The Runaway Corper

“I’m not complaining now. I’m just voicing a concern…How long should we stay in town”- Runaway Jury a Novel (John Grisham)

It was John Grisham that wrote the runaway jury, though my thought it’s a little far away from the plot in the book, but as those called for jury service in that novel for a multimillion legal tobacco trial: men and women who have been investigated, watched, manipulated and harassed by high-priced lawyers and consultants who will stop at nothing to secure a verdict. That Novel was based on greed and corruption-with justice fighting for its life…Is Nigeria any different from that story?

Those lines above represent the current political situation in Nigeria, a situation based on greed and corruption with justice fighting for its life now. And we as corps members are men and women that have been called to service of our father land; for those of us in the North we have being caught in a hurricane of a twisted situation. Most of us were not prepared for the 24 hour curfew that came over the city of Kaduna on Sunday 17th June, 2012 so as it was relaxed on Tuesday, two days after it was imposed most of us saw it as an opportunity to run to the bank get money, head to the nearest market get provisions/food stuff and run back to our hiding places, it was in this process of urgent risk taking that we were caught in another riot; even the banks were not opened, they have also emptied their ATM’s, so it was double disaster; in the process of running to safety, the nearest army barrack like we were instructed to do, yours faithfully was running along with a neighbour I met at the Bank, the mother of a young promising boy, she was a bread winner for her family, grabbing her bag, with an elderly 'mummy' we might in a bus, we quickly alighted from the commercial  bus whose driver too, has took to his heel for safety- now boxed in danger in front and behind, and the point of safety about a kilometer away we made up our mind to take the chance but like Lots wife in the Bible, the aged mummy decided to look back going back for her provisions at the boot of the Bus, all persuasion to her in Yoruba ‘mummy e fi le, je ka ma lo’ (leave it lets go ma!) fell on deaf ear(prayed she made it), just some distance from the point we left behind appeared  a fearsome looking young men with shillelaghs, rods and sticks, destroying public/private properties, maiming with intent to kill, as we were running with the goal of safety on our mind, I saw to my left a young handsome man running for his dare life dropped to the floor presumed dead, turning to make sure my neighbour was keeping pace with me, I got a  smack to my right-side with intent to drop me to the ground from one of those irate-youth but my guardian  angels were on full duty, there was a propelling force that kept me on my feet and still running towards my goal; my neighbour seeing the danger to me and the other guy on the floor, fled to the right, that was all I heard or saw of her for the next 6 hours, I managed  to escape two more danger, one from the presumed ‘enemy’ and the others from a driver trying to escaped to safety too. I got to my destination with no physical injury but pain to my right hand only to be denied entrance for another 15 minutes with other fleeing citizens, luckily for me I had my ID-Card on me, and was granted entrance, there were many worrisome situation I saw at the military barrack, while holing up but my mind was with my neighbour, her bag with me, oh what will I tell her family, as soon as we were told that the roads were a bit safe again before the 24hours curfew was re-introduced, we managed to get home, this time with another set of women that had faith in me, not knowing I will do no man any harm on the way if we meet any danger, I called on my God to guide us, which He did and we got home, how we did, don’t ask me, that’s another story for another day but we are safe at least. In order not to trouble you with my story-my trying to establish a point, late in the evening my neighbour was brought home from the military hospital though she managed to escape with her life she was badly injured, I thank God for her safety.

In this entire crisis I saw a heartless generation that must quickly be given a heart, if not the North is doomed, it will destroy itself. I saw children that are religiously confused both Muslim and Christian, worst of all they do not belief in anything and they are more in number and can be bought by the highest bidder because they have no means of livelihood. They do not understand how a civilized society works; they wake-up with no life goal; viewing centres is their homes.

How can there be peace when a young man I do not know from Adam and have not wronged or am I indebted to, would appear on the street to do me harm, is that what God teaches, if that is what He teaches I follow no such religion or serve no such God, but I know better, wherever he is I pray God safe his soul if he is still alive because I understand my scriptures well. And for the system that brought us to the core-North, 5 day's into a major crisis there is no single SMS to reassure corps members of their safety, I do not blame the official here in Kaduna they too are running for their dare life’s, but what of the NYSC directorate in Abuja.

Please if any corps members runs away from active service because of this crisis, do not give them extension ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, though am tempted to, I will not-the Lord that has kept me for eight months, is able to keep me for the remaining four, as for me I will become more proactive with security issues, I will not dare the city until all is well. For corps members we are just anxious to leave the city of crocodile and get the hell out of town, abi na lie?    

 

Why #RIO+20 might not make any impact on the World!

