Hi folks, I know you want to say “where have you been for all these months?” or ” How come you haven’t written a single article in 4 months?” I really don’t know the answer. I must admit quite honestly that even right now I don’t feel like or want to write anything.

It’s not because there aren’t things to write, it’s just because I feel quite unmotivated and unworthy to write them. Anyway, I’m writing now ain’t I? So please just bear with me and read on…this will bless you.

I once heard about the parable of the monkeys. Once upon a time a monkey was placed in a particular cage with a bunch of bananas hanging from the top of the cage. Naturally, the monkey swung up the cage excitedly and reached up for the bananas, he was immediately doused with a jet of cold water from a hose that was aimed at the cage. Immediately, he dived back down to the bottom of the cage. Of course, monkeys don’t give in that easily so he tried again – no one was going to deter him from feasting on the bananas. He swung up again to retrieve the bunch of bananas but as soon as he almost touched it, he got doused with water again. He immediately dived back down looking for the source of his affliction (apes hate water). He couldn’t really see anybody and tried after a few minutes. He got doused again. He tried again and again and each time he got doused again and again. After a few days and many attempts, he stopped trying.

One month after, another monkey was brought into the cage. The monkey saw the bunch of bananas and immediately went for it (Note: The bunch of bananas were changed to fresh ones from time to time). He got the shock of his life as a jet of cold water hit him in the face. He quickly scurried to the bottom of the cage and waited a few minutes for the shock to wear off before trying again. He got the same result and after trying a while and getting drenched, he understood why the first monkey wasn’t as eager as he was to eat “free” bananas hanging at the top of the cage. He also succumbed to fate and stopped trying to get the bananas.

Another month after, a new monkey was introduced into the cage. As custom will have it, he went straight for the bunch of fresh bananas he saw hanging at the top of the cage but the other two monkeys went for it as pulled it down with his legs. They immediately pounced on it and beat it silly and into submission. They did that because they knew he would get sprayed with water  and all of them will get wet. They didn’t want to get wet and they knew that he wont get the bananas anyway so they took steps to ensure it didn’t happen. After a while of trying and getting beaten, the monkey gave up trying. One month went by and another monkey was introduced into the cage. He suffered the same fate as the 3rd monkey only that the 3rd monkey was involved in beating him up and keeping him from getting the bunch of bananas.

After a few weeks, the first two monkeys were taken out of the cage. Now of the two monkeys remaining in the cage, none of them actually had water sprayed on them for reaching for the bananas. They were only restrained with pain by the first two monkeys.

Yet another month went by and another monkey was introduced into the cage. He immediately was giving the customary beating treatment when he tried to get the bunch of bananas. After trying a while and getting beat a few times, he suddenly blurted

“Why are you monkeys beating me and holding me back?”

The other monkeys looked at themselves blankly and said

“We don’t know, we don’t know why we are beating you? We were beating as well when we came and tried to reach for the bunch so we just took on the custom of beating every other monkey who tried to reach for the bananas”.

How many of us are like that? We don’t why we are where we are or why we are doing what we are doing. We just know that that is how it should be done. Who told you that? Who told you that you must have only one stream of income? Who told you that you can not live above sin? Who told you that you can’t own your business? Who told you that you can not be financially free?

We were mostly brought up hearing our parents and environment say,

“Get a good education, get a good job thereafter, work all your life, retire broke and busted with a good pension and die!”

What a big lie!

You are like the monkeys!

Why can’t you dare the jet of water and pull out all stops to get the bananas!

What is your own excuse? Are you pulling others down who are trying to get the bananas?

Have you been enslaved by the system?

Do you merely wish freedom or do you DESIRE it?

Listen!!! those who have tried and failed have been taken out of the cage!

Ask yourselves what they did and how you can do it better?

Perhaps, if the three remaining monkeys planned to go for the bananas together the focus of the water spray would be divided and one of them would have been able to get the bunch.

Instead of proliferating negativity and pessimism, think of another way to achieve your dream and go for it.

LIFE DOES NOT GIVE YOU WHAT YOU DESERVE, IT GIVES YOU WHAT YOU DEMAND.

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.

In this particular story, the bride’s maids were ten in number and 5 were said to be wise while 5 were said to be foolish. When the bridegroom eventually showed up, he met only the wise bride’s maids who he accepted and certified and disallowed the participation of the foolish bride’s maids. The foolish bride’s maids have gone to buy oil for their lamps when the bridegroom arrived and so were not there to welcome him with their light and consequently were locked out of the ceremony. This seems to be quite instructional for me in a season like this. A season where in Nigeria, the president has no clue as to what the year 2009 holds for Nigerians. He can give no direction, no assurances, no commitments to alleviate the fear of Nigerians. A season where the Stock Exchange has crashed and the financial sector is tethering dangerously on the edge. A season where firing might become more lucrative than hiring. A few lessons I have outlined below.

1. Integrity

The bride’s maids were virgins. They had not corrupted themselves sexually. In fact their virginity was what qualified them for selection as bride’s maids. In these times, where economic recession has set in world wide, where people have lost so much confidence and trust in the systems (especially financial) that should have delivered positive returns for them, they will begin to look to those who through time have exhibited their Integrity and Honesty. Those who have never sought gain wrongly from the public. Whose words have not been spoken lightly in the past. These ones will the world look up to for the purpose of shedding light or bringing illumination that will guide them (bridegroom) to their desired financial goals (bride). The major characteristic that will qualify anyone to be a major leader of thought who will become a leader in these times by reason of those who willingly will decide to follow him/her is Integrity.

2. Lamp and Light

Even though what qualified the bride’s maids to act in that respect was Integrity (Virginity), what they carry is what will convince the bridegroom (the world) to accept and follow them or to lock them out. It is not sufficient to have integrity. Alongside the integrity, one must have illumination and insight for the purpose of directing and leading the bridegroom (world). In the story all the virgins had lamps but not allof them had lights in their lamps when the bridegroom arrived. Everyone in world who has integrity has a lamp (potential for wisdom, insight and direction for the world) in him/her but not everyone has light burning in his lamp. Some people’s lamps are devoid of oil and so can not show light. To be relevant in these times, it’s inadequate to have a lamp; there must be light burning in that lamp.

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. 

