We are on the 'terrorist list' and so what?

Warning: please dont read if you hate truth and reality!

Nigeria is on the ‘list’ so what?!! Why are we complaining? Are we surprised? Shouldn’t this be a call to action? Wait a minute, of all the 150 million Nigerians, how many percent have the opportunity to even enter a plane not to talk of traveling to the United States? I’ve read all manner of articles in the last few days blaming America for their decision and I’m seriously disgusted – pardon my use of that word. Please tell me, in the last three years of what use have we been to them except for oil – and many African countries are taking our place in oil production!

Can someone please tell me where in the world a tenant defines rules to a landlord? E jo! E so fun mi! (Please tell me!). Can’t we ever learn to take responsibility and forge ahead instead of blaming someone else? Any country has the right to suspect anyone. The other option is to stay put in your country! Kilode? Is it the US' fault that our diplomacy is reactive rather than proactive? Or that our 'leader' couldn't give Obama a call or that we cant do simple lobbying? Are we also blaiming them for our underdevelopment?


Please read this:

“And oil, yes, Nigeria is a major oil producer, but Brazil is now launching a 10-year program that is going to make it one of the major oil producers in the world. And every other country in Africa is now beginning to produce oil.

And Angola is rivalling Nigeria in oil production, and the United States has just discovered a huge gas reserve which is going to replace some of our dependence on imported energy.
So if you look ahead ten years, is Nigeria really going to be that relevant as a major oil producer, or just another of the many oil producers while the world moves on to alternative sources of energy and other sources of supply.

And what about its influence, its contributions to the continent? As our representative from the parliament talked about, there is a great history of those contributions. But that is history!”
- from speech by Princeton Lyman, Former US Ambassador to Nigeria

It’s so painful that we are crying over the ability or inability of a few of us (less that 0.01% of Nigerians) who are privileged, to travel to the US. Do we realize that we have done more badly to ourselves in the past few years? Please show me development in Nigeria except maybe in a few cities. Industries are moving to Ghana, people are losing jobs, Education has failed (they say it’s failing… wow!), is an American your Governor or Local Government Chairman?

The koko is our influence is reducing as we have less to offer them! Is Ghana not better today after the “Ghana-must-go” era? Please tell me oh! Did they die? Aren’t they developing faster? If you’re not sure, ask Barack Obama why He went there and ignored us! Please let’s be responsible for once! Pushing responsibility is not going to help us! Let’s develop our own country as Ghana did when we pursued them! Nobody throws you away if you are an asset!


Let’s move this ‘unusual energy and unity’ into more meaningful use. Let’s start small meetings across the nation! Let’s stop talking and act! I can proudly say I’m taking positive steps geared towards developing my nation! What are you doing? Let’s stop being selfish! As an executive, how are you contributing to developing Nigeria? Are you just stacking up riches for your family?

You have a job now. Do you want to wait till angry Nigerians block the road and stop you from going to work? Your children are in Private universities. Do you want to wait till angry people deny them entry? You have billions in your account. Are you waiting for the day it will be inaccessible due to social unrest? Of what use will your dream car be of then? May we not see violence. Amen.

Whether we are on the list is not as important as our development. If we don’t act now, we only endorse violence in the future. One thing I know, Nigeria will change. If we act now, it may be peaceful. If we delay, we do so to our peril!

End of story!

Let’s make a statement in 2010

In 2009, several online groups especially on facebook carried hope of a new Nigeria. The young and old, regardless of religious alienations and cultural diversity discussed the way forward for Nigeria. Some groups made their presence known by cleaning the streets, organizing lectures and seminars.

2010 will be a great year if we keep this momentum. Keeping this momentum doesn’t mean just continuing the wonderful articles and discussions online. It means extending our intelligence and creativity from online discussions to real practical work in our community.

Keeping this momentum will require small groups to come together to handle more intensive community development projects. It will require high-level cooperation amongst the middle-class.

Keeping this momentum will require much more sacrifice from every Nigerian. It may mean contributing a part of our income to send some less-privileged kid to school in order to avoid increase in number of future political thugs. It may mean becoming entrepreneurial not for the selfish purpose of enriching oneself but to create jobs for an increasing number of jobless Nigerians.

It will mean less investment in present-day pleasure and more investment in the future of our dear country. It will mean more of developmental projects by corporate bodies such as the Zain African Challenge and less of Mega Jamz.

In 2010, we can make a strong statement for change if we choose to. If we engage the power of a collective vision, we can do unbelievable things. Extra-ordinary things happen when ordinary people unite with to reach a goal.

