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.

                                                                                                               

 

TOMIWA

TOMIWA

My name is Omobolanle Agbaje.  I met my boyfriend when I was in the University.  We loved ourselves very deeply.  He was in year three in University of Lagos when I got admitted into the same school.

It happened that on my first day on campus, I was looking for my department, Home Economics, to do registration.  So I looked around and saw a guy standing close to the school hall, I moved close to him and asked where the department was.  I said "Please, my brother, can you direct me to the Home Economics Department?", he answered "I won't just direct you; I will also take you to the place".

While we were going, we began discussing.  He told me that he was a Human Kinetics student in year three and his name was Tomiwa Aderounmu and that he was also very popular because he played for the school team, from our discussion we also discovered that we came from the same town, Ibadan.  He told me the history of the University and our Faculty.  From there on, we became good friends.

what surprised me to make me write this piece about my life history was that Tomiwa never wooed me.  It was the very first day when I asked him to direct me to my department that we knew each other and became friends and from there we had became inseparable.  Tomiwa was a kind guy that knew the real meaning of love.  He was never a playboy.

In school we were always together.  It was later on in my year two that I realised how popular my boyfriend was and how the University held him in high esteem.  He was very brilliant and also played for the school team.  In two years he won six gold medals for our school, and also a team member of the Lagos State Sports Academy.

When we were going around in the school, his name was on the lips of everybody: Tomiwa! Tomiwa! Everybody wanted to be friends with him.

It happened that a lady called Kemi Adewale really fell for my boy but he was not interested.  The girl tried all avenues to get Tomiwa all to no avail.  One day, as I was coming from the library in the evening, I just saw a person who passed by me and gave me a hard hit on my shoulder.

When I looked up I discovered that it was Kemi and two of her friends.  As I was about to talk, Kemi started raising abuses on me that "can't you see me or are you blind?" "But you hit me first." I said.  She was about to raise her hand against me when somebody coming stopped her.  "What is wrong with you girls, why are you fighting?" "Is this what you come to do in school?"  Asked the passerby.

"She is a husband snatcher, she is trying to get someone else's boyfriend", said one of Kemi's friends.
"But I saw you, (pointing at Kemi) you hit her first", said another passerby.
"She is too wayward for our liking; she is trying to get what is not hers".  Kemi said irritatedly.

"Okay, please, let all of you go in peace.  You have come to study in school not to fight over boyfriends." "Is that right?" said the first passerby.

"Okay ma," we answered.
As I was going, I heard Kemi say "we shall see".  I didn't utter a word.  It was from there I realised Kemi was stronger than I am.  I went straight to Tomiwa's hostel.  When I gave him the report of Kemi's action, Tomiwa was mad.

"Do you mean, Kemi did all that to you?"
"Yes!" I yelled.
"But is this girl mad, is it by force that I must be her boyfriend", said Tomiwa.

You could imagine how Tomiwa mobilized his friends to Kemi's hostel.  They gave her the beating of her life and made sure the whole school heard how she fought over what was not hers.  She became talk of the town.  Kemi really regretted her action.  I was happy and thanked my God for giving me the kind of man like Tomiwa.
 

Tomiwa graduated and went for his youth corps service in Bauchi, a state in the northern part of Nigeria.  He was sad that he would leave me behind in School, likewise myself but we had no choice than to accept our fate.  It was in this dreaded service year that my Tomiwa lost his life.

In Bauchi, a day never went without Tomiwa phoning and sending me love text messages.  If he sees somebody coming to Lagos from Bauchi, he would give them 'something' for me.  All these love play was going on interestingly when we heard of a terrible fracas in Bauchi.  I did not first know, it was Tomiwa's sister, Bimpe who informed me that they showed it on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) that Bauchi was boiling.  That they were killing corps members because they believed it was they who helped the government to co-ordinate the 2011 election and the expected party of the 'Almajiris' did not win.  This news brought a halt into my life.  I became very scared and thought of my boyfriend.  I also did not hear from him again.  Then the news!  It was his friend who came home to announce his death.  He said he was coming from the field where he and his friends went to play ball when one of the hoodlums who recognized them as corps members announced to others.  As Tomiwa and friends ran into a police station, the hoodlums wet the station with some petrol and burnt the whole place.  That none of them inside the station survived it.  I did not see him or his dead body.  The Bauchi government gave them a mass burial.  This news tore me apart.  I thought of what will become of me after the death of my Tomiwa and I pitied myself.  What a cruel world.


Balogun Sade

CAREFREE DRIVING OF TOP GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONARIES’ CONVOY

The incessant road accidents caused by the carefree/reckless driving of top government functionaries’ is really disheartening and nothing to write home about.  Honestly, nobody is happy about it.  There were many occasions when government convoys had killed innocent Nigerians on the road with their excessive speedy drives.

We are writing this sad story as a result of Saturday February 1^st 2014 accident where the Ondo State, Deputy Governor convoy ran into the car of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Akure Journalist and the Chairman of the NTA Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Alex Akinwale, his pregnant wife, Kehinde Akinwale, their two children and a househelp and killed all of them at the spot.

ALEX AKINWALE (Deseased NTA Akure Journalist)

Wrecked Akinwale's Vehicle at Akure

A traditional ruler, the Osunmakinde of Ife Tuntun, Osun state, Oba Obawure Taofeek Olaposi, who was also involved in the accident, survived but was seriously injured and his on admission in Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Akure.

There had been many other car crashes incidents with top government functionaries’ convoys from time immemorial.  We could still remember a case precisely December 23, 2000 when a car in the then Minister of Works, Chief Dapo Sarumi’s convoy crashed into a just wedded couple’s car (Mr & Mrs Victor Umoren) and killed the two of them, instantly.  The lady was carrying two months old pregnancy.  The couple was coming from a three day retreat at the Eko Beach Resort along Lagos-Epe Expressway to plan for the future.

Another recent scenario was just last year, 2013, which involved an accident of the convoy of Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada.  It was reported that a vehicle in the Governor’s convoy rammed into the bus conveying some members of the University of Benin branch of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to attend the National Executive Council meeting of the association in Kano, forcing it to somersault three times.  Other passengers in the bus sustained varying degrees of injury while Professor Festus Iyayi, former President of the ASUU lost his life. 

It is not only government convoy that is involved in the reckless driving; the Police Force is another entity that should be held responsible too.  There were many occasions that the Police armored vehicles conveying money to Banks had killed human beings on the road and they go away with it.  I could remember a year when I was in Yaba College of Technology as I was coming out of my school, a Police armored car almost knocked me down.  It was by God’s grace that I escaped a car crash that day; it was as if they even tried to scare me off the road because the driver of the vehicle seemed to shift his steering towards me with fun and they were not remorseful about it.

I think it will be very kind enough if our government could address this inhuman attitude most especially as it involved them before it become a crisis.  It is causing lost of lives and everybody kept quiet about it.  People’s precious lives are being wasted.  Can you imagine how a whole family was wasted as in the case of February 1^st 2014?  a just new year,  and the rest of the people mentioned above.  The lives of the families of these people can never be the same again.  They will always have a wounded hearts each time they remember the death of their beloved.  These people could have been among able Nigerians contributing their own quota to the development of our nation.

I am sure it is not like that in the so called developed countries.  Please let us make a change and don’t let us be enemies of ourselves. 
...a word is enough for the wise

#ShakirahSays#

A Wasted Life

Jerry was a young boy of 27.  He lived in Ojo barracks with his parents. Jerry was naturally lazy and did not think of future.  His father Benjamin Joshua loved him and tried to satisfy him with  the little he had but Jerry was never satisfied.
When he was still in secondary school, Jerry always refused to go to school particularly if they asked them to bring anything and his father could not afford the item.  Jerry would refuse to go to school instead he would throw himself into the street and played away his life. His mother Debby could not talk to him. At the age of 14,  Jerry dropped out of school and went to join touts at a motor park. His parents were worried about this unruly behaviour but Jerry did not see anything bad in it.  By the time Jerry was 18 he had become a full 'agbero' at Agboju garage, extorting money from bus drivers and he was really good at it.  He did the 'agbero' job till all his siblings finished school and went to tertiary institutions.  His dad decided to go and report him to one of  his uncle, called uncle Williams. Uncle Williams was a nice man and he helped in the Joshua's family matters. Uncle Williams sent for Jerry at Agboju barracks and surprisingly he showed up.
"Jerry, why are you wasting your life,  all your mates are in the University. What are you doing to have a good future", asked Uncle Williams.
"Jerry could not answer, he knew he had actually wasted his life by then he was aged 27.  But he enjoyed his 'agbero job and the free money he got from it.
"You see uncle. "Jerry started, "I have wasted enough time; I can't go to school again.I want to play football".
"You?can you play football"? asked his uncle. "Very well sir, when I was in school. We used to organise street matches and our team always take the lead" answered Jerry.
Truly Uncle Williams remembered that Jerry was a good player but he just could not trust him for anything. He was too much a truant. But when he insisted that he would play football, uncle Williams accepted and said he would help him in one of the clubs in his companies.
"I will look for a good football team and include your name.  I hope you will be a good boy and don't go there to drag my name in the mud". said Uncle Williams.  "No sir, I promise to be a good boy", answered Jerry.
Uncle Williams was great; he helped Jerry to join Mobil International Football team.  Jerry passed the interview, arranged by his uncle.  Both Jerry's parents and uncle Williams warned Jerry not to go back to the garage.  But Jerry being a natural truant turned a defiant ear and went back to the garage.
It happened one day at the garage, a member of his gang was fighting one bus driver to pay his due and a policeman intervened that Femi, as the boy was called should stop fighting the bus driver.  Femi insulted him and said that he was doing his duty that the policeman should mind his business.  Argument ensued between the two.  This attracted the rest in the garage including Jerry.
"Excuse sir, Na hin work he dey do and this na our domain, e no concern you". chorused the boys.
The policeman out of annoyance gave one of the boys a slap and tried to shoot him.  Another boy in the gang snatched the gun from the policeman.  He too tried to harass the policeman not knowing that his hand was on the trigger as he pulled the trigger, a bullet came out of the barrel and shot the policeman.  The Policeman fell down and died.  The boys were greatly scared as this brought fear upon them.  Before anybody could raise alarm, they had took to their heels and disappeared.  Jerry did not first know where to run to.  He ran as fast as his legs could take him.  When he got to Badagry the second day he remembered his credentials and letter of appointment from Mobil International Football Team was kept in the garage and he could not go back their because of what had happened.  Already, he had started to see the news of the dead policeman in the newspapers.  Government had vowed to deal with the killers if they were caught.  So Jerry ran further to Topo at Badagry, he remembered the warnings of his parents and uncle not to go back to the garage.  The day he would resume at Mobil International came and went he could not resume because of his credentials kept at the garage and he could not return home for fear of being caught.  Jerry lost the job and lost everything too.


Balogun Sade

Restrain of 'Okada' motor bike from major roads

Okada was banned from major or high road in particular in May 

2012.

I am not a perfect 'okada' rider but occasional because I dread the 

fatal accident of okada riding.  I did not quickly observe the scanty 

number of the vehicle on roads until I observe that when you move 

near the drivers and mention areas close to high ways they instantly

reject your offer.  I first thought may be they have certain areas that

they ply or maybe the fee mentioned by the commuter is small.  But

when I see the snobbish way they reject the dreaded areas and run 

with their okada or also the way they run for dear lives at the sight 

of any policeman made me smell some rats.  So I moved close to 

people as my usual practice of getting information. They told me 

that Governor Babatunde Fashola had banned the 'Okada' drivers 

from major roads due to the very bloody nature of their ('Okada') 

accidents.