OWOLOWO

The Presidents Probity Perplexity by M.B.O Owolowo A depressing state of affairs in the leadership dearth is further compounded by a supposedly accidental president; whom has been consistently criticised as lacking tact or initiative. He has unfeignedly appeared flummoxed ab initio without the critical portrayal characteristic of his antagonist’s. His retinue of image launderers have been so preoccupied with defending absurdities that some have even resorted to fallacious ululation; or how does one explain the misinformation by the Minister of Information on his near death experience following the tragic loss of lives in the Bayelsa State air mishap. Other presidential aides have vainly attempted to justify the unjustifiable regarding the latest contretemps generated by the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident, as we were informed the president has ordered a probe into the accident; how comforting. What has been the outcome of the fuel subsidy probe that was in...

Happy Holidays (Holy Days)?   I attended a Christmas/end of year party at the behest of a client. Though I went out to relax, it ended up another noetic episode. It was a very enlightening encounter for me because I came across some Christians who didn’t celebrate Christmas or believe December 25th had anything to do with Jesus Christ. These guys aren't your average Christians; they not only know their bible verses but armed with historical facts too - definitely my forte. What actually started off the discussion was a lamentation by someone who wondered why one of my interlocutors kept greeting everyone 'Happy Holidays' instead of Merry Christmas. Well, according to the perpetrator, the supposed birthday of Jesus has lost its core spiritual essence and has been generally commercialized. It explains why in certain parts of the world, it’s not even referred to as Christmas anymore, it’s now Happy Holidays! Another one of his companions was very blunt, with the monik...

The Majesty of GOD; The One and Only Creator, shouldn't be based on materialism.  Anyone can be rich, be it a theist (monotheist, polytheist) or atheist. Riches are a false indicant for righteousness or credible parameters for piety.  Being rich isn't an accurate assessment for Godliness, else only the Godly would be rich.  Even buffoons can get rich, so can the God-less and worshipers of the d evil. GOD says He gives to whom He wills and takes from whom He wills. To assess and appreciate the majesty of GOD, look around you. You are a creation embodied within another creation which is embodied by another creation, co-existing with other creation: the soul in the human body, within earth, living with other beings. The reason some can't fathom the majesty of GOD is due to inherent psychological limitations caused by the intrinsic lack of knowledge of those who taught them about GOD. The methodology of initial exposures to divinity from an epistemological perspect...

“Black” Culture and 2011 England Riots Following the lurid riots that engulfed parts of UK in 2011, the nation and the rest of the world were shocked at the state of lawlessness and social breakdown of a country like UK. This incident resulted in many arrests of youth and questions were raised on what could have lead the youth to such nihilism. A couple of comments were made in the media including the infamous one by David Starkey stating “ whites have become black ”, inexplicably accusing “black” culture for the riots.   Expectedly, these comments caused some uproar as there were understandably aggrieved reactions from members of the public, including allegations of racism against Starkey. During the kerfuffle there was a video in particular that caught my attention; it was by a UK based comedian reacting to Starkey's faux pas. I found it hilarious and insightful, enjoy! Another interesting article  - Blame Poverty and Gangs, was written by Dominic Lawson for ...

Open Letter to General Muhammadu Buhari at 70 Dear Sir, Firstly, I will use this opportunity to commiserate with you on the recent loss of your beautiful daughter Zulaiha: May her peaceful soul rest in perfect peace: Amen. The peoples General, the hope of the masses, the indefatigable one, the epitome of incorruptibility, the standard of leadership and the nightmare of the corrupt, today is your day, we rejoice with you as you join the league of septuagenarians. Compassionately, you humbly cancelled a landmark celebration in your life to mourn the naval helicopter tragedy in Bayelsa State, which included Governor Yakowa of Kaduna and former NSA General O.A Azazi. It is because of these types of gestures some of us are celebrating you and your ideals; you are indeed a rare gem, an exemplary leader and a role model to those of us who sincerely want to serve our nation for common good, and not for self-aggrandising purposes. Only those with sinister motives and anti-pro...

Connecticut, Terror and Tears  I saw Obama shed a tear as he addressed the nation on the recent tragedy in Connecticut; the nation was in tears and mourning. Expectedly there were many sympathisers and one could only feel empathy towards those families as the details unfolded across the news. One of them read “26 people had been killed 20 of them children.” 20 children killed! The number 20 kept resonating in my head and the impact on the lives of their respective families, the community, the nation and humanity as a whole. As the many comments of sympathy flowed in from many parts of the globe I was at a gathering where the matter was being discussed, then someone asked a rhetorical question: Are the lives of those US citizens more precious than the victims of US Drones in Pakistan? Silence! You could hear a pin drop, then vituperative missiles began to flow ‘how insensitive can one be’ ‘are you insane’, ‘they are children for crying out loud! Amongst other comments. Undeterre...

Money The Means: Divergent lives of Mr. A and Mr. B  The following instances are real life scenarios from two people. Mr. A and Mr. B made money respectively; N500m (£2m or $3m approx.). Mr. A was flabbergasted, initiated a spending spree, and started womanizing, he bought expensive cars for himself and pricey gifts for his new female companions. Mr. A became popular on the social scene, acquired new “friends” and was called 'Father Christmas' in certain quarters for his concupiscent spending habits, especially in night clubs. After 2 years he had expended all his funds, crashed and scrapped his expensive cars, and had to sell off purchased assets to survive. Unfortunately, the only house he owned was foreclosed due to debts on a bank loan secured belatedly. All his female companions vanished unsurprisingly and he wasn't even allowed into the apartments he got for them during their trysts.  Mr. A lost all the “friends” his money had acquired, became lonely and learn...

Letter to Daddy: M.B.O Owolowo (Sr.) Written  on Saturday, June 25, 2011 Daddy,  I trust you are resting peacefully with your Maker. You were a good man not because you were my father but because of what I was able to gather from others about you. Unfortunately I got to appreciate you more after you suddenly departed us. You taught and practiced “A good name is worth more than gold and silver” It honestly did not mean much to me then but it made perfect sense as I started my gradual transition to becoming a man.  Kudos to your beloved wife for holding sway and being steadfast after your demise, she had to play both roles of father and mother. Being your last born, I must confess I didn’t make it easy for her initially; understandably I was shocked when you died and I was literally angry with the world. Though I later adjusted and became more focused and determined to succeed in life. I was eager to explore the world as a man and practically implement some o...

Bread & Crumbs:  Be very careful in choosing partners and making allegiances; a scenario where one partner is chasing 'bread' and the other is contented with 'crumbs' can't yield productivity. Align with like minds who share similar ambitions and passions, with a unified drive and determination to succeed.  Alliances founded on such premise will confidently face any challenges and dismiss any deviations from focal objectives. Following attainment of success, there's the sense of  fulfillment  and satisfaction in the guerdon being 'bread' and not 'crumbs' -M.B.O  2012©  

Seek Help;   If you are too petty minded. If all you seek are the flaws and imperfections of others. If you derive joy from the downfall of others, for no justified or apparent reason. If you can't stand to see others progress or can't be happy for the success of others. If you are always pretentious and not your real self around certain people. If you are very envious of others, lack contentment and constantly covet other peoples possessions. If you find it difficult to give, and constantly acquire things you don't need. If you are so filled with hate and prefer hating to loving. If you are very vindictive and find it difficult forgiving. If you are in denial of reality and cocooned in a world of fantasy. If you are in bondage of any furcation. If you have a demon or monster within, or you change to another being at odd hours of the night. If you are loosing control of your true self. If you can't accept and grok the bitter truth.  If ...

'Fathers' for All Seasons Written on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 They say success has many fathers whilst failure is an orphan, but be careful in accepting the fathering of those who orphaned your successful failures.   Be wary of those wanting to father your current successes as they are prone to orphaning your failures instantaneously.   Show appreciation and gratitude to those who fathered your failures as well as your successes; for they are the consistently conscientious and the only ones needed to weather any storm.   This is to those who have stuck by you through the thick and thin, not the 'fair-weatherers', celebrate them as 'fathers' for all seasons.   -M.B.O    2012©

52 Years and counting... I wrote an article below (51 Years of Constituted Inertia and the Crescendo of Celebrations) a year ago on the Nigerian State of Affairs. I would have been thrilled to propagate a progressive scenario and not one still encapsulated by the forlorn characteristic of Nigeria, but the pungent reality is NIX !!!   With the imbroglio from the supposed removal of a non-existent fuel subsidy that tactically transferred the financial burden to the masses still ensuing, and the subsequent 'inspector gadget' debacle between two protagonists adding some razzmatazz to the potential 'Nollywood' script, the culmination of the absurdity was the nonchalance of the Presidency towards prosecuting the culprits.   Earlier in the year, I decided to join the protest against the fuel subsidy removal because I felt it would affect my brethren in the Niger Delta, as it would impact the lives of my sisters in the South East and my brothers in the North would squeal the s...