PAN-AFRICAN VISION: Acceptance Or Confutation Let me begin with the spiritual awakening of Pan-Africanism as exemplified by Robert Nesta Marley OM, a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Over the course of his career, Marley became known as a Rastafari icon, and he infused his music with a sense of spirituality. Bob Marley profoundly posited: “Emancipate yourselves (Africans) from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds”. Nonetheless, in spite of the rich volume of scholarly examination of the work of this musical genius, no study has specifically addressed his use of music as a platform to articulate and disseminate…
Author: Richard Odusanya
As an advocate of constitutional democracy, firmly believing in the government of the PEOPLE, by the PEOPLE, and for the PEOPLE; the situation in Niger République deeply concerns me and makes some of us very uncomfortable. The coup d’état in Niger resulted from ethnic and geopolitical power play. For example, in the aftermath of the coup, events have unfolded rapidly, revealing that a considerable number of Nigeriens support the military intervention, viewing the interventionists as saviors who will liberate their country from foreign dominance and exploitation of its resources. Unarguably, the July 26 adventure appeared to have some form of…
The best antidote for obliterating coups from Africa’s political landscape is good governance. Presidential decrees or “Executive orders” cannot stop coups and revolutions. Only good governance and total commitment to the welfare of the citizens can stop coups. The truth is that the overrated prevailing system, with its built-in fraudulent democracy of government of rogues by rogues and for rogues and their families, can no longer be tolerated or indeed, sustainable. It is the antithesis of true democracy. For democracy, the sine qua non is accountability by all – top to bottom. This is the best time to re-evaluate Abraham…
Blackmailing or desperately trying to arm-twist God is a defeatist mindset, programmed and suspectable to manipulation. ‘Man, Know Thyself’ – this simple admonition by Socrates, speaks volumes. If you take it as a command then hearken to it and towards understanding who you are, your life will have more meaning. The match towards an African cultural renaissance is not a speculation that should be left hanging on an ivory tower but rather a reality that is praxis-oriented. Interestingly, so much has been written about how to move Africa forward along the path of peace, progress,, and prosperity. Even the so-called…
Africa’s cultural renaissance is a precursor to peace and a preemptive strike of coups in the continent. Since 1963, the quest for African Unity has been inspired by the spirit of Pan-Africanism, focusing on liberation, and political and economic independence. It is motivated by development based on self-reliance and self-determination of African people, with democratic and people-centered governance. This is the African dream; the Africa we want and the continent that our heroes envisioned. The African continent has the longest history in the world: it’s where human beings originated. Africa’s democracy has progressed slowly – as such, poor governance is…
Let me begin with the golden words of Kofi Atta Annan, a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. Annan profoundly posited: “The Arab spring reminds me a bit of the decolonisation process where one country gets independence and everybody else wants it. How about us, when do we get it, when do we make our move? And you have a situation where someone has been in power for decades, where the integrity of elections, democracy, and security have really not been debated or discussed and most people suspect that elections…
Our experiences in Nigeria over the years have shown that we have a system in place that enables and encouraged fraudulent activities. Successive governments at various levels have demonstrated and shown how incapable of good leadership and are very poor at managing any business no matter how lucrative it is. Therefore, It is not a big deal or any surprise that nothing is working. As a nation, our mindsets are configured towards dishonesty and prone to material benefits and ‘self-centered’ personal accomplishments. This is evidenced by the rottenness and dilapidated condition of virtually all our critical assets and infrastructures. The…
Mockery of Religion: Emeifele In Many Of Us No country is immune to corruption. The abuse of public office for private gain erodes people’s trust in government and institutions, makes public policies less effective and fair, and siphons taxpayers’ money away from schools, roads, and hospitals. Godwin Emefiele, suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), arrived at the federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos, around 9:18 am on Tuesday, clutching the Bible. The red paperback tucked the King James Version (KJV) of the holy book inside. Emeifele took the bible along to accompany him ahead of the trial.…
Let me begin with the diagnosis of the “Root of Social Evil” in a tweet by our revered Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, the Bishop of Rome, and the sovereign of the Vatican City State. Pope Francis, posited: “As long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation and by attacking the structural causes of inequality, no solution will be found for the world’s problems or, for that matter, to any problems. Inequality is the root of social ills.” I argued that we have a…
Sunset at dawn on a dark day, 7th of July, 1998. Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, Nigerian entrepreneur, philanthropist and politician exit to the great beyond. It was five years and 25 days after the military annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election and incarcerated the acclaimed winner, the charismatic businessman and politician, Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. The symbol of Democracy and African version of Martin Luther king Jr (MLK) died in a very controversial circumstances in the hands of the military adventurists. MKO, was a man of pan-Nigerian vision and ambition, who went into politics to give the people…
