Good To Be Back

It is always good to be back on WordPress as nowhere else feels like here. I have been busy on official assignment in my country and back now to my original blog-family. It feel more like home here where one can bare it all without the fear of sentimentalists.

There’s a creed I hold true to my essence which I can barely describe and seldom mention, but in which I delight, and to which I cling, for it extends hope to all; it makes eternity a rest- a mighty home-not a terror and an abyss. With this creed, I can so clearly distinguish between the criminal and his crime, I can so sincerely forgive the first while I abhor the last; with this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degeneration never too deeply disgusts me, injustice never crushes me too low; I live in calm, looking to the end.

Thanks for being here, thanks for the referrals and thanks for the trust. Back now and never to leave again.

What’s your Legacy?

2018 Gani Fawehinmi Impact & Integrity Award Recipient

No one sleeps and wake up to prominence. Our passion, talent, resilience and tenacity have a great role to play in becoming. Life in itself is a journey and there is no arrival unless you die in the process. We all have something unique to give to society. We must continue to take advantage of our community, collaboration and commitment to service to raise more transformational leaders and active citizens who are easy to govern, difficult to rule and impossible to enslave. This is how we can leave a better legacy for all our children and generations to come.

OVATION SPECIAL

Ovation Magazine Special Interveiw of Segun SEGA Awosanya with Bashorun Dele Momodu (One time Presidential Candidate)

I spent many years digging deep into my being in the cause to identify my purpose and early enough before I became a teenager, it became lucidly clear. I gave up all that could weigh me down for flight to be possible and soon, thoughts become things.

Many wait for the storm to pass but those who understand the rhythm of purpose learn how to dance in the rain. This is my story and I’m glad a magazine I grew up reading is now featuring my story through Life, Leadership and Legacy.

What Exactly is your Hourly Worth? – @segalink

I love writing like I do other things that help me pull myself out of a dark place mentally. It takes a great deal of practice to replicate this on the daily. For me there is no other way to channel my attention towards something that will brighten up the day of another, than writing, confronting seemingly insurmountable issues and conquering in faith and resilience, playing musical instruments or simply curating a playlist from my huge and growing repository.

The process of solitude is what most can’t stand because human beings seem to do all they can to avoid facing their own self. Nothing beats conquering yourself first, which opens you up to an epiphany beyond your wildest dreams. Following the crowd is the easiest way to disrespect your higher self, as you widen the gap between the ego and the God self and eventually you lose your true self.

The crowd however may kick and call you unprintable names for being different and consistent, but note that you stop hearing those tantrums once your spiritual consciousness is beyond the realm of the flesh and ego. People hauling mud at you are only revealing how dark their souls are.

Anytime you feel you don’t fit in, it’s a sign that you are called to do something different and enabled for such a time as this. You are about to define a new category and you shouldn’t feel alone but learn to embrace your higher self. The world will soon come around when you finally manifest and understand the power within you in purpose.

A time will come when people will be willing to pay, just for you to be yourself around them and their products/services. So all the discipline and solitude will pay off in the end not just with monetary gains, but fulfillment as well when millions find themselves all because of your leadership example as a role model.

How Not To Celebrate Independence Under A Pseudo Democracy.

It is necessary at this point to reduce a few thoughts into writing over the growing intolerance of those we stampeded to power as ‘leaders’ over us. No sociopolitical architect that is worth his or her onions will describe Nigeria as a democratic republic based on the current trajectory.

The people are besieged on every side with career criminals occupying critical offices to perpetuate the agenda of a few. Personality as they say drives behavior and behavior drives decision making. This alone is the summary of the story of our current theatre of lucid absurdity.

The rabid attempt by demagogues lurking in balkanized institutions, especially national security outfits, is worrisome to say the least, as they have attempted severally to abort us from the womb of our imperfect democracy in the past years with their unconscionable and unprofessional conducts towards a political agenda against the unity of Nigeria as a sovereign nation.

Their effort to criminalize protests against Sections 30 and 40 of the 1999 constitution as amended, which recognize our fundamental rights to assemble with others towards the expression of our approval or otherwise of Government and their policies as at when due, is criminally obvious.

