Adeola Aderounmu

The issues affecting the Nigeria are numerous and varied. Recent occurrences in the country have stirred up debates here and there on some of these issues. Honestly speaking, the issues cannot be overflogged. It is a debacle that millions of Nigerians live with. They are entangled in a vicious web created by the wicked, mean and heartless leaders and politicians. It seems that Nigeria is trapped in a deadly vicious cycle. Again, there are many dimensions to this vicious cycle. The elimination of this cycle will be a difficult task and generally it looks like Nigerians will live with this dilemma for a long time to come. I could arguably state that some things will never change in Nigeria in as much as the circumstances to warrant those changes are missing. Take the case of stealing, looting, cheating and forgery as criminal examples.

For instance, how can you tell a student preparing for a common examination that he is not allowed to cheat? All the things that surround him indicate that cheating and forging are acceptable. He could see that all he needs to do is to find an appropriate accomplice in the person of the examiner or an accessory among the examination center workers. These could be the school principal or an influential teacher. If everyone did their parts, they will all get away, clean.  This is what INEC has done in the last scam called elections. All the players have done their parts and God help Nigeria if the judiciary follows the trend. Cheaters get caught sometimes because of the negligence of someone or the diligence of a faithful citizen. In a few days, we will know if the courts in 2007 Nigeria are faithful institutions or tools that should be neglected by the citizens.  

Stealing, forgery and cheating are siblings. We have seen over the years how common illiterates have occupied our senate/ house of assemblies and other public places using forged certificates, having attended imaginary schools especially abroad. Who is fooling who? The painful thing is that many of those alleged to have committed this crime are not really fully investigated because the tale may be endless. This implication is that many public holders carry false academic status. It would be nice to know what the result of a general knowledge exam will turn out among such people. Has someone thought about conducting a common entrance/ G2 exam for all public officers? I mean the type we did those days to get into secondary schools.  

Is it not amazing also that armed robbers are still finding their trade lucrative and attractive? How can you preach to them to stop and why should they stop? Everyday in Nigeria, millions are been stolen from the National treasury. Pen robbers who called themselves politicians steal money and share loots without a drop of sweat. This is a big inspiration for the men with guns. They are seriously inspired that it is very right to steal from wherever and whenever. Stealing is stealing regardless of how it is carried out. The pain though is that the armed robbers sometimes get merciless and many in recent years have taken the lives of their victims. They have become more brutal; sometimes they rape, maim and destroy property. Usually their victims have no definitions boundaries. All they need is money just like the thieves in government. Don’t even think about the Police tackling the menace of armed robbery. Like many public insitutions, they are ill-equipped and unmotivated. It is sad and painful but like many vices in our society, we live with these things daily and live the next day as another day of our God given lives. 

To fix or amend a vicious cycle, the people will have to resolve to a collective will. This is one virtue that does not exist in the Nigerian dictionary. People grew up of course in community settings, mutual environments but unfortunately it is “all man for himself” at the end of the day. This is a popular saying in Nigeria that has rendered the citizenry powerless. The society is full of envy, hatred and “bad belly”. The bad belly syndrome is a topic that requires treatment on its own. In modern societies, which are also found in neighbouring African states anyway, the aim of collective will is to move a nation forward by standing up against everything and anything that doesn’t seem right. Nigerians don’t stand up against wrong things because they hope to benefit from that “wrong thing” themselves when the opportunity comes directly or when they have a known person in a position to steal or influence things. This is pathetic and it is not a legacy that should passed from generation to generation, but that is just the way I have known it and at 35, I am beginning to lose hope that my country of birth will be great in my life time.

aderounmu@gmail.com

Adeola Aderounmu.

Madeleine is just 4 years old. She is innocent and could not have commited any crime, yet she has been feared abducted since May 3rd. The incident occured in Portugal.

All hopes are been kept alive that she will come back home to her lovely family. Surely, she is missing her parents and siblings as much as they have missed her.

This is not the best of times for the McCann Family and one can only hope that this nightmare is over as soon as possible.

I was wondering if certain legal barriers can be broken to allow for house to house search in the whole of Portugal. The world cannot afford to keep another lovely little girl underground in some lunatic home for 8 or 10 years.

If the world is free, Madeleine will be free. Let someone open their doors and let the real search begin!

God bless you Madeleine!

By Nwachukwu Egbunike

(The Guardian (www.ngrguardiannews.com) May 14 2007)

“WHAT do you want to be when you grow up?” This is a typical question for kids. The answers one usually gets are: “I want to be a doctor”, “I want to be a lawyer, or “I want to be a pilot”, so-on and so-forth. The list usually drags on and on. However, I cannot ever recall any kid responding with these words: “I want to be a teacher”.

This aversion for teaching is not shared by kids alone. No Nigerian teenager ever considers teaching as a profession to be aspired to. Prof. Michael Omolewa, Nigerian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO, recalled an anecdote sometime ago. According to him, it happened that a certain parent had sought his advice because her son could not gain admission to study medicine. In all simplicity, he advised the boy that since he could not make the cut-off mark for medicine, he should consider studying education. He had hardly finished when both mother and child broke down into tears.

When I mean teaching, I have in mind those that teach in nursery, primary and secondary school. This is because those in tertiary institutions have a more ‘dignified’ title of lectures. Besides teaching in this category is more prestigious and nets in a very fat pay package. During the era of the colonial masters – who we always blame for all our misfortunes, both real and imagined – the teaching profession was prestigious. In the Teacher Training Colleges, student teachers were paid. The training colleges were very rigorous and as a result, only the best graduated as teachers. Granted that perhaps the salary was not that fantastic, however it provided for the basic needs of most of them. Besides in those days, the teacher had a certain reserve, a dignity that did not come from the weight of his purse but on the significance of his tasks. To be called onye nkuzi (teacher) carried as much weight as a lawyer, doctor or priest.

Unfortunately things have not only changed but also gone worse. It seems that a sizeable number of teachers in nursery, primary and secondary schools are just victims of circumstances who having no other means of livelihood, took to teaching. This group of people are always on the look out for greener pastures. This in itself is not bad. After all there are also some teachers who started teaching by accident but have made a success story out of it. The last group – who unfortunately are a minority – enjoy teaching; they have a passion for imparting knowledge.

Taking a look at any Faculty of Education, one finds that the majority of those aspiring to be teachers are people already advanced in age, matured students. The young ones are few and are usually those that could not make it in other faculties. Even among these students a great number are there because they want a degree to consolidate their jobs, especially these days that an NCE means little or nothing. The few, who are interested in teaching, have their minds set on checking-out.

Why do young people shy away from teaching? It is also a reflection of the crisis of values rocking our society. If Nigerian politicians, who do little to nothing in terms of creation of utility, are immersed in wealth, why should a young fellow want to teach? Nobody wants to be a teacher due to the poor remuneration. Another important factor is the absence of professionalism. Besides the general population does not value teachers. Parents are only interested in teachers when their children are in school. As soon as they graduate, that’s the end of it. Thus the Nigerian teacher in most cases is like a broom that is only useful when it can sweep but as soon as it gets old, it is discarded.

The public schools are worse hit as the teachers hardly give their best – settling only for the barest minimum, paying more attention to the private classes they organise. Those located in the rural areas rely a lot on Youth Coopers. Not only do most coopers lack the prerequisite training, they are unfortunately in most cases, grossly incompetent in their areas of specialisation and above all have to battle with the communication barrier, as most of their students can only understand their native language. Teachers in private schools are not any better as they earn peanuts when compared to the volume of work they handle. It is only the proprietors of these schools that smile home with huge bank accounts. A sorry situation of monkey dey work, baboon dey chop!

If the youths are really the hope of this nation then we are an endangered species. This is because if the moulders of the minds of the young are unmotivated, sad, hungry and generally without any drive, if the future is entrusted to those who have no love for their profession, who are constantly impelled to look for other avenues to keep body and soul together then we are in big wahala.

The teaching profession should be given the dignity it deserves. More work – than talk – should be put in place to accord this profession its pride of place. The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and other stakeholders in the education industry should wake up and do something. I am delighted that the present drive of the present Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili is yielding fruit. One only hopes that her reforms do not die after she leaves office. However, madam minister should kindly accelerate the necessary changes that will make teachers proud of their professions. It will be worthwhile to review the conditions of service of Nigerian teachers.

On the other hand, the private sector should be proactive, especially those in the education industry. The book publishers in particular who have a direct dependence on teachers should take the lead. I was elated on bumping into a newsletter “School Supplement” exclusively dedicated to Nigerian teachers and bankrolled by Evans Brothers Publishers. It may seem so little but life itself is a collation of little things. It is in our interest to restore the pride of the Nigerian teacher. Otherwise we are only digging our graves because in the words of Gbenro Adegbola, President of Nigerian Publishers Association, “any society that does not treat moulders of the future with reverence is certainly doomed to fail”.

• Egbunike lives in Ibadan.

By  Adeola Aderounmu 

The most important thing about been a politician in Nigeria is that you must know how to steal from the public treasury from the moment that you assume office. Presidents, senators, governors, local government chairmen and so on, they are all literally pen robbers. If you show me one Nigerian politician who has not stolen from the treasury, then I will ask you to show me his or her assets on a timeline basis.  All have stolen and made do with public funds for themselves and their families and close friends. To be in any of the above positions in Nigeria does not require your intellectuality. In general, politicians as a group of people in Nigeria would probably represent the least intelligent people among the populace. The terrain of the Nigeria politics require such thugs, idiots and nonentities whose best skill is the do-or-die mentality and ability. If you are smart or intelligent, you chances are very remote unless you have combined your smartness with thuggery.  