It’s less than three weeks to the big event, which we have all longed for, most especially those of us in the humanitarian/social works/aid sector of the world, the doers, as I call us; it’s our day of reckoning with history and the people we serve, a week that will birth the actualization of our dream of a world where system works; Government-Multinationals-Citizens working with a better understanding of saving a dying world. The big event is Rio+20 for the whole of 2011, various Pre-con activities heralded by young people were held across the globe; at a regional meeting heard in Kumasi/Accra in Ghana for the west African sub-region the summer of last year, where I followed proceeding, the youths at the event now understood what the future means, we demanded for GREEN ECONOMY NOW!

However as the D-Day gets closer the scenes of all community initiative and developmental project I have volunteered or worked in, for the last 15 years, that’s about half of the time I have spent on earth, a thought flashed through my mind, Rio+20 might do know no one any good; be patient with me do not judge me by that phrase, cause if there any one that wants a better world, am chief among many, because I have seen people suffer, I have played my part in alleviating suffering wherever it might be found, I have been to conflict zones, slept in the dark with mosquitoes bite, I have crossed rivers to the hidden lands, to bring relief to my fellow human race, so I will wish no harm to my world. But why do I say Rio+20 might do no one any good, it’s because most issues to be discussed at the events are not new but the on-going crisis around the global; issues of hunger, failed health system (as I wrote this article just lost a dear sister from another mother, to child birth, she was a shining star for the #FutureWeWant, a column editor for the Nation Newspaper in Nigeria, Ngozi Agbo Nee Orji), political unrest, policy failure, you just mention them. How have Syrian been pressured by UN to stop its violence? The on-going food crisis in the Hun of Africa, how has the commitment been? If there is black gold there some countries would have shown more interest, when the International laws, itself is biased, what will weaker Nations do?

The problem the world has is that of political leadership; lack of courage & commitment by men who came into power to manage our resources and life. Especially here in Africa, we must stop blaming the West for our woes, we must change the general belief that ‘it’s Africa, isn’t it? That’s the type of continent it is. There is always dramas, wars and stuff…’; unless this change Rio+20 will be another waste of our time after all the prep-con we the young people held, the events we organized as a build up to this event, the hope that has risen in us, that we can the get future we want; it will just be a vacation period for Non-profits, UN Staffs and all diplomat attending the event.     

The present situation calls for a rapid change of leadership style from those who exist in the never-never land of projected dreams to the doers we need leadership in a hurry, to deliver the promises in a hurry, the masses are tired, if nothing happens soonest, they might be chaos.

As for I have not given up on a better future, this future can only come true if our leadership knows what green economy means; green as a colour stands for healthiness, so if our leadership really want a better future for us, they must consider the need of today under prevailing circumstances, with the best interest of the future generation at heart, because if you kill, or deprive the present generation of the needed nutrients to give birth to a healthy future generation, then your obsession with the future is useless.

As we all awaits a strong UN resolution in June and hope our leaders adheres to it, since they are part of the process; am glued to my TV-set ready for the Euro 2012 football event in Poland & Ukraine, following the Rio+20 on live streams, I say it’s a year of hope & possibility but until then, Rio+20 holds no good for no one. #FutureWeWant  #Rioplus20

The 9/11 Decade: Matter Arising

“Do not wait for calamity to provoke your humanity” OGI

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." --Martin Luther King, Jr.

From the city of Lagos Nigeria, to the Niger-delta States still in Nigeria, West of Africa, Rwanda in the East, Pretoria in the South, to Dafur-Sudan and Southern Sudan  in the North, is the echoes of the word, ‘we want to live well’.

Who doesn’t want to live well? The vast majority of us here in Africa hope to experience life to the full and make the best of each opportunity available here at home, we do not all want to abandon our home land, to go and stray in a land not ‘meant’ for us, our believes, values or culture! But the threat, to all of these hopes is the hydra headed monster insecurity.

Looking back over the events of the last decade, it is striking how many of the decades’ disaster could have been avoided with better information and communication. For tens of thousands of people, crisis arrived suddenly unannounced. Over the last decade I have learnt the needs for accurate information and genuine commitment in passing such information on any issue or crisis because it is the only hope of ending such crisis. Most intervention in the past decade from what I have gathered as a social worker has never considered that; and at the heart of all crisis is the youth;  the economic and social conditions that promotes youth problems needs to be addressed in context with young people’s need and desires.

