millionaires without a business card...... by @yekeme

We are now living in an age of networked intelligence, where young people are not only challenging but also disrupting the foundations of conventional wisdom with the power of technology. These breed of techies don’t need any business card to introduce themselves to anybody because their works and inventions are shaping the way we live our lives today.

 

Work is fun for them as they teach us with their disruptive innovations how to ease up our endeavours. They have become masters of their own destinies so much that they don’t need any one to give them direction. They don’t know the destination  themselves, but they understand that with technology as the driver, they’ll arrive safely. Funny enough, they are taking the rest of us along on this journey.

 

Many refer to these genius risk takers as tech entrepreneurs, but I find it safe to tag  them “Millionaires without Business cards.”  Truth is, this is an epoch of opportunities and just about anybody irrespective of background or any impediment can become a millionaire without business card.  The only qualification required is something within your reach which is your determination and vision.  How far you can see? 

 

Recently, I had a conversation with Bosun Tijani, the Co-Creation Hub (C-CHub)  Boss via social media(twitter). A fine gentle man blazing the trail in the Nigerian Tech space who never for once thinks less of how (mobile) Technology can and would transform Nigeria . Interestingly, he shared with me his insights as to the path technology will take in Nigeria and probably the rest of Africa.  His strong belief that tech is at the core of every society is indeed unwavering and for our society to truly tap into the benefits of technology, Bosun advocates , ‘‘we should invest in the cluster to serve as our nucleus for the maker movement.”  He stresses the need to adopt this module if Nigeria plans to encourage  smarter innovations.

 

Already, Innovations and tech Start-ups are springing up within the Yaba area of Lagos which fits typically as the model of clusters Bosun speaks of. The argument, however, remains that if there is ever gonna be a ‘‘maker movement’’, the proliferation of clusters such as Yaba becomes imperative. As these are the places that will give birth to many of these rare breeds – the ” millionaires without business cards.”

 

Nigeria’s tech space already has to its credit innovations such as Pushcv, Tuteria, Paga, Budgit, Wecyclers, and 500 shops, among others. They’re just about some of the smartest ideas strokes shaping life and business through technology. However, what is left is to create better enabling environment through building more clusters. Tech is the future today and no serious nation should treat it with levity. 

 

Besides,  study reveals the trend at which technology is revolutionising communications. If you are reading this piece, fact is, you are probably  one of the over 70% users doing so via platforms like smartphones, tablets, and laptops. To explain the power and pace of mobile technology, there is no better way than revealing that even “The Apollo”- the rocket that took the first men out of the earth-  can not  match, in computing power, the smartphone you are holding at the moment. It can’t even tweet from the space! What a time to be alive!

 

The beauty of it all is that people can from obscurity rise to stardom through the power of the “Internet of Things.” It’s now a world where unknown names are becoming instant celebrities just because of their unique contributions on the internet. Again, if we jealously claim that this is the best time to be alive, can we for once imagine what our world would look like within the next 10 years?

 

To this end, thus, as technology infrastructure expands in Nigeria and the rest of Africa and Startups continue to evolve via creating solutions and meeting the needs of the time more millionaires will emerge. This is in tandem with studies revealing that more brand new tech millionaires pegged within the ages of 20 and 40years old would emerge as innovations grow. We can only imagine what the coming decade will look like? Against this backdrop, I  got one question to ask : “Will you be among these millionaires without business cards?”

 

By….. yek keme

Interested in Culture, Technology and Governance

Pep talk to Voters in 2015: Keep calm and vote right even with the rice.

Easy... It's your season. 2015 is almost here! It's the Christmas of Nigerian politics,  a time of harvest of and for the electorates. This electioneering period is special in so many ways. Your leaders would remember your house address now. They would impress their speeches on how inevitable your support is to their aspirations. And importantly, they would honor with gifts and titles, slot for injury time service.  That's just the way it is.

After these rituals are concluded it is now time to touch the pigs for slaughter directly. Password correct, access is granted now to lie as much as possible to the electorates just to get one more shot at power for the coming term. In the realm of politicking,  no price is too high to pay for the power in your thumb. It's the reason men would leave their beloved families, stop down from their prestigious thrones to the streets despite the vulnerabilities. 

