Category Archives: Nigeria

Adeolu Akinyemi
April 8, 2011

It’s Time to Pray


The Polity in Nigeria is quite heated, friends are willing to quarrel over aspirants they did not know 4 months ago. Strangers are willing to mal-handle each other over aspirants they do not truly know. Everybody want’s their person to win, nobody wants to lose.

Sometimes I play the video of my imagination past the now, into the future, I evaluate the possibilities if my candidate wins, and if others win. Will the momentum built by the opposition parties be well managed, or will it create instability? I did a survey based on these thoughts, the results I got were scary and I think it depends on many factors.

My analysis of the political terrain however shows one interesting reality. No matter who wins, Nigeria can never be the same again. The heated debates and campaigns have made all the parties promise us what we the Nigerian people truly deserve, a New Nigeria. Nobody can get there and take us for granted anymore. Rigging is no longer sufficient, the will of the people and their desires will count!

My heart silently aches over the tense arguments and discourteous use of words by old and young! Most of us are too far from where anything is being shared (when it’s being shared), hence our words and arguments are devoid of financial motivation, but by our desires for change. Our desires for a Nigeria we can be proud of, our desires to tell our children that when they sing the phrase “the labors of our hero’s past”, that our names are in there. Our desire for a Nigeria we can believe in, not one we can be leaving. That even though we were inspired by men, what we passionately strove for was a New Nigeria! And that win or lose, we actually won, because we may not get what we want, but we’ll get what we need! We are certain that when we do our best, God helps us with the rest. We are confident, that God desires that we live to our fullest expression, as individuals and as a nation and that he is more interested in a New Nigeria than all of us.

My heart is burdened, that if the leaders and candidates are at war with themselves and dedicate articles to demean each other, our fight should not be against people, but against corrupting systems, against poverty, against unemployment, against violence, insecurity and so many vices that bedevil our otherwise great country. Oh, I’m not free of blame myself and I indeed apologize. My passion for change has made me utter words not befitting a king. I have lashed out at people I hold in high esteem, demonized people with different views, castigated great yet opposing candidates and criticized pastors. Though I have my claim to truth, I am sorry indeed. The first step in our prayer for change, is that we the people that are called by God’s name, must humble ourselves, and turn from our wicked ways. Then God will hear from heaven, and heal our land.

If we focus more on counting our blessings, we’ll realize that never in our nation’s recent history have we been blessed with such a quality of aspirants. If we challenge ourselves to find the positives in every aspirant, we would indeed find, and some of what we will find would be exciting.

Brothers and Sisters, let’s quit the war. Let’s turn our swords to agricultural instruments and be ready to support the change we desire once voting is done. All those who are in the political scenes today, have 10-15yrs of Political relevance. We have 30-40 active years ahead of us, the future is ours, and it’s our responsibility to guard it. It’s time to pray for God’s will, time to pray for peace and healing. It’s time to rebuild our walls and infrastructures, it’s time for a fresh start. While we pray, it’s also time to watch. To cast our votes for our conscience, and to understand that in a democracy, the winner is the one that the majority wants, and that it is our responsibility as citizens, to accept whoever wins and provide the necessary support and checks to move our democracy forward.

I have a dream of a Nigeria that works, a Nigeria that my children can school in and stand taller than students from anywhere in the world in every way. I have a dream of a Nigeria where corruption, power failure, insecurity, poverty, ethnic or religious bias only exists as history topics. I have a dream of a Nigeria where the street cleaner has her own house, where announcing “I’m a Nigerian” makes everybody around you feel comfortable that a competent and trustworthy person is here. The future we desire is possible, from now till the elections are over, I invite you to join us as we pray! If you can even fast, you are welcome as well. Wherever you are, at Noon daily. Let’s pray! Prayer points will be seen across the facebook status pages of many of us.