From armed conflict to natural disaster, to now psychopaths ideology of religious radicals in the name of God fighters, humanity has not really lived to its name, empires, wealth and power has been acquired through hypocrisy, many has hide under the mask of religion to deceive the weak, promising a freedom, they themselves do not have, while their real motive has been power & wealth though. My concern for putting together this journal is not really about international politics but that which concerns me most is the crisis of insecurity that is rocking the world. On September the 11th 2011 the whole world heard and saw what happened at the world trade centre but few heard of the crisis that took place in Jos-plateau state Nigeria few days before then I was volunteering with the Red Cross at an IDP campaign in a small town called Daudu-in Benue state where victims from a boundary clash were receiving support from the Red Cross on food and non-food items donated by spirited individuals  across the globe through International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), it was while we were serving humanity at this camp that a distress call came from the city of Jos some 1000 km from Daudu. That violence has broken out in Jos, resulting in loss of life and properties of a magnitude not witnessed in that city before that day a city with the appellation of peace and tourism in Nigeria, it was a major crisis that our Red Cross volunteers in that city could not come out to help because they themselves were in danger, so it was time to draft some volunteers from nearby  location;  then the call was made for 12 elite volunteer from our end to go; I saw the married think twice when the Senior Field officer gave the situation analysis and the brief for the operation;  as a young man that have never seen a live crisis operation  I was excited to go help and I see for myself what I have heard, read,  and watched on crisis. I never knew what I was volunteering myself for, but that single event in my history changed my life forever and I have not regretted the decision to go that day. It was fun on the way to the City of Jos not until we were 20 km away from the city and I started hearing sporadic gun shots my first live experience of gun shots, being watching a lot of ‘James Bond’, ‘the Unit’ though but I saw it live, it was then I knew am in for a life threatening experience.

I leant something about humanity on the first day, we got to Jos and I kept wondering… as I saw a kid of about 10yrs setting vehicle on fire, and quickly I remembered  I once read it somewhere that we have no future without children, so what future do we have with such delusional kids,  my fear was real because 10 years down the line in Northern part of Nigeria this children are the ones causing us pains and havoc; we are all witnessed to the aftermath of the 2011 general elections; the next scene was heart breaking,  a pregnant women butchered close to her car (Role of Mother Hood) it was a sight for me; just a week into our stay in Jos with the many horrific sights I saw, I forgot the days of the week, all I knew was night and day; after each day’s work it too the story of one of the volunteer who was a  veteran of Nigeria Civil war (Biafra war), to make us sleep with the many tale of the civil war and why we were still serving the displaced in Jos, with little or no sleep at all, we woke up to the news of the world trade centre 11/09 2001 bombing, it was the television footage that made me remember the day and the date of month we were in.  That is what war and violence could do to a sane person.

On this day (Sept 11th 2001) my resolve to be for peace and promote same in my generation changed for life. But my concern after a decade is that much has not improved, Jos is still in crisis, and the war against terrorism is still not over even with the killing of Osama Bin Laden, the world is still not safe though better. Here in Africa and Nigeria leadership has failed, we now have a threat  in Boko Haram in Nigeria,  a group now linked to Al Qaeda and many extremist group around the globe but a bigger threat in the Alhimajiris this unschooled, unskilled and religiously ‘unbalanced’ Children scattered  across Northern Nigeria.

Our security here in Nigeria is still porous, as I keep mourning  the deaths of many that have died since the insurgence since the 9/11 decade and now the  faceless group ‘Boko Haram’, though I have being thinking before now, but the death of many police men,  soldiers and security agents and civilians across the Nations, brought out my silent thought, to thinking out loud, ‘how can unintelligent people (vast personnel of Nigerian Police/security outfits) deal with intelligence gathered by trained and specialized security outfits around the world(Interpol, CIA, FBI & SSS)’. 

The on-going terrorist concern around the globe has brought even the mighty US security plans to questions, and Nations around the world are getting the best minds and heads to run their security, on both fronts: sourcing and execution. But back at home in Nigeria it took boko haram that can be compared to a ‘boys scout’ outfit to expose the known vast corruption in our security formation. This corruption has been going on for years; from the process of recruitment to actual management of these personnel’s. It is no longer news that half of the men/women of our security outfits are not sound in character and learning, go around during recruitment exercises you hear of tales of thugs and school dropouts just walking to a business centre to fix up a school leaving certificate for themselves; you hear of stories of people paying over a #120,000 to get enrolled; boys & girls that do not even know what is human rights, some cannot take down your statements when you come to the station and  so boring to be with; even as I write this I do not mean to insult the integrity of the many of them that are committed to their jobs, but of a truth the vast majority of them do not, some might argue that the high level of unemployment has contributed to this pseudo-life. Security men are supposed to be people that have the passion to do the job, not necessary because of the money, because they are the list paid across the globe compared to the services they render especially the police, check out your statistics anywhere in the world; but passion is the key, that makes them acquire the necessary skills, even if they lack paper qualification, however here in Nigeria, the passion is lacking across all sector of the society.             

