I sat there in this funk for nearly an hour and wondered how to snap out of it.  Should I just forget about today?  Should I just give up on this project in front of me, because I’m not as good at it as I thought I was?

That’s what I was considering, at least for a fleeting moment.  But the better part of me knew this mild state of depression would soon pass.  And just as I started to feel better, the thought of the discussion the passengers sitting behind me in a commercial bus while traveling few months ago trolled in my mind, it was all about the numerous challenges bedeviling our country.

I have listened to many of their litanies of the nation’s challenges which were centred on bad governances, transparency in governance, and a weakened economy system we’ve been piloting for ages out of boredom.

I was in this thought when a messages popped out on the screen of my phone to bring me back to life.

The opening lines of the text was scary and heartbroken at such a time like this when things seems unappealing to everyone, it was a season that’s not been fair to everyone of us.

“I feel so drained, so uninspired.  I’m stuck again!  My mind is spinning with worry and overwhelm and just a general lack of enthusiasm.”

The last time I spoke to her was months back when i promised to keep her posted on job opportunities as I was also a victim looking for where to try out my skills and develops other ones. She had asked me about anything I could share?

What she can reflect on and try to remember whenever she lost her motivation.

During this moment the thought of people going back to their business today after almost 2-months of working remotely struck my heart.

Many won’t be resuming their place of work due to their company downsizing during the lock down to meet up with their productivity and cover up for the loss of profit that have crept in due to their inefficiency of service been rendered.

Some already have their salary slashed to a lower percentage; if you’re among these set, be grateful you’re still in the system and will always have something to return to. Moreover there’s is high probability for you to get your salary back to 100% when things go smoothly again for the organization.

This is a time where people who lost their jobs become depressed, miserable, and despondent just because of their inability to show strength, courage and perseverance which would have helped to overcomes the adverse situation and becomes an encouragement and inspiration.

It’s no joke that a higher percentage of this people have nothing to leverage on after reliving them from their office, just because they have nothing to augment what they made from their business or salary.

This is a tropical example of Nigeria working class, who only rely just on salary to survive, once salary stops coming for some months, then they’re in trouble.

The coronavirus has introduced a mentally draining situation for all of us. But that means we can’t just stand on the sidelines and lick our own wounds. Look at the other people around you, and offer what you can to help. If there’s one good thing to come out of this, it will be our ability to care for each other.

It’s no gainsaying we’ve been extremely divided because of series of factors that align our differences in school of thoughts like politics, religion, ethnicity, and many others.

Let’s use this crisis as an opportunity to not beat up on the other side; let’s find some common ground and look out for one another. What makes us alike is much greater than what separates us. We’re all wary of the unknown; we all want things to get back to normal. Focusing on that is a much healthier approach for both you and the people around you.

Jagunmolu ‘Dare Lasisi.

Acting VC, University of Sambisa
Sebiotimo of Edinburgh
Aribidesi of Glasgow
Awolumate of Scotland
Seriki OniKaramo of the Cyberworld
Bobby Fischer of Creative writers in Nigeria
Egunmogaji of Nigerian Bloggers
Arikuyeri of East London
Agbako Baba Shomoye of Egbaland
Baba Alaanu of Facebook
Science Ambassador, University of Strathclyde
Alujonu Onkowe of Yoruba land
Parakoyi of Northern Ireland.

On this day of your birthday, I wanted to share what’s in my heart.

I was confused whether to write a blog on it and publish my thoughts or just keep it in my head. But the amazing thing about having a blog is the ability to reflect on a time of your life in the future.

Happy birthday to a mentor, a friend, a brother, a father, and a writer. Thank you for everything that I have learnt from you. Thank you because you are generous, amazing, amicable and resilient. Thank you for your effort in the writers’ industry, without people like you, there will no longer be good stuff for anyone to read.

Indeed, you’ve been a man whose words have been known to shine light on the soul, and bring merry into the lives of people around him and far away from him.

I pray for you that the grace and understanding of God that surpasses all understanding will be bestowed upon you.

You are filled with God’s wisdom and you are blessed beyond recognition. Continue in the grace and mercy that the Lord has and will put you in. Amen.

I pray that the skill you have cultivated will work well for you; you will eat in plenty and be satisfied. As it is your birthday today, you will never know lack, you will never be found wanting when it is time to write, and your ink of glory will never run dry.

Last but not the least, I would like to say that I appreciate all criticism, opinions, every time you share it with me through comments and personally. It is a great pleasure to have reached this number and the kind of relationship we have been maintaining with each other. I will always remember this love from your side.

I want it etched in my memory forever

©Adeyemi 2020

On Thursday, January 30th, 2020, Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde stated that the South-West security initiative, Operation Amotekun, was shaping up well, and could cope with the spate of insecurity in the South-West region. Amotekun is not supposed to replace the function of Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the community police that they were setting up as well, they had been raised to complement their effort to make the arena saver, this was confirmed at the C&S Unification 80th Annual General Conference that was held at Ashi, Orita Bashorun, Ibadan.

The event which theme was tagged “Enlarge the place of your tent” changed into graced with the aid of eminent personalities across board. Notable amongst them is Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and crew of his entourage, the pinnacle of churches underneath C&S Unification, the observer, and the media crew.

The continual existence and increase of the Cherubim and Seraphim church within the Christendom is a feature of its resilience spirit since the inception of the church over the years, this was made known during Governor Makinde keynote address at the opening ceremony of C&S Unification 80th Annual General Conference on Thursday.

The governor also calls the attention of the fold to the previous edition which was held in Lagos and how much it made wave, he said, now that they are in Oyo State the pacesetter this year, they must not do anything short of the best. This was as he declared that the resolve of the fold to hold the conference in Oyo state would create a benchmark of how future conferences would look like. Not only in terms of attendance but in terms of miracles that will be recorded while the conference is ongoing. The bible says where two or more people are amassed in his name, he is right there with them, then how much greater of the multitude of human beings who have accrued here today. So, it’s a guarantee that God is certainly with us, said Governor Seyi Makinde.

Governor Makinde also aforementioned how religion has played an important role within the nation especially on his management. He equally reiterated the determination of his administration to ensure a peaceful, safe and secure Oyo state. Also, the Governor seizes the opportunity to preach religions and denominational tolerance among churches and other religions in the state. He promised to continually work for the effectiveness and non-violent network where humans can serve God with ease.

During the campaign trail, seeking to be the Governor of Oyo State, I fellowshipped with you and discussed with you about my dreams for our beloved. Today, I am thankful that we’re right here via the efforts of our numerous people throughout all faiths. This virtually tells us something; that all of us, regardless of our religion, need good authorities. That was why you voted for me. All of us want to live and enjoy a good life, and also desire the development of our communities, local councils, state, and Nigeria. So, we must not allow religion to divide but unite us, Governor Makinde charged everyone.

While speaking particularly about the crisis rocking the local government chairmanship positions in Oyo state with indications that it might lead to chaos and the declaration of a state of emergency, Makinde said prayers was the only reason he needed not to worry. He, therefore, wished the delegates fruitful deliberations that will move this church forward. As he ends his speech, he said, “I will wish you a joyful conference as you enlarge the place of your tent.”

It is an open secret on this social media platform that I always reach out to fellow Nigerians from my personal pocket. This is not a matter of blowing my own trumpet to earn cheap popularity online or to win votes during the election. I am not even a politician, not even a ‘rich’ man in a foreign country with plenty of cash and assets, I am just a journalist, student, activist, writer, environmentalist, and crusader for a better society.

My birthday(Feb 17) is roughly 1 month and some days away from today. With your permission, I wish to select 4 private orphanages in Nigeria and donate money and essential items, just to celebrate my birthday.
It is on record that I reached out to orphanages in Ibadan, Lagos, and Ilorin some years ago. I displayed concrete proofs on my blocked Facebook page(Jagunmolu Oluwadare Lasisi). I have raised money for many souls on this social media(hospital bills, school fees, feeding allowances, etc) and forever grateful to all my donors. You’ll never taste hunger, sorrow, and hardship in this life and on the day of judgment.

To celebrate my birthday in 2017, one nice Facebook friend personally gave me N250,000, just to appreciate my ‘wahala’ on social media. Can I shock you today? I donated the entire N250,000 to ‘struggling’ Facebook friends in financial difficulty.

To celebrate this new year 2020, I also touched several total strangers on this social media platform with personal money, not because I am extremely rich but just to assist fellow human beings. Nobody knows tomorrow of anybody!

This is the right time for me to reach out to desperate people in society, not just ‘scammers’ posing as ‘suffering’ people on social media! Argue with your conscience if you belong to this category of fraudulent people! End of story!

To cut the long story short, I cannot do it alone, I need your support right now to help orphans in Nigeria. I wish to assist just 4 widows among my Facebook friends with some of the expected funds. I am constantly in touch with 2 widows ‘one-on-one’ on this Facebook, I knew their unimaginable hardship after the death of their husbands, I have been trying my best within my power to wipe away their tears. Only God can judge me! The other 2 widows shall be carefully selected from nominations from respected (and trusted) Facebook friends.

If you wish to support this project, kindly pay any amount to this bank account. All donors shall be announced unless otherwise stated for anonymity (and security!) reasons.

Mr. G.O Lasisi.
UBA BANK
Acct No: 1001940645.

For my PayPal account, pay into “darelasisi@gmail.com”, use your name as a reference.

My UK bank account details are ‘strictly’ available on request.

Friends and well-wishers, if you have any questions regarding this project, ask me now, I will try my best to respond. Yes!.

Finally, I wish to spend my older age to serve HUMANITY and to engage in charity projects in Nigeria and anywhere in this world. That’s my own RELIGION, very close to my heart 24 7! I wish to say my final goodbye to this world with a smiling face, that’s perfect peace in my grave!

THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

The 9th senate assembly has just passed a bill of three years in jail for things said negatively against the government.

Social media platform which happened to be a better place for individual to pour out their grievances and emotions on where the government is pressing/hitting on them badly is now a no go area route for some of us, who can’t do without speaking and letting our voice to be heard by the oppressors and oppressed soul.

One of the fundamentals human right has been impugned by the 9th senate.

Every person are supposed to be entitled to freedom of expression including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.

This right, unfortunately, has been used by some people to violate other people’s rights. It brings to mind the words of a great thinker: “Under tyranny, people seek liberty; under liberty, people seek tyranny.”

Examples are cases of libel and slander, which is rampant on social media.

