Diary Of A Bad Man

Epe Gardens Waterfront - Lagos Land Connecting Osun State Through The Atlantic Ocean To The World

2023-07-13T08:31:00.004+01:00

Epe Gardens Waterfront is where nature's embrace meets the calming melody serene flowing water. It transcends the limitations of everyday existence thanks to its unrivaled setting on the banks of the ancient River Osun.

Epe Gardens Waterfront provides a harmonious synthesis of Solid Dry Land, Central Lake, Serene River, and Nearby Lagoon, enabling you to discover the true essence of living in connection with nature—a true touch of nature. Epe Gardens Waterfront: a symphony of water, land, and limitless possibilities.

Epe Gardens Waterfront is strategically positioned for the future disruption coming to Epe and Ibeju-Lekki. It is a prime real estate investment; and investment for every property finder, an estate to call home.

ACCESSIBILITY:

Within the vicinity of St Augustine University, the Alaro of Ilara Palace, LASU Epe, YabaTech Epe, and Osun River.

FACILITIES:

-Green Park

-Central Lake

-CCTV Coverage

-Street Light

-Gatehouse

-Recreation Centre

-Maximum Security

TITLE:

Registered Survey.

LOCATION:

Fowosheje, Epe.

PRICE:

Waterfront 500sqm N5 million

CONTACT:

Nejeeb Bello

BARIC REALTY

+2348123420004

+2348093403611

bellonejeeb@gmail.com, baricrealty@gmail.com

Ragas Energy Promotes LPG Safety With Composite Fibre Gas Cylinders Nigeria

2023-06-20T13:52:00.007+01:00

Ragas Composite Gas Cylinders are Transparent, Lightweight, Non-Explosive, Non-Corrosive, and Safe for use in all conditions and environments. Although composite and fibre cylinders have been in use globally since about 1996, their sale commenced in Lagos, Nigeria around the year 2010. The company has been in business for exactly 3 years now, though officially registered with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2021.

ABOUT THE COMPOSITE CYLINDERS BY RAGAS ENERGY

Composite Fibre Cylinders are Safe Non-Explosive, Non-Corrosive, Lightweight, and Translucent so you can see the level of gas in them. Thus far, more than 50 million units in use worldwide with more than 1000 units sold by us in Lagos during the past year alone.

They never explode even when engulfed in fire, they don't corrode or rust so your cylinder doesn't ever degrade to pose a danger to you and your family, They're less than one-third the weight of regular cylinders, so anyone can easily carry them, and best of all you can see the level of LPG in the cylinder just by looking through the side.

Fibreglass is the primary component used in manufacturing composite gas cylinders. This "fibre" has been used in various industries due to its light weight, strength, and durability. Composite simply implies the cylinders are composed of different materials aside fibreglass. These include the HDPE plastic casings and metal valves.

The first fibreglass LPG cylinder was made in Norway by Hexagon Ragasco and delivered to the Norwegian Navy in 1996 to help keep their ships lighter and also remove the extra danger of gas cylinder explosion if their vessels, boats, or ships are attacked. Today, the best composite cylinders are manufactured by ACECCSE, Indane, and Hexangon-Ragasco primarily for safe domestic cooking gas storage.

ADVANTAGES OF COMPOSITE AND FIBRE CYLINDERS

1. Composite and Fibre cylinders lighter weight of approximately 5kg, less than half of their steel counterparts. This one of their most user-friendly attributes, allowing users easier handling, carriage, and transportation.

2. All composite and fibre cylinders sold by Ragas Energy are Non-Corrosive so they do not rust nor stain surfaces. They eliminate the risk of undetected leaks which is caused by frequent contact with water on metal cylinders.

3. Opaque composite cylinders exist, which are just as safe, durable, and lightweight as the translucent ones, however, Ragas Energy only trades in the translucent variant which allow users see the level of gas and know when it is time to refill, which means they will be less likely to run out of gas, eliminating the need for inaccurate gauges. It also allows them know if their gas vendor has filled the cylinder to the top.

4. Non-Explosive cylinders made of fibreglass and other composites do not blow up in the presence of fire just like metal cylinders do. This is what most importantly makes fibre cylinders far better than metal cylinders. Please see the video below to understand what happens to a fibre cylinder when completely engulfed by fire, and what happens to a metal cylinder in the same condition.

HOW TO BUY RAGAS ENERGY COMPOSITE AND FIBRE GAS CYLINDERS IN NIGERIA

All composite fibre cylinders sold by Ragas Energy are certified by Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) to be of the highest quality and safety. Sizes and prices of composite cylinder available for sale by Ragas Energy in Lagos and other Nigerian cities including Port Harcourt, Benin City, Kano, Abuja, Owerri, Ibadan, Uyo, Calabar, and Zaria are listed below:

12kg Composite Cylinder - N65,000

20kg Composite Cylinder - N95,000

Call/WhatsApp +2348123420004 for more information, including bulk purchase and retailer discounts.

Falomo Towers Ikoyi By LSDPC And Afriland Properties Is Born

2022-06-22T19:39:00.001+01:00

Falomo Towers Ikoyi development has been flagged off by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday, 17, June, 2022. This redevelopment of the old Falomo Shopping Complex into a redesigned mixed-use tower is being executed as a joint venture partnership between the LSDPC and Afriland Properties.

Falomo Towers Ikoyi is being developed by Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) in partnership with Afriland Properties Nigeria, a company owned by Tony Elumelu, chairman of Heir Holdings.

The tower will be comprise ten floors of residential apartments, offices and a shopping complex, according to a source from Elumelu group of companies.

LSDPC sealed a joint redevelopment partnership with Afriland Properties Nigeria Plc, a private developer, to turn the former Falomo Shopping Complex into a premium sky-high real estate to be known as Falomo Towers Ikoyi will enhance the socio-economic outlook of the neighbourhood, according to a statement by the chief press secretary of the governor, Gboyega Akosile.

Falomo Towers, being developed on 12,000 square metres of land, will offer a blend of green amenities that will promote quality living. Afriland Properties Plc is a subsidiary of Heir Holdings. The project development is expected to be completed in 30 months, meaning that the delivery date will be December 2024.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, at the groundbreaking ceremony held at the project site, which is the old Falomo Shopping Complex, 230 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, said the construction flag-off ended a decade-long discussion with the developer to revive the project and build iconic towers that would turn around the fallow land for the benefit of the public.

The Governor said the project was another milestone achieved by his administration to renew urban amenities, stressing that the strategic implementation of the Lagos Masterplan had been dependent on the Government’s ability to forge a workable partnership between the public and private sectors.

“This is a phenomenal project that will bring back the lost ambience of Ikoyi. When this partnership was initiated 10 years ago, I was the Managing Director of LSDPC. It is interesting to note that we’ve all gone through arbitration but we didn’t throw a wrong punch.

“We agreed this project must not be thrown away. Today we are making a transaction that is bigger and better than what was initially proposed 10 years ago.

“This testifies to the uniqueness of public and private sectors in ensuring things can be made a lot better when we sit and agree. This is a clear example of what Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model is out to achieve when partnerships and collaborations are pursued and implemented with seriousness. When we put our minds of possibilities to ideas, great things happen. This aptly describes the story of today’s flag-off of the construction of Falomo Towers Ikoyi.”

Lagos Governor, Jude Sanwo-Olu described Afriland Properties as a tested, trusted and reliable developer, saying the Corporation had found the right partner for the redevelopment project. The Governor reiterated that the State Government would remain committed to ensuring the investors get full value for their investments while promising to continue to pursue business environment reforms, including automation of land and property records to scale up transparency and efficiency that catalyse sustainable investments.

Tony Elumelu said the partnership was another testimony to the Lagos State Government’s belief in the private sector as a key development driver in the State, praising the Lagos political leadership for setting the pace of private sector inclusion in governance. For surmounting obstacles that delayed the take-off of the partnership, Elumelu said Lagos remained the most hospitable environment to investors seeking a profitable returns on their investments.

“I commend Governor Sanwo-Olu and the political leaders of the State for believing in the private sector. What we are witnessing today attests to their beliefs in the private sector as driver of development in the State.

Falomo Towers Ikoyi will comprise 1-Bedroom Apartments, 2-Bedroom Flats, 3-Bedroom Flats, a Luxury Penthouse, offices, and stores. For information on prices and more, call, text, or WhatsApp +2348123420004.

Nokia XR20 - A Worthy Successor Of The Nokia 3310 After 2 Decades

2021-08-02T15:44:00.000+01:00

The new Nokia XR20 coming this August can withstand drops on concrete from as high as 4 metres, and the Gorilla Glass Victus screen won't have a single scratch. You can drop this device in a filled up bathtub for an hour, and it'll have no issues. You could use it all day and all night, yet still have enough battery for the next day.

This is the military grade Nokia XR20 with 5G network, 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, 48MP #camera, 4630mAh battery, and N250,000 price tag coming out on August 24th, 2021.

I'm crying because Nokia is finally back! I'm also crying because I just bought the Nokia X20 last month and was wondering why it didn't have water resistance since my last phone was destroyed by water. Anyway, I'm consoled by the fact that my X20 has 8GB RAM, 64MP camera, a free screen guard and free phone case. Although I'm still crying because who needs a screen guard and phone case when you've got the #XR20 which is also water resistant and has a 4630mAh battery compared to the slightly lower 4470mAh of mine.

About the 2-Day battery life of the Nokia X series, till I got one, I didn't believe it. As advised, it's always best that as soon as you buy a new phone, you first charge it fully, then use it till it discharges fully before charging fully again, and using as normal. Ladies and gentlemen, I charged this phone, discharging it became a problem.

After about 12 hours of watching movies, playing music with the very loud stereo speakers, using the WiFi hotspot to connect my laptop, and making videos, the battery had dropped to like 65% so I had to continue using it into the next day before it completely drained out. I'm still wondering about the fast charging though because it takes about 2 hours to fully charge from zero to 100% using the 18W charger.

It turns out that #Nokia used some basic tricks to make a less than 5000mAh battery last more than 24 hours on a 5G phone by shaving off some high-end features:

1. Processor is a Snapdragon 480 5G

2. Screen is an IPS LCD with 1080 x 2400 resolution

3. Radio is not as powerful as the S21 Ultra or iPhone 12 Pro Max.

So if you're thinking of a new phone you better wait till August 24th!

Luxuria Ikoyi - See All The Stages Of Developing The Top Luxury Apartment Blocks In Lagos, Nigeria

2021-07-28T02:29:00.001+01:00

Luxuria Ikoyi is the most luxurious development of apartment buildings in the highbrow area of Ikoyi, Lagos. It's located on the intersection of Milverton and Alexander Road, Ikoyi, close to the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge, with easy access to the Mainland through the Third Mainland Bridge, and also access to VI and the other parts of the Lagos Islands, through Falomo. Exact location on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/XwHrdrYkhZFEQNTeA

There are 4-Bedroom Super-Luxury Apartments, 4-Bedroom Ultra-Luxury Maisonettes, and 5-Bedroom Hyper-Opulent Penthouses at Luxuria. Construction commenced in 2021 and will be completed in 2023. This is a step-by-step documentation of the various stages of development at The Luxuria Ikoyi, by The Address Homes.

Facilities and amenities at Luxuria Ikoyi include a gym, a spa, 3 parking lots per apartment, several pools, 2 lifts per apartment block, a tennis court, wet and dry kitchens, as well as the most basic which are 24-hour electricity, pristine water supply, and security. The prices of apartments a Luxuria Ikoyi are:

4-Bedroom Super-Luxury Apartments - N360,000,000 ($720,000)
4-Bedroom Ultra-Luxury Maisonettes - N400,000,000 ($800,000)
5-Bedroom Hyper-Opulent Penthouse N750,000,000 ($1,500,000)

Please enjoy views of the design. Updates of ongoing work on the site will be posted weekly, including pictures, videos, and other details. More information can also be found on the Facebook page of Luxuria Ikoyi (http://www.facebook.com/LuxuriaIkoyi).

All The Reasons You Should Invest In Shitcoin Cryptocurrency

2021-04-02T07:54:00.004+01:00

Isaac Durojaiye, the legendary CEO of DMT toilets, also known as Otunba Gaddafi used to say that shit business is serious business. He didn't just say it, he lived it, and worked that shit business into a multi-million Naira corporate empire which has outlived him by a decade. Since shit is so important, and the global economy is going digital, why is nobody thinking about taking shit to the virtual world, and harnessing the opportunities in this billion dollar global industry?

WHAT'S A SHITCOIN? Bitcoin was created in 2009, and after that, many creators delved into a frenzy of creating all sorts of cryptos to serve all sorts of purposes. Holders of Bitcoin, in their pride and arrogance mocked these "alt coins" as shitcoins. According to Investopedia: A shitcoin is a cryptocurrency with little to no value or digital currency that has no immediate, discernable purpose. The term is often used to describe altcoins or cryptocurrencies developed after Bitcoins became popular. WHAT IS SHITCOIN As the developers, creators and "hodlers" of these shitcoins cowered in the shame of being hounded and mocked by Bitcoiners, one visionary developer took pride in the works of his hand, and created the ultimate shitcoin to rule over all shitcoins, and appropriately named that shit Shitcoin.