So as we continue to mourn the loss of life’s of both uniformed men and non- uniformed men; and the great concern from the international community, from the USA, to Germany and France, UK and Russia, all promising to help us out with intelligence, but the questions is who will execute such intelligence, is it the unintelligent men/women of both the armed forces/Para-forces, I doubt it?

Even as we call for reform in the oil sector, our security formation needs to be reformed; the citizen too must help the system, by enrolling only if they have the passion to guide and secure life’s, not primarily because they will be paid, but the joy of serving humanity.  The government too must ensure that all this short-cut processes in recruitment are stopped, processes of checking validity of credentials should be introduced; after all there is processes used in clearing politicians/high political appointee before they get the jobs to see if there exists anything of security concern, why not use same on applicants seeking jobs in various their security formation.

There are many thoughts running in my head as I pen down this journal; however I mourn the loss of thousands of precious live and many that will still be lost, if unintelligent men keep running our INTELLIGENCE UNIT.  

Summary

The solution to this global crisis is to adapt human security model an emerging model, used to further broaden the understanding of global vulnerabilities, whose proponent challenges the traditional notion of national security, by adding a human face to security. Over the years, the values we shared as our brother’s keeper, has gone into thin air, our leadership has failed us, they have failed to create an enabling environment for businesses to grow, but the question and lesson I have learnt is that what are we doing as Africans to better our lot?

For some time now, the African society keeps over protecting the younger generation from values and discipline. We keep demanding right without responsibility and this is resulting into a heartless generation that do not care for one another, or value human life, a selfish generation and that is not our way, our way is to help one another, our way is to ‘never leave a partner in a fire’.

If Africa must develop, we must do something to protecting one another, security and development are inseparable, the millennium development goals (MDGs) of having a multifactor, human-centered vision of development cannot be achieved, if there is no security, if we cannot tolerate ourselves, diversity must be promoted with sincerity.

Lesson Learnt

·        There cannot be right without responsibility. 

·        Indeed there can never be a future without children, however children with responsibility!

·        The solution to various crises here in Nigeria or any other part of the globe is to tolerate ourselves and promotion of diversity with sincerity; the answer is not the cry for international aids or peace keeping forces.

·        The solution to all these tribal woes in Africa is a birth of true nationalism. 

(Extract from my work Journal: I was Born here...So must work for its survival  (2001-2011)

In the Beginning

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...”  Gen 1:1

By the accounts of 2/3 majority of the world’s religion from Hindu, Judaism, Islam, to Christianity there is an existence of God a creator irrespective of the name they call him, the scriptures wherein all this godly folks lay their hopes for direction, be it the Holy Bible, Koran and various hadith you name it all had the account of a God who created the heaven and the earth.

Beginning in the beginning is not a religious review or hadith evaluation, it’s to establish the point that, we are here on earth to serve, the Bible said in Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God Created the Heavens and the Earth…” and I have a strong conviction he is still working till today, mostly through humanity that makes God a doer.

This act of creation that took place in the beginning has already set a task for me before I was born; during my growing-up days I was a ‘busy body’ so they say, but they were wrong, it was my destiny that was calling me; to become a social crusader, an intellectual entrepreneur to preserve knowledge from generation to generation. So as a teenager I started thinking community, volunteering and just helping out others at my own expense.

The journey started as a local Red Cross volunteer learning first-aid, and going to the township stadium for football matches/athletic competitions, and public events to give first aid. However there were turning point during those days, one of such point that affected my life most were the period of voluntary service at the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi, during  the nurses strikes at various point, where I saw a lot of lapses in public healthcare system, and over ten years after the experience, it has never gotten better the presence of weak health service infrastructure has become a normal thing, to compound the worst situation, needed skilled personnel are inadequate, infrastructure and poor functioning equipment & a lack of essential drugs and supplies.  

From my activeness as a volunteer I came into leadership position as the youth coordinator in 2002, representing the youth on the management board of the Red Cross in my region, (Benue) it was in this position, that I learnt the first lesson of youth participation, that is there is no place for the youth in leadership, not  because we cannot lead but because the adult that failed in their youth, are afraid of what ‘I do not know’, so for youths to earn their place at the top, they must bring  innovative ideas to the table, this I did through an inert embodiment of a balance necessary to learn quickly and perform exceptionally in new, challenging environments. Adding enthusiastic desire to take any initiative and being hard working; you must learn to put them at ease, while with you. Whatever level of success or results gotten from all the initiatives I created or worked in came from my adaptable openness and sensitive sense of humour; you must be genuine, optimistic and have a confident personality, with well-developed leadership skills, and have ways to engage challenges and challenge self and others to work collaboratively and approach issues in an innovative manner, these were the virtues that earned me a place among the ‘strong and mighty at that level’. So for all youth complaining of being let out by the adults, know you are not alone, just be innovative and creative, the adults we chase after you.