Despite the above assertion, of shouldn’t still be a reason for the present day government to deny her citizen of their right.

At this age and time, what happens on social media shouldn’t bother any serious government, the reality of which it should serve as a check and balance for the running administration.

Nigeria presently has too many pressing concerns. We are now the world headquarters for extreme poverty as well as the global epicentre of out of school children.

Our economy is smaller than it was in 2015, while our population is one of the world’s fastest growing. We have retrogressed in the Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International, from the position we held four years ago.

Rather than this government proposing death penalty for hate speech offenders, it should be death penalty for corrupt leaders in this country because “corruption and injustice gave birth to what is now being called hate speech.
“If there is justice, equity, fairness and respect for rule of law, there will be no hate speech.

The moment people are being marginalized and denied their right, surely there will be hate speech. You cannot stop people from expressing their freedom of speech in our present age. It’s autonomy!

If the Senate is proposing death penalty for hate speech, then what will they do to Boko Haram, armed bandits , kidnappers, oil bunkers and treasury looters both politicians and civil servants?

All these things are worse than hate speech. There are more pressing issues to Nigerians that the Senate should look into and address instead of wasting their energy on an unpopular bill like this one that will not see the light of the day.

The quest to regulate social media is a grand plan to silence critics and dissenting voices, and to annihilate free speech on social media platform.

In a saner clime everyone knows that the law is aiming at limiting the rights and freedom of citizens to express their views, which also enacts building a tower of tyranny in the civic space.

One of the campaign strategy of this government is protecting the fundamental rights of her citizen, but the storyline has changed as there is upsurge on the social media platform which negates the mindset of the entire populace against the unappealing aroma of democracy stretched to them in this era. Plying through the military regime has not been palatable as a result of sudden ordinance to back up any law at any given time, here is the time to enjoy the sovereignty of democracy not another era of diplomatic running of a democracy in military styles.

It is ironic that a government that came to power on the promise of protecting the fundamental rights of Nigerians is now reneging and sliding towards totalitarianism. Silencing dissents endangers democracy .

The tyranny of the 9th senate has not only been a topic of discussion for all, and sundry in recent times, it has also carved a nonentity for her sitting on inconsequential issues leaving the welfare of her citizen.

The only way they could pass this bill is If the rumor of President Muhammadu Buhari nursing the ambition of third term is correct, then they need death penalty for hate speech to silence everybody who will want to oppose him.

In a nutshell the present day administration is telling the entire citizen that she did not want to be hold accountable for her deed and any atrocities committed at large.

The savings promo, which will end in April 2020, a duration of six mouths, will see customers cart away a total of N120 million in cash prizes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that lucky cash prize winners for the monthly draw include Ahanna Anayo and Dunu Benjamin who won N1 million each and Ezzama Autonomous Community, Ezea South, Ebonyi State that won N2 million from South-East.

Others are Patrick Adughulu and Emmanuel (South-south) that won N1 million and N2 million respectively.

Uchenna Okonkwo and Onyedikachi Faith (Abuja); Musa Sani and Ghali Muhamud (North); Okechukwu Dazerlington and Chisom Akaeze (Lagos); and Akintunde Nurudeen and Francis (South West) also won N1 million each, among other winners.

Speaking at a the draw, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, the bank’s Managing Director, said that the campaign was the ninth in the series of savings promos organised by the bank in last 12 years to promote financial inclusion.

Okonkwo said that under the promo, the bank’s customers would win N82 million in the monthly draw and N38 million in the bimonthly draw, amounting to a total of N120 million, apart from other consolation prizes.

Okonkwo, who was represented by Mrs Chijioke Ugochukwu, Executive Director, Shared Services & Products (EDSS&P), said that the campaign was to reward customers for their loyalty and patronage.

He said that the savings promo remained an integral part of the bank targeted at both existing and prospective customers of the bank.

Okonkwo said that the bank, apart from using traditional channels, would utilise digital platforms such as its Quick Response (QR) code and Virtual Assistant to reach unserved areas.

He asserted that the promo was focused on reaching out to the unbanked population across the nation.

“We embark on campaigns like this to drive financial inclusion in line with the financial inclusion strategy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“This savings promo allows us to take banking services to the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

“It also gives us an opportunity to promote a savings culture which is critical to building up investible funds for individuals and companies and a key component of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth,” he added.

Also speaking, Mrs Janet Nwabuko, Head Savings Group, urged both the existing and prospective customers to embrace the promo in order to be part of the bank’s success story.

Nwabuko said that to participate in the new promo, new customers were expected to open a savings account and grow it to N20, 000 to qualify for monthly draw to win N1 million.

She said that existing customers would top up with N10,000 to qualify for the monthly draw to win N1 million.

According to her, both existing and new customers will grow their accounts to N20,000 to win N2 million, among others.

“To be like the rock that the waves keep crashing over. It stands unmoved and the raging of the sea falls still around it.” – Marcus Aurelius

Today, I pay tribute to an extraordinarily special man – who is fazed neither by criticism nor by praise; unperturbed by fortune or loss; content with little and unimpressed by wealth, power or position; averse to publicity and showmanship; self effacing; austere and always simply dressed – customarily in white; far from the garish and the gaudy, with disdain for ostentation but neither sanctimonious nor judgmental – Malam Mamman Daura, Baba – whom I am so proud to call my father.  

This tribute is about my father – Baba, my Baba – the real Malam Mamman Daura – son, husband, father, grandfather; not the ill motivated, sponsored social media created version – preposterous and larger than life. As Baba himself would say when we would express concern about the persistent and unjustified character assassination of his person – “Do not worry. If Allah knows the truth; that is all that matters.” I would want to provide another perspective from those closest to him – a true portrayal of the man my father is, from what my siblings and I, and our mother know him to be.

Baba is a simple yet complex man – a man of few words (which sometimes makes him come across as standoffish) but highly engaging when in his comfort zone – with family and a few close friends. With his late younger brother Baba Sani, I recall with such fondness their daily raucous and wheezy-asthmatic laughing sessions as they shared insider jokes only they understood.

Baba is conservative, yet liberal – conservative in political leanings and in gender roles at the home front – Baba barely knows the way to the kitchen – I doubt he is capable of boiling water if it is not in an electric kettle! He however, is the perfect gentleman; chivalrous, personally serving us food before he served himself. He would also often tell us (his daughters) not to carry heavy objects because he did not want us to develop hernias. Conservative is Baba as he does not openly show physical affection to his children just like the typical northern man of his age group, but we had no doubt that he loved us. If you made the mistake of telling Baba you had a headache, he would keep asking you (even after 3 days) how you were faring. When we were younger, there was no limit to how he would play and engage us when he was in the mood – he would play ‘riyo-riyo’ with us – a game where we would all hold hands and form a circle and sing ‘riyo-riyo, o ririyo gib’ and then put our right feet forward into the circle with a thump. This was done continuously and when he sings ‘riyo riyo o ririyo kwangarya’ then we were all supposed to stamp our right feet out of the circle. The person who forgets and thumps inside the circle is laughed at – but there was no winner or loser in this game. The game is played in two sets of 3, 2 and 1 and Baba would stop the game out of exhaustion as he couldn’t keep up with our energy.

During Sallah (Eid) celebrations we would have lalle (Henna) applied on our hands and feet – and oh did Baba despise the smell of lalle! With such irreverence, we would shove our lalle dyed feet unto Baba’s nose and face and he would struggle to push us away. When we would not stop, he would grab us and rub the stubs on his freshly shaven chin on our faces and foreheads; prickling our fresh cherubic faces, and we would scream and that was how he would finally get rid of us. However, when he was not in the mood, as you entered his living room, one piercing glare was enough, or without saying a word, he would point to the door and we would immediately leave. When we did not get the message, or when he was expecting visitors, he would say to us “make yourselves scarce!” and we would take flight.

Once we started to grow up, Baba’s conservatism set in. He no longer used to hug us when he returned from trips. We no longer used to rush to say ‘Baba oyoyo’ (informal welcome). It became a more measured ‘Baba sannu da zuwa’ (formal welcome), sometimes with a handshake. By the time I was 17 years, I had gotten used to not hugging Baba. For the first time in my life, I had not seen my father in 8 months at a stretch when I went to college after secondary school. When Baba came in, instinctively I rushed to hug him (forgetting that I had stopped that habit many years earlier). Baba held me by the shoulders and said to me “you are much too large for this!” stopping me in my tracks. We both laughed over it.

Baba is also liberal – in the sense that he married only our mother (when polygamy was the norm for his demographic group), together they had six of us – five females, and a male but there was equality in rights, privileges and disciplinary actions; but especially in the educational opportunities afforded to all of us. (Baba also extended this educational support to numerous extended family members, friends, acquaintances and strangers alike). In fact, my brother often mentioned when we were growing up that once his friends or acquaintances realised that he was the only male child, they assumed that he was treated more specially – which he always countered with much conviction that it was indeed the reverse case. During our weekly special family lunches at home (usually on Fridays or Saturdays), he would always be the last to take food – after our mother and all the girls had been served by Baba – and then he would have to serve himself! He was also allowed to carry heavy weights! Baba never once talked or pressured me about marriage (nor any of my 4 sisters) – allowing me to get married by my choice and on my own terms – just before I turned 26 years and after completing a master’s degree, national service and working for nearly two years.

Baba has lived and continues to live the exemplary life of sabr (patience), shukr (thankfulness) and tawakkul (trust in God) – core virtues of the Islamic faith. Baba is also of impeccable rectitude – honest and decisively upright but is neither sanctimonious nor judgmental. Mama has told me how one of his childhood friends frequently re-iterated to her “Mamman duk ya fi mu” (Mamman is better than all of us). In the 1980s and 1990s he was honoured several times by the Kaduna State Government for consistency in remitting the rightful amount of corporate taxes as well as personal income taxes. Because he declared and paid the correct amount of personal income taxes in amounts much more than people of known stupendous wealth did – he was generally thought to be much wealthier than he really was. He served as Chairman of a Committee during the 1994 Constitutional Conference – which lasted almost 1 year; and when the conference ended, committee members and chairpersons were allocated choice residential plots in Abuja by the then Federal Government. Baba rejected the plot given to him – citing that he had served his country and that he was adequately remunerated with accommodation and sitting allowances and therefore did not deserve the plot. He also indicated that he did not actually need the plot. Until today, this is the essential character of my father – not bothered much about assets’ acquisition, or the things that he does not ‘need’. In conversations I have had with him over the years, he has hinted to me that if one makes the pursuit of money and material things one’s focus, then one would never have peace. Baba’s motivation was always on setting up industries – to create jobs and accelerate development; but not primarily to create personal wealth.

Not one given to socialising, Baba is almost always at home with his family, either reading in his study or sitting alone in his living room in deep thought or with his television tuned to the news, sports, documentaries or nature channels. Occasionally he would watch classic movies – he especially enjoys watching British Classics like Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, Mind Your Language and the Carry On series. In the afternoons, you would usually find him and to use his words “watching an enthralling game of cricket and sipping on a spiffing cup of English tea!” He calls Darjeeling ‘the Rolls Royce of Teas.’

Growing up, we had the best of times – Baba worked extremely hard and for long hours and was a prosperous industrialist with major stakes in textiles, manufacturing and banking – so we lacked nothing. While he himself did not care so much for material things, he gave us the best of everything. As little kids, we would often fly First Class to London on the then British Caledonian Airways and lodge at The Churchill Hotel. So these days, when I have to plan to purchase an economy ticket to London, I think back and I am grateful for what I had as a child. In the mid-80s, we would vacation in Nice (the south of France) and Amsterdam. Perhaps because Baba grew up with so little, often going days without much food, he spared nothing to ensure our utmost comfort. If not for our mother’s corrective spankings and strictness, I think we would have turned out utterly spoilt brats! Thankfully and for our own good, Mama did not give in to his pleads to stop spanking us when we were naughty.  We really did have the best of everything; but most importantly, we had love! Baba did all this to please us, but for him personally, he was and is still not one to be affected or controlled by worldly things.

A minimalist, Baba’s choice of clothing has always been modest. Since mobile phones came into existence, he stopped wearing watches. When he used to wear watches – he wore a simple, leather bracelet watch. Most of Baba’s personal staff have been with him for 20, 30 and even up to 40 plus years – some only separated by old age and death – a confirmation of his kindness, generosity and magnanimity.

The quintessential stoic, Baba is unruffled by provocation – I doubt that in my 40 plus years of existence, I have heard him raise his voice or blurt out invectives or harsh reprimands even if justified. Baba never shouts at anyone at all – his aides or domestic workers inclusive. I remember when I got married and Baba was giving me final words of advice before my departure from home and as I sobbed he said to me “ki yi haƙuri, ki yi kamar Maman ki. Shekaru talatin da muke tare bamu taɓa faɗa ba” (Be patient like your mother, we have never fought in the 30 years (then) that we have been together). I was actually shocked! When I was younger, I truly believed that they never used to fight or disagree at all (and I cannot thank them enough for that – for that is a great gift to give your children). As I grew older, I understood that there was no way a marriage would have no conflict, and that they just did a good job at hiding theirs from us. A few weeks later, I asked my mother if they really had never fought before – and she said that he was telling the truth but not because there was no avenue for quarrels but because he would just not let that happen. She said that there were of course conflicts and disagreements, but he had never raised his voice at her or engaged her in a squabble. She also said that she would sometimes intentionally provoke him just to get a reaction, but the dignified gentleman would just not budge! Ka ji Maza!

Baba’s sense of humour is legendary – and his use of adjectives unparalleled. He is at his best when he playfully dishes out abuses at us – when you put on weight he would whisper not to you but to another sibling “X tayi yi monumental ƙiba” (X has put on monumental weight) or say with much gender insensitivity “you are growing in all directions.” In reference to an extremely corrupt figure, he would say, “dedicated thief”, when you irritate him, he would call you a “confounded nuisance.” One of Baba’s favourite sayings is: “if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys to work for you” – to stress that if a job pays very little, it attracts the least competent hands. I remember many years ago, I was reading a poorly written article – almost unintelligible due to the numerous grammatical, spelling and every conceivable error inherent, and he said to me – “Fatima, if you read that article to the end, it would un-educate you!”

Baba once told me that sometime in the early 1970s, when he was the Editor of the New Nigerian newspaper, he conducted what he described as a highly engaging interview with the late Alhaji Mamman Shata – arguably the most renowned and most prolific Hausa singer and griot. He then wrote what he said was one of the best articles of his writing career – full of praise for Mamman Shata as he was mesmerised by the singer’s personality – his quick wit, talent, humour and general take on issues. At the last minute, he said that he stopped the article’s publication because (in his words) ‘’bani so ya yi mani waƙa!’’ (I do not want him to sing [a panegyric] for me)

As a son, Baba adored his late father – Alhaji Dauda Daura (Alhaji Babba), the first Durɓin Daura (The Durɓi of Daura). Alhaji Babba was of Kanuri ancestry; after an infamous family feud, his great grandparents and other family members migrated from Kukawa in northern Borno to Mirriah in Niger Republic with some of them finally settling in Daura. Baba used to call his father ‘Alhaji nawa’ (my Alhaji) as if he was his alone. He would call Alhaji Babba every single day or night without fail when landlines were finally operational in Daura. As one of us (children) entered his living room, he would blurt out with much emphasis – zero (pronounced zee-ye-ro in an exaggerated Queen’s English manner) six-five, and then whoever it was would complete with ‘five-seven-zero-zero-six (065-57006) – also mimicking the zee-ye-ro pronunciation. It was an instruction to go to the telephone and keep dialing until the line went through to Daura and to ‘his Alhaji’. Those under 35 years may not remember those telephones where dialing required ringing the numbers round and round and the difficulty with which getting connected to other states and especially rural areas we endured in those days. When Alhaji Babba’s health failed, and after an unsuccessful medical trip to the UK, Baba brought him back to Kaduna to our home where he was nursed until he passed away in October 1993. His death took a toll on Baba – he lost considerable weight and bore a sad countenance for many months. After the Durɓi’s passing, the then Sarkin Daura (Emir of Daura), late Alhaji Muhammadu Bashar conferred Baba with the title of Durɓi – much to his chagrin as he despises anything that brings attention to himself and most especially the pomp that accompanies royal titles. Up until today, over 25 years since the title was conferred upon him – the official turbaning has not been done; due to Baba’s reluctance. When my mother wants to provoke him, albeit jokingly, she would call him Durɓi, and he would give her the side glare, and she would laugh aloud while he would maintain a straight face!

With his mother – Hajjá Sa’a, being her first surviving child and her being a Fulani woman, she was not expected to show him much affection and she did not. He spent more time with his paternal grandmother than he did with his own mother and therefore was not very attached to her as his other siblings were. I observed their relationship to be very formal, but it was obvious how proud of her son she was. Just like Alhaji Babba, Baba would also do anything for his mother – never going against her will. I believe that I made up for the closeness lacking in their relationship, as I was the apple of her eye – the warmth and affection that she was unable to show to her son; she showered on me. I think Baba inherited her sharp intellect. Hajja Sa’a was also a woman of few words but when she did speak; she demonstrated incredible wordsmithery and the ease and speed at which she would add and subtract large numbers indicated what a mathematical genius she would have been had she gone to formal school. Hajja Sa’a died in September 1996 in Daura after a brief illness.

Growing up, while Baba was not one to play music (although he told me that he once had an enviable collection of classical music records and classic Hausa music tapes); without realizing, we made a lot of good acapella music with him as the composer and lead singer and us as the background choristers, the ‘yan amshi. When things did not go the way we expected them to, Baba would often sing the words of Narambaɗa to us:

‘’Wata rana a sha zuma,

wata rana a sha maɗaci,

haka duniya ta ke,

Jaafaru mai halin mazan jiya; zauna da lafiya,

mai ƙuli-ƙuli kawo na ɗari….’’

(Sometimes life offers us honey, sometimes life gives us bitters, that is how life is….).

These words have made an indelible mark on my psyche and as I grew older, I understood more the weight of those words. Whenever things do not go my way, or when they do go my way, I find myself singing ‘’wata rana a sha zuma, wata rana a sha maɗaci….’’ and I feel so much better or I restrain my joy as the case may be. Baba would also often make us chant after him “may I never rest, until my good is better and my better best” – subtly, without us realising that he was instilling the spirit of excellence and strong work ethic in each and everyone of us (his children). Baba taught us contentment – he would habitually say and make us repeat after him “If you can’t have what you want; want what you have.” When it was time for prayers, he would sing “haramar sallah” (prepare to pray) and we would all chorus “alwala” (ablution) – repeatedly as we all marched in different directions (to perform the ablution) only stopping the chants when we were out of sight of each other. Up to this day, Baba still sings haramar sallah to announce that it is time for prayers.

The most important lesson that I have learnt from my father is patience. Patience in adversity, patience in moments of lack and patience with the vicissitudes of life. In the early 2000s, Baba demonstrated uncommon patience. With the new government reforms, industries collapsed and all of Baba’s business interests suffered a major blow. He went from having so much to having very little or at times even nothing at all – but he persevered. Year in, year out, things got only but worse; but Baba accepted this fate with utmost grace – showing not an ounce of bitterness; and for this, he has my eternal reverence. Allah tells us that ‘’Verily, with hardship comes ease’’ (Qur’an 94:5) and indeed; with hardship came ease.

Finally, as the saying goes – “the best gift a father can give his children is to love their mother” and Baba has indeed shown Mama true love in words and in deeds. My parents do have an enviable relationship and their favourite past time is writing palindromes – Baba would write the first sentence in capitals and underline and Mama would complete the palindrome and you would find the piece of paper casually lying around on a table or stool in Baba’s living room. Baba would come back from an unusual trip to the grocery store and buy Mama a pack of Kellogg’s Special K cereal which she loves and he would say to her “here is some Special K for a special K” (in reference to her second name Kulthum). It would make her happy to no end – basking in the euphoria of a woman who knew her husband absolutely adored her.

They say nobody is perfect, but how perfect you are to me Baba! Happy 80th to a distinguished gentleman. Babarbare mai halin Fulani! Durɓin Daura! Papi! The estimable, the inestimable Baba! It is an incredible honour to be your daughter.

Ni ce, Fatima tim tim.  