The disruption of peaceful protests across a NIGERIA by armed police deploying excessive force, doesn’t show we are dealing with authorities that recognize the critical role of security institutions at this point in our democracy.

Acute corruption is revealed when security institutions become partisan appendages to political parties as currently balkanized, thus, executing the scripts that see genuine call for accountability and transparency as the machinations of opposition seeking to topple their administration even without any shred of evidence of militarization. This identity politics of hate (populism) has gone too far.

Many active citizens are being harassed and threatened, while some are held under detention for daring to speak. Dadiyata went missing having being a strong critic of the Governor of Kaduna, Steven Kefason has been remanded in Prison over a Facebook post, Federal High court after refusing to grant the challenge of Omoyele Sowore on his detention by DSS finally gave in to pressure. Whether DSS will obey court orders is too early to call as bail conditions were met on this day the 25th of September, 2019. Jalingo et al are also in prison over same political persecution by people who have made themselves tyrants over the people they ought to serve.

We have suddenly become a country that persecute critics with frivolous charges and even attempt to pin treasonable felony on citizens simply because the demagogues drowning in the pool of idolatry can’t stand the criticism of their man made gods, occupying political offices, as a display of loyalty.

It even gets worse to realize that for the right price security operatives can arrange extradition order for anyone abroad baselessly or over trivial matters as simple as domestic disputes. No doubt the criminal justice system is rotten, expired and dysfunctional but the path to formidable change remains the collective resolve of all and sundry to demand accountability and transparency in order to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign.

We at the Social Intervention Advocacy Foundation (SIAF) will continue to lend our voice and stand by all citizens regardless of their creed, clan, clout, or craze, in collaboration with other civil society organizations. The agenda is to raise a critical mass of transformational youthful leaders and enlightened followers, who are easy to govern, difficult to rule and impossible to enslave to deliver the future of Nigeria.

It will take the inputs of all of us, for all our children’s sakes. The current trajectory is not sustainable and the repercussion of the current dangerous precedents is ominous. We must keep demanding for the unconditional release of all political prisoners under this administration. It is our duty as active citizens for the sake of our children.

Don’t be Silent and Don’t be Violent.

Rise As One.

Political Radicalism or Quandary? 🤔

Citizens must be wise at this point. This is the watershed moment I warned about many moons back. Don’t allow any one sell you any agenda caramelized in hate and prejudices. We are not fighting any ethnic or civil war. We are Nigerians, waking up from a deep slumber.

Hate the Herders (Fulani and the likes) all you want for their morbid sense of entitlement but note clearly that we are mostly projecting what we hate in ourselves. Sense of entitlement, the lack of apprehension and the inability to visualize the future, is an ailment that plagues us all in varying depths.

I’m sure by now people are beginning to absolve themselves saying they can not imagine themselves killing someone because of a Cow or Cattle. But let me provide the perspective since this is what is usually lacking.

The rhetorical question “Do you know who I am?” has created many undue advantages. It has absolved quite a number from punishment for a visible crime many may have gone to jail or paid a fine for. Our sense of entitlement if probed further may be our long lost identity of “Nigerianness.” This is why all the sectors of our economy including our government is being run based on who is connected to what and who knows who.

It is all about the network. So who you know or who you are connected to inadvertently becomes your potential net-worth, security and source of value (self worth) as a citizen. It also determines your access presumably to the social-construct often referred to as the dividend of democracy.

When the current administration successfully ditched their propaganda vehicle to power (APC) as engineered by the capitalistic politicians of the SW, their ideology was replaced by identity politics, which runs a totalitarian agenda that presumes that group identity is paramount to any other.

This construct is woven tactically in the politics of ethnic extraction and radical religious beliefs. It works because it operates in layers of inner core and outer core. Those outside the core have no direct benefit but the feel good effect that they are in charge by affiliation and can do the hell they want (a belief further strengthened by each box of religion, ethnic extraction or political alliance checked).

So understand the opium of the Herders (Fulani/Hausas alike) compounded by the lack of exposure to civilization and eduction. Crown that with the possession of Avtomat Kalashnikov (1947) AK 47 (Soviet assault rifle).

With the identity politics running, and the unfortunate posture of the administration tilted towards provincially skewed appointment of Northerners, mostly from the Fulani extraction defended as being loyalists and trusted allies of the President, nothing clearly communicates conquest to the unenlightened in Nigeria, like this structure of leadership.

With Regime security prioritized over National Security, most uninformed and even the educated ones affiliated by tribe or mere political alliance bask in that sense of entitlement and superiority. Take for instance the fortuitous appointment of Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu both of whom were astute in their own right prior the “strain” and see how they quickly transmogrified and became pitiable duo of bumbling turds, drifting in a state of mind consisting of pure sensation or emotion, induced by serotonin imbalance without an iota of cognitive content.

This can be inferred from their unconscionable epicaricacy when avoidable disaster hits. They will rather release a provocative article in praise of their idol from whom their job-security depends, while absolving the administration of responsibility cum negligence or keep mum on the issue completely, making the administration the most depressing administration any democracy can be cursed with. The worst of its kind if it has any matching evil in its league at all.

Interosculating this trait with the action of the Herders as represented by their association, pontificating on TV even after taking responsibility for committing a heinous crime, that cost the lives of over 60 people recently in Benue, including a pregnant woman and her unborn child, you will see how dangerous identity politics can be to human psyche.

We must also take cognizance of the fact that loyalty to personal interest (as demonstrated in the last administration that ended in 2015 by politicians in office) is equivalent to identification with the archetypal political hero- the “Messiah” – as driven by group pressure which decreases the unbearable motivational valence of the unknown. Furthermore, it provides the individual with a standpoint that simultaneously transcends and maintains the group identity (See the BMC/Buharists/Jonathanians and their associated traits).

Do we have to be convinced that the Nigerian Eagle’s wings has been clipped in order for a small group of selfish men to feather their own nests? Recognize the political ideological danger involved in this game that has been costing us the lives of our precious fellow citizens. It is deeper than hating people based on their ethnic extraction but borders more on the kind of leaders we elect to rule over us all. We are part of the problem and must take responsibility.

What’s #EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG Campaign/Movement all about? 🤔

Distinguished Citizens of Nigeria.

We have registered our strident discontent, displeasure and disappointment in the Police Service, especially as they ludicrously try to defend the indefensible and give steam to their blackmail, intimidation and attempts at silencing the voice of the people.

The Rogue unit – SARS has since become an Extermination squad and extortion syndicate, operating whimsically and capriciously across Nigerian States.

When you have a Police Service that operates without limits, – that which proclaims the rights to arrest, torture and kill anyone, anywhere with no warrants, no trial and no due process.

Chanting with pride:

I will kill you and Nothing will happen

When you have a Police structure that militarizes its Units and grants them the power to operate with impunity within your own borders.

The SARS are working perfectly – Force PRO

The Police arrangement that views you the people as the enemy and treats you as such.

A Police structure that lies, deceives and weaponizes its authority.

A Police Unit that kills thousands of harmless civilians simply because they felt it is a profitable means of livelihood.

When you have a Police that arrests, abducts, intimidates, implicates, incriminates, rapes, tortures, kills, violates the rights of innocent citizens and incarcerates them indefinitely without charges.

When you have a Police structure that supports terrorism enough to turn deaf ears to the incessant attacks of the populace by their lawless men for no just cause. Then we shouldn’t need to be convinced that it is time to act proactively to protect the future of our children.

In the spirit of understanding, let me continue to clarify for our @PoliceNG & the general public. We are not asking for the Police to be disbanded, we are asking for a shut down of a demonstrably criminal network within the Police structure and a general Police reform.

There is no doubt that the excesses of the Police (brutality and corruption) are undeniably entrenched in the structure due to age-long neglect and the Call for reform has been due for a very long time across our security agencies and government parastatals.

The wake up call is to put a premium on the lives of the future of Nigeria (our youths) who are the target of the menace.

Authorities should see this as a Call to focus on narrowing the gaps between the public and the police, which has created a lot of distrust.

Our authorities should take responsibility and look into those institutional gaps that make it possible for some police personnel to act beyond what the law permits.