In 2010, let’s make a statement with less talk and more action. Our future is in our hands, the earlier we realize this, the better.

Education isn't schooling! - The Ekiti story

Quite some time now... been doing some research on development of innovative concepts for improving nigerian education. Stumbled on this videos while "researching" the ekiti election crisis.

My opinion is education isn't same as schooling. Real education transforms people. Real education instills morals in people. In this video, you'll see "schooled" thugs, even a female, "interrogating" election observers in Ekiti - practical dehumanisation!

Watch out for project 10times10 coming soon!

Hmm ... its time to change things! Very soon, this will be history! But that's if we take action. Watch out.

Catch this flight OR?

Flight Number CHANGE ready for take off

Shaky start because the runway is rough

Only the brave stand to be counted

In the midst of a people dejected.

Its time to become responsible for our Nation

In times of socio-edu-economic demotion

Its time to contribute our own little portion

Nothing is insignificant in providing a solution

Enough of Ndigboism and Afeniferism

It’s time to promote Nigerianism

This flight wont land without a good fight

Each one has to play his own part

Even if we got our independence without bloodshed,

Should we become slaves in our own shed?

If Congo, Sudan, Liberia and Zimbabwe don’t make us reason

We'd will be lucky to escape becoming another lesson

Flight No CHANGE ready for take off

A collective vision driven by love

Tiv, Ibibio, Fulani and Kanuri

There’s enough space for all and sundry

Vacancy! Apply now!

Vacancy! New Gs Needed!I hate critics expecially when they've not provided any solutions. I believe that being a critic is one of the most degrading jobs any rational human being should take except that nowadays they make a lot of money from those empty noises.

But I love Gani! He lived what He said! He never criticised what He had not tried. Gani sent people to schools, provided food for the poor, Clothed the naked, fought for the helpless, giving them justice for free!

I watched Raji Fashola's speech on thursday and I cannot help but echo his thoughts. Gani served everyone irrespective of his religious alienations or culture. He granted scholarships in many states miles away from his home town, He fought for anybody, Christain or Muslim, a true Nigerian indeed.

If I was asked to define Gani, I would have said: extremely unselfish, selflessly developmental, over patrotic, action man, the best Nigerian that ever lived!

As we seek for change, its imperative that we learn and imbibe the values the Senior Advocate of the Masses lived with. More Ganis need to rise. A one man army has left, its time to start a one-nation army. An army of people touched by one man, not divided by ethicity or religious inclinations.

Want to enrol as a Gani? Watch out on www.irevnaija.orgChange is here!

So Musicians Prophesy… Monday morning traffic thoughts

The ganja aside, He’ll compete favorably for the award of the greatest Nigerian that ever lived. From one government to the other, He spoke the truth that many so-called leaders (even religious) couldn’t speak. He dared anyone; He never compromised his stand even in the face of death. The only Abami Eda of Africa… I wish His sons just kept his legacy! I hope they haven’t been trapped in this craze for meaningless music opposed to the deeply philosophical lyrics of their father.

Fela’s music still lives. This piece is however not meant to pay tribute to him, not a piece conjured in Monday morning traffic. No! He deserves better. This piece just brings to mind one of his prophecies perfectly translated into unique lyrics that defy “classical” musical structure, a slinky smooth masterpiece with great vocal performance. Did He prophesy? If you’re not aware, I won’t blame you, you’ve probably grown up listening to other “great” songs. After all putting up just a single in this tense atmosphere isn’t easy!

Well, I decided to have some time with my family this weekend (in Ipaja area of Lagos) and so had the “privilege” of traveling back in the Monday morning traffic. I had moved to Ikoyi when I couldn’t stand the amount of time I lost in traffic. Productivity was reducing. That was the only way forward, at least at the time of taking this decision. I almost rebuked myself for making this trip this morning. Three (3) hours traveling within Lagos? Lord have mercy!

Let me take you down memory lane. Just 2 months ago, I had to wake up as early as 4:00 am (I still do that anyways just that for more profitable reasons), Pray (if I can), get ready for work and literally jog to the bus-stop. When I started this crazy life, my Dad would drive me to the bus stop. Well, as time went by, I had to move myself. At least He tried. At 5:40 am, the bus would take-off from my bus for a never-ending journey. Three (3) hours within Lagos for a 45 minute journey, bad roads, unruly drivers, too many personal cars all contributing to this. I offer my unreserved and sincere apologies to those who suffer this daily.

Thanks to the Lagos-based Wazobia 95.1 fm. Prophesy is been over-fulfilled if there’s any word like that. We aren’t just “Suffering and smiling”, we are Suffering and laughing loud! We remain the happiest people on planet earth. Wow! Thanks to Femi and the young man “wey get sense pass Federal government”. What a comparison! My younger brother would definitely feel insulted.

