Opinion I Tambuwal And His Poultry Adviser

TAMBUWAL AND HIS POULTRY ADVISER

         

I could recall vividly with passion that during my secondary school days in Lagos State, I and my fellow classmates were asked by our Agricultural Science teacher to individually write an essay between livestock farming and crop farming. I’m filled with nostalgia as I remember that fateful day.

         

In my analysis, as a teenager, I chose to pay greater attention to the former since it had to do with animals. At the time, I enjoyed discussing the animal kingdom because of a particular animal documentary I was invariably viewing on a certain television channel. So, I was of the view that livestock farming, particularly poultry which my family then had at our backyard, could be successfully practised with ease by any person or group. And I grew up with that perception.

         

But penultimate week, precisely on Monday 26^th February 2018, my candid opinion was proven wrong by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State who on the said date appointed an Adviser on “Poultry Development” in the person of Dr. Rabiu Alkali among four other appointees.

         

For coming up with such an appointment, the former lawmaker may have considered poultry as one of the key sectors that require adequate attention by his administration. He had apparently thought it wise to see that aspect of livestock farming as special, hence the need to treat it as such. He had perhaps considered the compelling need for Nigeria as a people to desist from the unending importation of frozen foods; an act that has thus far bedeviled our health and remained unwholesome to the country’s economy at large.

         

Nevertheless, inasmuch as the content of the portfolio is so glaring or self-explanatory, one might want to know what the actual role of the appointee entails. A concerned citizen may wish to enquire if the new intake is expected to advise the governor on how poultry ought to be reared by the government, or the areas that would be conducive for the creatures in question or would be suitable for the proposed practice.

         

Personally, I’m interested in ascertaining if the state’s government under the watch of Gov. Tambuwal is keen to invest on poultry. If ‘Yes’ becomes the answer to this sincere enquiry, then I would equally wish to know the reason the governor had chosen to pay attention to only the aforementioned area. But if the response is ‘No’, I would then wonder if Dr. Alkali’s consignment is to advise the governor on how to tax the poultry keepers domiciled in the state.

       

If the reality must be squarely faced, as the name of the portfolio implies, it is obvious that the Sokoto number one citizen is willing to enhance poultry farming, or key into it via the use of the modern methodology. If this is his true intention, it is a good step that deserves encouragement from any patriotic citizen in not just Sokoto but the entire Nigeria that acknowledges the essence for the governments at all levels to invest meaningfully in agriculture.

       

However, in my usual inquisitive nature, I’m still interested in comprehending why a given administration would choose to concentrate only on ‘poultry development’ as if other aspects of agriculture do not matter in the Nigeria’s present quest to resuscitate her economy.

       

On the other hand, it could be that the governor already has an adviser on agriculture but still went ahead to appoint someone else strictly for poultry. I’ve come to acknowledge that our political leaders enjoy the term ‘bureaucracy’ just as I mentioned in my previous piece on this platform. It’s pathetic and mind-boggling to note that bureaucratic system of government, which has hitherto remained a blood-sucking canker, is still pampered as well as celebrated by our various public servants.

        

It becomes more annoying when realized that in the long run, the supposed services of these bureaucrats are never sought by their employers thereby making mockery of the reason they were engaged. It’s noteworthy that in some quarters, most of these political recognitions are merely to place the appointees’ name on the payroll towards appreciating them for whatever role they played during the electioneering era that begot the administration, and not necessarily to involve him or her in any official consignment.

         

The above assertion is the reason our various political leaders would continue to manufacture all sorts of portfolio in the name of appointment. Just recently, the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha in his known creative ingenuity, appointed a Commissioner for Happiness and Purpose Fulfillment among his cabinet members.

        

By creation of such a ministry, one wouldn’t cease to wonder what kind of happiness would be gotten from it by the teeming Imolites. If all the already existing ministries concentrate on doing the needful, what do we need a happiness ministry for? It’s more appalling that this is happening at a time the various governors are enjoined to endeavour to cut excesses in the course of running their respective governments.

        

Though Gov. Tambuwal – who inaugurated N1.56bn Fadama III Agric Scheme in Sokoto penultimate year – may have meant well for his subjects by appointing an adviser on poultry, it’s imperative for his Excellency to understand that the state might on the contrary be doomed if priorities are misplaced. Hence, I candidly urge him to ensure that by that appointment poultry rearing is duly developed so that in no distant time, people from all walks of life would be trouping in the state for the purpose of acquiring thorough coaching and mentoring from Dr. Alkali.

        

So, as I strongly join the good people of Sokoto to welcome the new poultry adviser, it would be ideal and wise to remind the appointee that we expect wonders to begin to happen soonest in the aspect of domestic birds rearing. Think about it!

 

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

 Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador            

         

          

ShortStory I Derailed Homosapien

DERAILED HOMOSAPIEN

        “Good morning students,” Mr. Adesokan tendered after the unanimous warmth greeting received from the overall students as the tradition demanded. “How was your weekend?” He added in a jiffy.

