THE LOST GLORY OF STUDENT UNIONISM IN BUK

The experience of the universities has shown that when the climate is ripe, and the susceptibility to radicalization is married to a heightened sense of social injustice, educational institutions can indeed become factories for the production of idealistic Social Reformers and even highly committed Revolutionaries. For about five solid years in BUK am into Struggle, Agitating the Yearning and Expressions of the entire Bukites.

 

Last year academic session (2010/2011), I run the office of Public Relation Officer but God on to his mercy did not give me, (Pls. read ‘Campus politics is not yet over’ in this Diary). I might one of my Sufi brother he told me and I quote ‘in this mundane affairs whatever I love and don’t get it, am not a looser and I past the level of that thing, because as a Muslim who believe in Islamic monotheisms and have health, just have to thank God” this assentation motivate me to re-contest for President next coming year. In the short run after we resume to another fresh session, I was told that, the current SUG Speaker than, will be running the office of the President, then I now go back to my drawing board and calculate the scenario, for him as Speaker and Deputy Amir of the Muslim Ummah at the same time, definitely he would have a massive support and vote.

Therefore I re-planned my aspiration to run for Sec-Gen. as time goes on, I participated fully in the government, when the called for any Protest, will be in the front role and whenever there is any NANS convention in any state, will followed.  I meet with the Speaker informed him about my aspiration and he told me that, it is a welcomed Development and that should keep on doing my mobilization underground before the would lift the ban for campaign. Have been doing so, meeting President of various Associations and Clubs seeking for their support and advices.

Few days to Dissolution of Exco’s and formation of BUKIECO. I learned that almost five Students from Jos would aspire for Sec-Gen. I meet with the SUG Speaker, he told me that, he would like to give me an advice and that he is the only one that can told me that advice in this school and I quote ‘sadiq sec-gen is highly demanded and competitive, I do not want you to loose is better for you to run for departmental senator so that, you be carry alone in the government’ which I think over it and discussed with my friends. Finally told him, that people see well in me and that is why they said I should aspire for Sec-Gen, therefore I will stand my position no going back. He openly told me that, if that is the case, we cannot be in the same team because I have my own sec-gen.

The President of  JOSCOF called a meeting with all the aspirant of each office and including those that are running same office in other to sort things out, as part of the tradition even in Jos real politics, the council of  ‘Ulamah” sit down and select one, that would be voted for, so we started the negotiations with other three aspirant seeking for Sec-Gen. two withdraw. I and one guy stands, then the share paper on which he got 14 votes and I get 6 votes. Therefore, the mandated me to step down for him, I said to them ‘let the bukites decide’ because to me the election is not free and fair, the other guy when together with his friends and even the President is backing him.

Shed tears and cry! Called my Dad on phone informed him about the event, he council and console me, because I know that very guy that we would be running same position. He is my senior in secondary school, a friend than and I know his habit, indeed because of such unscrupulous attitude which he has, make us not friends again for almost 10 years ago. Last SUG election, he is among the student that stands against me on which a class mate of mine became victorious and this year he came out to seek for the same office that have been dreaming and hoping for almost a year.

I called a mini meeting with my friends on how to actualized my goals, friends suggest that since am not in Speaker Structure, than why not, I should join the Deteacher Structure to ease things, I reason with then, because there is one President of one Club IN BUK OLDSITE  have been visiting him for almost a year but when election come’s he told me that, he only have one interest and that sec-gen to him is blank until what  Deteacher brought to them, therefore  Deteacher adopt me as his Sec-Gen.

On election day, BUKIECO refused to bring Election Materials till 2pm, then our team when to the Security Office and agitate over, that the Ballot Paper should be brought out, counted and burn into ashes because half of the ballot paper is been brought by Okada man without any Security Escort. The three presidential aspirants have a meeting with the Dean and CTC, therefore the agreed that election should take place the next day, when Deteacher informed his Campaign Director that election is tomorrow, he said, ‘ who is going to work for you tomorrow’.

The three president aspirants have a meeting overnight, excluding the Speaker and finally conclude to withdraw from the election; I alone with few friends mobilize our self as Agents for the race! To be obvious the Overpower me, the other Sec-Gen has all Support from all angles and God give him Sec-Gen. what baffles me is three idiot from my own department that openly campaign against me! In politics, learn to have enemies, if do not have any. Diary would remember Babee 10k for my Poster, cmr.shamma 3k for banner and salis 2k for the form. I spent off to 30k, stress and stigma that keep on following in my vein. Thanks to all friends especially Marriam, Zainab, Uncle Ido,Wakili, Abbas, Honorable, Bara’u, Aliyu, Abdullahi  and Almakura,  to name but few.

