NIGERIA: ON THE MARCH AGAIN(part 2)

In my previous post i told about how i ran into the National Village Square Meeting. I`ll now tell u about the group that called the meeting and my thoughts about what i witnessed.

THE RESTORATION GROUP www.restorenigeria.org

The Restoration Group searching for a new generation of leaders to restore Nigeria has worthy ideals and values. Though I’ve not indicated my interest to be a member of the movement, I have great respect and admiration for the things they stand for. The Vision is “To be a people’s movement driven by servant Leaders which inspires wealth creation and the elevation of the dignity of the human person as the basis for governance”. The Restoration Group opines that Leaders in the new Nigeria should possess the 4C attributes of

1. COMPETENCE

2. COMMITMENT

3. CHARACTER

4. COMPASSION.

The Restoration Group is not yet a political Party but intends to become one shortly, either in its own right or as part of an existing political party, while at all times maintaining and pursuing its vision, mission and core principles.

MY THOUGHTS

Since last week Saturday, I have been asking myself how Nigerians can be made to value their own lives, put credible people into political offices, not because they were bribed during campaign but because they see a genuine desire to serve the Nation. Most of the personalities I saw at that meeting, who aspire to one elective office or the other cannot play the kind of “Ghana-must-go” politics that is rife in our country. My dilemma is that how do we get to remove the warped and twisted mindset of the average Nigerian on the street? The average Nigerian needs a brainwashing and perhaps, mindwashing too, so that he can think right and refuse to sell the next 4 years of his life for N200 or whatever paltry sum he is offered to make him vote for those greedy politicians who are ready to loot the State to fatten their bank accounts abroad. Since they bribe and rig to get into office, they have to recoup their “investment”. So they think and they justify and institutionalize corruption.

Can we get Nigerians to say NO! and ACT RIGHT? To me, this is the greatest task for the new breed of leaders such as Restoration Group is searching for.

GOD BLESS NIGERIA.

NIGERIA: ON THE MARCH AGAIN (part 1)

On the march again,

Looking for Mr. President,

On the march again,

M.K.O is our man o!

That was a Presidential campaign jingle 13 years ago when Nigeria was preparing for what is reputed as the most free and fair election in the history of Nigeria’s democratic experiment. That election never amounted to anything; the results never saw the light of day. The annulment of that election plunged Nigeria into a mire of socio-political and economic crises. It took us another 6 years after that before we could have something close to an election again. We had an election in 1999 and again in 2003, now we are preparing for the third consecutive democratic election in 2007, the first of its kind in Nigeria’s history (we’ve never had 3 elections back-to-back without military intervention).

Saturday 19^th August remains a very interesting day in my memory. I set out from home that day to witness two of my friends getting married to each other. Lola Ajose got married to Seun Olusola Ogunyale. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Seun Olusola.

After that, a friend and brother asked me to come with him to a meeting that promised to be interesting. It was to be a meeting conveyed by Nigeria’s Professional and Business elite, howbeit a political forum. I went with him to AGIP Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos for THE NATIONAL VILLAGE SQUARE MEETING. The meeting was organized by a group called the Restoration Group. In attendance were a cream of Nigeria’s Professional and business elites, Youths and Politicians among whom was Prof Pat Utomi who gave a keynote address. Other speakers include Comrade Adams Oshiomole (Nigeria Labour Congress President), Chris Anyanwu, Dr Ayo Ighodaro, Mr. Teco Benson and a host of others.

In his keynote address, Prof. Pat Utomi identified the lack of Accountability Politics as the bane of Nigeria's political system. He encouraged that Business executives, Professionals, Youths and indeed the good people of Nigeria should move into the mainstream of Nigeria’s politics as we approach another election year. He said those who fear to walk in murky waters may get carried away by mudslides, using the case studies of Liberia and Cote d`Ivoire where good people stayed away from politics and watched their countries disintegrate before their very eyes. He opined that people of good reputation should not sit and watch the system go from bad and worse.

Chris Anyanwu in her speech called for the proper education of the Nigerian Youth. In her words “our youths need to be educated, not just acquiring degrees”. She campaigned for an educational system that would make the average Nigerian youth be at par with his peers from other developed countries of the world. She also emphasized that if we’re smart enough to do things that have given our country its bad image (419, internet crimes etc), then we’re smart enough to do a lot of positive things to develop Nigeria.

Comrade Adams Oshiomole in his speech opined that Nigeria must get out of the mire of poverty by transforming its vast human capital into wealth, citing Indonesia, Singapore and Japan as examples. He emphasized that the thrust of the coming generation of leaders must be job creation which will ensure that Nigerians will live comfortably, above the poverty line.

That is just a bit of what i witnessed. In the next write - up i`ll tell u about the Restoration Group and what they profess,as we were told at the meeting. I`ll also tell you my thoughts about the whole idea that the Group is pushing.

Lets look forward to a better Nigeria.

My full names are OTEMUYIWA, TOLULOPE AYORINDE. I am a Nigerian and a proud one at that. I come from a family of four, I have just one sibling. I’m 5ft 11` in height, dark in complexion and quite slim.

I attended Franciscan Nursery & primary school, Ilesa Nigeria. Then I proceeded to St. Peter’s Unity Secondary School Akure for my junior secondary and Osun State School of Science Ile-Ife for my senior secondary. At present, I’m studying Psychology at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife. Great Ife…Great! (Did I hear u say great too?)

My personal interest lies in anything that involves people. I rather prefer to be with people than to be with machines. Well, that was a fact I stumbled on while doing something I enjoy. I teach Bible study in my campus Fellowship’s foundation school (a kind of training school), so after doing that for a while I discovered that my happiest moments were times spent in teaching and also listening to the students in my class, helping them through a few challenges, counseling, encouraging and leading them to achieve their individual goals and the corporate goals of the school. Eventually I became the head of the school and I enjoyed that too. I learnt so much about leadership in the practical sense of it, with faculty strength of about 40 and average student population of 200 per semester. The people interest and skills I discovered in myself while doing those things informed my decision to study Psychology (I did not set out to study Psychology initially but I had to take a switch, that’s a story for another day).

One of my best hobbies that I just discovered is driving, although I’ve been driving for over 5 years, even taught a few friends. Now I think I enjoy doing it. Another of such great hobby I have is interacting with people - listening and also speaking when necessary. I love sight seeing too.

Some of the values I’ve held on to and they have really helped me are: with God – to be personal with Him, with my family – to be faithful, with my friends – to be sincere, with my work – to give my all, with my partner – to be the right mate, with my beloved country Nigeria – to be faithful, loyal, and honest.

My role models include Dr Myles Munroe (the first time I heard him speak live was when he came to speak in the Church I attend in Lagos, I wish to meet him someday, perhaps soon) – I find his teachings and writings so captivating and always setting me on my feet. Rev Sam Adeyemi – my Pastor, a man taking the gospel outside the walls of the church to affect every aspect of contemporary life. Dr Wale Funsho – a leader I find to be a friend and a brother, he’s so practical. Mr. Deolu Akinyemi – a young man with a meteoric rise and who is never comfortable to succeed as a lone ranger but pushing others to succeed too. Pastor Dipo Alaka - a man who taught me leadership by giving me responsibilities and also baring his life to me. And, I’ll never forget, my father – Joel Olugbenga Otemuyiwa – most of my values I picked while watching this hero of mine.