_{THE BIG BANG: DON'T LET IT BANG! DON'T LET IT SCATTER!}

“What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

• _{Mark 10:9.}

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999

We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Having firmly and solemnly resolve, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God, dedicated to the promotion of inter-African solidarity, world peace, international co-operation and understanding

And to provide for a Constitution for the purpose of promoting the good government and welfare of all persons in our country, on the principles of freedom, equality and justice, and for the purpose of consolidating the unity of our people.

DON’T SEPARATE WHAT GOD HAS PUT TOGETHER

The breakup of Nigeria, God forbids, if ever it will be a possibility will shrink, diminish, and make every Nigerian and person of African ancestry become little/small and inconsequential, not only on the global stage or in the committee of nations, but on the global map and canvass.

Also, everyone who was once a Nigerian, will automatically have their personal ambition, dream, aspiration, vision, and mission shrunk if not totally dried up as well as having their hitherto enlarged private coast and life’s space shrunk.

And it will be my eternal advice to all wishing, seeking, clamouring, campaigning, and plotting to breakup Nigeria, either now or in the future to firstly, haste to Lokoja to separate the confluence and then haste back afterwards to break up Nigeria.

“Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate” Mark 10:9.

But why is one of the rivers blue and the other red?

SECCESSION: LEST WE SHOULD BE LIKE THE ATOMS, PROTONS, NEUTRONS, PLANKTONS AND FOOTNOTE UNDER THE FLOATSAM AND JETSAM OF LIFE

Let us come together….let us talk

Whist wholeness binds us together and make us stronger and bigger in the committee of nations and on the global canvass, separation (apart and hate) will dimmish us, and all Nigerians will shrink, thin, and become little/small and inconsequential in our various little corners, more so, nationally, on the global stage and become like a tiny atom/proton/neutron on the global canvass and on the global stage without a voice, and without respect and dignity.

NATIONAL UNITY IS OUR GOAL

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

² It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

³ As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”

• Psalm 133.

Therefore, despite all that have befallen Nigeria and still do, and will still do, let our focus not be on the storm and the darkness of the moment nor on the blood-lettings ongoing nationwide with the blood of fellow Nigerians killed/beheaded cascading into the Niger and Benue, but let our focus and goal be on national unity, for national unity is our focus, and national unity is our goal.

And those who are bent on separating Nigeria or want Nigeria separated are Africa’s worst enemies, and indeed, the enemies of all persons of African descent.

These elements should first and foremost, be told to go to Lokoja and separate the confluence and once they have achieved this great feat, rush back to their part of the country to put Nigeria asunder.

_{THE GIRL DIED}

Photo Credit: Yoruba Nation Rally: 14-year-old Girl Killed By Stray Bullet In Lagos | Sahara Reporters

THE GIRL DIED

Wole Soyinka is invited to spend just an hour and look straight into the eyes of little Jumoke lying dead, and her mourning mother and then proceed to examine his conscience as one of those who very excitedly influenced the voting pattern in 2015 to bring a “deaf” and pre-historic man back to power – the same beast who when in power as a military Head of State (1984-1985), Soyinka in his exasperation with his Government in 1985 had spluttered: I DON’T TALK TO DEAF PEOPLE!”

Also, after spending an hour to look straight into the late Jumoke’s corpse and her hapless and hopeless mother thoroughly brow-beaten by his ALL-POVERTY CARRIER (APC) or ALL POVERTY CONTINUE (APC), whether he still thinks Igboho X should be released and come back to Nigeria from the Republic of Benin “to continue his journey.”

But to W.S. and his cohort who still want the Yoruba’s SO(A)K AWAY and runaway messiah to be allowed back in Nigeria to “continue his journey”, wouldn’t it be better that journey of blame is continued in KONGI REPUBLIC?