WHY SHITCOIN WAS CREATED According to the developers of SHIT, it was created to provide whales, traders, and early adopters a shitty experience. Whales will be given preferential treatment such as early private discounted sales, and insider information from development team. 🙆🏾‍♀️🙆🏾‍♀️ To encourage merchants to adopt ShitCoin as a standard of digital payments for all sorts of shit, and finally, to advance the cryptocurrency space by having a larger token supply. Bitcoin only has 21 million. Ethereum has 100 million. ShitCoin has 1 trillion. Which is better? 🤷🏾‍♂️ WHY BUY SHITCOIN? The first an most important reason is that in general, very low priced shitcoins have a higher potential of doubling or tripling in value within a few months than Bitcoin. I bought 80,000 Holochain in January 2021 at 0.0007 for $56 and by the end of March 2021 when Holochain reached $0.02 that stash was worth $1,600. 😎

Shitcoin in particular rose by more than 7,000% last month. this means if you had invested $100 on March 1st 2021, you would be withdrawing $7,000 by March 31st 2021. If you invested same $100 in Bitcoin or Ethereum during the same period, you'd get $130. Again, which is better? THE FUTURE OF SHITCOIN & FINDING A USE CASE Up till now, Shitcoin has only served as a fun token bought mostly by those who get the joke, and know they can earn crazy ROI within a short time, but that's not enough to keep this shit going. About 2 years ago, Nigeria overtook India as the global capital for open defecation. What this means is that out of a national population of 200,000,000 citizens, there are more Nigerians shitting in the streets and the bushes (50,000,0000 people) because of lack of access to toilets, than in India which is another poor country of 7 times our population (1,300,000,000). Since we all know that the Government will only write papers and hold conferences, and budget monies, which will be used mostly to buy brand new bulletproof Toyota Landcruisers, we've been seeking self-help ways to provide more Nigerians and possibly Indians with access to toilets, so when we stumbled upon Shitcoin, it was a Eureka moment.

What we propose, and are currently developing is an AirBnB type app which will help people easily and quickly locate the nearest public toilet to them when they're out of their homes, and also let them know if use is free or paid, and how much they may need to pay in Shitcoins. Brian Chesky called his platform AirBnB (Air, Bed and Breakfast), we're calling ours FartSnP (Fart, Shit and Piss). I know it's still April Fools Day, but does it look like I'm joking? 🤨🤨 We will collaborate with local Governments to list and map all public toilets on our app, then we'll also liaise with private organizations which have toilets open to the public. Eventually, we will begin to list private individuals who are willing to open their toilets to the public for a fee. It may sound implausible for now, but wait till my cousin who lives near Alaba Market finds out he can make $1 for every 10 minutes a stranger shits in his security post toilet. Anyway, this was how odd AirBnB sounded in the beginning: strangers living with you at home in this dangerous world. 😬😬😬

HOW TO BE A PART OF THE SHITCOIN FUTURE What you can do to be part of the future of this shit is to join the Shitcoin Community on Whatsapp (https://chat.whatsapp.com/ByWCu9Kqm0VEvHdKZyRLE6), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/shitcoincrypto), Twitter (https://www.twitter.com/shitcoincrypto), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/shitcoincrypto), Telegram (https://t.me/OfficialShitCoin), and every other gram there is out there. Buy some $SHIT before it blows up in your face and reaches the optimal price of $1. Finally, get ready for our Shit App, and if you can contribute to the realization of this shit, why not? Thank you for spending so much time reading all the shit I had to share. April Fools Day will now also be recognized as Shitcoin Day or Shit Day because this one one day when people do the shittiest shit to each other.

It's best to do your own research on shitcoins in general, and Shitcoin in particular. One tool that's easy to use is https://www.coingecko.com . Also, when you decide on what to do, you may need to create an account on http://www.binance.com from where you'll buy WAVES cryptocurrency which you'll send to www.unnamed.exchange where you can buy SHIT at a rate of about N0.00001916 (0.0000000479). Link to buy Shitcoin is https://www.unnamed.exchange/Exchange/Basic?market=SHIT_UTIP N20,000 which is less than $50 should buy you about 1,000,000,000 Shitcoins. Buy and hold for at least 2 years, then also ensure to check what we're doing regarding the Shit App, and our solution to open defecation in Nigeria and other parts of the world where this problem is prevalent.

Understanding The Root Causes Of The Poor Healthcare System In Nigeria

2020-10-05T07:27:00.001+01:00

Nigerians are admiring the evacuation of the USA President from the White House to Walter Reed Medical Centre for the best medical care in the world. Most wonder why the same could not be achieved for Nigeria's Presidents, and some prayed President Muhammadu Buhari to solve this age-long problem of shipping our number one citizen and other top government officials abroad for medical care.

Donald Trump Descending Marine-1 At Walter Reed Medical Centre

I'll start by asking some basic questions. Why do you think Nigerian Government officials love to travel abroad for medical care, or why are Nigerian Government officials obsessed with travelling abroad for anything at all?

Impact Of Government Travel Allowances On Nigeria's Healthcare

Perhaps it's not that they cannot be treated locally. Maybe it's just because they lack the will due to something called ESTACODES. Every time our government officials travel abroad, they get thousands of dollars to spend on their trip. In addition to this, they can make more money by budgeting for the most expensive flights, hotels, and chauffer services, then using cheaper ones.

A Chief Justice of Nigeria had $800,000 (N400,000,000) in just one of his bank accounts, which he made legally off these estacodes and travel allowances. The graphic below shows estacodes and basic travel allowances of Nigerian government officials Per night during travels abroad.

Nigerian Government officials estacode per night for foreign trips

When it comes to healthcare of our top government officials, the allowances are more bogus, and in some cases, could be a blank cheque to legally loot the nation dry. Why then would a Minister, Governor, or even the President want to receive treatment at Bonny Camp Military Hospital? Why would they want to build a hospital as good as Walter Reed Medical Centre anywhere in Nigeria when that nullifies their excuse to travel to Dubai and London for a medical checkup, while making enough money off us to acquire some prime real estate in those cities with allowances they earn off our taxes?

By the time the new 160-bed Evercare Hospital Lekki is completed, it will most likely be the best hospital in Nigeria, at par with some of the world-class hospitals our public officers fly off to abroad. Now, if our President and other Government officials patronize it, who pay them the huge amounts they usually earn in FOREX as allowances when they travel abroad? It's very important that any time we want to surmount challenges in Nigeria, we try to find out what the real cause of the problem is.

Power Failure And Nigeria's Failed Health System

The almighty NEPA is the next most serious problem preventing Nigeria from having a standard healthcare system. World-class hospitals run on a huge chunk of electrical power everyday. Consider just the air-conditioning, lighting, equipment on each bed in a 500-bed hospital, ultrasound equipment, X-ray machines, MRI equipment, multiple lifts and elevators, computers, kitchen, laundry, and entertainment equipment.

Intensive Care Hospital Bed With Equipment

A study at a 900-bed capacity hospital in Taipei, Taiwan showed a maximum power consumption of about 3,500 kW of electricity at full capacity. Where do you get a constant supply of that sort of power in Nigeria? Back-up generator? You better get two, as in the real medical world, you need constant supply of power, then a back-up generator which can deliver about 80% of that. This means at Evercare Hospital Lekki, they will need a main 600 kW main power generator, then a 480 kW back up generator. Aside from the main generator, and the backup generator, most sections of the hospital require high capacity inverters, batteries, and UPS as last resort since we're dealing with human lives here, and just one second off life support could mean death.

It's not the upfront costs of these industrial generators which is the primary issue, but the buying of diesel to run them everyday...unless of course we feel a world-class hospital treating Mr President, Ministers, Governors, our Dangote, Otedola, Elumelu, should be running on and off NEPA.

although these are the top hurdles toward achieving independence in Nigeria's healthcare sector, here are a hundred more constraints, including but not limited to appointing incompetent Health Ministers, embezzling of NHIS and other health insurance funds, then of course, the annual flight of thousands Nigerian doctors to developed countries where they end up being the ones who treat our top government officials at the end of the day.

Queen Lamisi Releases Her Debut Single ROCK WITH YOU

2020-06-25T19:52:00.000+01:00

Lamisi Isah known as Queen Lamisi is a Nigerian-Ghanaian reggae fusion singer, songwriter and record producer. Born in May 1992 in Abia State, she attended Blessing College then moved to Ghana to further her studies in Theatre Arts.

Her interest in music was influenced by her father, a multi-instrumentalist and her mother a sonorous singer. Her parents ran an eclectic band for over two decades, prompting the sensational singer to develop a huge interest in music at an early age. Prior to becoming a recording artist, she worked with a couple of live bands both in Ghana and Nigeria.

Queen Lamisi grew up listening to Soul Music, Blues, Reggae, Hiphop and Afrobeat. Her new single, "Rock With You" is out across various online platforms for streaming and downloading. Rock With You is a song about love and desire.

Queen Lamisi · Rock with you- Queen lamisi

Chimamanda Adichie And Her Brand Of Genius

2018-06-08T07:30:00.000+01:00

I used to like Chimamanda Adichie a lot. The first day I met her was the last day I did. She was quite different from what I'd imagined. More physically beautiful, then her thinking varied quite a lot from the person I'd built up in my mind from reading Purple Hibiscus.

Chimamanda Adichie is a very brilliant human being, but even for a her, knowledge has its limits, and she needs to respect that...we all need to respect that.

I like that she questions norms and challenges cultures. What she has to do is stop trying to impose her own beliefs on us all, and understand we're not characters in her books.

By the way, I support her view on holding the door. My concern is that she has a lot of these theories which she needs to test in a small-scale experiment before releasing to the general public.

A more serious matter when it comes to Chimamanda, and her view of life is that many people easily abandon their own right to reason, and surrender to the opinions of those they see as geniuses.

For as long as the genius continues to say things which are 'safe', their fans who have given up gray matter will continue to support those views fanatically. Immediately the genius begins to tread on more touchy subjects, those same followers will then split into two halves.

Half 1 will turn on their genius thought leader, and half 2 will turn against half one, and anyone who dares to challenge the genius leader.

I look at Denzel Washington and his regular video nuggets of great wisdom. Everyone loves him now, but wait till he starts touching on issues of racism, and how the African-American populace has aided racism by the way they treat each other. Just wait! If they don't end up finding a gang of women who have been sexually harassed or raped by Denzel, they will discover how he was part of the Trump-Russia connection.

As much as I would love Ms Adichie to continue asking the tough questions, and challenging the non-progressive customs, I hope she tries to test her personal philosophies of life in a small sample before unleashing them on 7 billion people.

Finally, if you've all calmed down a little, I'll like to nominate Chimamanda for Nigeria Vice President 2019. 😀

NDANI REAL TALK Season 2 Episode 4 - The Line Between Having A 9-5 & Side Hustle

2017-08-31T15:47:00.000+01:00

On this episode of Ndani Real Talk, Nicole meets up with Kabir Shagaya, CEO of Zippy Logistics, CEO of A2 Creatives, Adaora Mbelu-Dania, Misan Rewane, CEO West African Vocational Education, and popular Publicist & Influencer, Bizzle Oshikoya.

They discuss the idea behind having regular jobs (9-5 jobs), and a side hustle, it's demands, and the effects of having both "hustles" simultaneously.

Watch Ndani Real Talk on the NdaniTV YouTube channel for the opinions of Kabir, Adaora, Bizzle and Misan:

Entrepreneurship is great, and I'm happy more and more young Nigerians are getting into it, but it is necessary that if they have a job, they do the honourable thing to tell their bosses, then move on to their own thing as soon as they can.

Employment is also a wonderful thing. I have a sister who's been with Total for almost 30 years she would cry when time comes for retirement. I also have a brother who was a pioneer staff of GTBank. He loved his job so much, he sometimes used to go to the office on Sundays, and went on to work there for more than 20 years. These 2 people have the most wealth in our family. So sometimes, a job pays far better.

I feel it is unethical for fulltime (9 to 5) staff to have side hustles, or as some Nigerians call them, PP. Divided attention, lack of adequate rest, likelihood of leaving just after gaining a lot of experience, and like Kabir said, there could be some conflict of interest when they meet their employers business contacts.

There are some employers who would want to encourage their staff to take up side hustles, there has to be full disclosure on that so that things don't go southward.

The worst experience I've seen with this matter of entrepreneurial staff is recently, when I met someone who uses his subordinates in the company where he's employed to run his side hustle. Not only is he using up company time and facilities himself (he prints movie scripts in the office), but he is using up the time of other staff, within and outside the company, then when he decides to go start up his own thing, he may just leave with the best of them.

So let's respect those who choose to hold on to their jobs and do nothing else, and let's encourage those who want to try their hands on other things to be ethical about it, and move on from those jobs as soon as possible.

Do you think having a side hustle limits productivity at one's 9-5? What are your thoughts on employers who don't believe in training their staff because they don't trust their loyalty? Join the Ndani Real Talk discussion now on Twitter with the hashtag #NdaniRealTalk.

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SOURCE: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/ndani-real-talk-ndanitv-youtube

Valuing The Productivity and Profitability of Entrepreneurial Activity

2015-03-16T08:06:00.001+01:00

Monday mornings are usually my favourite time to run through weekly plans, projections, expectations and targets. While thinking of what to do, if to do, when to do, and how to do, my mind often lingers back to the previous week. What did I do, why did I do it, how did I do it, and of what benefit is it to the grand scheme of my encompassing mission and vision?

So last week I spent a lot of time at the hospital running tests and examinations, making sure I have the soundness of body and mind for the work that lies ahead. I set up Social Media accounts for 2 small businesses for free, and taught them how to manage those. Volunteered for live posting and live tweeting at an APC event where Buhari met young Nigerians in Lagos. Showed up at a cocktail organised by Google for Digital Business Managers, where I met old course mates from the LBS/Google DBM Class of October 2015. Shola and I had a meeting with the guys at Vic Lawrence Associates to discuss how their online VLA staff database was going. Met with Noble and Oye at the 360 Nobs/Style Vitae office. Picked up a cheque at a client's, bought phone for my sister, got a couple of audio CDs, a pair of boots, and some clothes from Land Of Plenty (LOP). Had an interview at Channels Television.

Now, of all the things I can recall doing last week, only one has an easily measurable financial value, which is a N100,000 cheque. The cheque itself, is actually for work done last year, hence cannot be attributed to the eventual collection. Then how do we measure the value of the activities we carry out daily in relation to our business?

We've heard that 'health is wealth', but how much exactly? Building and maintaining relationships is key, but what treasure chest does it open? All that insight from brainstorming with Shola, Noble, and Oye is quite deep, though I can't tell under which item my accountant will categorise that.

I failed to mention that the client who paid me a cheque and myself had been at the ends of each other's daggers over that payment, and had just resolved to go back to working together. Since they brought in a total revenue of N1,500,000 last year, a similar figure is possible this year, so I'd say the value of my visit that day is 5% of that, ie N75,000 since I usually maintain a 5% finder's fee for agents who bring in new or revived clients.

Going through my business files and folders, and staring unsatisfactorily at all those papers, I feel there is need for a way to value other entrepreneurial works which do not necessarily directly lead to a definite amount of money, yet could possibly or eventually yield some kind of gain which may turn out to be financial. If there's any economist or accountant out there who can do this some justice and come up with a formula, it'll save the small business world.

LISTEN: "PDP Rigging In Ekiti" by Koro featuring Fayose, Omisore & General Momoh; Produced by GEJ

2015-02-06T12:50:00.003+01:00

A New audio track has been released today for the listening pleasure of ALL Nigerians. The one-hour long single-track mixtape is the dopest Freestyle Session by some of the baddest politicians from the South West of Nigeria, with the most hard-hitting Lyrics and Punchlines ever witnessed in history. Some have compared the "Ekiti Rigging" track to the legendary "Hit Em Up" by Tupac and The Outlawz.

Musiliu Obanikoro, who goes by the name of "Koro" put together this group to bust on their exploits in the political industry, and how they plan to run the streets of Ekiti during the planned rigging of the 2014 Ekiti State elections.

Explicit Content from lyrical delivery of the Cypha which features Iyiola Omisore aka "The Corn Artist", Ayodele Fayose, and General Momoh, now threatens the current position of Fayose as the sitting Governor of Ekiti State, and also General Momoh who is actually also a real General in the Nigeria Army. As at the time of this release we're unable to confirm if General Momoh is of any relation to Nigerian dancehall superstar, General Pype.

The dilemma of the crew seems hardly different from that of U.S rapper, Bobby Schmurda whose lyrical content has also continued to aggravate the charges against him, however, the result of the February 14th Elections in Nigeria will determine if the Government will take any action against these PDP officials and agents.

The foremost contestant for the Presidency of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has remained intolerant of all sorts of criminal behaviours, and has promised to investigate every case, even as insignificant emanating from a mere mixtape. The sitting President on the other hand, seems not to be much bothered about criminal cases, especially when it comes to the matter of corruption.

He personally declared that corruption is not stealing, and is known not to be bothered embezzlement cases between $5.1 million and $20 billion. The sitting President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, is also a close friend of Mr Fayose, and take production credit for the track, even though it was merely the ringing of the phones of the crew members which was used as the baseline.

Listen to the "EKITI RIGGING" Single Track Mixtape:

Reno Omokri Disgraces President Goodluck Jonathan With Another Online Poll

2015-02-02T08:19:00.001+01:00

After a long series of online polls in which more than 80% of Nigerians have expressed their resolve to vote Muhammadu Buhari in the February 14th, 2015 elections, President Goodluck Jonathan's Special Adviser on New Media, Mr Reno Omokri, set up another quick poll, this time on Twitter, to test the popularity of his boss.

As at my last personal count before the media aide quickly pulled down the poll by deleting the tweet, Buhari had again, more than 87% of the votes cast by 'favouriting' the tweet, as opposed to less than 13% who 'retweeted' same tweet to support the sitting President.

Within minutes of posting the tweet, the balance had shifted rapidly in Buhari favour of the APC presidential candidate, and Mr Reno's colleagues had nothing but vituperations for him for putting Goodluck's popularity to the test once more, after so many failed attempts.

Campaign rallies, donations, and such online polls indicate Muhammadu Buhari is on to win Nigeria's elections this month by an unprecedented landslide, however, the regime of President Jonathan which has increased fuel prices, cut power supply, wrecked the economy, and overseen Boko Haram insurgency, still maintains that it will win the elections.

ARM Pensions "Run For The Future" event with Truppr

2014-11-10T12:07:00.000+01:00

It's Monday morning, and my thighs still hurt like crazy. I'd not run in ages, and every year, I harbour those plans of eating healthy, living better, hitting the gym...I even walk sometimes, but running, NEVER!

So I signed up for a Truppr 9.2km walk happening in the middle of the month, and just to warm up for it, I also signed up for a 5km event with ARM Pensions staff. My near-fatal error here, being the failure to notice this was a 5km run from the start of Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, across the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge, and back! Thank you Truppr, thank you ARM, lessons learnt.

You may be wondering "How bad could it be?", "Pension Workers for God sake", and so was I, till I found out there were gifts for the fastest runners. I heard mentions of a car, and flat screen TVs. To cut a long blog post very very short, people ran like they were escaping from Mubi.

Esta Morenikeji leading the warm-up

I hardly ever warm up before exercising, therefore Esta Morenikeji had to make me do it, and I didn't resist, knowing the perile of recklessly embarking on a routine I hadn't tried in more than a decade.

Coordinator of the ARM team, giving some final instructions & directions

A few familiar faces from Team Truppr did show up. Oge Odilibe, always at our service; Esta Morenikeji of Zone Fitness, who's the trainer of trainers; Bosun Tijani and the guys whose names I've never bothered to ask.

Esta Morenikeji & Oge Odilibe

The ARM Pensions personnel themselves came out en masses, and got lots of their customers to participate in the run. Very impressive attendance, and orderly conduct. I want to know their event planner.

The entire run itself was 2 hours, however, a majority of us walked most of the way, and I even spied some asking the LASTMA traffic escorts for a bike ride. Had fun, met a lot of nice people, another bridge on my journey to fitness crossed, but my body still hurts. Truppr should have a massage service or something.

By the way, I must add that yours truly won a medal... just like everyone else.

Lagos Guber Aspirant, Hon. Lanre Ope holds #LeapLagos TweetMeet

2014-11-05T16:31:00.000+01:00

Former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Lanre Ope was hosted to a tweetmeet moderated by yours truly, @Bar_Baric. During the session, which lasted for about 1 hour 30 mins, the seasoned politician engaged the public, entertaining questions and giving insights on his ambition to govern Lagos State come 2015.

The first question that set the tone for the discussion was on how he intends to address the traffic situation in Lagos. I was impressed that the Gubernatorial candidate answered that alternative means of transportation will be explored and enhanced, considering that Lagos is surrounded by water. Better travel options will be considered, including working on new and existing roads as well as creating structured shuttle routes.

When asked about the meaning and origin of his campaign tag line #LeapLagos, in his own words, Hon. Lanre Ope who will publicly declare his intentions to run, responded that “Leap simply talks about springing to a great height. It's all about surpassing previous achievements. It's about raising the consciousness among Lagosians that we can soar and leap in bounds in all facets and this why my campaign is premised on this and I want a Lagos that will continue to set the standards as with the present administration in the state, as we take that giant leap”.

On why he intends to be Governor of Lagos State, he responded with “I'm a Lagosian who is constitutionally allowed and equipped with the Leadership skills to improve the quality of life of the people in the state. I have had prior experience of serving in State Legislature and other positions of Leadership”

He went on to answer more questions about his plans for the educational sector, what sets him apart from other candidates, his plans for Lagos in terms of infrastructure, youth development, employment and other burning issues.

While he was a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Lanre Ope sponsored motions and supported bills that improved the welfare and well-being of Lagosians in general. He was very willing to bring to bear, his significant experience in legislative procedure, which he gained in his role as Legislative Officer at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the 2nd republic.

In the Lagos State House of Assembly, he sponsored some motions including the Child Rights Bill, and the motion that led to establishing the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

He joined the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), under which platform he contested to represent Lagos Island II in the Lagos State House of Assembly. As a member of the Assembly, Lanre was appointed into various House Committees where he made valuable contributions to developments in Lagos State. Lanre served in the following committees;

• Security, Information and Strategy
• Health
• Judiciary Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions
• Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation
• Inter Government Relations
• Youth, Sports and Culture
• Hotel and Tourism

Lagos Fashion & Design Week 2014 #LFDW2014 DAY 1: April by Kunbi, Weiz Dhurm Franklyn, Pablo Sisiano, Otumemine, Phunk Afrique, Orente Ayaba & Samson Soboye

2014-10-30T08:36:00.000+01:00

This year's Lagos Fashion and Design Week holds at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island. We got our press passes, lights, cameras, and will be bringing you all collections from the runway, the exhibition, and a bit of backstage too.

Fashion Focus exhibition by new names in the Nigerian design industry showed lots of promise. Designers showcased included L'Emiral Couture, Fruche, Cinnamon & Pearl, TitiBelo and several others.

Seasoned designers who took the runway on the first day include OtumemineCouture, Sisiano, Weiz Dhurm Franklyn, April by Kunbi, Samson Soboye, Amede, Orente Ayaba, and Phunk Afrique. The most captivating works were by Kunbi Oyelese of April by Kunbi, and Weiz Dhurm.

FINDING HOME: Nigeria's First Spoken Word Theatre Production

2014-10-25T21:42:00.000+01:00

This November, something fresh and unique will be hitting the Lagos art and entertainment circuit. Finding Home, a theater piece delivered entirely in spoken word poetry, and scheduled to tour across Africa, will make its grand debut at Terra Kulture on the 14th of November.

Finding Home follows ten dynamic characters across Africa, abroad, and back again, as they tackle the fluid concept of home and identity, exploring the hopes and disappointments of young cosmopolitan Africans in the place of their birth.

Featuring a world-class ensemble of performance poets including Nigerian-American, Bassey Ikpi, Titilope Sonuga, Efe Paul Azino, Donna, Ndukwe Onuoha, Obii Ifejika, Sheila Ojei, Sola Fakile, Wanna Udobang, Sage Hasson and Plumbline, the performance will be directed by British based director and actor, Femi Elufowoju Jr.

According to renowned performance poet and member of the production team, Efe Paul Azino, "Finding Home tells a story of African international migration we are all familiar with. The desperadoes who brave the Sahara and the Mediterranean to make into Europe; the hustlers who leave wives at home to marry women abroad old enough to be their mothers; women trapped in vicious cycles of prostitution; those who cross thousands of miles to sell their kidneys; these stories are told through one of the most compelling mediums ever and by some of the finest performance poets in the game. Finding Home pushes the boundary by being the first spoken word theater production to be toured across Africa with performances in Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, and Johannesburg. We invite guests, partners and sponsors to join us as we make history."

The production is coming from the stable of G.R.I.O.T, a poetry collective, and GbagyiChild Entertainment, conveners of popular Lagos based arts and entertainment gig, Taruwa.

Governor Fashola Explains The Idea Behind October 15 As The #LagosHornFreeDay

2014-10-12T08:14:00.000+01:00

Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola, threw more light on the idea behind his administration’s innovative initiative, “A Day Without Horn In Lagos” coming up on October 15, 2014, describing it as a step towards sensitizing residents to the harmful effects of noise pollution.

Governor Fashola Explaining The Idea Behind October 15 As The #LagosHornFreeDay

Speaking at the State’s first “Lagos Drivers’ Appreciation Day” held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday 9th October, Governor Fashola said the #LagosHornFreeDay was an initiative of his administration to persuade citizens on a better way to drive than indulging in noise pollution which has been found to be harmful to their health.

“It is for our own good, it is for our own health, it is for our own life. It is not because Governor Fashola said so. It is not because Lagos State Government said so. It is simply because it is good for us. Doctors have told us it is for our own ultimate good”, the Governor said, re-enforcing the remarks of the Guest Lecturer, Dr. Kubie Enitan Layeni-Adeyemo, who put the harmful noise level at 70 decibels and above.

Guest Lecturer, Dr. Kubie Enitan Layeni-Adeyemo

Thanking the Guest Lecturer for her “very informative presentation” about the adverse effect of noise on the quality of life of human beings, on their well-being and on their health, Governor Fashola said reduction in noise pollution would clearly bring about “better life, a healthier life and a more prosperous life”.

Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa

Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa speaking with journalists

Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, promised that Lagos Drivers have been mobilized for 15th of October Horn-Free Day adding that all the motor parks in the State now wear banners put up by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and other stakeholder unions while contact has also been made with drivers’ employers within and outside the State for the occasion. He also said the Drivers’ Appreciation Day and the Horn-free Day would be an annual event.

Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, Governor Fashola & Deputy Governor Mes Adejoke-Adefulire

Also present at the occasion were the Deputy Governor, Hon. (Mrs.) Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Oluseyi Coker, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), members of the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) and other agencies of the Ministry of Transportation as well as top government functionaries.

ONIKOLA Movie by Funmilayo Fiberesima: an exposé on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

2014-10-07T21:57:00.000+01:00

I spent a whole afternoon with the beautiful Funmi Fiberesima somewhere quiet in Lekki, and it was simply one of those occasions in real life we all wished had a replay button. Our chat bordered on everything in the entertainment industry, with a degree of focus on her new movie which premiered the weekend before.

ONIKOLA doesn't just touch on a most critical issue which is mostly muted by our society, but dissects the web of complications shrouding that most vile culture of butchering the vagina of little girls, using Kumbi (played by Funmilayo Fiberesima) as a case study.

Most people see female genital mutilation in the same spectrum as child witch-hunting, but to me, it is far worse. At least the so-called child witches are accused of something! Those girls have no clue why they are so painfully being sexually deactivated for life.

ONIKOLA literally means The One Who Marks (the circumciser), and this movie centres on Kumbi's rejection of being mutilated, while making reference to Omosewa (played by Ronke Ojo) who has been circumcised, and faces the torment of living with her scars of frigidity.

One thing this film doesn't do is belabour every scene with the message of FGM. It truly is an entertaining masterpiece featuring other actors as Ibrahim Chatta, Sunday Afolabi and veterans like Dejumo Lewis, Bunmi Olatilewa and Tola Oladokun.

Follow @F_Fiberesima007 and watch out for her upcoming movie, "ONIKOLA". Its about Genital Mutilation.
— Bar Baric (@Bar_Baric) August 1, 2013

Shooting started in February 2012, and by August last year, I promised this movie was worth waiting for. It premiered at the Ikeja City Mall on Sunday, October 3rd, and goes to DVD. Attending the premiere were the heavyweights of the Nigerian movie industry, particularly stars of the Yoruba genre. Get the DVD, watch it, enjoy it, learn, and thank me later. You can't possible go wrong with a movie written by Gbenga Adesanya, Steve Anu Adesemoye, and Abosede Oshin.

The cast of Onikola, From Left Bunmi Olatilewa, Sunday Afolabi, Funmi Fibresima and Yinka Salau

Kunle Afolayan and Yinka Salau

Guests

Tomiwa Kukoyi

Essence with Funmi Fiberesima

Collins Talker

For The Love Of Country: A DAZZLING MUSICAL THEATRE RENDITION OF THE NIGERIA STORY

2014-09-13T10:34:00.003+01:00

The city of Lagos comes alive this September as For The Love Of Country returns to Terra Kulture courtesy of Slum2 School Africa, a social advocacy group created to change the lives of children living in rural communities, and the Creative Nigeria Project to support charity efforts to raise funds for the Mentorship Hub for urban slums in Lagos.

The musical featuring the Crown Troupe of Africa is an interpretation of the last 100 years of Nigeria’s socio-cultural history skilfully delivered by leading musical and screen acts. It will offer the rare delight of listening to a mix of timeless Nigerian songs.

In a press release by the curator of Creative Nigeria Project, Ferdinand Adimefe, he stated that “Investing in the lives of our children is the best way to secure our future. This is why we invite you to join the effort of Slum to School and Creative Nigeria Project. Through the For The Love Of Country event, we hope to raise Ten Million Naira [N10m Only] to establish community mentorship hubs in Makoko.

Also, the founder of S2S Orodaam Otto also stated that this event is one of the creative ways the organisation is seeking to raise fund. With a huge team of volunteers and thousands of children taken off the streets, this mentorship hub will provide an opportunity to offer quality programs and activities that will further develop the children.

The Slum 2 School is a social advocacy group created to change lives, especially that of the less-privileged and orphaned children. In the last two years, they have impacted over 3000 Orphans/Vulnerable out-of-school children, through the provision of educational scholarships and other psycho-social support programs. The vision of the group is to transform the society by empowering disadvantaged children to realize their full potential.

Dates: Showing Sunday 23rd and 30th, September, 2014 at Terra Kulture, Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island.

Time: 3pm (matinee show) 6pm (evening show)

Tickets: Regular N3000, 5000 for Couple and VIP 10000. (Refreshments and Souvenirs)

Tickets available at: www.naijaticketshop.com, Ice Cream Factory – Lekki, Terrakulture - VI.

www.creativenigeriaproject.com or call: 08033870575

IKEJA CITY MALL ‘CATWALK IN ICM 2014’

2014-08-08T13:15:00.000+01:00

Where else but in Ikeja City Mall would you find a shopping mall alive with musical performances and electrifying runway exhibitions. ICM presents the second edition of the IKEJA CITY MALL FASHION AND MUSIC SHOW. It’s an event with unmatched glitz and glamour, designed to showcase the summer collections of fashion stores in ICM, bring together the best of youthful celebrities, models and artistes to entertain guests at the shopping mall.

This show which will happen in-mall would have the ICM tenant stores as sponsors.

The Ikeja City Mall fashion and music show promises to give you the best of fashion display, light and music performances from your favourite models, music artistes and comedians. Hugely anticipated through this event is customer patronage and delight especially amongst teenagers.

Activities will include electrifying catwalk by top models, music performances by top celebrities, comedy, dance, raffle draws, special sales/auctions and celebrity guest appearances.

Participating stores in ICM include: FOSCHINI, MARKHAM, MANGO, MAYBRANDS, US POLO, KIDZ COUNTRY, WRANGLERS , JACK & JONES, BLACK UP, BRUNO’S PLACE, CASABELLA and DA VIVA.

The event will also host internationally renowned models, Ken Okoli (Mr Nigeria 2010) Adedamola Cruz (best model of the world Africa 2011) Victor Kwen, Francis Chinko, Kelvin Godson, Michelle Udoka(Miss Global Nigeria 2013) Micus Pius (Mr Universe Nigeria 2013) to mention a few.

The event date is 9^th August 2014 at ICM located at Obafemi Awolowo Road, Alausa, Ikeja. Red carpet starts at 4pm and the show opens at 5pm and it is absolutely FREE.

For more information visit the ICM Facebook Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/ikejacitymall, www.ikejacitymall.com.ng , the blog http://www.ikejacitymall.blogspot.com and Twitter @ikejacitymall

So, why not come and enjoy the best of fashion and music at Ikeja City Mall!

Osun Elections: Aregbesola's Former Colleagues Speak Up For Him

2014-08-07T16:22:00.001+01:00

These videos are about Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola's commitment to freedom for the people of Osun. A sincere man, motivated by helping the poor and vulnerable, is mischievously characterized as a religious fanatic.

His former colleagues in the Lagos State Cabinet debunk this lie. From Pastor Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN to Dr. Leke Pitan, Wale Edun and Senator Mamora; they fortify the widely-held view that Ogbeni is really a rare gem and one for the people.

Bloody Wedding On A Friday Morning (OPERATION AURE)

2014-08-07T16:12:00.000+01:00

The atmosphere was calmer on Fridays, the officers beer nights at the mess, kids played carefree, and even the weather always seemed fairer in the barracks on Fridays.

Not this Friday. The tension in the air could cook an egg. The children didn't come out to play; they didn't come out at all. Not this Friday were the skies blue, didn't rain and it didn't quite shine.

The wee hours it was when came the banging on the chalet door.

"It has begun sir. The boys here in Abeokuta have struck" shouted the firm voice outside.

Still trying to snatch out of my dream, I heard him again.

"We have to get to Supreme Commander." He had a husky voice with a deep accent. Familiar, yet quite different than I'd heard before, Lieutenant Dada it was.

"How can we rescue the Supreme Commander" I asked.

"No sir, we will have to do the same thing. The same thing they did to us on January 15th." He replied.

"What?! Operation Aure?" I enquired in shock.

I'd hoped that this day would never come, prayed it would just roll itself under the rug. Rumours of the July Rematch had been making the rounds, the officers whispered it, the recruits longed for it, but no one knew the whens, the hows, the ifs. All we knew were the whos and whys.

Now I just asked and they just told.

"Yes Sir, The most important target is the Supreme Commander. For as long as he is there, everything we are doing here is nothing. We should go there."

I tasted the fear in my throat. Tried as I did to swallow, there was this discomfort that lingered in my neck. Flavoured with death.

Still in pajamas, I ordered Lieutenant Onoja, just returned from training in America, to hand me his US army fatigues, wore them over my pajamas and grabbed his grenade. I needed a grenade not a gun, a way out rather than get caught. Itd be a mission of suicide if ever did turn sour.

Onoja telephoned Lieutenant Colonel Murtala , informing him that we could no longer obey his stand down order. The Wedding, codename Operation Aure, had already been initiated and identities of our officers compromised so we couldnt stop now, lest we all went down.

We screened infantry men to get those whom we could trust then myself, Dada, Onoja, Lieutenants Shelleng and Bako herded them into two Land Rover vehicles and headed for the Government House in Ibadan.

It was no task disarming the men guarding the Presidential Lodge as we got them into what they thought was a drill. Before long, we'd rearmed loyalists to our cause.

The 4th Battalion which I failed to recall at the time was the most chaotic of them all. They were remnants of the Glovers Hausas the British governments answer to the Third Reich in Burma. Plundering massacring mindless vandals trained to take pleasure in crude torture, pointless interrogation, and unfettered violence. Yet, when it mattered the most, I forgot to remember.

After Major Njoku escaped, the rattling machine gun fire made it clear what these soldiers yearned; blood, enough blood, so much blood as to eclipse January 15th.

We laid siege at the building several hours before the Governor came down. The shock on his face seeing me,

"Major, what is it you want?" He Demanded.

I'd rehearsed the words over and over all through the night, yet bringing them alive was much harder.

"Sir, you're under arrest, please raise up your arms." I stammered.

As my voice grew bolder, I added "We want to arrest you, and we want to arrest the Head of State."

These were the most deadly words any soldier should never have to utter. Lieutenant Colonel Fajuyi looked me in the eye just one flash and gradually shifted his gaze to the grenade in my left hand. His last iota of doubt evaporated as he led me into the office where General Ironsi sat at his desk waiting.

"Yes, young man, what is the matter?" Ironsi asks. His voice was calm as one expecting flimsy messages from an errand boy. He caught a glimpse of the explosive in my grasp, and seemed to bother even less.

I moved in his direction with Fajuyi in front of me as I retort sharply,

"The matter is you sir, you're under arrest. You killed our brothers, and in January, when you came for support, we risked our necks quelling the mutiny. The dissidents were not court-martialed, now we hear through this journalist 'Peter Pan' that you will release them and declare them national heroes. National heroes for killing the Sultan? For maiming honourable soldiers?"

I stared at his mystical crocodile totem, imagining it come to life with the breath of an industrial size vacuum cleaner, sucking in the ammunition from the 106 recoiless rifles...

What People Are Saying About Governor Rauf Aregbesola

2014-07-31T09:37:00.000+01:00

The current Governor of the state of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola is headed to the polls on the 9th of August to let the people of Osun choose if they would rather continuity to difference.

As much as no formidable opposition exists to give credible threat to the Governor's second term bid, the truth is that the percentage margin by which he wins will go far in showing how much the electorate has appreciated his projects, policies and performance.

As is usual with campaign season, there have been voices from all over Nigeria, especially the SouthWest, either commending, or condemning the first tenure of Aregbesola. Here are their own words.

What you believe, of course, depends on who you believe in, and who you trust. On the 9th of August the Osun indigenes themselves will forge their own voices together, and it will be more resounding than whatever any individual has said.

#OsunDecides

The People Of Osun Are Going Somewhere

2014-07-13T08:50:00.000+01:00

I have seen people move, and I have seen people march. I have been to the State of Osun, and had my perception about where this particular group of people are headed changed. Over the past decades, Osun has not particularly had prominence in any facet of Nigerian life. Today, there is a man who is changing all of that, and building a movement bigger than anything seen in Nigeria since the days of independence.

Rauf Aregbesola

Before I came to Osun myself, I'd found it difficult to believe if truly, or why really indigenes of the State of Osun were so drawn to this man. On my last trip, the crowd was so huge, I started to feel agoraphobic. The last time a crowd that huge was witnessed in Nigeria, it had been the days of "Occupy Nigeria" fuel subsidy protest at Ojota, Lagos.

Having spoken to Osun people from Oshogbo, Iwo, Ikirun, and even Ede too, and having been in various parts of the state, these crowds don't surprise me anymore. The things happening in the State of Osun under the leadership of Rauf Aregbesola are similar to those seen with Donald Duke in Cross River state. The Governor doesn't observe things going on in surrounding states in an attempt to measure up, he just blazes his own trail, doing what he feels should obtain in today's world.

All the towns we've visited in Osun so far have pipe borne water. An amenity only enjoyed in the highbrow estates of the most modern Nigerian cities. It may be due to the lower population in comparison to the major cities in Nigeria, but I'd given up on public water supply in Nigeria till I got to Osun.

I'm not one to harp about road construction. Roads are as basic as electricity, but Lord knows if any government has provided as much electricity as Aregbesola has constructed roads, then maybe we would be giving that Vision 20: 2020 a second look. There are standard roads all over Osun state, from Oshogbo to Ikirun, to Ede. The most amazing road for me was the Gbongan Road which I plied on my way to GTBank. The road would be a good road in another state, but in the State of Osun, Aregbesola is tearing it down and re-building it among the new network of super-highways he refers to as "Ona Baba Ona" (the Roads Above All Roads).

Gbongan Road Under Reconstruction and Expansion

Roads leading to my hotel around Ring Road, Oshogbo

Some road we passed heading to Ede

Of everything happening in Osun, if the education sector is allowed to continue as it is, eventually, Osun will become the educational capital of Nigeria. The Governor is executing minimal rehabilitation projects in the previously existing primary and secondary schools as much as to maintain them till all 11 of his ultra-modern school complexes are commissioned.

Salvation Army Government Middle School, Oshogbo

Osun school kids using the Opon Imo to learn just like their contemporaries in France, USA & Japan

O-Meals employs 3,000 women to feed more than 250,000 school kids daily

Ejigbo Ultra-Modern School Complex partly demolished the morning it was scheduled for launch. Investigations are on.

In the early hours of the morning, the residents of Ejigbo were awoken from the sleep by a loud bang, and then a crumbling sound. Farmers and hunter who were already about their business, say they saw a flash. Few minutes after these, an auditorium of the newly constructed Ejigbo High School had turned rubbles on the ground. The state Government has launched investigations into the matter, in order to ascertain where responsibility lies, and execute punishment. I was very disheartened about this collapse of the Ejigbo High School auditorium, as one of my missions to Osun had been to capture images of this educational edifice.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola is seeking re-election to Government House, Oshogbo, and so far, the only dissenting voices I've heard are those of other candidates contesting for the same position. As for the people of Osun, they are going somewhere, and they've found the man who is leading them there: Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Ogbeni Leekansi!