Good people ,great nation, no doubt; it is time for us as Nigerians, to entrench an abiding code of conduct; towards checking the excesses of our ever erring elites; who, relentlessly and unrepentantly, commit damnable offences against humanity; since the arms of the law allows them Immunity of some sort; to the detriment of hardworking peace loving Nigerians .
Noteworthy, is the dictum; a nation that neglects sound ethical principles and enduring values, can never achieve set standards maximally.
Neither can such a country command respect, in the comity of nations, irrespective of her enviable endowments; as a sovereign state blessed with innumerable resources; human and natural.
Unfortunately, this is the category, our beloved country falls into. Imagine the impact, consequences of our weak character as educated elites, have had on all spheres of governance, over decades?
Though few trees cannot make a forest, I must however salute the courage of the highly disciplined and committed ones among us.
Incontestable, is the assertion that ‘compared to other economies, the Nigerian Economy is indeed troubled; just as our predicament is not necessarily a result of influence from external forces, but a consequence of the type of leadership we have had, since independence in 1960.
It is time for majority of Nigerians, particularly the elites; and all those in position of authority to ensure that President Bola Tinubu suceeds; as he steers the virtually wrecked ship called Nigeria, back to life and salvage the souls of millions of Nigerians.
Those who truly love Nigerians will put the President on his toes; on the actualisation of his party’s renewed hope agenda.
There is so much to be done to redeem our batterd image; anything outside constructive criticisms on improved governance, should be disregarded as unhealthy; and an ill wind against the progress of our beloved Country.
Introduced by a very close relation ( NTA State House correspondent ) who informed him of my Album launch titled Mothers of a Nation ( dedicated to Mrs Maryam Babangida for her commitment to the emancipation of women), I met our compassionate President at an Event in Abuja in 1992.
He apologized that he would not be in town but redeemed a pledge of N5,000 through a cheque when I visited his office at Victoria Island and we never met again.
Maybe because of my inability to cringe and lobby (not a good attribute in Nigeria if you want to belong to the nouveau rich.
To buttress my assertion that most of our elites have been the main cause of Nigeria’s stunted growth over decades, examples of two top Ex Bankers suffice, at this point.
The immediate past Governor of CBN recently brought the anomalies of the banking sector to a crescendo with his dastardly acts on humanity through his obnoxious monetary policies and uncontrolled greed; common to most elites in high position of trust .
A source of pride to my Alma Mata ,Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikeja, Lagos , where values of eternal significance where entrenched in us by Rev Fathers and Mothers including other highly revered Educationists, got himself entrapped; the rest is history, as we look up to his successor, a highly revered gentleman of outstanding brilliance and strong character, to revamp the economic sector and allow the righteousness of millions of peace loving Nigerians to count!
Interestingly, the President’s Mum ,Alhaja Abibat Mogaji (of blessed memory) who attended the launch of my record Album at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu Lagos, in November 1992, with not less than twelve professionals and Market women, said “Ehin te ka iwe len da Ilu ru.”
Translated: ‘ You, the educated, are the ones destroying the country.
Here we are, 31 years after, her affirmation remain resonant and relevant.
Her factual statement confirms my thought on the second banker’s negative disposition at some points; specifically on covetousness .
Regardless of his brilliance, exposure experience and sound accomplishments, that ex top Banker would be no where near our President; based on principles, were Alhaja Mogaji to be alive at this time.
Both the President and I were victims of his covetous spirit at one point or the other.
He had to beg the President since he was guilty and needed his impeachment invalidated but refused to apologise to me for obvious reasons; but I stood up to him until we arrived at a no VICTOR no VANQUISHED state.
I must however commend his abhorrence for looting of public funds and irregular practices in administration.
How can our efforts towards righteousness count as a Nation; where men loot with impunity, patrimony belonging to millions; while those who abhor looting, erect their damaging lust on sexual immorality with impunity; leaving so many innocent ones disenchanted ?
I am eternally grateful for the divine inspiration that gave rise to Focused Girls Moral Regeneration Initiative NGO and the commitment of my team; as we continue in our quest; to impact our teeming teenagers positively.
Imagine the same former Deputy governor who, as a 26 year old youth corper with MSc Economics, from one of the best Universities in US, could not join me to fight the randy NYSC Chief Inspector and Inspector of Games whom I shouted upon openly; at the NYSC camp to change my posting from the remote area where they posted me; because I rejected their advances while serving at the orientation camp, in Ilorin Kwara State?
The same person who didn’t have my kind of courage, at just 21 years, still turned out to be a clogg in my wheel of progress for some reasons .
Dedicated to our compassionate President, for his contributions to the development of Education in Lagos State, I remain grateful to my Creator, for the privilege, to generate the third edition of my inspirational book, titled Wise and Witty.
This third edition which includes the highly relevant issue of Emotional Intelligence, is set to to get many more youths informed on strong values and sensuality.
It’s time to stop the disrespect to the sanctity of womanhood by the men.
Monogamy is a borrowed culture , those men who can not cope should embrace polygamy with requisite authority.
As we pray that they learn to do what is right in all spheres of leadership or as followers, may younger ones not get enmeshed in our hypocritical ways.
It is also our fervent prayer that righteousness will count; as those who put in their best, get rewarded and celebrated.
My colleagues( rtd Directors ) and I, belong to such a group.
I was redeployed to the Ministry of Education; from the Education District VI, to head the Department of Private Education and Special Programmes; by the then Deputy Governor and Hon.Commisioner for Education, to initiate reforms and get the number of approvals increased.
To the glory of God, my team and I exceeded expectations of our political Boss; while respecting her abhorrence of tips from private Schools .
Six years after, I know it’s not too late for us to be rewarded and celebrated. This will invariably encourage others to appreciate that being upright and humane counts.
Records of what we did for humanity, during those two years, can be verified.
However, the privilege of serving and getting unprecedented outcomes in the history of approval of Schools where deserving schools for their right of approval which was hitherto denied because of bureaucratic bottle necks gives us and our respective families an eternal sense of pride.
We are optimistic that President Bola Tinubu and his Vice President, Ibrahim Shetima, along with their able crop of professionals and technocrats will revamp the economy; in order for peace loving Nigerians to enjoy a new phase of life; where righteousness count and where the unrighteousness of those enemies within will be subsumed.
Our Nation is also immensely blessed to have Senator ( Mrs) Oluremi Tinubu as our first lady.
Three-term Senator of the federal Republic of Nigeria, her vast experience in Nation building through the laudable programmes she initiated; as wife of the governor of Lagos State ( 1999- 2007), will no doubt count.
She is rejunevating and impacting related sectors under her purview positively, for the benefit of humanity with her dynamic team; starting from the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shetima, wives of State Governors ,many professionals and politicians of repute.
Millions of Nigeria will forever be grateful for the deserved upliftment as the builder of leaders , the President of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu rightly promised.
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