Craze For Title Among Nigerians

INCONSEQUENTIAL CRAZE FOR TITLE AMONG NIGERIANS


Greetings brethren. I often like to reiterate one fact. There’s a certain quality I know I possess; and it has to do with my extreme passion for care. The ‘care’ in question signifies the provision of welfare and protection for someone or an animal as the case may be.

On the above note, I repeat; I will never stop caring for you, but if you eventually decide to push me away, I will willingly take my leave. Yes, if you asked me to leave, I will go; the choice is yours. But I want you to understand fully that, I care about you so much. This is why I always find time to embrace this pulpit regardless of the hurdles I might be facing. Your happiness matters so much to me; so my paramount desire remains to indulge in those things that would keep that ‘happiness’ alive.

Truly I love you all with passion, and that’s the reason I’ve never failed to be in the midst of this congregation for once since three years we commenced this divine crusade. In other words, I wouldn’t like to imagine seeing you derailing, because derailment is not in our tradition. The entire members of this worthwhile congregation are generally known and referred to as ‘refined homosapiens’ the world over. Thus, anything I foresee taking us outside our tradition, which everyone regards as worthwhile and as well adore, pisses me off.

In one of my previous works sometime ago, I stated unequivocally that sometimes ‘madness’ could be necessary. This simply means that in some occasions, we are expected to display an iota of madness to enable us actualize our goal which may be collective or individual. But it is so devastating to see some group of persons indulging in an unnecessary madness.

Believe me, some madness are highly inconsequential and worthless. Please don’t get me wrong; I’m only trying to appraise some facts here. Of course it’s no longer news that the umbrella theme of this crusade remains ‘Fancy Facts’; therefore we must continue to abide by the truth.

‘Title’, in some cases, might be defined as the name of s book, article, play, or piece of music, given to it by the author or producer as the case may be. In the same vein, a certain position available in any sports competition is often referred to as a ‘title’. But in this edition, the name ‘title’ refers to a term/word that is used or placed before someone’s name which signifies his/her status or profession.

Taking Nigeria for instance, you would concur with me that the current level of the quest for title amongst the citizenry is becoming quite alarming and childish. Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with a physician inserting ‘Doctor’ as his/her title or an engineering professional indicating that he’s an engineer while writing his name, and so on; but the pathetic aspect of the ongoing quest for title is the situation whereby one would like to acquire or bear those titles that don’t really matter. Even, in some part of the country, most individuals would cherish to attach up to four or more titles to their names as if there’s a reasonable award to be won with them. Let’s ride on!’

If I may ask; what’s so special about titles? Personally, I don’t see anything so enticing in possession of title(s) because I’m of the view that what one is, lies in him or her. Of course it is only by what you do that people or the general public would get to know who truly you are or what you’re made-up of. For crying out loud, it’s not by inserting title to your name because some titles could be fake or a mere attachment. So why should one use or possess something he cannot defend? Isn’t it ridiculous?

From my observation, I’ve learnt that the ‘men of substance’ don’t really pay much attention to titles. For instance, Barrack Obama of the United States of America (U.S.A) doesn’t have any title attached to his name, not unlike several other leaders in most civilized nations.

If the truth must be told, you and I know that the President of any country has the opportunity to bear more than twenty titles or to attach uncountable titles to his/her name; but on the contrary, you hardly see any President bearing more than one title. This is to tell us that, attaching several titles to the name of a President of a country is even an affront to him or her, because there’s no other title more important or greater than being addressed as the ‘President of a country’.

Brethren, we must borrow a leaf from the members of the western countries as regards attachment of title to our names. Over there, they pay less attention to titles thereby concentrating only on what the person in question can offer. Their interest only lies on what one is made-up of or the prowess that is/are in him or her.

It is even more pathetic seeing the leaders of a certain institution/organization that is meant to be an eye to other institutions, parading themselves with series of titles. Presently, you would see a cleric bearing ‘Honourable-Chief-Doctor-Pastor somebody’. What a craze! Frankly, we’ve really derailed, therefore there’s need for total turnaround.