As a reminder, here’s an excerpt from the lyrics:

Every day my people dey inside bus
Every day my people dey inside bus
Forty-nine sitting, ninety-nine standing
Them go pack themselves in like sardine
Them dey faint, them dey wake like cock
Them go reach house, water no dey
Them go reach bed, power no dey
Them go reach road, go-slow go come
Them go reach road, police go slap
Them go reach road, army go whip
Them go look pocket, money no dey
Them go reach work, query ready

Every day na the same thing
Every day na the same thing
Every day na the same thing
Every day na the same thing


So you see the prophecy now? Over-accurate!

But every coin has got two sides. I prefer the head, always a winner. So instead of complaining, I choose to see this as an opportunity to think and an opportunity to act.

Take for instance the about 2metre by 7metre pothole just around the Cement bus-stop on the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway. Why can’t we, the several professionals who know what is right take two hours out of our Saturday or even Sunday to fix this road even if temporarily? Let’s find out how much concrete we need and estimate the cost. Let’s put hands together to save our cars and our lives. Just 50 cooperating people would make the difference. We can even fill the other ones ahead on this same road instead of spending one hour on one spot complaining every morning. Or do we wait for a repeat of the very controversial signpost “This is a federal government road, Please bear with us – by Lagos state government”? Well, I know this administration won’t do that.

Okay. I can hear the usual talk: Did I cause this? I have my family to spend my money on. But I have paid my taxes and so an and so forth. Well, how much do you think we’ll require solving this problem? Imagine that one morning at 5:30am this spot is under the siege of robbers. Imagine an accident and lives that can be lost– God forbid! Imagine missing a multimillion naira business appointment because a trailer fell at that spot! If we wait for the taxes to work, we might just be waiting forever. Na we dey suffer am. Cooperating on this small project may just be the seed to cooperation required to build our nation. Little drops make an ocean; small seeds make a forest, time is the difference.

If you ply this road daily (you’re welcome even if you don’t) and you’re in this with me, kindly reply this mail. If you’re reading this on one of the national dailies, send a text to 07089996623 to inform me of your interest or mail me at kunlejinadu@gmail.com. If you got this in your facebook mail, make your comment here: Don’t forget to state your email or phone number (or both if you don’t mind). I propose Saturday the 29th of August or 5th September. Keep the ties at home. Use the jeans a little more! I’ll start my research on materials and cost. If you’re a civil engineer or have some civil engineering (or bricklaying) experience, your comments would be highly appreciated. Just 50 people can make the difference. More detailed plans would be communicated on receipt of your comments and as research produces results.

Please, don’t assume someone else would be there, its better we have more than enough people than not enough. Let’s live the change we talk about. If change must come, someone must bring it! Less talk, more action! Change is here! Yes to the Nigerian dream.

By the way
There’s really no place like home. Had some good rest, was highly productive, ate good food as opposed to junk, watched TV (I need to get one soon and a wife too … lol), watched ma boys shock Everton 6 – 1 (Arsenal 4rever) and what a perfect way to wrap up the weekend listening to my mentor in Church! Maybe going out few times during the year won’t be a bad idea afterall. You can call me if you have good info… lol

I hope your weekend was great too. This next would definitely be better. This is wishing you your best week ever!

Cheers

‘Kunle Jinadu

Sustainable Development in Nigeria (B) – Creating an effective action plan

It’s important to recognize meaningful responses received from the ‘A’ version of this article. Your responses have given me the drive to write again. I see hope, I see a new Nigeria! This is not some form of concoction of motivational of words, no! It’s a statement driven by dreams of Nigerians dead and alive, the dreams of our heroes past, the dreams of tomorrow’s leaders. If only we choose to dedicate ourselves to the realization of this vision!

In case you didn’t get the drift, the purpose of the ‘A’ article wasn’t to emphasize the shortcomings of our leaders, after-all these same “bad leaders” are products of the same society/environment we live in. If you read Mr. Kayode’s (of Think Thank Nigeria) article on corruption, you’ll understand why I think the problem is not just the leadership. We have made so much noise for years with no solution. The most popular definition of insanity by Albert Einstein is doing the same thing again, the same way and expecting a different result. Without a change in perspective, the future we pray for is only a mirage.

If Americans just made noise everyday, Barack Obama would have been a dream today. Instead, a well-planned strategy involving people ranging from the Wall Street executive, the college students down to the street sweeper was perfectly executed. As I followed the elections, I read about a college student who had given up one year at school to work on the campaign team. What enviable dedication to a course!

