NYSC: the re-orientation of a patriot

NYSC: the re-orientation of a patriot
by Folarin Samson

Few months ago, there was a raging debate on what should be the fate of the NYSC scheme consequent on the Bauchi mayhem in which ten corps members were slain and myriads injured. Many prospective corps members understandably called for the immediate scrapping of the scheme to avert further waste of our intellectual resources. As an intending corps member then, I tried hard to avoid being bitter but my apprehension was legible.However, after the first three weeks which was the orientation session, I am beginning to have a better perspective on the initiative.

Only three weeks with corps members from other states of the federation and I have seen and learnt a lot. The regimented nature of the camp mirrored my unchecked excesses. For instance, we were expected to be up from bed as early as 4:00am. Prior to the camp, I was waking up at 9am since I had nothing to do. But the camp prunned this flabbiness. Again, the instruction was to obey the last command. This means no room for complaining or excuse making which is good for discipline and productivity.

Aside this is relating with people from other parts of the country. During a particular session, we were asked to sit in threes and interact. When the young man next to me introduced himself as coming from Bauchi, my heart-beat increased by reflex. I was literally disturbed and fear seized me. But I later discovered he was a fine gentleman and my fright and suspicion gave way to mutual affection.

But most importantly, in the course of group interaction, I discovered certificates and institutions are not true measure of academic ingenuity. University graduates are no better than their counterparts in the polytechnics and colleges of
education. In fact, institutions don't make students, but students make institutions. This became much evident in the weight, thoughtfulness and articulation of contributions during various fora. Hence, the discrepancies and baseless preference of degree holders over HND certificate holders is not only unjust but detrimental to the health of our nation.

And we had memorable moments with the no-nonsense soldiers. The early morning jugging, drilling, field exercises, the man o war citizenship and leadership fitness stunts of walking on ropes, climbing trees, mounting tall structures all made the camp fun. And yes, we had our unique
refrains with which the soldiers talk to us: 'If you are walking, you're wrong; are you doubting me?' Then we'll all erupt in laughter as we scuttle to escape arrest.

On another interesting side, I think the NYSC is achieving its purpose. I see here some inter-tribal romantic relationships burgeoning subtly but swiftly. The under the shade discussions, selective isolations, 'platoonic' associations are all strong indicators of something being in the offing despite the taunting of our soldier friends that 'if corpers marry corpers den go born mumu'

The highpoint of the camp came when it was announced that Mr. President has officially approved the upward review of our allowance from 9,700 to 19,800. The corps members were overwhelmed with excitement. Some banged tables, others carried chairs as the frenzy matured. Dust swirled around, the walls echoed back the din. It was celebration time.

I wish to say to fellow Nigerian students who are fearful of the NYSC scheme that the one year of service to fatherland is something to look forward to. It offers a golden opportunity to explore the diversity of the country and meet with fellow countrymen distanced by geographical delineation. It should be embraced, enjoyed and encouraged.The presence of overage corps members who create laughable scenes as they try hard to roll back the hand of time, mouth parade chants, jug with tired feet is a study in patrotism to lazy youths.

In the spirit of discipline, diligence, passion that have been infused into our blood stream in these twenty one days full-course rigorous mental, physical and emotional training, we charge into our places of primary assignment. Ready to beam our illuminating candles of knowledge where there is ignorance, give hope to the unknown and forgotten, put smiles on some sick and shrinking faces that have been torn by dejection and rejection. We will not be intimidated by the thick and threatening forests of impossibilities. We will not die in our pursuit of a better Nigeria devoid of ethnic consideration, religious collision and myopic concessions.

Today, we stand before our governor, doffing our caps to signal our readiness to take on the enormous challenges of the state and pledging to faithfully serve with patriotic dispatch. We will persist, insist, resist until Nigeria consist all we list. No backing out! I can hear the resonating chorus of our anthem on the vibrating lips of fellow corps members as we obey the clarion call to lift our nation high. Under the sun or in the rain, with dedication and selflessness because Nigeria's ours, it is Nigeria we serve.

By Folarin Samson
A graduate of mass comm, Unilag
and a serving Batch B corps member
In Ebonyi State
08030572852, childofdkingdom@yahoo.com

Letter to my Governor

` Letter to my Governor
By Folarin Chukwuma Abu

Letter to my Governor
By Folarin Samson

Sir, I write as a Nigerian citizen living in your state. I had to communicate with you this way to beat the sickening protocol that may not allow me to personally deliver the letter to you. The deluge of visitors on courtesy visits, congratulatory calls, and other perfunctory visits may also tax my patience. It is understandable everyone wants to be in your good book or at least register their names with you for future favour.

As you mark your first month in office, I wish to whisper some important thoughts into your ears. They probably will reflect the thinking of electorates like me who defied the heat of the scorching sun to vote for you. I know you can be pretty busy. But I shall be grateful if you could read through my little letter, it’s my small contribution to the success of your administration.

Sir, I need not remind you that this is a momentous epoch for you in history. After four years, biographers and historians will gather to comb the archive and search through the dog-eared pages of newspapers for your contribution to the society. Some of them will write with utmost objectivity while few others will write with prejudicial minds. But one thing will stand out in their documentations- what you were noted for! You can take a brief pause to ruminate over what your predecessors are noted for. Here is your chance- what legacy will you be foot-printing on the sand of time? You are already making statements with your actions, inactions and reactions. The months ahead will demystify you more and your competence for the office will be measured.

I believe by now you’ll have come to grips with the burden and challenges of office. I guess it may not be as easy as you thought during the electioneering period when you had to slug it out with your rivals at the campaigns and rallies. You understandably deployed hyperbole and euphemisms to tell us you hold the ace. Many of us were enraptured in your eloquence and captivated by your masterly and grammatical diagnosis of our state crisis. We knew you would deliver to our doors the dividends of democracy. That was why we voted you into office. And we still believe in you.

Hope you have not forgotten the promises you made to us? I understand there would be clash of interests-the people’s interest and the godfathers or sorry, mentor’s interest. I want you to remember that we the people constitute the ultimate power and our interest must come first. I will be dumbly idealistic to say you should rubbish those who contributed monetarily, spiritually, morally to your success at the polls. They deserve some respect; it is the reality of the Nigerian society where an unknown and unpopular but competent candidate can only have a chance when he treads on the coat tail of well established juggernauts. However, I want to strongly aver that the people must be supreme in your agenda. Remember you derive your legitimacy to rule from us. And that’s why I will implore you to listen to the people. Explore all the available media of measuring public opinion. Don’t be too busy not to have time to read newspapers, watch TV and listen to radio programmes. Don’t fall to the lull of cable TV. Use local media to feel the pulse of the common people and prepare pertinent policies not estranged from the realities of the society.

I want to say something about those you beat at the polls, I mean the opposition. You will recall that during the campaign you had some verbal exchange and arguments on the state of the people. You disagreed on a number of issues and gave divergent approaches to revolutionizing our economy. I was awestruck at the way you marshaled your argument at those gubernatorial debates. Your opponents also spoke well. There were certain valid points in some of the issues they raised though couched with the meanest of intentions. However Sir, I want to appeal to you not to dispose the baby with the dirty birth water. Borrow from the substance of their ideologies and dispose the chaff in the waste bin of dead ideas.

However, your first major step is the appointment of those to work with you. Your team members determine largely the extent you will go. If you gather mediocre and party members in your cabinet, then you’re doomed from the start. You need to be very discreet in your choice so you don’t bring liabilities into your government. Periodically review their performance and relieve those who are incompetent misfits.

A note of warning sir: beware of adulation. It is at this time some folks will come claiming spurious paternal and maternal genealogical connections. ‘I am the brother of the father of your mother’s sister’ Even the Englishman has got no appellation for such head-splitting correlation. They will join another band called the lackeys and sycophants. They will sing your praise and rub your ego. My advice? Avoid them like plague before they destroy you. Please give them jobs if there are any or they could constitute a nuisance to you. They are only fascinated by the allure of the office; you don’t worth anything to them. See what happens when you leave the glass house.

And please remember us the youth. We have got energy and zeal. Fix us up where we can profitably engage our exuberant propensities to the progress of our state. Instead of watching us become social dregs thereby creating more heartaches for your administration, empower us for entrepreneurship exploits.

Sir, I need not tell you that Mr. President is too far for us to identify with. You are the closest to us. The Chairmen and councilors are most times invisible personalities whom we don’t even get to see until when it’s election time. I want to suggest you study Part two of Chapter Six of the 1999 constitution so you can know your bounds within our legal framework. Study it like a school boy preparing for an exam and align our pressing needs to it. We are not impressed by grammar or swagger after election. We need action. We want enough food. We need facilitated transportation. We need good shelter and affordable housing programme. Mr. Governor, if you could discharge your duties well posterity will not forget you. If otherwise, we’ll not forgive you.

And stay away from controversies. I have discovered that many governors who left the state house in shame did so because of the issues they got caught up in which took the wind out of their sail. They could not concentrate on state matters any longer as they had to reply to every abuse and allegation. They lost touch with the people in the process and became unpopular and unfit for future leadership. It will be sad if you allowed the detractors who simply want to gain cheap popularity and recognition from having their chance. Don’t tilt at windmills, focus on the job we have given you and execute it with assiduity and rapidity.
I understand that there are many intricacies and hush-hush power plays that are shielded from the uninitiated people like me. Secret intra-party arrangement and top-secret deals that have resulted in depressing moments for you when you ponder on their high costs. Despite your gleaming facade, deep down you groan. In such moments when you wished you never undertook this onerous journey because of its heavy demands on your conscience and character, think about God who brought you into the office and act with conscience and character. Remember that a good name is rather to be chosen than great wealth.

Sir, I have a very important advice to add- be discreet in your relationship with the press. They can be a veritable tool for development as the fourth estate of the realm and they can be devastating as the fourth estate of the wreck.

As I close, I want to say you put a stop to the reveling and fulsome courtesy visits. Time is of the essence. After four years minus a month, if you have not changed the status of this state, we will not be laughing. We the people are waiting; we are watching. This is your time to make impact in the history of this state. Conduct your affairs with utmost sincerity and loyalty to the course of the people who trusted you to the point of entrusting their destiny into your care. Even if they forgive you for blowing off your chances, they won’t forget easily. Remember in every decision you make that the position does not last forever. You will soon be out to be on same level with us again. I hope I will be able to greet you… hold you…..hug you….

Folarin just graduated from Mass Communication Dept, University of Lagos
He is an awaiting corps member.
childofdkingdom@yahoo.com
08030572852, 08082679821

Whither the police force?

Whither the police force?

The boy cannot be anything more than eight or nine. He was surrounded by some area boys. Within minutes they had stripped him naked. The boy pleaded in vain to be let go. After rounds of beating, one of them ordered him to kneel down and gave him a large concrete slab to carry. It was at a bus-stop; in the full glare of passers-by. I was going to see a friend when I noticed the wailing kid. I wondered what he could have done wrong to warrant such ill-treatment, so I inquired from one of them. ‘He was trying to steal from a commuter when we caught him’, he snapped, barely paying attention to me. I stepped in to put in a word for the lad. I did not know him from Adam. I guess I was driven by pity and love. “Sirs” I started confidently, “instead of manhandling and torturing the poor boy, why not let him lead you to his parents for proper punishment or he confesses to you who instructed him to do this” It was like a bee stung them. Before I had the chance of saying more, I had received torrents of punches. I staggered under the intoxicating influence of the knuckles. I swallowed hard. “Iwo lo ran wa, abi? Iwo lo ni ko wa gbale?” he queried in a husky Yoruba voice. I dithered, still trying to explain something to him. He charged at me more furiously with disrupting blows that left my bowels singing discordant tunes. I began gasping for breath. I tried hard to bring out my ID card and show him, if he understood it at all, that I was a student and no thief or emissary for anyone. Thank God my chi was wild awake. I was able to scuttle from the scene and join a bus, relieved to be away from the arena of the madness. While ruminating over the incidence, it occurred to me that I was lucky. I’m aware that many innocent people like me have been lynched for such trump-up allegation. But at a point I discovered my eyes became misty with tears. My head was spinning and my mind, fuzzy. I could not fathom what just happened to me.

But I hadn’t seen anything yet. Just in the next bus-stop was another drama that almost drove me crazy with indignation. Three policemen were engaged in a fierce argument with a car driver over an issue I could not ascertain because I was out of earshot. All I could see through the scratched window pane of the bus where I was seated was that at a point, one of them became so uncontrollably aggressive he removed his cap, hit it several times against his hand in a feat of anger; stretched his neck, shouting and protesting with the misplaced zeal of a Nigerian policeman just to make his point, his neck veins bulging in the process. I looked away as I fought back tears. I almost lost my composure. Here are paid security officials, arguing over an inconsequential matter while the life of a child is under threat for alleged theft.

Why didn’t you inform the police? A friend had asked after I narrated my ordeal in the hands of the area boys. Sincerely, I never even thought of it when before me was another mad comedy show that has further dampened my faith in the Nigerian police. But I vowed to write if only to draw attention to this misplaced priority and show that the Nigerian police have stopped pursuing substance and now chase shadows.

