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Tari Ogbowei Content Writer and contributor @ TwoCents
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In Politics • 3 min read • Oct 07, 2022 23:59p.m.
THE FAMED NIGERIAN POLITICAL STRUCTURE
When one gets into a conversation that leads to talking about the problems of Nigeria and proffering solutions, sooner than later, you realise that in analysing one problem, there is another problem that is connected to the initial one. Before even getting to the part of solutions, you realise that Nigeria is a myriad of problems interwoven and interconnected to each other like a spider's web. Corruption as it stands seems to be the biggest problem Nigeria is facing today. Corruption in Nigeria is a hydra. It is multifaceted and multilevel. From the head down to the tail, it's all infested. Let's look at a few cases. If we talk about the menace of police brutality, we'll all agree that there are laws which prevent these kinds of things from happening. Infact the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has its rules of engagement which guides its activities and its interactions with members of the public, yet you still have members for the NPF acting with so much impunity and high-handedness. From this one problem, it is not difficult to notice that there are other issues which are directly related to it. Firstly, you find out that there is a lack of political will by those in the police higher ups as well as our political class to enforce the laws and regulations that guides the NPF to achieve the needed professionalism. This lack of political will also stems from the fact that those in the higher ups and political class benefit from the chaos that the unprofessionalism of the NPF creates which is another problem in itself. Another thing is that the people who bear the brunt of the recklessness, high-handedness and brutality of the NPF fail to stand up for themselves. For many reasons they allow themselves to be extorted, maligned and mistreated by members of the NPF. This can attributed to a high level of illiteracy, poverty and ignorance. The police brutality example is just one of many in the sea of problems we exist in and refer to as normal. While we started from corruption as a problem, we have now gotten to the point in this piece where we recognise illiteracy, poverty and ignorance as problems too. At this point whose fault is it? While some might argue that the government doesn't own total responsibility in creating wealth and employment, and also improve the educational standard of its country or locale, of which I agree that both government and citizenry have their own roles to play. We must realise that it is government's responsibility to form sound policies that will drive these sectors and create the enabling environment for them to thrive. Alas our government has failed to do just that. This is primarily so because the political class, like I mentioned earlier benefits from the chaos this lack creates. They have intentionally kept the people poor, hungry and beggarly, and have become experts at weaponising the widespread poverty. More recently, they have continued to intentionally reduce the standard of education by funding it less and creating policies that create bottlenecks for educational growth like that which the National Assembly passed a bill to remove history from the secondary schools' educational curriculum. In developed countries, government ensures the prosperity of its people and by extension its nation by educating its people and ensuring their presperity, while the Nigerian leaders, a political class bereft of ideas does everything within its power to ensure its people are poor and illiterate so that there will be no one smart and bold enough to challenge it while ensuring its perpetuity as the gate keepers of power. The ignorant and poor masses who can't stand up to its slavers, and will do their bidding for the biblical pot of porridge is who the political class refer to as their POLITICAL STRUCTURE. Anything other than this is a threat. This is why a prosperous and educated citizenry will never appeal to the greedy and inept who continue to invent new ways to perpetuate its hold on political power.
THE FAMED NIGERIAN POLITICA...
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Ayebaibomo Praise Atalawei
city Yenagoa • 2 months ago

Until Nigerians collectively rise up to demand accountability and good governance, the cycle of corruption, poverty, and oppression wi...

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Friday Okwori Human @ Earth
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In Religion • 4 min read • Apr 14, 2023 09:47a.m.
Old Dumb Man
Babatunde recently finished the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). He was a bright young guy, full of hope and self-assurance as he readied himself to confront the harsh realities of the outside world. Like many others, he had reached the point where he would be accountable for making all life-related decisions by himself. Although there are many unknowns in life after NYSC, Tunde made the decision to remain optimistic and composed. In all honesty, he had no reason to worry about a job or anything of the sort; he came from a very wealthy family. He belonged to the tiny percentage of people in his nation who were free to pursue their passions. Passion is undoubtedly a luxury that only a select few can afford in a nation with such a high unemployment rate. The Adebayo’s, Tunde's family, may be extremely affluent, yet their humility is what stands out most about them. They are also incredibly intelligent and are able to have lengthy discussions with anyone about any topic. Although both parents may have retired from their jobs, they are still actively involved in their church and other humanitarian organizations. They are blessed with two children – Tunde and his elder brother. Most people assume that Tunde is the only child because his brother is rarely there owing to school and work. When Tunde returned from NYSC, he began acting in ways that everyone who knew him found concerning. His parents ignored it and instead prayed about it. One day, while everyone was chatting, Tunde entered the room and requested his father for his portion of the inheritance. He complained to his father that he was sick of being treated like a child and that it was time to start acting like a man. As soon as Tunde made his demand, he left the room, as if to demonstrate to them that things had changed from what had been the norm. Welcome to reality, The Adebayo’s! The parents had a difficult night that day. The mother cried out to God, pleading for help because the devil had seized control of her son's life. Mr. Adebayo was astonished by what he heard. As far back as he could recall, he was aware that they had been good parents. Why would their child suddenly stray from the path they had raised him? Mr. Adebayo summoned Tunde at first light and surprisingly acceded to his requests. His wife had no idea it would happen, leaving her in disbelief. Tunde already had his luggage prepared, so he simply grabbed them and left. He was courteous enough to tell his parents not to worry about him - he was on a journey to discover himself. A few days after receiving his inheritance, he posted many pictures of himself in a club with various barely dressed women on his Whatsapp and Instagram accounts. It was from one club to the other - he was living the life. Dorime no be for civil servant but in his case, he made even Tech bros look like civil servants. In case you don’t know, he was given a trust fund as his own inheritance. No employment could possibly provide him with the amount of money he had accessible to him. He eventually deleted all his social media accounts. No one could reach him any longer because he also changed his contacts. Everyone was concerned about Tunde. The most recent information they got about him was that he was abroad. As much as they could, prayers were said for him in church. His mother experienced some health issues, including high blood pressure. Although he tried to appear unconcerned, his father was worried about his son's protracted departure from the house. He regularly checked his phone to see if there was any information regarding his whereabouts. Everyone attempted to move on, but it was impossible. Indeed, it is the hope that kills. Oh lest I forget, his parents were swindled severally by people that assured them Tunde would be brought home safely. It was such emotional trauma. Tunde contacted his father one day and pleaded for permission to return, but this time as a servant. Before he had even finished speaking, his father promised him he would arrange for a first-class ticket for him to return home. He only had to get to the airport. His parents dispatched someone to pick him up at the airport because they couldn't bear the notion of being disappointed at the airport if he didn't arrive when he said he would. Tunde's father went after him and hugged his long-lost son as soon as he got out of the car. Nobody bothered to control their tears at that moment; they all just let them flow freely. The relief of having their son back home overwhelmed his parents. They celebrated enthusiastically, disregarding prudence. From one celebration to the next it was. Even Tunde found it hard to think that his parents would rejoice at his return home; he knew what he deserved. After the party was done, Mr. Adebayo's close friends inquired about the crazy celebration. Apparently, they had heard that it was being held in honour of their rebellious son, but they thought it was rather foolish. Mr. Adebayo acknowledged that his child was the reason for the celebrations, and he couldn't care less if people thought he was an old dumb man. After all, it was his own child that returned home.
Old Dumb Man
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Udochi Umeha
city Lagos • 2 months ago

I feel like I have just read the parable of the prodigal son with a Nigerian narrative.

edited
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Tari Ogbowei Content Writer and contributor @ TwoCents
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In Politics • 3 min read • Jul 22, 2022 20:59p.m.
THE DEVIL CALLED APC
The Holy book says, "The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy." It also says in another portion, "The devil is the father of lies." In yet another, it says "By their fruits you shall know them." The APC, under the leadership of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, since the day it was formed has lied to Nigerians about basically everything, painted what is not in the person of the current President  Muhammadu Buhari who will be leaving office soon with virtually all his campaign promises unfulfilled. Buhari's almost 8 years in power has seen Nigerians killed and their properties destroyed as against better security they were promised during his campaign. It has also seen their livelihoods stolen from them by a dwindling economy and biting exchange rate as against the $1 to #1 campaign promise. This same APC with Tinubu as its flag bearer is without shame, again contesting for the office of the President. Despite all the failings of the APC, one would expect its presidential flagbearer, Tinubu, whose pedigree and integrity is in question to have some sense and genuinely appease the people by better actions and utterances and also appeal to their senses but that will seem a far-fetched tale as Tinubu keeps towing the line of a high-handed power drunk maniac who must get what he wants to the detriment of every other person involved. In a secular state as Nigeria, he would be expected to pick a running mate of the Christian faith, but typical power hungry Tinubu who thinks a Muslim running mate will ensure him more votes from the Muslim dominated North has probably shot himself in the foot as Christians all over the country have rejected his candidacy. Right thinking Muslims from both North and South have also rejected him. Following his very clear and massive rejection by the Nigerian Christian community for his disregard of their interests, he resorted to the old trick of crowd renting. Only that this time, he took it a step further by dressing up his rented crowd as Christian bishops who came to endorse his choice of former Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima as his running mate during the official unveiling of the APC vice presidential candidate. The same social media which was one of his major tools in white washing President Buhari and selling him to the Nigerian populace as an incorruptible Saint is what has been used to his great disadvantage as many Nigerians quickly identified Tinubu's collegiate of Bishops as their mechanics, meat sellers and others as ordinary motor park touts. Instead of an unveiling of the APC vice presidential candidate, it was rather an unveiling of a huge fraud and also the fraud that Tinubu is. The senile Tinubu who has lost touch with reality couldn't even convincingly stage his lie. Christian Bishops usually wear particular colors for different Christian seasons but Tinubu's Bishops wore the colors of every Christian calender in one outing. One even had a Boys Brigade cap on. I'm quite sure Tinubu's campaign team have the hardest job in the country right now, coming up with an explanation for the abysmal failure of this attempt at deception as well as his other very unintelligent campaign speeches. To come up with this poorly planned and executed fiasco, it's either, Tinubu felt Nigerians would be too dumb to see through his charade or he really does not care what the masses think which gives credence to my earlier description of him as power drunk maniac who would engage in the most obscene act to realise his unholy goal. Our elders say, it is only a mad man that does the same thing repeatedly and expects a different result. Tinubu has started with lies worse than those that brought Buhari to power which culminated into the present state of lawlessness and economic dearth. Those lies which have led to wanton stealing, killing and destruction. It seems the APC only propagates those with the virtues of the devil. It is then safe to say that the APC is the physical representation of the devil in Nigeria and as such the APC itself is a DEVIL.
THE DEVIL CALLED APC
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In Literature, Writing and Blogging • 3 min read • May 07, 2024 00:23a.m.
The Impact Of Our Kindness
<p>I follow an Instagram page called “Diary Of A Naija Girl.” It is run by a very vocal, intelligent and successful woman entrepreneur who shares her life experiences as well as the experiences of others, and us who keep up with her posts can seek advice and connect with each other, as we’ve grown to become a strong community of women – both home and abroad, bonded through our similar struggles.</p><p><br></p><p>I stumbled on one of DANG’s (for short) posts today; about the kindness of a stranger. She was a “fresher” as we call first year undergrads, and while trying to register her courses and navigate college life one fateful day, she found herself stuck in the rain, completely drenched and worse – stranded right in front of her home, as her roommates were not around to let her into their shared apartment.&nbsp;</p><p>This stranger who happened to know this lady’s roomies invited her to her place; giving her shelter from the rain, then proceeded to offer her a change of clothes and also heat up a glass of beverage for her.&nbsp;</p><p>According to the narrator, this experience occurred 24 years ago, but has remained in her mind and in her heart till this very day. And even though this is something I’ve always known, I’m reminded that kind gestures are so powerful, they can outlive the person who extended said kindness.&nbsp;</p><p>It is the same thing with vileness. You can be so vitriolic, the negative impact on other people’s lives remain with them forever.&nbsp;</p><p><em>That’s why it’s important to choose kindness every day because would you rather be remembered for kicking a person when they were down, or for lifting them up? If your answer is negative, you be weyrey. 😩</em></p><p>Imagine somebody remembering you over two whole decades since they first encountered you; simply because of a moment of benevolence.&nbsp;</p><p>The aforementioned story about the undergrad also reminds me of Adele the iconic singer, on stage, recounting her early teenage years with a particular favorite teacher of hers who was kind and took the time to be there for her students in special ways that the singer never forgot.&nbsp;Fast forward to being a multiple Grammy award winner years after, and Adele was on stage, telling the world the story of this teacher of hers. The teacher was in attendance as a surprise for Adele and when her presence was revealed, she moved the famous singer to tears. So memorable a person, your teenage students become fully grown adults, but can never forget you.&nbsp;</p><p><em>What a legacy!&nbsp;</em></p><p>I too have experienced the kindness of friends as well as strangers, as we all have.&nbsp;</p><p>One particular moment I’ll always be grateful for, was a friend driving me to lend some money from another friend of his; so I could have transport fare to travel outside of Lagos where I reside, and star in my first feature film. Today, everytime that movie comes up on the Iroko Tv platform, I remember the person who made it possible for me to be in that movie and I mouth a silent prayer to God, blessing them for what they did for me.</p><p><br></p><p>A singular act of kindness can change not just your life but the life of the recipient and years later, you and them can still reap the rewards of that one symbolic gesture.</p><p>And in the wise words of one commenter under Dang’s post, specifically the one about the caring stranger — <strong>‘Always be kind to people, that’s how you live forever, in their hearts.’&nbsp;</strong></p><p>And I completely agree!</p><p><em>Please endeavor to spread some kindness and cheer as you go about your day to day, I assure you, the world will be better for it. 😌😊</em></p>
The Impact Of Our Kindness
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Tari Ogbowei Content Writer and contributor @ TwoCents
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In Politics • 4 min read • Jun 27, 2022 12:16p.m.
INEC'S Subtle Responsibility
It's election season. With less than a year to the 2023 General elections, beautiful things, it seems are happening. The politically inactive South seems to be waking up from a very deep slumber. I wouldn't like to attribute this to anyone or anything in particular. Just the fact that there's an increase in awareness and interest of the people is a joyous development. In the not so distant past, we had people who would see you as a fool for vying for political positions if they deemed you not "strong enough" as politics has always been seen as a dirty game, only for those with strong hearts and machismo. People used to be mocked for being a part of the electoral process. Their usual argument being, "Our votes don't count", so why waste precious time and resources that could be diverted somewhere else for better productivity and result. Presently, the reverse seems to be the case. If feels like a wake up call was sounded, like there's this alarm which just buzzed and reminded everyone who they are and what they need to do. People are now encouraging themselves to register for their PVCs and exercise their franchise. More people are beginning to register in political parties and vye for elective positions. It seems there's a paradigm shift in the thought process of these people. It seems the wind of change has blown enough air into the sails of the peoples' ship has picked up speed. There's this unexplainable gusto about 2023 and the Electoral process. It feels like real change cannot wait any longer. Could this be providence or mere coincidence . INEC recently declared that there's been over 10 million new registrations and majority of them, from the South. More people are even lining up at INEC offices daily across the southern states to either register or sort out issues related to the election process. Interesting stats. The people are beginning to want to do their bit but is INEC ready to do its bit? It would seem so but it's bit goes beyond registering the people for their Voter's card and conducting elections. What processes have been set up to get these PVCs to their owners when ready? I, my friends and a whole lot of other students registered for our Voter's card in 2010 while we were still undergraduates. We were so enthused about the forthcoming 2011 general elections because Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the Vice President at the time who was from our state was contesting for the presidency. Most of us had just attained the age of majority so were so excited about exercising these newly bestowed rights. While we got our temporary voter's card immediately after the registrations, as is the norm, it was quiet for a while. There was no word from INEC or anyone as to when we'd receive our PVCs. It seemed like forever and most of us took out minds off it. Then one evening, just as the harsh afternoon sun was retiring, news began to trickle in that the PVCs were ready. All our PVCs were in the possession of some unidentified persons who were distributing them at certain points across the small town. Some people were lucky enough to get theirs, others not so lucky as the ran to every point they had heard the distribution was going on, yet they couldn't find theirs. I even heard that at some of the distribution points, boxes of PVCs were thrown in the floor and scattered all over when the distributors became hard pressed. Those who could find theirs picked it and went away while the larger number of PVCs without owners were abandoned. Some people picked up the cards of their friends and those of others who they were able to recognise. Many others like me, didn't even hear about the distribution until a few days later. How would we get our PVCs following the melee of a few days back, the distributors largely unidentified? The whole process was just so disorganised and aim of even registering for the PVC in the first place, partly defeated as huge number of people disenfranchised by this callousness. If I can't get my PVC, why register in the first place. I was lucky to find mine about 2 weeks later when a junior colleague saw me on the road and informed me that he was in possession of my PVC. A few days ago, I spoke to a friend who also registered in 2011 while we were still undergraduates. She never got her PVC. She decided to go apply for a reprint and transfer of Polling unit. It's been months now, she still hasn't got her PVC. It's been from one office to the other and at the end of the day, it's either gone missing midway or hasn't been printed at all. It's been over 10 years and till date, you still get complains of people never getting their PVCs after they registered. Since then, I have thought about how easy it is to get these PVCs get to their owners and not go missing midway or whether it's a deliberate act to disenfranchise the large demography of Voter's or would be voters. I think it's quite easy to achieve if we compare it the banking system of ATM cards' distribution. Create collection points at designated areas, likely polling units, open a register where people can sign to confirm collection and make sure that a card cannot be picked up by proxy. What is INEC's solution to this problem? Or 12 years down the line, are we still going to go the same route of missing PVCs which never reach their owners?
INEC'S Subtle Responsibility
By Tari Ogbowei • 3 plays
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Unpopular Opinion

The True Art of Advertising is Dead! (Part 1)

by | Esther Omemu
I dare digital marketers or social media managers to argue with me on this. I was born, bred, and established in advertising, this is the first line of my bio on my portfolio and it is the truest statement I have ever made. I was born at the age when people who worked in advertising were some of the coolest people to walk the face of the business world. A time when people sacrificed their pers...
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Ugochukwu Asiogu I conduct research and provide critical analysis on human security, and development issues.
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In History and Culture • 3 min read • Feb 10, 2023 08:43a.m.
A Peep At The Famous Kalacuta Republic
It would be quite unsurprising if I am told that those who were born in the late 90s and even 2000s do not know about the famous Kalacuta Republic or have never heard about it. The reason of course is not farfetched. It is either they do not care to read history textbooks, listen to Nigerian history documentaries on the radio and television, or they are just knowledge haters. Yes, you heard that right. People are so different and weird when it comes to knowledge seeking. That notwithstanding, let us get straight to the main focus of this article. Derived from the "Black Hole of Calcutta Dungeon" located in India, Nigeria's famous Kalacuta Republic is the name given to the residence where Nigeria's popular afro -pop musician - Fela Kuti, his family, band group and recording studio lived. Interestingly, Kalacuta is also a mockery of a prison cell named "Calcutta". Located presently at No. 14 Agege road, Idi-Oro, Mushin, Lagos State, Nigeria, the Kalacuta Republic accommodates a recording facility as well as a health clinic. It is on record that upon the musical icon's return from the United States in 1970, exactly after the Nigerian Civil War, he declared the Kalacuta Republic, an Independent entity or nation so to speak from the Nigerian State and her military government which he repeatedly referred to as "Wayo government" meaning fraudulent government. Consequently, the compound - a part of the Kalacuta Republic was burned to the ground on February 18, 1977 after an assault perpetrated by Nigerian soldiers (based on an order given by the military government). This was obviously a rage that erupted because of Fela's reference to them as 'ombie' in his song. You know that saying - the truth is bitter and when it is told, it discomforts the offenders? The same thing happened to the military junta which decided to react offensively against Fela Kuti. In the song Zombie, Fela ctiticised Nigerian soldiers of his time for obeying orders blindly and foolishly, allowing themselves to be used as tools to wreck havoc against the same people they pledged loyalty to defend and protect. Having being frustrated with the Nigerian army's rank and file that allowed corruption and the intimidation of the people to thrive unceasingly, Fela vehemently expressed his dissatisfaction and outright rejection of the government's impunity. His song 'Zombie' was so popular in Nigeria to the extent that it drew the attention of then Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo, who was unhappy with Fela Kuti's constant lambasting of his government. During the attack at the Kalacuta Republic, it was unfortunate that Fela Kuti's mother, Frances Abigai Olufumilayo was thrown out of the window of the second floor, an infamous event which led to her death after being in coma for about two months. On February 20, 1978, the Ace afro-pop giant secretly married twenty-seven women - his back-up singers who were popularly known as the Kalacuta Queens. When asked of his reason for marrying these twenty-seven women, he explained that he did what he did in order to give them social and economic security and save them from the thorns of unemployment and poverty especially after the recording studio had been destroyed. To Fela Kuti, these women needed to be protected as the Yoruba tradition demands. Even upon Fela Kuti's demise, the Kalacuta Republic has remained a legendary and historical site for the remembrance of Nigeria's struggles and quest for equity, fairness, justice and good governance. This explains that the trouble with Nigeria never started today or even yesterday; it began the moment men began to think with their nose, see with their anus and lead with their ego! The problem of Nigeria began the moment the British saw Nigeria as a good business conglomerate and Nigerians as perfect commodities of trade. Unfortunately, this same ideology was handed down to the leaders of the first republic who instead of truncating it and creating a new vision for the country, decided to embrace it. Today, the Kalacuta Republic has been rebuilt and turned into a museum - the Kalacuta Museum. It was officially launched and opened for public usage on October 15, 2012 in commemoration of Fela Kuti's 74th posthumous birthday. The museum contains the display of Fela Kuti's dance clothing, Instruments, artworks, restaurant and a hotel. Indeed, the Kalacuta Republic was a Republic in a Republic.
A Peep At The Famous Kalacu...
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Tobi Igbinedion
city Lagos • 3 months, 1 week ago

The man Fela. A legend and Myth. Surprised me when there were arguments as to if Burna Boy had surpassed his legacy. Like how? In a f...

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Ugochukwu Asiogu I conduct research and provide critical analysis on human security, and development issues.
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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 religi...
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Queensley Okon
city Ota • 3 months, 3 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 Music and Entertainment • 2 min read • Oct 06, 2022 17:18p.m.
I think there's enough money in the music industry to go around.
<span class="html-content"> <p>Do I have the math to back it up? Probably not but there must be a lot of money, with the rate artistes have been suing each other lately over copyright infringement and intellectual property theft. For those people who have been wondering if the law works in the industry, I guess now we know it does.</p> <p>We have seen the biggest names face lawsuits on infringement, up from 2baba, Tiwa Savage and Wizkid, down to the newbies; BadboyTimz and the latest, Joeboy. Yep! Joeboy has just been threatened with a copyright lawsuit, by Asa and she's demanding for #300 million in compensation. Apparently, this is for his new song, "Contour", there was a sample and producer issue. I get the issue but literally everyone aware of the news is in a frenzy about the amount demanded.</p> <p>I can't remember a time where the music industry had such lawsuits flying around consecutively. I mean, even BadboyTimz sued his former record label for libelous publication. I think it's awesome that artistes are taking the value of their craft more seriously but if these monetary demands flying up and down gets serious, it might be a big problem.</p><p>&nbsp;I hope nobody goes dirt digging into Omah Lay's latest album, "Boy Alone" for any copyright problem o. That was and is still a masterpiece and the sure boy just purchased a mansion on Lagos Island for almost half a billion naira. Yep, I don't think that guy is really alone o. 😅</p> </span>
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Jefferson Nnadiekwe Freelance scriptwriter and creative photographer
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In Career and Jobs • 4 min read • Jul 16, 2024 16:24p.m.
VICTORIES AND NUGGETS
<p>Deep breath... Alright, let's get the good news out - I placed 2nd in a recently concluded screenwriting competition... yay!!! Sure I was gunning for first, but when I think about how big the competition was and imagine the hundreds if not thousands of entries that were sent in, 2nd place is huge. And for that, I am so grateful to God for this talent he has given me, and myself for honing and sharpening it.</p><p><br></p><p>I vividly remember the afternoon I came across the announcement post for the competition like it was yesterday. I also remember going through the comments and visiting the pages of the writers who had indicated their interest. I will have to admit, I did feel like entering the competition was a futile effort, as I saw way more experienced writers throw in their hats into the ring. Thankfully, I shook up the jitters and decided to give it a shot. And today, I have a recognition and honor from a pool of experienced filmmakers.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>That is the first lesson I Iearned from this experience - compete! If you wish to go far in your career, you have to be willing to go up against the best in that field. Sometimes, we get so comfortable and content with where we are that we do not see the heights we can attain. As long as we have family and friends who tell us that we are 'good', that is okay with us. But you do not really know how good you are until you test yourself against hungry and talented individuals gunning for the same thing. So do not be scared to compete.</p><p><br></p><p>Another thing I learned from this journey is to always be prepared. I am not ashamed to say that I have wished to break into the film industry fully. I am also not ashamed to say that it hasn't always gone as expected. However one thing that remained constant is I kept preparing myself. Through continuous idea development, sharpening my skills and sourcing for writing opportunities, I unknowingly prepared myself for this moment. Once, while nursing a disappointment, a friend of mine said to me 'the good thing is that you are getting yourself ready for when that opportunity comes'... And boy was she right. For sure this is a launch pad to greater heights, and I would have missed it if I wasn't prepared.</p><p><br></p><p>Preparation is nothing without consistency, and I wouldn't be one of the winners in this competition if it wasn't for consistency. Let nobody deceive you, consistency is hard - and that is putting it mildly. Putting in the work in varying degrees daily can be frustrating, especially when it seems like the results aren't coming. One thing I have learned is that the results are always present, but because we fixate on the grand picture, we overlook the little wins. Ironically, these little wins are the steps towards the bigger ones.</p><p><br></p><p>In the past, I have fiddled with the idea of pivoting into something else. Especially those times it felt like everyone else has their lives figured out and I'm flailing. At those times what kept me going was the thought that all of the hard work and aspirations would be for nothing. Do I wish it happened sooner? Of course. However I am recently learning that there is no actual deadline for the rewards of hard work to manifest.</p><p><br></p><p>My final lesson is a petty one - do not throw your pearls to swines. Sometime last year, I entrusted one of my stories to a 'producer' who clearly couldn't handle such story. Said producer tried desperately to make me believe that my script was incomprehensible and in her words 'maybe na you and your friends go watch am'. In less than a month after she said that, here I am with a recognition by seasoned industry folks.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>The point of my little story is not everyone would appreciate your craft and it's much better to identify those people and avoid them. A swine cannot comprehend the value of a pearl after all. In a situation where you misjudged and indeed cast your pearls to swines, count your losses and move on. The people who would appreciate your work are out there.</p><p><br></p><p>There are a lot of lessons I could draw from this bit of good news, but I will leave that till next time when I am the king of the mountain.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
VICTORIES AND NUGGETS
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Rosemary Adelani
city Abeokuta • 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Congratulations.

But I'll love to add that support from friends and families also helps one to be prepared and courageous to fac...

Hi, it's Jefferson, thanks for reading & listening to 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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Godwin Erite Project Manager @ Acceler8ed Marketing Services
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In Nigeria • 2 min read • Jul 28, 2024 21:28p.m.
My Life's Chapter 5; Surviving Naija
<p>If life was a book what would be its title for you?<br></p><p>"The Journey of Faith" will be the title, and this chapter will be tagged "Surviving Naija; Keeping the Dream Alive".</p><p>Every Nigerian should earn a certificate of survival at this point because what the f*** is going on here?</p><p>Is this the end of the world for us here?&nbsp;</p><p>If this was a prank it isn't funny anymore, the margin dividing the poor and the rich has grown so tin and more people are seemingly poor than rich, maybe they were rich a few months back but right it seems we have more daylight robberies in the form of utilities and commercial ventures, No blame pushing here to the private sector cause it takes a lot to operate in an economy like the Nigerian Economy, but things are happening, imagine how banks don't have the cash to dispense and POS vendors always having money, like how are we buying the Naira as Nigerians?</p><p>Scratch the banking sector what about the bandits tagged A, B, and C, I heard some are bandless bandits, here's broad daylight robbery cause how the hell do they calculate it, but well on the other hand people do not use electrical appliances like they use to, if you are sharing a prepared meter with your name by now you should be awarded a private investigators batch cause people get know their neighbors bad habits of leaving lights and tv on and its all coming down to bills, unavoidable cost of living, let's not even talk about security.</p><p>Do we have a democrazy or are we crazy?</p><p>They have made us into clowns, who do not know the definition of a democratic system of government.</p><p>Well, we all are tired at this point and looking for a way out...&nbsp;</p><p>But what way would that be?</p>
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Joshua Omoijiade Architect @ James Cubitt Architects
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In Design • 5 min read • Mar 10, 2024 16:46p.m.
The Song of the City and the Taste of our Coffee
Why is it that a person in one city can wake up late, stroll to a nearby coffee shop, and savour a leisurely start to the day, while another in a neighbouring city wakes at dawn, battling traffic just for a lukewarm cup of instant coffee at work? The answer stretches far beyond a simple "why." It delves into the realm of urban design – how the built environment shapes our choices, even seemingly mundane ones like our morning routines. This exploration bypasses the complexities of free will vs. determinism. However, it acknowledges that our "free" choices often operate within a framework shaped by external influences, including the design of our cities. We don't choose our childhood environments, and even when we choose where to live and work, we don't get to dictate road designs, building density, or bicycle lanes. We can migrate or change jobs, but even then, we enter a new web of urban (or rural) influences. Let's explore two contrasting cities, Draba and Prana, through the mornings of two fictional residents, Mr. Shonebare and Mr. Tomide. While acknowledging their individual choices, we'll highlight how urban design shapes their experiences. <br><br> <h5><b>Morning 1: The Rush Hour Symphony of Draba</b></h5> It's 4:00 am in the sprawling outskirts of Draba, a city of concrete and sand. Mr. Shonebare, a man built for comfort more than speed, stirs awake. As on every weekday, he beats his alarm and dresses quickly, hoping not to disturb his wife. By 5:00 am, he's on the road in his Jeep, navigating the pre-dawn darkness. He speeds past the few figures trudging to the bus stop, a fleeting moment of smugness crossing his face as he hits the highway – no traffic yet. He arrives at work early, the third person through the door at 6:00 am. He settles into his seat and switches on the electric kettle for coffee. Before the water boils, sleep overtakes him. He awakens with a jolt 35 minutes later, heavy-eyed and burdened by fatigue. He sips his poorly made coffee, staring at the city awakening through the glass walls of his corner office on the 9th floor. "Thank you, God, for today," he murmurs, collapsing back into his chair at 7:00 am. <br><br> <h5><b>Morning 2: The Gentle Serenade of Prana</b></h5> Meanwhile, across the continent in the heart of Prana, the time is 7:21 am. Outside a brick and timber house on the edge of a quiet cul-de-sac, Mr Tomide finally emerges from bed. The aroma of freshly made pancakes, courtesy of his girlfriend Katherine, proves more effective than the alarm or the morning light filtering through the blinds. A leisurely 20 minutes later, he's out the door with a half-eaten pancake in one hand and a briefcase in the other. He greets his neighbour Tommy with a smile as he heads to his bicycle, and arrives at his local coffee shop by 8:14 am. "My usual, please," he says, reaching for his card. "Here you go, Mr. Tomide," replies the barista, Sharon, with a smile. "Thank you, Sharon. See you tomorrow," he replies before heading to work. He stumbles into his office seat at 8:50 am, exchanging greetings and completing his daily check-in. By 9:00 am, he finishes his coffee with a satisfied sigh, a sense of accomplishment washing over him for having navigated a smooth morning routine. <br><br> <h5><b>The Architect's Invisible Hand</b></h5> Let's assume both men work similar corporate hours and have comparable social-economic backgrounds. Now, let's examine how the design of their respective cities shapes their experiences. Draba is a car-dependent city. Wide, abundant roads prioritize automobiles. Walking is impractical; affordable housing sprawls far from the central business district. Sidewalks are patchy, and disrupted by car access points. Buses, though available, get caught in traffic, offering little advantage. This design practically forces car ownership. Mr. Shonebare's 4:00 am wake-up call isn't a personal choice; it's a consequence of Draba's car-centric layout. Waking up later would mean battling rush hour traffic, a Hobson's choice at best. There's no time for a coffee shop stop – they might not be open at his ungodly hour. Even if there were a nearby shop, his constant rush blinds him to his surroundings. His free will isn't eliminated, but certain options become more practical within the framework of his city. In contrast, Prana is a walkable city. While the central business district isn't necessarily within walking distance for everyone, bicycles and well-maintained walkways offer convenient alternatives. Mr. Tomide's leisurely wake-up reflects this design. Since his city prioritizes pedestrians and cyclists, he can choose a more relaxed pace. He has time for breakfast with his partner, a friendly exchange with a neighbour, and a familiar coffee stop. His life unfolds at a less frenetic pace, allowing him to savour his surroundings and potentially work more efficiently. Ironically, Mr. Shonebare might not realize how much better his morning could be, just as Mr. Tomide might not grasp the luxury of his daily routine. <br><br> <h5><b>Beyond Choices: A Call to Design</b></h5> Both men make choices, reflecting a compatibilist view of free will and determinism. Our "free" choices operate within a world that shapes and influences them. This underscores the importance of thoughtful urban design. Decisions about city plans and architecture aren't just about aesthetics; they impact the daily lives of residents. They create a web of influences, some with far-reaching consequences. Here, we've focused on how urban design can influence something as seemingly mundane as a morning routine, even affecting how sweet a cup of coffee tastes. <br><br> <h5><b>A Look to the Future</b></h5> Moving forward, urban planners and architects can play a crucial role in shaping more empowering environments. Prioritizing walkable neighbourhoods, public transportation networks, and green spaces can empower residents to create their own "morning ragas," daily symphonies composed of choices that lead to a more fulfilling life. Imagine a world where Mr. Shonebare doesn't have to wake up at the crack of dawn, battling traffic just for a lukewarm cup of coffee. Imagine a world where Mr. Tomide's experience and the choices afforded his will are the norm, not the exception. The power to create such a world lies partly in the hands of those who design our cities.
The Song of the City and th...
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Ugochukwu Asiogu I conduct research and provide critical analysis on human security, and development issues.
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In History and Culture • 3 min read • Mar 03, 2023 18:15p.m.
Would Nigeria's Bola A. Tinubu earn himself a spotlight in the Guinness Book of Records just like Liberia's Charles D.B. King?
<span class="html-content"><p>As we all know, before something is documented into the Guinness Book of Records, it must be either positively or negatively unusual. In fact, such achievements are globally described as extreme and/or "meta-human". The Guinness Book of Records contains in it a myriad of unbelievable natural and artificially designed creatures as well as human achievements and world eventualities spanning through social, cultural, economic, legal, religious, and political projections and organisations from all over the world. Politically, one of the mind-blowing and most significant event in the history of electoral fraud and election rigging that won a page in the World Guinness Book of Records is the 1927 Liberian Presidential election orchestrated by Charles Dunbar Burgess King. Born in Monrovia (Liberia's capital) on March 12 1871 by Sierra Leonean parents, Charles D.B. King became educated and gradually rose through the ranks of the legal profession. He later joined politics and contested for the number one political seat and position of Liberia in 1927. The Liberia's Presidential election in 1927 between Charles D.B. King and his opponent Thomas Faulkner later came to be described as the worst ever case of electoral malpractice in history. This was evident as Charles defeated his opponent, Faulkner by scoring 243,000 votes as against Faulkner's 9,000 votes. However, what seem to be more confusing is how Charles got up to 243,000 votes when the registered number of voters in the country were less than 15,000? "Where did the more than two hundred extra votes come from and why was he declared the winner of the election even when it obvious that he rigged it?"was the question on everybody's lips". A year after the election, his opponent, Thomas Faulkner brought up an allegation on Charles and his cabinet members. They are accused of criminality and impunity as they permitted slavery, forced labour and slave trade within the borders of Liberia. Faulkner also revealed that other government officials who worked with Charles were engaged in the forced shipping of labourers to the Spanish Island of Fernando Po and also were fond of using the Liberian Army (Frontier Force) to achieve this. With this accusations came a massive wave of reactions from the international community. Meanwhile, a committee of the League of Nations was established to examine the authenticity of the allegations in order to ascertain what actually happened. In 1930, the committee provided a report of their findings. Named after the committee chairman "The Christy's Report", the report revealed that: persons holding official positions illegally misused their office in recruiting slaves in connivance with the Frontier Force; the shipment to Fernando Po and Gabon was associated with slavery because the method of recruiting was forceful and compelling; and not only Americo-Liberian government officials had benefited from forced labour, as a large foreign business operatives were also involved.</p> <p>With the publication of the report, the House of Representatives initiated an impeachment procedure against Charles D.B. King. Fully aware of this process, he resigned thus escaping as public trial as spelled out in the Liberian constitution that: "No person shall be held to answer for a capital crime, except in case of impeachment". Charles's resignation although his strategy of survival, his personality was shaming and his rule, inefficient. He led Liberians through suffering and watched impunity overshadow his country. Just as Charles D.B. King was not the popular choice of Liberians prior and during the 1927 Presidential election which made him engage in electoral malpractice, Nigeria's Bola A. Tinubu, the self-acclaimed next president of Nigeria "by turn", equally wears the same shoe. From all indication, he created a structure of electoral criminality and forced himself on Nigerians after the February 25th, 2023 elections. Of course, like Charles, Bola would surround himself with like-minded friends and associates who would not only impoverish the citizenry the more, but would enslave and unleash more woes and penury on them. As regards whether he would resign or be impeached, that is a matter of the "Supreme Court" to decide. But in all, it is quite pathetic to say that the 2023 Presidential election in Nigeria deserves to be documented into the Guinness Book of Records.</p> </span>
Would Nigeria's Bola A. Tin...
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In People and Society • 3 min read • Jun 06, 2024 14:04p.m.
The Moses Phenomenon
<p>Reflecting on this remarkable nation can provoke various emotions from anyone, such as love, frustration, anger, and the need to take action. I've come to realize something significant.</p><p><br></p><p>The responsibility of leadership or the path of a savior is never an easy one. I use the term "responsibility" because that's exactly what it is. While others lead carefree lives, you constantly remain aware of not just yourself, but also of your surroundings. You are conscious of how you and those around you are impacted by harsh conditions. Moreover, you hold yourself to a higher standard because, unlike others, you can't help but feel the need to address these issues. This can be as simple as acknowledging that something is wrong.</p><p><br></p><p>Throughout history, there have been numerous great men and women who have been called saviors, standing up and standing out when their people needed them. They brought their people together, instilling belief and trust. We often hear the inspiring stories that propelled these individuals into the spotlight, like Moses, but there is a darker side to their journeys. Moses, for instance, never made it to the promised land.</p><p><br></p><p>Many Nigerians have mentioned that "Nigeria(ns) are not worth fighting for." However, I'm sure you can think of a list of individuals who have not only risked their own lives and health, but also those of their friends and family. They did so not for personal gain, but because they could not bear the suffering any longer. They wanted those around them to believe that life held more than mere survival. Sadly, the reward they receive is often unjust. The very people they fought for may turn against them and tarnish their efforts, or when these helpers face adversity or are attacked, instead of receiving support from the people they fought for, they are met with silence.</p><p><br></p><p>In some instances, after these individuals are no longer around, their people return to the old ways they had fought to change. Alternatively, if they are forcibly removed, they might become topics of discussion online for a mere 2-3 days. Their entire effort is reduced to a hashtag that fails to honor their legacy or their cause, with messages such as "may Nigeria not happen to you and your family," before swiftly moving on to the latest in a string of distracting and senseless topics.</p><p><br></p><p>If you ever wonder why, I can relate, and though I do not claim to have a definitive answer, I do believe that we do not value life, nor do we value ourselves. I do not mean this in monetary terms, as we already place excessive emphasis on that aspect, to the point of overvaluation (if we are being honest). Rather, I refer to dignity and pride, recognizing that no individual should have to beg for food or be brought low for others to feel important or needed. Every person is precious, and if they act foolishly or make mistakes, they should be corrected, yet still embraced and shown love when they repent or learn from their errors.</p><p><br></p><p>The reality of fighting for people's development has caused genuine concerned individuals to step back, while opportunists and "cashtivists," individuals who pretend to fight for the people but are actually motivated by personal gain, have rushed in. These opportunists are swift to switch sides when presented with the opportunity to join the very people they claim to be fighting against. They always have a price and are willing to sacrifice others to attain it.</p><p><br></p><p>So, have you lost your fire to not only do what is right but to speak up, or have you been numbed by society?</p>
The Moses Phenomenon
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In Politics • 3 min read • Jul 12, 2022 23:28p.m.
The EFFECT OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE 2023 ELECTIONS: FLASHLIGHT ON TWITTER
Since the creation of the internet, the world has gradually become a global village. The advent of digital media like social media sites makes this village even smaller. The likes of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and WhatsApp have evolved the manner in which information is shared as they are now the main means of disseminating information. The unique features these social media sites come with, make them really popular and it seems almost everyone with a smart phone has at least one social media account. The most popular of them seems to be Twitter, as it has little restrictions unlike the others. We live in a very fast-paced world nowadays and people can’t be bothered to spend a lot of time reading blogs or full-length news articles. Thus, the birth of microblogging—allowing people to share their thoughts or information in 280 characters. Twitter has the effect of giving people the feeling of being neighbours in a virtual street. Everyone and anyone with an account is accessible. Twitter encourages a high level of interaction with people all over the world even without any form of personal relationship. You don't have to know a person directly or be on their friends' list to have an interaction with their content. One could literally be in Nigeria have people in America interacting with their content. Although on social media, ordinary people can speak to anyone, even those in power without fear or favour but it goes a notch further on Twitter. Tweeps as Twitter users are called enjoy some form of identity protection as they can use pseudonyms as account names if they wish. Ordinary people have dared to call out, insult and even expose president's, politicians in general and large organisations and gone unscathed as these tweeps are largely untraceable. A lot of companies use Twitter to provide instant customer support. It provides faster communication lines than traditional support via phone. Twitter’s popularity as the go-to source of real-time news worldwide is the top reason why people visit the social networking site. It’s a popular outlet to report breaking news. Traditional marketing is not enough these days to maintain brand visibility in line with the business' target audience. Social media platforms play a huge role when it comes to promoting products and connecting with customers. Twitter remains a popular social media platform for marketers. All of this contributes to it's huge popularity and this is supported by the statistics. It is said that Twitter has some 330 million active users (MAU) based on its last reported data that leveraged this metric in the 1st quarter of 2019. As of 2020, Twitter’s monetizable daily active users (mDAU) stands at 166 million, which represents a 24% growth from 2019. Meanwhile, in the US alone, Twitter has 69.3 million active users as of January 2021. In Nigeria, Twitters popularity and usefulness was put to the test when it was used to organise the famous EndSars protest of 2020. That protest was one unlike the country has ever witnessed before, as the protest was coordinated in the 36 States of the federation and the FCT basically on Twitter. Dates, venues, safety tips, warnings and all were all passed on Twitter. Nigerians defied odds, disregarded ethno-religious sentiments and banded together to protest bad governance and oppression. It is that same energy that many Nigerians are bringing into the 2023 elections and have been using social media platforms especially Twitter, to campaign for their respective candidates. One candidate's popularity seems to visibly soar above that of others and many people, probably out of concern or rather fear keep pointing out that it's just social media hype. They say the supporters of Peter Obi are only on social media and not "on ground". To this, I reply, are the owners of these accounts not real people? Mr. Obi's supporters are touted to only be on social media, yet you find photos and videos of those running campaigns for him from their offices, homes, on the streets and in the markets, sensitising others on the need to register for and get their PVCs. Social media support is unreal and only virtual, yet other candidates seem to be making extra effort to have a social media presence. It is being rumoured that a certain candidate has recruited a number of influencers to help boost his popularity while undermining that of his opponents. Whatever anyone says, it is obvious that social media is the real deal and the candidates are doing everything to court the attention of the Nigerians online and improve their ratings as this would have a huge effect on the elections.
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In People and Society • 3 min read • May 08, 2024 09:39a.m.
UNDER THE INFLUENCE
<p>Quick question - that brand of phone or fashion item you recently acquired, can you beat your chest and say it was out of your uninfluenced free will you made that choice? Wait! Please read the whole thing before you give your answer.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Mind control is real. As a matter of fact mass mind control has been in existence for a long time and we are well and truly under its influence. It is after all the greatest weapon in the arsenal of consumerism. I guess we've seen this a couple of times in a movie, perhaps in one or two books. Yet, we brushed it aside, because; fiction right?</p><p><br></p><p>While movies like "Sorry to Bother You", "Parasite" and "Fight club", might be unsettling. The real life effects of consumerism is much more disturbing. Corporations are always thinking about how to influence consumer behavior and reaction inorder to get them to buy their stuff. One of the most effective methods, is through conditioning - mind control if you please. Gently ushering the minds of the consumers towards a particular 'need', which in most cases have nothing to do with the actual product they manufacture.</p><p><br></p><p>For example, why is an iPhone associated with a high social class and elitism, when most of its features are available on other phones. Can anyone tell me a basic smartphone feature present in an iPhone which is lacking in let's say a Samsung? (I genuinely want to know). Through years of careful and purposeful advertisement and campaigns, Apple has been able to condition its customers to associate the brand with class, even though there is no concrete proof of this.</p><p><br></p><p>It is why millions of people do whatever they can to get an iPhone - it's really not about the phone but the desire to be counted among the elites and separate themselves from the poor masses who Android phones are created for. Same also applies in several other industries like skin care. A lot of people who delve into skin care and the ridiculous purchase of over priced skin care products do so not from the advice of a dermatologist, but from the need to 'glow' and possess a skin testament to their 'good living'. Same can be said of fashion, real estate etc. If you think about it, a lot of these 'upgrades' and lifestyle only start after exposure to the capitalist conditioning.</p><p><br></p><p>The most effective way to manipulate a human being into doing what you want, is to make him believe that is what he wants. Capitalism knows that and you can't even hate the corporations who use this technique because it's so simple yet brilliant. Some people call it brilliant advertising, but it's just mind control - same tricks mentalists use. Consumerism extends its tentacles and latches on to your mind, from where it is able to covertly influence your decisions while keeping the mirage that you are in charge.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Are there side effects to the excesses of consumerism? Definitely. I will give you one - the rise in non biodegradable waste as a result in the increase in fast fashion. There are also side effects that affects us as humans, and one of them is the constant feeling of emptiness and pursuit of the new trend. We now judge quality of life strictly by the capability to keep up with the next consumer obsession - hence we become exhibitionists and performative beings.</p><p><br></p><p>Because companies have to the main goal of selling, they have to keep making you feel like what you have isn't good enough. A new iPhone is released and suddenly, you feel the need to upgrade because of the ever so subtle nudge to do so by the manufacturers. The worse part is that you can never fully upgrade as there will always be that one new thing.&nbsp;</p>
UNDER THE INFLUENCE
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In Politics • 4 min read • Dec 26, 2022 15:52p.m.
Leading Presidential Candidate Believes He Can Build Rockets By Himself!
Political campaigns in Nigeria always produce the most surreal promises from candidates and their spokespersons. I remember growing up hearing jokes about a candidate that promised to “fire” and “water” his constituents (promising electricity and pipe-borne water). Jokes apart, it was only 8 years ago that APC promised us ₦1 = $1, to pay every unemployed Nigerian youth ₦5,000 monthly, and create 10 million jobs. Of course, today, the Dollar is pushing for ₦1,000 = $1, we never saw the ₦5,000, and as for the 10 million jobs…the less we speak, the better for our hearts. Even now, the same party that delivered 3 recessions, and only one-time 3% GDP growth year for 7 years is back to promise us 10% GDP growth for the next 4 years. So it is clear: politicians will say anything to win elections. And nobody knows this more than the supporters of the 2 big political parties. When you listen to them speak, you begin to think; if they’re so negative about what can be possible with a regime change, why do they fight so much to ensure their candidates win? The zeal surely is not out of a desire to see a working country. Because if it were, they should be the loudest proponents of possibilities. But they instead focus on how difficult it is to change things. Which indicates that it’s all about winning for them. Because let's tell ourselves the truth: the present government has performed abysmally. And drastic change is needed. Yet, the runup to the 2023 general elections has revealed even more wonders. For the first time, there is a leading candidate who has enjoyed the absolute-type powers of an executive office, yet whose detractors don’t have a corruption case against him. Instead, they oppose him because his plans are “unassailable”. “Unrealistic”. “Impossible”. “Governance is rocket science,” is the quip very often made on Twitter by senior public policy expert, Dr Joe Abah. It is important to note that he started saying this under the current APC government. He has worked with at least 2 Nigerian presidents and many more governors to implement their policies. He’s experienced, so he must know more than me on the matter. But then Mr Peter Obi comes along and makes promises that clearly translate to overhauling the political landscape. The man is promising new things, and speaking like they’re achievable. So who do we believe? The political experts who see good governance as normal for Western Nations, but “rocket science” for Nigeria? Or the former governor, who has experience making executive decisions and implementing policy? In this situation, the onus is on the man making promises to prove that he can fulfill them. And no, we won’t take his words alone now. We’ll look at his past records, and juxtapose them with Nigeria’s present issues. So let’s take a look at some: Issue 1: Nigeria has 20 million out-of-school children, and a poor educational system. Record: Before Peter Obi became governor of Anambra state, Anambra state was 26th in National academic performance. During campaign, he vowed to resign if he did not fix Anambra state education problem (November 26, 2002 All Africa News reports). By the end of his tenure, he had successfully moved Anambra from 26th nationally to 1st for 3 years running in educational performance. Out of school children also became the lowest in the nation at 6.6%. Verdict: Possible to correct Issue 2: Nigeria is insecure and vulnerable to attacks in every zone from terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and armed militia. Record: Before his emergence as governor, Anambra state used to be the kidnapping and bank robbery capital of Nigeria. By the time he was leaving office, the Inspector General of Police reckoned that for Mr Peter Obi’s last 5 years in office, the state had been the safest in the country, with no attempted bank robberies (April 11, 2014; The Nation News report). This means that he solved the security issue within 3 years. Verdict: Possible to solve Issue 3: We are in debt and have no money to develop unless we incur more loans (according to the present government). Record: On assumption of office as governor, Anambra state was owing ₦35 billion in pension and salary debts. Development was slow or non-existent in all sectors, and contractors were not being paid. He cut the cost of governance, streamlined budgets, and plugged the holes through which government money leaked. By the time he was leaving office, Anambra was not owing any debts whatsoever, even to staff, suppliers and contactors. He constructed 900km of roads and critical bridges (the equivalent of the road distance between Lagos to Abuja), renovated over all government schools and equipped them, funded farmers, security agencies, and many more. He also left tens of Billions in cash and investsments. All without taking a kobo of loan. Verdict: No better person to solve it than this man. I could talk about how his campaign is uniting well-meaning Nigerians across all tribes and zones. And how there’s a rising wave of positive patriotism and newfound belief in the hearts of Nigerians as a result of his emergence. Or how his record of setting up Anambra to be a place where industries can thrive shows that Nigeria can indeed move from “Consumption to Production" under him. Look, the man has said it: he wants to retire the political system that has numbed Nigerians to hope and faith. He has done it before in Anambra, where his reforms made Chief Chris Uba, a former political godfather and rogue who installed the previous 2 governors Mbadinuju and Ngige to become a renowned Town Crier – who went everywhere complaining about Mr Peter Obi’s “stinginess”. And so dear Nigerians, if there’s anybody able to demystify rocket science (aka governance) in Nigeria, it is Mr Peter Obi. And the time is now.
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In Politics • 3 min read • Jan 16, 2023 18:54p.m.
Nigerians and the 2023 Elections
Since the return to democracy on May 29, 1999, Nigeria's electoral system and processes have been featured by a great degree of voter apathy and by extension, democratic sabotage. This unfortunate situation has gone from bad to worse as the voting population voluntarily refuse to vote during elections thus citing a lack of patriotism, concern or absolute nonchalance towards elections. It is not uncommon to mention the fact that a lot of Nigerians are fed up with the pitiful situation of the country such that they have become so disconnected with political arrangements and activities in the country. This is evident as at most Newspaper reading joints in the country, one may find a few persons who are pleased to discuss and/or argue about some striking political issues in the country; nowadays, these readers take more pleasure in reading local and international sports and entertainment news. However, those of them who read up political events only do so because they do not want to feel left out on the obvious daily negative news of rapacious corruption, insecurity and nepotism across the country. Truth be told, a lot of Nigerians today are tirelessly complaining about the ills of bad governance, lack of accountability, corruption, ethnic chauvinism, nepotism, religious intolerance, social exclusion, unemployment, inequality and poverty in the country. However, it is unfortunate that these complaints, worries and frustrations have been met with little or no serious efforts by the federal and state governments. Today, the Nigerian economy has witnessed two depressing economic recessions in the last six years with the government helpless, and always confused in handling the situation. Again, foreign exchange has incessantly increased to about #800 per $1; inflation has gone up mercilessly, there is food insecurity and shortage across the country and above all, poverty has become the order of the day. In the light of all these worrisome and heart-wrenching occurrences in the country, many Nigerians have become ghosts of themselves and are looking for a helper and messiah that would take them out of Egypt. What they have forgotten is that they are the architect of the challenges they face today. Their nonchalance and lack of seriousness towards performing their constitutional responsibility of voting during elections resulted in letting in quack and inexperienced leaders into government. And of course, when an inexperienced driver is on the steering of a car, people should not expect anything less than a brutal accident on the highway. If Nigerians truly want good governance; If we truly want a Nigeria that we would be proud of, then, we should let go of being apolitical and go get our Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). Without our Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), we would not be able to vote and if we do not vote, here are some of the challenges we should expect in more severe and damaging proportions in the coming years: 1. Not collecting our PVCs and voting during the forthcoming elections would mean that we are being unpatriotic and disrespectful of our constitution which bestowed on us the right to exercise our franchise. 2. Not collecting our PVCs and voting during the forthcoming elections would mean that we are indirectly giving quacks and inexperienced politicians who have no human sympathy and are not developmentally-driven, the opportunity to have access to power and plunder whatever that is left of our natural resources and treasury. 3. Not collecting our PVCs and voting during the 2023 elections would mean that we are promoting corruption and giving politicians the opportunity to rig the elections and remain in power. 4. Not collecting our PVCs and voting during the 2023 elections will add to our depression, unnecessary complaints and frustration towards the political system because we would continue to loose faith and trust in the government. 5. If we do not collect our PVCs and vote, then we would loose our rights to being involved in the public opinion and policy making process of the government. We will equally not have the opportunity of checkmating the excesses of the next government. By collecting our PVCs and voting during elections, we will be able to restore our mandate, rejig our democracy, checkmate the excesses of bad leaders and also place experienced and intelligent leaders at the helm of affairs. A new Nigeria is very possible only if we make the bold step and go get our PVCs.
Nigerians and the 2023 Elec...
By Ugochukwu Asiogu • 1 play
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Thank you so much Tobi for that question and thanks for this great work and platform.Yes, I agree with those current challenges you highlighted. And like you shared, this sums it up "The system also is very porous." My two cents will be that;1. Regulatory bodies should synergise and stop the blame-game, hate-strife rivalries.There's a lot of home-keeping to be done there.For example, imagine a CORBON, COREN, ESVARBON, TOPREC, ARCON... working together in harmony? Imagine how that will positively influence the construction industry;Imagine swift registration of professionals and massive public enlightenment on the value/worth of professional services;Imagine a well-regulated curriculum with 21st-century realities in each of the professional fields?Also is the need for2. Regulation of the Informal sectors in the Construction IndustrySkilled trades and vocations such as carpentry, tiling, ironmongery, etc need lots of support and regulation so society values their worth and they are also well remunerated. Imagine a regulatory body for tilers and then a tiler upon training is certified with code of conduct, ethics etc as it obtains for the professional fields. That's part of the difference between the 1st world and the 3rd world, all fields and skilled trades are well regulated, monitored and rewarded whether it's SSCE, OND, HND, BSc/BEng/BTech/MSc/PhD a person has.Until we come to the point where we see the services of each one as 'complementation' and not 'competition,' the challenges may persist. A tiler is as valuable and good as a Lawyer although one is a vocation/skilled trade and the other, a profession. I shared more on this in my book the career leader, talking about the career model. The audiobook is accessible here https://selar.co/thecareerleader
Dr. Abraham Owoseni
Educator @ Covenant University
HR is threatened same way as other departments. With improvements in technology, creation of shared services, outsourcing, integration of processes etc, headcount will mostly be affected.As individuals, whether in HR or other departments, we need to always prepare for tomorrow. Learn new things, manage our resources well, be open to new challenges,etc
Dolapo Onasanya
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Step 1: Cleanse Your Skin in the Morning (and at Night) Step 2: Exfoliate Skin to Prevent Buildup.. Step 3: Use Toner to Refine Your Pores. Step 4: Apply Moisturizers to Hydrate Your Skin. Remove All Your Makeup at the End of the Day. ... Cleanse Gently.
Priscilla Ofosu Mensah
Bridal Makeup Artist, Makeup Educator, Makeup Special Effects (Sfx) @ Vogue by Prylla
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Dr. Mayowa Agboola
Deputy Director/Coordinator @ Open and Distance Learning (ODL) & Curator, HSL
Sure, we need to start planning for the future. You want to consider what made these people stand out, they were able to make the best use of opportunities that comes their way. There are many Dangotes that are on boats in Makoko, Lagos, we cant neglect the role of opportunities. However, all things being equal, I will say1. Education - to support critical thinking and evaluation. Even up to PhD is possible/necessary.2. Entrepreneurship - to create income generating opportunities from things around.3. Empathy - to understand and respect other people, to pull other people up, to win together and be real human.
Dr. Emmanuel Mogaji
Senior Lecturer Advertising and Marketing Communications @ University of Greenwich, London
Sir Toby, great to read from you. Your wonderful well coined words say more. With all honesty, as the saying goes: everyone, everything have its place in this world we live in.I personally mostly bring back my momentum by listening to motivational speakers. I will say, Entrepreneurs should be very INTENTIONAL in every action taken both for life and for business. Listening to a motivational speaker doesn't help you solve the hard problems before you. They MOTIVATE you to hold on, think harder, ask if need be and keep pushing upward. Entrepreneurs, don't allow everyone be your cup of tea. As you pipe up or down you client search, so should you pipe down the motivations you listen to daily.
Dr. Mofor Clementine Cendoh
Personal Brand Therapist | Bus Consultant | Relationship Counsellor | Content Creator @ NEST Consolidated
Drink a lot of water Eat a lot of fruits wash your face at least twice a day Moisturize after each bath Use warm water Use allergen-free moisturizing soap Use a humidifier Avoid bleaching creams / creams with harsh chemicals
Priscilla Ofosu Mensah
Bridal Makeup Artist, Makeup Educator, Makeup Special Effects (Sfx) @ Vogue by Prylla
African youth start from a difficult position in belonging to culture that venerate age, i.e. patrimonialism. African women are also in a similar quandary because of patriarchy: the man is the head of the household. So, while both the youth and the women are majority population categories in relation to the respective groups standing against them, they cannot muster the numbers to exploit their respective potential. On peace building, the way to go about identifying the role of the youth is to ask what the causes are of the lack of peace. Who/what is creating unrest and war, and why? The AU had committed to silencing the guns by 2020; so the question to ask is: what was driving the guns? What had been strategised for their silencing? What was actually done to silence them? And what was achieved? That would be a suitable stating point for an assessment of the youth's potential... But unfortunately, the youth have likely lost an idealism for change, and are captive of standards set by the older generation. The East African Institute's 2016 Kenyan Youth Survey Report found that more than half the respondents saw nothing wrong with evading taxes or taking bribes, as long as one is not caught. Making money "by hook or crook" was acceptable to 47%, and 40% would vote for a politician who paid for their vote! While that is not the standard picture of the African youth, it screams that we should not treat the African youth like some undifferentiated whole: after all, even fueling conflict is a money-making enterprise the youth might just want a stake in!!!
Dr. Othieno Nyanjom
Senior Lecturer @ The Technical University of Kenya
Hi Israel, That's a good question. As the world opens up, we're also thinking about different event formats. While I'm not sure we might follow the townhall format, we have a few events lined up this year, there's even going to be one relating to the content creation, so watch out for that.
Daniel Adeyemi
Senior Writer @ TechCabal
If Africa had not been colonised, I wonder where we would be today!!! Yet, given the globalised nature of the planet, I do not even see how that issue arises: today one can talk of neutral states, but in those days, a territory either colonised or was colonised on encounter. Technological advancement defines what is 'better off', i.e. where people want to go... and colonisation set us off towards that better-off. But that 'better-off' is a dynamic situation, and tenure among the 'best-off' - whatever the globally accepted measure, this is a game of musical chairs with tenure changing with changes in various situations. This dynamism also applies among the developing countries which belong to the lower echelons of the better-off ladder, aspiring to haul themselves up it. So colonialism was a necessary evil... While some of our founding fathers (sic) appreciated in the evil in - averse effects of - colonialism, they were up against those leaders who did not see that evil, and the mighty, white-washing force of neo-colonialism. Africa missed an opportunity to unite in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The colonialists and ex-colonialists divided and ruled: they convinced most individual African 'nationalists' that their best interests lay in going it alone. Contemporary pleas for African unity are mere nostalgic romanticism: corporate forces are more powerful that those of political idealism. That is the greatest adversity inherited from colonialism.
Dr. Othieno Nyanjom
Senior Lecturer @ The Technical University of Kenya
Score | 594
Ugochukwu Asiogu I conduct research and provide critical analysis on human security, and development issues.
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In History and Culture • 2 min read • Dec 22, 2022 12:05p.m.
THE AFRICAN KINGDOM WHERE THE BRIDE'S AUNT TESTS THE GROOM'S LIBIDO
<span class="html-content"><p>When it comes to marriage and sexual preparedness as the elements of a people's sociocultural organisation in Africa, the Banyankole tribe remains unforgettable. Yes, I mean it and I do because they are an interesting people whose culture pays utmost attention to the need for sexual vibrance and satisfaction in every marriage - a factor that has resulted in a lot of marriage divorces and breakups in relationships in the contemporary times. </p> <p>Banyankole is a highly traditional Kingdom in Southwestern Uganda, East of Lake Edward. The kingdom comprises two major groups namely: the Bahima, who are mostly cattle rearers, and the Bairu, who are agriculturists. </p> <p>Unlike many African countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia among others where aunts provide guidance and counselling to their young nieces as they grow and develop from adolescence to adulthood, in Banyankole, aunts do more than guide and counsel their nieces; they take further action to confirm the groom's virility and potency as well as the bride's virginity before their marriage is approved. </p> <p>As a potency test for the groom, the bride's aunt was sometimes required to have sexual intercourse with the groom for confirmation that he could discharge his sexual obligation to his wife excellently without grudges or complain. On the other hand, she is also obliged to test and confirm if the bride was still a virgin. In situations where the bride's aunt cannot have sex with the groom, it is said that she will go as far as listening to or watching the bride and groom make love to each other in order to confirm the couple's potency and consumative preponderance prior to the approval of their marriage. </p> <p>This practice is very crucial for the people of Banyankole because they believe that sexual consumatiom informed the continued existence and progress of marital relationships between men and women. As such, they do not take issues bordering on impotency lightly. </p> <p>Indeed, these people are very realistic and focused in ensuring that their marriages work and couples enjoy themselves and union to the fullest. Of course, it is their culture; their lifestyle and not even their religion forbids it.</p> <p>Let me know your thoughts on this culture.</p> </span>
THE AFRICAN KINGDOM WHERE T...
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Ugochukwu Asiogu I conduct research and provide critical analysis on human security, and development issues.
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In People and Society • 3 min read • Jan 20, 2023 11:07a.m.
When truths are lies and lies are truths
Often times, I have asked myself, friends and even colleagues "what really is the best way to live life meaningfully?" The fact that not even one of them has been able to provide a satisfactory answer to the question gets me bothered because of course, they do not know and as such, want answers too. Day after day, there are a lot of teachings and preachings out there, in our schools, places of worship, workplaces and training centres about fate, faith, failure, success, determination, love, hope, destiny, winning strategies, attitude, creativity, scientific innovations, artistic creation, healthy living, and many more. However, it is baffling that after all these, people are still caught up in the web of confusion about what exactly it means to live meaningfully. In an effort to provide a standard that people need to follow in order to live a "fulfilled life", a lot of religious institutions have rolled out myriads of doctrines for their members. However, even with these doctrines, the confusion becomes more ntense. Truth is, humans have tried and worked so hard to condition and put a stake on life, forgetting that life itself is so limitless and as such, cannot be controlled by anyone. We have become so glued to rules,regulations and norms to the extent that we let them deternine our fate at every given time. More worrisome is the fact that we have become so feeble and vulnerable to the extent that we let in unhealthy beliefs, assumptions and thoughts into our hearts and minds without scrutiny, possibly because they came from our 'Papas' and 'Mamas,' 'Senior Men and Ladies' among other people who we hold at high esteem. Some of us have lost our sense of intuition, refusing to question bad and ugly situations, just because we feel it is morally unjust to challenge authorities and call out peoples' wrongdoings. But later, we complain bitterly of the pains and sufferings we go through because of the same evil we refuse to condemn. Who did this to us and how did we get here? It is no news that so many of us including myself has at one point or the other been brainwashed with a lot of fallacious teachings and assumptions that have ended up affecting our right sense of reasoning. Some of us, in an effort to practice these teachings, ended up ruining our relationships, quitting our jobs, ending our careers and losing our consciousness. In the end, I dare to ask "what if all these teachings were all a lie? What if all the preachments about Heaven, Hell, Success, Failure, Prosperity, Money, Fame, Wealth, Love, Life and Death were all social constructs fabricated to regulate our thought pattern and control our lives? What If there was really no need for the unnecessary competition and fights that we engage ourselves in just to prove a point? what if there is really no need for all stress we put ourselves through just to create wealth that would end up taking away our peace and creating for us more challenges?what if the meaningful life we seek is non-existent? I have always believed that there is no one formula for achieving greatness in life because all that we need to survive have been given to us. They are in our hearts and minds; not in the hands of people or making of doctrines. So, if we really want to live meaningfully, then, we have to begin by shunning unhealthy comparisons, following our intuition and prioritising our happiness.
When truths are lies and li...
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Cyrus Majebi
city Lagos • 7 months ago
Really enjoyed listening to this, can't wait to listen to your new stuff.
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In Nigeria • 4 min read • Feb 07, 2023 22:48p.m.
Twilight
<span class="html-content"><p>Sometimes things fall apart before they fall into place. In 2019, I was scarred for my life.&nbsp;</p><p>I like to think of myself as a good judge of character, and I try to see the best in people, regardless of their potential to do evil. I remember the adrenaline rush I felt on the way to Gembu local government during the 2019 Presidential elections. When the election was postponed by a week, I and other corp members were left stranded at the collation center. I still have a video from that day. It was all laughter for us, and we used what we had just experienced to catch cruise. Just so you know, some officials wanted to leave us in the middle of nowhere. Imagine the madness.&nbsp;</p><p>For the first time in my adult life, I thought I would be part of the history of my dear country. I played by the book during the elections. Oh yeah, I was one of the officers conducting the elections. Ladies and gentlemen of the press, what I witnessed changed my perception of governance, and I nearly lost hope in Nigeria. I remember some touts shouting at me for guiding people. They probably thought that I was telling people whom to vote for. Before I knew it, it got rowdy, and then boom, madness upon madness upon madness. I ran oooo! Woh, I cannot come and do patriotism and lose my life. I ran to some armed men to ask for help, and they told me they couldn't come. I was mad at them because I felt their presence could have tamed the madness. Well, I remembered then that having armed officials during elections is not a good image and could even result in violence.&nbsp;</p><p>The voting was supposed to end around 2 p.m., but we were still there at 7 p.m. I thought the rain would make them leave, but they surrounded the hall we moved into. People were fighting up and down. What if I told you that I saw underage people voting? I witnessed things I can't write about for my safety! What if I told you that some Corp members were paid to rig the elections? I heard stories of corp members who cashed out during the elections and I may have innocently eaten out of it! In the days following the elections, a curfew was announced. We were all scared for our lives. It was difficult to get to PPA because we were frequently attacked by hoodlums on the way.&nbsp;</p><p>The day we were to be paid at the INEC center, we heard sporadic gunshots. My biggest scare was the fact that I just called my friend to come collect his money. He took clips of the bandits, or should I say bad guys... I saw people with serious guns shooting on the road with no remorse. I sha think my friend was crazy because i was praying for his safety while he was doing journalist of the year. What crowned it all was the day I was caught up in violence and asked if I was Christian or Muslim. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat. I thought I had seen it all. I was so afraid that I couldn't feel my heartbeat. Did the Bible mean "fear not" or was it meant to be "fear North"? I thought I was going to die, and I still cringe when the thought flashes through my mind. What would make men take up arms and kill another man? On top wetin abeg... You'll take another man's life so your guy can become king. Strangely, your guy will still sly you in the end. Well, I'm alive and sharing my experience with you. So yeah, in as much as you have plans to vote, do yourself a solid by being very careful.&nbsp;</p><p>The days before elections could be violent. There are people plotting chaos because Nigerians are enthusiastic about voting. We believe we stand a chance to cause real change, but it may cost us the lives of some people. That's the sad reality of things. Try to get back home in time. Wahala no get time but e de sweet for night. Let's swerve a bit. Resist the urge to quarrel in public, particularly over who will win the elections. Your life is more important than your vote. Keep your doors locked and be mindful of those around you. Have sufficient food in your house, and always have extra cash in your purse. It could save your life. Stay updated on the situation in the country. I mean, you should check the news often. You may think I'm being extreme, as though an apocalypse is about to happen. But it's best if you are ready because Nigeria can shock you. Election day is when you should be most careful. You are not required to inform everyone about your preferred candidate. Equally, ignore all appearances of evil. Be mindful of your environment because anyone can collect. And yeah, be careful online too. You may jokingly say, "Come to my house and beat me," but someone could trace you and deal with you. Finally, try de kabash before leaving home.<br></p> <p>In the end, let's all be careful and let the best candidate win.&nbsp;</p><p>Hopefully!!!</p> </span>
Twilight
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Oluseyi Vandy Freelance writer, audio producer, 3D modelling
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In Politics • 2 min read • May 20, 2024 17:19p.m.
FAILED CONGO COUP AND ITS IMPLICATIONS
<p>Recently it seems like the world is a continuous series of political intrigue, I came online to find news about the failed coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which involved about three American citizens.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>It was reported that gunfire erupted around 4 am in the capital Kinshasa as they attacked the presidency in the city centre. It was also reported that the leader of the opposition who was in exile in the United States, Christian Malanga was identified as being behind the attack and was reportedly neutralised during the assault.</p><p><br></p><p>This is a case that can become a huge diplomatic incident because it quickly draws up the dark history of political interference in the West. Especially at a time when the war between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Palestine has everyone cautious in picking sides.</p><p><br></p><p>It also shines a light on America's history of political interference in foreign countries in the past. Some of these include Hawaii, Panama, Honduras, and Nicaragua to mention a few.</p><p><br></p><p>It's amazing to think that citizens of a foreign nation can be seen as linked to a coup in a sovereign nation, but these are the realities we find ourselves in.</p><p><br></p><p>This situation shows that the lack of unity is an avenue that can be exploited at any time to break into a Nation's security structure. A position in which Africa has always found itself for the longest of time, though this is not exclusive to us only.</p><p><br></p><p>The US ambassador has released a statement expressing shock and assurance of their support in investigating the situation, it still is a bad look and I'm sure they will be eager to have the matter cleared up as it calls our attention to certain grim realities. As the matter progresses, I wonder if there would be penalties and if the UN would weigh in on the matter.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
FAILED CONGO COUP AND ITS I...
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Wilson U. Uzoeto
city Abeokuta • 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Do you think tho, that the coups in some African countries are a testament of Africans fight for true democracy or are they just anoth...

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Samuel Ibok Marketing Supervisor @ Crusader Sterling Pensions Limited
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In People and Society • 2 min read • Dec 02, 2022 22:24p.m.
From Alms to Arms
I believe everyone loves children. If you don't, kindly see a therapist! This may sound crazy, but I think children are like coins, and their experiences influence their impact in society. I think they could be our future or our end. People in Africa would understand better. Deprivation leads to frustration, which in turn determines the actions we take. Children are generally feeble, and in most cases, they cannot think for themselves. They depend on their parents or the older folk for provision and protection. Now, the absence of a parent figure leaves children exposed to unscrupulous people. In other words, the children are left to choose either order or chaos. I can say for free that every day I see at least 10 children begging on the streets. Sadly, these children are found begging around the very institutions that are meant to cater for them. Today they are begging for alms; tomorrow they could take up arms. They could perceive other citizens as part of the reason for their plight, and they may find refuge in the closets of cultists, bandits, and terrorists. Yes, hunger gives direction! It exposes them to the danger of being in the company of thrives, but then where would they rather be? I think it's high time everyone became more responsible. I'm not saying we would do it all in a year, but can we at least start? Parents should do better, and the government should rehabilitate and reintegrate street children back into society. Collaborations between the government, civil society, and NGOs are pivotal. Let us remember that together we can do so much. Every child will eventually grow up. The question is: what kind of adult would they become? The answer depends on our actions and inactions.    Learn Unlearn Relearn
From Alms to Arms
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Waripamo Allen
city Yenagoa • 3 months ago

Beautiful 🙏🏽

Hi, it's Samuel, thanks for reading & listening to my insights.
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Mwambo Kate COO @ Enchird Technologies Sarl.
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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 months 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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Tari Ogbowei Content Writer and contributor @ TwoCents
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In Politics • 1 min read • Jun 05, 2022 11:18a.m.
TWITTER PRESIDENT - PART 3
<span class="html-content"> <p>People of every Nigerian ethnicity keep supporting him daily, irrespective of political affinity. He moved from PDP to the Labour Party and his support base has rather grown than dwindle. He seems to be the man of the people. He is the underdog that will give the main contenders a run for their money. If social media, especially twitter were the real world, I'd have concluded already who the next president will be but alas, it is not. 🤦🏽‍♂️</p> <p>I have seen a number of persons ask, "What structure does he have?" He may not have the textbook structure but I believe the people are all the structure he needs. The Chinese under Chairman Mao had no conventional army but formed an army of peasants from the people with which they smartly used to fight off their aggressor, Japan.</p> </span>
TWITTER PRESIDENT - PART 3
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Jefferson Nnadiekwe Freelance scriptwriter and creative photographer
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In Politics • 2 min read • Jul 05, 2022 11:32a.m.
FOR THE LOVE OF OBI
Let's talk about the man of the moment, in Nigeria. None other than Mr. Peter Obi. The presidential flag bearer of the Labour party. Mr. Obi enjoys an overwhelming amount of support from the Nigerian citizens, something I'm sure even he never expected. He is the one the people seem to have chosen as the messiah to lead the country to a glorious rebirth. It's quite a good thing to witness. Nigerians look to wage war against ineffective leadership, and Peter Obi is the weapon which has been chosen. The question I often ponder is: Is Peter Obi being set up to fail, should he eventually win the forthcoming election? Before you come for me, let me explain the reason behind that thought. Whether or not we like to agree, we live in a country were citizens actively dodge responsibility and avoid accountability. A country were majority look for ways to cut corners and short change each other. Also, whether we like it or not, these are some of the resistance to a working country. An average supporter of Peter Obi, believes that all would be okay with him becoming president. What that supporter fails to realize is that for that change to happen, we all need to work in accordance to his vision. I was in a discussion with a friend few days ago, and in that conversation, I mentioned the eagerness of Nigerians to bend the rules. In all I said, her response was you cannot change people or tell them how to act. Seems to me like an excuse for bad behavior. If we cannot change people, what is the chance that they would respect and adhere to the policies of a president who has a good intention. Another worrying thing, is that we do not seem to bother about the other government offices closer to us. Offices such as that of the governor, house of representatives, local government chairman and councillor, are all too important in the development of a society. If these other officials are not in line with the vision of Mr. Obi, there's little change which can be effected. Nigerians claim to be tired of the APC and PDP, but seem to be okay with them producing the governors of the various states. Why are we not clamouring for deserving candidates as governors too? Do we really expect an PDP governor to fully support a Labour party president. Truth is, they would likely do all within their power to sabotage his government. We cannot afford to ignore other offices of government. If truly we want Peter Obi to succeed, we must be willing to put in the effort. Take our civic responsibility seriously, be accountable and obedient to the rules. We must ensure that he is surrounded with like minded politicians at every level, who would work with him, rather than against him. Failure to do these, is tantamount to setting him up for failure. I hope we take necessary action for the love of Obi!
FOR THE LOVE OF OBI
By Jefferson Nnadiekwe • 2 plays
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Jefferson Nnadiekwe Freelance scriptwriter and creative photographer
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In People and Society • 2 min read • Jun 24, 2022 12:20p.m.
MORALITY VS OUR LOVED ONES
It is no news that social media and maybe even the country is buzzing with the story of Ike Ekweremadu and the allegation of organ harvesting. That's right - a one time deputy senate president and his wife have been arrested in the UK, for bringing on the charge of child trafficking and organ harvesting. According to the story, the couple arranged to bring in a 15 years old boy into the UK, as a kidney donor for their daughter in need of a transplant. This is just the summary, the full details can be gotten via a quick Google search. If guilty, this is truly a reprehensible and disgraceful behavior from such a political figure. And it goes without saying, it is a huge shame to the entire nation. Now we have condemned the act, let us have an uncomfortable discourse. Can it be said that the Ekweremadus acted from a place of desperation? The fear of losing their daughter perhaps clouded their moral consciousness and made them willing to do anything to save her. One of the most difficult things a man can face, is having his morality tested. We never truly know what we are capable of until we are faced with such a situation. Sure it is easy - very easy, to hypothetically make decisions. It is comfortable having to pass judgement when we are not the ones in the situation. But let's ponder on the question; how far are we willing to go for the ones we love? While I found myself in the process of condemning the Ekweremadus, I had to ask myself inwardly; given the same situation, would you be tempted to do the same? I've watched my mother have to mourn a child, and I can tell that is the greatest pain a parent can go through. At such point, morality is questioned. And vulnerability sets in. At such times, one is almost willing to do anything. It is definitely a horrible period for Ike Ekweremadu and his family. On one end is the possibility of a long jail term. And on the other, the likelihood of losing a daughter. In all of this, all I can wish for, is not to be placed in such a situation of having to choose between moral consciousness and a loved one.
MORALITY VS OUR LOVED ONES
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Hero James
city Lagos • 2 years, 9 months ago
I don't think either morality needs to be questioned or vulnerability ought to set in. In a country like Nigeria and for someone who has ...
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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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Toluwanimi Jewel A Doctor @ Hospital in Melbourne
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In Mental Health • 1 min read • Jan 15, 2023 00:33a.m.
The response to good vs bad news: evidence of a trauma response?
<span class="html-content"><p>We all know how bad news sells better than good news does and it makes me wonder what goes on in people’s minds to make them more excited about hearing, sharing and discussing bad news rather than good news.</p> <p>This then begs the question: Are we all evil or are we just all products of our past trauma and it’s just a trauma response?</p> <p>I know that everyone is struggling with something and I like to think that means we all share that experience of going through hard times; you would think that we would be more understanding, willing to help and accepting of people when they fall or fail or just aren’t in the right space but it’s quite the contrary: a lot of people criticise and celebrate people’s tough times…</p> <p>I sit here wondering how we expect the world to get better if we don’t even like/love ourselves…</p> <p>We don’t have any other specie coming to save us, we are all we have and we have to learn to heal, not just personally but globally…</p> <p>I have chosen to be a part of the healing of the hearts in the world, I hope you will too…</p> <p>LET US SHARE AND BE EXCITED ABOUT GOOD NEWS!</p> <p>What do you reckon?</p> </span>
The response to good vs bad...
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Tomi Walker
city Lagos • 2 years, 2 months ago
I would assume there is a chemical response in the brain that is triggered when we read bad news (bad news). And the chemical response is...
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Esther Omemu Design Associate @ Hera Marketing
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In Content Creators • 3 min read • Jan 07, 2023 08:17a.m.
Good artists copy; Great artists steal
<span class="html-content"><p>Now, this is one interesting quote…don’t you think? Unfortunately, I didn’t come up with this. I wish I was cool enough to though but then again, it did say ‘great artist steal’ and I am a great artist if I do say so myself so considered this quote legally stolen by me. </p> <p>As a content writer, I have never been more fascinated by a quote as much as this one by Pablo Picasso (Didn’t I just say I was going to steal it. I suppose the fear of plagiarism is the beginning of wisdom) and so I dug deep into the <em>great</em> channels of celestial wisdom (google) to understand this quote as much as possible. I did it so you don’t have to…</p> <p>So here’s the tea. </p> <p>Many writers or content creators generally get the sense that they are not being creative unless they come up with original ideas or write things from the scratch. I laugh in burnout and eventual madness. How would you keep up as a content creator in the world of fast-paced information and rapidly evolving trends if you have to create from scratch every time you need to deliver? That is why you must apply wisdom and Pablo Picasso has developed the ultimate key: Steal</p> <p>Yes, you read that right If you want to be a great content creator who is able to creatively think and produce ideas at the speed of light then you must master the art of stealing. Now, calm down a little bit. I am not asking that you channel your inner Bonnie and Clyde because that is just you actively seeking prison. What I am saying however is;&nbsp;</p><p>A good artist will study the work of other artists and attempt to imitate that work as closely as they can.</p><p>&nbsp;A great artist will choose components from another artist's work and add them to their own special synthesis of influences…let me break this down a little more with a paraphrased quote from T.S Elliot “The ‘great artist’ welds his theft into a whole of feeling which is unique, utterly different from that from which it was torn” Basically, the greatest level of originality is being able to conceal the origins. As Einstein once said “the secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources” </p> <p>Conclusively, “Great artists steal” is really about drawing inspiration from other people's work and using that as a springboard for fresh creative effort. To generate new work, artists may reinterpret, remix, replace, or otherwise combine previously published works. Now, this is not an encouragement to use this as an excuse to justify plagiarism or appropriation but rather I am encouraging the mastery of ‘stealing’ pieces from many sources and then skilfully fusing their ideas to produce something wholly original.</p> <p>A well-known example of this is Google. Google was not the first company to create a search engine, in fact, it came late to the party but I suppose there were great artists in their midst. Google instead took the concept of search engines and applied a super simple interface to it, using a special algorithm that regularly produced excellent search results. They created a unique-looking product from a collection of existing ideas. </p> <p>Don’t delay your success by putting yourself under the necessary pressure. I’ll have you know that even your most ‘original’ idea belongs to someone else 10 years earlier or three minutes before you. So take a deep breath, go to Google or your nearest library and just feed yourself with ample information to steal perfectly. Harness creative ideas from your life experiences or other people’s experiences and make them so unique that it becomes yours only. </p> <p>You will be amazed at what you can create when you learn to steal like an artist.</p> <p>For more on how to steal like a pro, Austin Kleon wrote an excellent book on the subject and it has been highly recommended: Steal Like an Artist.</p> <p>Until next time!</p> </span>
Good artists copy; Great ar...
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Oluseyi Vandy Samuel Ibok
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Elizabeth Toluwanimi Olawale
city Ikeja • 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Reading that book by Austin Klein opened my eyes to alot about creation.

There's no new idea, some ideas that might feel new to ...

Hi, it's Esther, thanks for reading & listening to my insights.
A creative writer born, bred and established in art of advertising...Feel free to check out my work samples here https://copyfol.io/v/mnw7r7...
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Samuel Ibok Marketing Supervisor @ Crusader Sterling Pensions Limited
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In Relationships • 2 min read • Dec 16, 2022 18:26p.m.
Love, breakfast, and other meals
This is not my forte, and I haven’t eaten breakfast before. Don’t worry; you'll find out why I said that at the end of this piece. There’s a lot of talk about the future of work and other aspects of life, but there is little talk about the future of love. I know it sounds like a gap in literature, but focus! These days, I picture long distance relationships as remote work. I think the meaning and content of love have been trivialized almost beyond repair. Relax, there’s still hope for you! So, what I see these days is people getting into contracts that they call relationships. The craze over this is becoming unbearable. Even teens are in relationships! I think some people don’t even realize that relationships are technically contracts, and some contracts go south. You could end up on the losing end. So yeah, if your heart is broken at the end of the day, cry (if you’re a lady) or go drink beer (if you’re a guy). I said what I said with my full chest! The post-breakfast period for a lot of people can be traumatic and unproductive. I don’t mean to take matters of the heart with levity, but you should know that sometimes love breaks more than it can fix. Sometimes the person who gives you the world may take it from you. I know someone who started performing poorly at work because she was served breakfast. So yeah, it has a way of affecting your entire being. With what I have seen, I feel like in a few years, every relationship would become mostly transactional. In other words, relationships would be perceived like New Year's resolutions. I do this, you do that, and so on. From here, the idea of love would become vague. If this occurs, the global rate of procreation may be reduced. I'm saying this because people would barely see the need to have children, and if they did, it would probably be one. I also think promiscuity would be normalized, which could cause a spike in cases of STDs and increased abortions. This is because "lust thrives in the absence of commitment". Accordingly, we may have lots of single parents and maybe lots of people involved in vices because of a lack of proper parenting. All of these are partly tied to the contagious "woke" mindset people have. As disjointed as this article may seem, there is an inherent danger in building a society where anything goes and which is devoid of "love." One thing leads to another, and I feel there’d be a chain reaction if something were not put in place. I’m not a preacher of love, but I think the future of love would be quite interesting. I’d like to see your opinion on what "love" would be like in the next 50 years. This wasn't written after breakfast! Learn Unlearn Relearn
Love, breakfast, and other ...
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Tari Ogbowei Content Writer and contributor @ TwoCents
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In Politics • 3 min read • Nov 13, 2022 14:03p.m.
IS THE PDP STILL IN THE RACE?
Sequel to the official start of the 2023 elections campaign, there have been indications that the PDP wouldn't fare too well in the 2023 elections. Despite all the hullabaloo, a set of people have maintained that the 2023 presidential elections would be dominated by Bola Tinubu of the ruling APC and Peter Obi of the Labour Party. The PDP has established itself as one of the two major political parties in Nigeria, having won and retained presidential power since the inception of the fourth republic in 1999, up until 2015 when it lost to the ruling APC. Till date, power has been shared only between the PDP and the ruling APC. The PDP has also won and retained executive and legislative positions at various levels of government in many states, since 1999. And between 1999 and 2015, when it was defeated at the presidential polls, the PDP maintained control of the National Assembly. This makes the PDP a colossus in the Nigerian political sector. In light of all these, following the disasterclass rule of the APC, Nigerians naturally felt the PDP would be the antithesis of the APC. The PDP itself must have felt so too, and must have thought it was Aso Rock bound. They must have thought that, they taking over Aso Rock again was set in stone and as such, began to overestimate themselves to the point of taking the country's fragile ethno-religious balance for granted. This was the first mistake. The fact that Nigerians are fed up with the APC's terrible stint at power and Nigerians would most likely not be favoring the APC in the forthcoming elections, made the PDP think it was them or nothing. The prevailing sentiment favored the South for the presidency being that the North is currently wielding power. It would have made perfect sense for the PDP to field a Southern candidate for the top job but the Northern elite, believing that the North is destined to rule made sure the PDP produced a Northern Fulani candidate to take over from another Northern Fulani candidate, deliberately spiting the South. This became the genesis of all the PDP's woes. They didn't factor in the South's reaction in their political equation or just totally undermined the South to come up with a coordinated response to this insult. The attendant internal crisis caused by the response from Governor Wike of Rivers state, together with his G5 group as a bloc has massively destabilised the PDP. The choice of candidate in the person of the former Vice President, Mr. Atiku Abubakar who was in the center of the privatisation of the country's assets which was marred by irregularities and clear cases of corruption which were never investigated for obvious reasons is in itself a stumbling block. He has even been accused of corruption by his former boss, the former President of Nigeria, Chf. Olusegun Obasanjo. His refusal to honor and appear in presidential debates. The obvious rejection of politicians of the old order, to the point were Nigerians in the diaspora refused to come welcome him at the airport when he arrived in the USA for diaspora consultations. It is rumored that he offered to pay one person as much as $5,000 for a sham welcoming to be used for photo props but to his chagrin, it was turned down. It is also rumored that there was a plot by these same diaspora Nigerians to disgrace him in his proposed town hall meeting in the USA. He got wind of it and never held the meetings. He rather went round with the clique of people he went to the USA with and just kept taking pictures of themselves like a group of tourists for the few days that they remained there. The rejection of Mr. Abubakar and the PDP by Nigerians is so loud that his campaigns have just refused to pick up traction and tailwind as turnout and support is always poor wherever he goes. Even the rented crowds which they always use, have become so difficult to get. It is so bad that at the flag off of his campaign in Akwa-Ibom state, a song which is used by one of his opponent's supporters in honor of this said opponent was sung. 🤦🏽‍♂️ It goes without saying that Mr. Atiku Abubakar and the PDP are no longer in this race as any direction they turn to is ridden with trouble. Their journey to Aso Rock seems to be quite an uphill task and with the lack of traction, they might have failed before they have even started. It is quite obvious, they are only in this election race on paper.
IS THE PDP STILL IN THE RACE?
By Tari Ogbowei
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Queensley Okon Information Officer @ Covenant University
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In People and Society • 3 min read • Jun 25, 2022 12:30p.m.
AN ODE TO THE THE VILLAINS
<span class="html-content"> <p>Well more like a litany or how else would I sum this writeup?</p> <p>Have you noticed how attached we are to villainous characters? We worship them in our own way and speak about them with so much respect and admiration, we don't even realize we are doing it?</p> <p>You may be wondering how, considering it would be ironic, given your attachment to the idea that you are inherently a good person and only adore good people.</p> <p>Okay let's see, when you speak about Pablo Escobar, do you condemn his actions or hammer on how he stood in front of the White House with his son, or burnt a million dollars per night to warm up his kid?</p> <p>You remember the Lion King? What character do you remember with fondness and admiration? Mufasa? Na, it's definitely Scar. That treacherous voice and the look made him stand out right? </p> <p>In the Marvel universe, you can't argue that the most loved character is Thanos, the very threat to human existence, well in that world not ours. Doesn't any other character pale in comparison to him when we argue popularity? Hell, even some of his quotes have become legend on TikTok and the Twitterverse</p> <p>The Godfather is a film/story full of villains but you can catch some people arguing about it being one of the best things to have been made in human history. </p> <p>Would you pick the dalmatians over Cruella? I'm guessing the answer is a big NO!! Hell, even Hitler seems like a more interesting character to read about than Albert Einstein right?</p> <p>Well, you may ask where I'm going with this, seeing as your conscience don dey prick you 🤣🤣🤣</p> <p>Why in the world would you be surprised when supposedly evil people thrive in the world? Because we unconsciously love the idea of being evil and getting away with it.</p> <p>The idea of being good is seen as "boring", "unpalatable" and often gets you "used".</p> <p>Some of my femmes would go as far as to say "good girl no dey pay" and the men would tout, "stop being a simp" or "nice guys finish last"</p> <p>Whatever the case, we always abhor the idea of someone being nice or good to you. Or haven't you caught yourself questioning someone's motive when they were just nice to you for no reason? Yeah, I know 🌚🌚</p> <p>But the truth is, being evil is a human trait. You may not want to hear this but everyone has the potential to be evil and wicked and any other adjectives that could describe it. Some people have just learnt to control that aspect of them or haven't been triggered to the point where they want to exhibit the enormity of their potential.</p> <p>Whatever the case, we should learn to stop making snap judgements and maybe examine ourselves, understand, be patient with people and maybe stop encroaching on boundaries.</p> <p>I just went philosophical, right? I think we need more of that, unless we are ready to embrace our inner evility.</p> <p>Besides, no one really becomes a villain unless pushed to that point.</p> <p>Yes, people react differently and being human and smart is knowing that, the idea of different also means becoming a world class villain. </p> <p>Oh, did I forget to mention our most loved villain, The Joker!!!!</p><p>I think we are all villains waiting to happen 🌚</p> <p>Okay I'm done now</p> <p>Tell me what other villains I neglected to mention</p> <p>And what is your take on my litany?🙂🙂🙂</p> </span>
AN ODE TO THE THE VILLAINS
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Kharispeaks
Well said 💟🫡 If villains were reported to go scotfree,most people wouldn’t be good. There’s an happily ever after narrative that goes wit...
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Hi, it's Queensley, thanks for reading & listening to 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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Jefferson Nnadiekwe Freelance scriptwriter and creative photographer
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In Politics • 2 min read • Jun 13, 2022 14:54p.m.
To each his own
Scrolling through my Instagram feed on Saturday, I came across the news of Nigerian public figure, and comedian; Mr Jollof declaring his support for APC presidential flag bearer, Bola Tinubu. But rather than the news itself, what was most interesting about that post, were the comments. It's no secret that the Nigerian youths see APC and PDP, as synonymous to backwardness and 'evil'. So it came as no surprise to see the negative comments aimed at Mr.Jollof. The youths were angry and boy did they let him know. How dare he support Tinubu, rather than the man of the people; Peter Obi. He was accused of being part of our nation's problems, an enemy of Nigeria's development amongst other names. The question here however, is; did he really do anything wrong in declaring his support for the APC man? Going by the true meaning of democracy, Mr. Jollof is well within his rights to support whomever he chooses to. And as such, shouldn't be subjected to insults and accusations of being an unpatriotic Nigerian. I understand the frustrations of Nigerians concerning PDP, and APC - both parties have failed us in all honesty. But bullying and abusing anyone who decides to vote for any of their flag bearers is wrong, and certainly not the way to go about campaigning for Peter Obi. The truth remains, in times like this, people most likely pitch their tents wherever it would favor them. Reasons for supporting a political candidate, range from collective development, to personal gain. We should understand that not everyone is after collective development. That's one of the 'uglies' in politics. I believe there is a better way to go about ensuring the right man gets the job. Rather than insults, we should aim to win others over to our side convincingly. Insults would only make those on the other side more defiant. During the election period, it is guaranteed to meet others with varying opinions, and preferred candidates. Are we going to keep abusing and bullying them? We can do better, we have to do better.
To each his own
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Queensley Okon
city Ota • 2 years, 9 months ago
This makes a lot of sense
Hi, it's Jefferson, thanks for reading & listening to my insights.
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Tari Ogbowei Content Writer and contributor @ TwoCents
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In Politics • 4 min read • Sep 18, 2022 22:11p.m.
THE QUEEN IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CIVIL WAR
On the 8th of September, 2022, the British monarchy lost its head monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Within minutes of her passing, the whole world knew she was dead and tributes began pouring in  from all over. Although, different people had quite distinct reactions to the development. Many were mournful, others liked the Irish expressed joy and a few others like me were indifferent. While the Queen was on her deathbed, one Uju Anya, a Nigerian-born American professor made a controversial tweet. She tweeted, "I heard the chief monarch of a thieving raping genocidal empire is finally dying. May her pain be excruciating." While it might be morally wrong to disparage a person who is dying, or actually dead, we shouldn't forget that everyone has the right to free speech. This is one of the charters of the UN convention. Logically, no crime has been committed but from the standpoint of humanity and morality, it is all shades of wrong. In her defense, one could easily say she made the tweet in reference to the British empire's colonisation efforts in places like Africa and India; the death and bloodshed that followed, and the direct result of the "Potato famine of 1845". Although, the Queen Elizabeth wasn't even born when most of these things happened or started but she met them when she ascended the throne. She never for once acknowledged that whatever her progenitors did was wrong and apologised for it. She carried on as if all is well. In the area of colonisation, she continued with the family legacy. It could easily be assumed, that she supported the actions of her ancestors and in this light Uju Anya's take on Britain being a thieving, raping, genocidal empire is valid. Uju Anya's tweet went viral and the rest of the world made sure to gaslight her for her unsavory remarks on the "dear Queen." Jeff Bezos, the second richest man in the world, among many other prominent and famous people, called her out in no unclear terms. Infact, one could say she was almost lynched with words. Nigerians who are known to be supportive of their countrymen came to the rescue. Now, this is where I have a problem. Uju Anya, being Igbo, mainly Nigerians of Igbo extraction came to her defense. Not that anything is wrong with this but if you want to defend something, do it intelligently and not based on sentiments and uninformed hot takes. I read things that made me question my knowledge of political history. Many of these people hurled vitriol at the late Queen, using the Nigerian civil war as their excuse, juxtaposing two parallel arguments. Their argument was that Britain under the Queen refused to sell arms to Biafra, supporting the Nigerian government against Biafra and that Britain was somehow responsible for the lives lost from the war. While I disagree with this argument, it is a fact that for any event, there are causes and effects. A lot of Igbos have refused to acknowledge the causes of the war but are quick to remember the effects, solely because they bore the brunt. The Nigerian Civil war was ignited by a series of unfortunate events that began from the January 1966 coup led by Kaduna Nzeogwu and Emmanuel Ifeajuna which culminated in the murder of 22 people, mainly from the North and Mid Western regions by people of mainly Eastern region origin. It was agreed by the coupists to kill the regional leaders of all the regions but at the end of the coup, the leaders of the Eastern region were all alive and well while those of the Northern and Mid Western regions had been killed. This is why the January 1966 coup was nicknamed an "Igbo coup." After the coup, another Igbo man in the person of Aguiyi Ironsi became the Head of state. He promised to try the coupists and serve justice. This calmed the nerves of the North but at the end of the day, it was discovered that the coupists were only arrested but never tried. Infact, they were being paid their full salaries while in detention and were even billed for promotion. All this led to a counter coup by Northern military officers on July 29, 1966 and the unfortunate pogrom of 1966-1967 and the Civil war of 1967-1970. If we go back to a few years after independence, it was Nnamdi Azikiwe, the great Zik of Africa that decided against the inclusion of a secession clause to the constitution. Today, his posterity is suffering from it. All of this shows us, as a people, we are not aware of our history and because we are not aware of our own history, we have distorted it, such that propaganda and pseudo history has been orally passed down from one generation to another. This is why many people believe they were just sitting down on their own, minding their business and "Hausa" people came and attacked them. There was no provocation or trigger that preceded the Nigerian Civil War. Hausa people just woke up one morning and decided to descend on the people of Eastern Nigeria because their breaths stunk and they didn't like their faces. But this is definitely not what happened. However, since we have refused to write our own history, and worse still, we have refused to teach it in schools, there are millions of people who believe in this version of events. The really unfortunate thing is that this misinformation and misrepresentation of facts will continue. In light of all of this, I believe it is obvious that the Queen, albeit being the biggest beneficiary of the atrocities of her progenitors, is not responsible and had hand no hand in the cause of the Nigerian Civil War. If we're looking for who to blame, we shouldn't look too far. We should look at ourselves. If any Nigerian wants to blight the Queen, it should be on the basis of the fact that the British monarchy as an institution, of which the Queen is the single largest beneficiary plundered, pillaged and raped a large part of Africa for its personal benefit.
THE QUEEN IS NOT RESPONSIBL...
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Hero James
city Lagos • 2 years, 6 months ago
You don't tell a victim of war how to air her grievances. Her choice of words is proportional to her pains. Secondly, the coup was never...
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Oluseyi Vandy Freelance writer, audio producer, 3D modelling
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In People and Society • 4 min read • Feb 08, 2023 07:11a.m.
Optimist Anonymous
My name is _____ and I am an optimist.  When people hear the word optimist, they think of always being happy, and delusional, my middle name is Hope detached from reality. As much as I would like to agree with the Hope part cause it's a great name, no that is not my name, and no, I'm not always happy that would just be exhausting, and quite frankly, a case can be argued that someone always happy has few screws that have shaken loose. What does it mean to be an optimist? Google would tell you "a person who tends to be hopeful and confident about the future or the success of something." The funny part is that everyone has hope, as far as you have lived, you do, once did, or will at some point, multiple times. Except you don't want anything in life, and humans do; it is a feature of a living thing, the difference is how complex the wants or needs are, and man has the gift of planning years into the future. This in itself is hoping, and believing you will be alive for that long when the unpredictability of life is a constant, still we say things like "see you tomorrow" when it isn't promised. Since it's clear that everyone at one point in time has hoped and will hope, why isn't everyone an optimist? Well, let me put it this way, the globe is filled with many that can sing, but not all of them are artists or musicians, in summary, hope, and belief is a way of life, their default, come rain or shine. This does not mean that they don't lose hope, get doubtful, or see the reality that surrounds them. It's like courage, the word exists because of fear, or the reality of a scary situation and the person chooses to defy that fear to act, quicker than those around. There is an understanding that optimists have, you can even say it's one of the laws of the universe (though if we are being honest, every trait of humanity is in response to one law of the universe or the other), they know that every situation no matter how bad comes to an end... or at least hope that since most things come to an end, the bad does as well. They have a calm and confidence that is rooted in whatever you may call it, higher power, God, actions, and/or the malleability of reality. This is why everyone can look at a situation and freeze at that moment, but they know that action brings a reaction, and this reaction if done well and frequently enough, will cause change. Why am I an optimist? Because I am a student of history and Faith. I know the world is full of suffering, but people that have suffered the worst and the cruelest nature or aspects of humanity have still risen to the highest heights, because there was a time the thought of man flying would be considered madness if you were not referring to angels (I imagine the mockery the Wright brothers went through), but now there are planes and jetpacks. It's so overlooked and underrated that people can now change gender (my views on the matter aside). Imagine you could go back in time to the pre-colonial era and show them a cellphone, and its ability to take pictures. You'd be hung, burned, or drowned and accused of witchcraft, and that is from the Westerners; probably would go something like "*gasps* My God! (S)He is capturing the souls of those (s)he snappeth. Vile sorcery". It takes faith, knowledge, time, and will to challenge the present for you to create, even if the creation has never been dreamed of by anyone. You may not be the one to accomplish it, but you may very well set the foundation for someone in the future who may have the resources, and time to. This is what the optimist knows and tries with each challenge to exercise over the present, or a situation; because the mind is the most powerful tool we have, everything that has been made was first thought of, even the ones by accidents were a result of some other thought that led to action. It is decisions that lead to change, so though society might shame you for your sunny disposition, it is what makes you different, and you are not alone, welcome to Optimists Anonymous where we teach you how to get addicted to the kind of mindset that keeps you going just a little longer when people would normally give in. Our motto is “situations can change at any time”. Let's be honest, which is better? Not hoping for the best, so you do not bother to give your all, because... "let's face reality," or you give it everything you've got and hope. One at least has the chance of you winning, the other? You certainly won't.  Glad to have you, I hope to catch you at the next meeting.
Optimist Anonymous
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Elizabeth Toluwanimi Olawale
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Can you adopt the use of more white space to your writing, to make it easy to read?

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In Politics • 2 min read • Apr 22, 2023 13:14p.m.
WHEN LAW MEETS POLITICS - UGANDA MINISTERS' SCANDAL AND RIGHT TO BAIL
You may have heard or watched the news from Uganda on the most recent scandal where Ministers shared government aid that was meant for relief for one of the remotest places in Uganda - the Karamoja region. For clarity, this is the area with the highest rates of illiteracy, and economic development and with a semi-arid climate that has hampered their agricultural space and has always influenced their life as nomadic pastoralists. During the affirmative action discussions, the legislators saw it fit to create a Cabinet Ministerial position for Karamoja Affairs. Recently the Minister sought a supplementary budget to purchase iron sheets for the region in form of aid. The money was allegedly shared amongst some legislators and ministers through corridors of power. This led to the arrest of some of the Ministers during the last 2 weeks. It should be noted that these Ministers and legislators belong to the ruling party - the National Resistance Movement. Earlier, the ruling party had sought to abolish the constitutional right to bail for certain political wrongs inclusive of corruption. This move was a political strategy engineered to ensure the opposition politicians under certain charges do not get access to the right to bail and as such stay in the cells for as long as the political power structures agree otherwise. The irony is that now the same ministers face the same stand off with many of them have failed to meet the bail requirement. Well, that is what has been in Uganda. Share any similar scandal from where you are across Africa. Please share certain insights on how such scandals may be handled by the courts of law with respect to bail and whether such offenses should be bailable.
WHEN LAW MEETS POLITICS - U...
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Joshua Omoijiade Architect @ James Cubitt Architects
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In Psychology • 4 min read • Jan 20, 2023 08:37a.m.
The perks of being Socially Awkward
One of my favourite series on Netflix is the Good Doctor. I saw the trailer and got hooked, binging and following as I could. The lead character Dr Shaun Murphy is a most captivating genius. He tackles medical case after case with his almost magical ability to parse problems apart, even just for intrigue. Shaun is, however, less successful in navigating his social life. He fumbles over relationships - intimate and otherwise. He tells the truth at the wrong times; he doesn’t know how to lie; he is brutal in sharing information, and it’s almost cost him his job. Dr Shaun Murphy can invent a new surgical procedure to save lives in five minutes, but he would fall all over himself for an entire episode trying to figure out why he should have lunch regularly with his fiance (watch it to see how the hell he managed that). By now, you might be tempted to think, “oh, social awkwardness in the title; Shaun Murphy. In the example, he’s probably socially awkward; I know where this is going; Shaun is socially awkward, isn’t he? Why bother reading” If you guessed Shaun was socially awkward, and I was basing all the benefits of social awkwardness on this character I fell in love with on Netflix, you would be wrong. At least in part - you would be wrong. You see, Shaun isn’t socially awkward - at least, that’s not the root cause of his troublesome behaviour. Dr Shaun Murphy is a high-performing person with autism. I thought it would be beneficial to begin by telling a bit about what social awkwardness is, and I’ve found that quite often, the best way to find out exactly what a thing is, is to be clear about what it is not. Now, being socially awkward is not the same as being autistic. People somewhere on the autism spectrum have a medical disorder that I can’t parse here. While many of the symptoms of autism (in many patients) include poor awareness of social cues and norms, hyperfocus on more systematic thinking and specific subjects, and a few others, people with Autism also have other more severe manifestations. It can be easier to say; most autistic people are socially awkward, but not all socially awkward people are autistic. I make this first distinction because while reading up about this, I discovered Social awkwardness is often confusing. Certain people think it’s introversion; others say it's social anxiety (this one is tricky), and others even say it’s a mental disorder - it’s not. Social awkwardness, according to Joshua Clegg of King University, is: “the feeling we experience when we believe that our desire for being accepted by others is threatened in a given situation. This feeling incites us to turn inward, increase our self-monitoring, and attempt to behave in ways that will better our chances for acceptance.” I assure you it’s pretty common. One in five people experience failure in navigating social situations on a regular basis. This is why it’s worth taking a look at some of the ways this state of being helps us as people. Some people are naturally more prone to social awkwardness than others; people with higher levels of introversion; autistic patients quite naturally, and people in states of social anxiety. Firstly, Social awkwardness heightens your sense of self. No one really says, “I became self-conscious”, in a positive light. Still, on close inspection, the heightened sense of self presents socially awkward people with a chance for better reflection and makes them more sensitive to touchy social situations. Just because you can navigate them with trained ease or march right into them doesn’t make difficult social situations less difficult. With some social awkwardness, some moments that can cause irreparable damage can be approached with an extra buttress of caution. I mentioned it while distinguishing Social awkwardness from autism; people in this boat can be blessed with more analytical thinking - OK, I said systematic, but still, it’s usually the case that this uncomfortable feeling comes with the ability to take things apart and focus more clearly on the underlying themes. Another benefit is the gift for deeper conversations. Many social interactions are shallow. They involve a lot of simple cues and signs to keep it all trudging along. A hi-bye here, a “how’s the weather doing today” there, and it’s all smiles. If you find yourself struggling with these routines, it doesn’t mean for sure that you are unable to carry out conversations. No. Many socially awkward people thrive when the veil of small talk Is lifted. The conversations that get the meat of things, especially those topics of focus for you - things you’re passionate about. This is usually the best place for you, wallflower. Social awkwardness can vary in severity for people, but I’ve gone about learning that it’s not a bad thing. It’s simply a disposition or feeling where the social routines are not as easy. It does come, however, with some benefits. The wallflowers, as I like to think of them now, bring a unique perspective to the world, and they are the ones I would prefer to talk to after the people who smile through questions about the weather clear out of the bar on early Saturday morning. To round up, first of all, see the Good Doctor if you haven’t. Social awkwardness is a familiar feeling or trait, and like all the traits we evolve, it comes with uses. You might not become Shaun Murphy's level of super-powered, but that’s OK - he’s a high-functioning fictional autistic character, and maybe you’re not, but maybe like him, you share the trait of social awkwardness.
The perks of being Socially...
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Nwobu Chidimma Programming @ E-commerce
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In Career and Jobs • 3 min read • Mar 22, 2024 12:05p.m.
Navigating the Tech World as a Woman: A Nigerian Perspective
<p>&nbsp;Navigating the Tech World as a Woman: A Nigerian Perspective </p><p>As the world becomes increasingly digitalized, the tech industry continues to grow and evolve at a rapid pace. Yet, for women, especially those from underrepresented regions like Nigeria, entering this male-dominated field can be a daunting journey filled with unique challenges. Today, I want to shed light on the struggles of the mind transitioning into tech as a woman, particularly from the perspective of a Nigerian, and the added difficulties of securing remote jobs in this competitive landscape. </p><p>For many women, making the transition into the tech industry is not just about learning new skills—it's about breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes. In Nigeria, where gender inequality is still prevalent in various sectors, pursuing a career in technology as a woman requires resilience, determination, and a strong support system. From battling societal expectations to overcoming imposter syndrome, the journey can be emotionally taxing and mentally draining. </p><p>One of the most significant hurdles faced by women in Nigeria aspiring to work in tech is the lack of access to quality education and resources. While the desire to learn and excel in this field may be there, the means to acquire relevant skills and knowledge are often limited, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Additionally, the absence of female role models and mentors in the tech industry further exacerbates feelings of isolation and self-doubt among aspiring female technologists. </p><p>Furthermore, the pursuit of remote job opportunities adds another layer of complexity to the equation. While remote work offers flexibility and freedom, securing remote jobs as a Nigerian woman in tech comes with its own set of challenges. Limited access to stable internet connection, unreliable power supply, and cultural biases against remote work can hinder progress and limit opportunities for professional growth. Additionally, navigating the intricacies of remote job applications, such as cultural differences and time zone constraints, requires adaptability and perseverance. </p><p>Despite these challenges, Nigerian women in tech are resilient and resourceful. They are carving out their space in the industry, leveraging online learning platforms, networking opportunities, and support networks to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams. Organizations and initiatives focused on empowering women in tech, both locally and globally, play a crucial role in providing access to education, mentorship, and career advancement opportunities. </p><p>As we strive for gender equality and inclusivity in the tech industry, it is essential to recognize and address the unique challenges women face, particularly those from underrepresented regions like Nigeria. By fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, promoting diversity in the workplace, and providing equal opportunities for all, we can create a more equitable and vibrant tech ecosystem where women can thrive and succeed. </p><p>In conclusion, the journey of transitioning into tech as a woman, especially as a Nigerian, is filled with obstacles and uncertainties. However, it is also a journey of resilience, empowerment, and endless possibilities. By overcoming challenges together and championing diversity and inclusion, we can build a brighter future where every woman has the opportunity to shine in the tech industry. </p><p><br></p>
Navigating the Tech World a...
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women women in tech women and career career and jobs
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Samuel Omoyele
city Abeokuta • 2 months, 2 weeks ago

Being a Woman in tech is for sure a great deal of work but it's amazing that there are more global organisations and communities aimed...

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