For influential men to be convinced to endorse candidates there may be alot of technicalities but for the common man who holds the majority the answers are far too simple and less sophisticated.  Speak no much English, let the stomach infrastructure do all the ' Rock and Roll' . It speaks volumes.

 Let me be more specific-- Bring more rice! Rice is medicinal, it is the Nigerian opium approved by N***** to be used by the masses. And it is not harmful to the body.

Money has found its way into Nigerian campaigns because of the Third degree poverty level that has bedevilled the vast majority.  It has seized the voice from the call of reason and that may just be disastrous.  So what do I have to say? If I advise people not to collect money from politicians or rice coming masked as charity would I not be speaking German to rustic Africans?

Just like telling someone with HIV that they should live without anti-retroviral drugs when you haven't found the cure for the virus. A poor man lost his belongings to flood, no bank, no means of livelihood and then after a hungry midnight rice came with the morning.  Knowing his story, would you advice him to say no to the rice?  Of course you should not if you are not offering anything better.  Situationism, remember, is also an ethical theory.

I'll tell you what to do dear Electorates. The same wisdom that was employed during the  Mimiko re-election campaign.  Collect what they bring but don't vote for them. By that logic the burden of conscience versus pleasure disappeared like a fleeting shadow. The dichotomy between Money and Morality erased and people calmed down to vote overwhelmingly for their choiced candidate.

You may not have the power to stop a bird from flying over your head but you can keep it from building a nest over it. So when they come luring you with their rice be sure to do the needful which is giving thoughts to the credibility of each candidates.  Scratch deeper to see what lies beyond their dramatic roles and vote for who you think is best.

Never let anyone bamboozle you. Keep calm and vote right even now that rice is involved.

Rex Showunmi is the Senior Editor @ DeltaForte Magazine(www.deltaforteng.com).  Twitter handle : @remirex

publisher..... www.yekipedia.blogspot.com

follow us @yekeme

mail: yekeme4u@gmail.com

Agony from Sambisa Forest

I woke up that morning, unsure of what the day holds for us, but certain of one thing, that the WAEC examination is still ongoing, I got dressed and bid farewell to my folks, unknown it was the last time I will ever set my eyes on them, that I and many other girls will become the victim of the evil lurking round the noon.
We filed into the examination hall, waiting for our question papers and answer booklets to be distributed to all the candidates. Amidst the examination jittery, I heard several gunshots, there was great pandemonium, students and teachers scampering.
I heard a crusty voice from a megaphone, we were commanded to lay down wherever we were, which we obediently obeyed, I was scared to my skin and suddenly blacked out.
The operations lasted for hours, I was revived and ushered into a waiting sport utility vehicle and sandwiched among my mates, like cows taken to abattoir, we were driven away. There was great wailing, we cried until we lost our voice. I stopped crying few weeks ago, and told myself probably this is the prize I have to pay for been a girl child in a country like Nigeria.
It is almost the first semester since we were forcefully adopted from our country, however it seems like eternity. We have become victims of political propaganda, forsaken by a country we call our own, neglected by a government our parents elected. We were carted away like the spoils of war, our adopters in jubilation and chanting victorious songs.
Life in Sambisa has been traumatic, few days after our adoption, our human dignity was forcefully taken away from most of us, freedom of worship which is enshrined in the Nigerian 1999 constitution was taken away, those of us who were Christians were forcefully converted to Islam. We were distributed among our adopters, in hot tears and pain, our dignity is serially violated.  Amidst fear and trepidation we unwillingly submitted our pride to our captors. Daily I feel awfully lonely, and I have become an outcast. Sleep has become an enemy, I stay up late every night escaping into the wonderland of mystery that contains broken fragments of my dreams. Tears and sore is salty, I long to return home if help will ever come before my last breath.
Let me leave now, you will hear from me soon, if I am still alive.
With pain from Sambisa.

By
Onyibe Oliver.

Published by www.yekipedia.blogspot.com
Follow us @yekeme

How to Sell yourself to the World

Brief: We need to Sell what we have and what we are to the World

When we were born we came with innate ideas and natural abilities . Everything we needed to enable our survival, it seems, came with us: a mind to grasp and learn, to function, survive and contribute to humanity.  And then, it’s important to admit: the role of Expression and Communication in all our activities.