North, South, East, West, Muslim, Christian or neither, under God, we are One!КартиниПравославни икони

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Adeolu Akinyemi
March 28, 2011

The Partisan Church


As the elections draw near, people are getting more conscious and sensitive about the future of Nigeria, the political landscape, the key players and the possibilities. In the midst of the  heated political spaces, faithfuls go to church hoping for a word of direction and comfort from the same pastors that they have relied on for direction, wisdom and guidance. Instead of direction however, the drums beating out of the synagogues today are of strange frequencies. The shepherds are playing the politics of silence. In the midst of their tactical silence however, they are beating strange drums and playing all kinds of music. The keen observers know that in trying to appear neutral, they have betrayed that they have no desire for change, and are in firm endorsement of status quo. In being criminally silent about offering even the basic direction of asking the pew to study the candidates and vote for merit, standards, values or competence, they have subtly betrayed their alignment with the powers that be. Who can blame them though, many pastors have prospered at the expense of the nations citizens. It is in the best interest of pastors who have no care for the people, for Nigeria to continue to live massively below the poverty line. It is in the best interest of these partisan preachers, who deceive us with their silence, that Nigerians continue to pray for light and every basic need! In the next few paragraphs, I’ll be saying it as a I see it, if your pastors position is unclear and you are close to him, ask him, I have asked mine! Continue reading →

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Adeolu Akinyemi
March 19, 2011

Best and Brightest



Which Combination will you vote to lead Nigeria in 2011
Mallam Ribadu and Fola Adeola
Mallam Shekarau and John Oyegun
General Muhammadu Buhari and Pastor Bakare
Goodluck Jonathan and Mallam Sambo
Dele Momodu and Yinusa Tanko
John Dara and Bilikisu Magogo
Rev Chris Okotie and Binutu Fela Akinola
Prof Pat Utomi and Alh. Lawal Funtua
pollcode.com free polls

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Adeolu Akinyemi
March 18, 2011

Do You have a Terminal Ailment?


There is an ailment gaining grounds around the world, it’s been around for a while, but hadn’t been named until recently. Do you have this ailment? Have you checked to be sure you don’t? I just analyzed everyone in my family that had died at one point or the other, and it dawned on me that they die of this same ailment. It’s terminal, this means you are bound to die once you have it. Would you like to know if you have it or not? Checking the details of how it works and how you contact it may shock you! Only continue if you have the heart. Continue reading →

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Adeolu Akinyemi
March 4, 2011

The Consequence of Silence


38 “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”[a]

39 But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

40 He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

41 But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. 42 “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. 43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. 44 They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation.” - Luke 19:38-44

The text above, interestingly does not need too much permutations and combinations, it’s crystal clear. To make it even easier to understand, let me try to break it down with current day examples. Continue reading →

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Adeolu Akinyemi
February 21, 2011

Why I’m Voting Buhari-Bakare in 2011 Elections


I wrote this article about 3 weeks ago, and it seems to have made the rounds, and is gradually becoming viral. I wrote it on the BB2011 Volunteers Group forum and titled it it, “Why We Will Win!”. I’m glad it’s creating the much needed buzz, and circulating fast. People have developed slides with it, made videos with it, and cut out some part of it for emails, bb chats e.t.c. While my loyalty to great men like Prof Pat Utomi is still intact and unwavering as someone who will lead this nation in it’s near future, I humbly submit with the words of Donald Duke, that the current terrain requires firm and strong princes to clear the cub webs and create a level playing platform. The duo of these two honest men wins my vote this year, and hopefully 10 million others with me. Enjoy reading.

I am glad to announce to you, that the future of our burning desire seems even brighter today. I don’t know if you feel the energy or if you know what is going on around the country. The chances of our winning are getting higher by the day. In 2007 without us, the General Won in Oyo and Ogun State, thanks to a team of ardent believers in the leadership of GMB. In seeking the rule of law in contesting the elections, 3 judges ruled in his favor for having also won the entire elections- these rulings were based purely on integrity of the Judges, as GMB could not afford to hire a lawyer, much less bribing his way through.

