Review of What Is Wrong With Us?

The review below of Omolola Famuyiwa’s What is wrong with us? Nuggets about mature singles, written under the pen name Anne ‘Muyiwa, was presented by Mrs. Funke-Treasure Durodola of Radio Nigeria at the Book Launch on the 12th of June 2011 in Lagos, Nigeria. To order copies, visit Divine Connection. Thanks for reading.

In What is wrong with us?, Anne Muyiwa digs into nuggets about mature singles indeed. According to the author, the 11 chapter book  was birthed via an article on Facebook, the popular social media platform. In her caveat, which many would title preface, she declared that the book has been written for the Christian community but that it would bless every person who is yet to connect to God’s will in reference to marriage. I found the statement true at the end of my first reading of the book.

The title chapter, “What is wrong with us?”, is a rant about how easily mature singles could connect to love if we all were sensitive enough and realistic about their emotional, psychological and sexual needs.

Ms. Muyiwa has a knock on the head for every one in the book. The church received a sledge hammer treatment for the hypocrisy with which the issue of mature singles are approached and the judgmental stance of the church in cases that arise by the day going by the sheer number of this group of people in church.

The book challenges the norm by citing examples from familiar stories in the Bible, it is at once sarcastic and satirical. It draws heavily on the biblical examples of the sovereignty of God in the process of choosing mates. Top on the list are Esther, Rebecca, Eve, Boaz and Ruth’s unusual routes to marriage. Of Esther she writes on page 28, “..the only reason Esther became a celebrity is not because she held an ace or a joker, it is simply because it was God’s will”.

Ms. Muyiwa’s personal stories in her calling to minister to mature singles resonate through the book and lends both humour and insight into the challenge that a mature single’s life is. At the core of Anne’s message is the chapter titled ‘the error messages’. It contains 7 nuggets namely who should cleave, whose people shall be your people, who seeketh and who findeth, does it matter, marriage – a contract or a covenant, vows: biblical and required and unequally yoke.

Each nugget is backed by scriptural principles and biblical stories which the author believes have been distorted on most church altars and podiums.

The author also addresses the emptiness of most singles summits, fellowships and conferences in the second chapter, titled ‘Create the Garden’. In it, she draws on a biblical story; the role Naomi played in creating an atmosphere for Boaz and Ruth to become married. Their connection according to the author was “the generational root of Jesus Christ, the saviour”. She warns that the more mature singles out there, the higher the divorce rates would be; because “more applications for relationships on the table of unmarried mature singles come from the stable of the married”. She hinted that this was the idea behind birthing her monthly programme for mature singles – Divine Connection.

She continues with the  issue in the chapter, ‘The Letter Killeth’ trying to  unravel what is wrong with us. This time she tackles married folks who believe the unmarried are not smart enough to figure things out. She opines here that most singles seminar had become an event where the married try to tell the singles how to survive a marriage they are yet to sign into and may unfortunately never do. In her words on page 25, “they have succeeded in proving to themselves that they have marriage maps! Another successful event has been recorded by the church (TGBTG) many people attended, the speaker put up a beautiful speech yet no direct connection, no seed has been sown towards the time of harvest”.

Here is another quote on the issue, “I have never attended such events where even 15 minutes was devoted to interactions.The speakers talk and talk and there is no meeting of minds…..at 30 something , a man or woman has listened to enough theories and is more interested in the practicals which begins with woman meets man.”

She draws on two leading men of God, both of them in the recent top 5 list of richest pastors in Nigeria. She reiterates the question what is wrong with us and informs and I quote, “we tell singles not to marry unbelievers yet Pastor Ashimolowo was probably a Muslim when madam said I do. We tell singles not to marry into polygamy but Pastor Adeboye is not the child of a first wife…. we celebrate Obama but Michelle married a smoker.”

My favourite example in this chapter is on page 28, and I quote, “How many ministers would let their members enter into a competition where virgins have to undergo a one year training which ends with having sex with a foolish king, as a ticket to assuming the position of the first yet-to-be divorced wife? Not forgetting that the virgin girls who lost the bid were remanded as concubines in the kings court! She opines that the will of God is often left out in the rules and when they are included we become traffic wardens on how it should play out.

