Category: Change

Change, Randoms

Nigeria’s Many McCulloughs

Jilomes

The role of justice is to not only ensure that the guilty pay for their crimes, but to also ensure that the innocent is not wrongly punished. The scales are supposedly perfectly balanced, and manned by impartiality personified. In Nigeria, however, the judicial scales are obviously crooked, and manned by doyens of crookery. An American, Jack McCullough is presently celebrating his freedom, while many Nigerian McCulloughs continue to languish in decrepit jails for crimes they did not commit. Continue reading “Nigeria’s Many McCulloughs” →

Change, Politics

Nigeria’s Best Budget Ever

Jilomes

In the United States, for the last couple of years, the executive and congress have enjoyed recurrent squabbles over the national budget. With a large deficit, and a worrying debt ceiling, the gladiators provide the media with enough drama for public discourse. Here in Nigeria, as fast copiers of the US system, we have just copied the drama, and raised its intensity. With its many twists and tragicomedies, the 2016 budget is obviously the best in Nigeria’s short history. Continue reading “Nigeria’s Best Budget Ever” →

Change, Politics

Evil in the Towers

Jilomes

Developed countries attained their present status by making the best of their human resources, and training them to become productive members of their respective societies. In Nigeria, despite the hubbub about moving from third world to first world status, our human capital development strategy is abysmal. Why else would our ivory towers be bastions of neglect and reprehensible evil? Continue reading “Evil in the Towers” →

Change, Politics

The 7th April Delusion

Jilomes

It is usually said that we are prone to making mistakes or saying the wrong things when we are pressured and feel our backs against hard concrete. When a boss forces one to alter an honest opinion, one can either decide to stand one’s ground, or succumb to the pressure. Whatever choice is made; one thing is clear—times of intense pressure are times when reputations are either made or marred. Continue reading “The 7th April Delusion” →

Change, Politics

The New Face of Sycophancy

Jilomes

When Tomichan Matheikal said, “History is replete with blunders written by sycophants”, he must have had Nigeria in mind. A school of thought argues that history always repeats itself. Truly, the Nigerian political sphere is a prime example of efficient recycling—there is nothing new under the sun. Continue reading “The New Face of Sycophancy” →

Change, Politics

#FreeEse: When The Constitution Is Not Supreme

Jilomes

Over the years, some incidents in Nigeria have tried to portray it as a theatre of the absurd. Periodically, news reports spring up, bewildering many Nigerians who wonder if the main characters lack commonsense, and the decency to save Nigerians the shame of watching foolish dramas. The #FreeEse incident is a quintessential example of a lot that is wrong in Nigeria. Continue reading “#FreeEse: When The Constitution Is Not Supreme” →

Change, Politics

Troublers of Nigeria: A Different View

Jilomes

In the first article, I said the Association of Nigerian Troublers has many “unusual” members in its fold. A certain reader did not like my expanded list, which included most Nigerians. This person engaged me in a debate about the “real troublers”, and made me pledge to write another article addressing his views. This is it! Continue reading “Troublers of Nigeria: A Different View” →

Change, Politics

Kudos and Knocks for the Military

Jilomes

Yesterday, January 15, was Nigeria’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, a day set aside to remember the roles played by the armed forces in various aspects of the Nigerian polity. Whereas the commemoration ceremonies centred on praise, I think a blend of kudos with knocks is better—kudos for the good, and knocks to correct some wrong sectors in the military’s head. Continue reading “Kudos and Knocks for the Military” →

Change

In Pursuit of Safety

Jilomes

When we hear the word “safety”, what comes to mind are the things we ought to do to “stay out of trouble”. In the civilized world of engineering, safety is a very serious concept, so serious that it has produced a burgeoning set of rules, regulations and standards, inside a billion-dollar industry populated by safety experts. However, many persons and organisations in Nigeria are yet to imbibe safety consciousness into their psyche. Continue reading “In Pursuit of Safety” →

Change, Politics

Much Ado about Cars

Jilomes

Someone once said that leadership involves leaders making sacrifices for the greater good of the organization, just as many parents deny themselves of certain rights and privileges in order to make a better life for their families. That someone obviously had no inkling of Nigerian leadership. In Nigeria, sacrifices are the exclusive preserve of the followers. Continue reading “Much Ado about Cars” →