Biyokulule Online

Save Nigeria Group Demands Impeachment of Yar`Adua
Rhythm FM
Thursday, March 11, 2010

Protesters march along a road during a rally organised by the Save Nigeria group in the capital Abuja March 10, 2010. Hundreds of Nigerians gathered in the capital Abuja on Wednesday for a march to the presidency to demand the appearance of ailing leader Umaru Yar`Adua, two weeks after he returned from a Saudi hospital.

The Save Nigeria Group has demanded the immediate impeachment of President Umaru Musa Yar`Adua on grounds of permanent incapacitation and immediate transfer of full presidential powers to Acting President Goodluck Jonathan. The group yesterday stormed Abuja with a three-point- demand seeking an end to the invisible presidency of Umaru Musa Yar`adua and the invocation of Section 144 of the Constitution so that presidential powers will be fully accountable.

The group also demanded the immediate dissolution of the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF) which is alleged to have collaborated with presidential aides to foist this crisis on the nation as well as a quick and thorough implementation of the Justice Lawal Uwais Report on electoral reform.

The group contended that such a process should start with the immediate removal of Professor Maurice Iwu as chairman of the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) and the reconstitution of the electoral body with persons of impeccable integrity and competence.

Although the leader of the group, Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, was absent at yesterday`s rally, other prominent members of civil society groups, activists as well as an eminent cleric, Pastor Tunde Bakare, converged at about 9 am on the Unity Fountain at Maitama District of the city from where the protest started.

Yesterday`s protest came barely two months after the group led a mass rally in Abuja to protest Yar`adua`s absence and the refusal to transmit power to the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan. The protesters, who turned out in their hundreds, chanted solidarity songs while displaying placards with different inscriptions such as, “We Must Know Umar Musa`s Health Status In Line With Section 144 Now, Dissolve EXCOF Now, Greedy Governors Want To Destroy Nigeria, Turai Leave Nigeria Alone, On Uwais Report We Stand.”

At the Federal Secretariat, the group demanded to see the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, through whom they presented their petition to the Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, who presented the petition to the SGF, said the group was determined to fight to save the country from the influence of the few who derive pleasure in the failure of the country.

While receiving the letter from the group on behalf of the acting president, Ahmed commended Nigerian youths for their patriotism in what he described as a demonstration of democracy in action in Nigeria.

His words: “Democracy cannot survive if we do not hear the voices of everybody. What you have assumed in your own perception may be the very right thing to do. In democracy you might have others who may have opposing voice. Usually the superior reasoning takes effect in democracy.

“I would like to argue that in order to bring this democracy to the fore, you will know that in the maturity of democracy and the enthronement of government, political parties are very important. You will mobilize people like yourselves into political parties to be elected so that we can change Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, senate president David Mark and the speaker of the house of representatives, Dimeji Bankole, yesterday shunned the anti-Yar`adua and pro-Yar`adua protesters, who stormed the national assembly complex to register their grievances over the heath condition of President Umaru Yar`adua.

The protesters were however, prevented from gaining entrance into the national assembly by police officers, who barricaded all entrances into the national assembly complex.

Our correspondent reports that national assembly staff and visitors to the assembly had a hectic time trying to gain entrance into the complex because of the many security hurdles laid out by the police to prevent a breach of the peace.

When the anti and pro- Yar`adua groups eventually marched to the national assembly`s gate at different times, there was no principal officer of the national assembly to receive or address them.

Prevented from entering the complex, the protesters continued with their march to other parts of Abuja.

But, speaking to senate correspondents at a press conference, the deputy chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Anthony Manzo, said the Senate leadership was unaware that the protesters were banned from entering the national assembly.

He explained that the national assembly was ready at all times to receive anybody or group that engage in a non-violent protest.

(Description of Source: Port Harcourt Rhythm FM in English -- Privately owned radio)

Article Says US `Interference` in Nigerian Affairs `Likely` To Increase Tensions
Pambazuka News
Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Article by Funmi Feyide-John: “Nigeria`s Constitutional Crisis and US Interference”

With Nigeria locked in a constitutional crisis, Funmi Feyide-John discusses the role of the US government`s interference. While praising the Nigerian government for its ability to calmly transfer power to Vice-President Goodluck Johnson following President Umaru Yar`Adua`s absence due to poor health, Feyide-John writes, the US`s alleged favouritism towards particular political players risks severely undermining democracy in Nigeria through casting whoever ultimately ends up as president as a foreign puppet. In meeting former military dictator Ibrahim Babangida in Yar`Adua`s absence, Feyide-John stresses, the US`s actions give credence to suggestions of its intent to secure a Nigerian base for its AFRICOM (Africa Command) initiative and bolster its access to oil, as part of political dabbling which will doubtless have a lasting impact on Nigerian politics.

The ties that bind between Nigeria and the United States of America run deep. In 2009, Nigeria was the third top supplier of crude oil to the United States, but its `sweet bonny crude` is of the highest quality in the world. Nigeria is the United States`s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, and the US is also the largest foreign investor in the country. Additionally, the US is home to a growing number of Nigerians in the diaspora, with the most educated group of immigrants in the United States being Nigerians. As such, it is no surprise that the happenings in Nigeria are of particular interest to the US government. However, the ongoing constitutional crisis and political uncertainty revealed the possibility of American interference in domestic affairs. Such interference could have significant consequences for the future of Nigerian democracy and even Nigerian unity.

Recent Diplomatic Issues

Despite the significant relationship between both countries, in recent years that relationship has experienced some strain. After the 2001 terrorist attack on American targets, Nigeria was listed as a country with terrorist ties. There was a strong response and reaction from the then Obasanjo-led government, eventually leading to Nigeria`s removal from the questionable list. Since then, the US has issued various travel warnings about Nigeria.

In addition, Barack Obama`s decision to make Ghana his first stop in sub-Saharan Africa was considered as a snub by the Nigerian populace. It generated much debate and the ruling party, the People`s Democratic Party (PDP), even went as far as accusing Obama of seeking to destabilise President Yar`Adua`s administration.

The fact that a previous attempt by Yar`Adua to visit the White House was refused only added to the concerns that relations between the countries were deteriorating.

Another source of contention was the recent fallout experienced by Nigeria and Nigerians after a student based in the UK, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, attempted to blow up an American airliner. Abdulmutallab, a Nigerian citizen radicalised in the UK, travelled to Yemen to become a terrorist. Despite the fact that his father warned the US authorities, and that America had enough information to prevent his attempt on 25 December 2009, in the days that followed Nigeria was placed on a `terror prone` list. The Nigerian authorities vehemently criticised the US placement of the country on the list, with Dora Akunyili, the minister of information, going as far as saying that the list `discriminated` against Nigerians. Akunyili even asserted that Nigeria`s inclusion had `the potential of undermining longstanding and established US-Nigeria bilateral ties`. The US countered that due to the absence of President Yar`Adua, who left Nigeria in November 2009 for health reasons, their officials had nobody to communicate with.

Nigeria`s Constitutional Crisis

On 23 November 2009, Yar`Adua was rushed to Saudi Arabia for a medical emergency. It was later revealed that he suffered from pericarditis, a hardening in the lining of the heart. This was in addition to a pre-existing kidney condition. For over two months, Yar`Adua`s absence raised constitutional questions about how a vice-president can assume the executive power and functions of the president. Section 145 of the constitution was interpreted by many to require the president to issue a letter to the National Assembly asserting intent to temporarily transfer power. However, a court recently ruled that the president is not obligated to formally inform the National Assembly of prolonged absences, thus making the transfer of power automatic when he is away. But, this ruling did not dampen concerns about Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan`s ability to act as president and Jonathan himself played it safe.

The American Reaction

During the uncertainty caused by Yar`Adua`s absence, the US joined France, Britain and the EU to issue a joint statement that stated:

`We commend (the) determination to address the current situation through appropriate democratic institutions. Nigeria`s continued commitment and adherence to its democratic norms and values are key to addressing the many challenges it faces... We are committed to continue working with Nigeria on the internal issues it faces while working together as partners on the global stage.`

A week and a half after this statement, both bodies of the National Assembly, with the support of all state governors, declared Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan Nigeria`s acting president. While many appreciated this crafty resolution of a 79-day-long constitutional crisis that was grinding the business of the nation to a halt, the legality of the action became a concern. The US, nonetheless, immediately praised Nigeria for its `democratic handover` and on the very day that he was declared acting president, Jonathan was visited by the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson.