Post Scriptum

Malam Mamman Daura was born on the 9^th of November, 1939 in Daura. He had his basic education at the Katsina Middle School and Secondary Education at the Government College, Okene. In the late 1950s, he was sent to the UK for higher education by the then Northern Regional Government as part of a small cohort of brilliant young northern men chosen by the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello. Malam Mamman Daura studied English Language, English Literature, Latin and British Constitution at Advanced Level at Bournemouth College. He was then admitted to the elitist Trinity College, Dublin (The Irish equivalent of Oxbridge) and received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Politics and a combined Masters degree in Public and Business Administration.  He returned home and joined the mainstream civil service. He subsequently moved to the New Nigerian Newspapers as Editor and eventually becoming its Managing Director. Thereafter, he left to set up a private industry – The Kaduna Furniture and Carpets Company (KFCC) which was at one time the largest furniture manufacturing company in West Africa. Malam Mamman Daura was a key driver of the northern Nigerian industrial revolution of the late 1970s and 1980s; with local and international partners and investors – setting up and managing the following industries: Kaduna Aluminium Ltd, Kaduna Machine Works, Boots Nigeria Ltd, United Nigeria Textiles Ltd (UNTL), Funtua Textiles (FTL), Arewa Textiles, Nortex and Finetex. He was at various times a director or board member, managing director or chairman of Hagameyer, Dunlop, African International Bank and APICO Insurance. He also played a key role in the management of the Northern Nigeria Development Company (NNDC), Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and Al-Huda Huda Printing Press. He was until recently, an active member of the philanthropic organisation – Gidauniyar Jihar Katsina (Katsina State Development Fund) as well as the Jama’atu Nasril Islam. He is married to Hajia Ummu Kulthum and together they have 5 daughters, 1 son and 14 grandchildren.

It is now evident, that our late son’s remains were interred in Ottawa without family consent and contrary to the wish of the deceased to be buried in his place of birth, Isanlu. To our shock and chagrin, this interment was carried out without the knowledge or consent of Prof. Adesanmi’s aged mother and his eldest daughter.

Since the death of our son in the ill-fated Ethiopian Airlines crash, we have been subjected to unspeakable disrespect, deceit and discourtesy by Boeing, Ethiopian Airlines and Prof Adesanmi’s widow in Ottawa. We want to place on record that neither Boeing, Ethiopian Airlines nor Prof. Adesanmi’s widow Olumuyiwa Balogun has done right by the family. We have not been called nor informed about the accident till date.

Prof. Adesanmi was born in Isanlu, in Kogi State to the Adesanmi family. We raised our son in the best custom of our ancestors and the Christian faith. Although his father, Pa Adesanmi passed before his son in relative old age, he is survived by his aged mother Mama Lois Adesanmi and two young daughters Oluwadamilare and Oluwatise. It is public knowledge in official and private circles that both children were born to Prof. Adesanmi in Ottawa to different mothers, in lawful wedlock .

Oluwadamilare ‘Dammy’ Adesanmi was born in wedlock to Pius and Oluwatosin in Ottawa. That makes Dammy a bona-fide Canadian citizen. It is disdainful to make it appear as if Pius is survived by one child. In our culture and before the law, children born in lawful wedlock have equal status before the law and society.

We are shocked and totally distraught to explain to the world that in regard to the shambolic burial in Ottawa on October 26, neither Mama Lois Adesanmi nor 12-year old Dammy were contacted by either Boeing or Ethiopian Airlines or Prof. Adesanmi’s surviving widow. Indeed since our world crashed with Pius last March, nobody has deemed it fit to officially contact his family in any official capacity.

If the airlines whose negligence led to the untimely death of our son has made contact with anyone on our behalf, it was incumbent on them to ensure that we were duly carried along by way of official information and that our consent is sought as to how our son’s remains would be interred.

We would like to place it on record that neither the airline nor anyone else bothered to seek our consent or approval before the purported ceremony in Ottawa.

Since March 10, we have struggled not to be offended by the disdainful disrespect to the soul of the dead and the indescribable agony to those precious to our son. No travesty of justice could befall a grieving mother than to learn about the interment of her only son via social media.

While one daughter was visibly present at the October 26 last event, we are at a loss as to how to explain to Dammy that her father has been buried without her knowledge or consent. This is incredibly agonizing for all of us except the organizers of the charade in Ottawa and their collaborators.

From third parties, we have been told that the decision to bury Adesanmi in Ottawa was taken by Ethiopian Airline in cahoots with the Canadian government just because Adesanmi identifies as a Nigerian-Canadian. It is on record publicly, that Pius expressed his wish to be buried in Isanlu, in Yagbaland almost half a decade before it happened. That dying wish has been flagrantly and disrespectfully discountenanced without an agreement by those most concerned.

If anybody could have overruled Pius’s wish on his final resting place, it ought to have been all members of his immediate family. We do not know of any law, norm or convention that disenfranchises the living, active and normal family members of a victim of a monumental tragedy such as has befallen us a say on their final wish.

It is obvious that, Boeing, Ethiopian Airlines and others working in cahoots with whoever carried out this insult upon a grave injury when it assented to this sham burial in Ottawa.

We are convinced that it is repugnant to natural justice to completely ostracise Dammy, Professor Adesanmi’s first seed from her father’s burial. Dammy is truly a teenager, but her rights are inalienable. Those rights have been trampled upon consistently since March 10.

