On Reforms and Sustainable Corruption

The Social media is replet with narratives that both show our enomous capacity for knowledge sharing and importantly, how willing we are to engage. 

However, a danger with such a reality is that it easily becomes seemingly unnecessary to do any further checks. We becomes rather complacent having being so inundated and evidently intimidated by the volume of unsolicited information we get on social media. 

There are mammoth of these stories beatifying the president. There are equally as many - if not more - that paint the president like a villain in children comics who poisons the product he sells to his own people so that when they become sick, he would sell them the remedy and when they all die, he would go take over another country.

Some of these stories present Tinubu as a grotesquely uncaring politician, so abysmally and deliberately plunging Nigeria and Nigerians into hardship.

Now, I am not a truster of any human, let alone a politician. Neddles to say that I have no trust in Tinubu or any politician to deliver the level of change that Nigeria needs at this time. 

However, I trust systems and processes even if they are imperfect.

I should also point out that there are no perfect systems. What there is are people working on their systems and processes towards continuous improvement.

One of the biggest challenges with the Nigerian systems and processes is that of abandonment for a long time. We have become lovers of quickfixes so much to become deluded and removed from reality. 

Of course, there are goodly efforts from time to time but most of these are quickly shutdown by those whose interest such moves do not cater to. Unfortunately, they always get their works done by the unsuspecting foot soldiers who take them to mean well.

Every careful observer of the Nigerian political experience - at least since 1999 - would tell you that the steps being taken by this administration are long over due. And while things may appear yet tough right now, experts  both in and outside the country have noted that things would have gone worse than this if these steps had not been taken.

Now, a problem with this position is that how do we de one "worse"? How bad can bad get to qualify as worse? Is it not bad enough that things are not working? Can anything go lower than rock bottom? 

These questions genuinely beg answering. And to get an idea of how bad things are, it helps to remember that before these reforms, we have been living on borrowed times. We were living in a made-up reality of having a robust economy whereas we do not know for a fact the true state of health of our economy. Our national economic outlooks where padded and made to look good?

There are many undisputable evidence that we were living on borrowed times. It was clear that we were moving in the opposite direction to progress. Yet all seemed to be well. 

That's how bad it was bad. 

But perhaps those were not the correct epistemological questions. 

To truly know, and be able to validate how bad our bad is and to be able to distinguish between truth and opinion, we need to probe our situation further. 

For instance, how did we get so comfortable with the idea of importing petroleum products and subsidising these importation while we have one of the best crude oil varieties in this region?

How did we go with the story that we have refineries, and huge funds were budgeted year on year for these refineries yet the NNPC could neither account for these disbursements nor justify haven collected payments way into future for oil contract that we may never be able to deliver?

How deep was our sleep to remain in that dream that we can continue to run such a sick subsidy system and expect progress? 

Or do we doubt that the business of subsidy is undoubtedly significantly corrupt? 

Here's a tip. 

A certain Nigerian, let's call him Mr P, has oil blocks given to him by a former head of state as a gift. An oil block is your land that has crude oil buried in its grounds. 

Mr P has friends in the Nigerian Navy who are in charge of large Nigerian vessels that can transport millions of barrels of crude and refined product on the high sea. These are not part of the over 70 vessels arrested by the Nigerian Navy in connection with oil theft between 2023 and 2025. 

Mr P also has a refinery in Europe. 

So, Mr P takes crude oil from his land in Nigeria. His friends in the Navy help him to move the crude to his refinery in Europe. He refines the crude and his Navy friends also help him to bring the refined products back to Nigeria. 

On paper, Mr P brings in 100 million barrels of petrol. He get subsidy for bringing in 100 million barrels but sells only 50 million barrels to Nigerian marketers. 

The remaining 50 million barrels, he smugglers to Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries and sells at black market prices making additional excessive profit mostly without paying taxes.

Government would believe that they just paid for 100 million barrel of petrol so everything should be fine.

This is a tip of the iceberg of the oil subsidy corruption. Now imagine borrowing or printing money to finance such a system. 

Now, how does this compare with having a working private Nigerian refinery? What about the other investors already showing interested in building private refineries in Nigeria?

