The world watched as the Obamas unveiled their portraits during a ceremony at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, on February 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. It was a show of the artistic prowess of two African-American artists who were commissioned to create the art. Mr. Obama’s portrait was painted by Kehinde Wiley, an established African-American artist whose father is Yoruba from Nigeria, and his mother an African-American. Michelle Obama’s portrait was by Amy Sherald who became the art world’s latest sensation.
There are many more African artists creating cultural gems within and outside Africa. In June 2018, Yinka Shonibare, a British- Nigerian artist at his prestigious show in London, asked, “Can political art be beautiful? Can beauty itself be a form of resistance? Mr. Shonibare’s new exhibition was curated at the Stephen Friedman Gallery in London.
The exhibition, Talisman in the Age of Difference, features works by artists mostly of African origin, ranging from rising talent to established players. Those with work in the show include the 2017 Turner Prize winner, Lubaina Himid; Kehinde Wiley, who recently painted Barack Obama for the National Portrait Gallery in Washington; the Egyptian artist Ghada Amer; and Marlene Dumas from South Africa.
Shonibare is known for sculptures and installations that engage with the history of colonialism and globalisation. He is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts, and, in his work, he has restaged classic 18th century paintings with headless mannequins wearing brightly coloured, African prints. In 2012, he installed a giant ship in a bottle on the empty fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square in London that also featured richly patterned, African-style textiles for the vessel’s sails. Shonibare said that the exhibition was a reaction to “the resurgence of extreme right-wing politics and xenophobia across the globe” and in the spirit of African resistance.
“Neither being out of time nor belated, contemporary African art strategically inhabits a third epistemological space by being in time,” wrote Okwui Enwezor and Chika Okeke-Agulu in their 2009 book Contemporary African Art Since 1980. In mind of that, they suggest considering contemporary African art as “a tapestry of overlapping, contingent, and incommensurable spaces of production whose features change and blend into new aesthetic systems and artistic cultures as they interact with and absorb diverse influences, both in situations of engaged exchange and in critical resistance.”Some people reason that African art is not art in the Occidental sense. It is not valued for its beauty but for its spiritual effect. The idea of individual originality is foreign to it because it is made according to static forms and traditions passed down through the generations by anonymous artists. Despite multiple interpretations, African art and African artists are blazing the trail. Around the world in museums of art, African art is framed as a contemporary art form in its own right, not just an aesthetic enabler for a century of Modern artists.
The many advantages conferred on him via higher education, like an improved standard of living, ability to compete globally and affect the lives of others, made him realise that the most essential legacy he could leave for future generations is accessible quality higher education. These in addition to his experience as a pro-chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), revealed to him the inadequacies of government-owned universities; hence he decided to establish a model institution. Today, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), founded by legal icon, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), in less than 10 years, has won laurels in academic and extra curricula activities.
But law is not the only study being promoted by the school given that its proprietor, who teaches courses in Law of Evidence and Leadership, is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Students are also familiarised with entrepreneurial education and agriculture as a way of encouraging them to develop interest in agriculture and to be self-reliant.
During its third convocation ceremony, Chief Babalola gave some start-up capital to graduates of agricultural science. His explanation was: “I don’t want them to roam the streets looking for employment. They have been well groomed and that is a way to encourage them to start their own ventures.”
A most interesting development in this university which offers academic programmes in six colleges: College of Sciences, College of Law, College of Engineering, College of Social & Management, College of Medicine & Health Sciences as well as College of Post-graduate Studies,
“According to Chief Babalola, Nigerians can’t afford to spend so much on medical tourism, and I have faith that this partnership will make the country one of the leading nations in healthcare services.”
is the construction of an ultra-modern 400-bed Multi System Hospital, reputed to be one of the best of its kind in Nigeria.
Extremely impressed, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), University Teaching Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Prof. Temitope Alonge, enthused: “I have worked in many hospitals both here in Nigeria and in Europe. This hospital beats most hospitals where I have worked in Europe.
“This surely will be the answer to outward medical tourism. With what is here in this hospital, there is no reason why any of our doctors should want to go abroad for their Sabbatical. All they need is here.” Still topping its game, ABUAD has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Aster Group of Hospitals in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The partnership, according to Chief Babalola would make the University Teaching Hospital and the Dubai based medical institution to sign a pact in the areas of training, consultancy, offering of technical expertise and in medical administration.
According to Chief Babalola, “Nigerians can’t afford to spend so much on medical tourism, and I have faith that this partnership will make the country one of the leading nations in healthcare services.” On how he got the health facility to this stage, he said: “About five years ago, we applied to the NUC for licence to commence a College of Medicine. They told us that unless we have a hospital for clinical exercises and services, they wouldn’t grant us the licence. We approached the Federal Government to allow us use the medical centre at Ido, but we were told it is not a hospital, and if we intended using it, then we had to upgrade the place. We spent about N3b to upgrade the facility, putting up new structures and equipment.
“After completion of the upgrading, the then Minister of Health signed a Memorandum of Understanding with us, because the place has been upgraded to the status of a teaching hospital. So, our students went there. Unfortunately, the virus killing Nigeria crept in.
“Doctors, consultants and other health workers who are government employees went on strike without minding the MoU we signed with government. After pleading with them, they resumed to work. Few months after, they went on another strike. Within six months, they were on strike about four times.”
The N50b health facility said to be a permanent solution to outward medical tourism, first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, sits on six hectares of land, and has nine blocks, each consisting of four floors, while the middle block has five floors, creating a total of 37 floors.
While 24-hour electricity and water supply are taken for granted, there are five elevators and ramps to assist movement of people within the hospital that has its own oxygen plant house, where it generates its medical gas.
