solomon2day - Page 12 of 21

Shun Fetish and Diabolic means to Success-Cleric

By solomon2day
On 09/02/2021
In News

Quo 1 Nigerians have been advised to shun fetish and diabolic acts to achieve success.
This advice was given by Pastor Opeyemi Ajayi in a Chat with People.
''Several Nigerians now seek get rich quick solutions through fetish and diabolic means. There is nothing the devil will give an individual that it would not take back in another way. ''
''Nigerian should seek success through hard work and godly ways. There is always a price to pay by those who seek to be successful through fetish and diabolic methods. The evil that people do daily, is negatively affecting the prosperity of the country.
Nigerians should be hardworking and God-fearing to attain success,'' Pastor Ajayi stated.

Insecurity and Investments

By solomon2day
On 09/02/2021
In Solomon's Column

Insec It is not in dispute and contention that when killings, kidnappings, armed robberies, and violence characterize daily living, investments would be at zero levels.

Investors are now very suspicious and cautious.
Surprisingly those in charge at every level of government prefer to shield and protect the criminals who have committed heinous and grievous crimes against humanity, rather than do the same for helpless, defenseless, and grief-stricken citizens.
Indeed, happenings and unfolding events hinge the insecurity in the land to the selfish and evil interests of certain individuals.
Obviously, the criminals are the creation of those in charge and it is imperative that they are brought to justice, as the activities of the criminals have already started counting against the ''those who pay the piper.'' This, of course, would, in the long run, have a negative impact electorally.
Sadly, the high cost of living occasioned by the unfavorable policies of the government, ignorance, and insincerity, have prompted market men, women, and other traders to further trouble the disillusioned populace.
Consequent to the havoc wrecked by insecurity, it would be difficult, if not impossible for those in charge to deliver the dividends of democracy within their constitutionally stipulated tenure.
Interestingly, governance now thrives on lies, deceit, and propaganda.

Be the Vanguard of Truth

By solomon2day
On 09/02/2021
In Special Report

Prof 1 Truth avails the nation the opportunity to grow and develop while falsehood drives the people into madness and wretchedness to force the nation to heads towards the precipice.
Religion stands in teaching and enforcing truth to the people in order that they eschew all forms of falsehood to be able to uphold the culture of the sincerity of purpose. The failure of people to live exemplary lifestyles may be negatively infectious to other people who are yet to be taught from the houses of God, on the essentials of upholding the truth to offer just worship in their different religions.
A good reference is in Matthew 5: 43-48,''43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.''
In the same vein, the almighty Allah confirms the statement to the last letter. The creation of heaven and earth was based on truth.
The Holy Quran 29: 44 asserts, ''Allah created the heavens and the earth in truth: verily in that is a sign for those who believe.''
The almighty God expects all interpersonal relationships and transactions among mankind to be based on the sincerity of purpose amidst the culture of truth.
Only in truth, we can realize good governance, a virile and prosperous nation, zero tolerance to indiscipline and corruption for sustainable wellness of the people, and a hitch-free development in an environment that is safe and secured with peaceful co-existence.
The Holy Quran therefore, expects all Muslims to be the vanguard of truth for them to be good exemplars to people from other faiths such as the Jews, the Christians, and the Serbians, and any who believe in Allah or God and the last day and work righteousness with the non-discriminatory promise of a reward from their creator that they will live with all authority from their Lord of a life without fear or grief as expressly narrated in the Holy Quran 2: 62. From this set of people, we expect people from other faiths to learn and imbibe the culture of truth and non-injurious lifestyles to others, that is, keeping of good neighborliness.
In the holy Quran 2: 42, it is clearly stated and admonished for all like the people of Nigeria for example, and other nations that are struggling to live by the truth for professional ethics to be the basis of the fabric upon which the mainframe of all institutions, Ministries, Departments and Agencies and the government are to be built, in order to be progressive rather than retrogressive.
''And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when ye know what it is.''
The admonition, therefore, continues in the Holy Quran 2: 43-44 which if we can heed will solve our problems of insecurity and underdevelopment. ''And be steadfast in prayer: Give Zakat and bow down your heads with those who bow down in worship(live in humanity). The admonition now continues that we must all query our behavior and question our psyche on the level of heeding the admonition and why things go wrong with our nation. ''Do ye enjoy right conduct of the people and forget to practice it yourselves, and yet ye study the Scriptures?
Will ye not understand.''
All religious leaders need to examine their roles on the issue of been Scripture compliant and being answerable to God on making functional the religious system they uphold to be beneficial to community service and nation-building.
The Holy Quran 2: 119 is for our critical guide, ''Verily we have sent thee in truth as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner: But of thee, no question be asked of the companions of the blazing fire.''
Let us all take heed to be the vanguard of truth.

Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide,Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria

COVID 19-Kenya set to Distribute 7.5 million masks to Schools

By solomon2day
On 09/02/2021
In News

Kenya 6 The Ministry of Health in Kenya has earmarked 7.5 million masks for distribution to schools and those in the informal settlements.

The distribution shall be done through the Ministry of Education.
According to the Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha who made this disclosure, priority would be given to schools with a higher enrollment rate, those in informal settlements, special schools, and schools located in pockets of poverty.
Magoha also disclosed that pupils in Grade 4 to Grade 8 and secondary students will receive 2.25 million masks.
“The distribution will be cascaded to the regional and county levels. We have tasked the field officers to utilize the outlined criteria to select schools to benefit from the masks, which will be distributed as we receive them from the Ministry of Health,” the cabinet secretary stated.

The Courts and Obedience of its Orders

By solomon2day
On 02/02/2021
In Solomon's Column

Dis In this clime, a court ruling no matter how illegal it is remains a court order.
However, for a court order to be obeyed, the court issuing such an order must have the competence to issue the same.
Judgments emanating from courts in Nigeria have over time precipitated rather than solving problems.
A commonplace is moving from one jurisdiction to shopping for a convenient jurisdiction where to obtain an order for sinister purposes.
Most of the time the powers that be consent to such illegalities, while the police play out the scripts of the Executive.
Officials of the Judiciary are helpless since their survival, these days, depends on the designs of the Executive, even as the Legislature vigorously pursue self-driven interests.
The obedience of court order in this dispensation is selective and largely depends on the mindset of the power that is at different points in time.
This has no doubt tainted the image of the leadership at all levels to the extent that credit is no longer synonymous with good governance.
The courts are now a scourge to Nigerians as hopes give way to despair.

Taylor-Pearce ensuring Accountability in Sierra Leone

By solomon2day
On 02/02/2021
In News

Lara Tayor-Pearce is the Auditor General of Sierra Leone.
To ensure accountability, Taylor-Pearce decided
to allow the public access to the annual audit reports and in the process handed Sierra Leone’s citizens the power of public scrutiny.
They have used it to save lives, reverse injustices and prevent misplaced trust.
We should continue to ask for answers to the queries raised in the audit reports, but this shouldn’t be the extent of our aims.
The governance culture we really need is one that welcomes effective scrutiny and accountability, as a way for communities and decision-makers to work together on improving public service delivery.
Lara Taylor-Pearce’s vision of a public audit office that is allowed to do its work with the committed support of Parliament is a vitally important step towards achieving that goal.
As Auditor General, she shows us the possibilities of good governance in Sierra Leone. To achieve them, we have to start playing by the rules. All of us, without fear or favor.

Self-Centered Leaders are the Major Problems of Nigeria-Prof. Olagoke

By solomon2day
On 21/01/2021
In Special Report

Prof 1 Self-centeredness ensures that political office holders are observed in their own affairs to the extent of losing communication with the people.
The failure to communicate with the people brings forth challenges in governance, while the desperate bid to protect self-driven interests could pave the way for different forms of insecurity.
In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head, and Grand Imam of Shafauden-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that the self-centered nature of elected leaders is the major problem of underdeveloped nations, such as Nigeria.
Self-driven interests are now the major considerations in governance. Why is this so?
Self-centeredness falls into the lowest region of ego-building whereby a child up to the peak of its impressionable age will ever believe that every good thing must belong to him or her including his father's vehicle.
This is an Id region of human growth in which things are desired by mankind without considering the implications and consequences. They may even fight to possess what does not necessarily belong to them when found in the care of other people including their colleagues and parents.
Education is, therefore, expected for any individual to outgrow this region. When they are supposed to be regarded as been matured even though they are just entering the adolescent to puberty stage of their lives.
The exhibition of Id characteristics at this stage will attract a reaction from the society towards suspecting a psychological imbalance in such a person.
The adduced reason may be as a result of been overdependent on parents or guardians for their livelihood and upkeep.
In an unfortunate situation, it may be as a result of inherited traits from parents, such traits include stinginess.
Self-centeredness built into the ego region of any person will not only affect his or her expected contribution to society but equally affects negatively his or her relationship with others including his or her family members who are expected to be taken care of by him or her.
People with ego-based issues will find it difficult to uphold the concept of philanthropy in society for anybody including their kinsmen.
His or her expected age and opportunity of acquired wealth will cause such an individual a set-back and result in not reaching the super-ego region of life.
Such people, when given the opportunity to serve in sensitive positions of power, will easily develop the veins of Timocracy, whereby the individual would not see the essence of been in such positions of power for service, but more as an opportunity for business as usual and treasury looting. This is why the Yorubas believe that any individual acquiring wealth, illegally, to build an empire at the expense of his or her wellness, would eventually forfeit such wealth to other people after passing on to glory.
My belief is that the Scriptures also uphold this Yoruba philosophy.
The Yorubas equally teach us in their Proverbs that an elderly person who refuses to give out, most especially to the ladies and the younger ones, will not be noticed when such an individual is with tangible things on his head from the market place.
The life of charity is recommended for humankind to take care of the need of the world because the grasses are made for the purpose of the survival of the grasscutters.
The major problems of nations classified as underdeveloped or developing like Nigeria are not a result of a lack of natural resources -human and material-but because of the self-centered nature of their chosen leaders at all levels of governance.
It is rather unfortunate for any nation to have such a crop of people at the helm of affairs because under them kleptocracy would be the voice of their democracy, while the voters and the masses would reap the dividends of poverty because of the selfish nature of their leaders. A critical look into the reasons why several African nations suffer in the midst of plenty could be appreciated through the Maslow Hierarchy of Needs vis-a-vis, psychological needs, ensure safety and security needs, social needs of the people, self-esteem into the culture of integrity and actualization realm.
Expectedly, to be able to meet up, the Government must be able to effectively and maximally achieve in the areas of the provision of basic amenities for the purpose of people's wellness as well as the solid establishment of functional infrastructure for people to be dynamically productive through innovations and creativity to be able to go into job creation by people, coupled with government intervention on the issue of employment.
If this is truly achieved there would not be any form of agitations and security threat and the goal of democratic norms based on justice and equity would have produced for people the expected peace and sustainable development.