At an event honouring 50 important Nigerians in Abuja, former American Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice towed the American line, stating:

`I am certain that Nigerians would find within their democratic institutions a way to deal with the current crisis that you have; but with that said, my prayers are with your President and my prayers are with your Acting President with whom I met ... and with all of your other leaders who must lead Nigeria through this critical time.`

She continued:

`If we ... reaffirm the principle that Nigerian democracy will be strong and honourable and deliver for its people, I am quite certain that we will look back and say “a job well done”`

This encouraging tune soon changed once it was rep orted that Yar`Adua had returned from Saudi Arabia. Johnnie Carson issued a statement in which the American government expressed its concerns:

`Nigeria needs a strong, healthy, and effective leader to ensure the stability of the country and to manage Nigeria`s many political, economic, and security challenges. Recent reports, however, continue to suggest that President Yar`Adua`s health remains fragile and that he may still be unable to fulfill the demands of his office.

`We hope that President Yar`Adua`s return to Nigeria is not an effort by his senior advisors to upset Nigeria`s stability and create renewed uncertainty in the democratic process ... As a nation of 150 million people, Nigeria`s democracy and its continued adherence to constitutional rule should be the highest priority.`

Evidence of Interference

Beyond this and other strongly worded statements, news reports now allege that Yar`Adua`s return was spurred by American intervention. Specifically, it appears that American officials advised their Saudi allies to send Yar`Adua back to Nigeria. Because a Nigerian envoy was prevented from seeing Yar`Adua while in Jeddah, America allegedly warned of the `major international and diplomatic problems` that could arise from that action. Additionally, the air ambulance used to transport Yar`Adua to Nigeria was allegedly provided by an American medical firm.

Furthermore, Johnnie Carson and US Ambasador to Nigeria Robin Sanders held a two-hour visit with former military dictator Ibrahim Babangida while Yar`Adua was in Saudi Arabia. This action has raised ire and suspicion in the press, with reports that the Obama administration wants Babangida to replace Yar`Adua, assuming he resigns or is impeached. A comment by an American spokesperson only stoked the flames when an anonymous State Department official clarified that the US government does not refer to Babangida as a `former military dictator... We see him as a former head of state (and an) influential leader in the northern part of the country.` The US government officially stated that the visit was to commiserate with Babangida on the recent loss of his wife since he is a former head of state and member of the Nigerian Council of State.

Interference Could Backfire

By dabbling so openly in Nigeria`s political affairs, the US will likely increase certain tensions. Specifically, Johnnie Carson`s visit to Jonathan on the day he became acting president must be interpreted as the US government`s support of the act. While that in itself is not an issue, such support lends credence to the belief among many that the Obama administration disliked President Yar`Adua and his supporters. The continuous statements about Yar`Adua`s return by the US only make matters worse because even though Jonathan was made acting president, the constitutionality of that act is in question and has forced the National Assembly and state governors to begin modification of the constitution. The US being seen to take sides will only increase the friction between various interests in the matter.

Additionally, the very public support of Jonathan, and snubbing of Yar`Adua, will serve to weaken whoever eventually becomes president of Nigeria if Yar`Adua were to resign, be impeached or die as president. US dabbling will give opponents of whoever becomes president ample ammunition to accuse that person of being an American puppet. This possibility would not bode well for Nigeria, where politics is a delicate game of tribal and religious concerns and many other crucial factors. A president that is seen as a puppet of anyone, especially a foreign government, will simply be considered a weak leader and will be unable to accomplish much of anything. After Nigeria`s experience with Yar`Adua, who was constantly belittled and whose leadership capacity was constantly questioned, a new leader weakened by American interference will be unforgivable.

It must also be mentioned that while Yar`Adua`s supporters come from all corners of Nigeria, his primary allia nce is to the northern elite, which for a long time has worried that it might lose control of the presidency to a southerner. Although unwritten, there is an understanding among Nigeria`s political elite that presidential power will shift from the north to the south every eight years. By snubbing Yar`Adua so publicly and repeatedly, America might force the northern elite to take undemocratic measures in order to ensure their hold on the presidency. This could include a military coup, or, it could encourage the northern elite to place pressure on northern and other politicians to stall the democratic processes being used to iron out Nigeria`s political crisis.

Furthermore, while America has historically been popular in Nigeria, its popularity has decreased significantly in the north due to its anti-terrorism campaign, which is seen to be anti-Muslim. American interference in Nigerian affairs would only increase the distrust of northern Muslims, who would see America as working against their interests and kinsman Yar`Adua. This could also be interpreted as a pro-south measure that would trigger some of the very tribal and religious conflict America claims to want to work with Nigeria to end. America`s interference could therefore deepen the tribal and religious divides that already result in the loss of lives and property, as exemplified in recent Jos fighting.

The meeting of US officials with Babangida is another very public problem that will call into question whether America`s interests actually lie with the Nigerian people.

Although the US refuses to acknowledge Babangida as a former dictator, their actions say otherwise. Babangida was previously refused a visa to the US and only recently received one so he could be by his dying wife, who recently lost her battle with cancer in a California hospital. Such duplicity cannot be ignored.

What must also not be ignored is the fact that Babangida is not one of Yar`Adua`s staunchest supporters. In fact, when Yar`Adua was announced as the PDP presidential candidate in 2007, Babangida`s name was mentioned repeatedly as a northern alternative. Also, Babangida embarrassed Yar`Adua shortly after the Guinean coup of 2008. Sent by Yar`Adua to impress upon that nation`s junta that the coup would not be tolerated, Babangida instead returned with praises for the coup plotters. This caused great embarrassment to Yar`Adua and further weakened his position as leader of Nigeria and possibly even the office of the presidency. For America to pay a former dictator and coup supporter a visit of any kind only dispels statements that the US is a supporter of Nigerian democracy and the Nigerian people.

And there is the additional factor of AFRICOM (Africa Command). When America was looking for an Africa headquarters for its military command centre, Yar`Adua, on behalf of Nigeria, rejected outright American overtures to find a home for AFRICOM in Nigeria or within its sphere of influence. While AFRICOM still operates in the waters of West Africa via partnership training programmes with various African governments, it remains an initiative of the US government to find an African location for the outfit. This meeting with Babangida, a former military officer and dictator, raises questions about whether during Yar`Adua`s absence and sickness, Babangida and others will be used to improve America`s chances at securing a Nigerian base for AFRICOM. Doing so will only further allegations that America is solely interested in Nigeria for its sweet bonny crude oil, to the detriment of the people who are yet to benefit from oil sales, particularly those in the Niger Delta. This could spur a return to the violence in the Delta region, which has slowed down but threatens to erupt again given the current state of political uncertainty in Nigeria.

While the Nigeria-US relationship has suffered some bumps along the way, the recent reports and evidence of American interference in Nigerian politics could present future challenges to that relationship and possibly to Nigeria`s future. It remains to be seen whether America`s public dabbling in Nigeria`s current political insecurity will be a success for American interests in Nigeria and the region. But what is certain is that the risks taken by the US in interfering in Nigerian politics will have a lasting impact on Nigeria now and in the future. The only question is whether this lasting impact will be negative or positive. For Nigeria`s sake, one hopes that it will be positive, but only the future will tell.

(Description of Source: Oxford Pambazuka News WWW-Text in English -- Pambazuka is the Kiswahili word for dawn, and is an “authoritative pan-African electronic weekly newsletter and platform for social justice in Africa.” Its publisher has regional offices in South Africa, Kenya, and Senegal; http://www.pambazuka.org/en/)

Nigeria: Columnist Says Nigerians Full of Internal Terrorism to Engage in Foreign one
THeNews
Monday, March 1, 2010

A woman holds a banner during a rally organised by Save Nigeria group in the capital territory of Abuja March 10, 2010.

From the “Opinion Column by Tope Olaifa: “Letter to my Alma Mater”

There is no doubt you have received and nurtured many of my kind since you were founded 50 years ago. Therefore, you may not remember my face or my form. I am Tope Olaifa. I was Tope Ashade when you received me. I was one of the second set of girls admitted into your fold in January 1971.

I came in raw, not molded, without form, without focus, with my portmanteau, an Hausa-made mattress, my bucket, hoe, cutlass, broom, and of course the excitement of owning a tin of Bournvita, 12 tins of evaporated milk, biscuits and five shillings for the first time in my life! I resided in you, known only by a few who referred to me as `Eti Ewe`s sister.`

Do you still remember Yemisi Ogunbiyi? She was Baba Kala`s daughter. We became very close friends in our fourth year. Perhaps these are enough to throw some light on who I was.

Ever since I left you, I, like the others, have been thrown into the world, an unorganized Nigeria. The concept `Nigeria` as an entity did not particularly register while I was still under you. You know that then I lived in a world whose perimeter ran round Otta, branched at Atan and closed up again at Otta. Therefore, grasping Nigeria in her true form after I left you was overwhelming to me. It, indeed, still is.

Permit me to present the nation Nigeria to you the way I see her. As a 50-year-old child who still needs to be held in order not to stagger and fall, Nigeria to me is a living paradox - a poor, rich nation! True, Nigeria is endowed in terms of resources with oil, bitumen, tin, ore, and limestone innumerable and in the words of the late Barkin Zuwo, `akoi minira falafala`.

The paradox of it all lies in the human capital available to manage these mineral resources - a poor sort. It is therefore not out of place to say that the misfortunes of this country are man-made.

In the area of politics, Nigeria has constantly missed her focus. Ours is a country where the right people are not interested in holding political office. The wrong people who know `next to nothing` about governance are the ones who often contest for political posts.

Those who have been managing the affairs of the country, although in some instances well read, have proven to be intellectually incapable and highly unenlightened. They base governance on `trial and error` and impulsive tendencies. There are no clear cut guidelines. The 1999 Constitution in use is replete with faults and loopholes which have, over the years, stubbornly resisted amendments. Every successive leader governs Nigeria according to his whims and God save us, if he is a moron.

The country, it seems, has offended former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose third term ambition was aborted. In anger, he therefore decided to punish Nigerians by leaving the presidency vacant after him. He planted Umaru Yar`Adua there. This is a country where anything goes.

Since 2009, international political watchers have realized that the presidency in Nigeria has been vacant. For one reason or the other, Nigeria has not had a feel of governance. The past 80 days have been worse. For some political mathematics, the nation has been left in chaos. That is the kind of leadership the country, Nigeria has been unlucky to have.

To aggravate the situation, Nigeria sent an emissary to Saudi Arabia to visit her ailing president who absconded from office for about 80 days with impunity for constitutional arrangement.

He must have enjoyed the pride of ethnic constituency. I doubt if anyone from any other tribe in Nigeria will dare such. Nobody pretends in Nigeria that all animals are equal anymore.

The menace of corruption is a challenge to every Nigerian, at least when one is at the receiving end. There is hardly any enterprise in Nigeria that does not require a `godfather` and this means that one must bow, tremble, and worship at his feet.

One becomes a stooge of such, perpetuating his ideals and carrying out his wishes. At a point, one might need to be reminded of one`s true identity because it must have slipped into oblivion for disuse.

The fight against corruption in the days of President Olusegun Obasanjo, though largely successful, was criticized for being obviously selective. The respite was that whether selective or otherwise, the people convicted actually committed those crimes. The Yar`Adua rule of law approach to the fight against corruption has rendered the whole exercise ineffective and the EFCC `lame duck`.

One begins to wonder if truly this government is out to fight corruption. The Transparency International Corruption Perception Index carried out on 180 countries of the world reveals Nigeria as number 130th on the list with a 2.5 aggregate score while New Zealand, with a score of 9.4, comes first.

Since the government is not serious about fighting it, whatever one could do, within the ambit of law, to mitigate corruption should not be left undone. The prerogative of battling corruption therefore lies with individuals.

Mutallabism is another ill rocking Nigeria now. Mother, last Christmas, 25 Dec 2009, precisely, Farouk Abdul Muttallab put Nigeria`s name on the list of terrorism-prone countries of the world. A lot has been said about the background of this child who apparently came in contact with terrorism while globe-trotting.

The child has been blamed and is currently facing charges in American courts. His parents have been interrogated by the world press, the FBI, and the US Senate etc. Nigeria`s name has been inserted into the list of al-Qaeda adherents.

The implication of this is that if Nigeria had been covertly set apart for diplomatic scrutiny before now, she would justifiably be overtly isolated for such purposes. But, more importantly, Abdulmutallab`s action raised a fundamental moral question: where have the parents of this poor boy been throughout the boy`s entire life?