On the proposed management of the hospital, Babalola said: “We need to give it an international flavour, which is why there will be foreign doctors, nurses and laboratory scientists working with Nigerian experts. And very soon, our people will learn that Nigerian doctors are as good as their foreign counterparts.
“We don’t want to make it just a hospital, but a teaching place, a learning place, a research centre, and of course, an international healthcare centre. We are aware we can achieve that not by mere declaration, but by action.
“Hence, we entered into a special relationship and partnership with Aster Hospital in Dubai. This is a hospital with international reputation. They came here and they were marvelled at the huge investment, and they agreed to cooperate with us.
“The most important aspect of any hospital is the laboratory. Most Nigerian hospitals don’t have modern laboratory equipment. We have entered into agreement with Abbot Laboratories of the United States, who are adjudged the best in the world.
“So, instead of just supplying us with the equipment, which may not be managed properly or becoming obsolete, they will also install, manage, service and render service to the patients. With that, we have solved the problems of many Nigerian hospitals, where though laboratories are installed, but they won’t function. They will take 60 per cent of the profit, while we take only 40 per cent.
“We also have arrangement with other healthcare suppliers in the world, including Nurella of India. They are the one installing Prematic Tube, which is the first of its kind in this part of the world. It services all the 37 points in the hospital within 60 seconds. If you need blood now, you will get it in less than a minute or you want to send any sample to the lab, it gets there within a minute. Besides we have state-of the-art five modular theatres where no air comes in to avoid infection. We have all equipment needed for scanning, including 2017 model of MRI.” L&S
The Ancient Greek events have played a significant role in framing the groundwork of Classical and Modern Greece. The Archaic period in Greece saw different political and geographical developments. The greatest war of all the times; the Trojan War, the composition of earliest surviving Greek literature; The Iliad and The Odyssey, the invention of Olympic games, and many such events circumscribe the boundaries of ancient Greece.
The flurry of development of the Archaic Era was followed by the period of maturity known as “Classical Greece”. Where the events in the archaic time were purely artistic, the Classical Era moved towards a more naturalistic approach.
Listed below are some major events which throw light upon the structures, developments, and tragedies that took place in the bygone age of Greece.
1. Beginning of Mycenaean Period- 1600 to 1100 BC
Mycenaean civilization forms the declining phase of the Bronze Age in Ancient Greece. It showcases the very first advanced culture in Greece, followed by its plush states, works of writing and art, and public organization. The Mycenaean Greeks took forward innovations in the different fields of military infrastructure, engineering, and architecture. These discoveries were helpful in influencing the trade over the areas of the Mediterranean to carry forward their economy.
Moreover, the Linear B, their syllabic script, confirms about the first written records in the Greek language. Their religion included many deities that are also a part of the Olympic Pantheon. The civilization was under the power of elite warrior society which consisted a web of palace states.
These states developed political, hierarchical, economic and social systems which were not subjected to any flexibility. The king or the wanax was the head of the society.
The Minoan civilization (2000-1450 BCE) which preceded the Mycenaean civilization, were great influencers of the developments in the latter civilization. Art, architecture, and religious practices were now expressed in a better way. Major Mycenaean centres included Mycenae which was also the ancient home of Agamemnon, Tiryns which was considered to be the oldest hub, Pylos; Nestor’s conventional home, Midea, Thebes, Orchomenos, Argos, Gla, Nichoria, Sparta, and probably Athens.
Besides trade, art flourished. Geometric designs and decorative motifs were popular. Pottery shapes were somewhat same as the Minoan with some additions of the alabastron and the goblet. Terracotta statuette of standing female figures and animals were quite popular. Frescoes depicted captured, lions, plants, battle scenes, bull-leaping, and favourite Mycenaean activities.
Religiously, the Mycenaeans were of high beliefs. Burial was considered as a mandatory ritual. This civilization had a mysterious ending in 1200 BCE during the Bronze Age Collapse (possibly due to some earthquake, in-fighting or invasion)
2. The Trojan War- 1250 BC
The existence of Trojan war has always been ambiguous and debatable. Where some scholars take it as a myth, the others have found solid proofs pointing towards its reality.
Trojan War, in Greek mythology, is the battle between the people of Troy and the Greeks. The tiff began after Paris; the Trojan prince took away Helen, the wife of Menelaus of Sparta. When Menelaus asked for her return, the Trojans straightaway denied to give her back. Menelaus then cajoled his brother Agamemnon who headed the army against Troy. Agamemnon had with himself the Greek heroes Ajax, Achilles, Odysseus, and Nestor followed by a fleet of more than a thousand ships from all over the Hellenic world. For the next nine years, the Greeks wrecked Troy, its neighbouring cities, and countryside. But the well-fortified town, adjured by Prince Hector and other sons of the royal Trojan family, held out and won the war. Not accepting the defeat, the Greeks built a giant void wooden horse to hide small groups of warriors within.
Despite the repeated warnings of not to take the horse by both Laocoön and Cassandra, the Trojan king let it in. At night the Greeks returned, and their hidden companions swept out of the horse. They opened the city gates, attacked each, and everyone who came in their way and Troy was finally destroyed.
Now whether the war took place or not is the question. There is no evidence of Achilles and Helen’s existence. But most scholars agree to the fact that Troy itself was no fantastical Shangri-la but an actual city, and that the Trojan War happened in real. “The archaeological and textual evidence indicates that a Trojan war or wars took place and that Homer chose to write about one or more of them by making it into a great ten-year-long saga,” says Eric Cline.
Furthermore, according to a popular history channel, “The Layer Vlla of excavations, which is dated to some 1180 B.C., revealed skeletons and carbonized debris. This can be the evidence of the destruction that had happened during the wartime and hence the story of the Trojan War came to the front.” L&S
But for providence, his choice would have been either, farming, football, athletics, or humanitarian services. Law was certainly not in the picture; yet, Hon. Justice Suleiman Galadima, (rtd.) rose to become a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. The same might not be said about his son Hon. Justice Ibrahim Suileman Galadima, who is presently a Judge of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN). Having observed his father’s steady rise to the top, there was little doubt that the younger Galadima knew what career path to choose. Born on October 10, 1946 in Shafa Abakpa Village, Nasarawa State, Hon. Justice Suleiman Galadima, retired from the judicial service on October 10, 2016, after six eventful years on the Supreme Court bench. In his words during his valedictory session on October 10, 2016, his Lordship said: “I could see the hand of destiny in my becoming a Judge even so much to my dislike.
I learned so early in life from my courtier – father the art of arbitration, adjudication and mediation among the family and village disputants. My choice naturally would have been farming, football, athletics, or a humanitarian service provider.” A former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who retired exactly one month after his Lordship’s valedictory session, described him thus: “On a personal note, I have always found his Lordship to be an astute and insightful man, who is morally upstanding, genuinely amiable and a gentleman in all sense of the word. I also know his Lordship to be a dedicated family man whose serenity and strict upbringing is fully reflected in his family.” Taking a cue from the words of the former CJN, Justice Suileman Galadima, disclosed that: “My life today is a manifestation of the upbringing of my father, who often admonished us to bring honour and glory home, and not ill- gotten wealth, which always attracts humiliation and disparagement.
He lived an honourable and honest life and died without any scandal, and it has always been my earnest desire to do same…” His Lordship joined the Qua Iboe Mission (QIM) Primary School, Shafa from 1953 to 1957. In 1957, having spent four years at QIM, his Junior Primary School came to an end, and it was time to advance to Senior Primary School. In the whole of then Keffi- Nasarawa Divisions, there was only one Senior Primary school, and it was at Laminga; somewhere between Keffi and Nasarawa. The journey from Sofiyo to Laminga to resume at the boarding school marked the first time he would board a vehicle – being a lorry which at that time, was the only means of transportation.
Hon. Justice Suleiman Galadima Hon. Justice Ibrahim Galadima be a dedicated family man whose serenity and strict upbringing is fully reflected in his family.” Taking a cue from the words of the former CJN, Justice Suileman Galadima, disclosed that: “My life today is a manifestation of the upbringing of my father, who often admonished us to bring honour and glory home, and not ill- gotten wealth, which always attracts humiliation and disparagement.
He lived an honourable and honest life and died without any scandal, and it has always been my earnest desire to do same…” His Lordship joined the Qua Iboe Mission (QIM) Primary School, Shafa from 1953 to 1957. In 1957, having spent four years at QIM, his Junior Primary School came to an end, and it was time to advance to Senior Primary School. In the whole of then Keffi- Nasarawa Divisions, there was only one Senior Primary school, and it was at Laminga; somewhere between Keffi and Nasarawa. The journey from Sofiyo to Laminga to resume at the boarding school marked the first time he would board a vehicle – being a lorry which at that time, was the only means of transportation.
He attended Katsina-Ala Provincial Secondary School from 1960 till 1964, becoming the deputy head boy of the school in 1964, as well as the captain of the college volley ball and rugby teams, as well as a member of the athletic team. In 1965, he proceeded to the Government College, Keffi, for his higher school certificate. He was elected senior prefect in 1966. The effect of these positions of responsibility at an early stage contributed indelibly towards forging his lordship’s future career.
Subsequently, his Lordship joined Kirkpatric and Partners (an Engineering Consultancy Company) in Kaduna as a technician between May 1966 and October 1967. In due course, he became a market research assistant with Lever Brothers, Kaduna and Kano between 1967 and 1968. He attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria – first bagging a diploma in law in 1969 and later embarking upon an LLB degree after a brief working spell with Customs and Excise. Between May 1960 and October 1975, he was revenue officer/ legal officer with Customs and Excise. While with the Customs, he performed the following duties amongst others: collection and accounting of revenue, supervision of revenue officers, investigations of customs cases, preparation of legal opinions, advice and prosecution of cases.
Galadima was appointed higher registrar, High Court of Justice, Jos, Plateau state, and he served from May 1976 to August 1977. Between August 1977 and June 1978, he did the compulsory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Enugu, the capital of the old Anambra State. And during his service year, he was Assistant Legal Aid leader, State Counsel at the ministry of justice, and later, secretary Law Review Commission.
After undergoing an eventful NYSC programme, he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos and was called to the bar in 1978. He eventually received a Master of Laws degree from the University of Jos, in 1985. His Lordship was a Magistrate from July 1978, rising to the rank of Acting Chief Magistrate, before being seconded to become the Deputy Company Secretary, Ajaokuta Steel Company, then in Kwara State (in the present day Kogi State), where he served till November 1984. His first posting as a Magistrate was to Bukuru in Plateau state. It was a nine-kilometre journey that took him an hour from Jos town to Bukuru in public transport with litigants and suspected criminals alike.
At that time, the conditions of service were very discouraging – no internal transfers, illequipped court-room. In fact he shared the same office (Chambers) with his secretary. There were no incentives; little salary and allowances. He earned about N875 in a year; less than N1,000. He spent two years at Bukuru before gaining his promotion. Thereafter, he practiced law under the firm of Galadima-Husaini & Co., until March 1990, when he was appointed Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of the old Plateau State.
In May 1991, Suleiman Galadima was elevated to the bench as a Judge of the High Court of Plateau State, and when Nasarawa State was created in 1996, he became the pioneer Chief Judge of the State, serving from October 1996 until December 9, 1998, when he was promoted to the Court of Appeal bench. His Lordship made his mark on the appellate bench, serving at various divisions such as Lagos and Enugu, before going on to be the Presiding Justice in Port Harcourt division from September 2006 to 2010. His first posting was to Enugu. This was in 1998 shortly after he was sworn-in. Elevated to the Supreme Court of Nigeria on September 16, 2010, he is a recipient of the National Honours of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR), which was conferred on him in 2011. He was later honoured as Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR). He has also been bestowed
“On a personal note, I have always found his Lordship to be an astute and insightful man, who is morally upstanding, genuinely amiable, and a gentleman in all sense of the word. I know his Lordship to be a dedicated family man whose serenity and strict upbringing is fully reflected in his family.”
with other accolades including Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award conferred on him by a delegation of the All Africa Students Union (AASU), Executive Committee on 12th April, 2016. In all 47 years of his life in Public Service (1969-2016), 26 years were spent in mainstream judiciary services, six of which were spent at the Apex Court. His Lordship is presently Chairman of Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring C o m m i t t e e (COTRIMCO), He is blessed with six children – four males, two females. He also has four grandchildren His first son – Hon. Justice Ibrahim Suleiman Galadima, was born in Lagos on September 24, 1974. He spent most of his nursery school years in Jos, Plateau State, and eventually attended the University of Jos Primary School until his graduation in 1985. He was at St. Joseph’s College, Vom, Plateau State from 1985 to 1991, where he earned his Senior Secondary School Certificate.
He almost immediately went on to study Law at the University of Jos; finishing in 1997, and subsequently attended the Nigeria Law School in Bwari, Abuja (1998/99) – graduating as one of the best students in his class. He was subsequently called to the Nigeria Bar. Thereafter, he was posted to Calabar, Cross River State, to undergo the compulsory one year NYSC programme. On completion of the NYSC programme in 2000, he moved to Lagos State and was employed as a pupil counsel by Messrs Rickey Tarfa (SAN) and Co. About a year later, he relocated to Jos, Plateau State, where he joined Mr. Pius Akubo (SAN) as counsel, but later established his law firm – Galadima and Company between 2002 and 2003. He however, caught the attention of the then Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Ahmed Ubangari, who invited him to be appointed as a Magistrate in Nasarawa State, and so from 2003, Justice Ibrahim Galadima, began his long career with the lower bench in his home State. Ibrahim Galadima rose from Magistrate Grade 1 to Chief Magistrate and in 2014, was appointed by the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Hon. Justice Suleiman Umaru Dikko, as the first Deputy Chief Registrar for Probate, a position he held until his elevation as a Judge of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria on July 14, 2017.
He is a member of the Nigeria Bar Association and the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC). As member of the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association (CMJA), he attended the Annual Conference in Kampala, Uganda in 2012. The younger Justice Galadima, delights in travelling. He is married, and has three children. L&s
Vision is determined to follow a worthy course, brick walls, hisses, chuckles, frowns or even disdainful snares cannot stop him…! #Be Passionate About Your Vision! –Nwanneka Nwala
War is closely related to violent anger, aggression, noise, loud frightening sound, chaos, debilitating fear and many more. And so when a man tells you that his name is ‘Ogwu’, the Igala (a Nigerian tribe/language) word for war you expect some measure of aggression and domineering in his personality. However, when this ‘Ogwu’ turns out to be the exact opposite of his name, one begins to wonder how peace and war could ever be embodied in the same personality. Nigeria was in turmoil, as the civil war raged, and the Biafran army was trying out its bombs. In the midst of all these, on 19th February, 1968, a young woman in far away Idah, then under Kabba Province of Northern Nigeria, and present day Kogi state, was in labour. It was going to be her third child.
Thankfully, just when the pangs were becoming unbearable, he came forth. A shrill cry rent the air and the midwife proudly announced that another son has been born to the Onojas. But that joy was almost immediately marred, for not long after the happy proclamation, the unthinkable happened.
Idah was bombed – the very town where the baby had just been born! In the midst of the melee that ensued, the baby’s father ran away leaving his wife and hapless baby.
“My mother told me that when it happened, my father ran away. That had been an issue of contention. My father said he ran to mobilize the vigilante group to resist the attacks but my mum used to make a jest of him that, ‘you say you love your son but you ran away,’ ” revealed Chief Ogwu James Onoja.
Against the backdrop that he was born during the civil war in Nigeria (1967-1970), and given the peculiar incident that occurred on the day of his birth, he was named Ogwu (war).
“Anybody that bears that name in my place was born during the war. That is why you hardly see people name their children after me, because they say it is not a good name,” he explained.
As the events of his life unfurled, he was urged by many to change the name but he declined Chief Onoja’s major challenge started when at the age of seven, his parents divorced.
“It was a very serious issue when you have to have a broken home. According to my mother, they used to have a child-spacing arrangement of four years, though not deliberate. I didn’t understand until I met somebody recently who said her mother had that problem. When women with that condition get pregnant and give birth, they may not have another one till four years.
“So, my father’s family felt that my mother’s type of womb would make the family lineage go extinct. Since my mother did not have their desired kind of womb, they opted to bring in another woman to give birth to as many children as possible. So, my father took a second wife and there was problem. I witnessed disunity. I stayed with my mother initially and people would come around and say, ‘don’t agree to come back.’ They encouraged my mom to pack out of the house and not return. The crises started in 1972 and by 1975, the divorce had happened,” he revealed. .
Ironically, after convincing his mother to leave her husband, those same relatives later turned against her.
Having found his young self in this grim situation, he devised a way to survive.
According to him, “I decided that through education and football, I would get my liberty. I was a football captain in both primary and secondary schools. I was the football captain everywhere I went including the School of Basic Studies (SBS) Makurdi in Benue state, and at the Faculty of Law, University of Jos, (UniJos) Plateau state. I could not join the national team because I was called to the Nigerian Bar at the age of 22.”
He continued, “Amongst the other crisis I had was getting a job after being called to the bar. I started with Humphrey Abah & Co. Legal Practitioners, Lagos (1992-1994). Then between 1996 and 1997, I struggled to be on my own and lost my father within that period. Six months later, I lost my mother. Then between 2002 and 2003, I lost my brother and sister. So, it was like I was alone though the other woman had five children who are my step-brothers. I thought of changing my name from Ogwu. But thank God I was already married at that time so that gave me some consolation.. It was very huge challenge.
“I served in old Imo State. I was posted to Nkwere Local Government, and thereafter, moved to Orlu, where I joined E. J.O Nwogwu. I practiced with him briefly, and then later moved to Owerri, where I joined Prof. Nwazurike. He was a professor at University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), he said.
Going forward, Chief Onoja said: “After my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, I went to Lagos. There is something I inherited from my parents, especially my father – integrity and honesty. That was the biggest fuel that brought me to this level.
“When I joined Humphrey in 1993, my salary was N600. Within six months it was increased to N800 because of diligence to duty and commitment to service and honesty. When I came, Humphrey started giving me big assignments and I worked under a very cerebral lawyer called Ime Asanga. I still refer to him as my Prof. Lawyer and lecturer, because he taught me all that I needed to know as a lawyer at that stage.
“A very jovial man; he called me one day and asked – ‘You went to Kano, how much did Oga (our principal) give to you?’ So, I gave a breakdown of how the money was spent. I said air ticket is x amount, when I got to Kano, I slept in my brother’s house. Then he asked, ‘you didn’t stay in a hotel?’ I said no, because it was an opportunity to link up with my people. He asked, ‘where is the accommodation money?’ I told him I gave everything to Oga (the principal partner).
“He asked about other trips and I listed how I spent the money and retired the balance to our principal. He exclaimed and said ‘no wonder since you came they don’t send us on trips again. You mean you returned the balance to Oga?’ I didn’t know that God was preparing me for a bigger role, because most of my life to this stage has been a life of service and trust. People trust me with what they have.
“Then it came to getting married so, all my team mates with whom I played football came to me and said, ‘Now that you are a lawyer, you have to get married.’ They said they would look for a wife for me, which was after several failed attempts at UniJos by J.S. Okutepa (SAN) and others to get me a girl-friend.
“In December 1991, I was not called to bar then. It used to be NYSC before call-to-bar. My cousins and friends told me that they had seen a woman for me. This was at a district headquarters where my uncle was the district head. Unknown to me, they had all gone to woo her but she ignored them.
“She came from the city. So, we went there and that is the woman I have now as my wife. We went there but she refused to come out. Eventually someone prevailed on her and she came out to greet us. Then I introduced myself as a lawyer and practicing in Imo State. I expressed my love for her; that everybody spoke well of her. .
“When I got married, we had challenges because I hadn’t a good job. Then, I got admission for my Master’s degree, and I was already an orphan. But because there was love, she was ready to stick with me. I had no car when I got married, and even the driver that took us from the village after our wedding to Lagos, dropped off by the road at Yaba after he had agreed to take us to my rented apartment. I had to carry my wife’s luggage on my head.
“It was tough. No money to eat. We had to sell our wedding gifts. I also had heaps of old newspapers. I started selling those too to Suya sellers (roast beef). In all, we had no problem of understanding each other. We knew there were people waiting for us to fail, so we had every reason to ensure that the marriage worked to the disgrace of our detractors.”
According to him, “My major breakthrough started when a kinsman Enemona Agada, gave me a brief from Failed Bank Tribunal. I lost the case, but the other party later came to negotiate, as I was still holding one of their properties.
“I made N400, 000 from the transaction. That was January 1998, and my wife was heavily pregnant. On March 12, 1998 she climbed 18 floors to go and collect the cheque because there was no elevator. The baby came the following day. I bought a Mercedes 200 car with which I brought them home. That was my first car.
“When I was in a partnership, they wanted me to do something that was against my conscience. A client was going to be cheated, but I advised her not to agree to the terms and she listened. She later thanked me and even gave me a property to manage.
“Thereafter, I was introduced to a lady who told me somebody whose name she wouldn’t disclose wanted to buy a property. The property she was looking for fit the same property the first woman handed over to me for sale. It was an estate property. “After the transaction was concluded, both the woman and the person who bought the property disappeared leaving all the original documents of the property with me.
“People said it was a settlement from God but I disagreed, and sought for ways to find them. I remember they told me the person the property was bought for was managing director of one company, so, I wore my suit and went to the place, but I couldn’t enter. I wrote a note but there was no reply. Then I put the property up for rent. The first rent yielded N1000. I then wrote a cheque, put the name and address, and sent to the person.
“But he sent it back to me saying he didn’t know what I was talking about. From the reply he wrote to me, I saw the land line was Multilinks, and we had a Multilinks line in my office. I called and his personal assistant (PA) picked. I introduced myself and briefly narrated the transaction which was now four years.
“I was in my office one day when the man called our Multilinks line and requested to see me. His opening statement was: ‘People like you are no longer available, sit down.’ I stretched my hand forward to give him the property documents, but he asked me to sit down. I told him that I couldn’t find the link woman. That I have been collecting the rent and the cheque I sent him earlier was with me.
“But he sent it back to me saying he didn’t know what I was talking about. From the reply he wrote to me, I saw the land line was Multilinks, and we had a Multilinks line in my office. I called and his personal assistant (PA) picked. I introduced myself and briefly narrated the transaction which was now four years.”
“He asked me to hold the documents; that after all the papers had been with me for four years. He now instructed the PA to give me two new properties to manage for him. That was a big break for me. That was how the relationship started with the man and he decided that we should work together. So, by 1999 I was already a millionaire.
“It’s about integrity. He picked me and that is why up till now, he is my godfather. Where I’m staying in Asokoro, Abuja, I have been staying there for 18 years without paying rent. I’m a man that God has greatly favoured.
“There is nothing like luck, but there is God. I don’t believe in luck, but I believe in God because your hard work alone will not take you there. You need integrity and skills. It is the combination of that, that can distinguish you. And then, there is what I call the spirit of contentment. L&S
The clamour for restructuring of the country requires political will to drive the process. However, due mainly to the divergence of perspectives on the concept, especially between the north and south divide; restructuring may take a long while or just never happen.Evidently, the country is stagnated if not retrogressing because of its current structure. A situation where the states and local governments exist merely as an appendage of the federal government and derive their survival from the goodwill of the federal government will always stifle progress and growth at both levels. As long as growth and progress are clogged at these levels, true development will remain a phantom.
In Nigeria, the federal government has remained a big powerful central government that controls virtually all the affairs of the state governments.
It controls the sum of resources given to the states, approves the amenities they could put in place and even their ability to determine their destinies. As a result, under the present structure, no state or local government can grow or develop beyond the aspiration or wishes of the federal government.
Often times, a state government would require approval from the federal government to carry out certain projects and may not proceed if approval is not given. Presently, many Nigerians would prefer federal government to confer more powers on the states.
Yet, some are of the opinion that Nigeria is not ripe for this system. They insist that given the mechanics of a decentralized government, powers could easily be abused.
During his nation-wide address of August 21, 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari, said the National Assembly is the appropriate body saddled with the responsibility of addressing such matters. But the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has argued that his position cannot be taken to mean he is unwilling to restructure.
However, a couple of weeks back the president declared that calls for the restructuring of the country were propelled more by selfish than national interests.
Some of the questions begging for answers remain:
Is Nigeria ripe for restructuring?
Will restructuring be beneficial to Nigeria as a whole?
Would restructuring impact negatively on Nigerians in terms of economy, security, education…?
If the above questions are resolved in favour of restructuring, would the federal government muster the political will to do the right thing?
Clearly, from the dissonance in arguments between federal government and those speaking for the north and southern parts of the country, the impression being created is that some sections will benefit more from restructuring while others lose out. Whether this is true or false perhaps depends on how each divide views restructuring.
A former General Secretary, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Union, NUPENG, Chief Frank Kokori, holds that “the reason agitations are going on in this country is because certain people feel they are marginalized, but I know that the whole country is marginalized because of bad governance and corruption.
He said: “I am for real federalism. The federal government should be left with some residual powers on defence, currency, foreign affairs, and others while states should be given powers over other affairs.”
Dr. Bukar Usman, a former Permanent Secretary in the Presidency, however, has a different view. “The answer to the re-structuring question lies more in collective self-examination, in fundamental change of attitude, and in a public-spirited approach to public administration by the current operators of our constitution.
“It cannot be denied that the powerful centre is the outcome of intense agitations by Nigerians of the 1960s that the regions were too powerful and imbalanced and should be balkanised. The agitations were heeded and implemented to grant self-determination to some communities and preserve the unity of Nigeria,” he argued.
At a recent event, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, cautioned that the situation in Nigeria would degenerate unless restructuring occurs.
‘’Taking into account the historical and current developments, including especially the continuing outrageous killings in the North Central zone of the country, I am proposing a restructuring of Nigeria into a true federation of eight federating units comprising the existing six geo-political zones plus a restored old Mid-West region and a newly created Middle Belt federating unit.
“The present mostly non-viable 36 states many of which can no longer pay the salaries of their workers, should be retained in the new federating units, but as development zones to be administered without their current costly executive and administrative institutions.
“It would be for each federating unit to decide if and when to create within it additional development zone(s) in response to any genuine cry of marginalisation…
President Muhammadu Buhari
‘’I therefore call on our governments and lawmakers to heed the growing warning signs of potential national disaster by agreeing to adopt a restructured true federalism which I believe will provide the best basis for the realisation of the Nigerian nation that we all desire,” he said.
“Taking into account the historical and current developments, including especially the continuing outrageous killings in the North Central zone of the country, I am proposing a restructuring of Nigeria into a true federation of eight federating units comprising the existing six geo-political zones plus a restored old Mid-West region and a newly created Middle Belt federating unit.”
Chief John Nnia Nwodo, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, posits that: “you can’t have true federation without justice.” He further submitted: “The cause of under development is the fact that we do not have a restructured nation. I hereby call on Nigerians not to vote for any leader who is not prepared to speak to the problems of this country through restructuring. We need a leader who is not biased, that is the qualification for true leader.”
Nwodo at another forum announced emphatically that Ndigbo will not fight any war again, but will partner with other ethnic groups with similar ideology, to continuously engage the authorities through diplomatic warfare, in ensuring that Nigeria is restructured into a true federation as envisioned by the founding fathers of the country.
As stated by Major General Zamani Lekwot, (rtd): “All hope is not lost if we could restructure the country urgently, check population explosion, empower the judiciary, empower the police force and other security agencies, and create community police to fight insecurity and check foreigners invading the country without control among others.”
Spokesperson for Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, posits that the issue of restructuring would determine who Nigerians would vote for in 2019, noting that Afenifere would mobilise and champion the restructuring cause in the general elections.
Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has through its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Biu, said that it respects the views of Nigerians on any structure of government that will strengthen unity and peaceful coexistence for equitable development.
Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN, former Director General, Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), gives more insight:-
“By 1966, when the army struck, Nigeria retained its federal structure and the parliamentary system of government. There were some peculiarities of the federal structure in place which made the regions very powerful. Devolution of power was such that each region controlled its resources to a large extent- to wit, North its groundnut, West its cocoa and East, its palm produce…
“With the military intervention began Nigeria’s romance with the unitary system of government… So by 1979, when the military returned power to civilian democracy, the constitution fundamentally altered the arrangement of devolution of powers…
“All subsequent constitutions followed to a large extent the pattern of the 1979 constitution, thereby throwing overboard the position of things as at 1960.