Just wondering why after the two messiahs of the Yoruba people – Igboho X and that gutter and Cocoa pod Professor, Stephen Akintoye had fled to the Republic of Benin, there is no one outa there in all Yoruba to continue his/their journey, or it is simply the case of when Caesar’s head is off, his arms can do nothing?

Or all Yoruba suddenly no longer believe in Igboho X’s “journey” any more or all Yoruba think Igboho X and Stephen, that twilight BABA (Bread and butter Activist), are the only messiahs in their midst?

But why must those who brought these ant-infested faggots to the HOUSE OF NIGERIA be the first to complain?

AGAIN, THE ABANDONEMENT OF AWOISM FOR TINUBUISM

The bane of the modern Yoruba is their abandonment of Awoism for Tinubuism for a mess of pottage at GIDA USMAN BI FUDI, thus leading to the dumbing down of the best of the best Yoruba, and of everything, under their current fervent of ethnic nationalism, courtesy of their redefinition, not only of values and standards like the rest of the country, including YORUBATOPIA and YORUBA EXCEPTIONALISM, the very corner stones of Awoism - two important springboards, the sage had hoped to hop onto to get to the centre in order to ensure POWER BALANCE within the Nigerian Federation.

And more lamentable of the new redefinition of Yorubatopia/Yorexit and exceptionalism is the fact that the very high standards that the descendants of Oduduwa were hitherto known and famed for, regarding conscientious activism, unparalleled intellectual discourses/debates/polemics  - arguably national beaters, which again, arguably are unparalleled in modern Nigeria, have been so compromised with the arrival on the scene of that tribal wayfarer, BOLA AHMED ‘MUSA’ TINUBU, and his subsequent inauguration of the IRAGBIJI EMPIRE, which undoubtedly saw the rushing/crashing in of every motor park tout, agbegilodo, carpenter, bolekaja and gutter/soak away messiahs into the sacred ‘occult grove’ of the Yorubas hitherto dedicated to their galaxy of international scholars, which they still boast of in millions, but have been chased out of that exclusive intellectual cult of the Yorubas, and by extension, nationally by all the AREA BOYS/GIRLS, under bridge and motor park pseudo intellectuals, who at best, are mere irritant ‘intellectual pests’, but are now the leading opinion leaders/moulders in the Yoruba SW sub-national polity and within the mainstream polity – nationally!

So, can we use insect killers for these intellectual terrorists and intellectual hostage takers, or continue to deodorise their fragile egos and massage them as the new messiahs, intellectual Field Marshalls, and leaders of thought both in the sub-national polity of the Southwest Geopolizone and in the entire Nigerian polity?

Meanwhile, is there soon to be an espousal on a new field by the real and authentic Yoruba/Nigerian intelligentsia – THE CURSE OF AWO for the abandonment of AWOISM or AWOAN IDEAL/PHILOSOPHY/IDEALISM/THEOLOGY/IDEOLOGY under AWO STUDIES, where other indigenous idealism/ideology/theology/philosophy such as ZIKISM (Zik Studies); BELLOISM (Bello Studies); TALAKAWAISM/KANOISM (Aminu Kano Studies); BALEWAISM (Balewa Studies); IRONSISM (Ironsi Studies), GOWONISM (Gowon Studies); SHAGARISM (Shagari Studies); SOLARISM (Solarin Studies); FAWEHINMISM (Fawehinmi Studies), FELAISM (Fela Studies), BEKOISM (Beko Studies), coming under a new field of study to be known and called MODERN INDIGENOUS PHILOSOPHY, MORALITY/ETHICS AND RELIGION  or Modern Indigenous Thoughts, Philosophy, Morality/ Ethics and Religion.

Photo sources:

Who did this to me? Mother of girl killed at Lagos Yoruba Nation rally cries (punchng.com), accessed: 11/07/2021.

Mother Of Girl Killed At Yoruba Nation Rally - Bing News, accessed: 11/07/2021.

