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ENVISAGING THE FUTURE OF AFRICA (II)

written by The Intellects Mag

THE FUTURE

Remember uncle Tom‘s story and make a decision to be a generational thinker.

I shall dot the I’s nd cross the T’s with the lecture of Nigeria’s first democratic president, sir Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo on 31^st night, year 2018.

“Africa has been called names that we do not deserve a SHIT HOUSE, DARK CONTINENT, name it, but we are not where we should be”. He continued: 5 things we need to take care of, for development, growth and progress are:

Politics-Governance; if we do not get politics right, we might not get other things right. Getting it right is getting other things right.
Population– the population is rising. Nigeria at independence was only 40 million but now we are about 200 million. Education is key. We must acquire right and relevant skills and be gainfully employed.
Protection- in all ramification, avoid being agents of chaos, (recording to rhythm, terror is senseless but peace is priceless), Nigeria’s one time president went on to say “protection is security and security includes personal security, security of lives and properties, which is key. Security of jobs and food, also are very important.
Prosperity:- even Olusegun has stopped talking about “POVERTY”. They focus on the positive things like land matters etc. he asked the world to emulate love-world otherwise known as Christ embassy that it is an excellent church. I urge everyone to stop talking down his or her own land.
Partnerships: – let’s work together………….. the more we work together, the further we’ll go. We need to pray and fast together because if you eat alone, you will die alone………. Partnership at homes, within the family, community, continent and the world.

Long Live Africa!!!!!!

By Eleki Emmanuel Owanaemi (Aka Dr. Emmanuel)

May 8, 2019 2,047 comments

Featured Healthy Living

ENVISAGING THE FUTURE OF AFRICA (I)

written by The Intellects Mag

On the 24^th of April 2019, I asked my elder brother Mr. Thomas Eleki ‘what will forty(40) years from now be like for Africa?’ he muted for a while and then replied “ My dear brother, what will be, will be”. He response to my question almost left me confused but I remembered the words of men of God such as Rev. Chris Oyakhilome(PHD), Goke Adu, Pastor Paul Adefarasen, Pastor Lanre Oluseye and Pastor Niyi Hastrip to mention but a few folks who have planted encouraging words into my life; words that can make one abound And abase. Before I focused only on religion, the holy bible teaches us that faith without works is dead. AFRICANS DO SOMETHING! AFRICANS WORK!!

Suicide was an option for me when my first investment liquidated and my girlfriend as at then left me but upon my survival, I realized that even one of the world’s greatest author; Robert T. Kiyosaki first business didn’t work out as well. I beg Africans not to give up about their dreams and aspirations because there is hope for the living and a living dog is better than a dead lion (conticipate Zoë by Dr. Emmanuel).

My brother upon a second thought of my question called me and gave me some lectures about my question and the summary of the lectures was that: “everything in life is about now”, because the past is a history, the future is mystery and now is a gift, that is why it is called “THE PRESENT”. AFRICANS ENJOY!!!

About Mr. Thomas M. Eleki and his past:

Mr. Thomas Eleki aka Uncle Tom is my immediate elder brother. He was once very poor, the poverty was so real that hawking of pure water was a means of supporting our family and about his academics; he was not brilliant as I am (UNCLE TOM WAS DULL)

OUR NOW

The greatest asset in life is your life, don’t lose it, don’t ruin it or don’t allow others to ruin it. So what should be done with this asset called LIFE?

Health is wealth

AFRICANS!! Who is to blame? Government or the people?

Though everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion as such my response to that should be done with life will be sharing (there is love in sharing, love is the greatest force on earth). If only my girlfriend hadn’t left me, I would have shared with her, if only my rich dad had made me make new friends in/upon my relocation from Lagos state to Rivers state, I would have shared my pains instead of attempting suicide. To confirm this, I will share the lecture of his Excellency sir Olusegun Obasanjo gave in Christ Embassy on the 31^st of December 2018. Upon my understanding of his fact C.I.E Partnership, I shared a lot because I have learnt the hard way with my elder brother: C.E.O of campus Entertainment Box Office (CEBO), Ibi-ama Group and co-founder of Rock view Motion (rvm0 and the Elekis’ signature(Es), with his wife; Cynthia Eleki C .E.O of Cyndi’s pot and Zenith Bank staff, with another brother though from another mother, triple (c) Christopher Chuckenuedo Chukwuma C.E.O of pertinacious media with friends too numerous to mention. And because the first shall be the last with my pastors and my spiritual heads. For now the then hawker Eleki Thomas (Mr.) supports my family with huge sums through media and entertainment, and me as his kid brother is envisaging a future to be like him. IF AFRICANS CAN ALLOW THE WESTERN WORLD; EUROPE, ASIA, AMERICA, to share in her pains (to show us how to become a great continent) THESE CONTINENTS CAN PREVENT THE SLOW DEATH OF OUR BELOVED CONTINENT. AND IF DULL UNCLE TOM THEN IS NOW RICH, AFRICA CAN BE GREAT.

Article by Eleki Emmanuel Owanaemi Aka Dr. Emmanuel

May 2, 2019 137 comments

Fashion

The Hair Fashion!

written by The Intellects Mag

Men Fashion

Even our men are not left out in the fashion trend! Both hair cuts and long pants. Amusingly, some use waterproof or nylon to wear their pair of trousers!!! We hail thee men

The Afro

The Mole Pencil Pair of Trousers

The Mole Bogus Pair of Trousers

The Hair Fashion!

It’s amazing the cycle the world flows in. The women hair fashion is something else in Nigeria. Do we say it’s just fashion repeating itself or do we assume our fashionable ladies are responding to the negative economic change by going old-fashioned.

Hair in the 19‎90's

Natural hair on fleek

Thread hair with wool

Relaxed hair in the late 90's

Transitioning hair to natural hair

Braided Wig on fleek

November 27, 2017 10 comments

2017 November Edition Poems

Appreciation Of Poems

written by The Intellects Mag

So Long A Journey- By Ezike Kenechukwu

The poet writes about the faulty educational system that Nigerian students go through, in this poem of four stanzas. The pronoun “He” is used in two senses; first as it represents the writer, who is a masculine being, and the individual narrating his ordeal, and in the second sense, in an analogical manner, man representing male and female alike. So, “he” is used to represent the poet and other Nigerian students who are faced with same challenges as they journey through Nigeria’s educational system.

The first six lines of the first stanza of fifteen lines explains how the educational career begins, it begins with the nursery and primary session, rich in curriculum and practice. Niger delta an area rich resources, symbolizes the slate of the child’s mind, still very fresh, filled with resources ready to be utilized. (This section spans from the time of the poems generation in the 1990’s, for the poet does not consider the present day nursery and primary education rich). The education ends in the Sahara desert, the desert symbolizes the societal life of the graduated Nigerian. A desert is a barren land, not suitable for habitation because its living conditions are harsh.

It symbolizes Nigeria students who have gone through the education system of Nigeria, are now in the society of Nigeria and all they see is barren lands, which they were never prepared for in the system that is supposed to be a refiner. They cannot comprehend how they started from Niger delta, and ended in Sahara desert. The next five lines coming after that depicts how the sojourn should have known that he is ended for the desert when he reached northern Nigeria (tertiary institutions, the university precisely where lots of people are studying courses that they do not like but are without option and really need to get the paper certificate). In this sense, one who is travelling and suddenly meets an area of low vegetation should at least have a re-think of what the destination through that route will be like, though the argument will be inconclusive or undetermined, but that should prepare the sojourns mind for what is to come. The first eleven lines that begins the second verse talks about the inadequate training of Nigerian students throughout the formal education process.

They are not trained on the importance of resource management, like water- in the poem, water symbolizes life. Nigerian students are ill prepared to face life challenges when they are in school. The last fourteen lines that ends the second verse shows the different stages in the in the university. Northern Nigeria shows the first two years, while Niger and Mali represent the last two years in the university and also other years spent by students who study for about five to seven years. While they are in these last two stages, they express their initial desires to graduate with first class, and how the drill has got them wishing for a second class upper/lower as the case maybe. The old and young cactus in the third stanza symbolizes old leaders and the youths in Nigeria.

They cannot comprehend how they started from Niger delta, and ended in Sahara desert

The old leaders refuse to leave their positions in the office or in the politics and do not want to give the youths a breathing space, they practically do not want the youths to be a part of the system. The youths/students are made to believe that there is an oasis in the desert, oasis symbolizes entrepreneurial ventures, which is seen as a mini paradise. They suddenly start to crave for the oasis, but then entrepreneurship has its own rules and does not in the midst of limited resources create jobs on a wide scale neither does it eliminate poverty,

it only initiates capitalism and the enriches the owner of the venture.

Industrialization, good education, commercialization and the rest of such kinds are needed on a larger scale just like irrigation, afforestation and the rest of such change the climate of the desert/forest. Irrigation creates healthy growth for crops and trees. Annual crops that propagates, germinates, and is harvested within a year, to save cost of irrigation, rain trees could be planted, that will alter the climate and bring an increase in the amount of rainfall and shady trees. Oasis does not help a desert so much, it only helps those who are close to it just as entrepreneur does for the owners. The Nigerian government should create employment by building industries, commercialization and privatization of the necessary industries. Otherwise, the entrepreneur suffers as well, because if he succeeds, his venture becomes overcrowded (destination for all and sundry) some would want to take possession of his ventures, and others (family and relatives) will rebel as well, with the notion that wealth was created for them, this will probably result in laziness and nonchalance evident in their overt behavior (my uncle is this, or my family has that, while they have nothing for themselves). Finally the instructors and administrators of desert symbolizes the teachers, lectures and the Nigerian government respectively.