To make my call for a “strategy based on a collective vision” sink, I present to you two energetic, intellectually blessed, well respected presidential hopefuls: Pat Utomi and Barack Obama. While the latter’s campaign went across the many states of the Unites States boosted by several anonymous, online five dollar contributions (strategy), the former (whom I have great respect for though) campaigned on the streets of Lagos hoping that He’ll win in far away Katsina state. I live the rest for you to judge.

This piece represents my thoughts on how to build a solid foundation for change in our nation. Since, there is no monopoly of knowledge, I hope for more meaningful contributions and even constructive criticism of this piece. My deep-hearted prayer is that all these would serve as a catalyst to get us all on our feet so we can take full responsibility of the destiny and future of our Nation in our hands. Let me also say that I agree with the call for a revolution by several people. However, a revolution that must succeed cannot be based on firepower; a lasting revolution must be highly intellectual, unselfish in nature and action-based.

I’ll list my thoughts in simple bullet points. Each point will have to be expanded in the future:

We must realize that we are the real cause of our misfortune. One man can only hold a thousand to ransom if the thousand include betrayers working for their selfish interests.

We must decide to take responsibility for our past negligence, shelve all ethnic (divisions such as Afenifere and Ndigbo only make the “opposition” weaker) and religious differences (tools for present day political warlords). Unfortunately, the PDP remains the only true Nigerian party today with people from all ethnic groups. You disagree? Prove me wrong!

If we truly want good governance, our religious leaders must be convinced to speak and act accordingly. True development cannot be separated from religion. Some churches can sponsor large political campaigns without feeling a pinch! Politics is a game of money. He who pays the piper dictates the tune.

Individuals must be encouraged to participate in active politics. We have the right to vote and be voted for. It only takes unity and planning. If we stay away, we have no moral right to complain.

Privileged middle class individuals should have regard for the underprivileged (no one is truly poor). We can’t convince them to join this cause if we ride past in our jeeps without any show of concern (and even splash muddy water on them). You want to understand the power of influence, visit the north and see how people queue up daily to get food from a man’s pot. Whatever He says, they definitely obey!

Still on influence, a young man will collect 5,000 naira to rig an election if He his hungry. At least that will solve his problem for a few days. If the man is uneducated, the situation is worse. He will continue to rely on crumbs from the master’s table.

No real change is possible without adequate education. That’s easy to understand

Our strategy must be based on a massive orientation and re-orientation of our children before they become youths. Parents, religious institutions, schools must be involved. This would end our movement in circles. You can never teach and old dog new tricks.

Instead of focusing on Presidential elections as is the norm in Nigeria, we should instead focus on elections of councilors, local government chairman, representatives and senators. It’s easier to make this people accountable. Furthermore, No Governor or President can sack a senator. A senator can sack a president! See where true power lies?

It’s also easier to cooperate in small groups to elect the people in the positions stated above. If all mosques, churches, unions in my local government choose to elect one man, we’ll spend less, invest less time and still reach our goal.

Small groups like these will one day come together to elect the right national leader. In my opinion however, He is not the most powerful.

We must convince profit-making organizations to contribute to this cause. If they don’t, we must find a way to sideline them completely. Simple scenario: People in a community combine resources to start a bakery with quality as a watchword. Almost everyone is a shareholder; definitely, no other brand of bread sells in that community. It doesn’t look easy, it definitely isn’t. No great vision is achieved on a water bed!

Most importantly, we must be united. Unity built on trust will keep us together in the face of adversity. There will never be a one-man messiah again. The ones that have tried have been killed and forgotten. My private study has shown that even Martin Luther King Junior wasn’t a one-man army. Luew Kuan Yew of Singapore wasn’t either. Obama is definitely not one!

Please note that I do not agree or disagree with any political party today. That might change tomorrow. I have this feeling that their values are somewhat similar. One is just smarter (positively or negatively). Secondly, I have not said that corruption should be stopped at the Federal level. Why? That’s because we can’t stop them now. The solution is to elect the right people who have proved themselves at the expense of selfish gains in subsequent elections. You don’t ask a thief to stop another thief from stealing!

The bakery scenario is an example of what I call “intellectual revolution”. If the change must come, we must produce more revolutionary ideas. Are you wondering why the ruling party isn’t worried about our cries? The answer is obvious: noise doesn’t cause a change. Action does. According to Newton’s law of motion, a body remains in a state of motion or constant velocity except an external force acts on it.

I wait for your reactions. Remember, it’s a collective vision.

Yes to the Nigerian dream!