01082020 - You're cruel insentitive for care of repentant terrorists, abandoning us

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20—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 1, 2020 Itook the decision to write on middleaged men’s health again after I completed my annual medical checkup and got the result on Friday last week, but a post on the wall of a Facebook friend, Viktor J. Okungbowa, inspired the title. Last Sunday, Okungbowa wrote: “you cannot pour from an empty cup, take care of yourself first.” My focus today is on my contemporaries, men around 55 years plus/minus one. It is shocking that some of us are still not taking our health serious. We provide for our families, which is wonderful, and meet other obligations, but forget our health. As I sat before the two doctors, who explained the results of my medicals to me at different times, the question on my mind was, “do some of my contemporaries realise what we are up against?” The results were generally good, just two minor issues which the drugs they prescribed should clear within 10 days. But you know that in health matters, it is the small issues of today that become major health challenges of tomorrow. The prostrate result particularly gladdened my heart because it proved me right in an experiment I have been involved in for about a year (I will share it with you subsequently; I do not want it to distract us from today’s topic). The kidneys were also very good, which also made me happy. In 2012 when I did my medicals in India (I went there for another reason o!), the doctor told me that he did not want to scare me, but I should watch it. Whatever the defect or deterioration he saw has been reversed. Medicals cost money. Currently in Nigeria, it costs about N70,000. It can be less or more, depending on where you do it and the scope of your medicals, and further tests if the initial results throw situations that need further investigation. Of course, in a country, where the minimum wage is N30,000 per month and some employers are even paying lower, annual check-up is beyond the reach of some men. But there are those who are not doing it, but can afford it if they plan. If you keep N200 away every day, that comes N73,000 a year! That is enough for your medicals at the minimum. That is less than what many of us spend on airtime and data every day. Some men concentrate on external appearances the world can see. Looking good is good, but staying healthy is better. Another complete Nigerian just left Planet Earth. Chief Abdulrazaq Ganiyu Folorunso [AGF], first Lawyer from Northern Nigeria, pioneer student of the University of Ibadan was an exceptional gentleman. Born across the Niger to Yoruba parents, his early years in law practice were in Zaria. The man found a Yoruba wife, born in Enyimba City and was not only the father of a governor. one of AGF’S sons - in-law was a double governor and his senator daughter also married a former governor. You could not separate Abdulrazag from Ndigbo. There were connections with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first president of Nigeria, Chief Emeka Ojukwu, the first university graduate to join the Nigeria Army and Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the first Vice President of Nigeria. Professors Ben Nwabueze and Green Nwankwo were his class mates. Another buddy, Prof.Aliu Fafunwa, the first Nigerian professor of Education, also had Igbo-in-laws. AGF was born on November 13, 1927 in Onitsha, to Ilorin Yoruba parents. Zik was born in November 1904 and hailed from Onitsha. Ojukwu was not only born in November[1933], he also died in November [2011]. The Owelle attended CMS Central School, Onitsha. Abdulrazaq was there too. Ojukwu was at CMS Primary School, Idumagbo, Lagos. After primary education, the Ilorin boy moved to Kalabari National, College, Buguma. He sure missed Onitsha and returned to the town to complete secondary education at African College. One of his teachers was Justice Chukwudifu Oputa. When he qualified as a lawyer in the UK in 1955, he could not wait to get married. There she was. Alhaja Raliat Amope Abdulrazaq was born in Aba on May 26,1930 just one year after the Aba Women’s Riot. A family of firsts. She later became the first female councilor in Kwara State. The couple produced three lawyers: Dr. Alimi Abdulrazaq, Senator Khairat Gwadabe and Isiaka Abdulrazaq. The Abdulrazaqs gave out their daughter, Aisha, to Rear Admiral Mohammed Lawal, one -time military governor of Ogun State and former governor of Kwara State. Khairat got married to Col. Lawan Gwadabe, former military governor of Niger State. They have another son, AbdulRauf, who stayed away from jurisprudence but is doing fine in his Middle-aged men: “Tak ake care of your