Even if we do not yet believe in the promising and favourable movements in the price of petrol, how does it feel to not have the traditional endless queues at filling stations during festive periods? 

How does it feel, after a very long time, that we are now able to refine our crude oil at home? 

Another evidence of working against progress has to do with how government finance all these subsidies. 

Now, two main options to successfully finance national progress includes borrowing or burrowing. 

As for borrowing, we had borrowed so much and squandered so badly that no one is willing to borrow us anymore at a meaningful interest rate. 

We could have had a good leverage if our exports were substantive and in real sectors and of course, formally accounted for. 

Alternatively, we could also burrow. By burrowing, I mean we could reach inward to collect taxes from at least the businesses that the subsidy was funding. But wait, were these not purportedly to help the importers and part of a relief system? Needless to say that how they were taxed remains unclear. However, our history tells us that the biggest tax evaders are usually the big corporations. Again, how would you tax income from illegal black market trade? 

Here we are unable to borrow and hardly able to burrow. 

So, we resorted to printing money including to pay for subsidy.

Do you still wonder why a reform was long overdue? Do you ever wonder how long we would have survived without these reforms?

It should interest us to note that while some of what we now experience is related to the reforms and they will pass if we reflect on our past, if we are resilient and remain focused. 

However, many of the issues we are facing are the result of corruption fighting back.

Let me ask, do you expect those who have been making millions per day on subsidy to be happy, sit back and do nothing? 

Do we wonder who can afford to spend millions of dollars on their kids' secondary education abroad while condemning our local private refinery in favour of importation?

How about those getting the dollar at N1 to $1 and selling same at N770 making over N700 gain on every dollar because their paddy is in CBN? 

Now that they are no longer able to do that, do you expect them to sit back and not fight back? Expectedly, none of these undocumented and illegal black market trade are not paying taxes? Again, how would you tax income from illegal black market trade?

Do we still struggle to connect all of these with the insecurity in the country? How do we reckon these individual who fear loosing their corrupt livelihood bent on heating up the country? 

How many honest civil or public servants or honest businessmen would spend their hard earned money to buy guns and employ and empower bandits? Would bandit employers offer a fat pay package or pay them stipends to keep them in perpetual servitude?

Now imagine a bandit realising how much his employer makes compared to what he who takes the most risk gets. What if he engages in side hussle banditry or goes into the business by himself becoming a self-employed bandit or form a new yet unregistered, non-tax paying banditry business with other disgruntled colleagues? 

Do you imagine it written in their employment contracts to submit all company properties - including their weapons - to the security team when leaving the company? 

What do we expect these disgruntled banfits who live their employers to do for a living, farming?

In case you are wondering, these categories of illegal businesses and quick money ventures are undocumented, needless to say they are never paying taxes.

Do you then wonder who is behind the unfounded rumours and aggitators against the new tax reform laws? Do you still believe taxing these super rich to finance national progress is a reform in the wrong direction?

I believe one of the genuine causes for concern is trust or the lack of it. Our history makes it difficult to trust politicians to genuinely work in the interest of the people. This is a global reality. 

On the other hand, is the social and economic cost of attaining political relevant not in itself a recipe for corruption?

I mean, who would invest hundreds millions to obtain party nomination, fund campaigns and refuse to seek return on investment? 

These are pointers that more work is needed to better our governance institutions, systems and processes. It will never be perfect but we can keep making it a fixer upper. 

If, after coming this far, we still let corruption win because we cannot endure a short period of inconvenience for a promising future, we will have no one to blame but ourselves. The same will be out lot if we fail to fight hard to sanitise make our institutions, systems and processes stronger. 

Remember sustainable corruption needs the majority to do nothing and it benefits only a few. However, sustainable growth is hard work, and it is rewarding for the majority of the population. 

Still on the question of Christian genocide in Nigeria.

It may interest us that there is a scene in Tunde Kelani's 1999 film ṣaworo idẹ going round these days that seem way ahead of its time.

In that scene, an elderly man said something to the effect of:  thieves want to help you solve a problem with the lock to your house and you are rejoicing.

This statement is very germane to the proposition of a US intervention in Nigeria's current palaver.

