People
  1. Home
  2. Happenings
  3. solomon2day

Posts by solomon2day

  • Abj

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

    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.
     

  • Re

    Religious Inspiration for Social Drive

    Prof 1Despite 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

  • Re

    Avoid Underutilization in Religious Potentials

    Prof 1The Holy Quran 30: 41-42, states that ''Mischief has appeared on land and sea because of the need that the hands of men have earned, that Allah may give them a taste of some of their deeds: in order that they may turn back from evil. Say: Travel through  the earth and see what was the end of those  before you: Most of them were idolators (hypocrite, liars, infidels, etc.)

    From the perspective of the Holy Bible, Mathew 10: 20, then Jesus criticized the cities where he did most of his miracles. Jesus criticized those cities because the people there did not change their lives and stop sinning.''
    On a serious note, Nigeria is blessed with several Churches, Mosques, and other faith-based houses of God, but their religious leaders neither fear God nor are Scripture compliant, for them to have the necessary impact on their people, the high and the low.
    Although daily, they conduct services with music, funeral services inclusive, yet the people's behavior are yet to change for the better.
    If the Holy Prophet Mohammed happened to be alive today,  the regret would not spare all the Muslims for not ben able to use the Holy Quran to effect the necessary changes.
    For Nigeria to be prevented from heading for the precipice, all the houses of God must be made to be alive to their responsibilities of teaching the Scripture for people's true followership and practice, to be able to live exemplary lifestyles that would be bequeathable as a legacy to the future generation.
    We must allow God to illuminate all houses of God for worshipers to radiate light into the society and for sanity to reign supreme so that the mechanics of al the machinery of operation are allowed to work without hindrance to promote competence and work attitude that is efficient and for everybody to be responsive and responsible. Citizens on the issue of patriotism for true development, the best solution is to follow a divine path of honor, whereby the religious systems are alive to their responsibilities of educating, admonishing, and processing al adherents onto the path of righteousness to be spiritually charged enough into a state of trust, reliability, and dependability when challenged with the social responsibilities of management and administration, transparency and accountability for the purpose of good governance.
    The Holy Quran 30: 43 states, ''But set thou thy face to the right religions before there come from Allah  the Day which there is no  chance of averting: on that Day shall men be divided in two, those who reject faith(doing things aright) will suffer from that rejection: and those who work  righteousness will make provision for themselves(even in heaven).''
    Let us avoid underutilization of the potentials in our religions because human failure to tap the anointing will eventually deactivate them into a ruinous end. God forbid.

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

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

  • F and m

    Good Parenting an Antidote to Social Upheaval

    Prof 1Why should we allow things to fall apart ? and Why should we keep mute in the face of bad governance? Why should leadership failure characterize governance and home parenting?
    The Holy Quran 47: 35 -36 charges all of us to avoid ''siddon look'' attitude, ''Be not weary and faint-hearted, crying for peace when ye are the Uppermost. For Allah is with you, and will never put you in lose for your good deeds. The life of this world is but play and amusement: And if ye believe and guard at this evil, He will grant you your recompense, and will not ask you to give up your possessions.''
    For Nigeria and other nations to be restored into a state of sanity, prosperity, and welfare, peace, and development, the voice of God, our creator must be regarded as the giver of life, that must be cherished beyond the mere mortal voice of wisdom, hence there is a need to operationalize the scriptures in running human affairs.
    The submission of the Holy Bible for the purpose of genuine restoration needs to be heeded. Prov.10: 15-17,'' Wealth protects the rich person. And poverty destroys a poor person (good governance, hard work, and dignity of labor are desired here). If a person does good, then he is rewarded. Heis has given life. Evil brings only punishment(freedom, liberty, and correctional centers/prison, choose one).
    A person who learns from his punishment can help other people to live too. But a person who refuses to learn only leads people the wrong way(true mentorship is desired rather than godfatherism).
    To promote good citizenry, for the society, the elders must role model virtue because only a development that is sustainable is bequeathable. What are we putting forward for Nigeria tomorrow?
    The Holy Quran 59: 18 admonished, ''O ye who believe! Fear Allah and let every soul look to what provision he has sent forth for the morrow. Ye: Fear Allah: for Allah is well acquainted with all that ye do ''. Doing things accordingly and in an orderly manner is a function of due process
     which a pathway to one's understanding of the fear of Allah.''
    Since the product of the home needs to be nature nurtured for the society to enjoy peace and the nation to have credible leaders, heeding the admonition of God must start from the home for the nation to have a strong foundation upon which it has to build for the nation to have good governance and sustainable development.
     Psalm 127 with all affirmation declared that without divine intervention those who labor to build a house will ever labor in vain.
    However, divine intervention is beyond the ability to read, write, and sing the provisions of the scripture, it extends strictly to the vitamins of good attitude which is expected to produce good citizens for any nation.
    The foundation of God, good parenting, disciplined, responsible, and loyal subordination most especially to parents and one's leader, with good interpersonal relationships to keep good neighborliness, are the essential subject content to keep the home, society, and the nation.
    This is the message of the Holy Quran 6: 151-152,'' Say come, I will rehearse what Allah hath really prohibited you from Join not anything with Him: Be good to your parents; Kill not your children on a plea of want;-will provide sustenance for you and for them; come not nigh to indecent deeds whether open or secret; take not life which Allah hath made sacred except by way of justice and law: Thusdothhe command you that ye may learn wisdom. And come not nigh to the orphan's property, except to improve it until he attains the age of full strength; give measure and weight with full justice;-no burden do we place on any soul, but that which it can bear;-whenever ye speak, speak justly even if a near relative is concerned covenant of Allah-thus doth He commands you, that ye may remember. Verily, this is My Way leading straight: follow it: follow not other parts: They will scatter you about from His Path, thus doth He command you that ye may be righteous.
    This is a complete guide for a fulfilled life, if we can follow all these steps of admonitions based on justice ethics and the need to be responsive and responsible to the needs of others, the family and neighbors inclusive.