ourself fir irst” The human body is like brand a new car at birth, all things being equal. By the time you turn 40, you are like a fiveyear-old car. The brand, usage and prior maintenance (genes and lifestyle) determine the level of depreciation and the maintenance needed. By the time you are in your 50s, you are like a 10-year-old car. No matter the brand, maintenance or usage, a 10-year-old car needs more attention if you want it to serve you well. So, middle-aged men cannot afford to gamble with their health. But some don’t even have a personal physician! That is a crime against humanity (your family and you). In many cases, the man is the breadwinner (cup) of the family, so he must continue to be healthy to win more bread. You cannot priotize the upkeep of the house over your health in your mid-50s. If you become incapacitated, the finances of the whole family are in jeopardy. You better go for medicals. Do physical examination, visual examination (if necessary), blood sugar level, liver function test, electrolyte, lipid profile, full blood count, urinalysis, prostate specific antigen, prostate scan, ECG, colonoscopy (when necessary); check your heart, kidneys, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen. Do chest x-ray (if necessary). I did a chest x-ray to check a persistent situation and was relieved when it came out negative. Chest x-ray will also show the state of your lungs; it detects heart-related lung problems, cancer, infections like tuberculosis and pneumonia or air collecting in the space around a lung. The beauty of medicals is that it helps to detect ailments that can lead to complications, incapacity or kill you, if not detected early. But if you get a clean bill of health, you get the reward of peace of mind. This is especially so when you have been having signs of a particular ailment and the test results point to the contrary. Beyond looking after your health, you should manage other aspects of your life that can affect your health. Food is one Abdulrazaq: Osha boy, , Aba wife chosen field. Kwara State governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak is the second son of AGF. He is neither a lawyer nor a soldier. He is like Abraham Lincoln. After failing many times to win elections, the oil man finally got lucky in 2019. One of his commissioners today is his niece whose father was also a governor. Abdulrazaq was so proud of his Igbo connections. He once said : “I speak Igbo fluently and my most enduring friendships are with statesmen like Alex Ekwueme and both professors Ben Nwabueze [SAN] and Green Nwankwo, who were my class mates”. Chief Ojukwu was sent to Britain by his father, Sir Louis, to study law. The Ikemba switched over to History and bagged a post graduate degree. Khairat was in the UK to pick a degree in History. She ended up as a lawyer. They must have read Abdulrazaq’s mind. According to AGF: “History is an essential subject that needs to be taught in our schools, to ensure that our youth are not goaded to rabid hatred, through biased social media or film narratives of Of course, in a country, where the minimum wage is N30,000 per month and some employers are even paying lower, annual check-up is beyond the reach of some men Nigeria History.” The Ojukwus and Abdulrazaq’s knew themselves. Zaria was the connection. The soldier began military training at the Nigeria Army depot, Zaria in 1957. The lawyer also set up practice in the same town. Ojukwu’s mother owned Jubilee Hotel which was very close to where AGF lived with his young family. That hotel unearthed a secret after the Ikemba’s death. He willed it to Tenny Hamman, You could not separate Abdulrazag from Ndigbo. There were connections with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first president of Nigeria, Chief Emeka Ojukwu, the first university graduate to join the Nigeria Army and Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the first Vice President of Nigeria his daughter that was unknown to many close to his heart. AGF was Nigerian Ambassador to Cote D’Ivoire between 1962 and 1964. In 1970, Ojukwu flew into that country, on exile. Much later, an Ojukwu also became an ambassador. Mrs Bianca Onoh, a lawyer like Abdulrazaq, whose father Christian Onoh was also a lawyer and former governor, was appointed Nigerian Ambassador to Spain by President Goodluck Jonathan who adopted the name Azikiwe and gave Ojukwu full national burial. By the way, Ojukwu of them. Your food must be medicinal. Take your time to study various health benefits of the food, fruits and vegetables you consume. Be wary of eating anything that has no health benefits. Also avoid consumption of anything that aggravates your underlying health conditions. Another major one is finance. At 55, the number of