Word Similarities Between Yoruba and Igbo Igbo — Yoruba — Meaning; Ewu — Ewurẹ — Goat Ọnu — Ẹnu — Mouth Nti — Eti — Ear Agba — Agbon — Chin Imi — Imu— Nose Iba — Iba — Fever Atọ — Ẹta — Three Gini — Kini — What Ala — Ilẹ — Land Mmiri — Omi — Water Okute — Okuta — Stone Ọka — Ọka — Corn Ebe — Ibi — Place Afa — Ifa — Divination Ulọ. — Ile — House Olisa — Òrìṣà — Deity Uru — Ere —Gain Ọgbọ — Ẹgbẹ — Age-mate Oru…
Despair is defined in the dictionary as the complete loss or absence of hope. Many if not most individuals feel a deep sense of despair, made more intense by the near hopelessness that is part of their lives. Whereas, Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one’s life or the world at large – we hope, we despair, and then we hope again. Interestingly, in our beloved country Nigeria, almost all the government that comes to power has their own wonderful agenda. At the…
Let me begin with the words of a leader with profound oratorical articulation, Giuseppe Maria Garibaldi an Italian general, patriot, revolutionary and republican. He contributed to Italian unification and the creation of the Kingdom of Italy. He is considered one of the greatest generals of modern times and one of Italy’s “fathers of the fatherland”, along with Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, Victor Emmanuel II of Italy and Giuseppe Mazzini. Garibaldi is also known as the “Hero of the Two Worlds” because of his military enterprises in South America and Europe. Maria posited: “Necessity does not submit to debate” Our…
Armed Forces Remembrance Day And The Significance of January 15 The Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD), is a day specially dedicated, celebrated and observed on January 15, to commemorate the servicemen of the Nigerian Armed Forces. This year’s event is significant as the Nigerian military has been involved in many successful operations in the war against terrorists, insurgents in several part of the nation and the unenviable task of keeping the nation together in unity. Undoubtedly, the significant in reflecting on the sacrifices made by the military to unite and ensure peace in the country cannot be overemphasized. The…
Richard Odusanya *Socrates once said: “they speak so loud but I can’t hear them”.* Let me start by putting it on record that OBJ is entitled to his subjective assessment and opinion expressed in his latest letter. However, it is my firmly held opinion that his motivation is dangerous and unhelpful to our search for progress. We should not allow the silent majority to be misdirected again. It is now a case of “buyers beware”. I read with dismay the new vitriol by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. Given what I know, this letter has invoked mixed feelings in me and…
Richard Odusanya Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, a South African politician who was the second president of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008, when he resigned at the request of his party, the African National Congress (ANC). Before that, he was deputy president under Nelson Mandela between 1994 and 1999. Mbeki had profoundly posited: “I am an African. I owe my being to the hills and the valleys, the mountains and the glades, the rivers, the deserts, the trees, the flowers, the seas and the ever-changing seasons that define the face of our native land.” The former…
By Richard Odusanya Nigeria, a country with 133 million multidimensionally poor people, where inflation has risen for 10 consecutive months and is currently at a record 21.47 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Nigeria’s currency which was N197 before the exit of the previous administration in 2015 has crossed N438 and N830 at the official and unauthorised parallel markets respectively in recent past. The country’s debt profile, exchange rate and foreign reserves are not doing well. From a single digit inflation and unemployment rate in 2015, Nigeria’s inflation and unemployment currently stand at 20.77 and 33.3 per…
Richard Odusanya In the coming decades, law enforcement will face an increasingly digitalized and complex world. With this rapidly evolving digital landscape, policing will therefore face new challenges and opportunities. Given the significance of leapfrogging from colonial mentality to a modern era of policing and the present situation, what will the future of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) look like in the years to come? And even more important, what can law enforcement do now to prepare for these impending transformations? To answer this question, policies and procedures for policing in the African continent, particularly Nigerian environment needs a new…
A wise man once said that we can’t make anyone feel or do anything. We can throw things into the wind, but it’s up to each person to decide how they want to react, where they want to stand when things fall. Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth. Your perspective is the way you see something. Your perspective on life defines who you are, but tapping into different perspectives can broaden the way you perceive the world. To know that we know what we know, and to know…
Richard Odusanya Let me begin with the golden words of Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, and again from 1951 to 1955. Churchill had said: “Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from…