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

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

  • Religion 1

    Are the Scriptures Dead ?

     Prof 1Are the scriptures dead?

    This statement becomes a matter of debate even among religious people. This inscription attracts motorists when they are on motion along the Ibadan/Lagos expressway just after the toll gate. LOne should expect reactions from religious people most especially as popular in Nigeria-the Christians and the Muslims-but none of them have so far raised eyebrows. One would first of all think that the silence which may connote agreement must have been as a result of the constitution f the members of the group that disowned God and all religions are constituted by the conglomerate of the Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists, most especially those who are tired of the way Christianity and Islam are been practiced, look for another messiah on earth.
    However, a critical study of the Holy Bible of the Christians and the Holy Quran of the Muslims condemn the consent implied by their silence.
    If one should go by the provisions of the Holy Quran 2: 62, ''Those who believe in the Quran(that is the true Muslims), and those who follow the Jewish scriptures(that is Judaism) and the Christians and the Serbians(that is true followers of Jesus Chris and the true followers of John the Baptist),-any who believe in Allah(that is God almighty) and the Lats Day, and work with their Lord: on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.''
    From the biblical point of view, Rev. 22: 18-19,'' I warn every person that hears the word of the prophecy of the book: if a person  adds anything to these words, then God will give that person the troubles written in this book and if any person takes away from the words of this book of prophecy then God will take away that person's share of the tree of life and of the holy city which are written about this book.''
    Al these authentic statements of fact are expected to be worked on y operationalizing that provisions of the scriptures even when they seem difficult to follow. This is why the Holy Quran  61:2-4 states that,'' Oh ye who believe! Why say ye that which ye do not? Grievously hateful is it in the sight of Allah that ye say that which ye do not. Truly Allah loves those the cause in battle array(that is consistency in goodness-thoughts, acts, deeds, and words) as if they were a solid cemented structure(concrete reinforcement through fabricated iron or steel)''.
    Suffice it now to say that the Muslims and Christians if truly they follow their scriptures would have received the grace of the provisions of 2 Tim. 3: 16-17(that is ''all scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing the things that are wrong in their lives. I t is useful for correcting faults and teaching how to live right. Using the  Scriptures the person who serves God would be ready and would have everything he or she needs to do every good work(management, administration, governance, credible leadership, sustainable development, etc.)
    Church and Mosque goers are expected to be good citizens of their nations with the following moral disciplines characterized by a positive mindset (that is positive self-image). All the glory of being relevant in all facets of global best practices because we are all operating at the global market phase that deserves competition among the people of all races, self-confidence, self-esteem, and all-encompassing core values of integrity as well as a positive mental attitude that are necessary to always be at peace with neighbors with the glorious advantage of taking firm, accurate and precise decisions always. Muslims and Christians are expected to be prime movers with a high level of reliability and dependability factors in those areas of transparency and accountability in the face of probity.
    However, all these global qualities are lacking in Nigerian Christians and Muslims, implying that they have failed God and humanity to allow such a derogatory statement to the Scriptures. When observers are 'blind', it does not mean that there is no light during the day, when religious leaders fail all divine tests, it does not mean that the Scriptures are dead. 
    Suffice it now to say that the Scriptures must be alive in every adherent because the Bible and the Holy Quran attests with all certainty from the Bible Rev. 22: 20-21,'' Jesus is the one that says that these things are true, Now He says yes I am coming soon.'' Amen come, Lord Jesus,(the grace and kindness) of the Lord Jesus be with all people.
    And from the Holy Quran 43: 61, ''  And Jesus shall the sign of the coming of the hour(of judgment): therefore have no doubt about the hour,  but follow ye Me: this is a straightway.''
     For the Scriptures not to die, the Muslims and the Christians must be scripture compliant as good citizens of their nations, with characteristic feasible, viable, and equitable sustainable development that should manifest. On a final note, the Scriptures are not dead.

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

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

  • Reli

    Uphold Love to Justify Religious Worship

    Prof 1Religion to every person is just like oxygen to every living being.
    When it is allowed to be fraught with sins and crimes it lacks the body preservation essence and when the worshipper allows satan to overwhelm and control his or her psyche and mind, divine immunity is lost just as an individual becomes possessed by the evil spirit.
    This is why the almighty stated that we must totally get committed to the cause of our different religious beliefs as it is in the Holy Quran 2: 208-209, '' Oh ye who believe! enter into Islam wholeheartedly and follow not the footsteps of Satan, for he is to you an avowed enemy. If ye backslide after the clear signs have come to you then know that Allah is exalted in Power, Wise.''
    For us, therefore, to go about our religious worship, the scripture is the vital curriculum for the maximum guide to be able to have just worship.
    This is why the Almighty Allah separates the chaff from the wheat by making a clear admonition on the use of the scripture of one's upheld religion, as stated in Quran 16: 98-100,'' When thou dost read the Quran, seek Allah's protection from Satan the rejected one. No authority has him over those who believe and put their trust in the Lord.''
     His authority is over those only who take Him as patron and who join partners with Allah.
    Our inability, therefore, to give the Almighty Allah just worship is the source of various travails traumatizing poverty in the religions of various observable sins and crimes: fornication, adultery, kidnapping, pedophilia, incest, armed robbery among other heinous and grievous crimes.
    This is in line with the promise of satan as expressed in Quran 4: 119-120, ''I will mislead them, and I will order them to slit the ears of cattle and deface the fair nature created by Allah.'', '' Whoever, forsake Allah, takes satan for a friend, hath of a surety suffered a loss that is manifest. Satan makes them promises and creates in them false hopes, but satan's promises are nothing but deception.''
    The allegory over this is that as a pollutant contaminate the air, making the environment to be hostile to human existence, satanic infiltration into human worship of his creator will ever create an air of destruction on earth.
    Suffice it now to say that we must be scripture complaint to be godly for our religion to be beneficial to man and his environment.
    Let us, therefore, take  to God's admonition without bias to the source of which may be the Holy Quran, New or Old Testaments of the Holy Bible, provided that the contents are issue-driven as in the case of 1 Corinth: 13-13'' So these three things continue: Faith, Hope and Love and the greatest of this is Love.''
    Religious worship is an environment of hate or no love that renders useless the faith, just as there is no hope in religious practice that lacks just worship.
    To save self, the community, and the nation from the deluge of havoc and satanic embarrassment, let us create an environment of love and just worship to reap the dividend of religion in the form of justice, equity, peace, security, prosperity, and sustainable development, most especially for Nigeria.

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

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

     
     

  • Ni 3

    Shortcomings in the Civil Service a Threat to Development-Prof. Olagoke

    ProfThe present composition of the public service of the federation and states is, perhaps, partly responsible for the myriad of challenges confronting the country today. The insinuation is that the public service at all levels is overloaded and a burden to the government. There is also the suggestion that a number of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies are not relevant to the present economic realities. Corruption, the awkward bureaucratic process, and political partisanship are obvious features of the public service. In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head, and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that the shortcomings in the civil service serve as stumbling blocks for development. Excerpts :

    How can the public service at the Federal, State, and Local Government levels be made very effective and efficient to meet up with the present economic realities in Nigeria?

    The engine room of governance is the civil service which by extension serves both the public service and parastatals in addition to the government machinery of operation. Unfortunately, funding has to come from the government for the public and civil service to be productive enough to effect positively on the environment, impact on the society and the people, and to boost the economy for the survival of the people through the provision of basic amenities and functional infrastructure to ease and support government activities. In a sane society, civil servants are expected to be incorruptible because they operate through the rule of the law. They are equally supposed to be highly motivated so that they don't get corrupted for the necessary qualities and standards to be set and maintained to a sustainable level. The civil service code of conduct presently suffers a lot under the bottleneck of bureaucracy, characterized by an unwarranted delay in processing, hide and seek game in the areas of treating files while the oath of confidentiality has equally become a political tool to victimize unfriendly clients.

    In the past, civil servants were rigid and religious in adhering to the code of conduct and the civil service rules.  That was an era when technocrats were highly revered, feared, and respected because of their no-compromise attitude.

    However, today, they easily collude in perpetrating fraud, and when been used for fraud by corrupt politicians they easily give way and help themselves too, to perfect diabolical plans or sabotage in becoming a conduit pipe to siphon public funds or our commonwealth. Thye easily leaks official secrets even to public servants. Productivity equally suffers due to the lackadaisical attitude of workers to work. Most of the workers have their personal business outfits which they attend to with all devotion than their officially assigned duties for which they are paid. It is not uncommon to witness orgies of idle hours in various places of work, civil servants, public servants, and government officials.