        “Fine sir,” The students chorused. “Thank you.” They added, stood still.

        “Please have your seats.” He urged while standing.

         The students who were dressed in sky-blue checks immediately assumed their respective seats simultaneously, anxiously waited for a formal introduction from the strange being.

         It was on Monday morning at about some minutes past nine O’clock after the students’ usual morning assembly. It marked the beginning of the sixth week of the second term’s segment.

         Mr. Adesokan was a new teacher in the institution, Comprehensive Secondary School, Ojagidi, Ogun State. He assumed duty on that very day. He had just replaced Mr. Tunde whom was transferred two weeks back to one of the neighbouring public schools in the state; Mr. Tunde was one of the school’s Mathematics teachers in charge of the senior session but his duty posts were particularly S.S.S-1 and S.S.S-2 classes.

       “Hope this is SS1?” Mr. Adesokan verified.

       “Yes sir!” The learners chorused on the top of their voices.

       “Alright,” he said. “What arm is this?”

       “SS1A.” They responded.

         It’s noteworthy that each of the senior classes was made up of four different arms ranging from A to D.

       “Good.” he uttered, paused. “Do you know why I’m here?”

       “No sir!” The class of about forty students exclaimed, became jittery and curious.

        Apparently, the suspense was telling on them, hence they couldn’t wait for additional time.

       “Okay,” he said. “I am Mister Ola Adesokan.”

          The entire students became more impatient, could not wait to hear the next word, phrase or clause that would be dished out by the yet unknown dude who seemed to be in his early forties.

        Mr. Adesokan who was slim, dark and average in height was clad in tactically ironed black trousers and grey plain shirt coupled with a pair of black sandals. The shirt was neatly tucked into the trousers.

      “Henceforth,” he continued. “I will be taking you on Mathematics.”

        This time, the students in their entirety became relieved. They had been longing to see who would replace Mr. Tunde. The former Mathematics tutor was indeed a good and refined teacher who had all it required to make even a dummy understand the said subject to the fullness. His abrupt transfer from the school raised a tremendous pandemonium among the affected students.

        And, looking at Mr. Adesokan, going by his dress as well as countenance, the class seemed convinced that Mr. Tunde’s replica had eventually come to replace him. It became absolutely tranquil while excitedly waited to hear more impressive words from a man who appeared not unlike a god-sent.

        After all the needed instructions accompanied with consequential enquiries, Mr. Adesokan hurriedly introduced the topic for the day, which was overwhelmingly welcomed by the students.

        Something abnormal transpired in the process; while Mr. Adesokan was enthusiastically teaching the class, he was distracted by a female student who was lousily seated on her desk. The girl in question who was ignorant of the scene she had created felt relaxed and was attentively and passionately listening to the lesson, unknowingly to her that she was making her corrupt-minded tutor lose his concentration.

         Having managed to exhaust his period that lasted for about eighty minutes amidst the inevitable temptation, Mr. Adesokan signalled to the teen, asking her to come out. The moment she stepped out, he whispered to her to see him in his office during the school break time.

        The poor girl who couldn’t wait to embrace the awaited break time because she was anxious to ascertain or fathom what actually prompted the unexpected invitation, began her journey to Mr. Adesokan’s office at exactly half past eleven O’clock in the morning (11:30 am) the moment the school bell rang for the break. Her class was about a hundred metre (100m) away from the office. “Good morning sir..s!” She greeted as soon as she walked into the staff room.

         It was a complex room compromising four male teachers including Mr. Adesokan. Interestingly, all of them were Mathematics teachers; two were for the junior section whilst others taught the senior segment. Their respective tables coupled with chairs were separately positioned at the four corners of the room.

       “Good morning, dear.” They responded. “How are you?” one of them tendered.

       “Fine sir.” she replied, walked straight to where her intended host was seated.

       “Good day, sir.” She greeted the moment she got to her destination, stood directly opposite him.

       “Good day, my dear.” Mr. Adesokan responded. “How are you?”

       “Fine sir.”

       “Sit down.” He tenderly urged, pointing his right arm at the seat permanently cited opposite his likewise those of his colleagues.

       “Thank you, sir.” She appreciated, quickly sat on the seat.

       “I called you here to know more about you,” said Mr. Adesokan. “Because when I was teaching your class this morning, you appeared very serious-minded.” He added in false pretence.

       “Thank you, sir.” She joyfully dished out.

       “You are welcome.”

          At this point, she remained calm and relaxed.

       “So, what’s your beautiful name?”

          The pretty-looking teenager smiled at the tone of the question especially the ‘beautiful’ that was inclusive. “Yetunde.” She replied amid the grin.

        The seemingly harmless discussion lasted for several minutes. At the long run, phone numbers were exchanged though she wasn’t with her phone because they were severely warned not to come to school with their cell phones. In view of this, they agreed on how they would be reaching each other.

         Only God knew what the proposed intimacy, which seemed to Yetunde like that of a father and his daughter owing to the tune or mode of the proposal, would lead to.

        At the fifteenth minute on the dot when the discussion ended, she hurriedly left for her classroom filled with fantasy and ecstasy like one who had just won a lottery.

        To be continued, Please. 

 

Fred Doc Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri
________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056
Twitter: @mediambassador 

 

 

 

 

 

Opinion I Political Leaders And Their 'Culpable' Utterances

POLITICAL LEADERS AND THEIR ‘CULPABLE’ UTTERANCES

         

I was barely fourteen or thereabouts when a tutor of mine taught me, among my contemporaries, that power or leadership was synonymous with intoxication. In the real sense, he actually meant that anyone in a position of authority was invariably under the influence of a certain spirit that makes him or her act sometimes not unlike a drunk.

         

The above lesson was informed by a certain question I raised in the class. I could recall vividly that I wanted to ascertain the reason most political leaders, particularly Nigeria’s, would in some occasions utter unwise words as if they are leading mere bunch of animals, or beyond the extant laws.

        

While reacting to questions thrown to him by newsmen in Abuja, recently, the erstwhile governor of Plateau State who is currently a member of the Red Chamber of the National Assembly (NASS), Senator Jonah Jang said unequivocally “Senate is not for young people”. He disclosed that he would not hand over to younger person after expiration of his tenure. The actual enquiry that prompted the rude response was occasioned by a particular youth’s aspiration to represent the Plateau North senatorial district, with the belief that the said senator who is presently above 70 years will not seek for re-election come 2019.

         

I was, to assert the least, shocked to my bone marrow the very moment the news got to my desk. I couldn’t help but kept pondering the reason a serving senator would in his right senses publicly utter that lawmaking was only meant for the old, or those who have gathered wrinkles in their faces.

         

It is more mind boggling when realized that suchlike utterance was tendered at a time the “not too young to run” bill is seriously seeking the unanimous nod of the legislators; at a period various civil rights groups are earnestly begging the revered lawmakers to change the impression that a given age bracket isn’t eligible to contest for certain political positions.

       

If your thought is as good as mine, then you would agree with me that if the likes of Sen. Jang constitute the majority of the Senate, or NASS in general, the aforementioned bill will never see the light of the day; you would wholly concur with my fear that such a bill will be regarded as a joke or a document that deserves no iota of attention from the distinguished legislators.

        

It’s noteworthy that aside the Sen. Jang’s avowal, several other political office holders across the globe, Nigeria in particular, on a daily basis openly utter speeches that were never given a second thought. Sometimes, the controversial ones deliberately do so just for the intent of awakening the temper of the opposition or those who have been known as critics to the government in which they pilot.

       

In a similar development, a few weeks ago while telling the press why all forms of drug abuse must be eradicated in Imo State, Governor Rochas Okorocha in his usual outspoken prowess disclosed that “it is better to steal than to smoke marijuana”. Such an utterance resulted to tremendous mixed feelings among the teeming populace in the state and the Diaspora. In most quarters, it was opined that the governor had derailed for coming up with such uncalled analysis.

         

From my realistic point of view, the governor was apparently trying to lay emphasis on how grievous it was for anyone to indulge himself in drug abuse, thus thought it wise to communicate to his subjects that such an act was more dangerous and harmful than robbery since it could lead to all sorts of social-ills including stealing.

         

However, it is ideal for the Imo number one citizen to acknowledge that as much as my likes understood where he was coming from as regards the said public speech, thousands of other Imolites may not fathom what really informed it. Inter alia, the opposition and other disgruntled elements might want to capitalize on that to cause further distractions; hence, the need for proper cross-examination of words before they are tendered in the public sphere.

         

Of late, such ‘culpable’ utterances have seemingly become peculiar to the sitting Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Ayodele Fayose. In most cases, you would observe him lambasting the Nigeria’s President as if they are both enemies. Sometimes, one may be forced to believe that Gov. Fayose’s invariable controversial attitude is owing to personal hatred.

         

I’ve come to comprehend that most of these leaders are surrounded by countless aides and allies, yet they would never bother to seek an advice from any of them before going to the press. The “I know it all” syndrome, which is misleading this set of public servants, has caused more harm to the system as a whole than it does to their individual persons. This is the reason we must all stand up in unison to condemn and equally fight the scourge. We mustn’t inure ourselves to such kind of societal menace that deserves to be kept under lock and key for eternity.

       

If our political leaders would subscribe for bureaucracy but in the long run refuse to ask for the services of the bureaucrats, I wonder why we ought to sustain the excesses. Though power arguably intoxicates, our various leaders are invariably bound to note when, how and where to talk as well as when to seek the professional assistance of their employees.

        

The gospel truth is that, such manner of lifestyle always displayed by our various political leaders is in its entirety highly detrimental to the polity, hence must be urgently thrown to the waste bin where it truly belongs. Think about it!

 

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador