OWOLOWO

Bequeathing A Good Legacy By M.B.O Owolowo The legacy bequeathed by our actions should be the primary motivation of most reasonable people, especially those at the helm of affairs of our dear nation. Nelson 'Madiba' Mandela died recently and the world literally stood still. Even his staunchest critics, from an historical perspective, couldn’t but acknowledge the magnificence of this revered man. Mandela sacrificed a life of luxury, endured the throes of liberation for his people- in incarceration and never abandoned the struggle. Above all, after gaining freedom he embraced peace and reconciliation. Studying this historic episode, the life of Mandela was characterized by selflessness, not the selfishness often associated with African leaders or rulers in certain cases. Ideally, the life of Madiba should prick the conscience of those we consider leaders in our polity. As the world is celebrating the legacy of Madiba, have those still alive amongst our 'leaders'

Nigeria 53 Years: Celebrating In Mourning by M.B.O Owolowo What exactly are we celebrating, the fact that there are numerous students roaming the streets due to ASUU strike, or the high unemployment rate; a dire situation with many societal implications- as prostitution seems to be the 'easy' route for many of the affected females. Are we celebrating Nigeria is currently regarded one of the worst places to be born, or is it the poor mortality rate that is worthy of celebration? People aren't naturally bad but turned bad based on societal norms and adopted ethos- sadly this has been exacerbated by the vision-less rulers (not leaders), in charge. With the right leadership at the helm of affairs, majority will follow suit and exhibit goodness: knowing there will be communal reward for their good deeds and severe consequences for their wrongdoings. But, a culture that promotes self-aggrandizement and handsomely rewards 'piracy' and or 'militancy' has seri

APC against PDP: A Populace Clamouring against Peoples Democratic Perdition By M.B.O Owolowo Within every social stratum in society there are lamentations about the political spectrum, leadership ineptitude and challenges we collectively face as a nation. The battle for 2015 has heated up the polity, and the political juggernauts and serial electoral marauders are gearing up for what seems to be the most contentious battle in not only the history of our nation, but a battle for its subsistence. Unfortunately, what is at stake transgresses not just the socio-political but the ethno-religious, as most of the populace are clamouring in unison on one mater- the urgent need for change. Between now and 2015 we are going to witness deft political manoeuvrings and gerrymandering, as some of us pray the diabolical game of innocent bloodshed would cease. Sentiments aside, if elections were held at this very moment, the PDP would win based on its national spread and ‘covert’ electoral ten

Child Marriage: In The Name Of...? By M.B.O Owolowo   The perceived passage of the loathsome ‘Child Marriage’ law,  following the amendment of Section 29(4) (b) of the 1999 Constitution, has been rightly criticised by the general public, I believe it should have been named appropriately as what it is, the “paedophilic law”.   Many cynics consider this bill an open invitation to the world’s randiest paedophiles and sex tourists, that we are open for lascivious business.   I know majority of legislators have hoodwinked the populace on many issues, including the tacit siphoning of our commonwealth, but I seriously wonder if they deliberated thoroughly on the wider implications Of such actions. I must state I am gladdened by Senator Babafemi Ojudu’s revelation of the senate’s voting pattern, so all hope isn’t lost. This ‘Child Marriage’ law is motivated by nothing more than the perversion of man, and the contumacious excesses of particular lawmakers who sponsor and support such

M.K.O Abiola and The Philanthropy Dearth By M.B.O Owolowo Philanthropy can be defined as the altruistic concern for human beings, as manifested by donations of money, property, or work to needy persons or to institutions advancing human welfare. Based on the above definition of philanthropy, how many notable philanthropists can we easily identify in our milieu? From my early days till when I became an adult the name of M.K.O Abiola would easily have been mentioned, his name was synonymous with philanthropy for many years. Though he was wealthy he was not the wealthiest, he stood out because of his philanthropic activities, an unparalleled generosity. Recently, we were informed of having at least 400 private jets in the country, a country where the airline industry isn't up to scratch and our airports aren't exactly world class. On a poignant note, some of us are still grieving from the loss of loved ones, one year after the ill-fated Dana air crash. The fact that most

June 12: Hope and The 'Dividends' of Democracy  By M.B.O Owolowo A dividend is a derivation from something through the utilisation of some available means. It could be some gain or even share of some sort, generally something beneficial. 20 years after the June 12 1993 struggle we should analyse our polity and assess how the birth of democracy has benefited the masses. Undoubtedly it has benefited a 'privileged' few, but this is about democracy and its collective and not selective benefits. History was made on June 12 1993, the day Nigerians shunned ethnic and religious differences to speak with one voice. Nigerians freely expressed their democratic rights and voted for Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (aka M.K.O) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as their President. The victory of M.K.O was symbolic, because it showed the entire world Nigerians could set aside their differences to achieve a greater goal, it also confirmed the climate was conducive for democracy

A State of Confusion by M.B.O Owolowo State of Emergency or Emergency in a state? When an emergency isn't really an emergency. President Jonathan declared a "State of Emergency" in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states respectively, good! However his declaration doesn't affect the political appointees in the affected states. Some expected a situation where the executive is suspended and the military assumes command in the interim- as it is assumed 'force' is the best strategy to quell the insurgents for good. But the President has chosen an approach which many are keen to see its implementation, due to its perceived duality of powers. State of Emergency explained: "A state of emergency is a governmental declaration which usually suspends a few normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a

Prodding The Change Cause By M.B.O Owolowo "Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle" - Martin Luther King Jr.     The country is atypically restive about the implications of the 2015 elections, the contenders and consequences: the manifestations of the orchestrated polarity and constant reminder for our unity. The youth especially are confronted with the dilemma of being conscientious or being corrupted. Different alliances are being formed by those in Nigeria and those in the Diaspora, all for the purpose of a better society. The saboteurs are also working in unison to sabotage any coordinated efforts that could lead to change.     We must be cognisant of those currently running and ruining the polity, and their desperation to maintain the status quo. This greedy lot would vehemently deter the general progress of the nation, as they would prefer only a select few rotating the common wealth within their clique. They