In the chapter “Hypocrisy Are Us”, Ms. Muyiwa addresses the issue of commitment to church activities by mature singles. She offers that mature singles become engrossed in church activities thinking some guy or gal would notice and then states that fewer Christians meet their spouses in the church. The chapter deals with the selfishness of the clergy in using these willing ones in church work  and sparing no thoughts for their connection to a mate.

The author, a minister, relationship coach and media specialist offers the reason for taking up the cause of mature singles in the chapter “Ask Me Why?”.

On page 70 she writes, “being educated, employed or engaged are three milestones which we need more than a book to cover:so we will treat one, or move slightly beyond asking you why you are not engaged to become more intrusive and ask you why you are not married”. She goes further to say, “It’s strange that this is one of the most annoying, embarassing, awkward questions we may want to respond to as mature singles yet it is one we ask the most in the corners of our rooms, one that may come with tears. I’m beautiful, handsome, educated, employed, living a Godly life, ethically conscious but why am I not married?”

She provides a soul searching “Ask Me Why Activity” on page 138-139 complete with “Ask Me Why” profile and response sheet. It’s a 24-question profile sheet for males and females which asks you to shade or leave unshaded the profiles of those whom one would or would not consider for marriage.

The author provides the results of a similar profile/questionnaire administered at a youth and singles fellowship where she had been invited to minister on the theme in the chapter titled “Ask Me Why  II’. It is another pointed personal story  to drive home the reasons why most single people remain unmarried. The questionnaire analysis from page 108 -111 is stagerring in terms of insight and quite beneficial. It is one of the high points of the book. You will find that chapter illuminating. The brilliance and insight of the author into issues of mature singles sparkled here.

On page 83 -91 of the book, the author restates the 7 core messages of What is wrong weith us. They are difficult to compress into one liners without losing the punch nevertheless here are the highlights: It is not anything you do not have that has kept you unmarried; every busyness and business outside of God’s will is an effort in futility,it is not your effort that will move God; your choice should be based on God’s will, He’s your manual and navigator; God’s will does not have a stiff recipe, it can come in any package and however God desires; you create the home you desire with the man you sign up with regardless of his race, religion or resume; even when God positions you for a purpose, when he sets you on a path to His will, there is a price and your ability to pay that price determines the terms of your ownership and lastly blissful marriages are defined by God’s purpose for us.

On page 98 she employs a powerful analogy of an egg in dealing with the issue of heartbreaks. It seals the debate on who initiates heartbreaks, why are there so many heartbreaks and how do you deal with it. Where is the place of God in it and more.

In  “C-Esssentials 1 and 2″, the author provides a brief of Divine connection, she writes that it was borne out of challenges experienced by men and women who are marriageable, dedicated to God’s purpose but yet to connect to God’s divine partner of the opposite gender. You will find excerpts of DC newsletter dwelling on the role of communication, character, culture, career and commitment in buliding a godly relationship here.

The authors voice in the book, What is wrong with us? is informal, friendly, even playful, you will come off reading it feeling like you have been in conversation  at a counselling session with her. The book has a dash of pidgin English, Yoruba – the author’s native language and colloquial expressions. It’s interesting that there is no mention of the word sex in the entire book. All through the book she challenges your assumptions and dares you to break deep seated beliefs and embrace change.

Let me look at the flaws in the book; page 71 could do with another paragraph instead of the block of words there, another paragraph could have worked well on page 77, generally  thought progressions in the structure of the paragraphs could be better.

Notable quotes in the book What is wrong with us? include, “As long as we continue to see the physical, do the ordinary, the miraculous would be hidden from us”; “Let God work out who you will walk the marital journey with”.

The practicability of the book, What is wrong with us?  is  striking, astonishing and engaging – the illustration on the cover page is a pointer to that practicability and the unusual offering of the author. The book is full of wit and humour,it makes the truth in the book tolerable. It is a delightful read, you will find yourself smile and sigh.

