EQUALITY IN EDUCATION; THE MYTHS AND IDEALS ( III)

 GINA WEEKEND COLUMN,
By: Habibu Gente
Date: Saturday  , 21, October ,   2017
 
Previously, we have seen from the argument I tried to elucidate the misperceived concept of "equality", how it was used in our educational system to mean a different thing entirely. And how the concept was interchangeably used with "justice" and entirely given the meaning of justice to equality. This week, we will see the second task of this paper. I will argue that although our constitution contemplates the guarantee  of social justice, equality of economic and cultural and free and compulsory education to all citizens of Nigeria. But, those sacred provisions are themselves inequality embedded. Chapter two of CFRN that spelled out the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy provide in section 18 (3) free and compulsory education to all. (The argument whether it justiciable  or not, is a topic of another time)the purpose here is to argue whether the said "free, compulsory,university and universal primary educational or free adult literacy programme" has been realise, maintained  and enjoyed by all and sundry or was it just a mere illusory, scratch written in a white paper to deceive the people?.
     Anytime mention is made of equal educational opportunities, many minds rushed to think that as citizens of a country everyone has same rights and  privileges as regard to the education. Ideally that's what the Constitution dictate, but in practice it meant something different entirely. In Nigeria, for example, everyone including; the politicians, public servants and even activists cries for equal opportunities of education as something we achieved as a nation. If you ask them, did we enjoy free education? They will answer in affirmative. Simply because we are not paying tuition fees. But the question is does only not paying of tuition fees means compulsory and equal opportunities of education?, meanwhile how can we reconcile the outstanding balance of private own schools with that of poorly maintained government run schools. Thus the well-off parents take their children to the former while the underprivileged children were left behind to rot together with the already rotten public schools. We shout of free education while the only door to access of education that poor and underprivileged children have in their disposal are the  ill-equipped public schools that were abandoned by the government.  How on earth could we speak of equal opportunities to education while the dichotomy between private and public schools is increasing every year.  And the ticket to good and quality education is money and riches privilege and not right and opportunity to everyone regardless of poor or rich. How can we accommodate the increasing growth of disparity  of the poor-child poor educational background with rich-child quality education?. So long as these walls of disparities standstill between the rich and poor, which reflects on our educational sectors then, the provisions of section 18 still remain ideal and the objectives of the whole chapter two particularly the ideal of social justice is a blatant failure,and rendered the effort of our constitutional drafters a futile one.
RECOMMENDATIONS; For our education to achieve its purpose of equality as stated in section 18 CFRN, government need  to improve the conditions of our public schools. So as to render private own schools as a celebration of richness. As children will not be rushed there because of quality education. Because our public schools can serve that purpose.

THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE "CHANGE BEGIN WITH ME"

GINA WEEKEND COLUMN,
By: Habibu Gente
Date: Saturday  , 14, October ,   2017
The  Buhari-led administration came into power with a confusioned  mantra of "change". Of course, many Nigerians(myself imclusive) subscribe to their political network of transformational agenda. Nigerians believed in them so quick because of the following reasons even though we know that politicians hardly stand by their words; (1. Many people are tired of Goodluck Johnathan administration that was characterised with obvious misgovernance, corruption of public officers glaring every now and then in media. (2. The administration nonchalant attitude in handling the insurgency in the North East Nigeria that was so pervasive to threatening the  whole country peace. (3. Buhari history of hard work,level of  integrity when serving in the public office earned him the public confidence. Thus people especially the poor everyday Nigerians believed he can effect a change when given the opportunity to serve in larger political arena of Nigeria as the president. These and other little reasons, were of course responsible for APC success in the 2015 general election. That said,  when the administration celebrate their one hundred days in office, on mentioning the success of the government, one of  the major area where they recorded success was on security. (The psychological victory  on war against Bokoharam ). After two years in  the office, nothing tangible could be recorded as the success of their administration;  economy was stagnant, recession, the hunger and starvation that characterised the poor Nigerians illustrates this claim. The war on Corruption was in total failure and the favoritism, partisan nature of fighting the so called "war on corruption" illustrates the failure of the core campaign promises  this administration propagated. Not sooner than Nigerians began to question most of the actions, deeds of this administration than the prominent propagandist and the lie promoter of this administration came up with a alternative to shut down the cries of the poor, silenced who voted them and reduced thier grieves into fizzle, when the information Minister Lai Muhammad lunch a "change begin with me" programme to cover the misdeeds, failure and misgovernance of this administration. I often do not support most of the policy of this administration, and this one is not an exception. If the "change begin with me" was to be construed as to mean that the  electorates will rise against the impunity that characterised this administration and say no to clueless leaders no more, only if they are sincere enough to say to the poor misguided who ignorantly elected them into offices,that  "change begin with me" objectives is to educate them on being wise in choosing their leaders, to enlight them that now is the time for the them to begin to have 'conditional love' for any politician(themselves inclusive),  only if the "change begin with me" was not another political tool to tricks the poor, blind them of the obligations that their leaders have over them, their rights to blame their leaders when they fail to deliver their campaign promises. Only if the "change begin with me" was not a psychological manipulation of minds that transfered the burden of the leaders duty to making the poor thinking that leaders are not meant to be blame, criticise, hate just because they are presented as some saints, Godly send leaders where their criticism will be regarded as blasphemy.
Only if all these I mentioned was not the intend of the "change begin with me", but sad enough . They are. That is why it can never serve the benefits of the poor. The way things are going with this administration,  everyday Nigerians will find it difficult if not impossible to trust. All our leaders don't come to corridors of power to avail the vulnerable people from their miserable lives which  deprived them from enjoying

CONCEPT OF PATRIOTISM; THE MYTHS AND DECEPTIONS

GINA WEEKEND COLUMN,
By: Habibu Gente
Date: Monday , 02, October ,   2017

Sorry for the late post. This article is longer than usual,but it worth your read.
Happy independence day Nigerians
 The ideology of "patriotism", how usefully it served as a valuable tool for the politicians to achieve their purpose of domination----- win the heart of their electorates. Patriotism is an attachment to a homeland . This attachment can be viewed in terms of different features relating to one's own homeland, including ethnic, cultural, political or historical aspects. It encompasses a set of concepts closely related to those of nationalism.An excess of patriotism in the defense of a nation is called chauvinism ; another related term is jingoism .
This concept has been used often by world governments, leaders in modern democracy to invest a false love in the hearts of their followers. So they fall in love with their countries unconsciously. And without a alternative door to dissolute the love attachment, any attempt to get divorce would be an act of unpatriotic which could, either be a treasonable felony or treason to the country depend on various countries' law regarding the offence. But what  is certain in every countries' legal systems is, the act is treated as a crime. Thus all the legal systems in the world ( especially those modern countries practicing capitalism, liberal democracy) frowned at the act and the victims of it,  do not receive any fairness when facing trials in the court of law. It means that the alleged victim of such a crime, usually have narrow or none option for bail, conditional bail, or even pardon. Brought to mind was the recent victim of the act in Nigeria ----- the former National Security Adviser to former president Goodluck Johnathan-- Col Dasuki who was alleged to have converted the suppose billions of dollars to buy Arms to combat Bokoharam menace in the North East Nigeria into his own pocket, he is currently rotting in jail for some time. Many human rights activist lawyers and none lawyers alike, were put in the state of confusion as to why he was thrown in jail despite numerous cries on his behalf to grant him bail. Although he was charged with offences bordering on corruption, the federal government has left no one in doubt that his trial is political. All the offences against him are bailable. After pleading not guilty, he was accordingly granted bails by three different high courts and the ECOWAS Community Court but the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has refused to obey the court orders. Even the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu who was charged with treasonable felony, an offence That is not ordinarily bailable was allowed to go on bail. No bewilderment , Dasuki's offence  was measured in loyalty point view and the law has compelled the society to see such actions through the lens of concept of patriotism. But where the Federal government attitude appeared vague, was why Nnamdi Kanu's offence wasn't view through the same lens as Dasuki's. The legality or otherwise of the two binary cases, I will reserve that to my senior learned colleagues to deliberate.
In most modern countries  today, the concept of patriotism is used to force many soldiers into a battle field to fight with their lives. Some die, sustained injuries that often lead to disability, or became paralysed and yet the family that lost their beloved husband, child, brother or father were only asked to be proud and not to grieve over their lost. Because their deceased at least did not die in vain, as he they die as heroes. Funny enough,  the only compensation for their lost would be some tiny velvet or statue of them erected with a sign of patriotism. Such velvets or erected statue would be in a public areas for the families to see, and to them it would be some consolation the aggrieved families would be compensated with.