Self 1
This is the basis of comparison between the acclaimed developed world and the underdeveloped nations, Nigeria inclusive.
Furthermore, the animal called man grows from Id to the level of the super-ego, is expected to be rational in making policies and decisions that would be beneficial to others.
This is expected to reflect in the way we rear our children from their baby class to that of responsible adults.
Unfortunately, the degree of success rate is crystal clear at the peak of Maslow's hierarchy of need, that is actualization realm which dwells mostly on personal achievements which the ignorant society celebrate overwhelmingly without considering the impact of such achievements on others.
The in-built self-centeredness into the actualization realm manifests most when such people have the opportunity to be in positions of power.
Ego-centeredness characteristics then dominate his management and administrative dispensation.
Such people may end up being richer than the state or nation or the business empire they are saddled to manage in trust for the purpose of building the people they are meant to serve.
Sensitization, therefore, needs to be mounted against self-centeredness through Olagoke Attitudinal Hierarchy of Needs, whereby people should be made to realize at the entry point of having the opportunity of admission into the academics and recruitment into establishments, on the need to shun selfishness, indiscipline, and corruption, but focus on the goal of productivity, goodwill, and profit for the establishment and that their main concern should be service to the people without living above their means otherwise the promotion exercises would be meaningless.
The Olagoke Hierarchy of Attitudinal Needs professes that the actualization realm of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs must be the bae value for mentorship essence followed by ethical practices, role modeling role through exemplary lifestyles, altruistic philosophy to enhance the concept of charity and philanthropy among the people who are lucky to be rich to complement the efforts of the government in satisfying the yearnings of the people.
Above all, for true statesmanship to be achieved, experienced senior citizens must struggle to get into the class of total personality when the characteristic value of integrity, forgiveness, love, selfless service, and conflict resolution facilitated by wisdom would create the natural class of distinction for such an elderly person.
Under this condition, selfishness will pave way for the keeping of good neighborliness as well as the culture of philanthropy will emerge to sustain the people and their nation.

COVID 19-Zimbabwe First Lady calls for Fasting and Prayer

By solomon2day
On 21/01/2021
In News

Prayer The First Lady of Zimbabwe, Mrs. Auxilia Mnangagwa has called on all Zimbabwe women to observe three-day fasting and prayer for God to ward of the coronavirus pandemic presently ravaging Zimbabwe and the world.
Mrs. Mnangagwa made this cal in a statement.

“May I as the Mother of the Nation call upon all women in Zimbabwe, and all those abroad who may so wish, to join me in fasting and praying to the Lord the Almighty from tomorrow 21 to Saturday 23 January 2021 for our nation to be spared from further calamity and suffering,”

“Our country has witnessed a lot of Covid-19 deaths in the past two weeks. Death is within our communities, at our doorstep. There is no family that has not suffered the loss of their beloved ones because of the pandemic.
“Every day we hear of names that are succumbing.
“I thus humbly appeal to all women to commit to a three-day period from tomorrow in which we fast and pray to call for divine intervention to save the nation and our people.
“As women, we play a very important role in our society.”
“As mothers, let us enforce compliance at the family level with measures that reduce the spread of Covid-19 amongst us. We need a plan at the household level for regularly using any means at our disposal to clean and sanitize our homes; to ensure that everyone in the home knows the importance of having a mask and masking up properly; more importantly to organize sharp safe errands for our requirements to get going whilst enforcing the family to stay at home,” she said.
“Let us include the measures against Covid-19 as we play our motherly role of ensuring that every member of the family is responsible for their personal hygiene.

“As we avoid and fight stigmatization, let’s ensure that all members of the family have knowledge of how to help those that have been infected and are willing to assist those that get sick to cope whilst remaining safe from infection.
“As we pray for relief in our nation, we should observe the measures for safe praying. The best is to fast and pray as individuals in our homes, the First lady concluded.

COVID 19: 20,000 Arrested by Police-S.A Police Minister

By solomon2day
On 14/01/2021

Sa 4 About 20,000 people have been apprehended by the South African Police for not wearing face masks.
This disclosure was made on Wednesday in a statement by the country's Police Minister Bheki Cele who stressed that since December 29, offenders were either arrested or fined for breaching the new rules laid done by the Government.
Cele further said that 7,455 others were detained for not wearing face masks adding, ''law enforcement agencies do not enjoy making these arrests. However, officers… are left with no choice in the interest of saving lives.”

38th Annual Shafaudeen Ishrat Begins on Saturday

By solomon2day
On 14/01/2021
In The People Talk

Shaf Prof A lecture titled NIGERIA DEMOCRACY ON FUNCTIONALITY is one of the programs lined up to mark the 38th annual Ishrat of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, WakajaIye, Ibadan, Nigeria.

According to its Founder, Spiritual Head, and Grand Imam, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke who made this disclosure on Thursday at a news briefing, the lecture and Grand Finale of the annual Ishrat which is slated for 10.00 am on Saturday, 23 January 2021 shall also feature a book launch, the investiture of the nation builders, project commissioning and the 23rd Walimot Quran by the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Alhaji Ganiyy Abubakri Agbotomokekere The event holds at the Shafuadeen International headquarters, Wakajaiye, Ibadan.

Prof. Olagoke also disclosed that the opening ceremony of the Ishrat comes up on Saturday, 16 January with the Kiddies Sport, Inter-Schools Competition, and Novelty race at the Christ Church school field, Wakajaiye. The event which begins at 10.00 am, shall also feature a lecture titled ''YOUTH EMPOWERMENT MUST BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING FOR A GREATER TOMORROW.

Other events slated for the Ishrat include the 23rd Walimatul- Quran Validation test which comes up by 10.00 am on Sunday, 17 January, while an Interfaith Symposium is slated for Tuesday, 19 January at the CRCT Hall, Shafuadeen International headquarters, Wakajaiye, Ibadan at 10.00 am.

The Rasool Cup Under 18 Football tournament Final comes up Wednesday, 20 January, at the Loyola College field at 2.00 pm in the afternoon, while the annual Ishrat Tajud shall take place the next day, 21 January at the Shafuadeen International headquarters, Wakajaiye, Ibadan from 9.00 pm in the evening to 5.00 am the next morning.

A youth empowerment seminar with the theme Nigeria Youth Agenda for Government Benefits in Actualizing the Feasible Ones is slated for Friday, 22 January at the Shafuadeen International headquarters, Wakajaiye, Ibadan. Other events are also slated for the same day. Farwell and thanksgiving come up at 10.00 are on Sunday, 24 January.

Prof. Olagoke assured that all COVID 19 protocols shall be strictly observed all through the Ishrat.

Nigerian Children's Place in a Sane Society

By solomon2day
On 04/01/2021
In Solomon's Column

Quote 3 Morality Most public primary and secondary school students learn in environments that are not encouraging in Nigeria.
The facilities have been stretched to obsolete conditions as a result of improper planning by the government at all levels.
Considering the dilapidated toilet facilities in several of these schools and the absence of potable and drinkable water, the potential outbreak of an epidemic cannot be rule out.
Teachers are no longer dedicated to duty due to their nightmarish working conditions.
Cultism has taken root in most of these schools, while ''armed robbers'' in school uniforms dot the nooks and crannies of every par of the country.
Of worry, is the lack of sincerity on the part of the government in the implementation of programs and policies.
On the part of the private schools, moral decadence, which is a major feature in the public schools, the issue, while examination malpractices and fraud are also noticeable signposts.
Furthermore, the attitude of the government and people in a number of states in the country downplays the reality of the coronavirus pandemic, while the present state of several schools in these states, the non-availability of potable water, and the dilapidated facilities could expose students and teachers alike to serious health hazards, the coronavirus pandemic inclusive.
Or worry also is the fact that several communities in Nigeria are under siege by various categories of criminals. The sight of young boys, in the midst of adults, smoking Indian hemp is now commonplace, majorly at primary schools without perimeter fencing.
In addition young girls, have now taken to prostitution on the promptings of their mothers and guardians to make ends meet. A visit to several beer parlors, ''Ogogoro'' joins scattered all over the country shall be instructive. Such include communities Molusi, Solanke, Oyegbami, Oshodi, Olorunsogo, Alko/Barracks, Felele, Scout Camp, and others in Ibadan Oyo state.
If an urgent step is not taken to salvage the almost hopeless situation, millions of Nigerian children may no longer have a place in a sane society.

Religion and People's Hopes

By solomon2day
On 04/01/2021
In The People Talk

Prof sabitu olagoke 6 The special arrangement of God is that people must be well cultured into the ethos of integrity even at the raw stage of their lives and that they must be well educated through affective, cognitive, and psychomotor domains into the culture of organizational and professional ethics and to the glorious level of understanding the word of God through the Scriptures to the application realm of exemplary lifestyles for them to be able to get to the credence level of leadership credibility that will make them key easily into good management and effective administrative network for good governance in any capacity they may be called upon to serve.

This is why the Almighty God admonished us to embrace the culture and environment of love for other organs of life to be effectively functional.

1Cor. 13: 13, refers, ''So these three things continue: Faith, Hope, and Love. And the greatest of these is love.''

And all these things work for the people as reported by the Holy Quran and the Holy Bible to the outstanding level of realizable objectives for the Holy Prophets in the Holy Quran and the Holy Bible.

It used to work, even in the old times, in Nigeria, when the number of Churches and Mosques, as well as the number of schools, could easily be counted without any mental task.

In those glorious days, except that God did not approve of idolizing such objects into gods and goddesses. Miracles were truly wrought and solutions to human problems were easily solved by these three sectors of spiritual importance.

This was because people loved themselves and kept good neighborliness. There was scanty money in the hands, but the food was in abundance to satisfy the physiological needs of the people.

Stories of hired killings, armed robberies, insurgency, and other violent crimes were alien to the people, while everyone cared for his neighbor with passion. The absence of care today has resulted in human intolerance, institutional indiscipline, economic sabotage, ritual killings for quick money, the craze for wealth to the level of what is not needed, greed and avarice, self-centeredness, and business as usual in positions of authority are all anti-scriptural and anti-thetical to the society, with this kind of environment, just worship is difficult to be realized even with the population target theory of the Churches and the power-grabbing focus of the Muslims as well as the countless number of Churches, Mosques and other faith-based organizations. Religious leaders and their adherents are now swimming in the viscose of political theater, confused as they are and neither been accepted by the society or trusted as the messengers or people.

We all need to retrace our steps back into the ordinances of God as scripted in the curricula of religion. It is a matter of regret that today, no religious leaders can with the certainty of authority

repeat the statement of Jesus Christ without been booed.

Matthew 11: 28-30, refers, ''Come to me all you people that are tired and have heavy burdens. I will give you rest, accept my work, and learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, the work that I ask you to accept is easy, the burden I give you to carry is not heavy.''

People without exemplary lifestyles and with records of rot in the past cannot be trusted with the above statement, this is because followers may be hoodwinked, but not all of them can be cajoled.

In the same way, the area of character attestation is emphasized by the Holy Quran, with the reward of relief from heavy burdens from any form of yokes.

With the submissions of God, the almighty Allah, in the Holy Quran 7: 157 critical surveys on Muslim leaders and in-depth research on their conduct reveal that the beautiful ones are not yet born, most especially in Nigeria.

This is why we cannot credit reasonable input into the nation-building to these two dominant religions in Nigeria, including the other faith-based organizations because of the lack of been Scripture compliance.

Quran 7: 157 refers, ''Those who follow the messenger, the unlettered prophet, who they find mentioned in their own Scriptures,-in Taurat and the Gospel;-For he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good and pure, and prohibits them from what is bad and impure: he releases them from their burdens and from the yokes that are upon them: So it is those who believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him,- it is they who will prosper.''

The analysis of the above quote shows the characteristic feature of the attitudinal building and character attestation], the benefit of been Scripture compliant as a reward of freedom from the devil and divine healing for the adherents to realize their nutrition, health, and wellness needs.

For such a person to maintain and sustain the lofty

the reward that cannot be bought with money and that cannot be given by people, they must strictly follow the ideals of the prophets of their chosen religion like Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad.

For us as living souls, let us follow the contents of Quran 4: 59 to meet up.

Quran 4: 59,''O believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. Should you disagree on anything, then refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you ˹truly˺ believe in Allah and the Last Day. This is the best and fairest resolution.''