I hereby recommend it as you seek to create a garden in your corner of the world.

Omolola Dara, a member of Divine Connection also has this to say:

“What is wrong with us” is a blockbuster which has touched my life and [the lives of] some friends. It spoke of the need to change our thinking as a nation, a body especially the church towards helping the mature adult to maintain her/his sanity and actualise his or her dream. The embarrassment of the mature adult is nothing compared in the society to what he/she faces in the house of God, the critics of who he or she should marry is ever a present trouble without bringing together like minds or creating a garden like the author pointed out. The pain is more when the mature adults makes an emotional and physical mistake then the castigation [erupts] but who really thinks of the hurts, feelings, age and LOVE.

The book is a must have and read for anyone passing through a rough time of waiting especially when no brother or sister finds you attractive in church at age 30 plus or when you are a single parent or a widow or widower. Won’t we rather leave God to decide who he is angry with rather than be the judge and jury ourselves. The book points us to asking what if we are born Muslim, pagan, sickly, poor, disabled etc would we imagine not to be married or happy, our parents married despite all odds and yet their generation was good, but in this picky generation have we considered the rate of divorce. It is well.

  

Light A Candle

A candle loses none of its light by lighting another candle!

One day in a year is definitely not enough to celebrate the courage of patients, educate the populace and create awareness about a disease that has eaten deep into the fabric of the nation. Almost every family has a story.
 
Nnamdi’s birth was celebrated with pomp and pageantry. By the age of three, he had made so many rounds to the hospital that his parents lost count. One day, his parents travelled to the city with him and he had a seizure and was hospitalised. It was then that his parents realised that the union of AS and AS birthed SS.

Fola and Aminu knew they were both carriers yet their love for each other was so strong that all warnings fell on deaf ears. After 10 years of marriage and two burials of offspring, they individually began to wonder whether love is stronger than the pangs of mourning.

Ajadi enjoyed good health until a sore in his old age led him to visit the hospital. There he was tested and told he is a “sickler”. Since the kinds of symptoms described were alien to him, doctors began to question him about his diet. Ajadi from Ekiti for most of his life had eaten more of yam for breakfast and pounded yam for lunch. His diet only recently changed leading to the breakdown of his immunity. From the research that was conducted, it was discovered that Yam has anti-sickling agents and because it is natural it has little or no side effect. Ugwu was also discovered to produce iron and increase blood count. So, what magic can a diet of yam and ugwu do to an anaemic patient?

Nigeria is blessed with many natural and human resources meant to sustain us, unfortunately these resources are not well researched neither are medicinal properties of herbs and foods harnessed for maximum benefit.

Ignorance about the sickle cell anaemia has birthed more patients. According to Deaconess Toyin Adesola, author of Still Standing, whose parents though medical personnel – surgeon and nurse – got married despite both having the AS genotype, “My parents got married in the ‘60s and there was hardly anybody that knew about the SCA then.” Lack of information and education about the transmission, effects and management of the s-cell continue to lead many to regret pleading the love amendment.

Some years back, Ms. Funke Akiyode, the Founder of Shout Global Health Inc, attended a Sickle Cell Conference in Baltimore where she met with a man she identified as “Baba”. Baba who was then in his sixties had come to share a rare herb recipe that has become a saving grace for children living with the s-cell in his community. Not too long thereafter, Baba transited to the great beyond, but not without passing on the recipe to his children. Not finding the $3M required for Research and Development (R & D), Baba’s children sold this miracle recipe to business savvy Indians. The Indians not only got the R & D underway, they, based on a pact and the need to be close to the botanical properties, located the factory in Nigeria. True or False; this is said to be the story that birthed Nicosan.

The commissioning of the Xechem factory by President Olusegun Obasanjo was done amidst a lot of media bling-bling. Commercial production began in 2006 but the drug which was sold for N3, 000 i.e. $20 was of course not affordable to the average Nigerian.

But the originally indigenous Nicosan (Hemoxin in US) formerly known as Niprisan and Nix 0699 which was researched by the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) became a miracle drug having prevented informed and economically capable s-cell patients from pain and from making monthly rounds to the hospital for transfusion or the likes thus leading them to live normal lives. Unfortunately the medication became inaccessible due to the stop order on production.

With the embargo on Nicosan production, more Nigerians living with the s-cell have turned to Hydroxyuleria - a drug for cellular abnormality diseases like leukemia – which increases the production of fetal haemoglobin, needed to rejuvenate red blood cells. Though Hydroxyuleria work for some, it has so many side effects including the possibility of increasing cell growth which may lead to cancer.

In a spirited letter to NEXIM, Diamond Bank and Bank PHB – Ms. Tosin Ola, a self-described sickle cell warrior wrote, “Last month, I ran out of Nicosan. Now I am in the same boat as my friends, waiting for the evil crises to descend on me like a specter of doom. I am afraid of falling sick again, I am afraid of having to go to the hospital, because sickle cell patients are dying in hospitals from ‘sickle cell related complications’ at an alarming rate. Not just here in the United States, but in Bahrain, Nigeria, India, Jamaica and Brazil. There is a huge stigma that exists for sickle cell patients around the world, and every time we pass through a hospital, we are playing dice with death. Why would you allow this to be our fate?”

I wonder why those in the corridors of power would continue to stand akimbo while our human resources are depleted daily due to a disease that can be managed by a locally produced drug. It is sad that foreign bodies are more concerned about health related issues which explains why initiatives for the eradication of Polio, prevention of HIV/Aids etc are usually externally driven.

The good news is that short term plans by Xechem Pharmaceuticals include the closure of the New Jersey Headquarters to minimise operations cost and the resumption of production in Nigeria.

June 19 is the World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, an event that commemorates the date in 2008 when the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution recognising sickle cell anaemia, one of the world’s foremost genetic diseases, as a public health concern. The day affords everyone especially advocates and the media an opportunity to educate people, create awareness and possibly eliminate harmful prejudices about the disease. The disease has severe physical, psychological and social consequences for those affected and their families.

The World Health Organisation estimates that Nigeria has 7 million people living with SCD and that SCD contributes to 5% of the deaths of children below aged 5 years in some African countries. While an increasing proportion of affected children now survive past 5 years of age, many remain at risk of premature death. With early detection and use of public health interventions such as penicillin, many of these deaths can be prevented. Additionally, the burden of this disease can be reduced with increased global resources and effective partnerships.

Our government and indeed the health sector need to seek greater cooperation to facilitate access to information, education, communication, management, and treatment for sickle-cell anaemia. Increase research to determine prevalence of SCD, develop better management guidelines, and more effectively monitor complications of the disease. There should be a pro-active stance towards the improvement of proper management of sickle-cell anaemia to decrease mortality from related diseases. International institutions, development partners, civil society and corporate bodies should be encouraged to support health systems and primary health-care delivery.

So how can you commemorate the day: Raise awareness especially via social media. Have a presentation at your place of worship. Partner with NGO and Civil Society. Educate someone or provide free information pamphlet. Encourage people to get screened for the trait, donate blood or donate money to sickle cell research. Organise a benefit programme or media briefing. Lobby legislators to come up with policies that support the establishment of free clinics for indigent patients. Support a patient or parent. Take a moment to reflect and to pray.

The SCD is an inherited group of red blood cell disorders. In people living with the SCD, "sickle" or abnormally shaped red blood cells get stuck in small blood vessels and block the flow of blood and oxygen to organs in the body. These blockages can cause repeated episodes of severe pain, organ damage, and serious infections, or even stroke. SCD affects millions of people throughout the world and is particularly common among blacks.

The specific aim of the 2011 World Sickle Cell Awareness Day theme - Educate and Unite - is to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goal 4 i.e. to reduce child mortality by 2015.

Ms. Tosin Ola gave a charge: “The power of intercessory prayer and a shared global consciousness is real, so please lift up all our brothers and sisters. So many of us are down, in pain, or in the hospital, and we could all use some well wishes and love.”

To all our loved ones living with the s-cell, I admire your courage and I pray God strengthen you mentally to outlive the anaemic cell. Together we can change the face of sickle cell.

Omolola Famuyiwa is Project Director of Cares Global Network. This article also appeared in Punch Newspapers of 22.06.11.

Protect Children Now

Children are the future of the world. Children are the hope of Nigeria. Children are tomorrow’s people. They are the new inspiration. Children, our joy, our pride, our future! Little wonder Nigerians celebrate the arrival of a child with pomp and pageantry. The child’s mother receives many gifts as more and more people gather to care and cook. Where the new baby’s parents’ can boast of wealth, the family rolls out drums to celebrate the bundle of joy. Different cultures have different ways by which they celebrate the best gift ever – children.

With the way we celebrate children at birth, you would think people would never hurt children? But they do… These precious souls soon become subjects of neglect, exploitation and abuse. Hundreds of children die every week from physical and sexual abuse. Many are raped, molested, violated... Even with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Child Rights Act and numerous provisions in the best interest of children, 1 in ten children are made to swallow the bitter pill of abuse during childhood. An estimated 34% are neglected, 30% are sexual abused, 28% are physically abused with another 8% suffering various kinds of emotional abuse.

Do you know that the United Nations has estimated the population of street children worldwide at 150 million, with the number rising daily? In Lagos, countless children roam the streets. Sadly, the society have come to accept them and even labelled some of them as “area boys” or “area girls”. Some are on the streets to beg, while others are there to sell or steal. Though some children were driven to the streets by poverty; most had to take refuge on the streets as a result of one form of abuse or another. Some have a place to retire to at night but others have come to accept the street as home. Have you ever asked how they got there?

Street children and thousands of others who remain within but have their minds far away from home, are the defenseless victims of abuse, abject neglect, brutal violence, sexual exploitation and drug addiction. Some end up being murdered by clean up squads hired locally or by police.

Sadly, 90% of children know their abusers. Surprisingly, they are often people who the victim have come to trust - family friend, relation, care giver or even parent! We may need to rethink our customs, beliefs, practices and attitudes that are harmful to children

1 in ten are abused during child hood

“My father used to slap me and beat my mother when I go out to visit friends, he later raped me when my Mum travelled to the village” – Titilayo, 13 years

“My mother abuses me all the time; she said I should have been a boy” – Nneka, 8 years

“My aunty beats me whenever I return home without selling all my plantain. It became too much, one day, I ran away, far away to live on the street.” Amadu, 11 years

Most children are afraid to open up about being abused for fear of reprimand but how can you tell that a child has been sexually abused? The child would have knowledge of sexual intercourse, may have medical problems such as sexually transmitted diseases, react extremely to corrections e.g. run away or attempt suicide, the child would feel insecure and may be wary of known persons.

How can you tell that a child has been physically abused? There would be bruises, usually unexplained, and such a child may refrain from undressing either for medical examination or for games. Other indicators are self destructive tendencies and may be afraid of physical contact.

How can you tell if a child has been neglected? The child would be constantly hungry or may be malnourished, the child may be unkempt, the child may be constantly tired and fall asleep at the slightest comfort, the child may have untreated medical problems and may withdraw from social interaction. Also, the child may become a compulsive scavenger.

A child suffering from emotional abuse would have noticeable physical, mental and emotional development inhibition. The child may begin to stutter or have sudden speech disorder, lack self-appreciation, over reacts to mistakes, respond inappropriately to pain, fear new situations and be extremely passive or extremely aggressive.

If you know any child that is being abused, PLEASE encourage the child to speak to someone, it could be the child’s parent, guardian, friend, mentor, counselor or someone the child can trust. If you know an abuser, the onus is on you to report to the police or via the various Helplines by non-governmental organisations or the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) Helpline – 01.761.7508, 01.730.8112.

The Child Rights Law must be fully implemented and such initiatives as the Yellow Card for Child Abuse must be publicised. Our legislators must begin to talk about prosecuting child rights offenders. There must be serious retributive consequences for those who abuse children. Child abuse should be a criminal offence especially considering that some children carry the negative effect throughout life. Record of child abusers should be published via the media – television, radio, print, internet - to ensure such offenders are prevented from hurting other children.

Parents and guardians must learn to communicate with their children so as to gain their trust as confidants. They must also teach children skills that prevent children from abuse. The National Broadcasting Commission and the Media should take up their roles as stakeholders by ensuring that materials containing adult content are not shown during children’s belt. Any content that celebrates child abuse must not be aired.

In 1976, thousands of black school children took to the streets of Soweto, South Africa. In a march more than half a mile long, they protested the inferior quality of their education and demanded their right to be taught in their own languages. In the two weeks that followed, during what came to be known as the Soweto Uprising, hundreds of innocent people especially young boys and girls were massacred and thousands were injured.

To honour the memory of those who courageously paid the price for the voice of children to be heard, not just in South Africa but across the continent of Africa, the Day of the African Child was initiated by the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union) and has been celebrated on 16 June every year since 1991.

The Day draws attention to the lives of African children. This year, the Day focuses on the plight of the estimated 30 million "street children" in Africa under the theme of "All Together for Urgent Actions in Favour of Street Children. The 2011 observance of this Day seeks to contribute to widespread awareness of the dangers street children face, promote the taking of urgent steps to protect them and determine strategies for providing effective child protection

As part of Vanguard Newspaper’s 1st Parenting Summit in commemoration of the Day of the African Child, Cares Global Network, publisher of Willows Magazine went to Obalende, Lagos to give out lunch packs to street children. There will be a Road Walk by students (June 16) to re-enact the vision of those that marched in Soweto.

The Day of the African Child is a day of reflection, one during which we all should reflect on the special needs of children in Africa; the need to increase equal access to suitable education, health, and the protection against abuses such as physical, emotional and sexual abuse, child exploitation, the recruitment of child soldiers, child labour and child marriages.

Though commemoration of the day has brought the African child under the global klieg light, we are yet to see the true recognition of the African child. The true worth of the African child will come only when their voices are truly heard and an investment in their collective future is seen; when one sees an end to gender inequality, when children are protected from all forms of abuse, when their little bodies are no longer seen as disposable and an end to demand is seen for their use as tools of the sex trade, labour and weapons of war. Until that day children across the continent of Africa continue to suffer unjustly, their abusers receive little recourse for their actions, and the majority of the governments sit idly by.

As we commemorate yet another Day of the African Child, let’s take a moment to share their strides and aspirations, let’s share their stories of courage and hope, only then will tomorrow be a better day for children everywhere.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) states that, every child has the right to good health, education, right to be treated equally, the right to be protected, and the right to participate in matters that affect them. Will you make this happen? Will you protect children now against violence, exploitation and all forms of abuse? I will. Will you?

Exerpt from this article by Omolola Famuyiwa, Project Director of Cares Global Network, was published in Punch Newspapers on 16.06.11 with the title, For the sake of the African Child.

Inaugural Agenda

                                         

Using the 20-point inaugural speech posted online, Mr. President’s address can be broken into the following key messages:

1. Gratitude and appreciation for votes and promise of being worthy of our trust. Special appreciation of Nigerians for collective commitment to building a democratic country, of course PDP was specifically mentioned.

2. Acknowledgement of “brother heads of state and government” or representatives, chair person of African Union, world leaders, development partners and guests. Mr. President should learn to be gender sensitive. Madam President from Liberia – Mrs. Helen Sirleaf Johnson – and other worthy females were present at the inauguration.

3. Salutation of his friend and brother, Mr. VP Sambo for being a pillar of support, First Lady, Madam Peace for galvanizing and mobilizing Nigerian women for the cause of democracy and salutation to his parents. Congratulations to elected Governors, Senators, members of the House of Representatives and those of the States Houses of Assembly.