Student unionism as a social movement which should seek deliberate and radical changes in society. The Nigerian student movement in any university needs a social and political climate which allows opposition and criticism and which is not repressive. Such a climate should not be hostile to it. But allow it, the freedom to organize and to propagate its ideals among its followers. And ultimately to bargain in the political arena. Under such a free atmosphere students will be able to join other social groups in the formation of public opinion by providing ground for discussion of the social and political problems that plague the country in the search towards nationhood. In the process. There will be constructive criticism of the government's activities. For me…….Campus Politics is now over! But Real Politics continue by will of God and victory is our prayer, hope and dream.

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GENEVA 2012

My speech as World Bank observer in the WTO MOCK SUMMIT B.U.K. it was superb.......kudus to the organizing comitte and our father M M YUSIF. Diary would remember you in future!

I am grateful that today presents yet another opportunity to interact with fellow observers and distinguish delegate across the globe on multilateral trading systems. I am convinced that regular dialogue with parliamentarians strengthens the democratic foundation of the WTO. World Bank has a long history of friendship with WTO.

There are huge differences between WTO members in terms of resource capacity constraints, national trade policy and investment priorities. These affect the ability and willingness to incur the costs associated with implementation on agreement reach on Round of negotiations, as well as the net benefits of doing so. A major constraint impeding progress in the Doha round is how to deal with demands by many developing country WTO members for strengthened and more effective “special and differential treatment” (SDT).

 

 Traditionally, developing countries have sought ‘differential and more favorable treatment’ in the GATT/WTO with a view to increasing the development relevance of the trading system.

 

The premise behind SDT is couched in the belief that trade liberalization under most favored nation (MFN) patronage does not necessarily help achieve growth and development insofar as industries in developing countries need to be protected from foreign competition for a period of time. This infant industry (import substitution) rationale is reflected in greater flexibility and “policy space” for developing country trade policies, as well as the call for preferential access to rich country markets.

 

However, SDT goes beyond market access and limited reciprocity—it also spans the cost of implementation of agreements. Hence the need for SDT to be recast if the WTO is to become more effective in helping poor countries use trade for development. There is a basic choice to be made between the pursuit of universal rules that in principle apply to all members, and that will by necessity require SDT-type provisions to account for country differences, and a move to a two- or multi-track trading system. Below are World Bank recommendations:

 

v Acceptance of the core rules by all WTO members: MFN, national treatment, the ban on quotas, and binding of maximum tariffs, as well as engagement in the market access dimension of WTO negotiating rounds.

 

v Greater reliance on explicit cost-benefit analysis to identify net implementation benefits for countries and the magnitude of negative (pecuniary) spillovers created by development-motivated policies on other countries.

 

 

v Movement towards the adoption of mechanisms that strengthen the consultative and “pre-panel” dimensions of WTO dispute settlement by mandating a focus not just on the legality of a policy instrument but consideration of the rationale and impact of policies used by developing countries that may be inconsistent with WTO disciplines, with the aim of assisting governments to attain their objectives in an efficient way;

 

v A credible commitment to establish a global funding mechanism to provide their sources to address adjustment costs, including those resulting from an erosion of trade preferences, and enhancing supply capacity, in recognition of the need to transfer some of the gains from trade from winners to losers.

 

Thanks for giving me your ears. Wishing delegate and fellow observers a merciful trip back to their respective destinations.   

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NIGERIA; A PAPER NATION

 

Some days back I was watching the London version of who wants to be a millionaire when the man on the hot sit was asked; what name do we call someone or something that appears to be strong but in real sense is weak? The man on the hot sit did not waste his time to choose option  (D) paper tiger, while other options were A paper lion, B paper leopard and C paper cheetah.

Suddenly, I place Nigeria in this position after a long thought: Nigeria is believed to have the highest population in Africa with an estimate of over 106 million people; secondly, Nigeria has the strongest force militarily in Africa with the most sophisticated technological facilities. Thirdly, Nigeria is the only country in Africa that lunched a satellite in the orbit. Fourthly, it is the fastest growing economy in Africa and the third in the world according to a recent statistics.

But on the other hand, so many questions could be driven from this development which may view the position of the country in a rather negative way. For instance, why are the citizens of this great country impoverished? Why are they not reaping the dividends of democracy which was promised to them by their candidates i.e. the ‘pollu-ticians’? Why is the supposed fresh air polluted by the daily roast of human flesh in bomb attacks and gun fights between gun men and security, on the one hand, innocent people and security and gun men and innocent people; especially in the northern part of the country?

Why are these innocent people who know nothing but strive to live on less than a dollar per day killed and the only thing the authorities say is “we are investigating,” “the culprit will be brought to book.” These innocent people have never killed a rat not to talk of other higher animals. These innocent people are those who wake up daily without bread on their table.

Why are the real thieves moving freely after stealing billions of naira and the small thieves roast in the prison for stealing money less than five thousand naira. This is one of the reasons why people are now taking actions into their hands.

While the government and its agencies are busy spending money on what will not and has never benefitted the masses, the politicians are busy counting days either to get political appointment or to contest election. The security agencies on the other hand are busy killing innocent people, thereby reducing the God given wealth of population of the country, especially in the north.

