Double Honours for the "jagaban" of our time

It's a double honours for the " jagaban"  of our time BOLA AHMED TINUBU as his daughter, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, A graduate of Business Administration combined with Management at the   Middlesex University, England and also a Masters in Business Administration will replace her grandmother as President-General, Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men.
Tinubu’s Daughter Succeeds Grandmother It was a shock they never prepared for. Gathering at the home of their late leader, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, who until her death on June 14 at the age of 97, was the President-General, Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men, majority of them had only come to mourn their leader, for whom the family was holding the eighth-day fidau, a religious ritual for departed Muslims.

Like so many dignitaries and others from different spectrums of the society, who had converged on the late Mogaji’s Alausa, Ikeja home to take part in the eighth-day remembrance prayers for the deceased, the least the traders had expected was that on that Sunday, they would get a new leader.

But they had not taken into reckoning that Mogaji’s most famous son and former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, could have other design. And that was what he did as shortly after the fidau prayers, he met with the traders, ostensibly to thank them for honouring his mother with their presence. After a short speech, he dropped the bombshell to the chagrin of the traders: his daughter, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, will replace her grandmother as President-General, Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men. Majority of them concealed the shock with muted approval.

Though Tinubu-Ojo, wife of a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, could not hide her joy at the pronouncement, as she danced in appreciation, most leaders of market associations present, who had been expecting that they would have a say in who would lead them after the demise of Mogaji, grumbled at the appointment.

Worried about the development which it said was against democratic ethos, the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called on Tinubu to rescind the decision.
The party in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Taofik Gani, noted that democratic process should be allowed to usher in a new leader as against the dictatorial style being displayed by Tinubu, who is also the national leader of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Lagos State.

“The much touted democrat should allow the simple tenets of democracy to prevail in the selection of a new leader for the market women,” the statement said.

The main opposition party in the state also faulted the decision to name Tinubu-Ojo as the successor to her grandmother on the grounds that she is not a full time trader, adding: “There is no cogent evidence that his nominee and daughter is a full time market woman.”

According to the party, such a development is dangerous and must be reversed.
“This new development portends great danger for our democracy and indeed Lagos integrity. We are thus calling on the state Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, not to sit on the fence at this auspicious time,” the party added.

The PDP therefore urged Fashola to exhibit control in governance, especially when Tinubu’s interests conflict with the public interests. “He (Fashola) must see to it that the process leading to the emergence of a market leader and any other leadership in the state is transparent, liberal and credible,” PDP said.

THISDAY reliably gathered that a meeting of leaders of markets slated to hold Tuesday to discuss the matter and decide on how to respond to Tinubu’s imposition of his daughter as the leader of traders in the state did not hold as scheduled. However, no reason was given for the cancellation of the meeting.

But a market leader at Ijaiye-Ojokoro area who would not want his name in print, has expressed doubts over the possibility of a reversal of the decision on the grounds that Tinubu and the Lagos State Government were behind the imposition of Tinubu-Ojo as their leader.

The position is considered relevant in Lagos politics as the occupant of the office wields considerable influence among traders, who constitute a significant portion of the electorate, and could exercise that influence to mobilise votes for any party of choice during elections.
And fro all these non- sense happening at the corridors of power from the three tiers of governmen calls for serious action from the teeming nigerian youths. Remember the only thing necessary fro the triumph of evil men is when good men do nothing...GOD BLESS THE NIGERIAN YOUTHS
                                                                                          GOD BLESS NIGERIA!

EVERY WHERE NIGERIAN FOOLS GO

every where nigerian fools goEVERY WHERE NIGERIAN FOOLS GO
Leader of the ACN and former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu got the shocker of his life after he was publicly humiliated by Kogi Senator and former President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Senator Smart Adeyemi who asked him at a party in Dubai why he would serve a man who truncated democracy! Tinubu was stunned at the effrontery of Adeyemi as was the audience. Tinubu, along with controversial former minister of the Federal Capital Teritorry, Nasir Elrufai, immediately left the hall after the incident apparently angered that Adeyemi put Tinubu on the spot.

A large number of the who is who in the Nigerian socio-political and economic strata had stormed the City of Dubai in the UAE for the society wedding of the son of oil mogul, Chief Jide Omokore, Tosin and his heartthrob, Faisal, daughter of Ambassador Azeez Musa.

There were no fewer than 20 senators on hand, including Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Smart Adeyemi, Senators Magareth Okadigbo, Zainab Kure, Gbenga Ashafa, Olugbenga Onaolapo Obadara, Boluwaji Kunlere, Anthony Adeniyi, Clever Ikisikpo, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, Esther Nenadi Usman, Olubunmi Adetunmbi and a former member of the upper chamber, Senator Joseph Akaagerger.