years left for you to be economically active is not much, especially those involved in physical activities, like artisans. Those in employment have about five years before retirement. So, unless you have kept the money for your children’s education aside, you cannot begin to send children abroad for first degree at this stage. Do not rely on anticipated income to engage in such an adventure. Those whose children are there are eager for them to graduate, why start when you do not have the money in place either in a domiciliary bank account or other forms of concrete investments? For me, it is not even an age to send your children to a private university, if you have not kept the money aside. It costs between N6m and about N14m to see a student through a private university in four years. This is not the kind of project you should be engaging in at 55, hoping to fund it with anticipated income. The economy is too volatile and unpredictable for that. If your cash flow does not work to plan, you will be under enormous pressure, which might affect your health. Send your children to a state or federal university, preferably federal universities, because they are cheaper and also good. The only problem with government universities is incessant disruptions in studies. But nothing lasts forever. They will graduate someday. Remember your health comes first. If you are currently in a position where after paying the fees of the children in primary or secondary schools, you have no money left for yourself, withdraw and send them to cheaper schools and save some money to take care of yours health. Higher school fees do not necessarily mean better education. When you are in your 50s, especially mid-50s, your health is number one primary. You have to be healthy to take care of the family, while having an eye on retirement. At 55, you must have plans for retirement. I have said it before, retirement planning must be self-based not others-based. The way debilitating ailments are ravaging and wasting middle-aged men is scary. Let us help ourselves. On the aeroplane, the hostess usually announces that if the oxygen mask drops, fix yours first before the one of the child you are carrying. Middle-aged men, get your priorities right. was also a governor, like AGF’s son. Gov. Abdulrazak lived in Cote D’Ivoire as an oil magnet. Ojukwu also did business in the francophone country. His father, Sir Louis, a millionaire whose Rolls Royce was used by Queen Elizabeth in 1956, was a director of Shell, the oil conglomerate. While AGF was a commissioner in Kwara State from 1967 to 1972 and now his granddaughter, Ojukwu’s son, Emeka Junior, was a commissioner in Anambra State. Ojukwu’s mother later got married to a European, Bigger. Lt. Tom Bigger who died in Nsukka with Chukwuma Nzeogwu on July 29, 1967, during the Civil war, was the Ikemba’s half brother. AGF was also close to Lauretta, from Europe and they had children together. The army officer had wives like Njideka and Stella before Bianca. Sir Louis Ojukwu worked with West African Railway. AGF was minister of state , Transport in charge of Railway when Azikiwe was President. Zik established the University of Nigeria Nsukka [UNN]. The Owelle of Onitsha settled at Onuiyi Haven, Nsukka. Abdulrazak’s friend, Fafunwa, got a job at UNN and rose rapidly to become a professor. Fafunwa later caught the Igbo bug. His daughter, Sherifat, an ex-national swimmer, found love in Prof. Okey Ndibe. Fafunwa’s son chose an Igbo wife, Ifeoma. I am not sure many remember that it was Abdulrazak that drafted the hand over note which gave General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi power to assume office as Head of State on January 16, 1966. This is interesting because you had senior lawyers in that cabinet. Dr. Taslim Elias was the Attorney General of Nigeria. Richard Akinjide was also a minister. Abdulrazak died at 93. I doubt if Governor Willie Obiano has paid condolence visit to his brother governor in Ilorin. He should go with Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia. Alhaja Raliat Abdulrazaq is still very much alive at 90. Prof. Nwabueze may attend if Obiano beckons on him. I am also sure Eze Green Nwankwo will leave his palace to honour a soul mate. Kwara has a lot o Igbo lovers. From AGF to first governor, David Bamigboye, who went into an exchange programme with East Central State Administrator, Ukpabi Asika, we have had a Col. Frank Omenka playing soccer for Government Secondary School Ilorin. That is also the town of Alyusufsalam Rocks, a team made up 90 per cent of Ghanaians which almost won the Challenge Cup in 1976. The only Nigerian in that team was Humphrey Okechukwu, an Igbo. And it took an Igbo team, Enugu Rangers, to stop the Rocks in the grand finale.