In 2011, GMB is not alone. He’s supported by a team of volunteers online and offline like me, who never voted for him before. We didn’t vote for him, because we didn’t know. We didn’t know that he supervised and birthed our only existing refineries. We didn’t know that what he did in road construction while in the PTF hasn’t been matched by 12yrs of the PDP, even though we claimed they were lopsided. We didn’t know that in his time as head of state he reduced inflation from 23% to 4%, by fiscal discipline and a homegrown economic team (not achieved under any other era, even military). We didn’t know that there was no religious crisis while he led. We didn’t know that JJ Rawlings of Ghana took over 2yrs before him, and killed all the corrupt leaders, while GMB merely gave his own, long-term jail sentences. We didn’t know that the hospitals and universities around the country never witnessed as much benefits they got from the PTF from any government after or before his time. We did not know, that this man haven been in all the oil sectors in Nigeria, has no petrol station, much less a refinery or an oil rig like so many of our leaders. We never voted him, because we did not know.

But now we know… We know that he has followership in the north that money can’t buy. We know that those who follow him are poor, and follow him out of hope and belief in his values. I have met old men who know him, who have said… “All I need from Buhari is his word, I can take it to the bank”. Now we know that here is someone that has been in everything to make him a Dan-Something, but didn’t take the road. We feared he was an Islamic fundamentalist, but he challenged us to provide any human being who can point at anything he did to show the same. His Cook and Drivers… two roles that can be influenced to have your life are Christians. In his passion for discipline, he has pulled down mosques, punished emirs, and followed principles over the respect of people. Then this year, to the utter shock of the world, he picks the most radically outspoken no nonsense Christian Preacher in Nigeria to be his vice. Now we know, that it’s about the values, not religion and certainly not the fact that he becomes the first (correct me if I’m wrong) Nigerian president without multiple wives or an array of concubines.

On the other hand, we analyze the man, Pastor Tunde Bakare, and every interaction with him is inspiring. His words are laced with wisdom, and his actions show he didn’t only read Awolowo…he follows him. Very personable, very charismatic and yet so very humble and approachable. No nonsense no doubt and honest to an extreme. One day he spoke of how he had the opportunity of saving a few millions by accepting the favour of a government official… he turned it down and gladly lost the millions. A good name to him, is more than silver or Gold. I judge myself patriotic, but sometimes I wonder if it was not Pastor Bakare’s Patriotism that inspired mine. One thing is sure; our treasury is safe under these men. Another thing is sure, the expectations we’ll have of them, and what they will set out to do, will radically turn Nigeria forward.

I long for light in Nigeria. I long for when we will travel overseas without humiliating ourselves early in the morning to queue at embassies for VISA. I long for when our roads will be motor-able, and when the best of our men and women will find it normal to go for political office.

I have never carried the card of any party or taken sufficient interest. Now I have.

Ladies and Gentlemen… We Will Win… Oh Yes we will! I saw we, because it’s in the best interest of our future and collective destinies, that we reset the button on corruption and start building the Nigeria of our dreams. This time it’s not about empty promises, it’s about promises with a will and character to execute it.

-      Adeolu Akinyemi

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adechucks
February 5, 2011

Leader for Our Cooperative Society?


Hmmm.

I’m passionate about Our Cooperative, but how do i decide who is best to lead it, especially since the present leader got there by “the Hand of God” and he wants to continuing leading us; He has serious contenders for the post, and this is a candid opinion of that contest, and whom I would like to win it.

Something to clear up, first of all.

About thirteen to fourteen years ago, I had the privilege of leading a University Christian Youth Organization, as the President of the Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF-NIFES) in FUTA. In our little world on the campus of the Federal University of Technology Akure, the Christians were in the majority, and the organized student fellowships were indeed a major force to reckon with in student politics. They also had the ears of the University Management, most of who were our fellow “brethren” in the University Chapel; so you can say the organized Christian bodies were capable of deciding the elections of the Student Union Government, merely by leaning towards a favored candidate. Continue reading →

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Adeolu Akinyemi
January 28, 2011