“… The question is, restructure from what to what? From states as federating units back to regions? To make the geo-political zones a component of our federation with constitutional recognitions or what?
“Second, is to agree in principle that there is need to restructure from what is the architectural blueprint that is currently prevalent. To restructure in the main is to change to a large extent what is currently in place…
“Areas of possible intervention are as follows: Federating Units: This presupposes an acceptance that Nigeria retains its federal status. The notion of confederation will not be entertained therein.
“The debate is that the states remain the federating unit for purposes of restructuring. This is without prejudice to states merging to become regions if they so desire, and geo-political zones also assuming a constitutional status without necessarily being the federating units. So ideally, the argument endorses states and state creation and de-emphasises regionalism and geopolitical zones as parameters for political restructuring.
“Devolution of Powers: Noticeable imbalance flowing from power sharing between the Federal (Central) Government and State governments is evident from a perusal of the legislative powers shared in the 1999 constitution.
“Whilst we have 68 items under the Exclusive Legislative list, there are just 8 items under the concurrent legislative list. Item 45 of the exclusive legislative list stipulates ‘Police and other Government, Security Services established by law.’
“Proponents of state Policing will naturally want this to move to the Residual list which will be controlled by the states. Other items that require serious interrogation for purposes of restructuring are: Item 48 – Prison, item 51 public holidays; item 39 – mines and minerals, including oil fields, oil mining, geological surveys and natural gas. There are still a host of the 68 items that can be restructured in favour of the federating units.
“Judicial System: Many have also argued that our judicial system is over centralised. There is argument to return State Appellate Courts or even Supreme Court. It is still confounding why matters of land ownership and inheritance generally still come to Court of Appeal or Supreme Court when such matters can end at state or regional or geo-political zone Court of Appeal or Supreme Court as the case may be.
“The debate is that the states remain the federating unit for purposes of restructuring. This is without prejudice to states merging to become regions if they so desire, and geo-political zones also assuming a constitutional status without necessarily being the federating units.”
“Unicameral or Bicameral legislature: Again, this is a decision Nigerians may want to take for purposes of restructuring. Do we go back to bicameral legislature at the state or regional level or do we retain the status quo.
“Political consideration: The idea of restructuring is certainly not likely to sit well with many Nigerians. Opposition is definitely coming from those who feel satisfied with the status quo and believe that any attempt to restructure will affect their interest negatively. But selfish interest should not be an overriding consideration in the issue of restructuring.
“The opinion expressed recently by the governors and leaders of the South-East is worth applauding. Their support for restructuring as against secession is commendable. But that does not negate the fact that the right to self-determination is recognised as a legitimate instrument under international law.
Though our 1999 constitution proclaims the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria state, it does not presuppose that in exercise of freedom of expression, people cannot agitate (non-violently) for self-determination.
“Action plans: The 2014 national conference report is an available specimen to kick-start the process of architectural overhauling. Basically, there must be an agreement on how to proceed.
In terms of devolution of powers, which items should devolve to the states and which should be retained at the centre? Secondly, are we all agreed on ‘’Resource Control’ by the federating units? Third, do we go back to regionalism, parliamentarianism or do we retain state structure (new states creation permissible) and also continue with presidentialism?
What will be the role of referendum (if at all) in the process of restructuring? A lot of emphasis must be placed on local government status. The situation where local government are instruments of manipulation by state government is also a point to be seriously addressed for purposes of restructuring.
“May I invite the government of the day to set up a small committee to distil from the Confab report and submit to government for critical appraisal and assessment? Alternatively is for government to re-submit the report to the National Assembly for further action.
“Again, government in its wisdom may decide to set up a panel specifically on restructuring. The panel will be charged with the modalities of working out the logistics or bases of restructuring.
A white paper flowing from this can then be handed over to government for onward transmission to the National Assembly. It is for the National Assembly to identify issues that require constitutional amendment, legislative promulgation whilst allowing issues that require administrative or executive imprimatur to be handled by the presidency.”Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) capped it all off with this caution: “My point is that the restructure advocacy in some parts of the country may be offending the sensibilities of others. Let us think of a kinder and subtle way to present the argument of restructuring. We need to fashion out a better communication strategy to communicate and dialogue with one another as a nation. This way, we can preach and spread the restructuring agenda, while strengthening our diversity.” L&S
“I am pleased to see that we are now all agreed that the Federal system is, under present conditions, the only sure basis on which Nigeria will remain united. We must recognize our diversity and the peculiar conditions under which the different tribal communities live in this country.”
– Tafawa Balewa, 1957
“One of the monsters which menaced the public life of this country up to 14th January, this year (1966) is OPPORTUNISM with its attendant evils of jobbery, venality, corruption, and unabashed self-interest. … a truly public-spirited person should accept public office not for what he can get for himself — such as the profit and glamour of office — but for the opportunity which it offers him of serving his people to the best of his ability, by promoting their welfare and happiness.”
Chief Obafemi Awolowo in letter from prison to Major General John Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, March 28, 1966
“The reason agitations are going on in this country is because certain people feel they are marginalized, but I know that the whole country is marginalized because of bad governance and corruption.”
Chief Frank Kokori, Former General Secretary, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Union (NUPENG)
“I therefore call on our governments and lawmakers to heed the growing warning signs of potential national disaster by agreeing to adopt a restructured true federalism which I believe will provide the best basis for the realisation of the Nigerian nation that we all desire.”
Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth
It’s an illness that fills our news pages on an almost daily basis. Juliette Jowit asks what causes depression, who is susceptible and what the best treatment is
What is depression?
