For the purpose of this short write-up, I have culled several definitions, which are by no means exhaustive, from the Internet. debate (diˈbeit) noun a discussion or argument, especially a formal one in front of an audience. a Parliamentary debate A discussion, often heated, in which a difference of opinion is expressed: have an argument about something the formal presentation of a stated proposition and the opposition to it (usually followed by a vote) a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers. What is the main reason for using political…
Author: Akintokunbo A Adejumo
For Nigeria, the year 2022 should be dedicated to Nigerian Athletes, men, and women alike. Their feat and prowess, first, a bit of success in the World Athletics Champions held in Eugene, Oregon, USA (15 Jul 2022 – 24 Jul 2022) and then the spectacular successes at the XXII Commonwealth Games, held in Birmingham, United Kingdom (from 28 July to 8 August 2022), held the attention of our suffering and desolate, hopeless, and despondent, harassed, and insecure Nigerians. At least they lifted our spirits and once again brought some forlorn hope that, if we ONLY we put our efforts, patriotism…
Akintokunbo A Adejumo That crazy (and actually dangerous, if we don’t mind the banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism) season is here in Nigeria again, where all governance ceases, the poor, ignorant, unknowingly disenfranchised populace fall prey to the wicked and power-hungry politicians all looking to have another chance or a chance at a piece of the cake – copy, treasury. It is called politicking. Mind you, it is not even campaign time yet! I never cease to wonder what time those of them in government already have to perform their duties, if they have any duty to perform at all.…
Akintokunbo A Adejumo akinadejum@aol.com Consider this: For the US to be building its largest yet Consulate in Nigeria, and in Lagos, what does that tell Nigerians and the World? Forget about them making money from visa applications and other consular and non-consular matters. This is the same USA’s Central Intelligence Agency which a few years ago was said to have predicted that Nigeria will break up or disintegrate within 25 years. So, what has made the USA change its mind about their intelligence report and conclusions of impending doom for Nigeria? I really don’t know, unless the CIA has…
One of the smallest black holes on record, and the closest one to Earth, has been discovered by scientists. They have dubbed it “The Unicorn.” In part, it is because it’s one of a kind. Most likely too, it’s because it was found in the constellation Monoceros, “The Unicorn.” The findings are published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. “When we looked at the data, this black hole – the Unicorn – just popped out”, said lead author Tharindu Jayasinghe, a doctoral student in astronomy at The Ohio State University and an Ohio State presidential fellow. The Unicorn is…
Jean-Pierre Legros, Author of “Diversium”, interdisciplinary theory of Everything wrote: “Nothing is free. Because nothing exists without relationships with something else. Even when a thing is considered independently of the rest (or it considers itself independent), it is constituted by elements that are not. Obstacles to freedom both intrinsic and extrinsic”. There is an almost stoical and primaeval phenomenon with our people. We do not take ownership, either individually or collectively. Maybe it’s an African trait, or just Nigerian, or both. Yet, we have this mentality that we are entitled to everything, including things we don’t strive or work for.…
“When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.” – Thomas Jefferson Does the government fear us? Or do we fear the government? When the people fear the government, tyranny has found victory. The Federal Government of Nigeria, the thirty-six (36) States, one (1) Federal Capital Territory and seven hundred and seventy-four (774) Local Governments are our servants, not our masters! The 180 million people of Nigeria are the Masters and are the Governments! I am not talking about Democracy here! I am not talking about “the government of the people, by…
“Why is everybody stealing in Nigeria? Please, why the stealing? Here, in our country, stealing seems like an act of worship, that if you didn’t steal, you might lose the eternal bliss. Therefore, everybody strives to steal, irrespective of its implication on the populace. In Nigeria, there’s pride in stealing! Even those who are gainfully engaged still take pride in stealing. It’s no news that civil servants are super “stealers”. They steal as much as public servants. The higher the degree, the smarter the “stealers”. Professors can steal and “pretend” to faint. When you didn’t have the heart of Akpabio,…
The late Senator Buruji Kashamu was allegedly wanted in the US for drug offences, including trafficking, selling, etc. It was never proved and he was never found guilty. If fact, it appeared he never appeared in any court, here in Nigeria or the US. (According to a friend of mine, “the late Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was NOT ALLEGEDLY wanted in the US. He was wanted under the extradition treaty. He was taken to the Nigerian courts, but managed to manoeuvre the corrupt Nigerian court system. If Ibori was discharged of all charges in Nigeria but convicted…
I’m a proud Ìbàdàn man; I have a village and an “agbo’le” in the heart of Ìbàdàn, and my late father holds a chieftaincy title from the great city of Ìbàdàn. I’m also a proud University of Ìbàdàn graduate. I passed my four years in the university with two Vice-Chancellors who were not Yorubas, not to talk of being from Ìbàdàn – Late Prof Oritshejolomi Thomas and late Prof Tekena Tamuno – great Vice-Chancellors of whom I will always say “They don’t make them like that anymore”. My Registrar was the late SJ Okudu, who, with the latter VC was…
“The problem of Nigeria is not Corruption. The problem of Nigeria is Unpunished Corruption” — The Guardian (NIGERIA) “No system should be 100% democratic or autocratic. A good system is a blend of both. A good leader knows when to shift from one to the other.” – Unknown Author “To fight corruption in a Corrupt system, you don’t follow Due Process; you follow the Necessary Process.” – Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation. There is no longer any doubt that corruption in Nigeria started from the top (those in government) and trickled down to the people. I have often heard stories…
During the current COVID-19 lockdown, Nigerians who have never paid tax in their lives are mouthing off on social media left, right and centre that government should feed them, yet they haven’t contributed a penny to the commonwealth in decades for years of earning quite a good income from being taxi drivers, hauliers, cafeteria owners, event planners, musicians, artisans, mechanics, school owners, landlords with multiple houses and so on. Yet benefiting like everyone else from the disbursements from the federal government by way of access to road, school, security, health facilities (poor and inadequate it may be), border control, army…
The 2018 National Sports Policy (NSP) draft clearly articulates the vision and direction of the Federal Government (FG) on sports development, particularly on grassroots sports. National Council on Sports (NCS), the highest policy-making body will have to meet to ratify the policy. The Federal Government’s vision is to “develop the sports sector to a world-class level, taking into cognizance sports for all, amateur and professional sports by providing programs and facilities that encourage stakeholders to perform at their best in pursuit of excellence, while benchmarking with best practices for continual development.” Three objectives in the NSP pertinent in this discussion…
What exactly is democracy? Democracy (Greek: δημοκρατία dēmokratía, literally “rule by people”) is a system of government where the citizens exercise power by voting. … In a representative democracy, the citizens elect representatives from among themselves. These representatives meet to form a governing body, such as a legislature. What is the best definition of democracy? In the dictionary definition, democracy “is government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.” … In short, democracy is the institutionalization of freedom. What is the…
For a society to develop (in all aspects and areas of human endeavour – technology, agriculture, governance, industrial, infrastructure, communication, transportation, sports, youth development, labour and employment, human and natural resources utilisation, etc.), there must be elements of complete sincerity, altruism, commitment, willingness and will-power, cooperation, diversification, tolerance, unalloyed patriotism and love for each of the component peoples and the country. There must be absolute ostracism of corruption in the society, or being humans, must be kept to the absolute minimum and not tolerated. It is very simple, yet very complex, especially in a multi-ethnic, multicultural and multi-religious society such…
Raise your hand if you want your child to be Keke rider!’ – Seun Kuti tackles Nigerians over Okada ban – TheCable Lifestyle https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/raise-your-hand-if-you-want-your-child-to-be-a-keke-rider-seun-kuti-tackles-nigerians-over-okada-ban/#.XjvAu4u4snw.whatsapp Eric Ayoola: That’s a ridiculous assertion. Even in the UK, an affluent country, there are people who make a living by delivering items, etc, using bikes and motorcycles. The ban is outrageous, anti-people and unsustainable. Our politicians are loath to engage the brain to solve problems just brawn and the way out. Gbolahan Gbadamosi: There is no reason to get angry with the young man. Seun Kuti has posed a simple question: Are Okada and Keke…