Who is Thinking Nigeria? -2


Picture Credits: www.esqlaw.com

I won’t talk about Prof Pat Utomi, because he seems already aligned with this position… being or not being is not do or die, he’s willing to work from any position to move Nigeria forward. He would willingly vice a Buhari, or take a Ribadu as vice… and that in my view is a true reflection of their experiences and how they can offer value. According to the holy books, he that is faithful in the business of managing financial resources (talents) is given charge over cities. The greatest pre-requisite to governance is financial and business mastery. Crisis becomes the order of the day when we calculate political office occupation as experience over demonstrated capacity to manage mammon. Those who take cities before they can manage personal wealth ultimately ruin cities. Don’t tell me your experience was former Governor, show us what you managed successfully before entering into the corridors of power. Even a fool knows how to spend N50 billion in a way that it will show… but then, our stomachs have craved for so long, that we now call bitter sweet!

Mallam Ribadu under “Asiwaju Congress of Nigeria” – some of these dailies are so creative. I love Ribadu, his work in the EFCC made it clear to the world, that we are all not as we are painted. It was a nationally visible role, and I would have thought that the next major assignment would have been as IG, but then, we know how it works around here. Ribadu has good followership among the elites, and if the votes were strictly out of Nigerian soil, no doubt Ribadu would have won. I don’t think anyone can take away from Ribadu his achievements within that EFCC chairman role. Most of his 25yrs as a police officer are not in public light, and there are a few here and there’s that don’t make him too saintly for the role – I have heard that we don’t need a saint, after all are we? Ribadu would get a big chance if Buhari was not running – come to think of it, the difference in their name is h and d, you can almost rearrange the letters to call the same names otherwise. I have seen the debates about the elder stepping down for the younger and supporting the younger, I think they are valid debates. I have also seen the debate of the other side. I think the answer should not be answered based on personal ambitions and a quest for “my turn”, I think it should be by “Thinking about Nigeria”.

So far, all I have seen play out, is ACN using Ribadu  as it’s negotiation chip for Buhari to move to ACN as it’s aspirant. Well, I guess when a pawn reaches the line of the opponents kings, it can chose to become a queen – Let those that play chess understand :)

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu holds huge possibilities for a new generation in power, but is he not riding on a horse that has a mind and direction of it’s own? I like the hand he’s playing though, it’s a hand that will gather opposition support ultimately if the greed of men and their personal agenda don’t allow an alliance that has the muscle to tackle PDP, but who is thinking Nigeria?  Then there is this argument that we have tried the old… in Obasanjo and are not significantly better for it (we have moved from 45% poverty to 75% poverty – the truth however is that the middle class got the better of it), let’s try someone younger. If young people support young people, young people will win – at least with population on our side. On the other hand, GEJ is also young people, and like it or not, the South South region have never had the opportunity to lead Nigeria despite producing the majority of it’s resources, and providence has provided them with one such opportunity. Let’s discount the fact that the current opportunity is being sown completely as a seed to get 4yrs, 7yrs or 8yrs (30fold, 60fold and 100fold). There is also the school of thought that we need an experience that India had in 1991, an elder state man with nothing to lose and a name to make. The thought that if a man has been in power as Governor, President, Chairman NNPC, PTF and Oil minister and can’t boast of much possessions, there shouldn’t be much else he’s looking for other than immortality.

When all the chips are down, may the options that will birth the New Nigeria be real and clear! I still believe in miracles, and nothing is too hard for God.

My prayer in all these regard, is that we would be a people that deserves the best type of leaders. Than we as a nation will humble ourselves, turn away from our wicked ways at the level of citizens and pray to the God of heaven. He says’s He’ll hear us, and heal our land! I also pray, that the fear of failure will not stop the opposition from advancing forward even if we are already late. May God help us to register, to select the best, to vote, to protect our votes and make them count.

In the final analysis, may the God that sets kings in place and deposes king, may he be our God. May the God of heaven rule and reign in the affairs of Nigeria. May the weeks ahead pass without bloodshed, and may the fresh and new Nigeria spring forth in our time. May we see the end of darkness, the end of abject poverty, the end of failed civil service and systems, the end of non inspirational leadership, the end of government by the rich that oppress the poor, the end of era corrupt generals. Let the kingdoms of this world, become the kingdom of our Lord and anointed. Amen!

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