TO be succinctly and abundantly clear, no sane individual or group should be happy with the spate of killings in Nigeria beginning most prominently with the Niger Delta insurgency.
From those days of the Niger Delta insurgents and now Boko Haram and their many unintended consequences, no one is unscathed.
Every Nigerian is affected. But, apart from the victims of insurgency, there are countless other critical questions begging answers. For instance, what about the unaccounted for victims of the many pockets of wars and battles along ethnic and tribal divides across the country? What about Umuleri and Aguleri, what about Ifè and Modákẹ́kẹ́, I dare ask. What religious narratives fit these episodes? 

Yet, like adding salt to our wounds, and in their signature crocodile gaits, politicians are endlessly taking advantage of our pitiful situation. And regrettably, as if we haven't yet learnt from our own history, our people are busy taking sides. Worse still, there is a seemingly naive plea for our very same afflictors to take away our pains and dress our wounds.

But, it should not be lost on anyone that certain political desperados wanting to grab power by every and any means and those whose interest this will serve may be orchestrating all these noise connecting government to Nigerian Christian genocide narrative.

Having unsuccessfully played the religion card during the 2023 Nigeria General elections, it is not so difficult to see through the veil how this current narratives and moves may be another batch of calculated attempts to get external help to undemocratically interfere in a democratic system. Getting the big brother with vested interest to wade in guns-a-blazing. Not that this in unprecedented but that it's taking a hugely barbaric turn. 

Of course, we can fight the government for not doing enough to tackle our many national challenges. But, unfortunately
is government not doing enough, not our stack reality? And aren't we complicit? 

Our political class always have everything except the political will to do what will benefit the people who gave them the political power. And do we not shield or defend them - as our people - wherever and whenever we can? And rain cats and dogs of blame if they're not our people. 

But whose interest has blaming government served?
Not only will it not serve any sane interest to take sides or blame any particular government. The blame game is always a lost battle. And, by the way, is any side safe enough to take at this time?
Yet, and as always, are the people who take sides and blame blames not always the victims? Are the perpetual perpetrators not  always safely far from the maddening crowd? 

I am thinking - and so should you - what if all well meaning Nigerians commit to this issue of insecurity, including those desperados who want to covertly procure power? 
What if, if you know a thief, you fight him, you call him out or simply, do not join him or take his side? 

One popular way of taking sides these days is by labelling evil. One of such is the current labelling or killings in Nigeria as Christian genocide.
Such labelling begs many questions. For instance, are we saying that certain religion demands killing to worship their God - like rites and offerings? Or are some people simply servicing their covetous egos, killing people to possess their possessions? 

Are we not simply putting people in religious boxes because of how they dress, the language they speak, their localisation or tribe or ethnicity?

Evil does not descreminate but unfortunately, it's victims do. And the evil they label only gets bigger and bolder.

As such, if we continue on this path of labelling evil, taking sides, crying wolves, building and promoting wrong narratives, calling our dog a bad name in order to get another dog, are we forgetting that all dogs bark and bite? 

On the ownership of Lagos and weeing-while-walking

Most people who call themselves students of history only speak about things they heard from others or read in books written by other people who also got stories from others including those copied and pasted on the internet. This is partly because much of the stories we call history these days happened at a time when writing was a lot not as easy. There is thus not much that can be trusted in the manner of histories available these days - especially those available on the internet. While this is not to discredit history so as not to lose touch with our past, it is important for all those who call themselves students of history to truly study history in person and not by proxy. This is because, normal students don't normally study by proxy i.e., through others, they go to school, attend classes and do the toil. Unfortunately, most students these days – including even those who found themselves in schools – prefer others to do the toil for them. I am a teacher; I know this for a fact.

Now with that out of the way, it is a known fact that all people on the planet today are immigrants. The days of original settlers had long gone. However, it is helpful to remember that some people have always lived in the places that some people now call their own or home. For example, some so called students of history will tell you that Christopher Columbus discovered or stumbled upon America – depending on who they heard the story from or who they choose to believe. But isn’t if funny that Christopher Columbus was an Italian who sailed a ship called The Santa Maria from a port in Span called Palos starting in 1492. Mind you, Christopher Columbus was not on this journey originally to discover America; he was in fact on the journey in search of gold, pearls, and spices. It is also important to note that what most historians now relate as stories of Christopher Columbus’ voyage are not according to Columbus himself. We know that Columbus’s original accounts of his journeys were lost and present available stories about his first journey are as written by Bartolome de las Casas in the 1530s. Anyways, Columbus had a disturbing journey and had to stop at the place now called America because he met some “naked people”, green trees, much water and variety of fruits. It does not take a prophet to understand that it is those “naked people” who kept the water clear, the trees green and the fruits flourishing. It is also not rocket science to deduce that those naked people lived in the area long before Columbus ever was burn.

We were also told that Mungo Park discovered the River Niger. Did he not meet people along the river? What did the people who he met along the river call it before he came around? Between him and Flora Shaw – Lady Lugard who was said to have named the country Nigeria – who really should have the credit for “discovering” Nigeria?

There are pockets of stories like the above about everywhere that people live. The current debate about ownership of Lagos is also an age long one. But never have the arguments been based on bigoted dreams, deluded political agitations and a muddling up of issues tantamount to throwing out the baby with the bath water. For example, some historians will tell you that the Aworis were the first people who settled in Lagos. Others say it was the Binis. Some even do not see the Aworis as a people. They would say the term Awori was only a descriptor of how Ifa guided some people from Ile Ife to where they should settle. Interestingly, and lending credence to the narrative that all are immigrants, some stories have it that the Yorubas people have come from the Arabian Peninsula. Whichever of these stories you believe, you will never find people from those now laying claims of ownership to Lagos in any of it. Again, whether you subscribe to the Awori, Bini or the Arabian version, you will always find the Yoruba fishermen and hunters as the earliest inhabitants of Lagos since around the 15th century.

But Lagosians understand why people lay claims to Lagos. Who wouldn’t love to tell stories that they own the largest economy in Nigeria and the 5^th largest in Africa? We get it that everyone wants to claim Lagos as their own. Unlike some other parts of Nigeria, Lagos and Lagosians pride themselves on the openness and the warmth with which they receive and accommodate all peoples from all places. So, we get why everyone wants to be associated with success and the success of Lagos is too attractive to be ignored. We understand why many national, states and cities governments in Africa are now copying the Lagos model on many policies of governance. We get why everyone would love to claim Lagos as their place of heritage – as you will hear people say Lagos is no-man’s land.

Although all people claim to be warm and accommodating, the influx of people from all parts of Nigeria and indeed all over the world into Lagos evidences the fact that some places are not as warm to their own people let alone strangers. Most of these people cannot go back home to wherever they have come from. Those who venture to go home would not dare spend a week before returning to Lagos. Again, we get; we understand why there are not many places like Lagos. Like London, New York, and Paris, Lagos is open to every comer. London, New York, and Paris did not become so developed and attractive except by truly welcoming to other people and their ideas and ofcourse their monies in the form of rents and taxes. Again, like London, New York, and Paris, Lagos is flourishing and prosperous because it allows everyone that comes into it to flourish and prosper by accommodating them and giving them piece, hope, love, a sense of home and a sense of belonging. So, we get it, everyone wants to claim Lagos, and this is not much of a big deal. However, what is both weird and funny at the same time is how absentmindedly some of the contemporary definitions of ownership and basis for the claims to origin are conjectured.

As noted earlier, laying claims to a place is neither surprising nor new. However, it is one thing to wish for something; it is another thing to wish for something true and achievable. Sadly, place of origin is not one of those things you wish for. Even citizenship by naturalisation hardly confers status of origin to its beneficiaries. It only confers citizenship or nationality on non-citizens on the promise that the beneficiary will respect the ideals of their new country of adoption, and even such conferment can be renounced.

If a certain segment of Nigeria finds opportunities in Lagos, this definitely does not confer on them the right to the ownership of Lagos. As Nigeria is a democracy, I subscribe to people choosing their political leaders and representatives through the ballot. As long as such representatives can commit to the ongoing better Lagos project, no worries at all. If the people of Lagos and those living in Lagos believe they need to change the narrative by changing the government, they are by all means free to do so. If that means they need to vote out a particular party and vote in another, by all means feel free. However, people who are currently dreaming of owning Lagos because they record a higher number of votes in an election need to dream a different dream. And let whoever is desirous of stepping into the shoes of governance of Lagos beware that neither the scalp of the elephant nor dàńdógó are worthy items in the hand of kids; a kid will struggle to grasp the scalp of the elephant and dàńdógó kọjá ẹ̀wù àbínúdá ― the dàńdógó is beyond what can be made on the impulse of anger.

Again, Lagos is not a political entity. Politics is only a system because the country is a democracy. Origin and politics are two separate entities. Although they meet at some points and are often complementary – especially in a democracy, one does not necessarily confer the same rights as the other. Just as being a Lagosian does not automatically give you the right to participate in the governance of Lagos, participation in governance in Lagos does not make you a Lagosian. Being a Lagosian is a right. Participation in governance is a privilege. Privileges can be lost, and a right may be suspended. However, when a man and a woman decide to wee-while-walking, the watershed experience can never be the same. Finally, such people ascribing their victory at the polls to their ownership of Lagos need to be aware and be careful because, if you do not exercise caution in seeking those who owe your father some money, you may encounter those who your father also owes some money, and they may not be nice debt collectors.

What is wrong with 1st of January?

At the risk of stating the obvious, *the 1st of January 2022 is the 28th day Jumada Al Awwal 1443 (AH).* 

I don't remember the god that is worshipped on that day but I know with every certainly that Allah made that day and every other day to be celebrated, to give Him thanks for the gift of life.

One of the problems of the world today is the newly found Muslim who begins to see Muslims as enemies of the Christians and eventually, enemies of everyone and everything else. 

Such Muslim propagandists ignore Allah's very own words and the practice of His beloved Prophet (saw). They abandoned the noble teachings of the greatest benefactor of mankind and get carried away with frivolous competition of religiocities. 

This problem is complicated by other Muslims who are too busy to study what their religion teaches and follow such propaganda and eagerly and happily share and propagate these misconceptions.

But little should we wonder. These days, events and or eventualities were long foretold. 

This is one of the many prophecies of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) about what will become of the faith when the world awaits Christ's (as) second coming.

When Muslims will forget the teachings of the glorious Qur'an and the practice of our beloved Prophet (saw) and begin to chase shadows, contesting with peoples of other faiths as though in a rat race. 

First, what is wrong with January first that is not wrong with every other day in a year?

Does the fact that some people pick a day for their god remove that day from the days that Allah has created? 

In sura Aal-e-Imran 3:190 - 191, Allah says

إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ لَءَايَٰتٍ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ 

 *Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding.* 

ٱلَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَٰطِلًا سُبْحَٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ 

 *Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.* (see also Suratul Yunus, 10:6).

Every blessed day is a day to reflect and appreciate Allah's creation (i.e. weeks, months, years including ourselves). To reflect on how our deeds (and misdeeds) are contributing to the purpose of our creation. 

Second, how do Muslims celebrate or how does Islam recommend that Muslims should treat every day, every breath that we take? 

We learn from the many traditions of our beloved Master (saw) to treat every breath, every day, every opportunity with gratitude. To say alhamdulillah always even when we do not like the situation. 

More importantly, to live through every day and approach every opportunity with caution as Allah says in sura Al-Hashr 59:18

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ 

 *O you who have believed, fear Allah . And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow -  and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is well aware of what you do.* 

Most of these Muslim propagandists often cite verses like sura At-Taubah 9:36

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْۚ وَقَٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً كَمَا يُقَٰتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةًۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ 

 *Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous [who fear Him].* 

But these are Muslims who would celebrate birthdays like there is no tomorrow, consume alcohol everyday including on yaumul jum'ah (Friday) and do every other thing that Allah forbids even in the four sacred months, yet they forbid Muslims from celebrating January 1st; one of the days that Allah created.

 *Is this not hypocrisy?* 

And speaking of hypocrisy, one of Muslims' greatest hypocrisy surrounds birthdays.

There are Muslims who clamour for an holiday to celebrate what they call the birthday of Muhammad (saw). Other Muslims argue - and we all know - that our beloved Prophet (saw) never celebrated his own birthday. 

While the latter is correct and Muslims are advised by the Holy Prophet (saw) to avoid  innovating the religion, is it entirely wrong to rejoice on one's own birthday - and indeed every day one is alive? 

What the Holy Prophet (saw) advised is *Kairul umuri aosatuha* i.e. *the best of your deeds are those you do in moderation.* 

Finally, the gods that people dedicated calendar days to celebrate are less important as the reason why the Creator creates the day.

Again, instead of debating what gods people celebrate, we can achieve more by reflecting on what do we ourselves celebrate on which day?

Do we celebrate the creator or the created?

Do we honour the traditions of humanity's greatest benefactor Muhammad (saw) who Allah says has the best examples for us to follow? (sura Al-Ahzab, 33:21).

The one whose live examples are the most documented?

Lets face it, OK? Non-Muslims are not the enemies of Muslims. Non-Muslims may not accept Islam but that does not make us enemies or competitors.

The lives, property and belief of Non-Muslims are as sacred as ours and for them is their faith and for us is our faith.

May Allah make us lead lives that will please Him and honour His messenger Muhammad (saw), ameen.

Am I not my alma mater?

Most people like to remain connected to their alma mater. We love to keep the tales of the pains and gains and to proudly connect with those institutions that at some point were like unto us nursing mothers. Conversely, we cringe - and some even go into denial - when we learn of unbecoming developments about our former schools. Shamefully, hardly are the images of many institutions nowadays anywhere near where they were in the times past. Some are undoubtfully already in the mud, and it doesn't seem like they are coming out any time soon - at least, there doesn't seem to be efforts in that direction yet, certainly not yet. Did I say some? I bet most should have been more accurate but I guess I speak only in part because I know only in part. 

In this hurridly written piece, I engage in a conversation with myself on the subject matter of alma mater.  I am drawn in by the predominantly woeful tales coming out of most institutions these days. And although I could worry and I could pray, I'd rather dedicate those energies to not becoming part of the emerging tales of woe.

If you read reports from most institutions these days right from the primary schools to the higher educational institutions, not only are the stories getting more horrifying, most are also very badly written. Some are so badly written in terms of grammar and structure. Most are so badly written to make the story look like fake news. It reminds me of the advice you get now and then on how to detect fake alerts or fake customer care calls from your bank; when the words are wrongly spelt, when the message is badly written or when the caller is using wrong grammar etcetera. 

In spite of this seeming confusion, and sadly too, most of these stories are not fake. While this is so sad, I worry less and perhaps care less about all these things these days. In the past, I'd worry and go to work on changing the narratives. Did my worrying and working in the past change anything? Did it not take huge sacrifices for me not be changed myself? Worrying won't ever change anything; at best it gives you a headache and you lose some sleep and by the time you come of it, the story has moved further down the line of wackiness. Happily, working works but only if the energy and effort are channelled in the right direction, usually on the worker.

Won't people call me a quitter? Won't it seem as though I am giving up? Neither do I care about being seen as a quitter. Nor do I worry about being mistaken for a spineless dude. I am wise enough to know the futility of bitting the huge Iroko tree to make dew drops fall. Besides, I know from my little training in martial art that escape is a veritable form of defence. 

And I get it, most people are concerned because they feel for their alma mater becoming a ghost of its past. Without sounding as though I am preaching, isn't that what happens to everyone and everything at some point down the line? I used to be sentimental about my alma mater; I used to say "oh, look at what they are doing to my alma mater, can you imagine what they are doing to the structures and systems we built, see how the rules we lived by are getting thrown away and the things we valued dragged in the mud". However, when I reflect on the true meaning of the phrase alma mater, I stopped worrying. 

Alma mater is a Latin phrase that roughly translates as "nourishing mother", "nursing mother", or "fostering mother". Is not what mothers do is to raise the children and then set them free? Even where the children carry the mother's brand, do the children not live for and represent their own personalities? I know children whose mothers died or became different people but who (the children) did not lose their heads? Wait, actually, not only do I know people like this, I have actually interacted (and still interacting) with many of such wonderful people on my journey. If these interactions teach me anything, that will be the fact that clean meals do come out of a black pot without the colour of the pot reflecting on the content of what it produces. 

And talking about alma mater, is what we call alma mater not only a set of buildings and people? Do buildings not grow old and lose their glow with some getting rebuilt and many others abandoned? Do people too not always come and go with some remembered and others forgotten?  What if the institution ceases to exist, will I stop existing or will I lose my head? What if the institution is relocated, will I relocate the ideals that it taught me? 

If all these questions are relevant and if what will never go is the person I am because of the knowledge and skills I obtained from the institution, then am I not my alma mater?

The answer to these questions is I am my alma mater. I carry the nurturing that my former institution gave me. I represent the brand that my alma mater represents. And as long as I do not let my knowledge and skills become corrupt, as long as I do not become corrupt, then my alma mater is intact in all its glories and grandeur.

I am neither preaching complacency nor do I mean to discourage people from exploring ways of addressing anti-social developments and attempting to seek interventions that can bring back lost glories. Rather, I am advocating a more realistic approach to how we see and relate with sentiments around alma mater. 

I am envisioning dedicating less energy to rescuing our boat that is sinking because it has a hole in it. I am advocating focusing more of our energies on not drowning with our sinking boat. I am advocating taking the lessons we learnt from our encounters with the sinking boat to make sure we do not become boats with holes too so that we ourselves do not sink. That is what I will do, and I shall not cease to do. I am my alma mater and it is up to me to keep its glories alive and its flag flying high. Like me, you are your alma mater. And if everyone sees themselves in this light even those putting holes in the boat will divert their energies to keeping the boat afloat. Keeping the boat afloat is important for at least two reasons: one we get to keep the boat and two, we get to travel safely. Keeping the boat and travelling safely means we can make plans for what happens when we arrive. And when we arrive, we can all get to work to nurture the mothers that nurtured us when we knew only but little.

Alhaji Abdul Waheed Aina_The Jewels in his crown

Burial celebration takes different forms and turns in different parts of the world. In some, it is a call for sombre reflection, and in others, burial is a call for huge celebrations. Whereas some celebrations take a low-key scale, others go unending, literally speaking. Prolonged celebrations are more common for a departed soul that is blessed with successful offspring. The burial announcements for such individuals would describe them as having led “a life well-spent”. A common denominator that qualifies one for having led a well-spent life – as in the above example – is usually the display of wealth and affluence by the children of the deceased during his burial. This is popular and mostly extolled in some climes. However, this is not the only true story.

Equally valid and equally well extolled in the hearts of the God-conscious are the somewhat more sombre passing of heroes and truly successful individuals like Alhaji Abdul Waheed Aina, who departed this world on the 25th August 2021. His is truly a story of a life well spent. I have no plans to go into his many awe-inspiring life stories that I have the direct privilege of the experience. Staying with the theme of leading a life well spent, I shall only focus on how he has indeed led a well-spent life and hoping that this inspires someone to show some love to the girl child. I shall focus on the beautiful teachings of our beloved master Muhammad (saw). According to several narrations, a man to whom a girl child is born and supports the child to maturity has lived a well-spent life. According to the Holy Prophet (saw), such an individual has earned for himself a guaranteed lofty place in paradise. This submission is apt and timely – I hope – at a time when certain misdemeanours are fuelling misconceptions around the world about how Islam defines and treats female folks.

I am constantly wondering – I bet you are too – about how anyone who treats any life with reckless abandon, relegates fellow beings and throws the basic rule of love for others in the bin can claim to be Islamic? But, of course, we know that the only thing Islamic about these behaviours is in the naming, which, unfortunately, is mostly a matter of convenience. Convenient for the actors on stage and the playwright because it distracts the audience from the actual narratives, which are in the duo’s best interests to remain obscured. Convenient for the audience, too, because they would instead prefer that blue pill over the red one that will set them on a journey of discoveries – which may remove a blindfold they would rather keep on. What is more, it fits into ongoing narratives that tag anything that comes from specific sectors of society Islamic especially when it sells the story better, faster. What can be more convenient than calling a dog a bad name, especially when the goal is to get rid of it? However, this is not the focus here, now.

To the informed, the Holy Prophet of Islam – Muhammad (saw) remains the only individual who has committed more than anyone else in the history of humankind to the cause of liberating women and the girl children. All students of history know that in the 7th century, (Arab) women hardly had any right, including the right to life. Muhammad (saw) made it his life goal to establish women’s equality to men before God. He championed women’s rights, including the right to own property (against being owned as property), right to inheritance, marriage rights, and the right to choose the terms of a marriage proposal and even to initiate divorce. However, again, this is not the focus here, now.

The focus is on how upholding the rights of female folks and particularly respecting and protecting the girl child's honour, and dignity is a valid testimony of leading a life well spent. There are indeed many narrations on the Holy Prophet’s (saw) beautiful teachings on respecting and protecting the dignity of the girl child. Among the most popular ones are those by (1) Abdullah ibn Abbas, (2) Jabir ibn Abdullah, (3) Aisha, (4) Uqbah ibn Aamir and (5) Anas (may Allah be pleased with them all). In the narration, according to Abdullah ibn Abbas, for instance, anyone who has a single female child and does not bury her alive (as is the tradition of the Arabs before Islam), nor slight her will be admitted into paradise. The number of female children that qualifies one for this lofty place ranges from one, as seen in the above narration by Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra), to two, as narrated by Aisha (ra) and Anas (ra) and three according to Jabir ibn Abdullah (ra) and Uqbah ibn Aamir (ra).

In all these narrations, showing love to the girl child and raising her and inculcating in her piety and socially acceptable behaviour is a valid testimony of having led a well-spent life. What is more, doing such qualifies one for a lofty place – in one of the narrations – close to the Holy Prophet (saw) like the index finger is close to the middle finger.

The eye that will serve its owner till old age will most likely not ooze built-up oil and mucus in infancy. A valid testimony of a well-spent life can be seen in riches and the affluence of one’s offspring. Similarly, a man who has led a well-spent life can be recognised in the number of jewels in his crown. Alhaji Abdul Waheed Aina is a man who led a well-spent life. Going by the earlier narrations, he – with the support of a loving and caring wife – successfully raised six daughters who are worthy jewels in his crown today. For those who are keeping count, six is two in three places. They have raised six pious, well-educated, successful, well-mannered, socially well-adjusted jewels of inestimable values who are presently leading industries and contributing positive change and serving humanity in various spheres of endeavour.

Furthermore, drawing from the same spring and wisdom vouchsafed to them by their parents, these six jewels are raising pro-social and pious children in their respective families. By loving and raising these six daughters, Alhaji Abdul Waheed and his ever-supportive, pious, and loving wife have built for themselves crowns that are not only of immense temporal values; they have polished jewels that will beautify their crowns and be the keys to their lofty stations in paradise. Even equally important, these jewels will shine bright in long and fruitful lives. They will expand their parents’ territories by raising equally priceless jewels that will adorn their respective parents' crowns even till eternity.

While dedicating this piece to Alhaji Abdul Waheed Aina and all lovers of the girl child, it is hoped that the piece will be a wake-up call to all those who have been fortunate enough to be blessed with daughters to appreciate how immensely blessed and fortunate they are and go to work on the path to attaining the best of both worlds.

I pray that the soul departed rest in bliss, and may the jewels that he has polished continue to shine, to continue to adorn his crown and continue to beam their light on the path of others. Blessed indeed is the end of the faithful.

Abayomi Ibrahim Motajo,

Father, lover of the girl child

Today cannot be women's day

Someone cracked an expensive joke that today is women's day

Very expensive and though I can afford it, I decline to pay 

For those who know, today cannot be women's day

Women's day is every day and every day is women's day

Celebrating the women in our lives should happen every day

So that the prices they pay do not become needles in stacks of hay

Mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, these are not just some random nouns

In truth, they're worth more than the jewels in our crowns

Precious treasures deserving to be abundantly treasured

Far above their sacrifices often unfittingly measured

Every day and in every way, make every day women's day