It is most disrespectful that the shambolic funeral in Ottawa was deliberately organized to coincide with Mama Adesanm’s 78th birthday. We refuse to believe that this was not done deliberately to maximise the pain, the suffering and the agony of our matriarch. This was why, Pius’s best friends refused to dishonour his remains by attending this charade. We are in solidarity with their stance. The emotional and psychological damage brought by this purported burial has increased the obvious disrespect to the psychological and emotional well-being of the Adesanmi family by both Boeing, Ethiopian Airlines and those who lent their names and presence to it. We have waited since March 10 for explanations without any. We have now waited for over a week to hear that this nightmare is not happening. Alas, it appears to be true!

This statement is issued notwithstanding our rights in law, but in response to men and women of goodwill whose calls, messages and outreach has comforted us during this trying times. To those who have wondered why we did not call or invite them, we categorically say we learnt of the event less than a week before it happened from concerned friends. Even at that, we made strident efforts through living intermediaries to postpone the ceremony until at least Dammy could be present to say her final goodbye to her dad. We were met with concrete walls.

To our friends we say please be reassured that we would never have disrespected you like this. We are as much victims of the subterfuge that has been going on and the attempt by Boeing, Ethiopia Airlines and others to cause ill-will and disaffection in the Adesanmi family by their divide and rule tactics.

We remain resolute and would pursue our rights in law and in the courts of public opinion. We are committed to not impugning the legacy of our son by those who killed our joy and also purport to bury our dignity with him in Ottawa.

Signed
Mike Oyelude
Tel:+23408033087050
Email: mikeoyelude@gmail.com
Dated this 3rd day of November, 2019.

She was reported to have died on Wednesday evening at the Federal Medical Center, Gusau where she was rushed to for urgent medical attention immediately after setting herself ablaze in September this year because she believed that she was prevented from getting married to her suitor.

DAILY POST gathered that Aisha had sustained various degrees of injuries after setting her self on fire in a bid to terminate her life due to the failed marriage

Our reporter learnt that ever since she was admitted at the Federal Medical center hospital, (FMC) Gusau, the state government had been sponsoring her medical expenses.

It was learnt that the state government had also promised to arrange for the marriage between Aisha and her suitor, who had no money to pay her bride price as soon as she recovered.
It was also gathered that Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle had assured the parents of the girl that his administration would pay for the marriage between Aisha and her suitor, Umar Faruku.

Hundreds of sympathisers attended the burial of Aisha Bello and have been trooping to the house of her parents for condolences.

Her suitor, Faruku, who was also at the burial could not control himself as he was seen crying profusely for the lost of his beloved one.

He was seen seriously lamenting in Hausa dialect saying “I lost the girl who died because of me and I don’t know what I will do with my life because I loved her so much.”

However, the father of the teenager , Malam Ibrahim, called for prayers for Allah to allow her sou to rest in perfect peace.

The rightful position of the youth within the framework of national development of any society needs to be critically analyzed.

Any country with abundance of disillusioned and frustrated youths can never achieve its full potentials. That’s the universal truth.

One factor that’s crystal clear is that once we provide a platform for youth participation in public life, the positive prospects are endless.

This is often due to the energy, originality and creativity in thoughts and approach that youths bring over to the table.

The most frustrated section of our society is the youth. Over the years, the ripple effect of their lack of inclusion has prevented this otherwise vibrant clan from taking part in their rightful role within the evolution of the society they found themselves.

The onset of declining economic process has solely amplified the hardship being felt by youths across the board. In turn, the youths have been a number of the toughest hit, in want of imperative attention.

It is an established fact that today’s young are tomorrow’s innovators, thinkers, inventors, builders, and leaders, but they need the total support to pull down barriers and to remodel their ideas at the long run.

Globally, youths have created, and are still making marks in numerous fields of human endeavours together with sterling display of leadership skills.

The youth is an asset for national growth and development. There’s no gainsaying within the undeniable fact that the youths are in the productive stage of their lives. They need proper orientation from the responsible adults to approach the civic world with a positive mentality, youth agencies and civil rights teams must come in this respect to make sure that the youth build impact in national development of their several countries.

Generally, youths have innovative ideas and are turned on for modification in any capability they realize themselves, but the abundant desired modification within the political landscape will solely happen if the efforts of the youths are inspired by the larger society.

The youth must incline an opportunity to make use of their intellect. The young professionals from numerous academic backgrounds can create significant impacts within the economy by approach of contesting for elections and being appointed into political offices.

A passion to serve and move Nigeria towards her destiny must be at the centre of their hearts. It is bound that there’s nearly variant youth within the space, capable of and actively seeking work but being unable, for some reasons, to access good employment. As a result, their life decisions are considerably restricted, and that they are progressively exposed to a variety of vulnerabilities and threats. It’s disheartening.

We must ask ourselves why this is happening. Despite the non-public and money investment that goes into getting an education or occupation skills, it’s shameful that such efforts are undervalued within the next stages of one’s life due to a socioeconomic, political and cultural structure that failed to ensure inclusion and participation.

However, if they’re neglected and not provided opportunities to be productive, these same youths will exacerbate social tensions in their communities because as the English saying goes,” an angry man is a hungry man.”

Therefore, economic growth opportunities through youth development are galore if broach and nurtured fittingly. This is an undeniable fact that is accepted by all and varied, that the importance of youths as veritable tools for the development of any nation can’t be over stressed, neither can any society neglect her youths within the scheme of things in her quest after National, social, economic and political development.