IN NIGERIA AND INDEED, ALL AFRICA, MONEY IS THE MEASURE OF VALUE

_Source: image of femi otedola presenting three cars to his daughters - Bing images, accessed: 11/07/2021.

VIDEO: I bought my 3rd private jet during COVID-19, Apostle Suleman boasts - Vanguard News (vanguardngr.com), accessed: 01/08/2021.

Wow!! Davido Surprise His New Personal Assistance With 10 Million Naira Rolex Wrist Watch - Bing video, accessed: 01/08/2021.

"The Burial of Obi Cubana’s Mother Was Obscene and Insensitive" - Onyeka Onwenu — Sky News Nigeria (skynewsngr.com), accessed: 01/08/2021.

NATION BUILDING IS A COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY AND NO GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD, NO MATTER HOW BENEVOLENT CAN DO AND PROVIDE EVERYTHING FOR ALL OF ITS CITIZENS

“Rivers do not drink their own water

and trees do not eat their own fruits.

The sun does not shine on itself

and flowers do not spread their own

fragrance for themselves.

Living for others is a rule of nature.

We are born to help each other,

No matter how difficult it is.

Life is good when you are happy

But much better when others are happy because of you.”

• Pope Francis.

Galatians 2:10 ¹⁰All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

_{IN TEARS FOR MY BELOVED COUNTRY:}

_{AN  APPEAL TO CONSCIENCE AND A CALL TO REFLECT}

_{I am in tears that despite all my warnings to our people back home, the hurricane of the jamborees has continued unabated, whilst the children of the Presidential desperadoes, Yoruba elites (home and in the diaspora) who have been sponsoring/financing and fanning the ember of this unnecessary fire are either overseas studying or spending our money very lavishly at home in their thieving fathers’ and royal fathers’ obscene mansions and castles.}

_{I call on the Ooni of Ife, Kabiyesi Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Kabiyesi Lamidi Adeyemi, Enoch Adejare, W.F. Kumuyi, the intensely ambitious Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Bisi Akande, other well-meaning Yoruba, and indeed, all conscientious Nigerians who have not yet lost their voices at a time like this to look at that 14-year old SOMEBODY’S CHILD killed, whilst selling pure water so her parents and siblings can just have a semblance of a morsel for that Saturday, 3rd of July, 2021, which was the day of the Yoruba kobo-kobo jamboree.}

_{All whose names are mentioned above should face the world and posterity and tell them whether that omode now lysing dead above in the picture was their granddaughter or SOMEBODY’S CHILD.}

_{But God forbid, what, if Jumoke was their granddaughter?}

_{So why aren’t their children and grandchildren selling pure water like Jumoke?}

_{My answer without hesitation will be: BECAUSE OF JEREMIAH OYENIYI AWOLOWO.}

_{But why have a supposedly sophisticated people sunk so low to the point of now handing over the destiny of their entire race to a gang of ragtag rabble-rousers of the sort of BOLEKAJA always on the streets now having donned their otu nu (Yala, for a type of rose which the wearer aims to challenge people to a fight) are out there challenging the whole nation to a fight?}

_{But could Jumoke’s death have been avoided?}

_{Generally, why don’t all Nigerians, a people who pride themselves in unparalleled democratic skills and sagacity want to go through their reps to present their cases, in fact, all vexed regional and constituency issues for a debate at the Parliament, in this case, the National Assembly?}

_{This writer as all Nigerians and the world know is an insider and an eye witness in the Nigerian affairs, so is well aware of all the ongoing issues and those of the past, but it does look an opportunity for a robust debate is again slipping all of us by,  because we have all abdicated our responsibility to our Nigeria by cowardly pushing thugs/touts (agberos, onyebrus) to the fore to lead the debate at the town halls and the village arenas, where only elders with maturity and gifted wisdom ought to represent us and speak on our behalf. But} Martin Luther King Jnr said: “The ultimate measure of a man (or woman) is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