The Agitation -By Jombo Odilichukwu

The poetess in this poem of four stanzas writes on the political situation of the southern part of Nigeria from the time before its annexation to the present day agitation. The first stanza shows how the southerners, the Igbo’s precisely were without any form of centralization, except for the gerontocracy, which accords the eldest man in every family and clan the leadership mantle and respect, every man for himself, fending for his family and also the community (treasury of full sacks), until the colonization (annexation by white king) of Nigeria that started with Lagos in July 1861, history has it that the colonial master had come in guise of signing treaties with African countries (without a bell ring), and the Nigerian-British case was no different, and just before they could realize that signing the treaty was signing into captivity, it was dusk. The likes of king Jaja of Opobo, Nana of Itsekiri, Oba ovorenewem of Benin tried to oppose them but were thrown into exile. Though the people were sold into slavery, “there was an illuminating”.

Illuminating symbolizes civilization. “The heart piercing wailing was not to be ignored” (barbaric act of slavery, and exploitation, so the elites stood, using civilization to their own advantage, by writing, speaking, forming coalitions and parties). In the second stanza, trumpet sound symbolizes the 1957 London delegation that initiated the quest for independence in 1959, though history has it that the Northerners were not ready at the time so the independence was adjourned to Oct. 1, 1960. The liberating sound symbolizes independence. Black turning into white symbolizes mixed culture (the Lingua franca became English, there was high quest for white collar jobs and not farming or other traditional jobs, mode of eaten and food items changed, including worship system. There was acculturation). Luke warm symbolizes lack of full knowledge of any of the cultures (we did not learn their culture fully, and we had no firm grip on our culture after the independence).

“Treasury full of sack was not recovered in the pack” means that communalism was fading, and our resources were looted. With victory of Independence, Nigeria could feel hope in the air, a dream had come through. The third Stanza tries to synthesize the events happened during colonization and the Nigerian civil war. Coronation symbolizes the amalgamation of the Northern and southern protectorate, regardless of the conflicting culture and religion. “Seed of the white king” symbolizes Nigeria. The name Nigeria consequently led to the amalgamation of the Northern and southern protectorate and the Nigeria civil war was the fruit.

The fourth stanza explains the present day Biafra agitation, from MASSOB (movement for the actualization of the sovereign state of Biafra) to the IPOB (Indigenous people of Biafra) and the “ohanaeze ndi Igbo”. “They sing awareness” awareness refers to their claim to self-determination and knowing what they demand from Nigeria, as there is marginalization in the air. But their actions show ignorance, because the three groups are at loggerheads, they do not say the same thing, yet they claim to be speaking for the same people. They need to be informed, they need sit together and unlearn in order to learn, and only unity will make their dream come true. Nigeria could be what they want it to be if this agitators can unite with their leaders and themselves and speak with one voice.

From The Intellects Desk

Indeed, the journey is so long and unending until one closes his eyes in death. But while we exist, we must survive, is that not a part of our essence? We have not come here to just leave unnoticed. A lot has been expressed and explained already, if the old cactus cannot give way for the young cactus as nature demands, the young cactus must realize self-determination, grow stronger and deeper roots, sprout out and unseat the old cactus who have refused to give way for nature to take its cause. Power is not given, by anybody, it is eventually taken.

Every epoch has witnessed agitation and strive among nations, as long as man lives, there must be strive, for man is free and is everywhere in chains. Again, man is a political being whose interest is usually more egoistic than altruistic. Will splitting Nigeria to achieve Biafra really bring prosperity in the nation where three groups as shown in the poem analysis advocate differently for a people on one issue? At the same time, will marginalization, tribalism, nepotism and imperialism keep Nigeria as one? The federal government, the legislatives and the judiciary must cross examine the situation and proffer solution to the problem, a people should not be slaves in their hope nor there be preferred citizens before the law.

Our national anthem pleads freedom and justice.

Let the compatriots arise,
Let the labours of heroes past not be in vain,
Let our leaders be guided right,
Only then shall we build a nation bound in freedom and unity,
Where peace and justice shall reign.
So help us God. Amen!

November 26, 2017 22 comments

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Poems

So Long A Journey By Ezike Kenechukwu

written by The Intellects Mag

A journey that starts
From the hinter lands of the
Niger Delta that ends at the
Rich Sahara Desert as a
Reward to the individual that
Reward to the individual that
Undergoes such journey

He should have known
Having reached the Northern Parts
Of Nigeria, crossed Niger and Mal,
He should have known
Where He is headed fro
And this is a journey that takes
Six Six and four years
As the case may be
For this is the minimal year allowed

He is not trained on the way
For resource management
Like water
Since he comes from the
Deltan region
And having journey across
Other parts that have it
In abundance
Before he gets to the desert
Where it abounds less
Less in an extent of impossibilities
Why wasn’t he trained by those?
He met at the last stages
In Northern Nigeria, Niger and Mali
About the hardship of
Desert life
He does not only asks himself
This but is being bombarded

With it by those
He meets and co-exists with
At the desert
Didn’t you pass through?
All stages they ask him
Then why does life here
Seems so alien to you – if his answer being yes