Many of them have become obsessed with material benefits, and not national service. Sadly, Nigerians have adjusted to the anomaly, inured to the pangs. A policeman demanding money from commercial bus drivers is no longer an eye sore. The media have also stopped talking about it. But each time I am in a vehicle and I see this, an inexplicable anger wells up within me. Such should not be seen in a decent society! My journalistic instinct even made me toyed with the dangerous idea of taking the picture of a police officer receiving illicit gratuity and using it as the photo of the week in a national newspaper to serve as deterrent to others. Deadly, isn’t it? I can’t also imagine the beatings I’ll get if discovered. But that is how angry I am.

The previous day, I had seen a group of policemen mount roadblock half of a major road, causing heavy traffic. They commandeered some poor drivers to a dark spot to demand settlement. I was particularly uncomfortable with the commando-like way they pointed their guns as if in a war zone. It was awfully dark and eerie that if anyone drops dead nobody will know so the best bet was to cooperate. Moreover behind us was a cemetery. I could not help stylishly taking cover behind another commuter to escape being a victim of stray bullets. I was disgusted at their shameless act under the cover of the night. I wondered if there was anybody who felt the same way as I.

I know this problem is not new. We have always had an avalanche of suggestions on how to cure the security system of this viral infection and I have no intention of adding to the screed of treatise on it. The trite solution has been enforcement of discipline. But who will discipline who? Except we want a pretentious situation of the black pot calling the kettle black. I read a report of one Dr Komolafe published in 2002 when he urged the then newly appointed Inspector General of police, Mr Tafa Balogun, to cleanse the police of the smudge of kickbacks. I don’t want to open healed wounds. Suffice it to leave the rest to you.

But I guess the situation has reached a sickening level. We are getting tipped to a precarious precipice. These policemen now unabashedly stand in broad day light as licensed government beggars, dispensing tallies, harassing commuters and drivers and dealing ruthlessly with uncooperative I-know-my-right radicals. At first, the alibi for this ungodly indulgence was poor salary scale. But in 2008, the late Ya’adua led administration moved in swiftly through the consolidated police salary structure and pushed up the salary and allowances of all categories of police officers by over 100%. Yet, the scourge persisted. The new scape goat is this warped analogy: the Nigerian society is corrupt. Police officers are extractions from the society; hence they are incurably corrupt. And as the most visible agents of government, they mirror the enmeshed corruption in our system. But I beg to differ! Not all Nigerians are corrupt. The police as a remedial institution should comprise the unsullied so they can be on a higher pedestal to combat crimes and criminals. Hence they should mirror the ideal society, not the decadence in the society. I stand to be corrected. The roots of our problem are defective recruitment standards, slipshod orientation, poor training programme, polluting leadership model and politicized promotional requirements.

Lest I forget, my main object is to call attention to the need for adequate security of the lives of Nigerians and a total stop of this unethical, uncultured and unpatriotic conduct of harassing Nigerians. The police should not be terrors but friends! The next IG will and should hold his office at the pleasure of Nigerians. He must rid the force of corrupt elements and that will require him to be a model of integrity, discipline and probity because he that comes to equity must come with clean hands or risk ending up like a former IG of ignominious memory. President Jonathan must be scrupulous in his choice.

Nigerians should also wake up and begin to speak with one voice. Fear is our greatest challenge. We cannot speak against injustice and corruption. How correct the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti was when he sang: ‘my people self dey fear too much, we fear the air around us, we fear to fight for liberty, we fear to fight for freedom, we fear to fight for our rights….’ If when a driver refuses to ‘grease the palm’ of a public officer we all join him, then we are on our way to rebuilding Nigeria. We don’t need to rebrand, let’s rebuild! He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.

And as a policeman reading this, where is your conscience? All religious leanings teach against bribes and kickbacks, so how true are you to your God or god? Yes, you may say the shenanigans in government are bigger thieves, then that makes you a self-confessed thief and hence unqualified to be in that sacred uniform meant only for special breeds adopted into the prestigious knighthood of the police force. How do you feel when you detain that poor man for a flimsy excuse and when he finally succumbs to your threats, he gives you a sad and sorry look that reflect his deep revulsion for you? I put it to you that you’re just one of those bad eggs contributing to the rot and bad international image of the country and you lack the merit and moral justification to arrest social delinquency. Quit or change!

By Folarin Samson
Just graduated from Mass communication Dept, University of Lagos
childofdkingdom@yahoo.com, 08030572852

NYSC tragedy: My Take

Letter to Mr. President
The National Youth Service Tragedy and the 2011 elections
Sir,

I am Folarin Samson, a citizen of Nigeria and a fresh graduate waiting to be called for the mandatory one year youth service. I have great dreams and aspirations that I am daily working towards and one of it is to be the president of this great nation, just like you Sir. But I am afraid, and this was what informed my decision to write this letter in the hope it will be published and you’ll get to see and read it. My decision to communicate with you through this medium is anchored on my faith in your leadership and your ability to listen.

Sir, the recurrent spate of violence in the North and the consequent murder of some of my colleagues is what has driven me to write. I guess I have the solution to the crisis.

Your Excellency will agree with me that it will go down in history that the youth of this nation contributed their quota in giving Nigeria a free, fair and credible election. It will also be recorded that many of them were haunted and some slaughtered for being too bold to disrupt the old order. Reports had it that 50 youth corps members were forcibly locked up in a building in Yola and the house set ablaze. 11 others were slaughtered in their prime and scores of the ladies were ravished by hoodlums and unfortunately a randy monarch joined the ignominious fray. When the press reported these sad incidents, Nigerians predictably lashed out and called for the heads of these unpatriotic elements in our midst. The cause of their wrath is evident in the moving stories of the casualties of the April 16 presidential election.

Seun Adewunmi was the only graduate in his family and he had promised to take care of his aged mother, a retired cleaner of Judicial Service Commission, Lagos State. He was butchered to death by rioters. His labour and struggle to survive and be a respectable Nigerian was wasted by a blood-thirsty mob in Bauchi. Ukeoma Ikechukwu’s story is more touching. He had proudly written on his facebook page after he heroically fought election fraud in his duty-post, ‘These CPC supporters would have killed me yesterday, no see threat ooo. Even after forcing under-age voters on me, they wanted me to give them the remaining ballot papers to thumb print. Thank God for the police and I’m happy I could stand for God and my nation. To all corps members who stood despite these threats especially in the North, bravo! Nigeria our change has come’ he had said on his facebook wall few hours to his death. About 249 youths have formed a group to demand justice for his murder. Kehinde Adeniyi was said to have been identified by one of his pupils in the school he taught and subsequently hacked to death. Obinna Okpokiri left UK for Nigeria to serve his fatherland. He had perfected plans to have his post-graduate studies in a British school before he walked into the chilly hands of death in Bauchi. He was beaten to death and burnt. Anslem Sylvester Nkwazema, few days to his death, had become friends with Ukeoma Ikechukwu on facebook. He had written on his page ‘if you cant thank God for what you received, thank God for what you escaped. I may pray 2 fly like an angel, but don’t know what tomorrow may turn out to be’ He was one of the corps members chased into a police station before being sent back into the bloody hands of the rioters because a stone reportedly hit the DPO’s head. And out he went with others, into the waiting hands of these cannibals. The horror, trepidation and strange thoughts that raced through their minds in this deciding moment of their existence as they scamper into machete cuts and eventual death can only be imagined. And I see these killers basking in the euphoria of an ecstatic sphinx.

Sir, these incidents are not new. Over the years many of our promising corps members have died under reprehensible circumstances. The ladies have not been spared either, as they are subjected to inhuman treatment and sexual harassment. Scores of female corps members have been raped in Bauchi, Yola, Niger. In 2008, the media reported that militants ravished 28 female corps members in Abonnema, Rivers state after invading their residence and rounding up the ladies on primary assignment in the area. But the truth is that these are the snippets that filter out to the media. I can confidently say that for every reported case of rape, 10 must have gone undisclosed for fear of stigmatization and defamation. I could have gone to serve in one of these states too. But my school had a delay in the submission of our names. I had criticized the authority and questioned the competence of the administrative staff. After I heard the gruesome murder of these youths, I was sober. If my school had out of desperation succeeded in smuggling our names for service in February, it could have been any of us, I thought. For how long will this continue? How do we stop this bloodbath?

I have listened and read the reactions of parents and intending corps members who were shocked by the development. While some have called for secession, others have opined that the best solution is to scrap NYSC because it has outlived its usefulness. After all, it was created in the wake of Nigeria’s survival of the 1967 civil war for the reconstruction, reconciliation and rehabilitation of the country. Few others said that Nigerian youths can still serve in the geo-political zone of their states instead of risking their lives among strangers. The answers to the question I posted on my facebook wall also straddled between scrapping and geo-political zone service.

