to get more interesting in the run-up to the 2023 general elections.The choice of candidates, the manner in which they were elected to represent their parties, what the people have to say about it and what they're willing to do about it.</p> <p>Just yesterday, in the wee hours, the APC primary elections were concluded and Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) was announced the winner after the overnight event. Two things were visibly notable during the event. First is how BAT was vibrating like a broken blender, his hands shaking like the ambassador for Parkinson disease. It took BAT more than 20 seconds to flip a page from the script he was reading from.</p><p>Secondly was how most of the candidates were withdrawing their candidacy and throwing their weight behind BAT. In a country where corruption is rife and buying of delegates is normal, we could say BAT is a political genius. While other contestants were buying delegates, BAT was buying his fellow aspirants and by extension their delegates. The move of a master chess player, a seasoned strategist with a touch of genius.</p><p>That being said, it has been proven in history that countries and kingdoms which are ruled by weak and sick leaders are usually plagued by wars and economic mishaps during their reign. The fact that the APC would give its ticket to a man who's so old, we're not even sure of his age as he keeps shrouding it in mystery and secrecy like a Vatican antique makes it obvious that it doesn't mean well for Nigeria and Nigerians. After our almost 8 year stint with Buhari, the party is willing to field another senile ancestor who should be in a retirement home is disappointing to say the least. It is surprising as well as appalling to see much younger candidates who I believe would have more to offer allow themselves be bought off but it shows just one thing. Our political class is guided by greed and not what they can offer to the people and country. There is not a single care for the citizenry. All they care about is their stomach infrastructure.</p> </span>
Politics and Stomach Infrastructure
By Tari Ogbowei
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Wilson U. Uzoeto
city Abeokuta • 2 days, 14 hours ago

It's been almost two years since this write up and it's interesting how all the fears you highlighted came to pass..

What do you...

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Jefferson Nnadiekwe Freelance scriptwriter and creative photographer
city Lagos, Nigeria
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In Literature, Writing and Blogging • 3 min read • Aug 20, 2024 17:15p.m.
OFFENDING SENSITIVITIES
<p>Modern social courtesy demands that we be economical with opinions and judgement - even if it is the truth. Gone are the days were the honesty was encouraged irrespective of whose Ox is gored. It's 'growth', and 'development', so I guess I have to live with it right?</p><p><br></p><p>But just before I go on with living with it, permit me a few minutes to bare my mind. What the hell?! Where are we going to as a people if we see black and can't call it black because a certain group would be offended with that accuracy? How do we learn from mistakes if pointing out said mistakes makes one a 'prude'? This woke nonsense has to stop!&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Liberalism and conservatism would always be at loggerheads. Both of them have their strengths and shortcomings - but nobody never accepts that with liberalism. One of the most championed mantras of liberalism is 'live and let live'. While that makes a lot of sense and proposes freedom, mankind simply cannot live and let live. Because living and letting to live has the possibility of offending the natural order of things, and should be called out at this point.</p><p><br></p><p>A ready example that comes to mind is dress code/sense. There is this ideology spawning among us that clothes are a means to express ourselves and hence nobody should be criticized for whatever they choose to wear. Come on! This makes zero sense. Clothes are not always a means of self expression because different places demand specific dress codes. You cannot walk into an office in a bikini can you? Well given the way things are going, one might be able to do that. There was a social media post about a lady who was sent away from an interview based on her dressing and choice of clothing. Annoyingly, some people expressed their dissatisfaction and maligned the interviewer for infringing on her rights.</p><p>While there were thankfully others who were bold enough to call it for what it is - a fault on the applicant's part, the mere fact that it was a debate was just appalling.</p><p><br></p><p>It's same thing with revealing clothes being worn out in public places or functions. An air of discomfort lingers but no one wants to say anything, because they're afraid to look a certain way. Children shouldn't be exposed to indecent exposure - we know this much, but somehow we let it slide because wokeism. Look, I'm not against freedom of self expression - hell, my career demands it. However, we should be able to draw a line and say enough when it's clearly gotten out of hand. This is why I appreciate the likes of Andrew Tate, and Jordan Peterson.</p><p><br></p><p>Say what you want about those men (especially Andrew), but their willingness to offend sensitivities is badly needed. The world is going left so fast that we need people who aren't scared to raise an alarm. A very sensitive yet crucial topic people are scared to speak on, is gender/identity politics. For example, only a handful of people warn about hormone blocking drugs and its side effects when more awareness is needed on it. The threat of cancel culture has shut role models and individuals with influence from speaking against abnormalities that are being paraded as the norm. Thankfully men like Andrew and Jordan constantly resist the efforts to be silenced - shout out to the others in this class.</p><p><br></p><p>We cannot keep putting sensitivities over truth. Neither can we continue to give into the gaslighting that aims to validate wrongs as 'personal choices'. Should we continue like it, mankind could become so jaded that the lines between good and evil, what is acceptable and what is not; would become to blurred to distinguish. And when it gets to that point, we would all be in trouble.</p>
OFFENDING SENSITIVITIES
By Jefferson Nnadiekwe
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Hi, it's Jefferson, thanks for reading my insights.
I'm a creative screenwriter, photographer, cinematographer and creative director. You can check out some of my works here https://instagram.com/themi...
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