Besides the heavy Senate representation, the crème de la crème of Lagos was also represented. The Asiwaju of Lagos, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu; a number of red cap chiefs, a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State, Mr. Dele Alake; and a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai were also at the wedding.

Governors in attendance included the Akwa-Ibom State helmsman, Chief Godswill Akpabio and his wife; Kogi State governor, Captain Idris Wada; a former Military Administrator of Oyo State, General David Jemibewon, former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmadu Alli; former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris; Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Segun Aganga, among many others.

Something no one was prepared for, however, happened at the hall. As guests were getting seated, the lot fell on the Chairman of Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Smart Adeyemi, to welcome the dignitaries on behalf of the groom’s family. The Senator, a broadcaster, went on and on reeling out the long list of the high and mighty.

A drama was to play out between Senator Adeyemi and Senator Tinubu. Adeyemi, who since he left behind his camera and microphone, has imbibed the art of politicking just like the veterans, took Tinubu by surprise.

He started by recognising Tinubu as the landlord of Chief Jide Omokore in Lagos. He said Tinubu had shown himself as a good landlord at that and that he was proud of Tinubu’s political prowess. He stated that looking at Tinubu’s attainments so far, he should not be seen as Asiwaju of Lagos, but Asiwaju of the entire kaaro o ojiire (Yorubaland). Tinubu was elated, seeing a key opposition politician eulogise him to high heavens.

Sources at the gathering told Sunday Tribune that the former Lagos governor never knew he was in for a shocker from Adeyemi who after reeling out the ACN leader’s pedigree, put the question forward. Why would Tinubu be deploying his democratic credentials in service of undemocratic elements? The hall went into deep silence, but it was not a question and answer session. So, Tinubu could not offer a response. Many of the guests who had offered ceaseless claps as Senator Adeyemi reeled out Tinubu’s credentials were also shocked at the twist.

According to the Kogi senator, Tinubu should be seen as leading the charge towards democratisation of the country, rather than promoting those who have truncated democratic growth of the nation in the past.

Senator Adeyemi said that Since Tinubu should be seen as Asiwaju of the Yoruba race, he was inherently a democrat because the Yoruba were democrats. He added: As democrats, you cannot be seen to be aligned with a dictator.

Senator Adeyemi had said: “I admire Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is the landlord of the groom’s father in Lagos. A good landlord he is and he has honoured his tenant here today. I looked at his accomplishments in politics and his political antecedents and I say that this man should not just be Asiwaju of Lagos but Asiwaju of the entire Kaaro o ojiire.
“Senator Tinubu sir, I am, however, shocked that someone of your pedigrees will be devoting his political acumen for the service of a non democrat. Someone who had truncated democracy in the past….”

“I want to assure you, Asiwaju, that there is a president in Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, who has fought more battles than any other Nigerian leader in the name of terrorism.
“In 2012, the budget for security was N900 billion; that money is enough to dualise all major roads in Nigeria. It is enough to equip our universities. If that money had entered some African countries, it would cripple the economy, but it was committed to security because of terrorism.

“Goodluck Jonathan can be likened to a pilot who took off and suddenly entered into turbulence. With patience and perseverance, he weathered the storm. Today, he has reached the cruising level and he is cruising towards 2015. I believe you should be with this president as a democrat and not with a dictator.”

The hall initially went into pin-drop silence, but then erupted in huge ovations for the Kogi senator. Tinubu felt the shocking twist to the senator’s prolonged eulogy. But it was not a question and answer session so he could not offer a response.

Afterwards, Tinubu and the former FCT Minister, el-Rufai, left the venue. They were said to have been apparently unhappy at the decision of Senator Smart to turn the venue to a political gathering.

To cap it all, Senator Adeyemi moved a motion and put the question as it is done in the Senate. He put the question, saying; “those in favour of the solemnisation of Tosin and Faisal here today, say ‘aye’…… and the ayes have it.”

It was not the first time Senator Adeyemi was lashing out at those he blamed for truncating Nigeria’s democracy in the past. During a debate on the remunerations for past presidents and Heads of State, Senator Adeyemi rose on the Senate floor to announce that Nigeria should place a ban on anyone who had truncated democracy in the past. He insisted that anyone who had been seen to act negatively against the growth of Nigeria’s democracy in the past should not be allowed as partakers in the current politics, adding that the punishment for such persons should be life ban from partisan politics.

ARE THE NIGERIAN YOUTHS ‘SCHOOLED’ OR EDUCATED.

ARE THE NIGERIAN YOUTHS ‘SCHOOLED’ OR EDUCATED.

The debate about public education misses a critical issue. Are students attending the

Public schools becoming well-educated or well-schooled? There's a difference; one that

is seminal in determining almost every other discussion about public education.

The current emphasis on test scores to determine whether a child is getting a good

education has narrowed the definition of education. The assumption is: if children do

well on standardized tests, then they are well educated. But that assumption may be

false. Here's why.