Mamman Daura is powerful. His uncle is the president. So when he talks we must listen. And we must listen because the wife of the president once told us, in many words and rumpled face, that Mamman Daura had an enviable influence on the president. That was why when Mamman came out from back stage to say that we should discard power rotation and chose the next president on merit many were agitated. If Mamman Daura were another Buba Galadimma or one other old man from the Northern Elders Forum, his musings would have caused no consternation. But was Mamman speaking for his taciturn nephew? Only time will tell. But before it does , it’s important to remind Mamman that the only reason power rotation was adopted was to guarantee the participation of all sections of the country at the highest level of government. Before power rotation became a convention, only northern Muslims and a strange man like Abiola could look at the demographics and feel confident of winning the presidency. Mamman Daura wants power rotation jettisoned because it denies the nation competence where it matters most. He actually said that power rotation had failed. So left to Mamman the nation should be run like the Super eagles where only the best plays even if they are all from one womb. The only difference is that these other political bests will be selected, not by a sound technical adviser, but by millions of hungry and poorly educated folks. Mamman Daura’s idea, Mamman Daura’s Monkey-post Meritocracy despite the shortcomings of a democratic leadership selection process mediated by millions of hungry illiterate folks, thuggery and corruption, is not bad. Mamman must be frustrated too. This country has had more of its fair share of bad leaders. And if the country prioritized merit, and condemned mediocrity into the dustbin , it could redeem itself. The only problem, however, is that Mamman is calling us out to play monkey post. In football monkey post is played on a tiny fraction of the pitch and with a goal post just about 3 feet wide. Monkey-post is played when either space or numbers needed to play the full pitch is lacking. Why is uncle Mamman canvassing for a monkey-post game? Lets play the game, play full pitch. Nigeria is a country where Quota system and Federal character have had their knees on the neck of merit for decades. The federal government w o u l d conduct examinations f o r In 2023, power has to shift South. And when it comes south, it has to go to the part of the south yet to be accommodated in the rotation equation that began in 1999 admissions into its colleges, and deny a child from D e l t a admission w h i l e admitting children from some states who have scored less than one third the score of the denied Delta child. The discrimination against merit happens everywhere. In the military, the spaces for officer training are allocated by state quota, and not by scores. Those who scored poorly are chosen and those who SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 1, 2020—21 scored highly are left out. Even at the level of becoming army generals, state of origin affects promotions. I agree with Uncle Mamman, I see where he is coming from. He now wants competence and merit. But we must not do things ‘half-half’ and half-heartedly . We must dislodge mediocrity and sectional sentiments through and through. So we must uproot Quota System ad Federal Character first, and immediately. Yes Mamman actually wants us to run this country like it were the Super Eagles. So that we can play our best players even if they are from one family and let only the certified best run the Army and the Customs. I agree with him. Once we are on that path of justice and merit then Zamfara can keep its Diamond and Bayelsa its oil. Then the Federal Institutions can close there eyes and chose students with best scores and fill up all the spaces even if they are from one village. If we start being One Nigeria today, nobody would bother when we choose to be no-more-zoning One Nigeria in 2023. It’s true Uncle Mamman, we have to let meritocracy breathe. But it cannot breathe in that tiny 2023 monkey post you are pitching. Let the game begin today and let it begin by a thoroughgoing constitutional amendment. For how long will Quota System, Federal Character and Zoning last? We can do something to cushion the shock. Since many are afraid of domination, let’s ‘kukuma’ devolve power to the regions. In the regions, surrounded by kinsmen and political kindred spirits , folks would have no trouble accepting the rule of merit. And those who fear they might never occupy the seat of president will have too much power at home to bother with the effigy, the plumed presidency, at the centre. But Uncle Mamman, until we begin to dislodge the knee of quota system and federal character from the neck of meritocracy, any talk about stopping power rotation will be deceitful. My people have a funny way of telling a man not to mess with their heads. They simply remind the man that human beings are not cows : mmadu aburo efi. In 2023, power has to shift South. And when it comes south, it has to go to the part of the south yet to be accommodated in the rotation equation that began in 1999. But if scales have fallen off the eyes of Nigeria, and we are now earnestly desirous of becoming One nation, then let’s begin in 2020, by discarding quota system and federal character, devolving power to the regions and allowing resource control. That’s how to play full pitch Meritocracy. Otherwise , in 2023, power has to go south, because mmadu aburo efi ! Hajiya Farouq factor as N- power empowers Nigerians By Nneka Ikem Over the years, many Nigerians have been left unemployed as they continue to struggle for survival . This is not because they are not mentally fit or physically qualified to tie down a job and eke out a living to support themselves and their loved ones , but because successive governments have in the past not lived up to their promises of job and wealth creation. Apart from the monotonous employment routine of the various ministries