                                   

4. Tribute to the late President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and to Nigeria’s founding fathers for their enduring sacrifice

5. Acknowledgment of the over 70M that registered to vote and those who struggled against limitations and challenges to vote, and of the spirit of resilience to build a strong nation

6. Affirmation of Nigeria’s unity, unshakable determination to unite our nation and improve the living standards of all our peoples. Mr President’s confidence that a people that are truly committed to a noble ideal, cannot be denied the realization of their vision and an assurance that Nigeria’s dream that is so deeply felt by millions will indeed come to reality. An affirmation of the sacrifice that gave the people’s mandate to a candidate from the minorities.

7. A note of sympathy for a fan that overwhelmed by the joy of victory, after campaigning enthusiastically, collapsed and passed on three days later. A sympathetic acknowledgement of the many patriotic and diligent souls especially members of the Armed Forces and the NYSC that were lost in re-birthing our democracy

                                      

8. A charge to those elected for patriotism and passion, demonstrable leadership, statesmanship, vision, capacity, and sacrifice, to transform our nation to match the hopes and aspirations of the great people. We must strengthen common grounds, develop new areas of understanding and collaboration, and seek fresh ideas that will enrich our national consensus. It is the supreme task of this generation to give hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak and protection to the defenceless.

9. A promise of transformation in all the critical sectors, by harnessing the creative energies of our people.

10. A promise to grow the economy, create jobs, and generate enduring happiness for Nigerians and trust in the ability of Nigerians to transform Nigeria. “The urgent task of my administration is to provide a suitable environment, for productive activities to flourish. I therefore call on the good people of Nigeria, to enlist as agents of this great transformation”.

Only once in Mr. President’s inaugural address did we see a firm active voice, “The urgent task of my administration is to provide a suitable environment, for productive activities to flourish. I therefore call on the good people of Nigeria, to enlist as agents of this great transformation.”

I request that you  review Mr. President's Agenda and share your thoughts on whether we have a worthwhile journey to look forward to.

Omolola Famuyiwa is Project Director of Cares Global Network.

The Song of Freedom

It was heart warming to witness the inauguration of the third democratically elected president in Nigeria after the restoration of civilian governance in 1999. The glitz, the media attention and the global recognition was well worth the sacrifice we made at the polls and the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the April 2011 elections. 

But while some are proud of Nigeria for swinging a beautiful ceremony, a number of Nigerians are of the opinion that the huge “unsubstantiated” budget was unnecessary if not wasteful. It would be interesting to know the committee that came up with or reviewed the budget. Were there dissenting voices to the event, if yes, how were they accomodated? Who drove the expenditure? Was it Mr. President or Messers Lackeys? Is this spending in line with Mr. President's character or what he projects to be his character. If not, how does he hope to fix the disconnect?

For the educated, the argument is based on the fact that the Nigerian constitution requires and mandates only the oath taking to 'enter on the Execution' of the office of the presidency. According to a Nigerian living abroad, Mr. Dean Arutoghor, technically, the inauguration should be a simple oath-taking that requires the coming together of the president elect who should not be paid for signing into service, a judge who may be given a week day off in lieu of having to work on a work-free day and a handful of witnesses. Of course as a newsworthy event, the national media can bear the logistics of recording the event. Something really simple - like the re-taking of the oath by President Obama in the Oval Office after he fluffed his lines during the original inauguration despite all the razzle-dazzle - would have been sufficient. For the poor, the budget could have been translated into roads, water pumps, schools, market stalls, fertilizers, small loans, BCG vaccines etc.

In this age of technological advancement, could the invited dignitaries not have given their goodwill message via online video messaging? After all they all would not have had an opportunity to meet one on one with the president during the inaugural ceremonies.

But like the Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA) Alhaji Idi M. Faruk said, the N1B budgeted is justified considering the various activities slated for the event and based on the international recognition that would accrue from Nigeria being seen as a democratic country to be emulated by other African countries. On the other side of the kobo are folks like Alhaji Faruk and Mr. Lanre Sarumi, a Movie Director, who defended that the money expended was well worth it as the Presidential Inauguration like the Royal Wedding is a national event where all the invited dignitaries had an opportunity to have a taste of Nigeria first hand as well as brought in foreign currency which was ploughed back into the nation.