The unprofessional attitude of the police is deep and has existed over a long period.

We can all agree that this has been made worse by the lack of appropriate recruitment policy, which is subject to abuse by almost everybody.

As such we end up recruiting persons of questionable characters due to lack of proper vetting.

Every Senator or Rep, every Oba, Chief or Emir, every businessman or woman etc want favors for their “candidates”.

Likewise, we fail to provide appropriate training inline with career progression. These are some of the issues we must tackle if we must move forward. There are No sentiments.

We recall upon assumption of office of the honorable minister of interior, closing the gap between the Police institution and the public was his initial focus but there are some constitutional amendments required to grant his effectiveness in engaging. The Bureau Of public service reforms tried to harmonize these incongruence but their recommendations never saw the light of day. The Police Service is a Law unto itself.

This is not an attack on institutions but a citizens action on systemic rot. It is not just SARS, we’re only using the overwhelming manifestation of impunity within the Police structure as a means of conveying an age-long issue bordering on oppression of the citizenry.

#EndSARS is NOT just a one-off event against SARS, or only a call for Police Reform, it also speaks to impunity of FRSC, as well as all uniformed and un-uniformed agencies and parastatals in Govt. (Politicians using sirens and escorts to oppress and harass commuters etc).

We are calling the attention of our Government to put a premium on the lives of our citizens across Nigeria. We are asking for a conscious system overhaul that has suffered neglect over the years and buried under political rhetorics.

The issue is beyond protests. We have a voice and we control the socialmedia space, even if we are irrelevant in the political space as systemically disenfranchised. We are using our United voices to demand that Govt pay attention to Critical issues that is decimating our people.

We understand that disbanding the police is not an option and that is not what this call is about, because certainly there will be no vacuum because criminals will take over the space.

But the authorities MUST identify the bad eggs & deal with them accordingly, while encouraging those who are good & professional with regards to Police impunity & corruption. Accept the assurances of our regards and best wishes as we await a proper response on the issues raised.

The ideological Movement will continue to stand in the gap to protect the lives of Nigerians and collect data on impunity of all kinds especially on the activities of Police and SARS. We will deploy technologies that will monitor this and flood the media space with our findings.

The Call also emphasizes the security lapses in the country while Police are distracted. This is our common goal void of politics, ethnic and religious bigotry. We owe this to our children who must not wear the chains of slavery and oppression. #EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG

– Segun Awosanya (@segalink) Convener

The Leadership of Change?

  

For those heaving a sigh of relief that this notorious revealer cum awakener has been quiet for a bit on salient issues, especially with an opportunity to pound the already dead Horse of deceit in leadership (Of Nigeria)…please don’t think your supplications in that regard will ever be accepted by the most high. 

We the people will surely overcome these great sorrow and travails as a consequence of the choice we were deemed to have made in opting for a nebulous change. 

It is lucidly clear now to us all that lofty campaign promises, draconian campaign propaganda, insane criticisms, phantom egregious and lugubrious missing funds claims do not necessarily translate to good governance should the perpetrators be given an opportunity to govern. 

Death toll is on the rise, owing to increasing security challenges, the economy is in shambles and our country is scheduled to be delisted from financial relevance amongst committee of Nations, amongst other politically motivated plagues. I say this not because I want to bicker or blame, but these two areas were the specific reasons why we bought into the Change rhetoric. Many of us are disappointed while some of us are still hopeful. 

I use the word leadership for lack of a better word and it must not be taken literarily as we have as a Nation been plagued by the dearth of effective leadership for decades. 

Let us examine (prove or test) the following; Leadership is not a technique but an attitude stemming from beliefs. One would wonder why people after so many experiences don’t change…it is mostly due to attitudinal recklessness or crisis. The ideas and convictions of our political leaders if X-rayed will reveal the source of most of our National crisis. 

Our beliefs will forever trump our education thus attitudes supersede aptitude. We can see how our PhD holders still think like slaves and are used as puppets by political ventriloquists while drop outs are making disruptive changes in the business sector. Education is not the same as revelation. Our dominion as given by God is not to oppress one another but to dominate our area of gifting for the betterment of our society. 

