UNILAG NEW DUSTBINS

New drumlike dustbins now litter the whole of Unilag.  Thedustbins are written PLASTIC, PAPER and CANS.  It replaces the basket dustbin that were hung on trees. You can get the new dustbin from Unilag bypass to gate.  The dustbins are also placed in hostels, medical centre, Departments, Faculties and so on.

We hope staff and students will comply by throwing their dirts inside.


Shakirat Oduntan

COURT OVERRULES JAMB ON NEW ADMISSION POLICY

We thank God that court overrules Jamb on new admission policy.  At least students will be free to apply to University of their choice.

The private universities are expensive for them.




Shakirat Oduntan

A big thank you to Mrs Aishat and Mrs Oshinbajo.  It is a few weeks that they assumed office and I appreciate them for remembering the case of Chibok girls.  The Chibok girls were captured by Boko Haram sect for a year now and they have not been rescued not to talk of many other women caught into the Boko Haram captive.

I adore the concern held by Mrs Buhari to meet the girls parents and discuss progress on the matter.

Though there has nothing done yet to rescue the girls but it is too early for President and his wife to embark on anything.  The President had said it in his speech 'The die is cast' that we should not expect magic and there could be mistakes.  But the touch on Chibok girls is not mistake at all it proof that they are coming up with something fruitful for us.

Please I like to beg Mrs Buhari because the matter concern she and Mrs Oshinbajo most being the case of children.  They should put the matter on top of their preference.  Each time they mention any topic on the girls my heart bleeds and I weep.  It is a very serious matter.  The President and the entire 'Committee' just recently set up should put all hands on deck to secure the security of those girls and put an outright stoppage to Boko Haram insurgence. 
If possible Mrs Buhari should raise concert in the language the girls family would understand to make them happy and connect with International Community.

MAY THEY BE FOUND VERY SOON, AMEN.

                                      FUEL SCARCITY

we have been having series of fuel scarcity in the country but the just of recent one is the worst.

It was recalled that money spent on election brought about owing of petroleum marketers which people claim are also tanker drivers.  But President Jonathan objected to that.  It was mentioned that the President owed marketers N160billion and had paid the money remaining N20billion.  But some also put it that the money was diverted to another sector.

My drive on this story is to the 'Tanker Drivers'.  The drivers decided to go on strike to frustrate Mr President Jonathan not knowing that they went on to punish Nigerians severely.  We plead with our tanker drivers to control their annoyance.  They should realize that their strikes always paralyse the whole system.  It knocked off all vehicles from the road and commuters were stranded, majority went on trekking.  Mr Tokunbo Korodo, South-West NUPENG Chairman even mentioned on 'TVC Station' that their strike was really disturbing and had paralysed the whole system.

My appeal also went to owners of petrol stations; now that tanker drivers have started lifting fuel. Petrol stations still sell it for N140 while the real price is N97 later reduced to N87.  This in effect ginger commercial drivers to escalate their bus fare.  For example, buses plying Palmgrove from Bariga is now N70 which was formally N50.  It was during a prior petrol scarcity that the fare was changed to N50, it was formally N30 when the crisis became resolved it didn't go back to N30 again.  Now, how are we sure this N70 charge will go back to N50.  That is a big question!

We plead with Tanker Drivers' to consider human beings before embarking on any strike whatsoever because their actions are always very deadly.

Sade Balogun (Oduntan)

THE DIE IS CAST

BEING ACCEPTANCE SPEECH OF MAJOR GENERAL MUHAMMED BUHAR, GCFR, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON APRIL 1, 2015

I am immensely grateful to God for this day and for this hour.  I feel truly honoured and humbled that the Nigerian people have so clearly chosen me to lead them.  The official announcement from the Independent National Electoral Commission was the moment the vast majority of Nigerians had hoped and been waiting for.  Today, history has been made and change has finally come.  Your votes have changed our national destiny for the good of all Nigerians.

INEC has announced that I, Muhammed Buhari, shall be your next president.  My team and I shall faithfully serve you.   There shall no longer be a ruling party again: APC will be your governing party.  We shall faithfully serve you.  We shall never rule over the people as if they were subservient to government.  

Our long night has passed and the daylight of new democratic governance has broken across the land.  This therefore is not a victory for one man or even one party.  It is a victory for Nigeria and for all Nigerians.  Millions of you have worked for this day.  So many have risked life and livelihood; and others that we may witness this moment.