UNITED NIGERIA :MY DREAM COUNTRY

         GINA WEEKEND COLUMN,
BY:
HABIBU GENTE
DATE:  Sunday, 23, September  , 2017
             
I wrote this few months ago. But with the rising tension threatening our nation unity, I felt the need to repost this article with the hope it will soften the broken hearts of Nigerians. Enough! .
Before I could able to deal with my conflicting ideas which for long fought a duel in my mind, in the course, two vital questions continuously percolating in my brain, inter alia;  I used asked myself.
1. Is Nigeria a nation where even an infant child born in a era of brightness in which the light of a new dawn of suppose progressive and united country dominated the darkness of past war and disunity. And yet he grew up in despondency and hopelessness , and still believe the future is bleak filled with uncertainties?.
2. Or is Nigeria a nation where an unfortunate child was born in an epitome of divided nation, and bottom of escalation of war in the most horrifying and tragic of never-ending conflicts and thirst for vengeance which threaten the foundation of newly-born country and fells the four walls of the nation. And yet believe that one day, there will come a time when all our differences will be burned down and the grievances wipe out and we will sit in the same roof to discuss a platform that will move the nation forward as one indivisible and indissoluble nation. A time when job opportunities and equal rights on education and in political participation will be purely based on merits and embodiments’ of justice and trust.
But it wasn't long to eliminate these thoughts when I read about the revolutionary journey of Muhammad El-Gaddafi to Africa in pursuant of his dreams united Africa. And a book written by a Nigerian retired Military officer by the name Sam Momoh.  "NIGERIA BEYOND DIVORCE".
                  Of course,  like the late Libya President Gaddafi's dream of United Africa. I have inchoate ideal of united Nigeria one day in our history. Gaddafi's dreams of uniting the whole African countries, economically, socially, politically and ideologically was a fruitless struggle. Not because Africa was too big to unite nor was it economically weak,  but Gaddafi wasn't able to actualize his dreams because of the incompatibility of different ideologies that operate in different countries of Africa continent.  Gaddafi couldn't have make it through because of his adherence to socialism that antagonize the capitalism which has been for decades weaving in most of the powerful Africa countries. Though the speculative misinterpretation of his speeches and talks that were construed as to he wanted to islamize Africa. That too,  contributed to the failure of  realizing his dreams united Africa. Unlike Gaddafi, I'm not a socialist nor did I subscribed to all the theories of capitalism. I'm a moderate who stand in between the two ideologies. I believe that both can be apply moderately to produce a positive change in the situation of a country and its people. Like Gaddafi I believe that one day we will be free from the chains of imperialism and do away with the influence of neocolonialism in our political views and scope. I have a dream in Nigeria that one day all our differences will be solved and we will have mutual understanding and decent respect for one another. My dream united Nigeria where all these constant hatred of one ethnic group against the other will be wiped out from our hearts, the ingrained lack of trust between ourselves will be no more and we will sit in a single  room knowing that we are dinning and discussing with our brothers, and the ideological views we held with high esteem will be respected and protected.  No more barrier between religion,  tribal or ethnic groups. No more bokoharam, kidnapping, sexual exploitation, child trafficking, abduction,  niger Delta avengers, IPOB,  Massob or eviction notice to ibos. My dream Nigeria where there will be no virus of corruption of politicians