Acquiring information is not the same as understanding or comprehension. But in our country we applaud educated scammers who have sharp cognitive skills but lack impartation skills or the passion to apply themselves for the purpose of benefitting their society. 

We are a narcissistic people and our societal value system can only produce egocentric tyrants who can hardly govern but rule the ignorant populace whose political will has been subdued through division. This administration had a better chance of succeeding if only the leadership chose to hire his weaknesses but instead he chose to reward his political co-travelers of investors through Cronyism at the expense of Nigeria. 

It is sad today to note that a lot has changed. A good education can no longer guarantee success. A good education may present you an opportunity but never influence. How can you then lead when you can not influence others? Influence is what a leader is respected for and can bring forth benefits to the people he leads. Asides from unsubstantiated rhetorics what can we say is worthy of respect in the attitudes of our leaders?

Two critical elements must be examined in any true leader of repute; One is Manifestation and the other is Movement. May I at this point ask you my people what has manifested of recent as promised or speculated? Can we say our leaders have discovered themselves in the scheme of governance? Asides from the pussy Cat being sold as a Lion, with every “Meow” portrayed as a “Roar” how is that working in reality by those truly affected by the deceit? Is there a Vision or we are just hoping for a favorable accident? 

The other critical element is Movement. Every true leader moves the people from the present to a place of vision without succumbing to limitations or making excuses. Are we moving? Is there any sign that we hope to shift from the thinking of 1983? 

True leaders build culture and promote unity in diversity, they don’t maintain status quo or stagnated by old thinking but acts progressively. 

We must not blame anyone for our crisis as they come to make us innovate and move especially when we have been on a spot for too long. Rather than criticize the crisis let us examine and study it…there’s a favorable outcome for us citizenry should the government remain tacit. 

Leaders are born out of crisis Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Malcolm X etc…this current crisis is forging new breeds that will be the vehicle for our true deliverance as a people. Let us rejoice even as we experience the consequences of our choice. 

If there be true leaders amongst us, it is not time to blame or bicker but a time to renew our minds, innovate and contribute for the betterment of our people regardless of our differences. 
There’s a reason why God gave us weaknesses, it is for collaboration, there will always be people who are strong where you are weak however high you might be on the societal pedestal, the funny thing is that those strengths are not embedded in folks you know, like or at your level. To move forward we must first humble ourselves. #WeTriumphStill

Thanks for Saying No to Hypocrisy

 
While growing up I developed the habit for absorbing information. I could listen to an entire sermon of interest and preach it back better than I heard it. The only twist was that I live by those words, they are not mere garbage in garbage out as it were for some of my revered sources (as I discovered over the years). 

I grew up in the Protestant church and watched good Christian families rise and fall, good preachers also accused of propped up charges owing to envy and maliciousness in the house of God. 

Life taught me not to be too hasty to trust or admire the teachers of morality who discourse like angels, but live like mere mortals. It is interesting how acquaintances I’ve once enjoyed and places that I deem as a second dwelling have since become so contrary to my convictions. It’s like a veil was removed from my face and I see through the chicanery lucidly. But as for the players, they continue in their usual pattern to an unsuspecting audience who are grossly hypnotized by the acts of piety and ludicrous sanctimony amidst other distractions. 

For the effect there are consistent distractions in a manner that appeals to the adventurous and surely their expectations are met just as will in any club or lounge save for the spiritual caveat that compels them to comport themselves and do as told for the release of an utopian prosperity. But that’s not the worst part of this charade. 

Our spiritual establishments are now run like a vicious corporations with loyalities tied to the Overseer instead of the structure of the establishment fostering Christlikeness. There are many stakeholders but only one shareholder who pontificates and rule others whimsically with the don’t ask don’t tell policy. 

The very advice they give contradicts their personal affairs and actions forgetting that there are people watching them with high expectations. The Bible says that Christ is the epistle written in our hearts read by all men. This was no error as God expects us to represent his words in our walk in life. This lackluster display of moral disregard is not limited to the churches but also to the Muslims who now radicalized youths for political exploits.  