_{But am I against self-determination?}

_{No! And a thousand time No!}

_{However, I’m very much against self-determination outside corporate Nigeria. My annoyance stems from the fact that presently, it is not the best of the nation spear-heading the clamour and the debate for self-determination, as that genuine clamour had been thrown into the So(a)ka-way!}

_{And who needs a soak away freedom fighter?}

_{Certainly not the Yorubas nor Ndigbo nor the Niger Deltans.}

_{COMPULSORY KNOWLEDGE OF FIRST AID, HEALTH AND SAFETY}

_{As a matter of utmost urgency, the nation needs training/short courses in First Aid, Health and Safety immediately. These must be taught to all Nigerians from the age of 5 up as it does seem that lives that could have been saved with the simple application of First Aid during every untowardness – accidents at home or in any public/private spaces as usually in Nigeria, no one on the scene knows what to do until the victims/patients pass on, whilst all gathering around such people writhing with pains as was the case with Jumoke above would just watch the patients die needless death – when the simple application of FA and Health and Safety could have prevented such deaths from taking place.}

_{In the case of Jumoke, the first thing to have done was carrying out FA on her whilst she was still writhing with pains, and other fellow Nigerians ought to have been on the phone to the Ambulance/s or better still private help being an emergency.}

_{The FG and the nation’s health authorities must swing into action immediately by making it compulsory/mandatory for knowledge and application of First Aid/Health and Safety a sine qua non for employment-getting and admission to schools, colleges, and the universities.}

_{What is more, there must be an Act of the National Assembly compelling all employers of labour, including Governments, the police and the military – all traders and the professions to make knowledge and application of First Aid and Health and Safety compulsory for their staffers, no matter their positions in such organizations and the civil service.}

_{PROVISION OF WELL-TRAINED PARAMEDICS AND AMBULANCES IN ALL THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS}

_{In order to meet emergencies, both the three-tier Governments in Nigeria must ensure that each of the 774 (368?) Local Government Areas of the Federation must provide at least 100 functioning ambulances, well equipped with very well-trained paramedics in each of the Council Area in Nigeria.}

_{Set up Victims’ Support Unit (VSU) to be known and called COMPASSION AND COUNSELLING UNIT to enable trained police reached out to give support to all victims of crimes as have been reported.}

_{In view of the way the Police had treaded members of the public trying to help Jumoke in addition to threatening to shoot Jumoke’s mother when she decided she be given the corpse of her daughter, the author considers this thoroughly inhuman and bestial – crime victims are to be supported, empathized with, and not bullied and harassed or the police threatening to shoot them or their relations.}

_{Bestiality and braggadocio are not part of civilized policing. A multicultural, multi-lingual polity such as Nigeria does not need this type of policing, but what the country and the Nigerian people do need is human-face policing, after all, the people ought to be part of the policing team – integrated approach to policing, collaborative, cooperative, team and partnership policing!}

_{In as much as this writer believes demo/protest is part of democracy and is in fact, the barometer by which a healthy democracy is measured, however, it should here be strongly stated that before any persons or groups want to embark on a protest to exercise their democratic rights, the IGP must cause the Apex Legislative Assembly to pass a law stating that in addition to taking permission from the police to protest for the sole purpose of the police giving them support, the organizers of such demos must ensure there are First Aiders commensurate with the number of the crowd envisaged, 7-10 Ambulances accompanying protesters and later stationed at the venue they have planned to use to deliver their protest speeches as their messages to the Government or such other authorities as well as the presence of the Health and Safety personnel and Fire Service personnel to respond to likely emergencies/eventualities and any form of untoward happenings – the hijacking of the demo/s by the hoodlums.}

_{The IGP should cause to be established immediately CRIME PREVENTION PARNERSHIP UNIT (CPPU) for members of the public to report potential and actual crimes – all crime incidents in and around the country, and this must be a 24/7 Unit.}