When a baby weeps when it is hungry it is communicating to survive, to remind or request for something to quench thirst and hunger, or destroy/defuse pain.  In most cases, the baby gets all that it needs. That is the beginning and we never get satisfied till our last breathe. Even at dying times we still need wishes we may want fulfilled after we are gone.

How do we get all that we want? Some within our reach others with the help  of  people. But, we need to win their heart to get the help. Whether you are a start-up entrepreneur in need of Angel  Investors or a politician seeking election or re- election. Even a salesman trying to increase sales of his product; we all need that charm –attractive feature—that endears us to people’s heart. We need the art of learning  how to sell our person or product to the world.

*Considering these points below can help us achieve that art*

•Re-Examine Yourself:
Socrates, the Ancient Philosopher, brought out a new discourse on Humanity into man’s reasoning. Man know thyself   was the theme of his teachings. We need to introspect and retrospect into the happenings within and without. When we take a fact finding look into happenings around us only then will we understand how some stuffs unfold. It is an unbelievable fact that a large chunk of the world population lives on prejudices. An average Nigerian will get a credit in that . However, looking at things  critically will at least open up our eyes to see the true nature of our challenges and what we need to do about them. It can save us a lot of time and pain .Examining our lives will enable us to re-strategize , figure out what’s functioning in our lives and what is not .Also , we can  see ourselves in the true light of things—just as we truly are.


•Determine What your True Goals are:
 When we understand ourselves better we can bring to fore our true heart yearning as goals. Discovering our passion will navigate  us  to push forward in the direction of our goals. Our passion writes and shapes our goals. It  increases our drive and strengthens our focus, too.


•Find an Association:

As a social being, man always find it necessary to associate or be a part of a group. For one to sell himself   to the world he needs a platform, it  often begins unconsciously. One’s immediate family are the first observers of one’s capabilities and that’s where the first ‘advert comes from.
 However, as growth increases, stage to stage has its relationship formations; friendship, falling in love , choice of sport, hobbies, political affiliations ,Fraternity ,  etc. You are as good as your association.
Anyone willing to sell himself to the world must first be a part of a formation who will first accept him and take cognizance of his potentials and qualities. They will act as an outreach for launching himself. The church is one of the most viable association to attach to. Most great musicians often give credit to the Choir as where it first began. Also, people have risen to greatness because of the connection, assistance  and the relationship they kept over time.
These days Social media is forming a stronger bond across ties. Entertainment, politics, Business,etc  have social network platforms to relate with family, friends, associates and partners as well as the world at large.

•Being and Giving the Best:

In the Business world, as it is in any endeavour, building a brand is as important as anything. Business thrives on the belief that dealings will be handled by the best hands. If your work depicts quality it won’t take time to be easily noticeable while people are willing to pay through their nose to get value for their money. The Holy scripture talks about a diligent man that would ‘stand before kings and not mean men’. The biblical story of Joseph explains this better: when the need arose to solve the King’s problems, it didn’t take much thinking before Joseph was recommended. Hardwork and giving  the best are like necessary beings. You cannot bring forth the best without hardwork, I mean smart work. Continuous mastery of  your craft , more than anything else, endows a man with charming personalities.

•Value and character:
 You can belong to an association, give quality services but if you have a character flaw, you are bound to face huge resentments in acceptance by people. Sporting World explains this concept very well. Talents and hard work are secondary to discipline and character. When you share constructive moral values people will easily like and stand for you. You have won a special place in their heart. As a wise saying quotes: 'people dont care how much you know until they know how much you care. '




By SHOWUNMI REX (@remirex)

Showunmi Rex is a Writer,  Public Speaker, Socio-political Philosopher and Entrepreneur.  His Interests are Business and Politics.

Publisher........Yekipedia
follow us on twitter @yekeme 

Choosing Vision Over Gains; Model For Leadership

The political arena in Nigeria is now dominated by stakeholders and

helmsmen who put personal benefits ahead and above serving the people- their primary responsibility. Their system of new politics is to loot voraciously funds from state treasury with the cliché "dividend of

democracy".