Sir, I have put myself in your shoe (although it’s too big for me). Certainly the first option is not good enough. If Yakubu Gowon could fight for Nigeria’s unity, you will not want the country to disintegrate in your era. That will be a bad name for you though it may be a welcome development in some quarters. The second option also comes with its burden of breeding disaffection, fostering primordial sentiments on national issues and bringing about disconnection among the over 250 ethnic groups in the country. The last option is just a recasting of the former. It defeats the essence of NYSC which is to make Nigerian youths mix with people of other tribes, social and family backgrounds for cross-fertilization of culture and ideas.

But here is my thought. Nigeria has a big problem which underlines this entire avoidable carnage. Just last year in Jos, over 500 were reportedly slaughtered; indigenes and non-indigenes fell victims. It was the same in Bauchi, Maiduguri, Borno, et al where hundreds of poor Nigerians fell to the brutality of their countrymen. The slain corps members were just victims of our carnivorous system. Insecurity looms large at us. The booms of bombs and bullets that marred this election in which many lives were lost merely exposed the age long cracks in our security and intelligence gathering system. The callous DPO who left those helpless corps members at the mercy of their assailants might have wondered why he should die for them. He must have been overpowered and in a bid to save himself felt he had to sacrifice these youths who had ran to him for protection. However, he cannot be totally absolved of culpability since it was his duty to protect them even at the expense of his own life. But if he had died who would mourn him? Who would celebrate him? Who would pay his children’s school fees when he’s gone? A demeaning hush envelops the rest of the story. There is therefore the urgent need to salvage our security system. The armed forces will need to have proper education on their roles to safeguard the lives of citizens. Actually what we need is not a strong and coercive leader as many erroneously believe, what we need are strong institutions.

Sir, I recommend that these fallen ones be accorded national burial and their families impressively compensated. They died in the course of their service to the nation. They were valiant heroes who gave their lives for the resurrection of true democracy that was murdered in 2007 under the poor midwifery of Iwu. Besides sir, it is now a refrain that Nigeria’s judicial system has been compromised. Many have also dismissed you as too soft to confront the multifaceted problems of the country. Sir, you must rise to the occasion. Justice must prevail regardless of whose ox is gored. Isn’t it rather shameful and disgraceful that a whole chief justice of the federation was murdered in his own house and eight years after, we are still clueless? Sir, nobody is greater than the law. These recent killings should not be swept under the carpet in the name of political expediency. If the prosecution is dragging, you could invite the help of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which mediated in a similar event in Kenya, making six politicians, ex-head of police, a radio DJ and government ministers to face the full wrath of the law for inciting violence in the Kenyan 2007 election.

Honestly, I think the survivors of this struggle deserve to be appreciated and rewarded. They can be absorbed into the system. These are the set of people we need to upset the status quo in the country. It will be very unfair if the federal government allows these change agents to fizzle out and join the teeming number of unemployed youths roaming the streets and waiting to be tools in the hands of opportunistic sadists in the society.

Finally, an adage says you cannot cure a splitting headache by chopping off the head. NYSC is good intentioned. Those who are instruments of violence in the north are either illiterate or religiously deluded and perverted. In fact, the North has the highest number of poorly educated youths. The Almajiris still pose a great challenge to us as a nation. The NYSC members have however been helpful in educating many of the students in the North and if this is intensified, there could be a re-orientation and a possible paradigm shift in the future. These Northerners also come to the major city and if nothing is done to rescue the situation; they could rise in arms against us while even in our midst. It has happened before in Lagos and some other parts of the country. I do not therefore subscribe to the idea of completely scrapping the scheme. The National Assembly may however sit to possibly review it just as Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekeremadu and some other respectable stalwarts have suggested. As a mitigation measure I want to propose that those parts of the country that are flashpoints should be placed under close surveillance. In fact, the Northern states that have given enough signs of hostility to visitors can be served their own students to forestall killings of strangers in the event of any crisis.

I wish you a fruitful time in office sir. May you give us uninterrupted power supply as you have promised and may God give you skilled and experienced Josephs who will cooperate with you to make Nigeria regain its place in the comity of nations. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria; long live our democracy; long live the youths; long live your Excellency.

From Folarin Samson
Just graduated from Mass communication Dept,
University of Lagos, Akoka.
childofdkingdom@yahoo.com
08030572852

Is it right to pay tithes?