Let us be Scripture compliant for just worship in our chosen religion to be able to have sufficient spiritual endowment to drive our socio-economic and political desires to the point of maximum realization without hitch.

Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide,Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

By solomon2day
On 24/12/2020
In Pictures

This is wishing you a merry christmas and a prosperous new year

Sycophants Responsible for Nigeria's Worrisome Situation-Prof. Olagoke

By solomon2day
On 17/12/2020
In Special Report

Prof 1 Sychophants are present at all levels of Government. Their activities have become a stumbling block to development and economic prosperity.
A one-time president of Nigeria, the late Alhaji Sheu Shagari while commenting on the reason why Nigerian leaders failed in their office of responsibility, had said ''any leader who wants to succeed must check the activities of sycophants...... sycophants within the corridors of power have to a great extent made it difficult for a leader to be aware of the problem facing their people and what to do to alleviate their suffering.''
In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head, and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that the negative culture of bastardization, insincerity, and destruction revolving around the activities of sycophants, have already crept into all the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies at all levels of government in Nigeria. Excerpts :
The insinuation among Nigerians is that sycophancy is the foundation for bad governance in the country. Do you agree?
Sycophancy is regarded as obsequious behavior towards someone of importance in order to gain an advantage. It is unfortunate that this is what has characterized the general features of our governance style in Nigeria. This has affected our ability to meet up with the standard of governance as propounded by the United Nations Development Program, that is, people's participation, respect for the rule of law, transparency in governance, responsiveness to people's yearnings and sense of want, equity in the distribution of our commonwealth most especially to the nationalities that constitute Nigeria. Other factors that have been traced to the activities of sycophants include
efficiency in productivity against the general loss of goodwill leading to our inability to pass the test of corporate governance perception index,
accountability as against the present records of treasury looting and corruption and strategic vision as against the present fire brigade approach in managing the affairs of the country and
lack of good governance due to sycophantic behavior of subordinates most especially those put in positions of responsibilities to feed the presidency or the State Governors has always been a grievous setback in achieving sustainable development in Nigeria.
Expectedly, democracy must stand on the two legs of justice and equity to give peace a place in the present state of insecurity claiming lives and property as well as impoverishing the people.
Democracy is expected to make those put in positions of power responsive and responsible in focusing on the wellness of the people.
Governance and democracy must therefore focus on the well being of the citizens to ensure that the eight-point component are intrinsically present in every person been governed through the following assessed wellness indices: sound mind, physically fit individuals, community participation for progress and development, good work attitude for high efficiency and productivity, safe and secured clean environment, emotional balance, high and pious spiritual state as well as finances that can support and sustain an individual and his dependants.

Sycophancy, therefore, has to do with bootlicking, trading in lies, deceit, propaganda for the person in charge of leadership, management, or governance to a misleading state of affairs.
Sycophancy often breeds anti-societal behavior to the amazement of the people in charge of the affairs of the state as could be witnessed in various processes of elections and appointments.
Sycophants in government, also constitute fifth columnists, they either work for the government in power or the opposition, without any consideration for the consequences on the development of the nation and the wellness of the people-the cartel and the cabal.
There is, therefore, the need for a paradigm shift from the culture of sycophancy to that of competence and merit, good work attitude, and appointment for people that would be responsive and responsible, fair and objective. This is because the negative culture of bastardization, insincerity, and destruction revolving around the activities of sycophants, have already crept into all the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies at all levels of government, besides this, it has destroyed the fabric of peaceful co-existence as well as all aspects of the general society, thereby, making sycophancy to be endemic and dangerous enough to pull down the nation.
Failure of leaders in a democracy to ensure good governance, the provision of functional infrastructure, and basic amenities for the wellness of all Nigerians, irrespective of their economic class will ever create a state of anarchy. Stop sycophantic acts.

Richard Gbadebo: Oyo Govt. Reluctant to Ensure Justice for Dead Factory Worker-Barr. Aborishade

By solomon2day
On 17/12/2020
In News

The Oyo State Government has been accused of working against ensuring justice for the family of a 21-year-old undergraduate who lost his life in a factory incident in Ibadan, Nigeria.
This accusation was made on Wednesday by Barrister Femi Aborishade at an event in Ibadan.
''The Federal and Oyo state Governments have failed a worker who was consumed by the machine he was working with, Richard Gbadebo, an undergraduate of European Languages at the University of Ibadan. We wrote the Governor of Oyo state to prosecute the company, not even a reply to acknowledge the letter, we wrote the Attorney General, not even an acknowledgment came from his office, we wrote the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, they could not even acknowledge our letter. Same for the Commissioner of Environment, there was no acknowledgment, not even a reply. We wrote the Federal Ministry of Labor, the Minister through the Controller of Labor acknowledged our letter, they informed us that they have forwarded our request to look into what went wrong and also assured that the Minister of labor has been informed and we also received a letter that a panel has been set up'', Barrister Abroishade explained.

The Uncooperative Attitude of the Leadership

By solomon2day
On 15/12/2020

Nigerians are worse off than they were six years ago in terms of development and economic empowerment.

The people are greatly disappointed.
The three tiers of Government share the problems in varying proportions. What is this democracy all about? This is the question on the lip of most Nigerians.
The debate revolves around the improper implementation of the annual budget at all levels of governance. Those in charge of the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies have been given money to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people, but this is yet to be visibly done.
The responsibility of a political party when it comes to governance is to ensure that the Government implements the programs it promised the people during electioneering campaigns. Along this line, the party has done little or nothing.
Interestingly, the leadership of both arms of the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly seem unperturbed.
This is so because the Executive determines what the Legislature receives. The Legislature has the constitutional duty to call the Executive to order, but sadly as issues of national importance linger, the Legislature is still in ''coma''.
The abduction of 333 students of the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina state, by gunmen riding in about 150 motorcycles, last week Friday, is just one of several issues of national importance.
Indeed, political appointees and political office holders, who equip hoodlums masquerading as artisans and petty traders with motorcycles and other equipment, are responsible for the increase in crime and criminality in several communities in the country.
Such communities include Molusi, Solanke, Oshodi, Olorunsogo, Aluko/Barracks, Felele, Scout Camp, and environs in Ibadan, Oyo state, where okada riders, mechanics, petty traders behind the St. Annes Schools fence, beer parlor owners are daring and brazing committing crimes with impunity. Since law enforcement agencies give them covert support.
At the Molusi junction,(ASAS) bus stop, Molete, hoodlums who masquerading as okada riders led by one ''Brother Bayo, a diminutive vulcanizer, and a spare parts seller, daily export, harass, intimidate and attack innocent citizens, despite the fact that a team of the Rapid Response Squad(RSS) fo the state Government is located under the Molete bridge, a stone's throw from the scene of the crime.

Moral Decadence, Indiscipline and the Marriage Institution

By solomon2day
On 15/12/2020
In The People Talk

Prof The marriage institution is a blessing to mankind to raise man up to a higher plane of operation above the animals which go about reproductive processes without nay guide, once they are moved into the romantic ecstasy of love affairs, they mate at all costs with their weaker female counterparts even their mothers, except in the known species of the horse which has never been into the practice of incest and the weaver bird which obeys a perfect arrangement of divine importance to go through clean courtship period before they finally go into wedlock. A male weaver bird at the ripe age of puberty stage woos a female counterpart for days and months, during this period they will have nothing to do with mating and illegal sexual experience. The male is charged by the female to build a nest to prepare for the housing need after going into wedlock.

The female, upon the male's claim of completing the nest, would be invited to examine for acceptability the newly built nest, if it is not acceptable by the female counterpart, the male has two options to rebuild to the female's taste or lose the female to another more serious male elsewhere. When eventually, there is a consensus, they move in immediately to commence their honeymoon as a newly wedded couple.

The reminiscence of this can be likened to the marriage institution process for mankind, our culture and religion agree on fidelity concept for nay marriage solemnization to take place by the Alfas or Pastors.

Luckily, for the institutions of culture and religion, the backup Scriptures are there for the perfect guide. For example, the culture of fidelity on the part of the male and female must be upheld, most especially on the premise of virginity of the girl-child and abstinence from promiscuous acts. On these, the following factors of conditions must be ascertained before any marriage solemnization take place-1)mutual consent between the two intending couples to ensure maturity on both sides, absence of forced marriage, and a case of minor marriage to respect the fundamental human rights of the intending couples to feel and realize love in the proposed contract. Secondly, research-based consent of the parents of the male and the female for the marriage to take place with due regards for their children's state for the mind and wellness factor as well as ascertaining the suitability of the intending in-laws to be integrated into both families for a better future of the marriage.

The third is the factor of weaknesses to the journey of the intending couples to avoid future allegations by people from outside the marriage which is usually revolving around charges of infidelity and cheating which may ultimately lead to disaffection in the newly formed family and possible separation or divorce.

The fourth is the intending husband's appreciation of winning the hearts of the sweetheart, this is always appreciated through a substantial amount of money for the male winning the love of his heartthrob(Quran 4: 4.'' And give your wives their share of the dowry and then if they willingly participate in it with you, it is not objectionable and is legal for you.'')

With all these perfect arrangements from God, why is it that many marriages suffer from separation or divorce? Knowing fully well that Jesus Christ condemned the practice outrightly because of its socio-spiritual implications. For example Mathew 5: 31-32 is sufficient to guide to go about marriage and keep it.

Mathew 5: 31-32

31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’

32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.''

From the perspective of Islam, the Holy Quran 24 : 3 refers to ''A male fornicator would only marry a female fornicator or idolatress. And a female fornicator would only be married to a fornicator or idolater. This is ˹all˺ forbidden to the believers.''

The fallout of broken homes is separation or divorce which usually make the children or product of the marriage to be vulnerable to various hazards of life.

The Holy Quran 17: 32 refers to ''And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.'' What a great act of socio-spiritual implication. The counseling factors in the marriage institution is very essential to maintain and sustain it. For example, Ephesians 4: 21-25, ''21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.'' This is a counsel for husbands and wives on mutual relationships.''

In the same way, Quran 4: 34, emphasizes the process of convening, maintaining, and sustaining marriage which usually among human being always goes through the rigor of declining stages in relationships. The courtship period with glowing love region or cosmetic values usually blindfolds the intending couples about the reality of themselves. The wedding night is known to be a honeymoon period, before a year of the marriage, there is a reality check, then after a year, couples expect the following declining stages which must be managed effectively, he nagging period, suspicious management period, threat region and possibly third party intervention, the purple riot decision region metamorphosing into coping dope or separation threat.

The Holy Quran 4: 34 states that ''Men are the caretakers of women, as men have been provisioned by Allah over women and tasked with supporting them financially. And righteous women are devoutly obedient and, when alone, protective of what Allah has entrusted them with.1And if you sense ill-conduct from your women, advise them ˹first˺, ˹if they persist,˺ do not share their beds, ˹but if they still persist,˺ then discipline them ˹gently˺. But if they change their ways, do not be unjust to them. Surely Allah is Most High, All-Great.'' For the women, their responsibilities in the home must be based '' therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient and guard in the husband's absence what Allah would have them, guard.''

In the same verse, the almighty Allah says men must be tolerable and super counselors who teach patience through a clear understanding, until there is a change in the character of the woman for good, who the men must not cheat, but rule over them through the fear of God. The marriage institution is sacred and must be revered as such to be able to generate good and reliable homes that would produce good future leaders for the nation to move forward.

Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide,Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria

The LORD Our Righteous Savior

By solomon2day
On 15/12/2020
In Pictures

Jeremiah 23 : 5-6

5 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.

Don't' Keep Quiet in the Face of Hardships-AWC to Nigerians

By solomon2day
On 17/11/2020

Nigerians have been called upon not to keep quiet in the face of hardships.
This call was made by the All Workers Convergence(AWC) through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.
''Nigerians are now been visited with more hardships because labor leaders are sleeping. On the side of the Government, our rulers have shown that they have nothing to offer rather than the fact that things would go from bad to worse, therefore it is left for Nigerians to decide their fate if they want the hardships to continue they can keep quiet'', Comrade Emelieze concluded.

Religious Inspiration for Social Drive

By solomon2day
On 17/11/2020
In The People Talk

Despite the countless number of Churches and Mosques in Nigeria and other faith-based organizations from which our leaders emerge as products of our spiritual space, Nigeria is yet to tackle the issue of institutional indiscipline, injustice, and marginalization.
The Holy Quran unmistakably charges every human being and the nation at large, to fight fraud and enthrone sanity for development. 5: 62-63 refers, '' Many of them thous dost see raising each other in sin and transgression and their eating of things forbidden, evil indeed are the things they do, why do not the Rabbis and the Doctors of law forbid them from their habit of uttering sinful words and eating things forbidden? Evil indeed is their works.'' The Holy Bible also admonished against oppressing the poor, it is therefore highly embarrassing for the government to talk of the poorest of the poor in Nigeria's democracy, while what we battled against under the military regime was unabating poverty. Proverbs 22: 22-23 refers,'' It is easy to steal from the poor people, but don't do it and don't take advantage of those poor people in court. The Lord is on their side, He supports them and He will take things away from any person that takes from them.'' Presently, we can see that religion is been underutilized to achieve in the areas of safety and security protocols for the environment, spiritual inspiration needs to articulate the social drive of the people for sustainable development and to advance the cause of credible leadership and good governance. The implication on the faith-based organizations is that of underperformance and low success rate, considering the coverage level of the curricula upholding them. We must not give in to people who are yet to believe in religious sanity and effectiveness for nation-building to insinuate that the Scriptures are dead. Let us change the face of religious practices in our various religious centers to be more focused on our needs as a nation. Nigeria can still be inspired into meeting up the demands of democracy for functional operations, justice, equity, peace, security, and sustainable development since all these values are dependent on the people.

Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide,Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria

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