Their actions have brought us to the point where we ask ourselves

a very fundamental question whether political interests should be

based on gains or visions? Perhaps we are missing the purpose of governance

Unlike many developed countries in the world where politics is played based on vision and ideologies, ours seem to have deviated from this very essence. We now see elections without clear and meaningful manifestoes as normal provided their message tickle our ears or sound interesting. Mind you, once candidates share gifts and money in the name of mobilisation the election is a done deal. Highest bidder electioneering.

We can hardly change much about this situation, the electorates already have this mindset that the electioneering season is the best and only time they can benefit from the largesse of state.

Niger Delta politicians exhibits more of this "gain devoured” politics

With Chief Ibori and Chief Alamieyeseigha as veterans based on the "badge of honor" they proudly carry. We can't ignore the traits and efforts of Diezani

Alison-Madueke and Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. What a man can do a woman can do better. NOI and DAM's latest saga help validate the

above assertions.

Though it is a fact that many of our politicians

today are accidental politicians (El-rufai wrote a book to emphasize

that) and their sudden entry into the "lucrative business" was due to

the fact that those with genuine intention to build and develop our

country did not believe in the dish the military was serving in 1999.

So those who were bold enough to handle it were solely interested in

what they could get out at least before any military usurpation as it happened in 1993.

Looking at the political arena of Delta State at the moment, the major

players and stakeholders are keen on protecting their interests in other to

remain relevant. This term, in Nigerian politics, means how much money or contract you can get from the government? As if not enough, those pests use their influence and relevance to

seek for fresh ways to loot and embezzle state funds for personal

gains and frivolous activities.

With lack of vision and the constant embezzlement of funds, states are left with failed projects and neglected contracts.

Administrators award contracts to their cronies and associate who often times falter in executing such projects, Empowerment. Little wonder all that the youths can

boast of is the state of "no jobs, no income and no assets". This

intense pressure of lack of sustainable means of livelihood has led

several unemployed youths to get involved in crimes and illegal

activities.

When we look far and near there's only one advice to give--- Let's get ready, we too must participate in building our future; we

should focus on ideological leadership and visionaries whose main

interest lies with the people. Men with dreams and vision to build and develop

our state and not kleptocrats and corrupt leaders who are merely

concerned about the gains.

*Kome Agbauduta is the Co-founder of Delta Forte Network and Founding Partner of KREED 

Publisher....yekipedia

follow us on twitter @yekeme

The Ejigbo saga: The power of social media

There is the saying that ‘injustice any where is injustice everywhere.’’ In this light, The Ejigbo market saga makes this assertion ever more relevant in our collective consciousness. As Nigerians and the rest of  world saw the horrific video of mans in inhumanity to man, many have drawn their own conclusion to this event depending on which ever side of the divide you may stand. To this end therefore, the main thrust of this of this piece is to remind us that social media is truly a potent tool to fight injustice wherever we find it.

When Aristotle declared that ......man without law is but a beast unto man..... He was not only talking about the nature of man as it were but also describing the way man ought to function in a just and equitable society using the instrumentality of the Law as that parameter to guide her behaviour.

In today’s modern society, Nigeria in particular and Africa in general, the Law still functions as described above. But a lot will agree that the same Law meant for every one seem not to hold certain powerful oligarchy accountable when they do wrong. Therefore bringing the question again, is the Law the last resort of the ordinary man who feels injustice has been done to him?

This is where the Ejigbo saga once again reminds us all that injustice can be done, but can also be corrected because we are all watching and saying this thing is wrong through the instrumentality of the social media. The social media is gradually becoming a very potent platform for people to state their case and let the world be the judge.  The Ejigbo drama tells it all that the police would have paid lip service to this case but for the persistent attitude Nigerians who saw those victims de-humanize beyond imagination and they all came out in mass calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice using the various available social media platform to air their views, hence the police could not keep silent any more even the IG, the Lagos state house of assembly all came out in strong condemnation of this event. This is not to say that the various women NGOs did not do their job but that the social media was even at the fore front in pushing their fight making it more relevant.

Africa has been a place where so many atrocities are committed and kept in the dark all in the name of cultures with both victims bearing the scares and perpetrators walking free. This cannot be the case anymore; people must be courageous enough to tell the world what is going wrong in their neighbourhood. All they require is just a click away and the world will hear your story.

The social media will be more powerful only if we use it to tell the truth and those who love to be in the dark will remain in the dark because they cannot stand the power of light for where there is light, justice can be found..........this is what the social media brings with it.

Yek keme

@yekeme

G+.com/yekeme4u

Open Letter to Young Entrepreneurs; More Branding, less bragging in 2014.

This is the Generation Flux. The Millennials who graduated from college to meet unavailable jobs. Following the track of Steve Jobs and co, we are faced with a "Grey collar" job destiny. This piece is to encourage young entrepreneurs as we forge ahead in the harsh Corporate-Creative world.



In any corner of the world you find yourself, just look around, you are likely to see an advert. Either it is a sign board, neon sign or poster looking towards the road or staring at you. They all have something to say. Most times they are asking you to choose a product or persuade you to buy something. How strong is the voice from that advert or how depicting is the picture? Potent enough to make you opt for what they’re advertising? Always put yourself in that shoe if you want to win customers to your product.

Look up , try notice the girl walking towards you in the opposite direction. Perhaps, when she gets closer she may be wearing a custom made top with inscriptions of a company or say, a brand. Is she another sign board? Just don't be surprised the day you come across a new church sign board branded by a company. Adverts are everywhere now and they run via several channels.


The world today is flooded with ad campaigns and product placements. It is a global village and everybody is marketing something whether they are conscious of it or not, including you.


However, despite huge amounts spent on ads and packaging, most businesses are not getting the proportional returns. You should be surprised to know that despite averaging over 3 billion dollars per annum on advertising, General Motors still went down with the economic crunch.


Bill Gates was quoted to have made an insightful remark about General Motors . "If GM had kept up with technology like computer industry has, we would all be driving Dollar25 cars that got 1000 MPG", he said.


"Is advertising not meant to improve and strengthen business?" you may want to ask. But adverts without putting other things in order can as well pass for noise.  It is not enough to shout yourself into the market square but is it for the right reasons?


Adverts don’t need noise to register in the mind of consumers. Deliver on brand promises and you will be their choice.


Sincerely, the rate of ad exposures to people is alarming, there are dozens of brand to choose from, most of which have sub-standard quality. But how do we differentiate even now that ads thrive on puffery to influence Purchase Intention (PI)? Brand promise and trust over time comes to rescue here. The promise must be conveyed in soft, modest and value- driven appeal.


The era of ad campaigns like "We are the soul and body of Entertainment", "The best pizza money can buy"
etc seems to have overstayed welcome. Now, advertising should have altruistic approach and ad messages should be essentially subliminal. People prefer soft appeals to bragging.


In fact, companies need to focus more on quality service delivery and then carve out captions from the user, client or customer experience.(i.e seeing things from the user perspective.)


As Kathy Heasley puts it: "A brand is two words : the 'Promise' you telegraph , and the 'Experience' you deliver"


Then when your company ad runs, it serves as a voice to the feelings and experience that customers have after using your products. That registers better in a customer's mind. And can help better to figure out cognitive dissonance.

Standing out without bragging pays off in all ramifications, you are not under pressure to live up to what you have claimed. In fact the radar shifts to your customers-- the ones who keep you in business. They 're patronizing you, not because they like your face or company logo but because you fulfil a need or solve a problem.

That is what your operations, ad campaigns, marketing and research should focus more on and wait for the Awards, customer base expansion and equity worth to declare you as the best.

According to Robert Kiyosaki, citing the US SEAL who gained popularity after killing Osama Bin- laden as an example, expressed the justification that the best brands, over time, have been the ones who don’t make noise but rather becomes more concerned about creating more value for its customers/clients.  In the end, they have success to prove their excellence.

Hear what Steve Jobs said about his company, Apple. "We do not say anything about future products. We work on them in secret, then we announce them."

BACK HOME

When MTN first came to Nigeria, they started with "The better connection" later to "the best connection" and now it is "everywhere you go". Perhaps it took them time to realise that most people choose the network with a coverage in their area. In a town or community where MTN's network covered there were alot of MTN customers. Same for other networks too.  A couple of weeks back we were in a village in Delta (ofagbe) where  MTN has no coverage, the major network providers there were Airtel and Glo. My colleagues who were hitherto MTN addicts gladly queued to collect and register for a free Airtel sim card.

 Thus, changing environment may as well mean changing network. You hear people hold conversations like "Glo is the only good network in my new area so I changed my line".

So when people opt for a network at the expense of the other or load credit on a particular sim rather the other, it is because of the quality of service experienced.

Perhaps that was what influenced the Network Portability project instructed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). That will sharpen the power of choice. If a network is not serving a customer well, he or she can make a switch to another service provider without losing his telephone number.

As young entrepreneurs who may not have enough resources to launch massive ads campaign and marketing promotions you can still make a difference and charm customers by concentrating on quality service delivery and then run ads on concepts depicting value-expressive and functional (ads) appeals.

Good advice, focus on Branding your product or services and every other thing would follow suit. Don't fall for the Bragging trick!



by SHOWUNMI REX 
@remirex 

Publisher @yekeme

The optimism of 2013 and the realities for Nigerians

Telling how far a nation goes is largely scripted in her national plan and agendas. The 2013 budget is one piece of such plans that clearly highlights the direction we intend taking as a nation. With a budget of 4.9trillion naira, it is indeed the largest in our nation’s history but how will this reflect on the lives of ordinary Nigerians in 2013 is a different ball game entirely.

The 2012 budget was 4.6trillion naira, therefore the begging question ought to be; how has its performance been thus far? Of cause government will tell us all kinds of tales but Nigerians are the once who have felt the harsh reality of it all.

As 2012 comes to its end, Nigerians most certainly will throng their various places of worship to thank God for seeing them through the rough road of the year and ask for Gods’ divine direction for their life in 2013. In fact many will brace up for a positive New Year as usual and make all kinds of New Year resolutions.  Whilst been optimistic about the future is a wonderful thing and should be encouraged, the reality for Nigerians in the coming year is one that we all must critically reflect on.

In the year 2013 Nigerians will still worry over the poor state of electricity, they will complain over the raising prices of basic food items; even another increment in fuel price is not in doubt given the antics of our political leaders especially with the antecedent of  2012 still fresh in our mind.  High cost of transportation is not in doubt still and the bad shape of our roads will probably remain the same no matter how much allocation earmark for them, at least the Lagos-Benin ore road proof to be a pointer to that fact. Affordable housing for Nigerians in 2013 will be another issue we all must prepare to debate about, just as the falling standards of education will take centre stage giving opportunities for politicians and pastors to build expensive citadels of learning that even their members cannot afford to send their wards. Kidnapping in 2013 will take a much more sophisticated approach just as Boko Haram will continue to make itself more relevant in our national life by proofing to all that it is indeed the angel of death. This to a great deal is the reality for most Nigerians.

On the other hand, 2013 for some Nigerians will be blissful. It will be a time where more state governors and pastors will acquire private jets to improve their already glamorous life style even as Nigeria is already rated as the country with the most private jet still we don’t manufacture any of it. I won’t be surprise if local government chairmen join the list of private jet owners in the coming year. 2013 will be a year of smart corruption and money laundering creating more space for EFCC and transparency international to make their usual noise and in the end nothing comes out of it or better still it will be resolve as family affair ways. The coming year will be a period where the Nigerian army will continue to proof its mettle on the continent of Africa while at home its unable to quell domestic and sectarian violence that threatens our collective existence as a country.

2013 will again be another year where president Jonathan makes his way to the redemption camp to re-echo his state of the nation speech  like he did in 2012 and the entire congregation will sing his praise before he kneels down before ‘baba’ for prayers, after all the almighty God is a loving and forgiving father no matter your sins.

4.9 trillion naira is enough to share and go round and whatever is left of it, definitely ordinary Nigerians will manage it and pray for a better budget in 2014. Who knows it could be 10trillion then so long as our oil is the world’s favourite.

Upon reflecting on the complex process of nation building such as ours, i came to this resolution that until our leaders see political power as that sacred trust vested upon them to carry out the legitimate aspirations of the people, then we are still in the same old vicious circle.......................................................................compliments of the season’s people

YEKEME

An observer

Yekeme4u@gmail.com

Twitter: @yekeme

BUHARI AND HIS BLOODY 2015 PREDICTIONS: The fallacies and realities

Can we say that the outburst of Gen. Buhari is a true reflection of the state of the nation or another political gimmick aimed at heating up the polity? One may tend to comprehend the General’s concern but his usage of words creates room for suspicion about his intention. How can a former Nigerian leader declare the govt of the day is “the biggest Boko Haram” when we all truly know the aim s and objective of the group, Boko Haram.

Truly Buhari’s unguarded alterances calls for a rethink on the kind of men and women Nigerians intend to elect as their leaders. Does Buhari truly love the Nigerian people he earnestly craves to lead again? If he does, then one need to ask him why does he wish them a bloodbath if all do not go well in 2015? Statements such as these are not the qualities of a true democrat that Buhari wants us to believe he is.

Who does Buhari aims to threaten by these statements? Why has Buhari continue to portray himself more as a Northerner than a Nigerian and yet he wish to lead a nation as diverse as Nigeria?

The CPC should urge its former candidate not to continue on this path because such behavior will dampen the image of the party rather score political points like it wants to achieve with this acts. It is high time our politician stop this war of word and get down to business by discussing critical issues as they borders on our collective existence as a nation.

Democracy as it is practiced in advanced societies portrays a transparent look for all to see. Even the opposition in such places contributes meaningfully to the advancement of the govt in power. Here the case seems to be the opposite. With the Acn joining the cue of rash statement made at the presidency, it is even more alarming to here Northerner governors supporting the call Buhari is making.

If the North cannot accept the fact that a minority is leading this country, then what is the basis for this democracy where individuals are allowed to rule base on where they are from? Indeed such a process will not last long and I want to think the PDP is truly learning from its mistakes caused because of the way it handles its “family affair”.

It is quite clear that there is a lot of loopholes with the kind of system we operate here but that cannot resolve our problem if we keep heating up the process with threat of bloodbath as the General has promised Nigerians. Buhari as a leader and elder statesman should not allow his ambition for power becloud his sense of reasoning. As the only legacy he can leave behind is to ensure that the tenets of democracy takes it root in this country and not with this outburst of his.

The PDP on its part must gather the moral fiber if it has any left to question and sanction the spate of corruption going on in this country. If it can tackle this, then a better day is ahead of Nigerians.

YEKEME

Dept of philosophy,

University of Lagos.

www.yekipedia.blogspot.com

yekeme4u@gmail.com

EDO ELECTION AND THE PROMISE FOR NIGERIA

The story made headlines both locally and internationally about the doggedness and resilience of the Edo people, but the most profound of it all is the man in the centre of this historical election, Adams Oshiomhole.

Despite the odds comrade Oshiomhole show us that he is indeed a man with a lion’s heart ready to challenge the status quo and the PDP Federal might. These happenings truly reflect that when good men go to sleep then the people will bear the consequences of having mentally and morally bankrupt men lead them. This victory is a clarion call to the sleeping giants in Nigeria to rise up to the occasion and save their people from the shame brought upon them by men who lack substance and character.

There is no doubt in my mind that with the triumph of Oshiomhole, men of pedigree will emerge in our political space to take over from these charlatans that parade themselves as political leaders in the country. The political dynamics is fast changing in the land and i hope that many of these so called untouchable politician will discern the mood of the people and give up their cling to power else the new breed of politically conscious Nigerians who now see and understand the inherent values of democracy will push them out of power.

Democracy is the most feasible system of governance that reflects the mood of a people; this is why the struggle for democracy in the continent of Africa is every day gaining momentum. To this end, elections such as the Edo experience will send a strong signal across the length and breadth that the people can no longer be taken for granted.

As Gov. Oshiomhole settles down to led his people for another second tenure, he must avoid distraction, put the people first in his fiscal policy formulation for Edo state and above all, work assiduously to ensure the further entrenchment to democratic culture in Edo so that when he leaves office the people can better decide for themselves who can carry on the mantle of leadership.

I strongly hold that the Edo experience is indeed crucial to future elections in Nigeria, this is why we must salute the bravery of Adams Oshiomhole and the attitude put up by the Edo people to ensure their votes do count.

Yek keme

Dept of philosophy

University of Lagos

yekipedia.blogspot.com