He is credited with
Not learning
It was taught at all
Or taught well enough
His first phase of the last stage
Being Northern Nigeria
Should have hinted him on what
He was healed for
He is told that ideas
Rules the world
But is left with no means
Of bringing them forth
Into reality nor means
Of actualizing his potentials
He was told that an old cactus plant
Gives way for a younger one
He believes this having been told
From the first stage
That He is the future of tomorrow
The survival of the race
Yet the old cactus refuses to give way
But goes ahead
Having a firm root and striving shoots
Well developed owing to its long existence
To oppress the roots and shoots
Of the younger cactus
He is now being told that
An Oasis in the desert is the in thing
He should consider creating one
Still He is deprived of its key element water
If He succeeds

He becomes a destination for all and sundry
He becomes envy and desiring thing for everyone
Some would want to take possession
Of that this is His
Others who would want to wallow in it
Revel in what they did not create
Still it plays its service
To the inhabitants of the Desert

It is structured in a way that
If he succeeds
It shows that either his instructors
On the way were right
Having followed their instructions
Or the administrators of the Desert were right
Having paid attention to their warning
And heeded to their advice
If he fails
It is still in the same structure
That He is to be lame entirely for it
He asks Himself
Why send a child
On a journey that
He will end up all grown up
In a Desert as a reward

November 26, 2017 1,772 comments

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2017 November Edition Biafra Featured

Youths, In Nigeria Politics And Government By Jombo Odilichukwu

written by The Intellects Mag

Indeed, the game of politics has always been in vogue in all the countries of the world from time immemorial because according to Aristotle, Man is a political animal. However, it is necessary that the key words Government, Politics and Youth are elicited so that a solid foundation is laid for this topic.

Government:

Government is the means by which state policy is enforced, as well as the mechanism for determining the policy of the state. Forms of government, or forms of state governance, refers to the set of political systems and institutions that make up the organisation of a specific government and Nigeria, Democracy is practiced.

Politics

The word “politics” is derived from the Greek word polis which means city-state. Robert Dahl describes politics as an interplay of contending actors in which one actor always attempts to gain a relative advantage over the other. For the sake of the content of this work, Aristotle’s definition of politics will be used. Aristotle defined politics in his treatise on human Associations, stated that the most sovereign and inclusive association in the polis, as it is called, whose essence is the establishment of government, law-making, enforcement and eliciting obedience from the members of the society as he observed man to be by nature a political animal, and these summed his definition of politics as a city-state.

Youth

Literally, the youth refer to the young, and the Oxford advanced learners dictionary of sixth edition defines the young as having lived or existed for only a short time; not fully developed, not yet old or not as old as others. This grouped definition will be used in the content of this work. However, by age grouping the Youths are between the ages of eighteen to forty-five. I also categorise the ages of the people in the country in the periodic time of the day

Mid-night to Early morning: from a day old to age seventeen

Morning to Mid-day: from age eighteen to age forty-five (energetic and should work for what they want)

Mid-day to Evening: from age forty-five to age sixty-five (reap fruits or investment, invest more and plan retirement)

Night: from age sixty-five to whenever the person dies. (The old should have retired)

The youths belong to the second category, the mid-day.

It is no news that politics is conceived in the mind of many Nigerians as a dirty game. Aside football, the game of politics is the most cheered in Nigeria, with same old players, lots of noisy cheering spectators and very few informed spectators; among them are fewer aspiring players, who more often than not out of desperation do a few wrong things to get into the game or channel their interest to other things and some would remain as aspiring spectators out of frustration. This has actually been going on in Nigeria and as a matter of fact, has done more harm than good which is why the present-day Nigeria is in a stagnant situation where there is a high rate discovery of looted monies, yet there is high rate of inflation and recession spelt in every hook and cranny of the streets of the states in Nigeria. This negativity is also the case because the youths have been neglected; there is no much input in the political grooming of the young people and so the youths are not able to know their worth and value and their strength is misused just as their value is abused. The youths happen to be the centre of this work and if there must be liberation from this societal decadence, then youths must be shown to their place in the society and be allowed to properly play their role.

Why The Youth Should Involve In Nigeria Politics And Government

The youths need be involved in Nigeria politics and government if there must be a positive change in the society for the reasons below.

Instrumentality

Instrumentality is a jargon derivative of the word ‘instrumental’. Instrumental according to the Oxford advanced learners’ dictionary of sixth edition is defined as important in making things happen. That is to be indispensable.

Often times in Nigeria, during elections, there could be carrying of the ballot boxes, rigging of the elections, and some other punishable offences carried out by politicians who are in their evening hours of life through the young people. There could also be plans for riot, whether it be peaceful or violent and it is usually executed by the young people. The youths are lobbied by the politicians and given a token say two thousand naira each and like puppets, they aid in campaign for men who ought to have retired or be coaches in the game of politics. These events and more go on and on, and the youths are being exploited and their strength misused. Perhaps there should be a revolution by these young activists for the alienation of very active offices or power from the hands of men who have hitherto been in power since the independence of Nigeria. The point is this, these young people have been used as tools positively and negatively alike and that makes them very instrumental. And so they need to be rightly involved in politics, so that they channel their strength and energy to doing something good; thereby allowing them to call the shots, provide them with the necessary amenities they need to make choices that will enable them assume the offices they want, vote whom they want, be able to participate in government; thereby being able to speak up against what is wrong in the society. These will in turn, increase the moral value of the society, and lead to the other reasons why youths should involve in politics and government as stated below.

Again democracy is the government by the people, of the people and for the people and the youths are part of these people, not only are they part of these people they are part of the city-state and most be involved in the affairs of the city state and these essentially make them instrumental.

Responsibility Building:

Responsibility refers to the ability of being responsible for both action and inaction. Maturity has been attained when one is responsible. Now, a lot of things go wrong in Nigeria especially among the youths because they have not been groomed to shoulder responsibilities, some are still being fed milk when they ought to be cracking bones, some are not being fed at all and very few take bones. Only that few are actually able to make impact and create a difference. Take for instance, some of the people who currently serve in government and public offices in Nigeria have been there since their late twenties or mid-thirties. They learnt to shoulder responsibilities early enough and the whole politics and government still revolves around them. Example the current president, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. The likes of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Atiku and the rest of them still play lots of vital roles in the current politics and government and it is not supposed to be so. There are no genuine youth organisations as the Nigeria Youth Movement of 1937 founded by late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, owelle Onitsha who was just thirty-three years at that time, that movement worked actively like his newspaper, they were able to air their opinion and the sense of responsibility necessitated their request for what they needed even while they were under British colony; as through that medium, they were directly involved in politics. Currently, even the young people are not counsellors or local government chairman, they are not even active in political parties except ipso facto as puppets, they are neglected yet this group of young adults are the springboard of any societal institution.

It is no news that the current president of France, Emmanuel Marcon is just thirty-five years. If he was not involved in the government and politics of the country he won’t be able to shoulder such responsibility. No doubt, it is important the aged are part of the government but the government should not revolve around them, for the future of every society lies the hands of its youths. They keep saying the youths are the leaders of tomorrow and I keep wondering if when tomorrow will ever come.

Finally, when youths get involved in politics, they utilise their strength and contribute positively and the country gets to develop alongside growth. Because they will build to fight the good fight, step up their values and standards and be ready to stand for what is right against all odds, having in mind that their country values them.

Indestructable Future Of The Society

To be indestructible is to be beyond destruction. So because the youths are instrumental in the political and governmental sectors of Nigeria, they gradually become responsible and so take on themselves the pains to see that things are done right, that the necessary amenities are provided and that there is proper investment in productive areas, values and standards that will positively be modified and transferred and that way, the society becomes closely knitted and tightly knotted without disheartening loopholes and will be able stand the test of time and against terrorism or any global threat.

For instance, the nation like Ethiopia is said to be the poorest nation because it was never colonised by any foreign nation, but a careful observation show them to be a strong nation because the youths are fully involved in their activities, including their government and politics. In a nation like Brunee, the citizens do not migrate to other nations or countries because their government needs each of them.

Finally, if the youths are properly involved in politics and government, there will be Economic growth, promotion of the culture, social growth, spiritual growth, moral development and development will be in the air of hook and cranny of the country, every tribe will get what is due to them as citizens of Nigeria and there will be no need for the agitation of Biafra which has resulted in the killing of so many young people who put stake their lives for that cause.

How Can The Youths Get Involved?

The political grooming of the young people must definitely start from education, Education is derived from two Greek words, ‘Educere’ and ‘Educare’ which means ‘blank slate’ and ‘to lead out’ respectively. It is necessary to conceive the young people as part of the both categories, because, the young people are filled with possibilities and as such have potentials that could be actualized through training. And at the same time they know nothing but what experience has taught them. Education in this sense is beyond the regular schooling system. This includes training of the mind, this should practically begin with the children and teenagers and definitely the adults, the government should organise mentally equipped social entrepreneurs (political speakers, motivational tutors, political analysts) and even organise political debates for the youths, certain kind of privileges and appointments given to activities like pageantry, the voice, maltina dance floor, Gulder ultimate search, big brother Nigeria, and lots more, that thrill youths. If the government or the elites in the society are able to organize mind building and developing competitions and programs, more value will be added to the youths, who will in turn add value to the society.

This does not mean that the formal system of education is not useful, even though the present formal education system where more emphasis is placed on paper certificates than on what skill an individual has practically acquired, it is important the education system is made to fit into the system. Notwithstanding it is called western education, it is called western, because of the culture associated with it, which means that if Nigerians must also be educated, the education must conform to their culture, it must be practical, and something the students/youths are familiar with. For instance, students in Nigeria who study political science, should not just be taught what has been in the books, but be taught what happens currently in their society, just like medicine and law students, be given a political lab or practical opportunity to solve actual political problems in the society; that way, they understand what goes on in the professional political world, the political problems, and proffer solution, they should be allowed to participate in debates like presidential debates and the likes of it, and be allowed to participate in political analysis.

In addition to these, the youths can participate in politics through the following:

Political parties, Political mobilisation, Interest groups (where they exist as organisations and are able to protect the rights of their members when government programmes are in conflict. Could be easily found in pressure groups), Electoral system (they should be voted for and be accrued the respect of allowing them vote in their choice). When the youths get involved in politics and government through these elaborated and highlighted means and other measures that may have not been mentioned here, there will be a massive growth and development in Nigeria, because light has been illuminated, value has been added, a familiar and not just formal sense of belonging has been created and the youths will not be solely interested in fashion and entertainment.

Finally, it was Boris Popvic the mayor of the municipality of Koper who said that “a seal is given to a people by its city and athletes in particular spread its voice across the country’s boarders”. In this case, the youths are the athletes and need to be involved. Observe any thriving sector in Nigeria, for example fashion, luxury and entertainment, it is categorically promoted by the youths because they are highly recognised, the music/movie industries make them totally feel that they are the reason the industry is existing, every single thing on the media via music/movies and even social media is youth oriented, basically made to capture the attention of the youths, if the youths keep getting undying attention from the media and known from the society, (education, politics, church) there will be poor intellectual building, the future will be nostalgic and the stagnation in Nigeria will not cease. Let youth building not be a political propaganda, but a reality which will cause youths to strive dearly, knowing that in the end, there is certainly gain from the ages of pain, and glory from the pages of the story.

November 16, 2017 34 comments

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2017 November Edition Featured Poems

The Reddened Stripes of Biafra By Valentine Onuoha

written by The Intellects Mag

In that soft fresh flesh
There we saw beauty once golden;
The sweet gesture the sky fetch,
Softness and greenness interwoven;
Though we could not tell how far
On seeing the wounded stripes of Biafra.

Our walls knew our names,
Feet with a counted toes;
There our chariots foot the lames;
The creed even an infant knows.
Now, the hunter’s now a murderer
For the wounded stripes of Biafra.

The River bird perceived our stink;
The frogs and mice the cause.
The walls are fallen I think
And humming birds our recourse!-
She too can’t return any longer
To the wounded stripes of Biafra.

And so the stripes are lying there,
Deserted under the scorching sun;
Though the reddened sores I stare
I cannot stop but wonder and yawn
And while the valley grow to hill
And So shall live the Biafra’s will.

November 16, 2017 25 comments

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2017 November Edition Featured

The Intellects’ Desk By Jombo Odilichukwu

written by The Intellects Mag

The major theme of this edition is “BIAFRA AGITATION AND POLITICS IN NIGERIA”.

In the articles and poems featured in this maiden magazine, young minds have taken the opportunity and platform to from their perspective share their thought on the afore-mentioned theme. The problems highlighted here are no different from the problem Chinua Achebe highlighted in his book “The Trouble with Nigeria”; which is as he said “the trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership”. This particular corner is not aimed at out speaking other featured articles, but to synthesise the ideas highlighted in the featured articles and proffer solution which is our vision. Albeit, the result of “failure of leadership” in Nigeria is boldly seen in every corner, and sector of Nigeria including politics.

Poor leadership has led to the occurrence of the following in Nigeria:

Nepotism
Tribalism
Inequality
Poor politics
Imperialism
Economic stagnancy
Cultural stagnancy
Societal stagnancy
Educational dwarf
Biafra agitation

All these make up a nation who has legs, cannot walk and is at the same time not cripple, but is myopic and suffers from blindness. Unfortunately these nuggets will not be explained for their meaning can only be found in the reading through the articles and poems featured in this magazine.

Yes, there is conflict of culture, language, religion and even interest among the tribes in Nigeria, but there is an existing unity in these diversities which can be reconciled if attention is payed. Perhaps, the inability to identify and establish this unity is the reason Emefiena Ezeani titled his work “In Biafra Africa Died” though different readers will interpret it in the different ways but the writer had a message of hope to pass to the southerners, Nigerians, Africa and the world at large. A lot have died already for Biafra and a lot more may still die, but like the immediate ex-Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan said, “No man’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian” and not only for Nigeria, but for Biafra as well. The strife has gone on just as Chinua Achebe predicted in “A Man of the People”. Problems are created by man and can be solved by man. Already problems have been identified and new problems will be identified but if there must be change, then there must be a revolution and an alienation of power.

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, but there must be an active decision among the leaders (the tiers of government) to in all sincerity serve and protect the country Nigeria and her citizens even far above themselves.