Depressed people don’t all shuffle around with a long face, or cry at any provocation. MentalHealth.gov, a US government website, defines it as “losing interest in important parts of life”. Symptoms include eating or …………………………Continue from this link
In April 2016, I moved in to my current apartment. The apartment was still connected to an old meter and there was an outstanding payment of about N385,000.00 to be paid.
This wasn’t revealed to me before I made payment for the rent, as usual (that’s how they all do)
This became a worry and an absolute headache.
I asked the landlord why it was so and she made me understand that the apartment was not in use for 5years.
I asked how come it wasn’t reported to NEPA so they’d stop the billing, she gave me a copy of the letter she wrote to them
So I took the matter up, wrote several mails to Eko electricity company and the matter was on for 11months, note that in the space of this 11 months, I never got a monthly bill lesser than 24,000.00
You want to ask if I have a factory in my apartment? No I don’t.
So it extended from wanting the company to zerorize the ridiculous outstanding balance in the billing account to fighting and contesting the outrageous billing system which do not in any way represent my true electricity consumption and wanting a Prepaid Meter
The battle began.
After several exchange of mails between myself and Eko Electric and no solution was forthcoming, I moved the matter to NERC, the regulatory body for all electricity distribution companies in Nigeria.
I filed a petition against Ekedp and the undertaking in charge of my area.
Lo and behold, after three days from the petition submission to NERC, I got a call from the marketing manager for my area pleading for me to make myself available to allow them come to my house and take inventory of the electrical appliances I use.
NERC is working yeah? Right.
A staff of the Ekedp came to take the inventory and at the end of the computations, we calculated and multiplied each appliance by the estimated units they consume per day and multiplied by 31days.
Recall I said I never got a bill less than 24k in a month?
Then we arrived at a figure that even the Eko electric staff who came to take the inventory opened his mouth and couldn’t close it.
What I should be billed based on having 24hour light per day(which is not even possible) in 31 days was 4,800.00
I almost ran mad.
I took a copy of the report, scanned it and attached it to my next petition to NERC.
At this point, the marketing manager attached to my undertaking had started calling and begging me to stop the petitions.
That they could all get sacked if matters gets escalated further.
Then in September 2017, after all the troubles and how I never got tired if pursuing the issue, I got a mail from Eko electricity to come with some required documents in order to fill a form for a PREPAID METER.
I went there and did as they requested
At Last.
On 27 November 2017, I was on leave.
I was at my gate then this Alfa looking guy was parading and trying to see house number on the fence. My instinct told me to ask if he was asking for Ayo, then he said yes
He was the prepaid meter installer, he was with my new prepaid meter
I also recall that before the whole issue started, I was discouraged severally that I can never be given prepaid meter due to the outstanding balance on the billing account, I paid no mind to all the people that said that and went ahead with my case.
I got the Prepaid meter for FREE. After a week, bill was brought and boom, outstanding balance has been cleared from 385,000.00 to zero balance.
How did I achieve this?
I mean I didn’t pay a dime to anyone and I never for once bribed my way in all my dealings.
I achieved this simply because;
I knew my right.
I wouldn’t settle for mediocrity
I never stopped pushing even after several months and it seemed unachievable
I was ready to take the matter up anywhere
I was informed.
Now imagine how many people are out there who don’t even know how to go about such tedious and draining process.
I learnt that a lot of people even paid as much as 40k to get the prepaid meter. Something that’s supposed to be free.
Since the prepaid meter was installed in November 27 2017, I have not exhausted the 303 units that came with it which is calculated to be 7,200.00
And I still have 140units left to use.
That’s over four (4) months now
Do you now see why these people will never allow dream of every homes having a prepaid meter become a reality?
Because such development will block all holes where the electricity distribution corrupt members of staff perpetrate their fraudulent activities and corruption from.
They know that they will be forced to give light more in order to generate revenue and will not be able to charge people outrageously as they are currently doing and remitting the proceeds of their criminal act to their pockets.
Stand up and Fight for what is your right.
Prepaid meter is your right, fight for it to the letter.
If you believe that your monthly electricity bill do not represent your consumption, make a case.
If you’re in Lagos, Ikeja Electricity company and Eko electricity company are there for you.
If they fail, involve NERC.
That will be all, for now.
Due to popular demand, these are the email addresses you can forward your complaints to –
Creative Director, Handz and Mindz Ltd Founder, Green and Gold Center for Teenagers Creativity.
I remember very proudly when I finally gained admission after several attempts of writing JAMB. Almost 3 years prior to gaining admission, I had my WASSCE grades but I could not seem to get through with JAMB. I recall my grandmother walking up to me one night, while I was reading, and telling me that she believed in me and when the time was just right, I was going to get into the university. I did, one year after she passed on. My journey of preparing and waiting for admission, as was my family tradition, was communal. Everyone was a part of everything, except going with you for examinations. They prayed with you, hoped with you and were for some reason assured that you will breakthrough soon. It was a taboo to suggest that you wanted to do a diploma or needed help with “PROCESSING” your admission. That precious day, after printing my JAMB Result from a cybercafé, at the bottom there was a place written “ADMISSION STATUS: ADMITTED”. This meant that I finally got in. So, we waited a few more days and went to check if my name was on the list. Yes, it was. I scored 219 and was getting in on the indigene 210 cut off point. I can remember the joy in my home that week.
Amidst the celebration, my uncle, Bobby reached out to me and said “I want you to know, that if you decide that you want to graduate with a first class, it is very possible. I hear the stories about lecturers victimizing students, but I want you to know that you can go through school without being victimized. Whatever you do, do not miss classes, do not forget to submit your assignments on time or miss a test. Do not, have reason to go to a lecturer to ask for a favour or consideration. You have to work hard. We do not have the money to sort. Read and you will make the grades you work for.” Those words of advice stuck with me, through trying times. Everyone needs an Uncle Bobby.
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