I was not just impressed with his reply but I couldn’t help thinking “If Gani had fought for and believed to see a New Nigeria for over four decades and is almost dying without seeing his dream come to fruition, then I must live my life giving to Nigeria all it demands to become the Nigeria of his, my and other believers in the New Nigeria’s dream”.

I so believed this hero of democracy deserves to be honoured by having his response to the National Award offer published on my blog. Please read.
Why I can’t accept award of OFR, by Fawehinmi
By Gani Fawehinmi

AT the weekend, notably on Friday December 12, 2008 it was published in most of the newspapers in Nigeria that the Federal Government of Nigeria has honoured me with the Officer the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).

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I have had time after the publication to think deeply whether to accept or reject the honour.

I thank President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. I thank the Federal Government of Nigeria and I am very grateful to the Council of State, which approved the honour of OFR given to me by the Federal Republic.

I wish to express my gratitude to numerous Nigerians who by telephone calls, mobile text messages and some by personal visits congratulated me on the award of the honour of OFR.

This is the first government in Nigeria to honour me with the national award. Obviously this government must have considered my activities in the last 43 years before deciding to give the national award of OFR. From my own standpoint and perception, my struggles and crusades include:

1. The abolition of poverty from the face of our country.

2. The unqualified need to preserve, defend and protect the fundamental human rights.

3. The governance of our country through democratic processes.

4. The subjection of everybody and everything to and under the Rule of Law.

5. The right of the people to free and qualitative education at all levels.

6. The right of the people to free and qualitative health services and facilities.

7. The strengthening of our economy through sound development of infrastructures including power generation (electricity), good roads, good and modem rail-system across the, length and breadth of Nigeria, good water way transportation system.

8. The overall duties of all Nigerians and governments (local, states and federal) to make Nigeria a corruption free country by fighting corruption with all our might and main.

In the course of my struggles over the decades for the above ideals, I have been subjected by various governments to all traumatic travails and persecutions including:

(a) Series of detentions in several prisons across Nigeria notably Ikoyi Prison (three times), Kaduna Prison, Gombe Prison, Gasua Prison, Kuje Prison (two times), Bauchi Prison, etc, etc.

(b) Twenty three (23) police detentions between 1969 and 1998 at Police Headquarters, Kaduna, Jos Police Station, lIorin Police Station, Police Headquarters, Lagos, C.I.D., Alagbon, Lagos, Inter-Centre Detention Outpost, Lagos, Ikoyi Police Station, Panti Police Station, Lagos, Police Station, Wuse, Abuja, Police Station, Ikeja, Police Headquarters, Abuja, etc, etc.

(c) Arrested 32 (thirty-two) times between 1969 and 1998, which led to the series of detentions and trials.

(d) My Chambers (Gani Fawehinmi Chambers) at Anthony Village, Lagos was attacked by security men under various governments 16 times, culminating in the attack on Friday August 26 1994 when security men under Gen. Sani Abacha regime at 4 am turned my Chambers into a pool of blood.

(e) Thousands of copies of my books notably on the murder of Dele Giwa were forcibly removed and seized by security agents under Gen. Ibrahim Babangida regime and despite court orders to return my books, the military government at that time refused to obey the court orders.

(f) My international passport was seized more than 15 times between 1966 and 1998.

(g) I was charged to court 18 for politically motivated criminal offences including treason and I was jailed once and became Prisoner J60 before the Court of Appeal terminated my imprisonment.

Today I am 70 years and eight months old and I am struck down by lung cancer for which I have been receiving medical treatment outside my country because my country Nigeria has one of the poorest medical services in the World but one of the richest countries in the world in terms of oil revenue.

My decision to either accept or reject the award of OFR will depend on how far the Nigerian nation through Nigerian governments tried to achieve any of the eight goals I set out in page 2 above.

1. The Abolition of poverty from the face of our country:

Nobody can contest or dispute the fact that poverty in Nigeria today is more pervasive, humiliating, dehumanising than 43 years ago despite our mounting and skyrocketing billions upon billions of dollars of revenue from oil and gas exploration. In this respect, the nation has failed to use the resources to abolish poverty. This is an indictment against all Governments in Nigeria including the present government that awarded the honour of OFR to me.

2. The unqualified need to preserve, defend and protect the fundamental human rights.

In the last 43 years all governments military and civilian have been guilty of abuses of the fundamental rights of the Nigerian people. The present government that awarded this OFR to me has been guilty of abuses of human rights. For example, the closure of Channel Television Stations in Lagos and Abuja on Tuesday, September 16, 2008. The man who helped to catapult this regime into office Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo committed some of the worst abuses of human rights as a civilian leader between 1999 and 2007 namely: He sent troops to murder 2,999 innocent Nigerians in Odi, Bayelsa State of Nigeria in November 1999. He also shut down African Independent Television (AIT) on Sunday October 23, 2005 and Bayelsa State Radio Station on Wednesday, November 30, 2005. Some of the most atrocious human rights abuses were also committed by the military regimes.

3. The governance of our country through democratic processes.

Democracy is the best form of governance. However, Nigerians have never been allowed to usher in a truly democratic government with their ballots. Rigging has been the order of every elected in this country. We have never had a truly elected leader with the ballots of the people. Several thousands have died at every election. Only recently in Jos, Plateau State, more than 500 Nigerians were killed including three National Youths Service Corps graduates, one of whom was a lawyer. In this country most election results have ended up in the law courts. The 2007 General Elections of which the present government that awarded me the OFR emerged were characterised by bloodletting, rigging and all forms of malpractices at all levels including the elections of some of the Governors who are members of the National Council of State that approved my OFR honour. Some of the members of Council of State who approved my OFR were not known or elected by the electorate as the court imposed them. For example, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.

4. The subjection of everybody and everything to and under the Rule of Law.

The most fundamental Rule of Law can be found in the Constitutions of Nigeria, the current one being that of 1999. All the relevant sections of the Constitution that will promote the wellbeing and welfare of the people of Nigeria have been ignored and dispensed with since the making of that Constitution in 1999 and they are still being ignored by the present regime. I refer to one of them i.e. Section 16, which provides in sub-sections 1(a), (b) and 2(d) as follows:

“16(1) The State shall, within the context of the ideals and objectives for which provisions are made in this Constitution

(a) harness the resources of the nation and promote national prosperity and an efficient, a dynamic and self-reliant economy;

(b) control the national economy in such manner as to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity;

(2) The State shall direct its policy towards ensuring – (d) that suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age ‘care and pensions, and unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the disabled are provided for all citizens.”