BOOK

REVIEW


TITLE: TITHING AND CHRISTIANITY
AUTHOR: JOHN MOYIBI AMODA
YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2010
PUBLISHER: LIGHTHOUSE PUBLISHING Co.
NO OF PAGES: 311 PAGES
REVIEWER: FOLARIN SAMSON


How would you feel as a Christian if your pastor announced on a Sunday morning service that there would be no collection of tithes because he just discovered it is an unscriptural practice? Certainly you might be surprised and perhaps bewildered. This is because the idea of tithes is presumed to be a long-settled matter having been commanded by God in the Bible. Who would then contend that? Or could there have been a mistake carried on for ages? Where was ten percent commanded? Old or New Testament? Where do we distinguish the Old Covenant with its external religious observances from the new dispensation of spiritual worship as they concern tithing? These and many more revolutionary questions have been raised by an intellectual man of God, Pastor John Moyibi Amoda, the senior pastor of Gospel Intercession Mission in his book, “Tithing and Christianity” a sequel to “Pentecostalism in chains-the merchandising of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ” While it is possible that some Christians might be quick to dismiss the book as heretic, a considerable few believers in Christ with open mind may want to take a second look at its content and perhaps give it a thought.

The ten chapter book takes a close range look at the doctrine of tithes, using the writings of an American pentecostal televangelist, Dr. Morris Cerullo to provide foundation for an analytic critique. Amoda first presented a synopsis of Cerullo’s teaching on tithing which is the view widely held by mainstream Christians best summarised thus: “Pay your tithes so that the house of God can have provision for its ministers and God will open the gates of heaven on you; withdraw it, and you are cursed”

Amoda in his review of this mantra raised the fundamental point that the basis of blessedness in the New Testament church is righteousness, which in itself is the nature of the New Testament believer. In other words, God’s blessing on his people is informed by their nature not their acts.

Prof. Amoda ended with this clincher: “Tithers zealous for the propagation of the Gospel give tithes through faith ‘which worketh by love’ for the Gospel. They are prospered by their faith in the Law as they are simultaneously brought under the law which made Calvary necessary…..We are made heirs of God not through tithes and offerings. The Gospel states that we receive blessings from God not through any work but through the leading of the Holy Ghost”

It is very instructive to note that Prof Amoda left the reader with three options after reading the book-to follow Cerullo’s teaching, give the critique a thought or follow his mind on the issue.

He systematically presents the eight issues raised in Cerullo’s theology together with his commentaries, juxtaposes it with his own critical appraisal quoting relevant scriptural passages to support his argument and counter-claim and leaves the rest to the reader to follow the superior argument

While the introductory chapter served the purpose of background and rationale for his review, the next eight chapters examined the eight focal points of Dr. Morris Cerullo’s work, making his submission, conclusion and recommendation in the last chapter.

The writer brought scholarship and thoroughness into the book. The structure of the book typifies an academic thesis with its introduction, methodology, literature review, analysis and conclusion formatting. The standard is world-class.

Also, his constant reference to the Bible, the Christian authoritative book is admirable. He appealed more to facts and reason which should not be surprising due of his professorial attainment.

Moreover, he did not foist his belief on the reader. The book took an unpopular side and his courage to do that even to the point of putting it down in a book should be commended. More striking to the reader is his courage to take on an international minister like Dr. Cerullo and point out the lapses in his logic.

But on the downward side, Amoda did not tell us who Dr. Morris Cerullo is. Where does he live? How famous and renowned he is and the denomination he heads. This is a too-important information he left out, leaving the reader to wild conjectures.

Secondly, while Amoda did a good job in citing relevant passages from the Bible to support his point, he went too far. There were places he quoted two to three pages full. This is not very good as the reader may be tempted to skip the passages. He could have paraphrased or summarised some of the passages.

Finally, the cover page is not very attractive except for the symbolic ten percent sign with a question mark superimposed on it to show the author’s disapproval of tithing.

Nonetheless, the book is written in an intelligible language that makes the information accessible to anyone who wishes to learn. It is recommended to church leaders and Christians. It is also important that Professor Amoda sends a copy of the book to Dr. Morris Cerullo.

Nigerians are saying the same thing

Nigerians are saying the same thing
By Folarin Samson


Yes, Nigerians are saying the same thing. If the politicians are discreet enough, they will heed the voice of reason and discard their arrogance and pride since voi dei, voi populi. I have heard it on radio programmes and read it in comments and letters published in the print media. The people’s opinion is unanimous: unite to upset the status quo. If the opposition parties really mean business and have the welfare of Nigerians at heart as they glibly profess in their campaigns, then they must resolve their ideological and egocentric differences or risk perishing with them. I have no grouse against Mr. President: my problem, nay Nigerians, is that his party has ruled the country for 12 long years with promises without fulfillment.

“In 200 days,” former President Olusegun Obasanjo had promised, “I would stabilise electricity.” We believed and trusted him. When he got into office, he said he never knew the problem was that enormous. We gave him the benefit of the doubt and he got an extra term of four years. When he was leaving after over $10bn had been purportedly pumped into the power sector, Obasanjo characteristically switched to proverbs, “You see when you buy a machine and it remains only a small thing to start it, do you say you have not done anything?” The outgoing administration has spent billions of naira, and that ‘small thing’ has not been bought; we are still groping in pitch darkness. This is only an instance out of myriads of failed promises. And we are tired of this! Nigerians are desperate for a change.

Fortunately for us we have options. But if the Action Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressive Change and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, the three major contenders with the Peoples Democratic Party, are not ready to form a strong opposition in the coming polls, then there is a bigger problem. I cannot but question their motive for seeking to rule the country. I cannot but see the opposition as primarily motivated by selfish interest and private, ulterior and undisclosed agenda if they cannot cooperate and coexist. Hence, they are not worth the salt and cannot be considered a viable alternative.They are clueless and cannot provide the change Nigerians are craving.

Second, I see them as jokers who are merely interested in wasting Nigerians’ time with sweet talks and lofty ideas, which will not see the light of day because they have no laboratory for testing.

The Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie of Belgium did it and it worked for them. The Flemish centre-right political party, which promoted civic nationalism after initially struggling with the election threshold, joined forces with Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams and won the 2004 regional elections and the 2007 federal elections. Why can’t the opposition learn from them?
In the prevailing circumstances, the expediency of political compromise is not negotiable. This is because PDP is the only party with a national coloration. The others can at best be described as regional and state parties that cannot boast of standard political structure in the 36 states of the federation. A national daily recently did an analysis of the strengths and weakness of each party on its front page. It was not surprising that PDP faired well in all the states. This then shows that the coming election cannot be fair even if it is free of electoral malpractice. Doesn’t simple logic suggest that the outcome of the election is determined even before the election with PDP being the favorite?

The ACN is viewed as a Yoruba formation that can lay claim to overriding majority votes in the South-West. The CPC and ANPP, on the other hand, have a strong base in the North for obvious reasons. Mohammadu Buhari and Ibrahim Shekarau can after all be the beneficiary of the zoning debate. The North will vote for them en masse if to save their pride and prove to the floundering PDP that ‘on zoning we stand.’ This means they still have candidates in the duo.

The South-South minority, even if out of solidarity and sentiment for their own, will support Goodluck Jonathan.

So, here it is. If these candidates go solo, they will divide their votes. The ACN will win the South-West with the PDP coming closely behind. The CPC and ANPP will share the votes in the North, with the PDP reaping from their divisions and beating them in some areas. Obviously, the PDP will claim the majority votes in the South-South. Do your permutation and calculations. Here is mine: the PDP carries the day with an overwhelming majority, not because it is really the people’s choice, but because it is a product of disunity among supposed messiahs of the country. Then we begin another round of merry-go-round and circumlocution.

This situation calls for sober reflection and meditation. For how long are we going to be ruled with promises and pledges? Here is my submission. If the political parties fail to synergize in order to wrest power from the ruling party, I see no way any opposition party will single-handedly bring about the change we all desire. I challenge the party leaders and chairmen to go and redefine their objectives and goals. Do they want to end up as noise makers or policy makers, pretenders or contenders?

This only reminds me of an adventure cartoon I used to watch as a kid.
It was called Voltron, the defenders of the universe. Perhaps you have seen it too. They were five in number with a mission to save the world. Anytime there was a fight and they discovered they could not rout the opposition by fighting separately, they united to form a strong, powerful and indomitable force called Voltron. With ease, they crushed the enemy. The chance that a PDP man will not emerge our president in the coming election is slim if the opposition cannot form a Voltron.

I recommend that either Buhari or Nuhu Ribadu of the CPC and ACN respectively should be the presidential candidate of the alliance, while Pastor Tunde Bakare of the CPC or Pat Utomi of the SDMP should be the vice-presidential candidate. I want the party leaders to know that no price can be considered too great in the actualization of a people-driven and masses-centred ambition. The true test of their love for the people lies here.

By Folarin Samson
childofdkingdom@yahoo.com
08030572852
Samson just graduated from Mass Communication Dept, Unilag.

Convocation pix

After four years in mass communication, university of Lagos, I graduated as the best student in my class. To God be the Glory for everything He has done. I finished with second class upper with a CGPA of about 4.30.

Truely, the testing fire makes one a testifier. Let somebody shout halleluyah.