OWOLOWO

2011 and The Future of Our Beloved Nigeria Written on Friday, April 15, 2011 My fellow Nigerians our beloved country; the great nation Nigeria is close to being a failed state. Nigeria is blessed with both human and natural resources that have not been utilized to optimum potentials, after 50 years of our independence. Ever since I was a child I have loved my country Nigeria. Despite all the external media negativity and purported depressions, I still love my country but I fear for the future of my unborn children and grandchildren. I fear for the child that is being born as I write this article. Has that child’s future not been mortgaged, how does such a child grow and what are the hopes of aspiration of such a child? I was in the Middle East recently and the hotel concierge who checked me in was a young Asian man, we started chatting, then he asked where I was from and I said Nigeria and his reply was ‘‘your country has the curse too’’ then I asked what curse? He re...

The Secret Hater Written on  Friday, September 2, 2011 Do I hate Christians ? NO, do I hate Muslims ? NO. But I do have a problem with Christians that hate Muslims and Muslims that hate Christians.   Infact, if by definition Christian means to be Christ-like, emulating the original message and authentic teachings of our beloved Jesus Christ, then I am a Christian.   If by definition Muslim means to submit to GOD The Creator of everything and is neither a creation or created, then I am a Muslim.   Am I a suicide bomber ? NO, am I a 'terrorist' ? NO, do I support the killing of innocent human beings ? NO, do I support the unjust oppression of human beings ? NO.   I am a believer in GOD The Creator and Peace, with mutual love and respect for creation.   But what I have serious issues with are the secret haters, pretenders and hypocrites; those that have something in their hearts and minds but say something else entirely; those that don't practi...

51 Years of Constituted Inertia and the Crescendo of Celebrations Written  on Saturday, October 1, 201 1 Please stop praying for Nigeria because the prayer of Nigeria was answered when GOD blessed Nigeria with abundant Natural Resources. Nigeria is already blessed so prayer isn't the issue, the issue is obviously Nigerians. Nigerians are the greatest enemies of Nigeria.   Nigeria is great and I am proud to be Nigerian but how can a country blessed with oil not have sustainable refineries; how can such a country be importing petroleum products.   Its the similitude of a baker with flour but purchasing bread from another bakery with a functional oven.   How can a country blessed with Bitumen/Asphalt required for road tar not have sufficiently tarred roads.   How can a country blessed with Uranium have no nuclear power;   With sunshine but no solar energy;   With water but no hydro power for constant electricity.   A country with Iron Ore but no f...

Fooling Who? Nigerian Matters Written on Thursday, January 12, 2012 "You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time."   - Abraham Lincoln   I gather there are negotiations between the Presidency and other arms of government, that the parties involved might reach some equipoise on the fuel subsidy imbroglio. Interesting, but was it all a ploy to test the voice and power of the masses. May be the actual target for the price increase was lower, but those in power decided to start higher, then eventually reduce the price as a form of compromise. But whatever is attained by this politically motivated discussion doesn't change the underpinning societal issues. It doesn't change the excessive tendencies of government officials, especially the 'People Destroying People' and its allies. It doesn't change the state of security or the lack of infrastructure. When are...

Sincerity Of Well Wishing Written on Saturday, April 21, 2012  A friend recently made a statement online; “People want to see you do good... but not better than themselves.” My initial response was 'Some'. Then I decided to reflect on the statement and it really got me thinking and I decided to add a few lines in unison below: Some people claim they want you to progress, as long as your progress doesn't surpass theirs. Some people claim they want you to succeed, as long as your success doesn't surpass theirs. Some people claim to wish you well, as long as your well-being doesn't surpass theirs. Some people want you to remain static based on their inactivity! This paradox is something I have never really understood amongst people from our society especially and I keep learning new things about how parochial people are in thought and foresight. I have learnt to disassociate myself from petty minded people. I have never really understood the basis of ill-wishe...

Wisdom & Life's Changes Written on Friday, April 27, 2012  “Change is life's only constant and two things are certain; the ephemerality of life and The Majesty of GOD The Creator.” I believe in justice and fairness; I believe in the laws of reciprocity. I believe in mutual respect; I believe respect must be earned and not demanded. I believe some things can't be bought as I believe in the pricelessness of certain things; I believe anything that can be bought has no actual value. I believe in the preservation of self dignity and pride; but wary of the dangers of prideful boasting. I believe careless pride must be recompensed with a fall and the subsequent remorse rewarded with experience or wisdom, as I believe deliberate arrogance and recalcitrant negligence following such a fall should metamorphose into damnation; for nothing has been learnt nor experience gained. Life's experiences taught me many things that have fashioned me; I have seen many tables turn...

Honour Deserving by the Undeserving  Written on Thursday, May 31, 2012 The consequences of the renaming of UNILAG to Moshood Abiola University have had divergent views and constricted intricate issues: 1. Protagonists of June 12 and the real heroes of the democracy enthroned in 1999. 2. General angst towards GEJ regime characterised by ineptitude and riddled with corruption. 3. Formal/legal procedures for renaming a federal institution. The ignorant students’ protesting is an unfortunate event which must be deplored despite understandable grievances. Taking into cognizance June 12 was in 1993, which was 19 years ago, how old were those protesting if they were even born, their purported ignorance shows the dearth in our education sector for not knowing the full details of the philanthropy of Abiola, even within their institution. They are ignorant of the events that led to the military junta exiting the stage in 1999. They are ignorant of protracted struggles of students, ...

Sharing Resources Written on Friday, June 15, 2012 Remember life is a gift and an opportunity, be appreciative of it. Spend your resources wisely, while you still have it. If you have an abundance of time or you can afford the time to spare, spend it on productive things, share with others. If you are strong, then use your strength to help the old and weak. If you are blessed with wisdom, share and assist others in a advisory capacity. If you are knowledgeable, teach those who don't know, share your knowledge or skill with others. If you are a doctor or have access to medicines then treat the sick for free. If you have excess clothes or can spare out of which you have, give to others and clothe the needy. If you have spare houses, then provide shelter for the homeless or orphaned. If it's vital information that can liberate or empower others you have access to, share with others. If you are fortunate to be wealthy, your wealth is a test and responsibility, so spend it wise...

Innocence of Provocateurs: unjustifiable loss of lives Following another provocative anti-Islam movie and probably the most preposterous movie trailer I have ever seen, there have been predictable acts of lawlessness and sad loss of lives, in particular the attack on the US Embassy in Libya with the death of the US ambassador and three embassy staff, my condolences to all those affected by these dastardly acts. On the other hand, I have questioned the moral, motive and motivation of those behind such an inciting movie, are they ‘innocent’ or are they just a pawn in a wider diabolic plan of instability? I have been following various media fora and find it ludicrous some people have chosen to defend the makers of the movie without actually watching any part of it. I also consider it odious, the imprudent generalisations by so called intellectuals. Some people decide it appropriate to label the entire religion of Islam based on the actions of an infinitesimal amount, as compared to it...