New Year Jubilee

NEW YEAR JUBILEE: THE GENESIS OF A UNIQUE ODYSSEY

       

Brethren, it has almost become a cliché to say that someone is redrawing the map of the world. Same is applicable to seeing actors in their dramatic moods. For many years, several cultural and historic monuments have been destroyed which has tremendously jeopardized the progress of various historical jubilees that would had constituted many historic remarks. Most of these remarks that have existed in the past successively were lately misunderstood by the present generation, therefore, being observe as mere clichés.

Saturday penultimate week, one of my bosom friends residing in Abuja called to register his extreme anticipation in respect to the forth coming year, 2015 precisely. In his first sentence, he informed me that he couldn’t wait to see the New Year. I tried to find out the actual cause of the immeasurable anxiety, though which is most times usual amongst mankind. He further informed me that he had already set aside a very tangible resolution that would commence as soon as 2015 begins.

At this juncture still on the phone conversation, I became more curious and my curiosity was accompanied with enthusiastic inquisition. Thus, I persuaded him to disclose the resolution to me even though he wasn’t ready to let the cat out of the bag. And, he gladly succumbed to my humble persuasion. He told me that he had made a resolution that “in the coming year” (2015), he would never taste beer or any alcoholic drink again. Honestly, I laughed because the fellow in question has been known by all and sundry as one of those who believe that beer ought to always be in one’s tummy irrespective of the nature of the weather.

And this is why he was not ready to disclose the resolution to me because he knew I would certainly consider it as a mere annual cliché being vomited (cited) by millions of youths scattered all over. But, he further let me see the reason his was a distinguished one by backing it up with some facts or experiences. I concluded by telling him “Bravo!” and he was so delighted to receive such gesture/exclamation from my person.

In any perspective your observation or analysis might be standing on, the fact remains that any anniversary is consequential regardless of the nature or its area of interest. Sometimes the discrepancies between school records and examination results may not be considered necessary because both are found on academic environment. But notwithstanding, in any two or more existing similar materials or facts, there must be a distinct dichotomy among them. In other words, if many anniversaries or jubilees have been in existed for donkey’s years, one or two of them must be definitely different or distinct. Let’s put it this way; if two babies are born simultaneously and they happen to be identical twins, there must be certain difference(s) lying between them.

We are discussing New Year jubilee/anniversary. A “New Year” is a certain different year that has just been encountered by mankind which the beginning takes place in every 365 days or 366 days as the case may be. In the world at large, the commencement of such year always calls for a jubilee among the entire mankind irrespective of religious or cultural affiliations.

The world over celebrates the 1^st of every New Year to mark a certain distinct journey that has just begun. Suffice to say; every New Year is regarded as a different odyssey that has just been embarked on, and each day that makes the year in question is seen as one of the steps that constitute the journey since any journey must begin with a step. Let’s ride on!

Most people come up series of resolutions at the beginning of every calendar year; few end up actualizing theirs while most of them often fail towards the end of the odyssey. And these, failures and successes have been a point of attraction to many concerned souls in regard to New Year resolution(s).

New Year jubilee is truly a welcome phenomenon that has resulted to many worthwhile histories or historic events. As we celebrate such day, courtesy or tradition demands for a certain useful individual resolution to be reached. And, the resolution ought to be seen as the essence of such jubilation.

Having reached a certain resolution, there is optimum need for such decision to be accompanied with adequate practical-intensive support to ensure that its outcome becomes a success. Having backed up your decision with an intensive support, then you shouldn’t relent to couple such journey with tremendous prayers and faith. Any of the above tools or measure should not be taken for granted if you truly want your goal to be actualized. There’s no two ways about it.

Thus, for success to be attained there must be a certain target or dream. And such dream or aim must be accompanied with hard work coupled with any necessary avoidance as well as adequate prayers and tremendous faith.

But mind you; sometimes failure(s) might be consequential regardless of the amount of effort put in any of your objects (aims). And this is where nature comes in. Certainly, man proposes but God disposes.

Having stated the above facts, frankly New Year jubilee or anniversary is surely the genesis of a unique odyssey therefore calls for adequate maintenance. Think about it!

 

FDN NWAOZOR

Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
Twitter: fdnnwaozor

Participation Of Corps Members In Electoral Matters

PARTICIPATION OF YOUTH CORPS MEMBERS IN ELECTORAL MATTERS

       

No doubt, one of the paramount desires/dreams of a group of people in any locality is to be referred to as a literate society. In other words, any right thinking government strives relentlessly to ensure that its citizenry is made up of high number of literate people.

Corps members, in a concise term, could be defined as a group of Nigerian youths that are being mobilized to serve the said country in their respective capacities having successfully completed their degree or diploma programmes in various higher citadel of learning across the globe.

In Nigeria, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is recognized by the government as a compulsory scheme for any Nigerian graduate whose age falls within the required age bracket for the national calling, irrespective of the country in which the university or Polytechnic he/she attended is situated provided it is a recognized institution. The scheme was established by law in the year 1973, on 22^nd May precisely, after the Nigerian civil war, under the regime of General Yakubu Gowon with the sole aim of strengthening and restructuring the Nigerian state as well as creating a greater Solidarity among the members of the aforementioned state. 

For over the years, many pressing issues have been raised regarding the real essence of mobilizing fresh Nigerian graduates under the aegis of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Some of the outpouring questions as regards the people’s guest are not unconnected to ascertaining the actual socio-economic importance of the scheme in question.

If the truth must be told, you would agree with me that the NYSC scheme (programme) has indeed contributed tremendously towards our collective motive of actualizing a better Nigeria. Due to time frame coupled with space factor, the interest of this piece lies mainly on ‘the role of corps members in leadership development and aspiration for a better Nigeria.’

Corps members whom are generally regarded as a “Literate Society” is a group that comprised of Nigerian youths from different field of endeavours that have been contributing significantly towards ensuring that the Nigeria’s leadership system is duly rebranded. It is no longer news that it is mostly the youth that are deeply bothered over the ongoing complicated leadership nature in Nigeria; this is so simply because they remain the set of people that are severely affected by the anomaly. If this assertion holds water, then it is needless to reiterate the fact that the corps members whom are a concentration of literate youths have been working assiduously in view of ending the lingering socio-political lapses in the acclaimed ‘Giant of Africa’. Let's ride on!

The most distinct feature of the NYSC scheme, which has to do with deploying the fresh graduates or the incoming corps members to different states or better still different geopolitical zones considering their respective places of origin, remains the major recipe that has enabled them to genuinely contribute their quota in the Nigeria’s political platform. For instance, a corps member who hails from Kaduna State and is being deployed to serve in Enugu State stands to be neutral if being posted to function as an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official in any locality in the state, because he/she would hardly know any of the aspirants or contestants, thereby creating an avenue for transparent voting system at the polls. This usually becomes the case as a result of the fact that the corps member would have no personal interest regarding the election(s).

Considering the fact that corps members are a set of fully learned individuals coupled with the fact that they consist of persons who possess the extreme urge to reform the country’s socio-political and economic system, it is of no need saying that they are one of the basic keys required by Nigeria to ensure that her leadership structure is thoroughly enhanced. This is why in recent times, they have been granted the opportunity to participate in electoral practices.

Among all, since corps members are often treated as government personnel by the general public, they are usually faced with the required opportunity to pursue their worthwhile dreams vigorously and wholeheartedly. Of course treating a ‘Corper’ or a corps member as a special personnel gives him/her the morale to assess any office regardless of the attribute of the office especially when he/she is clad in the NYSC uniform. This is the reason the corps members have over the decades been able to air their views freely without any biased mindset, most especially in electoral matters in which they are allowed to participate. And, this phenomenon has succeeded in enabling the people in question to contribute actively and wisely in the geared effort towards rebranding the nation’s leadership pattern in its entirety.

Surely, the ongoing participation of the Youth Corps Members in electoral matters, which is tagged by all and sundry as a worthwhile initiative, would go a long way to reawaken the consciousness of the youths in leadership aspiration as well as create an avenue for transparency and zero-corruption at the various polls. Think about it!

         

         COMR FDN NWAOZOR

Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist
------------------------------------------------
            frednwaozor@gmail.com
            +2348028608056         
Follow: @fdnwaozor                                                     

X-Mas Commemoration: The Best Of Its Kind!

CHRISTMAS COMMEMORATION: THE BEST OF ITS KIND

Brethren, many of us have taken to wearing visors and other similar devices to protect our eyes and visages from the possible effects of harmattan. Taking Nigeria as a case study, many would testify that the ongoing climatic phase causes virulent feelings, and may as well lead to various virulent diseases. While some would definitely testify that it is a welcome scene, therefore ought to continue for eternity. Honestly, these and more similar phenomena observe amongst mankind is not man-made but wholly natural.

Let’s put it this way; if brandy is good in bringing the real man/woman in you as a person at any given time. And, that fellow that appears to be intimate to you believes in the work of whisky in respect to similar purpose. Then conclusively, it signifies that you both are of different nature, or possess distinct idiosyncrasies. Thus significantly, no matter the level of intimacy in any relationship/affair, be it symbiotic or parasitic, the exact nature of the two or more parties involved can never be compromised or interchanged.

In geography, we were taught that about seventy percent (70%) of the earth crust is covered with water, while about thirty percent (30%) is covered with land. Brethren, there’s a big problem or error attached to this geographic estimation coupled with approximation. The astronomers who carried out the research and rounded off with such conclusion were so myopic to understand the fact that, even the part of the earth crust covered with water is as well covered with land. It’s not a paradox. It’s a fact, and it is natural. Of course the bed-rock of any sea, ocean, river, pond, lake et cetera, is land. In agriculture, we call it the soil. Suffice to say; every part of the earth crust is covered with the soil (land). 

 

But the above critique is not my optimum interest in this edition. My interest is this: despite the level of intimacy between the land and the natural water, they still don’t mix together. This simply signifies that each of the compounds or substances in question is made up of a certain distinct nature. This is a fact. Yes, a fancy fact. Let’s ride on!

Each of the paragraphs above has proven to us that nature is indeed very powerful. Nature could be regarded as all the animals, plants and other things in the world that are not made by man; and all the events, features and processes that are not caused by mankind. In a nut shell, nature is anything that is not man-made. In other words, it’s older than the world. Yes, nature has been in existence before the world was created. This is why, most times anything caused by nature seem to be mysterious. That is, beyond man’s imagination, creativity or creative ingenuity. Therefore, nature controls; it rules. Inter alia, it finalizes.

We’re discussing Christmas (X-mas). We’re discussing its annual commemoration. First and foremost, what is X-mas celebration or commemoration? X-mas celebration is a religious festival or ritual being observed on every 25^th December by the Christendom to mark the birth of Christ.

 

Next question; who is Christ? Christ is one of the names of Jesus whom Christians believe to be the only begotten son of God and whose teachings are the basis of Christianity. According to the Christian writ, Christ was sent by God to sanctify the sinful world and He obliged. He came, saw, taught, healed and delivered the world. Most importantly, He died for our sins to be forgiven. What a tremendous generosity!

As a devoted Christian, Catholic to be precise, I understand that Christ was not really born on the 25^th of December; but such date was selected by the ancient Christendom in order to mark the day such generous being came into the world since the actual date of His birth was not painstakingly recorded by the scribes or historians of His time. They considered it consequential for such date to be monumental or be remembered by mankind because the day in question marked the beginning of man’s sanctification, deliverance as well as total emancipation, which remains the most vital Christian tool in existence.

Truly Christ came or was born, saw and conquered. Above all, He accomplished His mission because mankind was freed from bondage by His willingful death. After the death of Christ, He resurrected. Before His death, He resurrected many souls. And this remains the most mysterious act performed by Him.

Thus, resurrection is nature. If truly we believe that such vital tool is nature, in other words, Christ is nature. He’s beyond man’s imagination. Starting from His birth down to His death, everything about Him was mysterious.

Beloved, if amongst us we have some group of persons we owe an allegiance to, then what stops us from observing more greater respect to a being whose existence while on earth was totally mysterious or above man’s comprehension?

In other words, there is tremendous reason for X-mas commemoration to be continually observed because it remains the most important Christian virtue practised here on earth. Such date which was set aside to mark the day Christ was born should not in any way be compromised because it is the birthday of our Messiah; therefore, remains a worthwhile Christian virtue, which I’ve tagged “The best of its kind”. Think about it!

 

FDN NWAOZOR

Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist
--------------------------------------
frednwaozor@gmail.com  
+2348028608056       
Follow: @fred_nwaozor