Farouk`s action is utterly condemnable but he is simply a child suffering the consequences of neglect. The Nigerian rich does not put premium on child rearing. He feels that money can and will settle all of his child`s needs. Farouk`s parents threw him into the boarding house at the age of 10 in far away Togo, leaving him in the care of his peers and, perhaps, an overworked house master.

He was left in the dark to wobble his way to light. Leaving Togo, he was sent to London. He has been to America, to Dubai, and Yemen, among other countries. His father`s reaction to extremist traits noticed in him was a mere face-saving gimmick of the rich and the affluent.

It was very typical. They, at such critical moments desperately want to divert blame from their person to cover their personal inadequacies. A very rich father once faced his delinquent child and said: “They are going to kill you eventually and I will be glad to supply the bullet that will finish you.” This is tough talk one will say.

But where was he all the while in the life of his delinquent child? At what point in the child`s life did he become perverse? And, would a parent be honest enough to assess his own role critically and accept blame for it? Farouk`s father might claim to have been too busy to attend to his child, but was it the same with his mother?

Where were they the child`s entire life? Interestingly, the Deputy Senate President of this great country, Senator Ekweremadu has called for a national award for the senior Mutallab. What a shame! If the world vindicates them, they have God to contend with. The voice of the desolate shall continue to echo in their heart until they accept that they have failed the child, the nation, and the world.

In my quiet moments, mother, I have often wondered why the United States is so jittery about the 25 Dec attempted bombing of the Detroit-bound aircraft and has hastily added Nigeria`s name to the terrorist countries list. The truth is that Nigerians have enough of internal terrorism to care about than to engage in international terrorism.

Suicide bombs in form of religious, ethnic, and environmental conflicts harass the Nigerian body politic persistently. For example, a suicide bomber in the form of religious conflict just visited Jos and Kuru in Plateau State leaving in its trail hundreds of dead bodies, including those of little children.

The average Nigerian is thus too occupied with this that going out to terrorize other countries is the least of his priorities. If any Nigerian displays an al-Qaedaic tendency, he did not learn it from here, but abroad, where stupendously rich folks send their children to acquire all forms of knowledge.

Such is the situation in Nigeria today. How much of these can one chronicle? Nigerian schools are fast becoming venues for recruitments into social vices. Teachers no longer have a strong hold on the students for fear of being harassed by parents, student groups or at times religious leaders.

In certain parts of the country teachers have been stoned to death and burnt for religious reasons. For this reason, teachers are now careful. They are contemplative about the way they do their job. The result is that our schools breed unrestrained youths; capable of perpetrating any form of evil.

The society has made education unattractive. Youths are no longer interested in learning. They rather prefer to acquire crooked and unwholesome knowledge that would spin fast money and affluence. The older citizens of the country perpetuate themselves in offices to the detriment of the young and up-coming ones. In fact, there is a plethora of ills prevalent in the Nigerian nation. The nation is at present in a quagmire.

The exalted position of traditional rulers in Nigeria has been diminished. In the Nigerian constitution, they are brought under the local government. The implication of this is that traditional rulers are assigned no specific functions in the society.

Their traditional role as conflict managers in their domains has gradually slipped off their fingers. Every little disagreement is settled in the court of law these days. Nigeria is embroiled in needless protracted conflicts that threaten its development.

Therefore, mother Igrasian, this is the time for you to speak to your offspring. The virtues of honesty, diligence, effectiveness, good leadership, responsiveness, sensitivity to noble causes, and accomplishment which you have instilled in them are of essence now.

Your children need to take up public positions of responsibility, so that they may carry out effective positive changes in every sphere of national life. Let their light begin to shine in their own little corners that the world might see through their light.

Mother, let them know that charity begins at home. Stir up in them the spirit of giving so that they may give their time, energy, and money to uplift the status of this school. Let them remember always to come home and pick cobwebs off your beautiful face and shower you with part of the wealth you have taught them to acquire.

Let them rise to the challenges of this nation and contribute their quota to its development.

Mother Igrasian, the beloved, there is so much to say but little time given. I shall come home more often beginning from now to intimate you with the latest happenings in the nation. But for now mother, I say goodbye and see you soon.

Yours affectionately.

(Description of Source: Lagos TheNews in English - independent weekly news magazine)