Busayo Akanro - Light does not shine in light

Africa has been dubbed the untouched and virgin continent. This was due to the seeming unscathing of African countries in the global meltdown that characterised the latter part of 2008. African seems to have escaped almost wholly from the economic recession that hit the world and crushed many countries and multinationals in other continents of the world. Iceland is bankrupt, auto makers in the US are bankrupt; Mega Banks in UK, Japan, Switzerland, US, Belgium, Germany and many other countries of the world would have gone under but for aid from their governments. Albeit, many banks have still being crushed in the wake of the recession.

However, Nigeria for one has been touched by the recession. Even though the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria has kept assuring Nigerians that we are beyond the reach of the economic whiplash swinging across the globe, happenings in our own economy are pointers to the fact that his assurances hold no water. Examples are: (more…)

Once upon a time, 10 virgins were chosen to meet the bridegroom at a certain marriage ceremony in Israel. For some unstated reason, the bridegroom didn’t seem to be arriving and the virgins started getting apprehensive. Actually, in the custom that existed in Israel, the bridegroom usually arrived late at night with his friends to take his bride. The bride usually has maids of honour or bride’s maids as the case may be who at the arrival of the bridegroom go out to meet him with their lamps in their hands to light his way into the house where his bride is. The key element of the bride’s maids is the lamp that provides light for the bridegroom and his envoy. (more…)

I stumbled upon this article by Gani Fawehinmi a few hours ago as I was going through the local news online. I really wasn’t surprised at the contents. Apparently, the weak government of the day in Nigeria had offered to bestow upon him a National Award, Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR) to be specific. Unfortunately for this government, no right thinking person had brought it up as an issue before he was contacted that he might refuse. If Professor Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe, right thinking pro-democracy icons in Nigeria have rejected such awards previously, someone should have suggested his rejection and its possible consequences.

Anyway, since nobody was thinking proactively, Gani Fawehinmi was sent the notice of intention of the government to honour him with a National Award. He therefore replied accordingly.  (more…)

I am attending a meeting somewhere in Ilorin where one of my mentors, Fela Durotoye reiterated that Nigeria by 2025 will undoubtedly be the most desirable Nation to live in. As far reaching as this is, I am absolutely certain of its veracity, not only because he said God told him so but because I sense it in my innermost being. Events that will make this possible may not necessarily be progressive, they may be instantaneous. They may not necessarily be step-wise; they may well be revolutionary. While I’ll deign to bore you with what may bring or may not bring this word to pass on this great Nation, I’ll like you to consider the report released on the 16th of November, 2008 by Merrill Lynch - a foremost economic institution in the world. (more…)

I came across this article in the newspapers while reading today and as I’d usually do, I decided to celebrate this guy as one of my own BUSAYOAKANRO.COM Heroes of the year in relation to the CNN Heroes of the year. His vision on empowerment and passion about making it happen at no monetary cost to the beneficiaries fits in well with my definition of a true hero. Please enjoy reading.

Kuti Olarenwaju Peter, is a philanthropist. A Nigerian with a big heart, he lives his life striving to bring succor to people in the shackles of poverty and make their lives worth living. His consuming passion is to see that citizens are empowered to become self-reliant. To keep this dream alive, he said he has been channeling all his earnings and resources into training of youths on entrepreneurship and skills acquisition. (more…)

I love and respect a few pastors around the world. I love a lot less of them in Nigeria because I feel their presence is not an indication of the presence of the kingdom of God contrary to what Jesus wanted to happen. Loads of them seem to practice what I call witchcraft. Get a crowd of people to submit and be loyal to you boy proving that the miracle working power of divinity rests with you (whether by righteous or wicked means). Needless to say that many forget that the purpose of the anointing is not for profit but to solve problems. Jesus Christ, while on earth solved every problem that was brought to His attention and left his followers empowered. (more…)

This morning I heard a report on the news that the price of crude oil on the international market has dropped to below $50 per barrel. Ofcourse, this is a fall out of the recession that has been on going in the World now for several weeks. What is happening is that the order for crude oil has dropped desperately because many more countries, organisations and people around the world don’t have the extra to pay for crude oil derivatives. (gas, diesel etc.). Crude Oil price due to this situation has hit a 3yr low and could go lower. The fact that OPEC hasn’t sufficiently cut down on production to create scarcity in the market isn’t helping at all. (more…)

I really wanted to post this article yesterday, but failed to do so. I would have written on something else but since I read this article, I’ve had no peace of mind which I expect to have as soon as I upload it. What is it all about? A few days ago, I included in my post an article written by Nigeria’s immediate past president, Olusegun Obasanjo - Obasanjo and Obama’s election and Change. I promised to react to some of the points stated in that article but alas, early on Monday morning, I came across an article written in the Newspapers on some other person’s reaction to his write-up. After reading it, I felt that it would be proper for me to allow someone from the galley (LOL) respond to Obasanjo’s article other than someone (me) from the parliament (LOL); especially when the views expressed in the response seem to tally with what my own reaction would have been had I responded. Please find the response below. (more…)

I had thought I’d reply to my earlier post, but I read another article this morning that someone had written and sent to Guardian Newspapers in reply to Obasanjo’s take on the Obama election. In fact, I planned today to react to the dastardly act carried out by some shameless Nigerian Naval soldiers who flagrantly disregarded that they were only being tolerated on civil roads, out of their barracks and decided to unleash terror on innocent civillians who they claim didn’t leave the way when they were trying to ride past with sirens blaring. (more…)

I stumbled on this article by Nigeria’s former president, Olusegun Obasanjo on Barack Obama’s presidential victory while going through the Nigerian news online. I was quite impressed with the structure and delivery of his thoughts and even his thought pattern. Nevertheless, I would say though that I felt quite resentful knowing that such a knowledgeable man has had the opportunity to give hope and change to Nigeria twice in different generations and has successfully disappointed the majority of his countrymen while in service and in his succession plans and choices. I couldn’t help saying to myself, “if knowing wasn’t the problem, then why was doing impossible”.

Maybe I’m naive, maybe I don’t know the fine details. Maybe I’ll never know them. And maybe I really don’t care to know them. If Obama can make and change history, why didn’t he? or bringing it back home, why aren’t I? or why aren’t you? I’ll leave you with these questions as you read through the article and enjoy words a one-time leader of the most populous Nation in Africa wrote about another African who’s about to lead the world. I will react to different sections later.

Obama’s election and the needed change, by Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigerian President, 1999 - 2007), Thursday, November 6, 2008 (more…)