Category: Change

Change, Politics

Seat Fillers or Potential Legacies?

Jilomes

In a hierarchical society, the goal of many persons is to someday get to the top. Whether in the public service or in the private sector, holding the top role in an organization is usually the ultimate aim. Having recognized this drive for the zenith, one wonders whether hierarchy should be treated as sacrosanct, or whether hierarchy should sometimes be ignored in the best interest of an organization. This is not a palatable thought, but in the interest of providing platforms for lasting legacies, it is a thought worth considering. Continue reading “Seat Fillers or Potential Legacies?” →

Change, Politics

To Serve and Protect?

Jilomes

The Nigeria Police Force, with the different colours worn by its officers, serves as the most obvious representation of the country’s stand against criminality, and enforcers of law and order. Whereas this noble description serves well on paper, the reality for many Nigerians is disappointingly grim. The NPF surely has a smattering of good officers, but a sizable majority of its officers have no clue what it means to “serve and protect”. The reality for Nigerians is that these bad eggs are not protectors, but purveyors of pain and death, from whom Nigerians deserve to be protected. Continue reading “To Serve and Protect?” →

Change, Politics

Lessons from Ogoniland

Jilomes

In 1956, Nigeria joined the league of oil producing nations with the drilling of its first commercial oil well at Oloibiri in present-day Bayelsa State. This achievement was the climax of exploratory activities that began about half a century before then. The oil wells gushed out dollar notes for the nation and the oil companies. While the vested interests basked in the euphoria of rapidly swelling bank accounts, no thought was spared for the printing press that continually pumped out the dollars. Now the chickens have come to roost. Continue reading “Lessons from Ogoniland” →

Change, Politics

From Kano with Blood

Jilomes

In Sarah Vowell’s “The Wordy Shipmates”, she said, “The only thing more dangerous than an idea is a belief. And by dangerous, I don’t mean thought-provoking. I mean: might get people killed”. When a belief is so immanent that even if an illogicality is pointed out, the believer allows no room for tolerant discourse, chaos can result. This is true whether the belief concerns Christianity, Islam, atheism, agnosticism, science or any other religion. Thanks to a reprehensible belief, a life has been gruesomely ended in Kano. Continue reading “From Kano with Blood” →

Change, Politics

Celebrating an Elusive Change

Jilomes

“Gbam, gbam, gbam, gbam, gbam, gbam!” May 29, 2015, the military’s parade drums heralded the entry of Muhammadu Buhari, former military head of state, now executive President of the Unitarily Federal Republic of Nigeria. In the course of the election campaigns, he and the APC had offered Nigerians a new era. That promise of “change” was reinforced in his inspiring inauguration speech. 366 days after Buhari’s triumphant entry, Nigerians wait for a change that still eludes them. Continue reading “Celebrating an Elusive Change” →

Change

In Memory of Eleven Million Missing Nigerians

Jilomes

In the Bible, Jesus gave a parable about a person who lost one sheep out of a hundred. This person could not accept the loss of even one sheep—one percent of his sheep. He went out to find it, and rejoiced at its discovery. This parable tallies with the “no one left behind” policy of many armies, and countries that do anything possible to locate and rescue their citizens. Coming to Nigeria, eleven million Nigerians are missing, and no one is concerned. Continue reading “In Memory of Eleven Million Missing Nigerians” →

Change, Politics

Changing the Change that Changed the Change

Jilomes

When political parties choose slogans, it is expected that some form of intellectual energy is expended in the search for a worthy slogan. A party’s slogan captures its essence (real or make-believe). For years, the People’s Democratic Party blasted the airwaves with “Power to the People”. Now, a year after being knocked off its pedestal, the PDP wants to “Change the Change”. Continue reading “Changing the Change that Changed the Change” →

Change

For The Love of Greed

Jilomes

“There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed”.

The revered Mahatma Gandhi through this quote addressed one of the seven deadly sins shamed by the Bible. If God dislikes greed, then he should reserve a special sector in hell for Nigerians living on greed. In an essay, Ayo Sogunro asserted that “everything in Nigeria will kill you”. He is right! The greed in Nigeria, alone, is already killing multitudes. When swindled, anger is needless, as the con is nothing personal—just plain greed. Continue reading “For The Love of Greed” →

Change, Politics

There Was a Subsidy

Jilomes

The Nigerian political sphere is characterized by intrigues and bizarre plots. In most of these political plots, the plight of the common Nigerian is hardly considered. It’s all about politics. One man removed petroleum subsidy, and fled back after intense opposition. Another claimed subsidy did not exist, yet paid huge sums as subsidy. Mr. Thomas has now seen the light. He now agrees that there was a subsidy. Continue reading “There Was a Subsidy” →

Change, Politics

Now That We Have a Budget

Jilomes

Never in the history of Nigeria have Nigerians witnessed the kind of drama that surrounded the 2016 budgeting process. The budget was in the news even before the first word was typed, and continued to stay in the limelight after its presentation, thanks to fluffy unsanitary pads and bickering by the presidency and the legislature. Like Paul Cezanne wrote, “we [truly] live in a rainbow of chaos”. Some say that chaos produces order. The validity of this statement regarding this budget remains to be seen in its implementation. Continue reading “Now That We Have a Budget” →