Sincerely, the inconsequential craze for title among the Nigerian citizenry is really telling on us, and we are bound to take a drastic measure concerning the derailment. If not, I’m afraid we might wake up one morning to see our respective societies littered with bunch of ‘mad people’. Think about it!


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FDN NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com

2014 Nelson Mandela International Day (Aired Newstalk)

COMMEMORATING THE 2014 NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY, TODAY FRIDAY JULY 18

In the world over, just as everyone constantly prays to have peace , so do we pray for justice in all our endeavours. In the same vein, whosoever that is in any kind of bondage, either spiritual or physical, shall never have rest of mind until he regains freedom. This is to say that, every man is consistently striving towards the actualization of peace, justice, or freedom, as the case may be.

The above note has given us the insight that no man wishes to encounter any form of bitterness, on a daily basis. This is why the global community through the effort of the United Nations (UN), came up with the ongoing International Nelson Mandela Day.

The Nelson Mandela International day is an event organized by the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI). The day which was endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 2009 is being celebrated annually and internationally on July 18 to mark Mandela’s birthday thereby creating awareness on the need for everyone to support selfless service to humanity which helps to uplift peace and justice and to free mankind from all sorts of bondages.

It is no longer news that the late Nelson Mandela, while on earth, gave sixty-seven (67) years of his life to the struggle for human rights and social justice. As a founding member of the then ruling democratic party – African National Congress (ANC), Mandela was arrested in 1962 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He spent twenty-seven (27) years in prison but remained unstoppable in leading strategic revolution against apartheid government.

Astonishingly, when Nelson Mandela was elected the President of South Africa in 1994, he did not call for vengeance or retribution against the whites, rather he led a sensitive reconciliation movement that amazed all the African as well as International politicians. Furthermore, he campaigned for peace, unity and love among South Africans irrespective of race or tribe. Because of the astonishing character of the late icon, the UN General Assembly in 2009 proclaimed the annual international Mandela Day.

So, as the world over commemorates the Nelson Mandela International Day today being Friday 18th July 2014, there’s need for collective support by all and sundry from all walks of life regardless of race, age, background or status. In view of this, the International Community is urging us today to devote at least sixty-seven (67) minutes of our time to helping others. By devoting 67 minutes of our time – one minute for every year of Nelson Mandela’s public service, people can make a small gesture of solidarity with humanity and a step towards a global moment for good.

Thus, take action, inspire change, and mobilize the human race to do more in order to build a peaceful, sustainable and equitable world. This is the best tribute we can pay to an extraordinary man who embodied the highest values of humanity.

Reportedly, UN staff around the world have made a difference through a variety of activities in the past, such as supplies to school children, preparing meals for the elderly ones, helping out in an orphanage, cleaning-up parks, and delivering computer literacy seminars and workshops. Also, in New York of the United States for instance, UN staff volunteered their time on 17 and 18 July 2013 to help rebuild homes that were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.

You can also contribute your own quota to public service by individually or collectively indulging in any of the following humanitarian activities:

 Make a new friend; get to know someone from a different cultural background because it is only through mutual understanding we can rid our communities of intolerance and xenophobia.

 Read for someone who can’t; visit a local home for the orphans and the less-privileged.

 Help someone get a job; prepare a CV for them and as well help them acquire the required interview skills.

 Take a little time to have a chat with the terminally ill people and bring some sunshine into their respective lives.

 Get tested for HIV as well as other Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and encourage your partner, colleagues and friends to do so too.

 Donate blood, wheelchair, or cash to someone in need.

 And finally but not the least, buy a few blankets, or grab the ones you no longer use in your home and give them to someone in need.

Frankly, we all are expected to unanimously support this remarkable life-touching event globally recognized as Nelson Mandela International Day, because the life and time of the celebrity in question, Dr Nelson Madiba Mandela is no doubt worthy of emulation.



COMR. FRED DOC NWAOZOR

Public Affairs analyst & Social activist

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+2348054719437

Rampant Establishment of Brothels

RAMPANT ESTABLISHMENT OF BROTHELS


Greetings brethren. Frankly I would have said that my previous night was deadly if not that I foresaw the concentration of angels in an arena situated very close to my residence. Nevertheless, what I’m saying in essence is that I had a very bad and devastating dream in the previous night.

Please I want to ask you a question. What would you do if eventually you woke up in the early morning of a certain day to see an imaginary creature standing right before your bed, and thereafter vanishes into thin air within a twinkle of an eye?

I want us to attend to the above question without mincing words. Believe me, if I happened to be the victim of the aforementioned circumstance, what I would do is very simple; honestly I will never step beyond the entrance to my bed room throughout that day. Please don’t bother asking me what I would be doing indoors afterwards, because being a prayer warrior, I must create a scene that would comprised ‘Mountain of fire’ or vice-versa.

Penultimate week, Tuesday to be precise, a bosom relative of mine called from the city of Calabar in Cross-River State; the fellow was formerly residing in Owerri. During the phone conversation, he unequivocally disclosed to me that he was thinking, albeit ignorantly, that Owerri has the highest number of brothels; but on the contrary, recently he had fully realized that there was no place like Calabar regarding the menace.

Sincerely, I’m here or I came to this crusade to discuss Nigeria as a whole, not just Owerri or Calabar as the case might be. Then if Nigeria in her entirety must be considered, then the truth ought to be upheld because Nigeria is not a country that condoles falsehoods. Someone may say from his understanding that I’m just being sarcastic, but the singular fact remains that Nigeria is the only country I wholly love or deeply cherish.

If the proposed truth must be told, then I would say without mincing words that, the current manner in which the establishment of brothels is being condoled across the Nigerian society as well as other African nations has become a thing of enormous concern especially in this period we are being faced with tremendous security challenges.

Sometime ago in Abuja the Federal capital Territory (FCT), the existence of brothels was frankly put to stop thereby creating an arena where all the resident pimps were seen packing their bags and baggage. The idea was introduced and sold by the Minister of FCT, Mr. Bala Mohammed. In spite of such severe action taken by the authority, presently it seems such measure never took place in Abuja, because the harlots as well as their pimps now operate in disguise. Needless to say that, some persons really need to be called to order. Let’s ride on!

The other day, someone was telling me that if properly checked, the number of hotels in Imo State exceeds three hundred (300). I wasn’t surprise because I knew he was appraising facts or would I say, he was not exaggerating. Since I knew there’s nothing wrong in setting up a hotel; even, I wish to become a hotelier soonest. Having concurred to his statement, I asked him if he could give me the estimate of the brothels in the state in question. He sadly responded that that of brothels was innumerable. Isn’t it amazing?

Surely, a lot of people really need to be called to order. We can’t continue to live as tenants in our tenement. Thus, we’ve the right to decide how we want our home to be or look like. In other words, it is our right, not a privilege. In a society like ours, one doesn’t need to speak extensively concerning a criminal related issue because it’s widely assumed that every dick and harry in Nigeria is wise. Therefore I choose to be discreet. I thank God my message has been sent and understood too.

Notwithstanding, I’m expected to drop a suggestion prior to my exit or before I drop my humble pen. I’m using this avenue to call on the legislative bodies in Nigeria to enact a formidable law bearing capital punishment in regard to putting this menace to the history book. Thereafter, a relevant agency or task force ought to be set up towards ensuring that the proposed law is not swept under the carpet.

This matter calls for urgent and drastic attention owing to the fact that it is eating deep in our blood vessel to the extent that even those in coma could feel it. I’m quite aware that the anomaly is ubiquitous the world over, but it’s obvious that ours is taking a different shape.

Honestly brethren, someone or some persons must be called to order before a calamity or something more deadly happens. Of course it’s no longer news that the issue is already deadly; I don’t want to mention how many souls that have been buried as a result of this aberration.

I’m only interested in restoring normalcy. For crying out loud, I wouldn’t like the nightmare I had previous night to repeat itself. Enough is enough. Think about it!


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FRED DOC NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com