The north now is an abattoir; no day will come without a report of the killing of not less than five people or even more. I was reading a newspaper, and then I lay my hand on a police report who are begging the police force not to post them to the north, in their words “we don’t want to die.”

Nigeria is a blessed country and the people there are also good people. The only way to achieve the Nigerian dream is for the people to wake up from their slumber and unit to fight the war against tyranny, against, this injustice, against the killing of innocent souls and against all societal-vices. God bless Nigeria, amin.

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WHY HUMAN LIFE IS IMPORTANT

 

 

“I am strongly pro-life, and have fought to protect the rights of the unborn my entire career. I will continue to fight for this cause because I value the sanctity of all human life.”  Rob Bishop

 

“I believe all life has value, from conception to natural death. And I believe the intentional taking of human life, except to save lives, should be a capital offense, as it is in most states in America today.”Tom Coburn

 

Back in the years when the only blood we saw being shed was during the celebrations; Sallah, Christmas, wedding occasions, naming ceremony, Easter or other form of celebrations to make the event or period more lively. We saw how goats, cows, rams, pigs, ducks, chickens and turkeys were slaughtered and we gathered round the butchers but they pursue us away by pouring little amount of blood to stain us  without any intention to harm us.

It is never like that today, it is humans that are subjected to these killings and inhumanity. Human lives have become nothing and valueless that we count death not by one or two or three on the newspapers, radios and TVs but by tens or dozens and more every day we turn to them (the media).

I am new to the media industry but from the little knowledge I have when fresh reports of accident, bombings, murder, clashes (farmers versus herdsmen, religious, ethnic), building collapse, gun men and security etc reach the news desk. The first question the news editor asks is how many lives are lost?

Just as Steve Nwosu wrote on the back page of daily sun newspaper. “Don’t be surprise if the news editor dismisses the report on the ground that ‘only three people died’, meaning the story is not significant. Yes even though we are talking about human life.”

Religiously, human life does not deserve worthlessness and humiliation of all kind, but we wake up every day to be told that Mr. A kills Mr. B or Mr. C rapes Ms D. human life requires respect, honor, dignity, caring and pity for the weak who as humans cannot meet up with the challenges of confronting life itself so that they could be equal to other creatures and humans alike.

 

Allah (S.W.T.) says in surat Al-Isra’, (Verse 70); "We have honored the children of Adam and carried them on earth and in the sea and provided to them the good sustenance. And we made them better than many of what we created."

Also, the Bible tells us in (genesis 2:7) that; “And the lord formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

 This is to incite men to control what is around them from other creatures, without having to humiliate themselves to anything and without fear. This way, pride and honor are built within men, and their feeling of being grateful to God.

Another importance of human life stem from the fact that man has the ability to distinguish between good and evil, but it is a pity today that man has taken himself to the extreme side of evil without thinking of the consequences of his act. In his pursuit to living, men want to be identified as the highest in rank or position in the society. This led them to deviating from the good to bad.

 Lastly, man is responsible and accountable and he will get the reward of his action and deeds. The prophet Muhammad (SAw) said in an authentic hadith reported by Imam At-Tirmithi, “The servant of Allah will be asked about four things on the Day of Judgment: about his life and what he did with it? And about his knowledge and what he did with it? And about his money where he got it from and where he spent it? And about his body how he used it."

 Enjoy life.

 

 

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LOVE LESSON

It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is more painful is to love someone and never find courage to let that person know how you feel. May be god wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right ones, but when you we finally the right, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

Love is when you take away the feeling; the passion and the romance in a relationship and find out you still care for the person. A sad thing in life is when you meet someone who means a lot to you only to find out that in the end it was never meant to be and you just have to let go.

When the door of happiness closes, another opens but often times you looked so long to the closed but we don’t see the one which has been open for us. The best kind of friend is the kind you can just be with never say a word and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had.

It is true that we don’t know what we got until we lose it, but it is also true that we don’t know what we have been missing until it arrives. Giving someone all you have is never an assurance that they love you back. Don’t expect love in return. Just wait for it to grow in their heart, but if it doesn’t  be contend it grew in yours.

There are things you would love to hear that you would never hear from the person you would like to hear them from. But don’t be so deaf as not to hear it from the one who says it from their heart.  Never say goodbye if you still want to try, never give up if you still feel you can go on. Never say you don’t love a person anymore, if you can’t let go. Love comes to those who still hope.

Although, they have been disappointed, to those who still believe although they have been betrayed, to those who still needs to love although they have been hurt before and to those who have the courage and faith to build trust again. It takes a minute to get a crash from someone, an hour to like someone and a day to love someone, but it takes a life time to forget someone.

Don’t go for looks as it can deceive, don’t go for wealth even that fades away, go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make dark days bright. I hope you find that someone that will make you smile

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