There's more than a critical difference between being well-educated or well-schooled.

Take a look at our so called high class universities, where individuals with degrees from highfalutin private schools and

universities cooked the books, were deceitful in reporting their metrics, and bilked

employees out of their retirement funds. All of them passed standardized tests and

demonstrated acumen in reading, math, business and finance. The question is: were

they well-educated?

Or take politics. There are many examples of administrations packed with the “best and

brightest” individuals with law degrees and doctorates who have demonstrated their

knowledge of facts, concepts, and theories. Form independence till date have had smart people make foolish decisions and, even, unethical and

illegal ones. Members of house of Reps and senate, the vast majority with college degrees, succumb to

the allure of financial influence and pressure from lobbyists and political insiders. The

question is: were they well-educated or well schooled?

Certainly in these examples, individuals are working in complex and high-pressure

situations that call for more than literacy and simply mastery of facts or concepts. But

all of us live in an increasingly complex world that requires more than "smarts" or

"shrewdness". What is necessary is wisdom, a term seldom heard today in discussions

about education.

Today’s schools are pressure-packed places narrowly focused on producing results,

specifically in reading and math, on standardized tests. The emphasis on jamb scores,

position in class, CGPA, or other numeric indicators has caused teachers to

prepare students for these tests. Sometimes an inordinate amount of time is spent on

teaching test format familiarity, test-taking skills, and drill. Other subjects – history,

science, and the fines arts – are being squeezed out or curtailed as a result.

Appropriate skill tests are helpful if they assist teachers to make sound instructional

Decisions for individual students. But one-time, high-stakes test events can compromise

Time for creative and imaginative lessons and projects that promote reasoning, problem solving, questioning, analyzing, synthesizing, and understanding.

Consequently, we are teaching students the “game of schooling” as if it were a short term

Competitive exercise – do what you must to get the number you need. Hence,

many Secondary school students are concerned with passing, not learning; short-term grades,

not in-depth understanding; and building résumés, not following their bliss.

We are teaching that competition is the only approach to reaching excellence, as if

Passion, commitment, and hard work over the long-term do not matter. And, we

emphasize that human worth can be quantified by a set of numbers, discounting the

intangibles of “heart”, perseverance, and long-term commitment. The recent admission

of scoring errors by test companies on high stakes tests should send a shudder through

us all.

The idea also seems to be that what is not metrically measurable is not important. This is

a cousin to the idea that if you cannot see it, don't believe it. But that flies in the face of

the very concept and principles under which this country was founded.

The great philosophical questions of life – truth, beauty, justice, liberty, equality, and

goodness – cannot be assessed through as computer scored test. Searching for these

Answers to these issues is at the very core of our society and the essence of becoming

well-educated.

These great ideas should be studied in school and understood by our children if they are

to live a life of depth, understanding, and principle. This requires a broad education in

the academics, fine arts, and culture. An education is more than simply getting a job or

meeting a career goal. There is a difference, too, between education and training.

Chasing the brass ring without a strong foundation in principle can be corrupting. One

only has to look at the business world or professional sports to see obvious examples.

All of our children, rich and poor, should be educated so they can contribute to the

common good, be responsible and active citizens, and adapt to changing times. Being

able to think critically, to pose questions as well the seek answers, and to understand

and develop an ethical and moral framework are a part of being well-educated.

Educated people have strong academic skills, but they also have the values and

principles that form the foundation for their life’s decisions.

Unfortunately, some of our schools are becoming too narrowly focused and our

competitive society has pushed some of our secondary school students to say "I have to cheat" to get ahead. Cleverness, cunning and cutting ethical corners are not standards of an educated person.

Well-educated people revere knowledge and apply values and principles to guide them

as they seek a meaningful life of purpose. They try to make "wise" decisions premised

on strong ethical and moral ideals and broad academic understanding.

Education is a lifelong process of continuous learning and examination. Being well educated means having a sense of stewardship and a concern for the common good, not

simply tending to self-interest and ego needs.

Parents frequently say they want their children to attend a "good" school. A good school

is not one between excellent and poor. For children to grow, develop and prosper they

need a place of “goodness”; a sanctuary for learning filled with respect for individuals,

reverence for principles and ideas, encouragement of talent and dreams, and

preparation for a life well-lived.

If we ask ourselves the fundamental difference between being well-schooled or well educated,

May be we can turn our schools into sanctuaries for our children to become not

only highly literate but also wise so they can fulfill themselves and pursue their

happiness with a sense of stewardship.

Creativity, imagination, joy, ingenuity, wonder, and idealism must not be wrung from

our schools. These intangibles are the foundation of the success of our country and are

the basis for a well-educated and civil society.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards
one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set
forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race,
colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or
social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction
shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international
status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be
independent, trust, non-self-governing or under
any other limitation of sovereignty.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in
all their forms.