Opinion I Still On Int'l Human Solidarity Day

CLARION CALL FOR UNDILUTED UNITY AS WE MARK THE 2017 INT’L HUMAN SOLIDARITY DAY 

         

Yesterday, December 20, the world over celebrated the 2017 International Human Solidarity Day. The annual International Human Solidarity Day was established on 22^nd December 2005, by the United Nations (UN). Having acknowledged the fact that solidarity is one of the basic and universal values that ought to underlie relations between peoples in the Twenty-First Century, on the aforementioned date, the UN General Assembly decided to proclaim December 20 each year as International Human Solidarity Day.

        

Prior to the adoption of the Day by the UN, by resolution on 20^th December 2002, the General Assembly established the World Solidarity Fund which was duly set up in February 2003 as a trust fund of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Its motive is to eradicate poverty as well as promote social and human development in developing countries, particularly amongst the poorest segments of their populations.

         

Solidarity, in a precise term, can be defined as a complete unity and support among people of a certain group. It can also be addressed as an absolute togetherness showcased by members or occupants of a given society or locality, as the case might be.

         

Solidarity is identified in the Millennium Declaration as one of the fundamental values of international relations in the twenty-first (21^st) century, wherein those who either suffer or benefit least deserve help or support from those who benefit most. Consequently, in the context of globalization and the challenge of growing inequality, the uplift of international solidarity remains unavoidable.

       

Surely, the concept of solidarity has defined the work of the UN since the birth of the organization. The establishment of the UN drew the peoples and nations of the world together to promote peace, human rights, social and economic developments. The body was founded on a basic premise of unity and harmony among its Member States. It is indeed in the spirit of solidarity that the union relies on cooperation in resolving international plights or misunderstanding of socio-economic, cultural and/or humanitarian origin in order to maintain universal peace and security.

       

Frankly, solidarity is a very vital tool required to solve problems in our interconnected world. We can only reach our shared goals if people are able to participate in the formulation and implementation of plans, policies, programmes, or what have you, to shape our common future, since it is already noted that commitments without empowerment are merely words without meaning.

         

Having noticed that absolute unity is synonymous with solidarity, there is no need reiterating the fact that thorough brotherhood or unity can only be actualized through participation in solidarity-related activities or causes. Thus, adoption of human solidarity by any entity is no doubt a pathway towards actualizing absolute unity, which is no doubt an epitome of exemplary peace and harmony.

        

Since it is apparent that solidarity which guarantees absolute unity is as well a giant step toward alleviating the poverty level of any society, hence there is an urgent need for a right thinking citizen of any poverty-stricken nation such as Nigeria alongside other developing countries across the globe to support the ongoing human solidarity crusade as much as they can.

         

In addition, it is imperative for a country like Nigeria that is currently ravaged by insurgency and other forms of treason to do everything humanly possible to ensure that solidarity among the citizenry becomes the order of the day without much ado.

         

Nigeria can promote thorough brotherhood among her populace by closing the existing gaps including ethnicity, corruption, nepotism, favouritism, religious cum social discrimination, chauvinism, and personal aggrandizement that are invariably found on the country’s socio-political and economic platform.

        

To this end, as the present administration ably led by President Mohammadu Buhari is ostensibly willing and determined to sweep out corruption, which remains the fundamental bane to unity and societal development, we are cordially expected to rally round the administration with the spirit of solidarity rather than the reverse, with a view to making Nigeria become a country to reckon with in the nearest future.

       

We can contribute our respective quotas by regularly and relentlessly preaching unity in every field of human endeavour we find ourselves, most especially in the schools, markets, worship centres, motor parks, and our immediate communities. More so, parents and guardians ought to sensitize their wards, right from their childhood, on the fact that no one can thrive successfully if he/she chose to stand alone since it is obvious that ‘a tree can never make a forest’.   

       

So, as Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate the annual International Human Solidarity Day, I call on everyone who thinks good of the country to borrow a leaf from the country’s fallen nationalists and heroes to include Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, and Chief Tafawa Belewa, just to mention but a few, who believed in the inevitable role of human solidarity in nation building. This is arguably the only way we can actualize undiluted unity among ourselves, which remains the gateway to the long awaited change. Think about it!

 

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri

___________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador

      

 

 

Opinion I Aftermath Of The PDP Elective Convention

AFTERMATH OF THE PDP ELECTIVE CONVENTION

       

Years back, I was painstakingly taught by my mentor that politics – though interesting – was a game of warriors. In a bid to throw more light on the vague political theory, he said “Fred, politics is only meant for those who can compete vehemently with all their muscles just as in the case of a warfront or battlefield”. In order to round off the exegesis, he succinctly stated “above all, politics requires skills and intelligence”.

        

Since I received that out-of-class lecture, I’ve been rigorously making frantic effort to marry the aforementioned clauses. One; politics is like a warfront. Two; it requires intelligence and skills. I kept pondering over the connection between the three key factors – warriors, skills and intelligence – not until lately when I eventually fathomed the candid analysis to the fullness.

        

Lest I digress; it’s noteworthy that this critique is mainly dedicated to the Nigeria’s current main opposition platform in the country’s political terrain, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). It’s not anymore news that the party had its national elective convention on Saturday, 9^th December 2017 at Eagle Square, Abuja after its protracted impasse was judiciously settled by the Supreme Court.

        

Prior to the eventual end of the internal crisis that ravaged the party’s progress, several concerned Nigerians both home and in the Diaspora – mainly political analysts – opined that the acclaimed Africa’s largest political group was liable to go into extinction. It suffices to assert that the apex court’s judgement was not unlike a messiah.

        

Before the convention, a series of allegations cum mixed feelings was trending among the members, particularly most of the chairmanship aspirants. According to the aggrieved persons, there was an underground mechanism by some of the party stalwarts, such as Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers and Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti, to impose a particular candidate – precisely Uche Secondus, the former acting National Chairman of the party – on the party delegates.

       

Barely a few hours to the election, many of the chairmanship aspirants, including Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Rashed Ladoja, Bode George and Jimi Agbaje, unceremoniously pulled out of the race, citing the alleged circulation of ‘unity list’ as their reason for the action. Hence, the contest was left with only four aspirants namely Prof. Tahoed Adedoja, Raymond Dokpesi, Prof. Tunde Adeniran and Uche Secondus.

       

After the voting by the delegates, Mr. Secondus polled 2,000 votes out of the overall 2,296 votes, to emerge the winner of the race. It’s worth noting that the controversial emergence of Mr. Secondus as the new substantive National Chairman of the PDP outrightly divided the party members, although most of the aggrieved individuals including the defeated aspirants had reportedly congratulated the said victor.

       

It’s really intriguing despite all the promises made to Nigerians by the convention’s Organizing Committee led by Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as well as the Electoral Committee headed by Gabriel Suswan that the party would have a convention devoid of pranks, the election was still characterized by anomalies as was alleged by some of the members. How then do we reconcile these?

        

If suchlike allegations hold water, it implies that the assertion by the officials of the PDP about restoration of internal democracy ahead of the awaited 2019 general elections could be interpreted to be misleading. It’s indeed hard to believe that the party, having gone through those odd times, could still lapsed into its old method of forging a consensus candidate in the enthronement of its leadership. Little wonder my mentor unequivocally opined that ‘politics is a game of warriors’.

         

It’s imperative to acknowledge that I’m not here to analyze or narrate the story of how the PDP apparently disappointed the expectations of the teeming Nigerians as regards the just concluded elective convention. My concern is solely informed by the need to let the members whom are still aggrieved to comprehend that ‘two wrongs do not make a right’. So, for the sake of way forward, they must sheath their swords and concentrate on how to take the party to the next level.

        

Similarly, the victorious members need to close ranks and extend an olive branch to the ‘defeated’ ones with a view to making the party become a formidable opposition, which every sane and rational citizen of the country yearns for. Nigeria and Nigerians need a party that could serve as a reliable opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC); a party that can compete favourably; most importantly, a party that would place the country’s interest ahead of any other one.

       

The members must note that whatever affects the PDP does not only destabilize the party’s wellbeing but that of the country as well. Needless to assert that, an injury to any major opposition in any nation across the globe stands the chance of negatively affecting the nation’s polity in general. In view of this, the PDP must henceforth wake up as a people and reconsider how to do only the needful for the good of all.

        

The newly inaugurated National Chairman, Mr. Secondus has in his acceptance speech pledged to move the party forward, hence the need for him alongside the entire leadership of the party to endeavour to consult the cognoscenti and strategists towards making amends where need be.

       

Summarily, the new leadership must take into cognizance that the party can’t afford to be in court again. Think about it!

 

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Follow me: @mediambassador

         

ShortStory II Black Thursday

BLACK THURSDAY

       The ancient narrow pathway had become so bad that they could not find their way to their destination as the three moved in a grey Honda Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) being piloted by Dayo who was very mindful of the steering. It was on a Thursday.

       The 35-year-old Misters Dayo, Emeka and Okon were old time friends who got reunited just a few days ago at Nsukka in Enugu State having lost contacts about eight years back or thereabouts after their graduation from one of the reputable higher citadels of learning in Nigeria situated in the Eastern part of the country, precisely University of Nigeria Nsukka popularly known by its acronym ‘U.N.N’. What occasioned the long awaited reunion was the convention of their alma-mater’s alumni body themed ‘The homecoming of UNN Alumni’, which usually held once in a blue moon.