And it is with a very heavy heart that I report many deaths and injuries amidst the jubilations yesterday.  We send our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives; and wish speedy recovery to those who suffered injuries.  I appeal to all our supporters to celebrate this victory with prayers and reflection instead of wild jubilation.

May the souls of those who died rest in peace.  Let us take a moment of silence to honour all of those whose sacrifices have brought us to this fine and historic hour.  As the results of the election have shown, their labour has not been and will never be in vain.  Democracy and the rule of law will be re-established in the land.

Let us put the past, especially the recent past, behind us.  We must forget our old battles and past grievances-and learn to forge ahead.  I assure you that our government is one that will listen to and embrace all.

I pledge myself and our in-coming administration to just and principled governance.  There shall be not bias against or favouritism for any Nigerian based on ethnicity, religion, region, gender or social status.  I pledge myself and the government to the rule of law, in which none shall be so above the law that they are not subject to its dictates, and none shall be so below it that they are not availed of its protection.

You shall be able to go to bed knowing that you are safe and that  your constitutional rights remain in safe hands.  You shall be able to voice your opinion without fear of reprisal or victimisation.  My love and concern for this nation and what I desire for it extends to all, even to those who do not like us or our politics.  You are all my people and I shall treat everyone of you as my own.  I shall work for those who voted for me as well as those who voted against me even for those who did not vote at all.  We all live under one name as one nation: we are all Nigerians. 

Some unfortunate issues about my eligibility have been raised during the campaign.  I wish to state that through devotion to this nation, everything I have learned and done has been to enable me to make the best possible contribution to public life.  If I had judged myself incapable of governing I would never have sought to impose myself  on it.  I have served in various capacities and have always put in my best.

But despite the rancour of the elections, I extend a hand of friendship and conciliation to President Jonathan and his team.  I hereby wish to state that I harbour no ill will against anyone.

Let me state clearly that President Jonathan has nothing to fear from me.  Although we may not agree on the methods of governing the nation, he is a great Nigerian and still our president.  He deserves our support and permanent respect by virtue of the office he has held.

This is how an honourable nation teats its servants and conducts its affairs; and this is how Nigerian should be looking forward to meeting with President Jonathan in the days to come to discuss how our teams can make the transition of administrations as efficient as possible.

Here, I want to thank my party for selecting me as its candidate.  I thank our party leaders and members for the steadfast contributions they made to bring our dream to fruition.  I thank INEC, the police and all other government agencies for performing their tasks in a proper manner and for refusing to be induced to undermine the election and the democratic process.

I also wish to thank religious leaders, traditional leaders, the media, labour unions, Civil Society Organisations, organised private sector, youths and students for their roles in this election.

I give special thanks to President (Barack) Obama and his timely intervention and support for peaceful and credible elections in Nigeria and for sending Secretary John Kerry and other United States officials.  The European Union -   especially the United Kingdom, France, Germany and other nations that were actively involved in ensuring the success of this election are equally appreciated.  My sincere thanks to the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban-Ki Moon; the Commonwealth, China, India and other Asian and Gulf states are also hereby appreciated.

Finally our brothers in the African Union and ECOWAS have truly and clearly shown and demonstrated their commitment to our democratisation process.  Former Presidents John Kuffour, Amos Sawyer, Bakili Muluzi and his team are well appreciated.   I must also add my appreciation for the role played by civil societies, national and International observers, other world leaders in ensuring that Nigeria holds free and fair elections.

I assure all foreign governments that Nigeria will become a more forceful and constructive player in the global fight against terrorism and in other matters of collective concern, such as the fight against drugs, climate change, financial fraud, communicable diseases and other issues requiring global response.  I want to assure our fellow African nations that Nigeria will now stand as a more constructive partner in advancing the matters of concern to our continent, particularly with regard to economic development and eradication of poverty.

Former Head of State and President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; General Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Ibrahim Babaginda, Chief Ernest Shonekan and General Abdul salami Abubakar deserve commendations for their statemanship and words of caution and counsel for peace during the tense moments of this electoral period.

Most of all, I thank the people of Nigeria for reposing their confidence in me at this trying moment.  Our nation wrestles many challenges including insecurity, corruption, economic decline.  I pledge to give you my best in tackling these problems.

The good people of Nigeria, your obligation does not end with casting your ballot.  I seek your voice and input as we tackle these problems.  This will not be a government democratic only in form.  It will be a government democratic in substance and in how it interacts with its own people.  

No doubt, this nation has suffered greatly in the recent past and its staying power has been tested to its limit by crises, chief among which is insurgency of the Boko Haram.  There is no doubt that in tackling the insurgency we have a tough and urgent job to do.  But I assure you that Boko Haram will soon know the strength of our collective will and commitment to rid this nation of terror, and bring back peace and normalcy to all the affected areas.  We shall spare no effort until we defeat terrorism.

Furthermore, we shall strongly battle another form of evil that is even worse than terrorism- the evil of corruption.  Corruption attacks and seeks to destroy our national institutions and character.  By misdirecting into selfish hands funds intended for the public purpose, corruption distorts the economy and worsens income inequality.  It creates a class of unjustly-enriched people.

Such an illegal yet powerful force soon comes to undermine democracy because its conspirators have amassed so much money that they believe they can buy government.  We shall end this threat to our economic development and democratic survival.  I repeat that corruption will not be tolerated by this administration; and it shall no longer be allowed to stand as if it is a respected monument in this nation.

I ask you to join me in resolving these and the other challenges we face.  Along the way, there will be victories but there may also be setbacks.  Mistakes will be made.  But we shall never take you for granted; so, be rest assured that our errors will be those of compassion and commitment not of willful neglect and indifference.

We shall correct that which done not work and improve that which does.  We shall not stop, stand or idle.  We shall if necessary crawl, walk and run to do the job you have elected us to do.

I realise that the expectation of our people today is as high as their commitment to change has been strong and their belief in us unshaken.  While we pledge to begin doing or best without delay, we would like to appeal to them to appreciate the gravity of our situation, so that we become more realistic in our expectations.

We will govern for you and in your interests.  Your vote was not wasted.  This is not the first time Nigerians have cast their votes for us, and this is not the first time they have been counted; but this is the first time that the votes have been allowed to count.  With the help of God, we pledge to do our utmost to bring forth the Nigeria you seek.

Thank you for your patience and attention.

PUNCH NEWSPAPER

  



 

MOTHERS DAY

March 15th 2015 was celebrated Mothers Day.  It is marked every year to commemorate mothers sweet affection on us.

It is worth celebrating just to appreciate their love and care in sickness and in distress.

Poet Ann Taylor composed the efforts of mothers in a beautiful rythym, titled MY MOTHER.

MY MOTHER

Who sat and watched my infant head

when sleeping on my cradle bed,

And tears of sweet affection shed,

My Mother.

When pain and sickness made me cry

Who gazed upon my heavy eye

And wept for fear that I should die,

My Mother.

Who taught my infant lips to pray

And love God's holy book and day,

And walk in wisdom's pleasant way,

My Mother.

Ah, no! The thought I cannot bear,

And if God please my life to spare

I hope I shall reward thy care,

My Mother.

When thou are feeble old and grey,

My healthy arm shall be thy stay,

And I will soothe thy pain away.

My Mother.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE

Are you easily discouraged?  Please read this verse and be rest assured that God is with the Patient.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going badly.  But we shouldn't lose heart, because Allah is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.  Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground-it just may be a smoke signal that summons The Grace of Allah.

Seek help in patience and prayer; and truly it is hard except for the humble-minded. (Surah al-Baqarah; 2:45)

O you who believe! Seek assistance through patience and prayer surely Allah is with the patient. (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:153)

Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits of your toil, but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. (Surah al-Baqarah; 2:155)

If good befalls you, it grieves them, and if an evil afflicts you, they rejoice at it; and if you are patient and guard yourselves, their scheme will not injure you in any way; surely Allah comprehends what they do. (Surah ali-Imran; 3:120)

Do you think you will enter the garden while Allah has not yet known those who strive hard from among you, and (He has not) known the patient. (Surah ali-Imran; 3:142)

Patience implies firmness of purpose, dogged determination, strong will, steadfast pursuit and self-control.  By patience and prayer a person strengthens his relationship with Allah.  It has been said that 'Patience and prayer are the two great powers'.

There is a warning in the same verse to the effect that it is indeed hard, except to those who bring a lowly spirit.

Excerpts from the Text, 'Islamic Stories' book edited by AbdulRasheed Afolabi, 2011.