TALE OF TWO CITIES: LESSONS FOR AFRICA FROM USA & USSR

The year was 1945. And it was the end of World War 2. Most of Europe lay in ruins. The war had either exhausted or eliminated the pre-war ‘’ Great Powers’’. But two superpowers emerged, with conflicting ideologies, signalling the end of one war and the beginning of a new one: The Cold War.

1945 heralded a bi-polar world dominated by the US and the Soviet Union. These two nations, allies in the war, raced to spread their ideologies across the globe. One thing they had in common was military might. But that was where the similarities ended. Who was going to win the cold war? History gradually revealed. In October 1917, the Soviet Union became the first nation to ever attempt Marx-Engel's Utopian communist dream.

ANYONE CAN QUIT, HAVE THE COURAGE TO WIN #INSPIRATION

Arise Nigeria

Ask yourself this question, what am I really aiming at? To rise against overwhelming odds? Or to beg off with a beautiful sympathetic excuse. The world will always give you the opportunity to quit trying, one of the most powerful success principle ever preached is ‘’NEVER GIVE UP’’. Granted, it may be the toughest point of your life, but who has a smooth ride to success?

Times of general calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds; the purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace and the brightest thunderbolt from the darkest storm. The obstacles of life are intended to make us better not bitter. They are merely a call to strengthen not to quit your resolve to achieve worthwhile goals. The Chinese have this proverb that says ‘’the gem cannot be polished without friction nor man perfected without trials, it seems that trials are the necessary preparations for greatness.

MEET LEE KUAN YEW? THE GAGANTUAN NATION BUILDER WHO BUILT SINGAPORE FROM THIRD WORLD NATION TO FIRST

Lee Kuan Yew

Few gave tiny Singapore much chance of survival when it was granted independence in 1965. How is it, then, that the former British colonial trading post is a thriving Asian metropolis with not only the world’s number one airline, best airport, and busiest port of trade, but also the world’s fourth-highest per capital real income? The miraculous story of that transformation can only be told by and even credited to Singapore’s charismatic, fearless, controversial statesman and founding father, Lee Kuan Yew. Rising from a legacy of diverse colonialism, the devastation of the Second World War, and general poverty and disorder following the withdrawal of foreign forces, Singapore now is hailed as a city of the future. 

Delving deep into his own meticulous notes as well as previously unpublished government papers and official records, lee, in his best-seller book, ‘’From THIRD WORLD to FIRST- the SINGAPORE STORY: 1956-2000’’, detailed the extraordinary efforts it took for an island city state in southeast Asia to survive at that time. Lee explains how he and his cabinet colleagues finished off the communist threat to the fledgling states security and begin the arduous process of nation building: forgoing basic infrastructural roads through a land that still consisted primarily of swamps, creating an army from hitherto racially and ideologically divided population, stamping out the last vestiges of colonial-era corruption, providing mass public housing, and establishing a national airline and airport, equipping schools with one computer for every two students and connecting every home to a broadband network.

POST 2015 NIGERIA: THE BUHARI FACTOR, THE CITIZENS AND THE IMPOSSIBILITIES!

Hitherto, it is believed by a section of Nigeria that the APC, Buhari campaign was one fraught with histrionics, intangibles and bogus promises. But how better can power be absolve from political cartel bent on running the nation aground if not by any means! Lest I forget, that discourse is no more relevant. Now that a new horizon has set in with historic victory of Buhari on March 28, the focus should be on the future- relevant questions like where are we coming from, how do we get here and how do we get rid of the bottlenecks that have held us aback should agitate us. That said, it is instructive to submit that the ‘Buhari factor’ alone cannot change Nigeria: absolute change rest on all the citizens.

Yours sincerely, that Buhari will fail Nigerians is only the gospel truth but hey that will not last throughout his first four years tenure.

WONDER: MAN RIDES BICYCLE FROM KADUNA TO LAGOS OVER BUHARI VICTORY

A 35-year-old Kaduna-born cyclist and supporter of the president-elect, Mohammed Kabiru Jafaru, yesterday embarked on a journey to meet with the vice president-elect in Lagos State.

Mohammed, a resident of Hayin Malam Bello in Rigasa district of Igabi local government area of Kaduna State, took off on his journey to Lagos at exactly 6: 35am at the palace of Sarkin Hayin Malam Bello, Alhaji Kabiru Isa Gangarida.

Speaking to newsmen before embarking on the journey, Mohammed said, “I have decided to embark on this journey to Lagos because I want to go and thank Yoruba people for their immense support and contributions that led to the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari during the March 28 presidential election.”

BECAUSE HUMANITY IS EVERYWHERE

I had been struck with self-pity immediately my call up letter was handed to me. Tony, my loyal friend later told me Mr. Olaiya, the official issuing the letter was shell shock with my fierce lamentation...  ‘’What the hell sir, how could I be posted here? What happened to your usual pledge after you collected inducement from me’’. Invariably, the bad ones abound everywhere.

I had been posted to Niger state at a time when BokoHaram is raging in the North with a tact that seems more coordinated than that of the government. Although Niger is not under frequent fire of BokoHaram but for it is a northern state, the many stories have heard, flash through my mind. The stories of how north is backward, unrepentantly violent and uncivilized. The stories that stereotype entire north as Muslims yet fundamentalist. The one sided stories that seldom point-note something positive about the north – the kind of story that prolific writer, Chimamanda Adichie tagged ‘’THE SINGLE STORY’’ –stories with potentiality of robbing us of our humanity.

FULL TEXT! GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

Your Excellency, the Vice President elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, your Excellency, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, the Director General of APC Presidential Campaign, 2015, your Excellency, the former Governor of Edo State and National Chairman of our great party, your Excellency the Governor Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, your Excellency, the former Governor of Imo State, Dr Ogbonaya Onu, Your Excellency, the former Governor of Ekiti State, Engineer Oni, your Excellency the former Governor of Kwara, Bokola Saraki, your Excellency, the Speaker of the House of Representative, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, Please, let me stand on existing protocol.

At exactly 5:15 yesterday (Tuesday) evening, President Jonathan called to congratulate me on my victory.

For this, I want all Nigerians to join me in congratulating and appreciating Mr President for his statesmanship.