Troubled Times for Lagos Schools

By Eddy Odivwri

It has been a tough season for Lagos State. The state has been limping from one trouble into another in recent times. The dust from the collapse of the 21-storey building in Ikoyi had barely settled, with many families grieving, when the report of the #EndSARS protest of last year got leaked out. The content of the report literally inflamed emotions of many Lagosians, nay Nigerians, as it relived the raw taste of police plus army brutality against peaceful protesters at the Lekki tollgate, on October 20, 2020.

Matters were not helped with the release of the Government’s white Paper on the report. The said White Paper further set the state government against the people, as it denied many of the crucial points contained in the Judicial panel’s report. The state government has been struggling to contain the spin-off from that report . The Peace Walk proposed by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, along with notable Lagos celebrities aimed at dousing the tension generated by the Judicial panel’s report, did not or has not taken place, as many of the celebrities have turned down the governor’s invitation.

Just when the state government is trying to get a breather from that ugly development, then the Dowen College tragedy happens. A 12-year old boy, Sylvester Oromoni died from injuries allegedly sustained from the bullying and beating from some senior students of the college. And the boy died. It is one death that has thrown the whole country into deep mourning at a time the world is preparing for Christmas, the season of Joy. The fire of anger lit by that death has continued to spread. The presidency, two days ago, got interested in the matter.Parents of students of Dowen College led a candle-light procession during the week. Police say they are investigating the circumstances that led to the death of the young lad. Some of the accused boys plus the Housemasters of the hostel where the beating allegedly took place have been arrested. Nigerians are waiting for the outcome of the investigation. The state government, peeved by the tragedy has ordered the immediate closure of the school, owned by Dr Olumide Phillips, an engineer. The school had mismanaged the tragedy when it claimed that the boy died from injuries sustained from playing football. It was an offensive narrative. All the students have been sent home, at a time they should be writing the end of term examination. The fire of that tragedy has hardly smouldered when yet another tragedy struck.

Last Tuesday, a trailer ran into some dozen students of Ojodu Grammar school, in the Berger area of the state and crushed them all to death. The children were returning from school. The brakes of the said trailer was said to have failed. Again, the school has been shut down till next year. Before the killer trailer got to the scene of the accident at Berger, it must have passed through several check-points manned by Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) and even Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) whose duty it is to confirm the road worthiness of vehicles plying the highway. But too often, they are more concerned with two papers— wads of paper money or/and papers issued as vehicle document, aka ‘particulars’; without checking the tyres or brakes or light etc. of the vehicles. The consequence , often is what happened at Berger, to the shame of these regulatory agencies.

The number of families thrown into needless mourning at such a time only confirms that the times are indeed perilous. May God shield us all from tragedies and calamities, even as my heart goes out to the Oromoni family as well as the families of the Ojodu Grammar School students.

Comfort Onotakaroma Ogbomo (1937—2021)

By Eddy Odivwri

Somehow, I was deluded by her goodness to forget that she is a regular mortal who must suffer mortality at some point in life. Thus, at nearly 84, I yet assumed that she was still full of life and still had life stretched forth for her. But by 23rd August, 2021 when the final bell of life tolled for her in far away London, I was dazed and struck with shock. She had, until the final ailment that knocked her off our shores, Mrs Comfort Onotakaroma Ogbomo, nee Ifihwe, my very dear paternal aunt, had hardly shown visible sign of an ailment, save the knock-on effect of arthritis.

She had been my main stay in London, each of the times I had visited. A few times, I would even miss my way from the airport, but she would direct me home. Over time, the Lewishan, South east London district had become pretty a familiar terrain, all thanks to Mummy. She had been in London for nearly sixty years. Save her eldest daughter, Alice, all the other four children were sired in London.

Given her length of stay in the city, she practically knows the city inside out.

In those days of my JJC in the city, my auntie it will be, who will guide me on my daily outings. She knows practically where all the numbered buses go to, including the bus stops where they stop and where they don’t. “If you take Bus 36”, she would say, for instance, “it would stop you at Debtford…. Cross over to the other side and take Bus 12 to Oxford street…..”, she would direct with clinical accuracy. You would think she had worked as a Conductress on London buses.

A couple of times she had practically held my hand and led me to neighbourhood markets where one could buy beautiful and exotic items at cheaper prices. Content as ever, it was not for her the vice of covetousness. Simple but elegant, she was rooted in her culture. The over six decades of stay in London did not dilute her love for her people and culture. Little wonder she was a very active member of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), UK Branch, a body that similarly stood tall and strong for her at her death.

Mummy, as we often called her, was a super gentle woman who never courted violence nor could stand it. Her mien was completely that of a peace loving person. Slow in speech, she was ever so patient and had a peculiar way of making you feel very loved and welcome. She had her special way of laughing that gives you the ease of life.