Take for example, the National Minimum Wage in Nigeria today is N5,500 monthly, which is N183 per day. This cannot buy a bottle of palm oil and no national minimum wage in Nigeria today can buy one tuber of yam.

The leaders of the country in the Executive and the Legislature are swimming in splendour of wealth while the masses are wallowing in agonising and abject poverty. Today, the judicial workers in the country are on strike because of poor wages, which are not living wages as enjoined by Section 16 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

5. The right of the people to free and qualitative education at all levels.

The standard of education in our country is at its lowest ebb. The infrastructure for the promotion of education are the worst ever. Teachers, lecturers, professors many at times use ‘okada’ as a form of transport. Today, of the first 500 educational universities in the world, Nigeria is not included. In most educational institutions, textbooks are not available;’ students depend on handouts.

6. The Right of people to free and qualitative health services and facilities

All universities teaching hospitals in Nigeria lack modern health facilities. All General Hospitals across the country lack modern health facilities. Modern diagnostic equipment cannot be found in most parts of Nigeria. It is difficult to treat a patient without knowing what is wrong with him or her. Hardly a month passes without a Nigerian going abroad for proper medical treatment not because we do not have qualified medical personnel but because those that chose to remain in Nigeria among them work virtually with their bare hands. I am a living victim of the failure of medical services in Nigeria and yet I am an awardee of the OFR.

7. The strengthening of our economy through sound development of infrastructures.

Without doubt, our entire infrastructure are decadent and no effort has been made by this regime to improve on the infrastructure. Under this regime, power generation is next to zero and everyday the country is thrown into darkness. The manufacturers and domestic users of power are at the mercy of generating sets. Waterway transportation has not been harnessed. Our railway system has not appreciably improved from what the British left behind on October 1, 1960.

8. Corruption

Corruption is one single, fundamental factor that has retarded the progress of the nation and its socio-economic development.

The issue of corruption is fundamental in the governance of any nation. It affects the economy in its entirety. No country can’ effectively and properly develop if corruption holds sway as all aspects of, human existence will be negatively affected where government encourages corruption.

It is generally agreed nationality and internationally, that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu did a lot to retard the inhibitive progress of corruption. 419 crimes were on the decline. Gross misuse of public funds by public officers was on the downward trend. Looting at the top became minimised. As Nigerians were breathing a sigh of relief, the government of Yar’Adua threw Ribadu out of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The removal of Nuhu Ribadu as EFCC Chairman happened at a time Nigerians were saying the fear of EFCC is the beginning of wisdom as far as corruption was concerned.

I went to court to challenge Ribadu’s illegal removal from the EFCC. I thought Yar’Adua’s government would allow the court to do its work. But alas, Ribadu was sent to National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru for a one-year course. While undergoing the one-year course in Kuru, on August 5, 2008, the Government demoted Ribadu from the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police to Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Ribadu rightly approached a court of law by instituting an action to challenge the obnoxious demotion. Whilst the suit was pending, security agents physically removed him from the ceremony on November 22, 2008 where he was to be awarded his certificate for success at the NIPSS.

Today, the architect of the unprecedented anti-corruption war, unprecedented in the annals of Nigeria since, 1914, is now literally roaming the streets of Nigeria without official car, without official status, without any form of security, and yet he is still being subjected to, hounding, haunting and all forms of dehumanising vilification by the Government.

His only “offence” is that he used the instrumentality of a public institution the EFCC to investigate, arrest, charge, and in some cases, to convict through the law, courts some public officers, in various corridors of power throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria- people who were otherwise called the untouchables.

By the performance of his duties, Nigeria and Nigerians gained in integrity, honour and recovery of their looted wealth. But Ribadu did not make any personal gain. He only waged a war against corruption, graft, stealing, money laundering, etc, etc, in the corridors of power. In return, the regime of Yar’Adua decided to wage unrelenting war against anti-graft war.

Instead of the Government to publicly acknowledge the unprecedented good Ribadu, has done to the, psyche of Nigerians by awarding him the greatest national honour, the Government has decided to continuously persecute this young man. It was therefore the greatest embarrassment for me, when at the weekend, it was announced that I was one of those 275 Nigerians honoured with national honours and in my case the OFR.

Yes, I have done my best for this country in various fields and I still want to continue to do my best. But we live in a situation where the 1999 Constitution provides in Section 15(5) that: “The State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power” and a young man emerged to do what the Constitution enjoins and he is being persecuted. Yet, the President swore to observe, preserve and defend the same Constitution. I find it extremely difficult to accept that Yar’Adua’s government has the honour to dispense honour.

In the light of the above, I cannot accept the “honour” of the OFR. Whether now or in the life beyond, how can I wake up in the morning and look at the insignia of honour bestowed on me under a government that persecutes anti corruption efforts particularly the of Ribadu?

At the time the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) wrote the letter to my office that my name would be forwarded for national honour while I was in London receiving medical treatment for lung cancer, the Government of Yar’Adua had not begun in earnest the war against anti-corruption war and the harrowing persecution of Ribadu had not reached its crescendo. I do not blame the NBA for sending my name at the time it did for national honour. However, events from August 2008 to this day are so bizarre, unbelievably barbaric in their intensity, in terms of persecuting those fighting against corruption and the singling out of Ribadu for persecution, all for giving honour and dignity to this country and for recovering for our treasury, billions of naira and other forms of wealth looted by public officers.

A government that covertly and overtly encourages corruption has no honour in its arsenal of power to dispense honour. Consequently, I reject the dishonour of OFR termed ‘honour’ given to me by the Government.

The Plight of the masses of our people

Nobody can dispute the fact that since this regime came to power the plight of the masses has worsened as I have shown in items 17 above. But I wish to reiterate that in all the ramifications of human existence, the masses have found themselves in the doldrum of pain occasioned by gross mis-governance of the country.

Furthermore, since the President came to power on May 29, 2007, the masses of our country have been groaning in unprecedented poverty as a result of lack of direction.

The directionlessness of the Government has been characterised by the following, amongst others: collapsed infrastructure, total paralysis of the health sector at all levels, constant nationwide power failure and the attendant negative effects on all sectors of the economy; pervasive unemployment, thereby generating increased armed robbery cutting across all ages of our people; debilitating homelessness; retrogressive educational programmes and policies, which have made no Nigerian university to be ranked within the first 500 universities in the world, and no effort is being made by the regime to improve on the humiliating situation.

Put simply, the Federal Government is a total failure, worsened by lack of direction and leadership. Is this the atmosphere for the award of national honours? Certainly Not!

In addition to my rejection of the honour of OFR on the ground of Government’s conscious war against anti-corruption war, the decadent socioeconomic situation does not engender the wellbeing of ordinary people and there is no hope in sight.

In view of the foregoing, I reject the award of OFR.

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.

Some of these pastors just brainwash their congregation, motivate to give themselves and their belongings and earnings to the church under the guise of sacrificial giving and in no wise seek to improve the standard of living of their followers. Loads of church goers know next to nothing about personal and self development, excellence orientation or even financial intelligence. I’ve noticed that the only product that Nigerians have been able to export successfully year in, year out is religion. Every denomination that was founded in Nigeria or most denominations have one branch or the other in the UK, USA, Carribean or Europe. Interestingly, the largest congregations in Europe and in the UK are led by Nigerian pastors. I can not help but believe that we need to borrow a leaf from the model of church replication and multiplication and apply the lessons learned to our businesses, industries and corporate entities. Maybe Nigeria will then begin to look like the Nigeria that we all dream about.

Anyway, I was talking about some of the pastors I loved. Noteworthy among them is the man I’m writing about today. I’ve written about him a while ago. His interview at the “Take the lead” excellence in leadership conference recently concluded at the Daystar Christian Centre,  Oregun, Ikeja is quite insightful especially because he’s been in the centre of transformation of a country from regression and poverty towards wealth and empowerment. Please read on and form your own sentiments.

Written by BILESANMI OLALEKAN
Sunday, November 23, 2008

Pastor Sunday Adelaja, left, prays with parishioners before delivering his sermon at a service in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007.

Sunday Ologi was the name while hawking pap on the  streets of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. He didn’t have his first shoe until he  was 12. He had no father from birth. But today, Sunday Adelaja is the founding pastor of God Embassy based in Ukraine, presumed to be the biggest  and largest church in Europe.

THIS is a ladies’ man, anytime! He’s got the  hallmarks of success: The looks, the dress sense, very confident and, above all, spiritual. He is the type that any woman would be willing to take home to see mama. With his blue blazers, blue shirt, orange striped tie, light brown trousers and brown  shoes to match, you will most likely take him for a model or, better still, a bank executive. Perhaps, that is why it may be pretty difficult to believe he is a pastor not to talk of being the presiding head of the presumed largest church in Europe-Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of all Nations also known as God Embassy Church, Kiev, Ukraine.
Adelaja was in the country, penultimate week, to participate in the Daystar Christian Centre annual leadership seminar. He, along with  several invited guests, including Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, delivered speeches, in the course of the three-day programme. Shortly after his ministration, Adelaja retired to Daystar junior church, also within the premises, to talk to the media on  his personal life, his church, his latest project in the country and the Nigerian nation. Adelaja is the only African preacher to have addressed the United Nations and the United States Senate.

The beginning, however, was rough for him. He was labelled a bastard. Indeed, he was, at least going by the  Yoruba culture. The ‘Adelaja’ he bears is actually his mother’s maiden name. He never saw or met his father. He never had fatherly care.  Adelaja may have been born out of wedlock but his birth, in his estimation, was for a purpose: “To deliver the world”. According to him, he was told, in two versions really, that  his father, shortly after he married his mother, became brutish.

The royal parents of the mother felt their daughter did not deserve what she was getting from her husband, so she was taken away  from him. The other version was that, “my father was poor and my mother’s parents thought the best way to protect their daughter was to take her back home. Six months after the separation, they discovered she was pregnant. That was how I came into this world. I never suffered from the rejection of not  having a father because I have a heavenly father. Besides, God did  that for a purpose. God probably knew that the only blood vessel and cell  that will produce this particular material is the blood cell of that  man and the woman.

“They used to call me bastard in the village and my grandmother would be fighting them here and there. I was a bastard in the eyes of the people but God saw me differently. He saw me as a deliverer in European countries. God knew this material (referring to himself)  was not going to be produced by anybody other than this man and woman. God  allowed certain things to happen because of the infinite knowledge of the future. “God is saying even though this man didn’t do anything tangible in his life, he did the most tangible in his life, by sleeping with the woman which produced me.

It is the same thing with Barack Obama (United States of America president-elect). His father never did anything tangible through out his life, he grew up in  the village, met a white lady, impregnated her, went back to Africa,  and I think that was the only tangible thing he did in his life by giving birth to Obama. And I think there are several of such in the country  that are being pressurised to abort and there is the need to do away with  such stigma.

They were calling me omoale (Yoruba word for bastard)”. Adelaja is not diplomatic  particularly on issues relating to what he considers the truth. He says it the way he feels it. This explains why he is pained that his colleagues have turned their  congregations into money making projects for selfish gains. He expressed his feeling this way: “Everybody says Nigeria’s problem is about leadership but I disagree  with that assertion because a nation get a leader it deserves. The leaders  came in from this country, they were born, grew up within this same  environment.

They were not imported from Guinea-Bissau or Ukraine, they were brought up here. It is really not about leadership but our value system. Three things determine the value of a nation. The  family, the educational system and the Church, because, nobody has the opportunity of speaking to over 40 million Nigerians every  week like pastors. “When people go to Church, they are not going there  for argument, whatever the pastor says, you  are obliged to just accept it even if he is saying rubbish. Even the  president of the country does not have the kind of power we have. So, we have a very huge responsibility upon us.

And most of us, instead of releasing values and information that will facilitate progress, we are talking  of breakthrough today, breakthrough tomorrow. What we are cultivating  from the pulpit is the culture of instant gratification. We are telling people, raise up your hands if you want to be millionaire by the end of the year, na thief?

And everybody will raise up his hands. You must teach them the process of production, perseverance, endurance, how to work with their hands. “Miracles could happen but nations don’t get developed that way. And the money that is coming to the man before the end of the year, if he gets it, is it not robbery? Because you have  transferred the money from the one who worked to the one that didn’t work. That  is corruption from the pulpit. That kind of  preaching generates mentality of instant gratification.

“Every message now in Nigerian churches must end with offering. You give offering for breakthrough, healing, second born, thanksgiving, celebration, so that by the  time the people are being impoverished, the pastors are going about in Jeeps  and jets. They are the oppressors of this world. You have 24-hour breakthrough programme. These are dubious methods of extracting the little the people have left. It is day light robbery and you are using the name of  God to do it.

They will say 30-day miracle, you no go sleep?” I must speak the truth to help set my country free. I know it is not right and I know it will be sinful for me to know it is not right and I don’t speak about it. Prayers don’t develop a nation. It is the work of your hand that develops a nation. Look at China, Japan, they don’t believe in God, but they are more prosperous than Nigeria. Why? They believe and strongly so in hard work. They are workaholic.

The Japanese who don’t believe in God will go to hell but, while here on earth, they will be prosperous whereas Nigerians who are religious will make heaven but while here on earth, will continue to experience what we are  going through. God does not and will not go back on his words. He said, `I will diligently reward the works of your hands’. Prayer does not and  cannot develop a nation. We must learn the virtues of hard work. The value  of hard work, we don’t have. That is why we don’t want to know how the man makes his money, whether he is a ritualist, 419ner, fraudster, we don’t want to know  provided we can take from him. Where is our values?”

Over 70 churches have been planted by Adelaja in various parts of the  globe. Would he consider having a branch of his ministry in  his mother land? He said he would rather do something to improve the  lives of Nigerians than plant a church in the country, thereby generating unnecessary competition.”Is it another church Nigeria needs? Just for me to add my own name?

It is all about egocentrism. You must bring the success of overseas back home. I am not coming  to Nigeria to build church and I will not have church here. I don’t  want to send fears to other pastors. I also want to give my colleagues chance and that is why we are working together. They are my  friends. When I start doing my own thing, I become a competitor. We have too  many churches already. Infact, the challenge now is even how to do Church properly”, he replied.

One of the ways of improving the lives of the people is the  inauguration of a micro-finance bank which he said Lagos State governor has  graciously accepted to launch on Saturday.”It is a joint effort between I and some of my partners. I had to dispose some of my  investments both in America and Ukraine, the same thing with my partners, in order  to bring this project alive. It is going to be collateral and security  free. It is mainly to help reduce and alleviate poverty for 40 million Africans for the next 20 years. We want to go to 4000 villages in Nigeria and 40,000 villages all over Africa. Poverty is one of the most endemic problems in the continent”, Adelaja explained.

Unlike his colleagues, the pastor is not running any radio or television programmes. Is it that he does not want to expand the work of God  further or he does not believe in the medium? He pointed out that it is not his style to follow what is in vogue.”I am a strategist”, he shot back. Besides, he stressed that some of the television programmes are artificial.”Most of them do it not because they are really effective but because of ego. They are there because they want to say, through such programmes, that ‘I am a national celebrity, I have arrived’. It is not very strange that I am not on television or anywhere.

When you see me on television or in the newspapers, it will be through press conferences like this but I don’t have a programme that is television or radio based. “People in Nigeria don’t know me. I am a strategist. I do things that will give me maximum delivery. I know a lot of my friends, not just in Nigeria but all over the world, who are on television and radio.

I know  people, not only in Nigeria  but abroad, who spend 12, 10, 20 million  dollars on television programmes every year. Do you know who pays for it. It  is actually you that pay for it. I cannot  imagine that happening to me. “The poor people who are not as poor as  that of Nigeria here, that they will be bringing their sweat and labour, and me pastor, because I want to expand my reach and be more popular, I  will be putting pressure on them by organising church programmes. No I  don’t do that. I am different. People who do the unusual are usually different. I don’t do what people do. I do something differently”.

One of the reasons God Embassy became a phenomenon in Europe, Adelaja stated, was the church’s pragmatic move and actions on issues affecting the environment. The church, it was learnt, spearheaded the popular orange  revolution that brought the new leadership in Ukraine in 2004.

Between  one to two thousand people are fed daily in the church’s Stephania Soup  Kitchen, making it two million in the past six years. Over 3000 people  are set free from drug and alcohol addiction. There are homes for  street and abandoned children where over 2000 have been reconnected to their  families”, he added.

After listening to this news, I suddenly got apprehensive. The last budget for 2009, before it was reviewed was done based on crude selling at $69 per barrel. If Nigeria plans on that, it simply means we’ll experience loads of deficit as a country. Even if the revised, unapproved budget based on $45 per barrel is implemented, there’s no guarantee that the price of crude wont fall below $45 within the period (2009). What it reveals is that our erstwhile weak economy may be about to take a plunge into darkness. If we are talking about recession in the World, we may decide to term ours Depression. Does that mean I’m a prophet of doom or a seer of gloom?

No. Not necessarily. My Mother used to tell me when I was much younger. “It’s always darkest before the dawn” and so I developed an attidtude towards bleak situations. The worse it gets, the closer the reprieve is. Some people say, “there’s always light at the end of a tunnel”. So what light have I seen at the end of this dark tunnel of recession coming. What dawn is likely to break over this apprehensive and cloudy outcome? – NETWORK MARKETING.

Network Marketing is what i’ve come to dub, the 9th wonder of the world. It is a business that is owned by all for the good of all. Everybody becomes a marketer of the products the business makes and earners from the business are determined by their referral ability. Telling someone to purchase the products rewards the teller, the told and the business altogether. The teller earns referral bonuses, the told gets a good product and an opportunity to earn referral bonuses if he/she decides to tell someone else about the product and the business profits since it’s products are being sold.

I’ve heard someone say before “the economy of Nigeria is tied to Network Marketing”.  and I sincerely thought the person made a lot of sense. There are very few countries like Nigeria where networks are taken very seriously. We have networks within networks; networks or barbers, welders, pure water sellers, dwarfs, physically challenged, okada riders, taxi drivers, market sellers, vulcanizers etc. to name but a few. That doesn’t have included religious networks – churches, fellowships, mosques of different denominations and convictions; and even other networks within these networks. What about blood? So many people at the end of the year travel long distances to re-unite with other members of their extended family. These networks can number as many as 100 sometimes. Then, there are clubs and networks of primary schools (different sets), secondary schools, universities, polythecnics and all other institutions.