The 2014 national confab and Niger delta should be implemented. Every Nigerian including the Biafra agitators who has progress at heart must have knowledge of the 2014 national confab, for its resolution hold the key to the country we dream of (everyone wants to be successful in Nigeria). Some of its resolutions include the following:

Devolution of powers and federating units, which will lead to the establishment of only two tiers of govt. (the federal and the states
Fiscal federalism and revenue sharing
States and multiple policing system
Restructuring Nigeria through the creation of new states (this way, power is decentralized, every single tribe is genuinely represented)
Churches to pay tax and government to stop financing pilgrimage or mecca

The implication of the confab will be dissected in details in the edition that will treat the Economic growth of Nigeria. Good a thing we live a technology ruling age where we are a click away from anything we want to know. The implementation of these policies will lead to even distribution of the nation’s resources within the citizens, communities, tribes and states of the country. Construction of new states and the practice of federalism with only two tiers of government will put a quick end to the cankerworm of imperialism, which has eaten deep in our country. Lenin in his work “Imperialism, the highest form of capitalism” explained how imperialism, a bad form of colonization destroys a nation and renders it stagnant and in the hands of a few. Again, the teaching that there are three major ethnic groups will be put to halt, it promotes tribalism and does not show unity. Every tribe is as important as the other, every tribe and state should be equipped for economic production through the resources they have. The creation of new states will automatically lead to the creation of more geo-political zones.

In addition, election is contested among political parties, the legislative body should consider the rotation of presidential elections among geo-political zone or among northern and southern protectorate, that way, the candidates for election will emerge from particular geo-political zones, say three political zones, that way ethnicity will be controlled and maybe even conquered.

However, if the CONFAB cannot be implemented by the current government then perhaps, there should be secession especially for states that cannot live in harmony and peace due to corruption, marginalization and Imperialism existing in Nigeria, no citizen is a slave and so should not be treated as one.

Consequently, any government that cannot do any of these, and does not have any other alternative or way out of this menace, does not have the interest of the citizens at heart, and is not being guided by the oath of office and deserves to resign otherwise be impeached. Checks and balances as this are why we have senators and law makers, and not being ambassadors of poverty or being violent and making the country a mockery to world.

Finally, we believe these to be solutions to Biafra agitation and the problem of politics in Nigeria. This topic is still open for research and maybe updated after subsequent research, for our aim is to solve problems and we will not stop until problems are solved. Evil prevails because the good people are quiet and refuse to take responsibility, because vacuum does not exist in nature the privation of good will eventually lead to evil. No nation has ever been great without a revolution and that revolution starts with us taking the bull by the horn and being sincere enough to deal with the challenges we are facing.

Only by that can we create a nation where peace, and justice shall reign.

November 16, 2017 0 comment

The Agitation By Jombo Odilichukwu " data-src="https://theintellectsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IMG_20171118_080726_edit.png">

2017 November Edition Featured Poems

The Agitation By Jombo Odilichukwu

written by The Intellects Mag

Proud were they to be blacks
All man was for himself a king
Getting needs at a ding
Until the annexation by a white king
Which came without a bell ring

Dwelling in captivating sting
They endured through the string
Until all they did was to sting
Sting for the survival of black
Even among the white rings

There was illuminating
The heart piercing wailing
Was not to be ignored
Suddenly the trumpet sounded
The sound was liberating

But black had turned white
Not cold nor hurt
Luke warm was the white and black
From the liberating sound
To the promising land
The land of hope

Though in the midst of coronation
Coronation of captivation
Captivation in the land
The land of hope

Tongue, worship and culture was conflicting
From the liberating sound
To self-captivation
Liberation has always been the cry
From what exactly
From self or from land

They sing awareness
But the action shows ignorance
They must be equipped with knowledge
Hold firm their spirit
Play the minds game
And nature will rise at their sling
As they arise for the conquest.

November 16, 2017 15 comments

Inequality Meditations On The Nigerian Economic Life . By Kennedy Asuru" data-src="https://theintellectsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/images-1.jpg">

2017 November Edition Biafra Featured

Inequality Meditations On The Nigerian Economic Life . By Kennedy Asuru

written by The Intellects Mag

Background

There is no light, there is no fuel, there is no water. Workers are on strike because states can’t afford to pay them. So, the workers pretend to work and their governors pretend to pay them. The governors are exasperated. The leaders are bewildered. The people are frustrated. How did we get here? How did we, children of a rich father, descendants of wealthy ancestors end up begging by the road side? How did we, who once rode on thoroughbred horses, become shoeless? We took a wrong turn in the road and we have refused to retrace our steps. Our land is still flowing with milk and honey but we are used to the ones we import from Malaysia and Lebanon. We are still strong men and women, but we deploy our energies in the wrong direction. We want to plant onions and harvest cocoa. We are in trouble….more trouble than we had in 2015. We are steadily moving down the slope. And the worse part of it is that nobody is willing to accept that he is wrong. Everybody is blaming everybody and everything But we – you and I – and the people we voted for, are wrong. We missed the right turn in the road together. That is why we are suffering together: Corporate iniquity, corporate punishment (Funke Egbemode, Sunday Sun, March 13, 2016, Once Upon a Prosperous Nation).

The above excerpt reveals the reality of an economic crisis in the Nigerian state, which has left a major fracture in her very structure. A major contributor to the magnitude of this fracture, is the inexpediency of the present political system. As Economists would affirm, Political expediency will always override economic proficiency. This assertion reveals in a subtle manner, the overwhelming importance of politics in the economic life of any country. One mistake we tend to make all the time is to think that an average politician has the good of the society at heart as a top priority. This is mere wishful thinking; and a pitiful one at that. The reality which we should factor into our consciousness is that, AN AVERAGE POLITICIAN THINKS MORE OF WINNING THE NEXT ELECTION, THAN HE DOES OF SALVAGING THE ECONOMIC LIFE OF THE PEOPLE. #Fact. An average politician would only employ good deeds and diligence as a tool for gaining the endorsement of the people in order to win the next election.

Well, that’s another story.

In this work, we shall identify and explore one, among the myriads of problems that challenge the development of Nigeria. Among others that prevail, one problem we identify here is Inequality.

What Inequality Is

The basic understanding of the concept “inequality” is a sort of imbalance or inequilibrium in a system. The Merriam-Websters Dictionary defines inequality as “an unfair situation in which people have more rights and better opportunities than other people”. The Longman Dictionary of Sociology defines it as “an unfair situation in which some groups in society have more money, opportunities, power, etc than others”.

From an economic perspective, inequality is the difference found in various measures of economic well-being among individuals in a group, among groups in a population, or among countries. Economic inequality is sometimes called Income inequality, Wealth inequality, or the Wealth gap.

Social inequality occurs when the resources in a given society are distributed unevenly, typically through norms of allocation that engender specific patterns along lines of socially defined category of persons.

The Problem Of Global Inequality

Economists and social analysts have observed, with no small level of certitude, that the major cause of social violence and consequently, underdevelopment in the world nay Nigeria, is that hydra-headed monster called, Inequality. To make this point clearer, consider the following statistics which was given by Hyacinth Ementa Ichoku (Professor of Economics, University of Nsuka, Nigeria):

71% of the world population lives on only 3% of global resources
7% of the world population control more than 45% of global resources
The richest 620 people in the world own more wealth than the least 4 billion people in the world put together
75% of the world population has more wealth than 77% of the world population put together
Since 1995 all the economic growth recorded has never directly touched the poorest 0.5%

And these estimations are climbing annually.

This information provided above reveals the huge chasm between the rich and poor, the successful and the surviving in the world today. How can so much own so few, and yet there exists so few elsewhere, who own so much? How can there be so few controlling so much wealth, and yet so many languish in abject poverty, go to bed hungry daily, and even die of hunger? This is the greatest economic injustice of all, and when left unaddressed, leads to the greatest social violence in the world all over.

The Problem Of International Inequality

Of course because the information provided above does not speak to the average Nigerian personally, there lingers the tendency of discarding it as random speculation and matters not of our concern. But before such step, here’s one for you; one that’s hit you in the guts and urge you to advocate, even more strongly for a revolutionary change. The following information was also given by Professor Hyacinth Ementa Ichoku:

An average Australian earns about $60,000 annually
An average Nigerian earns about $20,000 annually
The life expectancy of average Japanese is 85 years
The life expectancy of average Nigerian is 52 years

The Problem Of National / Inter-Regional Inequality

As Adam Smith puts it, wherever there is great property, there is great inequality. This especially explains the Nigerian problem of inequality. Without being unnecessarily verbose, the statistics below would suffice:

15,000 Nigerians, who earn $1 million annually, have a total of ₦30 Trillion as their salary annually. This is more than 5 times the total Budget of Nigeria for the year (2016). Also note that this is the highest budget Nigeria has ever come up with.
40% of the children in Katsina State suffer from malnutrition
School enrolment in Imo State is about 90%
School enrolment in Yobe State is only about 10%
Yobe state features the ratio of 1 doctor to 123,000 patients, and 1 nurse to 75,000 patients
Enugu state alone has more medical doctors than the whole of the north west combined!

Now, although these statistics are not exhaustive, they help to reveal that inequality in Nigeria and in the world at large is a reality that has been given very little consideration in the past, but yet is one of the root causes of economic inequilibrium and social disorder in the Nigeria. In fact, as Hyacinth Ichoku puts it, “Such inequality is the recipe for disaster and rebellion, since it somehow creates a culture of envy and rivalry”.

Many Nigerians are quite aware of the fact that something is wrong somewhere with the Nigerian economy. But the problem is most people cannot say what this is exactly, they seem to be oblivious of what magnitude of harm has been done, nor can they say for sure what must be done to address the problem. Well, so far, we have been able to identify the first two.

Reconcillatory Remarks

What then must we do?

Sincerely, I do not have the answer to that. If I did, I would have taken the next flight to Abuja, to share with the President over dinner.

But this is what I have: information. Knowledge. Knowledge, which is power; emancipative power. The ignorance of the magnitude of our problem has made us largely complacent thus far. The truth is; this is no time for complacence; this is a bad time to be calm. Like one who has a cancer without even knowing it, Nigeria seems to be dying slowly, but steadily. There’s a problem with Nigeria, and we need to address it, and quickly. This problem is the stark reality and prevalence of inequality in the system. We’ve identified the cancer, what is left now is to find a cure. Are you willing to throw the first stone in order to get this done?

November 16, 2017 50 comments

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