    \The work ethic through the mechanics of auditing to support the much-needed concept of transparency and accountability is equally rendered ineffective even in the presence of the introduced   Service Compact with All Nigerians(SERVICOM) AND  The Anti- Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU)which are expected to be fillers and pillars of support for the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission(ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) respectively.  Is it not embarrassingly surprising that none of our Ministries, Departments, and Agencies can pass the tets of corporate governance that demands routine checks for auditing, accountability, and transparency. This is why Nigeria continues to promote strong individuals and weak institutions. Cases of Rectors, Vice-Chancellors, Registrars, and Bursars, who live above their means abound. They help themselves with funds meant for the facility update of our institutions of learning which usually fail accreditation exercises. The major problem takes its root in the civil service leading to leading to unwarranted lapses in both material and administrative network for realizable objectives.  The shortcomings that revolve on bureaucratic bottlenecks, leakages in running the system, wrong attitude to work political partisanship at all levels of governance must be squarely addressed to make governance, management, and administration effective. The respect for the civil service rules would in no small measure make all activities effective to meet up with the present economic realities.

     

     

     

     

  • Leadership 3

    What is leadership about ?

    Quote 2 Do those in charge of leadership in your location  possess these attributes ?

  • Us

    Pompeo and Netanhyau

    The United States assures Israel of support. Read here-https://reut.rs/3j6lGHN

  • Ca

    Debts : Publish Terms and Conditions of all Loans to allay the Fears of Nigerians-Prof. Olagoke

    ProfIn the middle of dwindling oil revenue, the Federal and State Governments in Nigeria have resorted to loans and bonds to promote national prosperity, efficient, dynamic, and self-reliant economy. Sadly, the details, repayment plans, terms, and conditions of the loans taken are not in the public domain, as regards accountability. The insinuation is that the government intends to trade off the assets it used to secure the loans. Of worry is the fact that the management and operation of the major sectors of the economy are in bad shape, with most states looking up to the center for their survival. In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head, and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines the Federal and State Governments should publish the terms and conditions of all loans to allay the Fear of Nigerians on the country's debt status. Excerpts :

    Do you think the decision of the Federal and State Governments to resort to loans and bonds to promote national prosperity, efficient, dynamic, and self-reliant economy is in the best interest of Nigerians?

     

    For Nigerians to be dynamically buoyant into prosperity, the structure on ground that is full of loopholes and leakages for corruption and self-enrichment may not be feasible if the crop of people in governance to date continues to be recycled.

    Taking loans and bonds in and environment of indiscipline, impunity and corruption may not make the dream to be feasible. The socio-divine principle of transparency and accountability in transaction calls for public knowledge of government finances-domestic or foreign loans-and any aspect of government business activities.  If we allow this in governance, it would create an enabling environment to criticize decisions in the offing. In the process, such as the Nigeria/Cina loan conditions, questions like the following would arise to save the next generation of government from possible future embarrassment. 1) Feasibility of the payback period. 2)Payback conditions-stringent or otherwise. 3) Respect for the Nigerian content law. 4) Due process demand on follow up questions must be examined too.

     

    The Federal Government is, therefore, required to go through the protocol of the Debt Management Office(DMO) which represents the position of the Nigerian constitution.

    Section 21(1) of the Act(2003) is clear on this: That no external loans shall be approved or obtained by any Minister unless its terms and conditions shall have been laid before the National Assembly and approved by its resolution: Anything different from the above-stated process should be regarded as been fraught with hidden agenda by the organs of process operations that are not playing their roles well. It is unfortunate that Nigerians, generally, to date are facing economic hardships amidst accumulated debts, perhaps because of corruption. For example, our debt profile rose from $12.18 Trillion in 2015 to $27.40 Trillion in 2019. In the year 2020 alone, the total debt incurred as approved by the National Assembly for the President is about a total of $28 billion, but without a commensurate improvement in the quality of lives of the people of Nigeria.

    We are yet to have economic liberation and political freedom if we are to go by all the lacks and no access, even of basic needs.

    The country is now divided into a democratic process with two extreme dividends-kleptocracy by the few rich and poverty by the majority of the population!

      The following considerations are sacrosanct to taking the loans-1) Consider the needs of the people, seek for their consent, and carry them along on the implications of the terms and conditions attached to taking the loans. 2) Respect the local content agreement that some type of jobs that are no too technical and the aspects that do not require the transfer of technology must be handled by Nigerians to solve our unemployment challenges. The need for the Federal Government of Nigeria to publish the status and the terms and conditions of repaying outstanding loans, collected and inherited, including the China/Nigeria loan deal that is currently attracting controversial reactions with clear monitoring mechanism in place to monitor the way and manner it is to be spent on the various projects attached to the loans. Ii would be of interest to Nigerians if this template could be extended to all outstanding loans that have become the country's debts. This will allay the fears or give all Nigerians the reason to reject further borrowing by the present administration or the next, so as to have a bequeathable legacy of sustainable development rather than a game of deceit that would continue to impoverish the masses and the environment. 

     

     

  • Ui

    Innovation and Invention in Nigeria : We have Peculiar Challenges-UI Prof. of Agronomy

    The Federal Government of Nigeria and the management of universities have been called upon to render assistance to patent owners in the country’s higher institutions.

    This call was made recently by Prof. V.O Adetimirin of the Department of Agronomy, the University of Ibadan at a program organized by the College of Medicine of the University.

    ‘’We have peculiar challenges, I think we are not doing enough. Patent owners should be assisted in the process of commercialization. Once this is done people will start running after the university’’, Prof. Adetimirin asserted.

    The university don lamented that it was very difficult to obtain funding, for the purpose of commercializing patents, form the university and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFund), just as he stated that this was discouraging and saddening.

    Government at all levels and educational institutions have for so long shied away from investing in patents for inexplicable reasons, even though millions of Nigerians are of the views that government ought to encourage its manpower through the funding of innovations and inventions.

    Prof. Adetimirin is the inventor of the super sweet corn.

  • Religion

    Socio-Spiritual Discipline is a Focus of all Religions

    ProfPeace and development are highly essential in achieving peaceful co-existence  among people of diverse opinions,  tribal inclinations, ethnic leanings and segregated economic classes. Social justice and regulatory policies are equally vital enabling environment for development and peaceful co-existence. Unfortunately, they hardly exist in many nations where we experience insurgence, war, agitations and violence that not only lead to value erosion  and disruption of ethical principles.  The summary of it all, is individual attitudinal challenges bothering on moral laxity of institutional indiscipline.

    Reviving all agents of socialization on this to help arrest the situation and restore values is a task that must be given attention by every stakeholder, parents, religious houses and the media are inclusive. This will help us have disciplined people with high moral consciousness in all our challenging leadership positions, civil servants and government in particular, to role model organizational and professional ethics into people's psyche for the purpose of achieving and putting in place the culture of ethical practices to be able to live exemplary lifestyles. The Holy Bible, Prov. 25 : 28, emphasizes that  without moral discipline one becomes  vulnerable to acts of waywardness and frivolities just like Nigeria  with porous borders, where foreigners come in with ease to take up sensitive positions  of power, in the process looting without conscience and raping with impunity, in addition to maiming and killing defenseless Nigerians.

    The Holy Prophet Mohammad from the Islamic perspective emphasizes that the bedrock of any jihad is that of moral discipline. On this submission, Jesus Christ in Matt. 5 :19 asserts  that good citizenship reflects in the ability to obey   the rules of law and live by its code of conduct; otherwise one would become anti-societal  and would be vulnerable to punishment  in the hands of the l;aw and that such a person will equally be rejected in the kingdom of God.

    The implication of this, is that apart from becoming sinful, the society would perceive the individual as a criminal.

    Unfortunately in Nigeria, criminals are  celebrated and they mostly preferred to occupy sensitive positions  of power, by this, we murder peace and development. 

    The Holy Prophet Mohammad was admonished by Allah  in the Holy Quaran to be scripture compliant  as an exemplar and this is attested to in the various verses of the Holy Quaran. For example Quaran 6 : 162-163,''''Truly my prayer and my service, my life and my death, are all for Allah, the Cherisher of the world no partner art He : this am I commanded and I am the first of those  who submit to His will to be  qualified and regarded as a Muslim. The almighty equally commanded that the whole world must follow the foot steps of  the Holy Prophet Mohammad as an exemplar''. In Quaran 33 : 21 and 33 : 46, the almighty Allah identifys  himself with im that he is the one who made Mohammad ad one  who invites  to Allah's grace by His leave, and as  a lamb spreading light. For the above reasons the Holy Prophet Mohammad was able  to declare the following as parting gift to mankind, '' two things I am leaving behind, the Holy Quaran which a a compendium of  the word of God for human affairs  to be well regulated (Sunnatallahi). I am equally leaving behind my Toreeq or Sunnat, if you follow the two religiously, that is to the letter, you will never be misguided neither will you go astray. Al these are the challenges before I and you  as mortals, to live exemplary lifestyles without impunity but consciously based on moral discipline. We are supposed to be either true Christians or true Muslims as well as  adherents of all considered worthy religions whose doctrines or tenets are based on God and Godliness, light and good character that can present us as a race living upon the principle of love  they neighbor  as thyself. Be morally conscious.

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

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

  • Namibia

    Young Mothers in Namibia Establish Factory

    Seven young Namibian mothers have established a mask factory.

    The mothers  made this possible through funding from 'DREAMS'  a United States funded project.

    According to Dorin Gases  who is just  18 : “This has been a life-changing experience. We can become a little bit more independent to look after our kids.

    We are young women with other dreams too, and this can help us afford further education which we couldn't before,”

    DREAMS is a project which aims to prevent new HIV infections in adolescent girls and young women.
    It stands for determined, resilient, empowered, AIDs-free, mentored and safe.

    The other young mothers are  Imerencia Nowases (21), Monica Ipwaakena (24), Julia Elias (24), Ndapewashali Americu (20), Ester Naidila (21) and Enrica Goagoses (21).

    The entrepreneurs are all non-schoolgoing young mothers from disadvantaged backgrounds.

  • Time

    Respect for Time is a Godly Act

    ProfIn every human interaction, the time element is consequential. There is a moral issue surrounding the idea of time and its management. If any system is to survive to a sustainable level, the time element has to be highly respected. For example, in creation, the almighty Allah set a time frame for himself to complete the challenging task of creation.

    From the perspective of the Holy Quaran 57 : 4 ‘’ He it is who created the heaven and the earth in six days. Then after he established himself on the throne…..'' The above implies, the job was highly satisfactory for the almighty Allah to set a parable of quality and standard, tested and trusted before assuming and adopting for use.

    In our own reality of life the time element is trivialized in our attitude towards work and in fulfilling the covenant of timely delivery of the rendered service to the disappointment of whoever must have given us the opportunity of winning such contract, forgetting that successful productivity process is a function of the time element involved to avoid lose of goodwill for the industry or the establishment. In the same vein when we make promises or get into an oath of commitment we must not lose the sight of respecting the contracted time element otherwise associated disappointment may lead into unwarranted feud that may snowball into avenging through killing because the time element associated with the contract was not respected not to talk of been fulfilled. This is why there is the saying, respect for time is the soul of business. The nation is losing a lot of goodwill in the Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Parastatals because of our poor attitude to work, whereby six out of the eight working hours are wasted on gossiping at the expense of work output and the accompanying salaries which in most cases are fixed without any regard for the volume of work done, not to talk of the expected standard and quality. The politicians forming government do not even care about institutionalizing respect for the culture of having regard and respect for the time element as a function of good production index. Is it not a challenge for humans to submit that the lesser animals respect time in everything they do, just like the almighty Allah respect the time frame in His benevolent mystery of creation. For example in Quaran 13 : 8 ‘’ Allah doth know what every female womb doth bear, by how much the womb fall short of their time or number or do exceed. Every single thing is with him in due proportion.’’

    For humans the gestation period is for 9 months, for the hen, the incubation period is 21 days. The respect for time frame is a manifestation of the fact that the person is highly disciplined when he makes a promise or take to an oath he would never disappoint and when such people are given an opportunity to serve they would go about it through arousing conscience which is sacrosanct to service delivery to the satisfactory end without default.

    The Holy Bible makes us to realize that there is a right time for everything and everything on earth would happen at the right time. Eccl. 3 :1–8 proffers that we manage our lives through minimax theory of managing time of events. When they are good we maximize to sustain and when they are bad we regulate and control to minimize or eradicate through timely intervention because of the elements of bearing, planting , healing, building, laughing, dancing out of joy, peace, achievements and love are good elements of life that would ever nurture the nature of man into buoyant and glorious success of development.

    However, the elements of death, destruction , crime, sadness, war and hate are equally elements of life associated with disappointment which may brew darkness into the life of any mortal for untimely death. When time is therefore respected in going about activities by the Muslims ‘ respect for the observance of solat or prayer or our general ability to participate in rescuing other people’s life from ruin through timely intervention based upon the concept of philanthropy, caring and sharing, one is easily thrown into an ecstasy of getting fulfilled with the attendant joy and happiness radiating love on our faces. Let us be timely in doing our jobs for us to be Godly in our religious exercises as disciplined and morally conscious persons.

  • Nigeria 17

    The Essence of Body Preservation and Soul Purification in Religious Worship

    Prof sabitu olagoke 6Two things are very germane in the functionality of the religious sector for it to serve the expected responsibility of promoting the culture of institutional discipline, moral uprightness and consistence arousal in ensuring that due process of the fear of God is followed in discharging individual or collective duties of whatever capacity of operation we may find ourselves . They are the adherents of every religion and their places of worship. For the adherents, a high level of piety based on the factors of reliability and dependability which equally are functions of the individual’s integrity which equally anchors on the soul purification essence from all evil thoughts and body preservation from sins and crimes for them to be eligible to enter their houses of God.

    The Holy Quaran 4 : 17–18 refers ‘’ Allah accept the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent, soon afterwards will Allah turn in mercy : for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. 

    However, of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil, until death faces one of them and he says ‘’now have I repent indeed’’, nor of those who die rejecting faith : for them have we prepared a chastisement most grievous.’’

    On the statues of every house of God, the state of sacredness is equally germane, if we need to go by the demand of God on this, through Quaran 9 : 17–18 ‘’It is not for such as join gods and goddesses or associating partners with Allah, to maintain the mosques(house of God)of Allah while they witness against their own souls to infidelity.

    The works of such bear no fruit : in fire shall they dwell.

    Therefore, the mosque of Allah or the house of God, shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.

    A general view in the situation of many houses of God and the adherents show a negative compliance with affronts, effrontery and defiant impunity, making a good God/man relation to be elusive in the land and making the inhabitants or humanity generally, to be vulnerable or susceptible to various unwarranted attacks-visible and invisible.

    The Holy Bible, 1 Cor. 13–13 makes this particular submission that there is faith in the name of religion and hope through just worship only in realizing the dividends of religious practice.

    However, the only condition under which this design of God can be sustainably beneficial is an environment of love, unfortunately, humanity is daily faced with challenges of hostilities making us to be people of blurred visions with ignorant politics of deceit that is usually consuming people, making all efforts to be thrown into the dustbin of waste.

    There is a dire need therefore, for all clerics to go back to the drawing board to revisit their curricula of the scriptures and restrategize to teach the adherents and the society objectively without bias of any sort in order that we are able to reawaken all agents of socialization to be alive to their God given responsibilities. No religion teaches evil, no scripture does mislead.

     For sanity to reign let us all fear God to be able to put up exemplary lifestyles.

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

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

  • Firs

    Tax Waiver-FG and States should Emulate Akwa Ibom-AWC

    The Federal and State Governments have been called upon  to emulate  the Akwa Ibom state Government by giving tax waivers to Nigerians.

    This call was made by the All Workers Convergence(AWC),through its National Coordinator,Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

    ''The AWC calls on the Federal Government to emulate the Akwa Ibom state Government by giving tax holiday to workers and all those in businesses badly affected  by the coronavirus pandemic. Government should for once  show signs of commitment to the people and reduce hardships, suffering and exploitation of the people knowing fully well that government never supported tax payers during the lock down as was the case in other countries,'' Comrade Emelieze noted.

  • Exemplary Lifestyles : An Antidote to Indiscipline

    Prof sabitu olagoke 6The issue of education cuts across the home and the school, while the products still remain as raw materials for the houses of God to process into refined elements thoroughly reformed and guided by knowledge, wisdom and the power of discerning mind, if and only if due process is taken into an environment of love, morality and discipline.

    Graduates of these institutions are expected to feed the society through services in their various specializations, guided by ethics of practices for the right value orientation to be employed in achieving the much desired value, quality and standard expected to be in line with global best practices.

    Almost all the nations of the world, Nigeria in particular, have failed in this respect because of the breakdown of the agents of socialization in the hostile environment of poverty, Timocracy and kleptocracy.

    The underling factors for the restoration of values is to work on the attitudinal challenges emanating from the breakdown of the core values in all spheres of life, as there are no longer role models for the youths to emulate in the present ugly environment of rhetoric.

    What is correct is obvious, but who to correct it, is now the question on every lip. However, for humanity not to go into extinction through ravaging pandemic diseases such as the coronavirus, borne out of human frivolities and waywardness, there is a need to restrategize on the way we impact on the society, the teaching and learning value in the schools and the home through the curriculum that must be practically touched with role modelling illustrations and demonstrations for correct learning that will perfect the ways of the people and the change into fortune the destiny of the society.

    In this respect, everybody is a stakeholder just as religion is all encompassing with universal applications to regulate and control moderately the affairs of the people with overall advantages of the spiritual energy to articulate human social activities into full realization and actualization, there is a need to return to God through the chosen faith based houses of God for unseasoned divine intervention to nurture to fruition human efforts for development.

    References to the scriptures that must be implemented without seizing the advantages of the people’s areas of weaknesses and needs will ever solve our attitudinal challenges on institutional discipline, moral decadence and frictions for corruption against peace and development. 

    Prov. 25 : 28 ‘’ A person that can’t control himself(discipline) is like a city without walls to protect it.’’

    From the sayings of Prophet Mohammed this submission is confirmed to be true, ‘’ the best of Jihad is that of self-discipline.’’

    Suffice now to say that parents, teachers and school heads who are leaders in other areas of functions that are direct to the people and the society, must see themselves as primary stakeholders who must not only teach the creed, but role model the ideals for people to be able to follow without restrictions or any reservations.

    However, the following values must be used as weapons of instructions by the parents and the society and various places of work to benefit because after all, the products of the home are the working class as well as leaders for governance.

    The Holy Quaran 31 : 17 refers, :

    1. The establishment of regular prayers as must be demonstrated by parents who must teach and monitor their children on its importance to be close to their creator and to develop the culture of the fear of God and due process in doing things.
    2. Parents must demonstrate the exemplary lifestyle to be able to admonish their children on the essence of been just with all sincerity of purpose in any place they may find themselves.
    3. Much as we realize that we live in a filthy environment fraught with corruption, transgressions, sins and crimes, parents must not be found wanting or be soaked in the mess, but rather live exemplary lifestyles worthy of emulation by children and others to be able to effect a paradigm shift.
    4. Patience and forbearance in goal getting is highly important for elderly ones to demonstrate and live by, for the younger ones to have a positive mindset of correcting bad situations.

    The society must be able to see this as a culture of child rearing through a counseling strategy that will nurture the nature of the children right from the impressionable age through the adolescent stage to the period of adulthood with all consistency. This will in every way restore us into a state of discipline and value laden exemplary lifestyles free of fraud, but justice based. 

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

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

  • Quote 2

    A Food for Thought

    Quote

  • Values

    Value Restoration A Must

    Prof sabitu olagoke 6The failure of laying emphasis of the affective domain of education regarding the attitudinal values for the pupils and students in our schools has led to the deterioration of the system of disciplines of our various graduates with the fatal consequence of moral decadence in the society.

    For example, during our own days tales from the folklore, where the animal kingdom are animated into the human society, with emphasis on the moral values for the children’s consciousness plays a significant role in synergising the informal education from the home and the formal education, obtained in various schools by the children.

    As we grow to become adults, we perpetually put it at the back of our minds, the children of whom we are and the essence of been good ambassadors of our homes as well as been viable and constructive alumnus of the schools from where are graduated.

    We were always reminded even within our sub-conscious level of existence on the need to keep the dignity of labor through hard work as we equally continue to cut our clothes according to our sizes.

    This makes us to be very fit, as diligent and productive workers in our various places of work later in life, taking the virtues of the role models in the society with aggressive thinking on how to give back to the society.

    Besides this, the family values on love, togetherness spirit of give and take, care and share which are fundamental to the concept of philanthropy and Philosophy of altruism which by polarization bind the then expanded family units together, shun the evil spirit of ego centeredness, but put release into very well reared children, the spirit of charity that kept the family together for their products to benefit the society.

    The solution to this for us to restore the lost values is to revive the act of god parenting as well as the teaching of the scriptures in our teaching of the scriptures in our various schools objectively and without sentiments. All scriptures agree on the essence of counseling in teaching to manage well, our wards for the society to be in peace and to have prosperity.

    Prov. 11-’’A nation with weak leaders will fall, but many good advisers will make that nation safe.’’

    Quaran 31 : 13–14-’’behold Lukman said to his son admonishing him ‘Oh! my son join not in worship others with Allah, for false worship is indeed the highest wrongdoing. 14-’’And we have enjoined on man to be good to his parents.’’

    Let us be responsible parents, with role model virtues and teach same. Let us equally be responsible officials of government who will usually feel the pulse of the nation and take to the guides of advice from the people most especially on moral codes for us to have a well ordered society that will develop in an environment of justice for peace and equity for sustainable development. All these can only be achieved in an environment of institutional discipline and sensitivity to moral codes of life.

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

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

  • Self discipline 1

    Self Discipline and Character Molding

    Prof sabitu olagoke 6The issue of discipline is divinely recognized to be a significant portion of the ethos of man’s existence. For example from the Islamic perspective, the Holy Prophet Mohammed emphasized that jihad would be empty and satanic if the adherents do not uphold the principle of moral discipline because jihad of self discipline would make the counselor or preacher to be credible and worthy of admonition he or she may want to give his audience or listeners.

    From the Christian perspective, Proverbs 25 : 28 asserts that ‘’a person that cannot control himself or herself(that is without self discipline) is like a city without walls to protect it.''

    The society equally rests its fabric of harmonious existence on the culture of the core values of integrity starting from self esteem for teachers, clerics and government officials to successfully produce for the society, reliable and dependable goal getters, in terms of successful ventures in the scheme of nation building, the equation of educational goals must be religiously pursued, that is Attitude=Aptitude+Attitude.

    Academic credentials must be based on the curriculum for the course or the pursued discipline which must be rationally graded without academic fraud, examination misconduct and examination malpractice for the certificate to be worthy of the accredited grade or class. The use of this certificate would only be meaningfully enjoyed through the in built good character which always forms the basis of interpersonal relation for positive work attitude that would enhance productivity to meet up with the profit making goal of the organization bearing in mind the need for high efficiency.

    The attitudinal value must therefore translate to moral discipline .

    When the educational institution fails to operate upon the axis of this value, the schools produce troublesome monsters as graduates or alumni for the society. When religious institutions fail to educate, enlighten, admonish and furnish her adherents onto the path of righteousness, the moral discipline essence upon which the fabric of the fear of God rests is lost, for the society to suffer under the misguided elements, who will rather profess profanity in place of the sacredness essence of clean state of piety ; the society will now be at the mercy of wicked people in governance and bad people in business-the cabals and the cartel. Admonition based on moral values and disciplinary measures is therefore a universal tool to promoting good ideals of life, organizational and professional ethics for the society’s moral fabric to be intact, for the purpose of peaceful co-existence, good governance and well divinely sanitized society which would result in peace and development to be achieved under an environment of justice and equity.

    From any source talks on moral discipline may come, it is imperative that the people and the society must follow to benefit the nation.

    This is why , we must practically recognize and follow divine statements in the holy books to uphold virtues and progressive moves.

    Let us therefore meditate on this verse of the Holy Quaran, that emphasizes self discipline as a function of promoting peaceful co-existence and fraud free society. The Holy Quaran 3 : 104 refers ‘’ let there arise out of you, a band of people inviting to all that is good enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong : they are the ones to attain felicity.’’ Let us walk the talk.

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

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