If building social networks has moved literally from being a talent to being a skill for us, there just might be window (large one) of opportunity for our economy to leverage on in the guise of network marketing. We would find it relatively easier to buy and sell on that model than on any otherI know of. Better still is the fact that as a developing country, it will accelerate our efforts into becoming 1st world because it empowers all that are concerned. Of course, it’s no news that common wealth can only be achieved when wealth is common. That is, when many have access to and can easily harness the opportunities to create wealth. If Network Marketing is then the answer to our economy, what is the question….LOL…..what network marketing products are available. Well, I’ll talk about that later but the 2 that are currently making waves every Nigerian needs to ride on right now are Holidays and Cash and Independent Field Advertisers(IFA). For any info on these, feel free to send a mail to busayoakanro@gmail.com.

Obasanjo On Obama: two-faces and a forked tongue By Sonala Olumhense

Every Nigerian ought to read “Obama’s election and the needed change” in The Guardian of October 6, 2008. It is painful to read, but it was Aristotle, remember, who taught that “We cannot learn without pain.”

The article was penned by Olusegun Obasanjo. This is a man that had two chances to serve his country, two chances to institutionalize lasting reforms, two chances to set the best of Nigeria to work for Nigeria, two chances to be a respected statesman.

Two chances, 20 years apart. What did he do? He served himself, violated human and political rights, and left his country poorer. In the end, his biggest achievement was not in setting Nigeria alight with change, but in superintending duplicity in government and unscrupulousness in politics.

This week, he watched a 47-year old black American win a historic election in the United States. How did he react? He drafted a rambling, self-serving sermon for a newspaper. For a man who claims not to read Nigerian newspapers, he deprived himself of any rest in order to get his words into a Nigerian newspaper.

“The feeling of change that Senator Obama engendered through his campaign for the White House represents a significant theme of change we have all aspired and fought for in different areas, regions, cultures and historical times,” he said, pompously. “The desire for change has never been the question nor has it ever been in question. It is the extent, the range, the tone, the quantity, the quantum and the sustenance of change that has always been the question.”

I beg your pardon?

Obasanjo is the antithesis of change. He hates to see younger people, particularly if they disagree with him. He hates to see women, if they are not doing his bidding. He hates to hear an idea that is different from his. He hates to see Nigeria move forward. He hates to see change, if, by that word, we mean something that is different from what he wants.

Notice how he says that “It is the extent, the range, the tone, the quantity, the quantum and the sustenance of change that has always been the question.”

It is of this kind of obfuscation that Obasanjo is made. Change is for the better.

He came into office in 1999 through widely-rigged elections. In 2003, as he swore that the Peoples’ Democratic Party would rule for ages, he brought rigging out of smoke-filled rooms into the open and attempted to make it respectable. That is change? For the better?

In 2007, having failed to manipulate the law to enable him remain in office, he sabotaged even his own party and handpicked the presidential candidate of his party. How is that change?

In office, the entire world saw Obasanjo as he ruled, not like a democrat, but like a tyrant. Everybody knows about his disdain for the rule of law: remember how he gladly accepted illegal donations to the 2003 elections donations and the Obasanjo Presidential Library. Andy Uba, the presidential aide, used the presidential jet to launder money; Obasanjo accepted gifts from the proceeds.

Change? In office, Obasanjo found no conflicts setting up private institutions to compete with those of the federal government. He put his Bells University over the University of Ibadan, and his private secondary schools ahead of his government’s.

Change? At Transcorp, he helped himself to millions of shares. In his cabinet, he was his own Minister for Petroleum, and he treated the Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) as though it was his private trust fund for the benefit of his favored. From PTDF accounts at Equatorial Trust Bank and Trans-International Bank (TIB), this man who wants Obama to remember him bought expensive cars for women, and buses for his private school.

Change? While Obasanjo was in office, Nigeria was able to recover billions of US dollars that had been looted by his jailor, Sani Abacha. But Obasanjo never accounted for a penny. He claimed a war against corruption but he personally took the menace of graft to new highs. Under him, in his own party, men like James Ibori and Peter Odili and Lucky Igbinedion flourished not only as the new faces of conspicuous corruption, but because they were having so much fun they never remembered to govern. Like Obasanjo, their hero, it was power without accountability. Obasanjo ran the PDP as though the mission was to ruin Nigeria.

Reform? In 2004, and with great fanfare, Obasanjo launched a phantom economic reform programme he called the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS). This one-pill cure, he said, would reform the government and its institutions; develop the private sector; implement a social charter for the people; and re-orientate the people with an enduring African value system.

He boasted that NEEDS would create one million jobs within nine months, and a total of seven million by the time he left office in 2007. It would raise Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product from 4.6 percent in 2003 to 7 percent in 2007; lower inflation from 11 per cent in 2003 to 9 percent in 2007, and raise electricity generation from 4000 megawatts in 2004 to 10,000 in 2007.

The NEEDS cheap trick disappeared within months and Obasanjo never mentioned it again. Before our eyes, it became the most spectacular economic policy bust Nigeria had ever seen. And while Obasanjo enriched himself, poverty and unemployment grew, and grew and grew. It got so embarrassing that he asked the civil service for a re-definition of poverty; he did not want to hear that “nonsense” about 70 per cent of Nigerians living on less than one dollar per day. He said he did not know any family that did not know what it would eat.
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Change? If Obama’s mantra was “Yes We Can,” Obasanjo’s was “Yes You’re Nothing.” He was the only wise animal in the jungle. For him, you were doubly stupid if you happened to be younger. Even Chinua Achebe, Nigeria’s internationally-revered writer, was insulted by Obasanjo in 2004 when he objected to the offer of a National Award. Spokesman Femi Fani-Kayode had a few choice words for Prof. Achebe from the president: “If you feel that your country does not deserve to honour you, then we believe you certainly do not deserve your country.”

In Nigeria, Obama would never have made it past the eye of the needle of Temperance Farms. This does not mean there are no younger people known to Obasanjo. But they have to be people willing to prostrate 24 hours a day, shut their mouths, and run errands. They have to be people without an independent thought in their heads; if they were men, they also had to lack life in their loins.
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Obasanjo is speaking of change? This is a man whose hero was the late Lamidi Adedibu, a man who had ballot boxes in his Ibadan home weeks before the 2003 election. Instead of ensuring prosecution, Obasanjo told the nation to leave the man alone. This explains why he speaks about “the extent, the range, the tone, the quantity, the quantum…of change.] Little wonder Obasanjo’s annual list of National Honorees was loaded with the Adedibus of Nigeria. Obasanjo’s was not a Nigeria capable of acknowledging talent, let alone genius. His response to excellence was to destroy it because of his deep-seated complex. A people cannot thrive under a temperamental, arrogant and self-centred leadership, and Obasanjo is proof. A people cannot thrive in a desert of standards or scruples or principles. A people cannot rise when they are offered double standards, two faces and forked tongues.