Too many times, one hears of how hostile “Londoners” can be when you overstay your welcome. But never this auntie. She would rather baby me, sometimes to a ridiculous point.

Her depth of goodness and virtuous disposition is amazing. Years back, whenever she came visiting Nigeria, it would be like a season of bounteous harvest for us. She would buy at least something for everybody, yes, everybody–from the oldest to the youngest. The women usually celebrated the big “George” fabrics she loaded home. She had a hand in everybody’s wardrobe.

As you read this, we shall all be gathered in Agbarha-Otor, near Ughelli, Delta State, to bid her farewell in her journey to eternity. I had, two weeks earlier, received her blessed body from British Airways, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and ferried same to Delta State.

That she will be sorely missed would surely be an understatement. Her generous soul supported by her selflessness and love for humanity and peace would be greatly missed. My dear aunty, coming to London henceforth will have to go through several layers of review. Farewell Albacore crescent, Farewell Lewishan, Farewell dear auntie. Good night!

Canticles…

Pushing the Nigerian Project

By Eddy Odivwri

I am sure that some of you who think President Muhammadu Bzuhari is not doing enough to reposition Nigeria, must be having a rethink now.

What has changed? Is life better now or bitterer?

Look, some of you will never see the good others are doing. How can you yet be asking if life is even bitterer (or more bitter)?

Do you need a soothsayer to tell you there is light at the end of the tunnel?

Exactly my point. I do not need a soothsayer. I live in the society. If it is better I will know, if it is bitter, I will also know.

You seem to forget that for you to have gold, you must go through the fire experience. Look, Nigeria has been going through the fire, in order to produce gold. And we are almost there. With the awaited swathe of investors to the country, you can be sure that the dark days will soon be over, It will soon be dawn

Did you say swathe of investors?

Yes, swathe of investors. Or are you not aware of the international marketing services Mr President had embarked on in recent weeks? Do you think it is for nothing?

Look, Mr President had gone to Paris, he went to Durban, South Africa and recently too, he went to the United Arab Emirate (UAE)

He despatched the Transport minister, Rotimi Amaechi, and his team to Greece, the week before and in all these , do you think the President is joking? Can’t you see the determination to market the Nigerian product? Can’t you see the deep and deliberate effort to reposition Nigeria in the global market? Or did you not also notice that as soon as Mr President returned from UAE, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo went back to the same UAE for a tourism Expo? Can’t you see that all these are all meant to attract the more profitable investment ventures to Nigeria?

Did you not hear that many foreign investors expressed interest in coming to invest in Nigeria? So, you just wait, things will soon turn around. And some of you who have been abusing Mr President will now be forced to start praising him.

I think, like Robert Browning’s My Last Duchess, you are too soon made glad. That the President and his Vice went to UAE in search of investors does not automatically translate to a swathe of investors. They may come. They may not come. In any case, even if they will come, I can assure you that the fruits of such efforts would not materialise before Mr President would leave office in 2023. Or do you think it is 100 meters race? Why is the President doing the right thing at the wrong time?

Nobody said it is a 100-meter race. Mr President is not so bothered about the arrival time of the expected investors. You know Mr President is not a typical politician. What is important is that the coming of the investors will grow the Nigerian economy.

The Minister for Industry, Commerce and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, has been working tooth and nail to ensure that the investment opportunities and potentials in Nigeria are not only well marketed abroad, but are also fully followed up with a view to ensuring that Nigeria begins to see and reap the gains of the marketing shuttles of the Buhari administration.

Do you think or assume that because Mr president went on an investment drive, that our problems are over? Do you know that the issues bothering us in this country are the final and actual determinant of whether investors will come or not?

Issues like what?

Need you ask? Even if you discount all other issues, you cannot ignore the twin problems of insecurity and epileptic power supply. These are red light to all investors

But there is a huge market in Nigeria for investors. And that is a deoderised incentive to investors.

My friend , don’t be too mercantile. Market is made for man, not man for market. Of what use is the market allure when life would be at such a risk?

Always remember that no venture , no success.

And as for unstable electricity supply, I am sure you heard of how peeved Mr President is with the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company leading to the sack of the management of the AEDC.

The Presidency has denied that report, saying it does not interfere in the affairs of the Distribution companies.

Whatever it is, what is important is that Government is making frantic efforts towards improving electricity supply across the country.

Truly, you are somewhat gullible. Electricity supply trouble is part of our history as a people. It is an enigma. We shall continue to live with it.

God forbid! If smaller and even bigger countries have solved their electricity supply problem, why should Nigeria continue to live with epileptic power supply? Or don’t you know it is one of the reasons many companies are folding up and relocating to other countries?

Let us continue to pray for Nigeria!