Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Digest for usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com - 16 updates in 12 topics

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Osakue Omoera

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May 29, 2023, 12:10:20 PM5/29/23
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Attached is our latest offering...Let the conversation continue...Shalom.
Osakue S. Omoera, Ph.D., FIMIM, M.Sonta
Department of English and Communication Studies
Faculty of Humanities, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Founding Editor, Otukpa: A Journal of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Federal University Otuoke



On Sun, May 28, 2023 at 11:46 PM <usaafric...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
CatarinaMilhazes <amilh...@gmail.com>: May 28 10:52AM -0700

Africa Review 28/5 <https://africareview.substack.com/p/africa-review-285>
Ibrahim Abdullah <ibdu...@gmail.com>: May 28 05:43PM

Akin:
Thanks for the roll back to that distant past—Yoruba antiquity. I was actually responding to TF’s claim about a Yoruba and Hausa nation but you read me upside down! I said there was no Yoruba or Hausa nation before 1500. I couldn’t have said there was a Hausa nation around that period when I know that the concept of Kasa Hausa—Hausa Land—was invented in the nineteenth century.
 
Your roll back is persuasive; but I remain unconvinced about Yorubaness as widespread and seemingly dominant as a result of a process that started around the 11th century. If such a process was indeed unfolding since the 11 century——why was it militantly contested in the 19th century and beyond?
 
In the 1940/50s Ijbeu Ode, Comrade Osoba tells me, it was common among folks to say they were IJEBU not YORUBA. This is Ijebuland, Awo’s backyard, the political architect behind the invention of Yoruba in the twentieth century.
 
The evidence I rely on is not just Polyglotta Africana. The view that Yoruba is a twentieth century invention was popularised by J.D.Y. Peel—Religious Encounter and the Making of Yoruba. What Peel argued in the case of the Yoruba has been advanced by David Northrup for Igbo. Both Peel and Northrup are using Polyglotta and the slave trade inventory of those who were exported and from where.
 
None of these sources present the voice of the slaves/ex-slaves to speak for themselves.
 
The evidence of Yoruba in America, Brazil, and Cuba is also inventory of export and the spoken language.
 
Now the evidence in nineteenth century Freetown is different. Polyglotta does not deal with Yoruba as a catch all marker of those captured in what goes for the contemporary South West in Nigeria. In Polyglotta Yoruba exists amongst others—Ekiti/Ijesha/Egba/Ondo/Yagba/Ife/ Ijumu. These people were interviewed and they got to say who they were and where they came from.
 
If Yoruba had been dominant and all encompassing as your roll back claims——why these contestations?
 
There are memorial tablets in nineteenth century churches referencing these identities. There are gravestones which clearly spell out these identities—Yagba/Ijesha/Egba et al. These memorial tablets and the gravestones are the closest evidence we have of the individual/ collective voice(s) of those who were transported as slaves referencing their identity.
 
Yes, identitiies are this and that; maleable and ever changing. We find Lacumi and Nago for Yorubas in the Diaspora outside Africa; in Sierra Leone, those you referenced as Saro— this is what they were called only when they returned to Nigeria —a generic marker that did not reference difference. In nineteenth century Freetown Yoruba was just one marker. The diaspora term in Sierra Leone was Oku/Aku. Ade Ajayi claims this must have come from Oyo Yoruba—supposedly from their greeting! I have hunch that it came from the Okun Yoruba cluster—they landed in the 20s when the term AKU became the popular marker for those who would today belong to the South West.
 
I hear you about archeology and oral tradition. The question remains what evidence do you privilege in reconstructing the past and why? Your roll back might help us understand Yorubaness; but it remains unhelpful in making sense of identities in nineteenth century Freetown

 
"Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM, CDOA" <chidi...@gmail.com>: May 28 07:54AM +0100

The next 100 days would determine my relationship with Bola Tinubu,
Nigeria's incoming President.
 
-Chidi Anthony Opara (CAO)
 
 
--
Chidi Anthony Opara is a Poet, IIM Professional Fellow, MIT Chief Data
Officer Ambassador and Editorial Adviser at News Updates (
https://updatesonnews.substack.com)
"Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM, CDOA" <chidi...@gmail.com>: May 28 09:55AM +0100

Mazi Cornelius,
 
Re-"Chidi was probably being Nigeria-specific...."
 
Context should always be taken into consideration in all situations.
 
By the way, if "Poetry makes nothing happen", why then are we always saying
it?
 
Poetry, at least generates reactions from many quarters.
 
Warm regards,
 
-CAO.
 
On Saturday, May 27, 2023, Cornelius Hamelberg <cornelius...@gmail.com>
wrote:
 
 
--
Chidi Anthony Opara is a Poet, IIM Professional Fellow, MIT Chief Data
Officer Ambassador and Editorial Adviser at News Updates (
https://updatesonnews.substack.com)
Cornelius Hamelberg <cornelius...@gmail.com>: May 28 04:31AM -0700

Chidi,
 
“For them that must obey authority
 
That they do not respect in any degree
 
Who despise their jobs, their destinies
 
Speak jealously of them that are free” ?
 
I was only trying to tickle your funny toe. In my view too, the people
perish where poetry does not flourish
<https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=the+people+perish+where+poetry+does+not+flourish>
.
 
You do make a very succinct point there that “Poetry, at least generates
reactions from many quarters”. I think that on a personal level the main
impulse that dominates the self-haters, the haters of themselves, haters
of humanity and haters of poetry is that they reach for the delete button,
the way that the gunslinger/gunrunner reaches for his gun.They say that
they don’t want their peace of mind to be disturbed by whatever, it may
even be Shakespeare.
 
It does reek of calumny, but we don’t have to go too far back in history to
find precedents such as “ Muhammad’s Dead Poets Society
<https://www.bing.com/search?q=+Muhammad%E2%80%99s+Dead+Poets+Society>”
 
Fast forward : Do you remember the furore over “ The Satanic Verses
<https://www.bing.com/search?q=The+Satanic+Verses>”?
 
I suppose that nowadays in some dictatorships the prevailing atmosphere
is what you friend Wole Soyinka termed “Climate of Fear
<https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Wole+Soyinka+%3A+The+Reith+Lectures+%3A++Climate+of+Fear>
'' where the very idea of “ poetic licence
<https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=poetic+licence>” is anathema to the
ministry of misinformation and state propaganda, and where freedom of
expression can be violently suppressed ; you may not be in love with
violent suppression by the miscreants but to some extent you may
unwittingly find yourself on the same side , find yourself in bed with them
as a consequence of say, “ One can have any affiliations one chooses to
have, I don't care, but I care about misinformation via dissemination of
half truths.” I’m afraid that sounds like a Nigerian Joseph Goebbels
<https://www.bing.com/search?q=Joseph+Goebbels> saying no to the freedom
given by “ poetic licence <https://www.bing.com/search?q=poetic+licence>”
, by using your very words: “One can have any affiliations one chooses to
have, I don't care, but I care about misinformation via dissemination of
half truths.”, even though here, in the Nigerian context - in Wole Soyinka’s Republic
of Liars
<https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Wole+Soyinka+%3A+Republic+of+Liars>, you
say half truths <https://www.bing.com/search?pglt=41&q=half+truths> in the
sense that a half truth is equal to a whole lie
<https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=a+half+truth+is+equal+to+a+whole+lie>
 
Satire can be used as a useful weapon.
 
I have already pleaded with you that outside of freedom of speech Nigeria,
you have to be as circumspect as possible - you cannot use that “ poetic
licence “ of yours as a driving licence for all occasions in Saudi Arabia,
Thailand, or even Japan where the Monarchy is above criticism. You know as
well as anybody that there are certain half-truths and even full truths
that can get you into a whole lot of trouble, and that then Ojogbon Falola
& Ken Harrow’s pleas via Amnesty International , P:E,N. International,
Human Rights Watch etc won’t be able to help you. Or Assange. Or Snowden.
Or Evan Gershkovich
 
I’m not too happy about your ultimatum to Dear President-Elect Bola Ahmed
Tinubu <https://nigeriaworld.com/news/source/2023/may/25/808.html>. You
say, “ The next 100 days would determine my relationship with Bola Tinubu,
Nigeria's incoming President”
 
Which means that you expect him to hit the ground running. What if he
doesn't “ hit the ground running”? We’ve got to be patient. Consider all
that Chairman Mao said, about “ The First Step
<https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Mao+%3A+The+first+step>”
 
Consider the tens of thousands of pieces of advice being thrown at him
from e.g. Augustine Togonu-Bickersteth and others, from left, right and
centre!
 
Something else that is a cause of concern, your ominously quoting Dada Idi
Amin, that "whenever there Is a change of government in Africa, a few
heads must roll"
 
Heads rolling here of course doesn't mean the guillotine in a non-poetic
sense ?
 
People going to face the firing squad for corruption?
 
 
 
 
 
On Sunday, 28 May 2023 at 11:44:23 UTC+2 Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM, CDOA
wrote:
 
"Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM, CDOA" <chidi...@gmail.com>: May 28 02:50PM +0100

Mazi Cornelius(anytime I type "Mazi" and click, my gadget would return
"Nazi", so don't be angry anytime you see "Nazi Cornelius")
 
In the film when Field Marshal, Dr. Alhaji Idi Amin Dada, CBE(Conqueror of
British Empire) made the referenced statement, the urbane medical doctor he
was talking to asked him "but why?", Idi Amin replied "that is what we call
kakwaka storm".
 
The "kakwaka storm" has already reached Lagos. The head of one Peter Obi's
godfathers is already rolling (metaphorically, that is), the godfather's
name is Bode George, who said that he would go on exile if Bola Tinubu
becomes president.
 
The man just told Vanguard newspaper that he has forgiven Tinubu,
insinuating that exile is no longer on his immediate plans.
 
By evening tomorrow, you maybe surprised (I won't), on the number and
calibre of heads that would roll in Abuja(metaphorically also).
 
Most of the professional opposition loudmouths would be in Abuja personally
or through proxies pledging loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and pleading
to be "carried along".
 
-CAO.
 
On Sunday, May 28, 2023, Cornelius Hamelberg <cornelius...@gmail.com>
wrote:
 
 
--
Chidi Anthony Opara is a Poet, IIM Professional Fellow, MIT Chief Data
Officer Ambassador and Editorial Adviser at News Updates (
https://updatesonnews.substack.com)
Cornelius Hamelberg <cornelius...@gmail.com>: May 28 09:03AM -0700

Chidi,
 
We always have to be watchful since the incorrigible spell checker has no
feelings, doesn't know what it’s doing - just like AI and is therefore
liable to get us into all kinds of trouble, suggesting that Mazi should be
transformed to Nazi, today to “toady”…
 
The saying is that “ To err is human, to forgive is divine
<https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=To+err+is+human%2C+to+forgive+is+divine>”
- as in the case of wise man Bode George, who knows from where his bread is
being buttered and that it's unwise to declare to a powerful president that
you are his personal enemy. Ditto the vacillating Brer Obasanjo first he
announces to the whole world, “God will never forgive me if I support Atiku
for the Presidency” , then he repents and arrogating to himself the
position of the All -Merciful when he tells Alhaji Atiku, “ You are totally
forgiven
<https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Obasanjo+to+Atiku+%3A+You+are+Totally+forgiven>”
Does he believe that the God who will never forgive him has now forgiven
him for supporting and giving succour to Atiku?
 
And what about big mouth Kperogi boasting, as usual, this time that if
Brother Tinubu wins the Nigerian Presidential Election, he will renounce
his Nigerian citizenship <https://ibomfocus.com/farooq-kperogi-2/>. Talk is
cheap. Well, the JAGABAN has won, so what’s Kperogi waiting for? When is he
going to renounce his citizenship? It’s the kind of big talk that we hear
from the kind of person who doesn’t put his money where his mouth is. As if
anybody is going to go into some deep mourning or it’s going to be
something like a national funeral when he renounces his Nigerian
Citizenship. What’s he waiting for? Who cares? Me?
 
About heads rolling, wasn’t it Machiavelli that said “It is better to be
feared than to be loved, if one cannot be both
<https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Machiavelli++%3B++It+is+better+to+be+feared+than+to+be+loved%2C+if+one+cannot+be+both.>
.”?
 
Love ,the place where we can all meet:
 
https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-qurans-lesson-from-the-shema-direct-your-heart-to-god
 
 
On Sunday, 28 May 2023 at 15:54:45 UTC+2 Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM, CDOA
wrote:
 
News Updates <publicinform...@gmail.com>: May 28 12:42PM +0100

Link: https://updatesonnews.substack.com/p/special-report-nigerias-outgoing
 
--
News Updates is a non profit news information disemination channel.
 
Subscribe to News Updates: https://updatesonnews.substack.com
"Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM, CDOA" <chidi...@gmail.com>: May 28 11:43AM +0100

By Chidi Anthony Opara
 
By 'morrow
Hitherto humans
Now demigods
Would descend
From the high horses
And become humans again.
 
By 'morrow
Humans,
Humble,
Would ascend
To the high horses
And become demigods.
 
Before ascending,
Each would mouth
"So help me God".
 
The mercenaries
Would cheer,
The "holier than thou"
Would jeer.
 
(Poem presented as social service, all rights reserved)
 
 
--
Chidi Anthony Opara is a Poet, IIM Professional Fellow, MIT Chief Data
Officer Ambassador and Editorial Adviser at News Updates (
https://updatesonnews.substack.com)
Toyin Falola <toyin...@austin.utexas.edu>: May 28 08:18AM

FAREWELL SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
 
 
My fellow Nigerian brothers, sisters and friends of Nigeria.
 
2. I address you today, in my last assignment as a democratically elected President of our great and well-endowed nation, with a deep sense of gratitude to God, a great deal of appreciation to the Nigerian people and a modest sense of fulfilment.
 
3. Today we mark and celebrate another peaceful transition of power from one elected government to another in our steady march to improve and sustain Nigeria’s democracy.
 
4. This year we witnessed the most keenly contested Presidential Elections since the first Republic and this demonstrates that our democracy is getting better and more entrenched with each election.
 
5. We must as a nation improve and sustain gains we make in the electoral process, on an incremental basis for Nigeria to take its rightful place among Nations.
 
6. Our democracy provides for, allows and encourages seeking redress for perceived injustices, enabling some candidates and political parties that did not agree with the results to go to court.
 
7. Irrespective of the outcome of the various cases, I urge all parties involved to accept the decision of our courts and join hands to build a better Nigeria.
 
8. I salute the doggedness and resilience of all the Presidential Candidates and their political parties for believing in our judicial system by taking their grievances with the election results to court.
 
9. In the course of the campaigns, we had argued and disagreed on how to make Nigeria better but we never disagreed or had any doubts that Nigeria has to be better.
 
10. As your President, I call on all of us to bring to bear the strength of our individualism, the power of our unity, the convictions of our beliefs to make Nigeria work better and together with one spirit and one purpose.
 
11. To my brother, friend and fellow worker in the political terrain for the past ten years - Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu -, I congratulate you on the realisation of your dream, which was propelled by a burning passion to put Nigeria amongst the leading nations of the world.
 
12. You have indeed worked for this day and God has crowned your efforts. I have no doubt that your passion for excellence, reliance on competence, fairness in relationships, commitment to equity, loyalty to the country and desire for Nigeria to be globally relevant would come through for you, under God’s guidance, as you lead our country to levels higher that I am leaving.
 
13. You are the best candidate among all the contestants and Nigerians have chosen well.
 
14. The last eight years have been an exciting experience in my desire and commitment to see a Nigeria in which public goods and services are available, and accessible within a united, peaceful and secure nation.
 
15. Fellow Nigerians, on the strength of your overwhelming support for me and my political party, I started this journey with a great deal of promise and expectation from you. I never intended to be just politically correct but to do the correct things that will make meaningful impact on the lives of the common Nigerian.
 
16. This high expectation was not misplaced because, like the ordinary Nigerian, I had grown tired of watching the country progressively moving away from the path of correctness.
 
17. To ensure that our democracy remains resilient and our elected representatives remain accountable to the people, I am leaving behind an electoral process which guarantees that votes count, results are credible, elections are fair and transparent and the influence of money in politics reduced to the barest minimum. And Nigerians can elect leaders of their choice.
 
18. We are already seeing the outcome of this process as it provided an even playing field where persons without any political God-Father or access to money defeated other well-resourced candidates.
 
19. The Nigerian economy has become more resilient due to the various strategies put in place to ensure that our economy remained afloat during cases of global economic downturns.
 
20. You would all recall the supply chain disruptions and economic downturn that the world witnessed between 2020 and 2022 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The deftness of our response to the pandemic still remains a global best practice.
 
21. Furthermore, we increased the ability of the poor and rural Nigerians to earn a living, provided more food for millions in our villages and gave our women opportunities to earn a living.
 
22. Young men and women in urban centres were also supported to put their skills into productive use. Our administration also provided an enabling environment for the private sector to engage in businesses for which their return on investments is guaranteed.
 
23. The private sector proved a strong partner in our drive to build a resilient and sustainable economy as evidenced by the growing number of turn-key projects in various sectors of the economy.
 
24. In the course of revamping the economy, we made some difficult choices, most of which yielded the desired results. Some of the measures led to temporary pain and suffering for which I sincerely apologised to my fellow countrymen, but the measures were taken for the over-all good of the country.
 
25. Mindful of the need to ensure adequate infrastructure to drive economic growth, we completed age-long projects and processes notably amongst which are the Petroleum Industry Act, completion of some power projects, completion of the second Niger bridge and various important roads linking cities and states.
 
26. Our battle to ensure that all Nigerians live in a safe and secure environment has achieved considerable results. As I complete my term in office, we have been able to reduce the incidences of banditry, terrorism, armed robbery and other criminal activities considerably.
 
27. To sustain the gains made so far, I call on all Nigerians to be more vigilant and support the security agencies by ensuring that our values defined by being your brothers’ keeper govern our actions.
 
28. Up-till now, I still grieve for our children still in captivity, mourn with parents, friends and relatives of all those that lost loved ones in the days of the senseless brigandage and carnage. For all those under unlawful captivity our Security Agencies are working round the clock to secure their release unharmed.
 
29. Fellow Nigerians, you know how dear the desire in my heart is, to rid the country of corrupt practices that had consistently diminished our efforts to be a great country.
 
30. I did pursue this commitment relentlessly, in spite of the expected push back. I am happy that considerable progress had been made in repatriating huge sums of money back to the country and also taken over properties illegally acquired from our common wealth.
 
31. To improve service delivery, we began the implementation of a number of reforms aimed at producing an Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-oriented (EPIC) Federal Civil Service and the results are beginning to show.
 
32. On the international scene, Nigeria’s influence continues to grow as exemplified by notable Nigerians occupying headship and leadership positions in renowned global bodies.
 
33. Our democracy is built on and continues to thrive on the principles of separation of powers. The leadership and members of the National Assembly deserve my appreciation for their patriotism which did not detract from their roles as a check to the executive arm.
 
34. I also want to use this opportunity to express my appreciation to a good number of Nigerians who provided their support and encouragement to help me navigate the exciting journey in moving Nigeria forward.
 
35. I cannot and will not forget the millions who prayed for me during my illness in my first term of office. I am constantly praying for you and for Nigeria to thrive in peace.
 
36. As I retire home to Daura, Katsina State, I feel fulfilled that we have started the Nigeria Re-Birth by taking the initial critical steps and I am convinced the in-coming administration will quicken the pace of this walk to see a Nigeria that fulfils its destiny to be a great nation.
 
37. I am confident that I am leaving office with Nigeria better in 2023 than in 2015.
 
38. I thank you all. And may God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
 
 
 
 
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
Toyin Falola <toyin...@austin.utexas.edu>: May 28 08:31AM

This is the much awaited video of Ọ̀ṣun from *Ẹdaọtọ* as inspired by Mọlara Wood.
 
https://youtu.be/hIYZRAFjT9
 
 
 
 
 
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
Toyin Falola <toyin...@austin.utexas.edu>: May 28 08:28AM

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/may/27/henry-kissinger-100-war-us-international-reputation
 
 
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
Ashafa Abdullahi <abas...@gmail.com>: May 28 08:33AM +0100

FAREWELL SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT AND
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
 
My fellow Nigerian brothers, sisters and friends of Nigeria.
2. I address you today, in my last assignment as a democratically elected
President of our great and well-endowed nation, with a deep sense of
gratitude to God, a great deal of appreciation to the Nigerian people and a
modest sense of fulfilment.
3. Today we mark and celebrate another peaceful transition of power from
one elected government to another in our steady march to improve and
sustain Nigeria’s democracy.
4. This year we witnessed the most keenly contested Presidential Elections
since the first Republic and this demonstrates that our democracy is
getting better and more entrenched with each election.
5. We must as a nation improve and sustain gains we make in the electoral
process, on an incremental basis for Nigeria to take its rightful place
among Nations.
6. Our democracy provides for, allows and encourages seeking redress for
perceived injustices, enabling some candidates and political parties that
did not agree with the results to go to court.
7. Irrespective of the outcome of the various cases, I urge all parties
involved to accept the decision of our courts and join hands to build a
better Nigeria.
8. I salute the doggedness and resilience of all the Presidential
Candidates and their political parties for believing in our judicial system
by taking their grievances with the election results to court.
9. In the course of the campaigns, we had argued and disagreed on how to
make Nigeria better but we never disagreed or had any doubts that Nigeria
has to be better.
10. As your President, I call on all of us to bring to bear the strength of
our individualism, the power of our unity, the convictions of our beliefs
to make Nigeria work better and together with one spirit and one purpose.
11. To my brother, friend and fellow worker in the political terrain for
the past ten years - Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu -, I congratulate you on the
realisation of your dream, which was propelled by a burning passion to put
Nigeria amongst the leading nations of the world.
12. You have indeed worked for this day and God has crowned your efforts. I
have no doubt that your passion for excellence, reliance on competence,
fairness in relationships, commitment to equity, loyalty to the country and
desire for Nigeria to be globally relevant would come through for you,
under God’s guidance, as you lead our country to levels higher that I am
leaving.
13. You are the best candidate among all the contestants and Nigerians have
chosen well.
14. The last eight years have been an exciting experience in my desire and
commitment to see a Nigeria in which public goods and services are
available, and accessible within a united, peaceful and secure nation.
15. Fellow Nigerians, on the strength of your overwhelming support for me
and my political party, I started this journey with a great deal of promise
and expectation from you. I never intended to be just politically correct
but to do the correct things that will make meaningful impact on the lives
of the common Nigerian.
16. This high expectation was not misplaced because, like the ordinary
Nigerian, I had grown tired of watching the country progressively moving
away from the path of correctness.
17. To ensure that our democracy remains resilient and our elected
representatives remain accountable to the people, I am leaving behind an
electoral process which guarantees that votes count, results are credible,
elections are fair and transparent and the influence of money in politics
reduced to the barest minimum. And Nigerians can elect leaders of their
choice.
18. We are already seeing the outcome of this process as it provided an
even playing field where persons without any political God-Father or access
to money defeated other well-resourced candidates.
19. The Nigerian economy has become more resilient due to the various
strategies put in place to ensure that our economy remained afloat during
cases of global economic downturns.
20. You would all recall the supply chain disruptions and economic downturn
that the world witnessed between 2020 and 2022 as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic. The deftness of our response to the pandemic still remains a
global best practice.
21. Furthermore, we increased the ability of the poor and rural Nigerians
to earn a living, provided more food for millions in our villages and gave
our women opportunities to earn a living.
22. Young men and women in urban centres were also supported to put their
skills into productive use. Our administration also provided an enabling
environment for the private sector to engage in businesses for which their
return on investments is guaranteed.
23. The private sector proved a strong partner in our drive to build a
resilient and sustainable economy as evidenced by the growing number of
turn-key projects in various sectors of the economy.
24. In the course of revamping the economy, we made some difficult choices,
most of which yielded the desired results. Some of the measures led to
temporary pain and suffering for which I sincerely apologised to my fellow
countrymen, but the measures were taken for the over-all good of the
country.
25. Mindful of the need to ensure adequate infrastructure to drive economic
growth, we completed age-long projects and processes notably amongst which
are the Petroleum Industry Act, completion of some power projects,
completion of the second Niger bridge and various important roads linking
cities and states.
26. Our battle to ensure that all Nigerians live in a safe and secure
environment has achieved considerable results. As I complete my term in
office, we have been able to reduce the incidences of banditry, terrorism,
armed robbery and other criminal activities considerably.
27. To sustain the gains made so far, I call on all Nigerians to be more
vigilant and support the security agencies by ensuring that our values
defined by being your brothers’ keeper govern our actions.
28. Up-till now, I still grieve for our children still in captivity, mourn
with parents, friends and relatives of all those that lost loved ones in
the days of the senseless brigandage and carnage. For all those under
unlawful captivity our Security Agencies are working round the clock to
secure their release unharmed.
29. Fellow Nigerians, you know how dear the desire in my heart is, to rid
the country of corrupt practices that had consistently diminished our
efforts to be a great country.
30. I did pursue this commitment relentlessly, in spite of the expected
push back. I am happy that considerable progress had been made in
repatriating huge sums of money back to the country and also taken over
properties illegally acquired from our common wealth.
31. To improve service delivery, we began the implementation of a number of
reforms aimed at producing an Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and
Citizen-oriented (EPIC) Federal Civil Service and the results are beginning
to show.
32. On the international scene, Nigeria’s influence continues to grow as
exemplified by notable Nigerians occupying headship and leadership
positions in renowned global bodies.
33. Our democracy is built on and continues to thrive on the principles of
separation of powers. The leadership and members of the National Assembly
deserve my appreciation for their patriotism which did not detract from
their roles as a check to the executive arm.
34. I also want to use this opportunity to express my appreciation to a
good number of Nigerians who provided their support and encouragement to
help me navigate the exciting journey in moving Nigeria forward.
35. I cannot and will not forget the millions who prayed for me during my
illness in my first term of office. I am constantly praying for you and for
Nigeria to thrive in peace.
36. As I retire home to Daura, Katsina State, I feel fulfilled that we have
started the Nigeria Re-Birth by taking the initial critical steps and I am
convinced the in-coming administration will quicken the pace of this walk
to see a Nigeria that fulfils its destiny to be a great nation.
37. I am confident that I am leaving office with Nigeria better in 2023
than in 2015.
38. I thank you all. And may God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Cornelius Hamelberg <cornelius...@gmail.com>: May 27 03:13PM -0700

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour
<https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Chabad+%3A+Thou+shalt+not+bear+false+witness+against+thy+neighbour>
 

 
Is it true that Benjamin Netanyahu once said , “WE built the pyramids
<https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Benjamin+Netanyahu+%3A++we+built+the+pyramids>
”?
 
 
On Saturday, 27 May 2023 at 23:48:11 UTC+2 Emeagwali, Gloria (History)
wrote:
 
Grace Edema <gmso...@yahoo.com>: May 28 06:13AM

Nigeria in big trouble if Tinubu fails – Prof Oyelaran-Oyeyinka
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Nigeria in big trouble if Tinubu fails – Prof Oyelaran-Oyeyinka

"Once there is a change in commodity price over which we have little control, the economy gets hit. Most upper-middle-income countries have developed productive capabilities for high-value-added and technologically complex goods. They have market str
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"Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM, CDOA" <chidi...@gmail.com>: May 28 08:30AM +0100

The principle of parallax(basically, where one stand determines what one
sees)should apply in all situations.
 
Perspectives may sound brilliant, but that doesn't necessarily make them
right.
 
Justice is too important to be served on the platter of legal orthodoxies.
 
Those who serve justice (they are humans anyway), should painstakingly
ponder all avenues through which justice can be served.
 
The important thing is that justice should be served in the interest of the
over all well being of the society.
 
Thanks for your time.
 
-Chidi Anthony Opara (CAO)
 
 
--
Chidi Anthony Opara is a Poet, IIM Professional Fellow, MIT Chief Data
Officer Ambassador and Editorial Adviser at News Updates (
https://updatesonnews.substack.com)
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23 May 2023 FINAL_Cover_ OMOERA.pdf
23 May 2023 Intercultural Encounters.pdf
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