and parastatals which has turned out to be inadequate in catering for the ever increasing population of Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35, no serious efforts were made in the past to open up other veritable means for employment opportunities. These tasks have been left to the private sector while government acted as if all was well. No wonder, many Nigerians gave up to seek greener pasture in other countries. While battling with the attendant brain drain and an unproductive population, the creative and manufacturing industries have been the worst hit •Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq in the process, turning Nigeria into a consuming economy. Due to the lip service paid to electoral promises by previous administrations, many were not really convinced about President Muhammadu Buhari’s promises of addressing the problem of unemployment while campaigning in 2015. But true to his words, immediately he was sworn in, efforts were made to fulfill his 2015 electoral promise on job creation for Nigerian youths which overtime gave birth to N- Power scheme. Through the N-power programme, 500,000 jobs have been created in farming, agroprocessing, financial literacy, communication, digital skills amongst a host of others. No wonder, in the past one year, the effect on the economy has been so drastic with the agricultural sector receiving a major boost and the capacity of the nation to feed her-self. According to statistics, rice importation has dropped by 95% amongst other agricultural produce, hence the nation’s ability to be self-sustaining even before the Covid-19 global lockdown. Deep thoughts on how Nigeria would have been able to cope with the crippling effects of Covid-19, its attendant economic implications as well as inflation in prices of foodstuff as a result of scarcity reverberate. Under the watch of the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, government has stepped up effort in ensuring that more Nigerians benefit from this laudable project. According to recent statistics released, about 109,823 beneficiaries of the N-Power programme have now started their own businesses which represent about 22% of the 500,000 Nigerians that have benefited from this programme since its inception. It means that government has not only succeeded in creating jobs for its citizens, but has also created more employers of labour. It is reassuring to know that the Buhari-led administration through the ministry, has targeted 100 million Nigerians in the next 10 years through the creation of productive opportunities for entrepreneurship and employment. No wonder, thousands of Nigerians on Wednesday July 29, 2020 held a ‘Thank You Rally’ march to the Presidential Villa over the success of the N-Power scheme and other Social Intervention Programmes in the country which were further highlighted during the covid-19 lockdown. N- Power beneficiaries drawn from across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT expressed their gratitude for a job well done in alleviating poverty, creating economic opportunities and jobs. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq was singled out for her numerous interventions targeted at the vulnerable and less privileged groups in the country which has gone a long way in giving everybody a sense of belonging after many years of neglect. Apart from the N-Power scheme, Farouq has been able to kick start the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), National Cash Transfer Programme (NCTP) and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP). The National Home Grown School Feeding Programme has so far catered for over 9 million pupils in 24 states across Nigeria while also creating additional 100,000 jobs for those in the hospitality business. It is on record that the implementation of the National Cash Transfer Programme introduced to cushion the economic effect of the covid-19 lockdown has also recorded a huge success. 20,000 naira was distributed across 20 states in the 6 geo political zones while 297,973 caregivers have also been trained by 2,495 Community Facilitators. The minister has shown a deep understanding of the needs of the people while introducing new innovations to meet the unique everyday challenges of Nigerians. She has proven to be a leader with the interest of the people at heart and a deep sense of commitment to the entrenchment of sustainable growth and development through laudable programs targeted at the grassroots and rural communities. As part of plans for post covid-19 life, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development recently announced the commencement of enrolment for the batch C of the N- Power program. So far, over 3 million applications have been received. To further highlight the landmark achievements of the ministry, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari in his Democracy Day broadcast on June 12, 2020 took time out to commend the ministry and its programmes as he noted that the Social Investment Programmes of the administration have continued to be a model to other nations. As part of plans for life post covid- 19, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development recently announced the commencement of enrollment for the batch C of the N- Power program. So far, over 5 million applications have been received for the next batch to be evenly distributed across the 774 local governments in Nigeria. Despite the huge achievements recorded by the Ministry in the last one year, we must not be carried away and forget the daunting task of alleviating poverty, stemming unemployment rate as well as improving the living standards of Nigerians However, Nigerians should be rest assured that if this level of consistency can be maintained under the visionary leadership of Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
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01082020 - You're cruel insentitive for care of repentant terrorists, abandoning us

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