So what was the real figure expended for the inauguration at Federal and State level? There have been a number of complaints about the Federal budget but did any State Governor declare their inauguration budget? Whether it is 600M or 850M or even 5B Naira, the fact that the week of inaugural festivities is over means that the money have been spent. The question we need to ask is whether it was extravagant or perhaps those complaining are just being sentimental? Should a country at the brink of economic crisis expend so much to celebrate the coming of age with regards to a budding democracy? How much of hard-pressed tax payers money was squandered? Do we need to expend so much to prove that we are willing to deepen the culture and practice of democracy especially considering that many lives were lost in the re-birthing of our democracy? According to the Human Rights Watch, the 2011 election was the bloodiest since the restoration of civilian governance. The bloodbath continued on the day of election as bomb attack and violence was recorded in Bauchi, Zaria, Kaduna, Maiduguri, around Abuja and Owerri.

So the money has been spent and our future remains ahead of us. While folks like the NaijaCyberHactivists can decide to dent our image further by posting gory images on government-owned websites, we may choose to begin to ask questions about who and who would make up Mr. President’s cabinet. We can begin to question whether they are people-oriented and qualified for the positions to which they would be elected. We need to begin to ask how Mr. President intends to solve the problem of electricity, employment, healthcare, education, infrastructural and socio-economic development in the country.

Mr. President should learn to be gender sensitive. Madam President from Liberia – Mrs. Helen Sirleaf Johnson – and other worthy females were present at the inauguration yet Mr. President acknowledged, “brother heads of state and government.” Only once in Mr. President’s inaugural address did we see a firm active voice, “The urgent task of my administration is to provide a suitable environment, for productive activities to flourish. I therefore call on the good people of Nigeria, to enlist as agents of this great transformation.”

Across the nation, prayer was said to begin and close the inauguration but how much of God do we allow in the nation’s governance. As we journey through and pray for the new leadership, we need Mr. President to take a definite stand on the things that matter – healthcare, roads, electricity, education...

As we settle into a new dispensation, Mr. President need to make the loss of lives, unwavering sacrifice of the living and the expectation of all, regardless of how they voted, count for something. Mr. President needs to extend the olive branch to reach beyond the disgruntled to the pained. We are one Nigeria; Mr. President should work at understanding the northern, western, eastern and southern dynamic as this is very important to the progress of our dear nation.

Already, steps taken by Mr. President in the wake of assuming leadership is proving positive. The signing by Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan of a Freedom of Information (FoI) law is a victory for democracy, transparency, justice and development. "With the new law, Nigerians finally have vital tools to uncover facts, fight corruption and hold officials and institutions accountable," Ms. Ene Enonche, Coordinator of the Right to Know Initiative, said.

Going by the new legislation which expects all institutions spending public funds to be open about their operations and expenditure, we as citizens can ask questions about the exact figure that was spent on the inauguration and how these was expended. We can find out whether the N850B declared as actual budget by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, the Chairman of the presidential inauguration committee is true. We can also request information on the actual figures voted for public address system, multimedia projectors and screens, 

ministers, air conditioning and refurbishing (not rebuilding) of the church. Under the new law, citizens will have the right to access information and whistleblowers who report malfeasance by their employers or organisations or politicians will be protected from reprisals.

Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda said: “The signing of the FoI Bill into law is the clearest demonstration ever of the power of civil society working together to influence public policy and initiate reform. We are committed to continuing our concerted efforts to ensure that the new law achieves its ultimate objective of making government work for the people.”

It has been a long, rough road since the first submission of the FoI Bill in 1999 when the country returned to democratic rule. I must commend journalists, the media and of course the civil societies locally and globally for taking a stand for freedom. Now we can chant Bob Marley’s Redemption Song as we pay homage to the heroes who paid the capital price and look forward to real unity and faith, peace and progress.

Omolola Famuyiwa is Project Director of Cares Global Network.