DEVASTATING BRIDGE; BROKEN HEARTS OF THE NIGERIA PEOPLE

  GINA WEEKEND COLUMN,
By: Habibu Gente
Date: Saturday, 16, September,   2017


Many of course, commented on the trending doom looming around the atmosphere of the once frail United country (NIGERIA ). Some said that the marriage was so fragile that it would be difficult for the relationship to last more a century, others take it as a solid marriage ties. The two views can be divided into ---  pessimists and optimists.  Those who believe in the latter, are very rare to find. Such are those heroes of this nation who fought with their lives (regardless of ethnicity, religion or region) just to liberate our land and give its people---the upcoming generations a dignified, decent living in a pure, conducive environment and a peaceful air to breath in and to strive for ends meet. Unity, tolerance, and progress was their mantra they sing in schools, public gatherings, hospitals. Children in those days went to public schools not because they had no option but, because their parents believed it is the only channel where their dreams of unity, peace and tolerance would be realise. Those who believe in the former, such are the restricted thinkers, half or non educated, history heedless, vested interest,  power mongers etc. This second category of people are naturally insatiable due to their unrealistic demands to feed their selfish hearts and souls. This brought us to the current reality we are facing in this country in recent times ---- insurgency, kidnapping, sexual exploitation, secessionist threat, IPOB issues, Arewa Youth quit notice threat etc all these impeding gloom frustrated the unity wall and threatened to break the sacred marriage of our beloved country.
        While many commentators both in media and social media seem to have pointed out one old source as the problem of all these crisis, to me they are not far from being farfetched. Though I am not in any way saying that those things are not among the root of our country's problem, as the matter of fact, they are. But in my own view, our major problem is 'injustice'. This single injustice was the major root of the problems Nigerians faced and still facing today, all other problems are the branches and fruits of the same root problem ----'injustice'. It is lack of justice and fairness that would make someone or some part of the country felt marginalised, oppressed, sidelined politically, socially, economically, and even religiously. And those who perpetrate this injustice are our politicians who lack the humane feelings, unpatriotic leaders and self centered bunch of professional thieves, pen robbers. They only invest in their interest ------children, wives and concubines. And thrust away the interests of their supposed people who elected them into those offices. The earlier  our politicians came back into their right senses, think and act like patriotic citizens, behave like leaders and not like rulers or tyrants. The sooner we have peace, love and stability in this sorry nation of ours. The good people of Nigeria, hard working and peace loving citizens,  our problems in this country isn't these outer surface of IPOB, insurgency, kidnapping Arewa youths quit notice etc. Our politicians are our biggest problem. And as long as we keep on blaming ourselves for the problem none of us the ordinary everyday Nigerians have no hand in, the more we would continue to sunk deep in the ocean of the violence, intolerance, civil disobedience and innocent killings. Are we still enjoying the swimming  in our ignorance of the 'vested interest' involvement in our problems and continue to fight a war the cause we least understand, a war that is psychologically beyond us?. It is sad!, very sad indeed!.

The lost child stories series

       
Continuation
THE RUNAWAY
*         *          *         *         *           *          *          *        *
Yaru woke from momentarily, of what is rather a brief sleep. He arrived at the building, feeling so tired. He was starving like a caged tiger that was deliberately denied of food, to suppress her of the aggressiveness to hurt someone. He could not explain his stomach,  the rumblings noises is so unintelligible to differentiate between hunger and sleep. All so mixed up that what he felt wasn't tiredness that would have put him completely in a deep sleep. But fatigue body feelings and souring of stomach.  His sleep was half awake,half dozing. Though his body weakness would not allowed him to react as quick as his sleep suggest. His sleeping was interrupted by a sound at the other end of the building. He couldn't tell from the sound who or what makes such noise, yet he is sure that something is coming. The sounds echoing toward his direction where he laid still, his heart shuddered. "Who will that be, the mads or something more dangerous". He made a mental guess. "Whatever it is, I will confront it. I should better die struggling to save myself,  than wait to get killed without an attempt to survive". Showing bravery in his heart for a fight which he knows he will not win. But to satisfy his survival instinct, he has to get rid of such thought of losing a surviving  battle.
The sound came more closer to his hideout. He moved to adjust his spread legs, parked them. Loose his hands from the cheeks to make him appear more ready for the fight,  he lifted his back against the wall he was leaning on. Just before he could stand up for more stamina, a voice shouted suddenly. "Who are you, madman?", It follows with a long guffaw. With the this question,  Yaru muscles weak. He couldn't get up, rather he clung against the wall tide out of sudden fear. The mad came sight full with him, the appearance was rather little rough. Wore a robe gown, half tore at the back side between the spinal cord and the waist. And the rest intact. Black in colour with only the chest side which was decorated with a brown stylish colour,  the cloth not too dirty as it supposed. The head was carelessly left uncovered, which makes the hair more disgusting and uncurl multiple colours. No shoes on, except the covered gray dust that gathered around the foot as a result of the bare foot walking on the streets.  "Madman, answer me", shouted the mad again upon the silence of Yaru.
" I'm not a madman", Yaru managed to say. Amidst the fear of being strangled.
The mad moved near again, and now with a akimbo walking like a champion of athlete in point of receiving an award.
"If you are not a madman, then what are you", said the mad. With yet again long but scourge laugh. Making more advance to Yaru position,  Yaru took steps backwards in preparation of running.
"I'm sane and sound", Yaru said. With the intention to answer no more further questions. But to run off to a more safer place.
"No, you are not, but a madman", said the mad. "Only our kinds are living in this building".
Yaru thought to himself." am I mad, she is right i am now living with the mads. I'm not. Only a lone wanderer,  that is who I am. And not a mad person".
"Do not run, I will not hurt you". Said the mad. With a serious voice. "You think all mads are aggressive?, do not think so my son".
Upon hearing my son,  Yaru nerves became weak. Why would this woman called him her son, a mad woman. He could not believe her, may be she is luring him to catch him. Yaru stood there, without a word nor either move to her or run away. But continued to stared at her with bizarre attention.
"Come on my son, fear not", said the mad woman. "You are home now, make yourself at home".
The way the mad woman talks lately,  makes Yaru not only confused but, also fearful. He know that his mother was dead long time ago, and he was told that deaths doesn't raise after they were buried.
HabibuGente
Copyright observed