The lobby for positions and contracts are on regarding the next dispensation. Ask yourself, can an illegitimate government beget good governance? Some Nigerians have spoken well of Yar Adua basically because of his simple life and the “no stain record” of the EFCC.  The EFFC happened to be the most misused organ of government in the Obasanjo regime. EFCC probably have good intentions to curb corruption but being directly under the presidency made it a tool for the oppression and suppression of the opposition. Personally, I cannot rely on the recommendations or findings of the EFCC as it were under Obj. It was a matter of he who pays the piper dictating the tune.  It seems that the dubious “election” will be allowed to stand after all. It is a BIG shame. Many Nigerians have forgotten already how Yar Adua became the president-elect. They have changed the tune to “he is better than the rest”.  My own brother even told me that the Bush Family set the example for rigging in Florida and that Nigeria will improve with time regarding election matters. Good argument, hun? I don’t like when people measure their successes or progresses with other people’s failures, it just doesn’t work. The parameters do not correlate. It takes you no where as a person or as a country. Perhaps, many people failed to see that elections in Nigeria always resulted in deaths, vandalism, assassinations, intimidations, massive rigging, obvious cheating and unacceptable disenfranchisement of the helpless citizenry. Is it wrong to right a wrong in Nigeria? Is it bad if we make progress and set good standards for ourselves?  

Some people have also argued that all Nigerians are the same. This means that they expect me to be a thief if I was a politician or if I get a political appointment. This is absolutely false. This mentality is a product of the tropical gansterism that has been displayed at the helm of office by idiots over the past years. It is possible to serve without stealing if you are not overridden by greed and corruption.  When I served as the president of the National Association of Zoology Students in University of Lagos in 1994/95 academic session, the members of the executive did not get any present or gifts at the awards night. I forgot to set aside any money for that purpose because I was busy thinking about how the entire student body would get a befitting dinner and end of year party. I apologized to the other members of the executive and we moved on with our lives and graduated. That was probably (or arguably) the first time in the history of any association that the exco will not give themselves anything. It was a privilege to serve with such honorable students. I will never forget. I will also not forget that I once called for a re-election in the University of Lagos Student Union Parliamentary In-House election.  I was given double set of voting papers. Indeed, there are intelligent minds that can take Nigeria forward. They just never get there!  

Is it not amazing that Nigeria is ranked among the poorest countries in the world.  Nigeria is still one of the most corrupt countries in the world as well. This makes Obj probably the most important thief in the last 8 years. We need to ask him why there are controversies with the foreign reserves less than 1 month to exit date. Why does he need the central bank governor to tell us that the foreign reserve is intact? Is it possible for obj and all the men with big pockets around him including Atiku to defend their wealth in the last 8 years?  The problem of corruption is not with the presidency only. The state governors and local government chairmen are all thieves. They steal Nigeria’s oil money and they lie to the people! It is a burdensome shame that EFCC is corrupt too! Who will cure who?  Politics as it is in Nigeria is a tragedy of modern times. People are already “fighting” over political appointment because it is a time for “reward” for all the thuggery and insanity of the pre-election and Election Day madness. It is a time to reap from the Nigeria Nation! “Our time to chop”! Some people are about to be “rewarded” because they put together more thugs than the others.  Zimbabwe rightfully or wrongfully is a child’s play as Nigeria is now the laughing stock of Africa. Shame to the politicians and all the people that have not allowed any ray of hope to beam on the future of Nigerian child! 

(To be continued) 

aderounmu@gmail.com

By Adeola Aderounmu

May I just take this moment of AC Milan’s glory to express my thoughts on my favourite hobby, football. Kaka, in my opinion, is the best footballer alive in the year 2006/2007. Ferguson was very partial and sentimental to tip C. Ronaldo.

Kaka plays a very purposeful football. He does not waste his time on irrelevant moves and unnecessary tactics. He has great moves and excellent tactics and he uses them as and when appropriate.

Ronaldinho and Robinho are still playing great football but this year has been a very good climax for Kaka. Gattuso is great in the defensive midfield.

Back to Kaka, he is the most consistent player alive. He is not one that have ocassional bursts of brilliance which is the hallmark of been a Manchester United Player. He is too consistent and almost too good to be true.

Thumbs up for Kaka. I hope that you will be crown as the best player. This is your time!

UPDATED 23RD MAY

 AC Milan won the champions league. Thanks to 2 touches from Inzaghi but credits to the ingenuity of Kaka, the originator of the 2 goals. Kaka is a living legend! He is the best footballer in 2007. No doubts!

Congrats Kaka, Congrats AC Milano………

Updated again dec 18 2007:

And so it was that Kaka was named as the best footballer in 2007. I knew this since May that Kaka has no rival in football at this point in time.

It is too obvious to miss it that no one is playing as well as Kaka right now.

Congratulations Kaka on your success, you earned it!

Related link: Kaka the Best