From a young man that had no place, I was able to gain skills that made me a proficient programme facilitator/coordinator, proposal/report writer, researcher and now an intellectual entrepreneur, though still learning. To maintain and keep fighting for the change we need in our community, we must prioritize our goal and this I learnt from the beginning I had to prioritize my long-term personal and professional growth and this I directed toward social concern and servant leadership in Nigeria. With a community volunteering experience for over 14 years with several organizations and through participation in and organization/promotion of community events related to public health, peace-building, and civic participation/governance, I met great people committed to the cause of humanity not because of Job security, or level of unemployment in the continent, but because they have learnt that building a better community begins one block at a time. 

Please keep following my thoughts; after one-half decade of the beginning, I went back to assess the house we built; now they are more youth as decision marker across various organizations, some are even CEO’s, more youths from the rural community pursuing education, because they now know that their parents owns them nothing expect education, so they are trying to go get themselves schooled and fulfil their dream (get a life),  more youth volunteers with passion; but the trouble I met at home(social work practice) was the issue of  no believe in delay gratification; volunteering for the joy of it, the happiness and smile on the faces of those we help; now it’s about the ‘Benjamin’, travelling opportunity, recommendations, all these are good if it comes as a motivation on service not an entry point. 

Yours sincerely has benefited from such at some point, but it was not my goal; when I started in 1995 as a 12yrs old school first-aider I was just happy following in the footstep of Jean Henry Dunant the founder of Red Cross; the Mother Theresa’s and the rest of the good guys. If your entry point is based on the goodies, you will have issue with integrity and will not be able to avoid conflict of interest. Integrity as explained by Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli founder of LEAP-Africa Lagos; is more that “clear-cut universally accepted standards of behaviour like lying, cheating and offering or receiving bribes all accepted as bad.” I strongly agree to her postulation.   

Summary

In the beginning we were small in number, motivated not by fame, wealth or lack of career direction, what called us to be doers was the need to change our community and in so doing fulfil our mandate on earth. Now we are many, some motivated by fame, wealth & lack of career focus; volunteering now a ticket to travel, be known or get some extra ‘Benjamin’s’, but I say a LAZY MAN’s thought!

Lesson Learnt

·         There is no place in leadership for the youth; they have to earn it with innovative ideas and creativeness.

·         Volunteering services is growing here in Africa, but with a bit of concern on the motive behind the entry point.

                                           

(Extract from the my social work journal “I was born here…so I live here and must work for its survival” [2001-2011]) 

A forgotten Priority: Maternal Health Service Infrastructure

Count Down to IWD 2012: 7 Days to Go!

“Weak health service infrastructure contributes to poor maternal health”

March 8th every year the celebration of the International Women’s Day, as constituted by the UN has been an on-going event; it is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is a day to honor past struggles and advances made by women as well as serve as a reminder of the untapped potentials (and opportunities) and continued actions needed to ensure that the advances are maintained and built upon to achieve gender equality in all aspects of life.

For 2012, the theme is Connecting Girls, Inspiring futures!  As good as the annual celebrations with various wonder theme and its intended objectives, there is an urgent issue that could underscore whatever success we are celebrating or projected future we hope for and that is the issue of maternal health services, as I speak now, across Nigeria and Africa, the presence of weak health service infrastructure has become a normal thing, to compound the worst situation, needed skilled personnel are inadequate, infrastructure and poor functioning equipment & a lack of essential drugs and supplies.   

Policy makers and Government of African States must know, if they are not aware already that improving maternal health remains the most elusive of the MDGs, statistics has it that every minutes, at least one woman dies from pregnancy-related causes, and 99% of these are in developing countries.  Majority of these deaths occurs in sub-Sahara Africa & South Asia and are avoidable, if our leadership would make available standard interventions and health care which all pregnant women and their newborns needs. As we plan to mark the 2012 International Women’s Day, with the aim of connecting Girls to opportunities that will give us an innovative future, we should not forget that this year also marks the 25th anniversary of Silver Jubilee of the Safe Motherhood Movement.

As we count-down to the D-Day, mostly filled with speeches and promises, we quickly forget come April, I call on Governments and International partners to know remember a forgotten priority: provision of solid maternal health service infrastructure, to me apart from access to education, access to quality health services and products, is the best connection we can give to girls that will inspire futures!