The lost child stories parts

 THE  RUNAWAY
Yaru made his way down to the large corner of a stretchedout uncompleted building. The debris that covered the mould sandy rocks, spread across the four angles of the fallen walls. Dense sands of the red soil were parked in different places, those as a result of the holes dug out by some big rats. These made the place more rough. Rags, tore sacks,  and some empty soft drinks rubber bottles were carelessly thrown everywhere, even make the whole place to be dirtier than Yaru thought it could be.  The urine of both animals and humans, give the place foul smell. As for mad people, they sleep there, eat, drink and as well excreted in the same place. No place could be more suitable for them, than here, in a uncompleted or demolished buildings. Such places are the nature gift they enjoyed. A society where there is no government regulated asylums to accommodate mad people, they roam about everywhere in the towns. And when night inject, they find a place to stay till next day break before another routine. That is a life for them, but they enjoy it, endured all pressure of the world. And when they closed their eyes,  they slept  off their worries, washed them over their dreams from the peaceful undisturbed sleeping they patently received from the crashed buildings.
Yaru sluggishly reclined to one of the surviving  walls, sat unconformtably on a half broke stone. He leaned  against the wall that is just a inch up above  his head. Should he stand up to rest,  he would be taller than the wall. Which means that, exposing himself to the dangers of the aggressive madmen who may likely harm him. His strength to defend himself is not there, nor does he even have the mood or spirit of fighting. To play safe and enjoy his temporary stay here, he has to be quiet and be hidden to avoid the sight of his new founded aggressive neighbours.
Little bit more of his sounds would produce careless exposure to the alarming dangers that await him just outside his hideout.
Now everything has gone from him. His family, little brothers at home, his father. All were gone for good. Now he thought about them, he is sure they would forget that  he existed. One person that would have been thinking about him, since his departure, would be his mother. She would remember every minutes of his life, thought about him. And she would pray for  him every night before she retired to bed. And when she woke up,  he would be the first person that would rushed in her mind.  And she would pursed  to ask her Lord for his success and safe survival in a strange land. But she is not more, her ancestors claimed her before Yaru came into an age. When she left the world,  he felt emptiness own family would be so  wicked to have allowed him to wander in the wilderness of childhoods loneliness in  a strange land. But this is what is happening with him now,  a poor lone child wanderer. Seven weeks since he left his family,  no one look for him. Nor any attempt was made to even ask of his whereabouts. Not even his once caring and lovely father.  With this little experience,  the mystery of life begins to reveals itself to him. It is now that some of the sayings of his mother were making sense to him. She would have say 'the world is wicked, not because the earth is dangerous to live. But those who supposed to do what they can, aren't doing it'. The saying is very vivid in his current situation.  His world now become wicked just because his father who supposed to do his duty of a father,  fiend from them. Of course,  the earth has no problem. Because he could see other children out there,  going to school everyday,  shopping mall, play games station with their parents. And when  they walk, their frequently smiles at each other,  approved a happy  family life.
Those who think humans are temperamental to each other, were wrong. Or at least could  not have accert so, only if they knew the life after their generation would be different from theirs. And if some of them would still
To be continued
Habibu Gente
Copyright observed