Richard Odusanya CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD! So We did it! LET’S GO ARGENTINA!!!!! It is not easy to be a champion. It takes having a dream, hard work, practice, mastery of the game, perfection, self-belief, courage, determination, concentration, stamina, never-give-up spirit, ability to come back, tenacity, having a good strategy, good execution and good luck. For a champion, it’s not over until it is over. This is what I can describe as FAITH MIXED WITH MECHANIZED GRACE. His mercies located Lionel Messi and the football legend finally became acquainted with the World Cup. On a night high on drama and…
The FIFA World Cup final is a truly global event and will be one of the most-watched sporting events across the world when Argentina and France face off for glory in Qatar. The timing this year will be unusual, as the final will be staged during the run-up to the December holiday season. In fact, it also falls on a national holiday in Qatar, which will add to the spotlight on the competition. Destroy the messenger so his message would be disregarded. What started like a local event on Thursday, June 2, 2022 in Abeokuta that has greatly animated the…
Historically speaking, crowds are often fickle in reasoning. This is accentuated by a recent statement credited to Prof Chukwuma Soludo, the current governor of Anambra state. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, a Nigerian politician and Professor of Economics who wrote: “History Beckons and I will not be Silent (Part 1),” he described, the popular bandwagon fallacy, ‘crowd’ mentality as “Headless mobs” a large number of people incapable of independent reasoning and ability to interrogate issues beyond reasonable doubt. The same characteristics of “Headless mobs” replicated from the situation in the ancient days when the crowds that hailed Jesus at his triumphant entry…
Richard Odusanya Let me begin with the golden words of Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan GCON, a Nigerian politician and a professor currently serving as President of the Senate of Nigeria since 2019. “June 12 has become a metaphor in our country for free, fair and credible elections and a memorial for the day in which Nigerians stoutly rose above ethnic and religious sentiments to deliver a pan-Nigerian mandate for the revival of hope in their country unity and attainment of its great potential. “The heroic demonstration of patriotism by the Nigerian voters on June 12, 1993, will continue to inspire generations…
Richard Odusanya The 21st century is characterised by the unprecedented speed and scope of changes, creating a new external environment, where the issues of governance and public service are managed by great thinkers and creative minds. Unapologetically, Jagaban isn’t an ORATOR. He is a thinker and creative mind, always ahead of his peers. Such is the wisdom that made Lagos a city of excellence, prosperous, politically stable and solvent. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT), in his uniqueness demonstrated uncommon courage and team spirit at interactive session with the team members at the Chatham House in London. CHATHAM HOUSE NIGERIA…
Let me begin with the words of Howard Zinn, an American historian, playwright, philosopher, socialist thinker and World War II veteran. He was chair of the history and social sciences department at Spelman College, and a political science professor at Boston University. Zinn wrote over 20 books, including his best-selling and influential A People’s History of the United States in 1980. In 2007, he published a version of it for younger readers, A Young People’s History of the United States. Howard posited: “Historically, the most terrible things – war, genocide, and slavery – have resulted not from disobedience, but from…
It has become obvious that it is politics that drives the economies of nations. Hence the major difference between developed countries and developing countries is in their political evolution. Developed countries have political and economic systems that are inclusive and offer opportunities for most people to create wealth. However, most developing economies have political and economic systems that are extractive. Those in the ruling class have a strong hold on political power, and use it to channel economic resources to benefit themselves and those close to them. People who earn and use power wisely have a profound impact on everyone…
The Good Book says, “He that digs a pit shall fall into it. He that rolls a stone, a stone will roll back at him. He that breaks the hedge, a serpent shall bite him.” Many times in the Scripture, we are warned about the dangers of falling into the pit you have dug. The point being that if one plans on harming another, he must beware because he will end up being hurt by his plans! They relish bad news… will even fabricate evil news if need be. This is evidently noticeable in the characters of today’s replica of…
Let me begin with the golden words of Robert Greene, an American author of books on strategy, power, and seduction. He has written six international bestsellers, including The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War, The 50th Law (with rapper 50 Cent), Mastery, and The Laws of Human Nature. His first book has been called a ‘psychopath’s bible’ Robert had famously posited: “Do not wait for a coronation; the greatest emperors crown themselves” “When you show yourself to the world and display your talents, you naturally stir all kinds of resentment, envy, and other…
Let me begin with the golden words of Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. He profoundly stated: “When I think of Nancy Pelosi, I think of dignity. History will note she is the most consequential Speaker of the House of Representatives in our history. There are countless examples of how she embodies the obligation of elected officials to uphold their oath to God and country to ensure our democracy delivers and remains a beacon to the world. In everything she does, she reflects a dignity in her actions…