       Though they never studied in the same department, they were conspicuously best of friends during their school days that people within began to wonder if they were of the same parental background or clan of origin. In spite of the fact that they hailed from different ethnic regions, the friendship remained solid and undiluted till their graduation time, not until when they departed for their respective national assignments in various states of the federation as programmed by the Federal Government (FG) under the auspices of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which was established in 1973 after the Nigerian civil war.

        Mr. Dayo who resided in the city of Enugu – the capital territory of the said state – drove to the designated venue of the epochal event in his personal car whilst the other two – Emeka and Okon – whom were resident of Uyo and Abuja, respectively, embarked on the trip via flight owing to distance. Hence, Dayo served as their executive driver throughout their 3-day stay at Nsukka.

        The three who were deeply filled with nostalgia, took time to drive around the aforementioned town and its environs during the limited period. On the third day of their stay being Thursday, which marked the last day of the convention, the three who lodged in the same hotel had agreed to visit Iche – a locality in the vicinity that harboured one small but renowned river called Ndegu – towards catching fun in the endowment in question.

        Ndegu, which was about ten kilometers away from the university, was a river they could not afford to steer clear of during their school days despite all the warnings by the university management in strong terms that students should stay away from it, obviously as a result of its infamous antecedents; records held that Ndegu kept drowning students of the institution each time they swam in it. Perhaps because none of the three – Emeka, Okon and Dayo – was a victim of circumstance, they remained in doubt of the sign of warning; to them, the university officials were just trying to deceive  them (the students), or keep them away from anything that could serve as a distraction to their academic pursuits.          This time, the narrow pathway that led to the ancient river was in dilapidated and pathetic state, to assert the least that the SUV Jeep ceased to transcend to the point beyond.

        “Let’s walk to the river.” suggested Okon whom was the only one seated at the back.

         Before this time, Dayo had already applied the brakes since it was apparent that there was no how the car could find its way to Ndegu, which was about two hundred metres (200m) apart from where they were at the moment.

        “I think you are right.” Emeka, who sat beside the driver, concurred.

       “Are you sure the car would be saved here?” Dayo thought aloud.

       “Why not?” said Okon. “After all, the road is not that lonely.” He observed.

       “I quite agree with Okon.” Emeka supplemented.

       “It’s alright,” Dayo surrendered. “If you said so.” he added, attempting to step out of the vehicle.

         Thereof, they all gladly stepped out and headed for Ndegu not unlike tourists. As they walked, passersby cum dwellers could observe that they were strangers who had come for a research work, though they couldn’t say for sure where exactly their final destination was.

        In about thirty minutes’ interval, they got to the long awaited point; it was 5:20pm prompt.

        In all ramifications, Ndegu had really changed to their delight. First, the arena was no longer bushy as it used to be during their school days. Secondly, more people now visited the place for all sorts of motives such as recreation, research, fishing, and what have you, unlike those days when you would hardly see more than five persons at a time. The only discouraging factor was that the only road leading to the arena had become virtually impassable, contrary to its previous state.

        As soon as they got there, Dayo couldn’t wait to swim, thus he dived into the river having taken off his gorgeous wears remaining only shorts. It seemed the ancient Ndegu had awaited his arrival as its colourless nature became brighter like snow the moment the dude lay on it.

        Okon and Emeka followed suit, equally in their shorts. The two smiled at each other immediately they joined the chorus, and then sighted Dayo who was already about four metres away from them.

        Although a few persons were already catching funs in the river before the three joined, the latter’s unique style of swimming got the spectators fascinated; hence, they became inadvertently attracted to them. They swam like individuals who had undergone special internship on swimming techniques.

         Some minutes on, therein, Dayo began to gasp for air as he was seen by the teeming observers struggling for survival. Could it be that he was being drowned? A crucial question deserved to be answered by all. Surprisingly, a few seconds later, the two others – Okon and Emeka – were also found in a similar mood.

         Having observed that things were not anymore at ease, a good number of divers among the spectators didn’t hesitate to dive into Ndegu toward saving the lives of the seeming strangers. Shockingly, all efforts proved abortive as the three had already taken their last breath before their bodies were held by the rescuers. This time, it was about twenty minutes to six O’clock in the evening.

         That was how Ndegu consumed the lives of the promising gentlemen unannounced. It was really a black Thursday.

       Truly, the car parked at the pathway wasn’t saved as earlier presumed by the owner, Mr. Dayo because its ownership would be now allocated to someone else.

       The rest is history, please.

 

Fred Doc Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri

_________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador