THE RISK OF REFUSING TO TAKE A RISK

    Experience has shown that when you refuse to take a risk, that same risk will take you.

    History has it that most men who succeeded in life took risks; unlike others who refused to take risks, but had risks staring back at them. Such men staked all they had just to achieve specific aims even though they knew that something bad could happen as a result.

    For instance, by refusing to take risks to defend their rights, the entire Blacks in Soweto risked their lives under apartheid (the former political system in South Africa in which only White people had full political rights while the Blacks were forced to live away from White people). Oswald Mtshali writes in Night Fall in Soweto that black people were "slaughtered every night in the streets… cornered by the fear" of taking risks.

    Later, a South African man decided to take risks by crusading for justice and freedom. Dr. Nelson Mandela's courage and tenacity in the ugly face of risks led to the emancipation of South Africans and the eventual eradication of apartheid. According to Mandela in his Inaugural Speech in May 1994, "apartheid is an extraordinary human disaster out of which must be born a society, which all humanity will be proud." Although Mandela spent most of his life in prison fighting this cause, the risks he took liberated his people.

    In the meantime, note that the risk of refusing to take a risk is living with the risk until you opt to take that risk. Risks are like the air we breathe. They saturate our lives and drive us restless. Just like the east wind, risks blow us around until we decide to stand and take a wedge.

    Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. took a wedge in the over-powering influence of Whites over Blacks in America. He took a risk and said enough was enough by leading the greatest and largest demonstration for freedom ever held in America on June 23, 1963 popularly called The Great Match on Detroit. In a speech, Martin said, "the price that this nation must pay for the continued oppression and exploitation of the Negro or any other minority group is the price of its own destruction." Martin's ideas contained in his I Have a Dream speech wound up as America's ideology, years after he was assassinated.

    The fear of failure and its immediate aftermath make people to refrain from taking risks. But not taking risks is a failure with its immediate consequences as well.

    Take oil exploration in the Niger-Delta. Ken Saro-Wiwa's struggle for the preservation of Ogoniland led to his execution by Abacha's regime, but the aftermath of the risks he took can be seen in the manner in which government attaches priorities on the development of the region.

    Finally, it suffices that the wise will never evade risks. If you evade risks, the same risks end up overtaking you and waiting for you in future.

 

 

    

A UNIQUE VISIT TO MR NUHU GAPSISO

Some Unimaid Mass Comm part three students who recently paid a call on one of their newly wedded lecturer.

PERSONALITY ENDORSEMENT: KEY TO ELECTORAL VICTORY

Ever wondered why some election candidates emerge victorious while others wind up defeated even having campaigned better? Experience has shown that the thin line between electoral success and failure is personality endorsement. Those who are up to date with the pace of global politics especially in recent times will agree with me that shrewd politicians have discovered a veritable too for winning elective positions. Notable among these politicians is the US President Barack Obama who through the endorsement of an established media personality, Oprah Winphrey made history as the first black man to occupy the White House. This major endorsement endeared Obama to the western media especially CNN and BBC. No doubt that back in Africa where Obama's root is, the media sang his songs of praise from rooftops. In Nigeria, the 2007 presidential election which brought to power late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua also had a feature of personality endorsement. Apart from the backing of the then incumbent President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, another obvious endorsement came from Professor Dora Akunyili who was then a globally celebrated director general of NAFDAC. With over one hundred and fifty awards of excellence from both international and local organizations, Akunyili's endorsement of Yar'Adua's candidature was a plus. Her proven transparency and accountability as the DG of NAFDAC coincided with the impeccable achievements of Yar'Adua as the Governor of Katsina state. Akunyili who was a popular personality in most Nigerian schools through her NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club won the support of most Nigerian youths for Yar'Adua. Personality endorsement is not alien to most states of the federation. For instance, the February gubernatorial elections in Anambra state produced a man who had an unbeatable personality endorsement as governor. The support of Mr. Peter Obi by Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu did not come as a surprise. What came as a surprise was Ojukwu's five-letter word during the governorship campaigns of APGA: "THIS IS MY LAST WISH". How can Anambra people refuse to grant the last wish of their warlord who single-handedly led the Bianfran war? Obi's victory at the polls proved that personality endorsement can actually work wonders. As the first step toward wining the support of the Igbo people for his 2011 presidential ambition, IBB through his South East campaign team sought for the endorsement of Chief Ojukwu. While pledging the support of the Igbo people, Chief Ojukwu renamed IBB as "OKECHUKWU". This suffices to say that IBB is among the few wise politicians in Nigeria who have discovered the wonders of personality endorsement. Note that such personality endorsement does not come by effortlessly. Political candidates seeking the approval of distinguished personalities must possess certain characteristics which include trust, truthfulness, accountability, reliability, prudence, tenacity and determination. Those who have these distinctive virtues do not find it difficult getting the support of accomplished icons. Also note that there is a great deal of difference between political "godfatherism" and political personality endorsement. Political godfathers finance the elections of their candidates and do everything possible to get their candidates into positions mindful that their contributions are like investments that will turn out fruit in future. The Ngige-Uba scenario in Anambra state can serve as a good example of the concept of "godfatherism".  On the other hand, the credibility of the personality who endorses a candidate endears the candidate to the electorates. Whereas personality endorsement is clearly democratic, the reverse is the case with "godfatherism". The Obama-Winphrey scenario in America speaks for what endorsement stands for. It might interest you to know that personalities are mindful of indirect endorsement. This was the case at the "One Man, One Vote" Benin rally organized by the Edo state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole boycotted by some prominent personalities including Professor Wole Soyinka and former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu. According to Professor Soyinka, the decision to stay away from the rally was to avoid an indirect endorsement for General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida who was also invited by Comrade Oshiomhole. Though Comrade Oshiomhole later defended his decision on inviting IBB to the rally as a departure from the era of political exclusion, political analysts backed those who boycotted the rally saying it would have painted an ugly picture of indirect endorsement. As 2011 general elections draw near, political candidates have started scouting for eminent personalities for endorsements.  Political permutations in Yobe state point at Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim as a good political personality for endorsement.  Regarded as the godfather of Yobe state politics, Senator Ibrahim ruled Yobe for twelve years as governor. Similarly, political projections in Adamawa and Borno states indicate that the best endorsements will come from Professor Jibril Aminu and Governor Ali Modu Sheriff respectively. Some politicians in Borno state bidding for the endorsement of Governor Sheriff include "Yaron SAS" (Senator Ali Sheriff' Boy) beautifully printed in bold letters on their posters. Whatever the political projections are, I recommend to those interested in vying for elective positions in these forthcoming general elections to seek for the endorsement of renowned personalities whose records in life are clearly indelible by fermenting forces of life. Politicians should also make the wise choice of picking media icons for endorsements as President Obama did or possibly look into the entertainment industry for such support. Religious leaders and royal fathers can also serve as wonderful sources of endorsements. .

 

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GOD AND JEGA OVERSEE INEC

"I wish our government is here to see how we casted our votes," said Monsignor Hypolite Adigwe, the National Chaplain of YCSN, at Awka, shortly after declaring the winners of the 2009 national elections.

         Monsignor's statement sounded plain, but only few deed-thinking people with the gift of discernment made meaning out of it. I spent sleepless nights pondering on the comment. Could it be there were some lessons our government needed to learn from the 2009 national elections of YCSN in order to improve on the manner in which Nigerian elections were carried on? Yes. Unlike voting in Nigerian elections, the 2009 election of YCSN was credible, fair, transparent and acceptable.

          Voting in Nigerian elections has over the years degenerated into a thing of national embarrassment wrought by several decades of corruption, bribery, egocentricism, vaulting ambition for power and possessions and a legion of weird electoral practices. The lust to perpetuate oneself in power obliterates natural justice and good conscience. Polemical fire becomes the only available tool for achieving flawless victory. These political vices culminate into something best described as "a do or die affair" with politicians tuning into night marauding beasts.

         Similarly, rivulets of tears ran down the cheeks of YCSers as they listened to Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state narrating his agonizing experiences during the 2007 elections. The dinner night organized for YCSN at the Governor's lodge, Amawbia was an opportunity for catholic students to get a vivid picture of what voting in Nigeria looked like. YCSers were shocked to hear from the governor that he alongside Professor Charles Soludo, Professor Dora Akunyili and the Arch Bishop of Onitsha Arch Diocese could not find a polling unit to caste their votes. Yet, at the end of the day results were manufactured by some political gods. Obi summed up the story thus, "I decided to challenge that political rascality in the court by demanding my constitutional right to complete my tenure."

          In the meantime, threats of political thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes, over counting of votes, disruption of polling units and other electioneering malpractices are some of the features of voting in Nigerian elections. There are also reports of some journalists who had been captured, unlawfully detained, molested, raped and even killed. This has got to STOP!

          Nigerian leaders need to learn some lessons from the 2009 elections of YCSN and the recent free and fair US elections that ushered in the first black President in the White House. God is the giver of power not man.

          It is often said that any man who decides to spend his time in "the fields of war harvesting blood" should note that his last banquet will be his "children's children's blood". There is always the balance of life! As 2011 general elections draw near, politicians and electorates should note that Attahiru Jega is not only the one in charge of INEC, God in heaven takes records of everything, including riggings carried out in dark places.