What Obasanjo should have penned is an apology to a nation that he has denied truth, oxygen and manure for an entire generation while he enthroned mediocrity. And if Obasanjo wants to know who Obama really is, Obama is Obasanjo on trial. But if Obasanjo wants forgiveness, he will not find it in Chicago or in Washington DC. His reputation traveled too far ahead of history, and the presidential jet.

Once upon a time, a clever monkey lived in a tree that bore juicy, red rose apples. He was very happy.
One fine day, a crocodile swam up to that tree and told the monkey that he had travelled a long distance and was in search of food as he was very hungry. The kind monkey offered him a few rose apples. The crocodile enjoyed them very much and asked the monkey whether he could come again for some more fruit. The generous monkey happily agreed.

The crocodile returned the next day. And the next. And the next one after that. Soon the two became very good friends. They discussed their lives, their friends and family, like all friends do. The crocodile told the monkey that he had a wife and that they lived on the other side of the river. So the kind monkey offered him some extra rose apples to take home to his wife. The crocodile’s wife loved the rose apples and made her husband promise to get her some every day.

Meanwhile, the friendship between the monkey and the crocodile deepened as they spent more and more time together. The crocodile’s wife started getting jealous. She wanted to put an end to this friendship. So she pretended that she could not believe that her husband could be friends with a monkey. Her husband tried to convince her that he and the monkey shared a true friendship. The crocodile’s wife thought to herself that if the monkey lived on a diet of rose apples, his flesh would be very sweet. So she asked the crocodile to invite the monkey to their house.

The crocodile was not happy about this. He tried to make the excuse that it would be difficult to get the monkey across the river. But his wife was determined to eat the monkey’s flesh. So she thought of a plan.
One day, she pretended to be very ill and told the crocodile that the doctor said that she would only recover if she ate a monkey’s heart. If her husband wanted to save her life, he must bring her his friend’s heart.
The crocodile was aghast. He was in a dilemma. On the one hand, he loved his friend. On the other, he could not possibly let his wife die. The crocodile’s wife threatened him saying that if he did not get her the monkey’s heart, she would surely die.
So the crocodile went to the rose apple tree and invited the monkey to come home to meet his wife. He told the monkey that he could ride across the river on the crocodile’s back. The monkey happily agreed. As they reached the middle of the river, the crocodile began to sink. The frightened monkey asked him why he was doing that. The crocodile explained that he would have to kill the monkey to save his wife’s life. The clever monkey told him that he would gladly give up his heart to save the life of the crocodile’s wife, but he had left his heart behind in the rose apple tree. He asked the crocodile to make haste and turn back so that the monkey could go get his heart from the apple tree.

The silly crocodile quickly swam back to the rose apple tree. The monkey scampered up the tree to safety. He told the crocodile to tell his wicked wife that she had married the biggest fool in the world.

I got quite fascinated  when I read this story and learnt a few things. Find my lessons below. You can add your own lessons as comments

1. You can never consistently sustain a relationship that is based on transient things.

The monkey and crocodile became friends because the monkey offered the croc rose apples when he was hungry. The monkey should have known that feeding a croc doesn’t pertually make you a friend to the croc. One day, your purpose and destiny will either find alignment or dispersal with that of your close friend, colleague, spouse or business partner. For two to walk together, they must agree.

2. You must know and understand your purpose and design and live within its limits.

A monkey will always be a monkey (potential food for crocodiles and other predators) and a crocodile will always be a crocodile (a predator of animals like monkeys). No amount of friendship or longstanding relationship will change those facts.

3. Values must define everything you do.

Any boundaries set or drawn without value lines will be pulled down or stepped over quite easily when pressure to do so occurs. If the crocodile valued his friendship with the monkey, he wont have been willing to kill him to save his wife. The worst case scenario is that he would have arranged with the monkey or otherwise to catch another monkey. What are you willing to negotiate your values for. Once you can negotiate it, it has no value.

4. What is the Big Picture?

People hardly look closely or deeply to see the big picture. It is said that less that 1/10th of the total size of an iceberg is visible above the waters. The larger part of it is beneath the surface. Experience mariners know this and do not treat icebergs on a surfce level. Where, candidly did the monkey think the friendship would take them to? Did he ever pause to consider the large picture? Did he just enjoy the friendship while it lasted and choose to look away from reality intentionally because responsibility demanded that he drew the line? Did he relish the power trip when other monkeys like him saw the croc and himself together and not wonder if he was on his own in the friendship, couldn’t there be a possibility that he would be on his own when it was over?

5. Who constitutes your multitude of counsellors?

Someone said “In the presence of counsellors, there is safety. ” Did the monkey ever seek counsel concerning his peculiar situation or did he think “Hmm, anybody I talk to will surely ask me if I’m in my right senses and warn me off my friend. They are all biased.” ? Maybe if he had spoken to someone he trusted about the situtaion, he’d have gotten good advice. If you don’ t have good, sensible thinking, mature and honest counsellors in your life, you are simply prey being prepared for the predator’s dinner.

Once upon a time, there was a man who felt he had reached the end of his rope. To him, life was meaningless. All spirit had vanished from his life. Even his family, friends, and his work failed to hold his interest. Finally, nearing the point of desperation and at the end of his rope, he visited his physician. After listening to his story and seeing the depth of his depression, his doctor asked, “When you were a child, what one thing did you like to do best?”

The man took a deep breath, paused for a few moments, then replied, “I enjoyed visiting the seashore.”

“Okay,” his physician said calmly, “I’ve got just the remedy. But I must warn you. You must follow my instructions to the letter. Under no circumstances are you to deviate from my treatment.” His doctor then pulled a notepad from his rolltop desk and continued.

“Tomorrow, I want you to spend the day at the shore. find a secluded area on the beach and spend the entire day – from 9am until 6pm. Take nothing to read or anything to divert your attention. I’m going to give you four prescriptions that are guaranteed to cure your ailment. Take the first at 9am, the second at noon, the third at 3pm and the last at 6pm. Do not look at the instructions now. Instead, wait until you arrive at the shore tomorrow morning”. With that, the man promised to heed his doctor’s orders and left his office.

The following morning, shortly before 9am, he parked his car on a lonely stretch of beach. There was a strong wind blowing in from the sea, and the surf ws high and pounding. Depressed and forlorn, he walked to a sand dune near the inviting surf and sat down. As instructed, he took out the first prescription, opened it, and read it. It simply said, “Listen.” That’s all that was written on the paper – Listen. And for three hours that’s all he did. He listened to the sound of the buffeting wind. He listened to the lonely cries of the seagulls. He listened to the sound of the rushing surf. He sat motionless and listened.

You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll hear when you take time out to listen. Listen to your environment, listen to the birds, listen to the insects, listen to your children, just listen……listen to the wind, listen to your wife, and above all, listen to your innermost being.People never really take time to listen.Whenever you do, if you do, you’ll be amazed at what you’ll hear. As a country, we should learn to listen. We should listen carefully to and observe our history. We should listen to what we yearn for in our hearts and we should listen to what our potentials and destiny as a Nation say daily to us. As a people, we should listen to each other. We should listen to our leaders; we should listen to God and listen to posterity.

At noon, he reached into his pocket and took out the second prescription. Just like the first, these instructions were plain and simple. It said “Reach back.” And for the next three hours he did just that: He let his mind wander back as far as it could. He recalled all the incidents of his life that he could remember – the happy times, the bleak times, the triumphs and the struggles.

Always reach back; pause and ponder. Reminisce sometimes about the past in quietness and sober reflections. Remember the happy times, remember the sad……..remember and reflect on the best times you’ve had as well as the worst; when you cried and when you laughed; who you had fun with and where; the adrenaline rushes and the terrible mood swings. Just reflect on things past and replay them over and over in your mind. What you promised not to do again that you are still doing; what you promised to leave or start and you did. how you did things in the past and what you should have done better; what you risked and what you let go; your mistakes and brain children………..you’ll be amazed at how far you have come and how many lessons you have learnt or could have learnt and applied to your present. Note what you need to continue, change, stop or start.

Hope you endeavour to apply these first two doses of the best medicine until I make available the other doses of these great medicine. Till then have blessed moments and hours.

“The only way to say it is “Thank you for the impact you have made in the lives of the people. The testimonies of yesterday, I’m sure, will be said in the next 20 years and you guys will be at the receiving end. Thanks for being a blessing to this generation. I quite appreciate.

And also for the huge cheque dropped, thank you. I know it will get better for AGESS with people like you and people like me ready to bless them with what we have.

I gat to go.”

                  - Toyin Ewuola (AGESS President)   

 Tuesday this week, I was back in my alma mater – Obafemi Awolowo University to speak to the students of Agricultural Engineering department. November, this year will make it 3 years since I left that department. I spent 7 years in that school studying for a 5-yr course. I’ll leave the gist of those 7 yrs for now…but i remember very vividly that just before I left, I opened my mouth and passionately declared

“I’ll be back in 5 years time with proof to show my lecturers and the department as a whole that it’s not what degree you graduate with that matters but what pedigree you graduate with or acquire after graduation.”

I’ll need to take you aback a little to explain to you how that statement came about but I had been invited by the Executive Council of the Agricultural Engineering Students Society to come and present a seminar to the whole department during their departmental week. I was offered this honored privilege along with a colleague who had in school been my closest pal and was also excelling uniquely in his own way.

On gaining admission into OAU, I was offered Agricultural Engineering as against Electronic/Electrical Engineering which was my first choice of course of study. I felt really cheated because I had been told that I’d get my choice of course or get Mechanical Engineering. Now, understand that the last course on my mind was Agric Engineering. I didn’t like it and couldn’t stomach the fact that i’d be tied down for 5 years studying a course I detested. To cut the long story short, I got into Agric Engineering anyway and set out to studying for the 1st year after I had alongside my parents been able to negotiate a sure release from the department with the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, if I performed beyond a particular grade point average (GPA).

Ofcourse, I surpassed the GPA and even ended the 1st session as the best student in my class but I was not  to be released from the department under different pretexts that ranged from the department not wanting to lose it’s best student and the Dean not admitting that he had committed to letting me go to my desired department. I got really sorry and frustrated and when it seemed like I was going to be spending my 2nd yr in Agric. Engineering, decided to sit for SAT and try to get into Canada. That’s another long story I don’t really want to start in this post but suffice it to say that I performed excellently in the SATs and bettered 93% of those I did the exams with. I had good scholarship scores, but watched to see other friends of mine get scholarships and admissions and travel out with much less scores than I had.

I really had lost interest in OAU at this time and just kept on faffing all around the place. I hardly went for lectures and did my diligence to ensure that I did not perform at all or well in my continuous assessment. Needless of a talisman, you can guess that I performed absolutely woefully that session and decided to wake upt the next. So 300 level as we typically refer to 3rd session was a slow comeback to status quo.  400 level went beautifully and by 500 level, I was sure I’d graduate with my desired GPA. Towards the end of the 2nd semester of my final year, I was told that one of the courses I did in 400 level has been dropped from an A to a B grade. Now, that course had over 10 course units and had the capacity to drop my GPA from one grade level to another.

I tried to solicit the lecturers in the department stating my case passionately about their not letting my hardwork towards the end of my stay in school go to waste. After several passionate appeals and reviews and even staff meetings, they finally decided not to upgrade it to an A. To make matters worse or simpler as the case may be, I had scored in my 1st semester, final year, three 68Bs in 3 different courses. The department was unwilling to upgrade any of these courses as well. I was one of the most popular guys in my set and one of the most respected and friendly with respect to lecturers in the department, but I wasn’t treated particularly well in my own estimation. Hence, I declared with a lot of passion and emotion the statement in quote above.

Amazingly, only 3 years after, I’ve been able to live the words that I proclaimed 3 years earlier as I stood up to speak to over 150 students and lecturers of my former department about how to succeed beyond the four walls of the University. It gave me a feeling of accomplishment and joy knowing I can positively impact a department that negatively motivated me for the challenges outside the university. My lecturers would  probably have been in my success story as supporters, rather, they are there as antagonists whose hurdle I needed to overcome to succeed outside school.

I thank God that he put me in such a position but I challenge you to challenge your challenge currently and declare to it your desire very passionately in a measure of time and see if it is possible or not to change your world with your words.