_{CRIME PREVENTION REPORTING BOXES to be displayed in strategic places and in Local Government Headquarters, on electric polls, churches, mosques, palaces of traditional rulers, offices of DPOs, police stations/barracks and military barracks, etc. to enable members of the public to report crimes – and reporting crimes can be through special lines set up for the purpose and a website to be so created.}

_{IGP in liaison with the NASS and the Presidency to team up and put appropriate machinery in place for the establishment of Crime Commissioners in all the constitutionally recognized 774 LGAs, answerable to the State Commissioner of Police.}

_{The Landlord Associations throughout the country should mandate all their members to have at least three fire extinguishers in their buildings/houses/homes – same applies to the NURTW and their members who must all have fire extinguishers installed on their buses, include private car owners.}

_{INVOLVEMENT OF ALL EX-SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN IN CRIME PREVENTION/FIGHTING}

_{Again, police personnel cannot continue to be guarding private citizens, including traditional rulers and all the so-called VIPs – big men and women, blue-chip companies, churches, mosques, pastors and their wives and children, imams and their wives and children, farms and businesses of private citizens, no matter how highly placed, schools, colleges, and the universities when the nation is faced with an unspeakable level of insecurity. The nation’s private licensed security industry must be organized to international standards to supplier personnel to potential procurers of security services as above –regular security guards (RSGs) and private protection/bodyguards (PP/BGs).}

_{However, now that the country is experiencing very severe threats to national security, all cadre of security personnel alongside ex-service men and the private licensed security officers should be drafted to schools, colleges and the university until the nation is able to root out bandits and other criminal elements that have taken over educational institutions in Nigeria.}

_{And it must here be made clear to all security agencies to be posted to schools of all categories, colleges and the universities that they will not be there as dolomites, rubber stamps nor will there be in these learning centres to chase or harass girls or beat up students, but to strategically position themselves to maintain visual deterrence and carry out regular patrols for every 15 minutes, half an hour or hourly as a visual reassurance and nip in the bud,  any potential crime as well as upping their intelligence gathering as intelligence gathering in policing, security and defence of  the country as ever,  still remains at zero level.}

_{This is a great national tragedy and an embarrassment to the global security community.}

_{Whilst I beseech all Nigerians to at this time be their brothers’ and sisters’ keepers And in like manner, I plead with all fellow Nigerians: LET US LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER HENCEFORTH even as I wish every Nigerian a BLESSED ANNIVERSARY.}

_{Also, please KEEP HOPE ALIVE, NO MATTER THE FRUSTRATING CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE MOMENT. AGAIN, I SAY: KEEP HOPE ALIVE AND YOU BETTER DO!}

_EPILOGUE

ORO DIE THE MATTER KO-O – A PLAYLET

The Cry of a Tout and the Theology of a Freedom Fighter

Whilst cogitating upon the current national exigency, I suddenly fell into a trance whereupon I saw the fathers whom the initials of their combined surnames would come up with a name like ZAB.

Troubled by what has now become of the country they had at different times left behind, they jointly wrote a book entitled: THE VIRTUES OF PATIENCE, ENDURANCE AND LONG-SUFFERING IN NATION BUILDING, billed for public presentation soon.

By this new book, the trio hoped to use its message to pre-empt the imminent conflagration in the country they had left behind. But whilst they were in a conference preparatory to the public presentation of their book, a man believed to be a graduate of the infamous MOTOR PARK UNIVERSITY OF NKAN KAN (MPUNK), and one of the now swelling army of the Motor Park messiahs that have continued to multiply like the swarm of flying termites after rain, was seen shouting and screaming very loudly:

Enter, Alakoba (hollering at the motor park, wearing a T-shirt with the inscription YORUBA NATION: ORO DIE THE MATTER KO-O!): Oro die the matter ko-o! Oro die the matter ko-o! Oro die the matter ko-o!

