Trained to be a scientist. Ventured to banking. Loved business and I have to master it. Two truths can coexist. Always argue to learn unless it's for agenda 😁
What Truly Should Be Our Priority Now as Leaders of a Nation?
This question has become necessary, given where we are today as a nation and where we are supposed to be.
While completing my INEC nomination form yesterday, Section E, Question 1 caught my attention. It asks: “Have you ever been adjudged a lunatic or been declared a person of unsound mind?” The answer is either Yes or No. That question got me thinking: Can we, as the political leaders of today’s Nigeria, truly say we are exhibiting the characteristics of a sound mind?
When Nigerians, including children and security personnel, are being abducted into the bushes, citizens cannot travel safely on our highways, several million Nigerians are uncertain where their next meal will come from, and several billions are being siphoned frivolously through non-existent agencies and projects, should politics really be our primary preoccupation?
A sound-minded leadership would have declared these existential challenges a national emergency and immediately mobilised all relevant institutions, security agencies, experts, community leaders, and other critical stakeholders to confront them with urgency and resolve. At a moment like this, the survival, security, and stability of Nigeria must take precedence over every other consideration. This is a time for decisive action, not political calculation or the pursuit of partisan advantage.
Further in the same Section E, Question 6, was: “Have you ever presented a forged certificate to INEC?” Again, the answer is either Yes or No. This raises another important question: Why shouldn’t INEC, in the interest of ensuring that our leaders are exemplary in following the rules and to strengthen public confidence in our electoral process, publish the academic certificates and credentials submitted by every candidate seeking elective office?
Transparency strengthens democracy and builds public trust. Nigeria’s problems are too serious for politics as usual. It is time for leadership defined by competence, character, capacity, compassion, and commitment to service.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
This is not even about a grandma’s love for her grandkids. In African culture, when you are chasing a child and he or she runs to an elderly person for refuge, it is automatically assumed that the child is safe and you should respect the elderly person. The grandma, being an elder at that point, will ask what the child did. She will either caution the child there or hand the child back to you for punishment, depending on the offence. But in order to maintain that elderly status and respect, she will most likely plead on behalf of the child and ask for pardon.
The lady was very disrespectful to even attempt to flog the child after he had already run to the grandma. At that point, she should have just turned back, and if she still needed to discipline the child, it should have been done later and without the knowledge of the grandma, who would likely find it even more disrespectful that after granting pardon, the punishment was still carried out.
We all witnessed this growing up. I know our culture is gradually being eroded, but we can’t allow it to disappear. Despite how some elders have turned out in present times, we still have to accord morally upright ones the respect they deserve. We will all be elders someday too.
@CaptainArinze We are generally poor o my good brother. Service providers here don't let direct call interfere with your WhatsApp call. But in Nigeria once local call hits your phone WhatsApp call will freeze. We still have a long way in that our beloved country!
@tobyasky Bro if my layover will be in Johannesburg or Pretoria and let's say it's one hour. I'll prefer to wait 24hours in Doha even if theirs are cheaper. I won't breathe their air! Crazy humans
It was great joining Njideka Akunyili Crosby — a gifted Nigerian-born, Los Angeles-based artist — to unveil our first portrait together. This piece reflects so many chapters of Michelle and my story, and we’re thrilled that it will be on display in the Hope and Change lobby at the Obama Presidential Center starting this Juneteenth.
Barack and I were so honored to have @AkunyiliCrosby create our portrait for the Obama Presidential Center. Her artistic brilliance shines through — and the way she infused such life and joy into the piece is truly extraordinary. We love it, and we think everyone who visits the Center will too!