Enter, the Fathers (initially, the three had reasoned the man was a mad man and chose to ignore him, but the more, they ignored him, the more the man, who having become a nuisance was making them irritant and agitated): Is that not a street psychopath who has gulped down a good doze of narcotics – substances that have now taken over the country we have left behind?

Enter, Alakoba: Oro die the matter ko-o! Oro die the matter ko-o!

Enter, Honourable Z (very calm and measured, but with his hands in his pockets was circling round the other Fathers again and again as he expressed his concern about the uncouth motor park tout): There rants another impetuous Okonkwo! Chief, that demented fool seems to be speaking your mother tongue. The inconsequential lunatic Neanderthal – a sort of pandemic, pathogenic, restless, and irritant pestilential hominid who seems to have just bolted from the lunatic asylum is incontrovertibly from your side of the country. We have thus far remained stoical, having borne everything happening yonder since our transmogrification to this other; with unparalleled equanimity in order to attain some level of serendipity, we must therefore, not allow an uncouth vagabond such as that thoroughly resentful amoebic-paramecium caudatum to dilute this nirvana and elysian state of ours here. More sir, you sure must hurry to pre-empt a scopophilic agent such as that agbegilodoid with a predilection for causing a cataclysmic universal conflagration of immense proportion, eventuating in a national flammability, Armageddon-like combustibility, and a countrywide scatteration of unparalleled continental consequences, leading to population dispersal of immense magnitude that will provoke an intractable exodus to the nations. Noticing he is a man of your lineage; I would crave your indulgence to deploy your propinquity with him by way of your kind interventionism to stop him from provoking a national and continental earthquake whose molten lava no one can predict the extent of its spill. Meanwhile, Chief; are you able to tell that very loathsome pest to bugger off immediately, lest he be evacuated and catapulted into the aggressiveness and the fiery fury of the intractable stormy gale of the Atlantic, so he could be swept to the far-off proverbial NO MAN’S LAND? Sirs, you will both agree with me that we need to co-habit here in peace just as they whom we have left behind need to.

Enter, Honourable B (most troubled of the three): Chief, why not move nearer and talk sense into the medulla oblongata of that tyro? What he is saying, seems too much to be rammed down through my oesophagus.

Enter, A (fondly referred to as “the Sage” because of his natural gifting of wisdom and sagacity): Honourables, permission to fall out sirs. I will be back.

Enter, Z and B: Permission granted, sir. We await your return and the outcome.

Re-enter, Alakoba (now perspiring like *Agbegilodo, tying a rope round his waist and pulling seven logs of exotic timber through the thick forest full of thorns): Oro die the matter ko-o! Oro die the matter ko-o!

Enter, the sage: (visibly trembling and sweating): Ki ni?

Enter, Alakoba: Oro Yor’ba nation ni-o! Oro Yor’ba nation ni-o! Baba, oro Yor’ba nation ni-o!

Enter, the sage: Die the matter! Ani ‘o die dey matter!

Enter, Alakoba: Oro die the matter ko-o! Oro die the matter ko-o! Baba, oro die the matter ko-o!

Enter, the sage (now undoubtedly more troubled): Ki ni ngba ye?

Enter, Alakoba: Yoruba nation ni-o!

Enter, the sage (moving closer to the agitator): Have you all counted the cost?

Enter, Alakoba, (ignoring the sage’s question): Yoruba nation la fe ni si, ni si. Alafia lan fe ni-o! Ayo nio!

Enter, the sage: k-i-n-i-i-i?

Enter, Alakoba: Yor’ba nation ni-o!

Enter, the sage: K-i-n-i-i-i?

Enter, Alakoba: Yor’ba nation ni-o!

Enter, the sage: Ani k-i-n-i-i-i?

Enter, Alakoba: Ani Yor’ba nation ni-o, Baba!

Enter, the sage: ‘igba melo ni mo san?

Enter, Alakoba: ‘igba meta le san ni-o, Baba…Yor’ba nation ni-o! Yor’ba nation ni-o! Yor’ba nation ni-o!

Enter, the sage: Enyi eyan wa, o ye ke ni su ru-o. Gbo-gbo enyi omo de, eje ko ri yi pe-o. Gbo-gbo enyi omo de, eje ko ri yi pe-o. Oye ke gbo ‘ro agbalagba yin-o! Enyi omo Oduduwa, oye ke ro nu-o. Te ba fe separate, gbo-gbo sacrifices ta ti sacrifice fun Naija nko? Alafia ni-o! Ayo la ma pa de ni be ni-o-o-o!

The crowd, (All in unison): Afe ke anybody wa ma ba wa so ro pandemic (kpandemic) oshi…oro nkan-kan ati oro counterfeit oshi…Yor’ba nation…no going back! Yor’ba nation, carry go jo!

Exeunt: (all as the light begins to fade gradually and the curtain on both sides drawing to a close with the echoes of the old anthem sounding from afar:

Nigeria we hail thee

Our own dear native land

Though tribes and tongue may differ

In brotherhood we stand

Nigerians all, are proud to serve

Our sovereign Motherland.

Our flag shall be a symbol

That truth and justice reign

In peace or battle honour 'd,

And this we count as gain,

To hand on to our children

A banner without stain.

O God of creation

Grant this our one request.

Help us to build a nation

Where no man is oppressed

And so with peace and plenty

Nigeria may be blessed.

And as I came out of the trance, etched boldly on my mind’s eye were the words: BETTER TOGETHER.

ABOUT JOHN ODEY ADUMA

A highly successful and award–winning British Chevening Scholar, Poet, Editor, Columnist, Communications Consultant, Author, Commentator on national and international issues, Environmental and Publishing Consultant, with expertise in Conflict Management, Public Surveillance, Media, Business Management and Administration, General Marketing, Market Research, Sales, Advertising and Public Relations.

John Odey Aduma, British Chevening Scholar, Author of The Diamonds Are Here, Lord Rumens (ed.) and a renowned environmental journalist was born on December 13, 1963 at Okpoma, Yala in Ogoja, Cross River State of Nigeria. He was educated variously at Christ the King’s School, Okpoma, 1969-1970; St. Mel’s Primary School, Woleche-Ebo, 1971; St. Gabriel’s Primary School, Ebo-Ipuole, 1972-1974; Christian Vocational Commercial School, Okuku, Ogoja, 1975; Faith Institute of Stenography, Shogunle, Lagos, 1976; Aladura Comprehensive High School, Anthony Village, Lagos, 1977-1982; University of Ibadan, Department of Adult Education, 1983-1984; Obafemi Awolowo University, 1985-1989, where he graduated with a B.A. (Hons) in English Studies; University of Lagos, 1991-1992, where he worked for and obtained an M.A. in English; and at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, 1994, where he took a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism; City University, London, United Kingdom, 2003 - 2004, where he was a British Chevening Scholar and studied for his M.A. in  International Journalism with specialism in Environment; City Business College, London, 2005-2006 for a  Post Graduate Diploma in Management Studies, but completed only the taught course; Voice Coaching, CSV Media, London, 2006; Radio Production, CSV Media, London, 2006 and the City and Guilds Certificate in Conflict Management. 2006.

Besides, he has attended many training courses in Planning, Writing and Production Skills on Communicating for the Environment.

He was the winner of the Nigerian Media Merit Award for Investigative Reporter of the Year and the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence, Reporter of the Year, both in 1992. He also received a Community Service Award in 1997 and the Outstanding Staff Award of the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc in the year 2001.

In 1994, he edited Lord Rumens, a book on a prominent Nigerian business tycoon and Lawn Tennis icon, Chief Ajisomo Alabi. He was a member of the Green Environment Movement, and the Nigerian Field Society (1990-2003), he was on the Core Committee of the National Technology Summit and doubled as the Summit’s Publicity; Products and Exhibition Chairman, 1998.

Other national and important committees on which Aduma has also served or headed included the National Planning Committee, Youth Development, Federal Ministry of Education and Youth Development, 1993; Core Committee, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF)/Ford Foundation, Kano Eastern Bypass Roadside Tree Planting Exercise, 1997; Chairman, Planning Committee, Alhaji Babatunde Jose’s 75^th Birth Day, 2000, (Dr. Jose was a doyen of Nigerian journalism and was the first African Editor, Managing Director and Chairman of the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc); Chairman, Planning Committee of the 7^th and 8^th General Murtala Muhammed’s Memorial Lecture (the late Nigerian Head of State), 2001 and 2002; Chairman, Planning Committee of the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc’s 75^th Anniversary, 2001 including sitting on many national techno-industrial committees (too numerous to mention here) in his capacity then as Executive Secretary, Foundry Association of Nigeria.

Aduma, Communications/Environmental Consultant, Critic, Poet, Essayist, and Columnist, was formerly Staff Reporter, The Guardian (flagship of the Nigerian media) 1990-1993; Consultant/Chairman, Media, Green Environment Movement, Nigeria, 1990-2003; Senior Correspondent, The Independent Weekly, (1993-1994); Head, Environment and Property Desk, The Punch (1994-1997); Editorial Consultant and Contributing Editor, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation’s Tortoise Magazine, 1995; Contributing Editor, Pole Star Magazine (1998); Member, Editorial Board of The Nigerian Conservationist Magazine (1995-2000), Executive Secretary, Foundry Association of Nigeria, (1997-2000), Southern Coordinator/Public Affairs Manager, The Pastoral Resolve, 2000, (a pastoralists NGO) headed by one of Nigeria’s former Head of State), General Muhammadu Buhari, presently, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and Chairman, Editorial Board of the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc (2000-2003).

He was one of the twelve eminent Nigerians appointed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR) of Nigeria into the Administrative Panel of Inquiry, also known variously as Presidential Panel, Commission of Inquiry, respectively to investigate the illegal trade in and smuggling of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna into and out of Nigeria in 2003.

In year 2003, he attended the Chevening Leadership Programme, (sponsored by the British Council and Shell) at the elite Lagos Business School (the Pan-African University) in Nigeria and thereafter, proceeded to the United Kingdom as a British Chevening Scholar to study International Journalism at City University, London, where he worked for and obtained an MA in International Journalism with specialism in environment.

Between 2005 - 2009 he was Media Director, PRONACO (Pro-National Conference), UK/Europe.

In addition to his array of degrees and extensive experience in journalism, environment, development, international diplomacy and international security, Mr Aduma obtained the AET (Award in Education and Training), Level 3 from CONEL, a Further Education College and member of the Capital City College Group (CCCG), London, including Higher Education courses in Education and Training – the CET (Certificate in Education and Training) Level 4 and the Specialist Diploma in Teaching English: ESOL & Literacy, Level 5 from the same Further Education College, all in 2018.

Aduma is currently a doctoral researcher at SOAS and he is the Chief Executive Officer of VIGILANCE-THE WORLD’S LEADING SECURITY MAGAZINE (www.vigilance-securitymagazine.com) and the founder of Scorpion News Corp (www.scorpionnewscorp.com).

His new book will be presented to the global public shortly.

• ODEY KABO OBOYA ADUMA (Johnny Boy).

One of God’s workmanship in His service, that of country and humanity.

CCLPS, SOAS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM.

** *The Voice of One crying in the Diaspora…proudly leading the NATIONALISTS UNITY MOVEMENT OF NIGERIA (NUMON).

God bless our Nigeria.

Please take a pause and listen – source: Martin luther king Jr. We Shall Over Come - Bing video

Good morning, fellow Nigerians and all friends of Nigeria, worldwide!