Like our religious organization like our government. Saying one thing and doing another is now a norm. It comes with no surprises these days. Politicians criticize one thing only to do worse when they get the chance and the people praise them forgetting where they were coming from. It is like a mass hypnosis in a country of Zombies with very few recessives. 

Our society have since mirrored this with parents giving advices to their wards but breaking the very same rule and expects compliance. The society is so broken that morals have no place in it anymore. It is perceived an anachronism for you to do the right thing where people do as they very well please.  

Little wonder my days in college were so disfunctional with lecturers with emotional diturbance who makes a victim of you and blame you for their personal woes. I thought that was an isolated case until I changed institution then work experience, and later private consultancy. Nothing really has changed except for the clarity and partial understanding of our world today. 

You either kill or be killed, you either look down on people or be looked down upon. You either get rich or die trying. Today, the world has become a stage for hectic competition to get the best in the shortest time while we lose sight of what we’re here for.

As they say human beings are political animals scheming to satisfy themselves with power, money and sex. No gift can be said to be free without strings attached. I walk around this world order like a stranger as none of these perspectives are applicable to me. I don’t care about dominating another, I don’t see myself as better than anyone else, I know the arm of flesh shall continually fail and I understand God’s Grace. 

The problem however begins when I expect others to be or act like I do. People are different and we are not equally gifted. Even if we arguably are not everyone understands purpose and their role in this earthly soujorn. Life is a mystery and destiny is not the same as destination. Life’s journey is not about arrival but the adventures along the way. When we arrive we expire and die. 

It is not difficult to live right, it is not hard to act right. Once we think of ourselves less but not less of ourselves we make the world a better place. I intend to leave the world a little bit better than I met it. If we replicate the same our children’s children will have no choice than to appreciate us even when we are long gone. 

The legacy our founding fathers left behind must not be derelict and regardless of what we are currently going through we must not be despondent. Practice makes genius, we can, we will, we must deliver our future and make the world a better place through our words and actions. 

I am no teacher neither do I pretend to be perfect but an embodiment of flaws stitched together with good intentions. I’m a fellow pilgrim in the journey of life you ask for direction who points ahead…ahead of me as well as you. We are in this together and I see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

Thank you for saying No to Hypocrisy. 

How Are You Living?

There he was knowing in his innermost heart that he would never again see his home. The clarity of his predicament shows vividly that he may not survive this, let alone walk again. His prayers had been limited to the grant of healing even if he will be walking into poverty for the rest of his days.

Emaciated, weak, gasping for breathe, hopeless and hapless…who would have thought that such a wealthy soul who seemed to have conquered the connected world will ever find himself in this position? The cars, the houses, the friends and other associates are worn of paying him visits but for the families and close knitted friends who he mostly ignored in his active life. The people he saw as a disturbance when the going was great are now the ones caring and looking after him now that the dusts have settled.

Is this the end? What would he be remembered for? What matters the most? Now that we can barely guarantee and hour of breath? Too many unfinished business…too many secrets. What happens to the moneys scattered across the globe? How he wished he had been nicer to his loving wife.

The greedy eaters dig their graves with their teeth…

Just Before You Expire; Is There A Future?

I  want to believe it is yet another time to reflect in appeal to my generation again based on the scheme of things in our great Nation. I’m going outside my comfort zone to write and publish my thoughts hoping you will all leave your comfort zone by reading with an open mind. No doubt there may have been some things you have missed or may have wilfully ignored.

In history as in life, it is the successes that matters. If you were to start a political upheaval and let yourself be caught, you will hang as a traitor (we’ve seen one too many of these in our society, with Ken Saro-Wiwa, MKO Abiola etc). But place yourself at the head of a rebellion and gain your point, and all future generations will worship you as the Father of their Country.

Yes, life may be unfair. History may not even be fair as you may have noticed how the very best are buried and the worst amongst us are uplifted to the highest political position. This is not limited to third world countries but a political strain across the globe.  Human rights are not only violated by terrorism, repression or assassination, but also by unfair economic structures that creates huge inequalities.

It is important to feel the anger without judging it, without attempting to find meaning in it. It may take many forms; anger at government’s action or inaction, at life, at your inability to succeed or be fulfilled. Life is unfair. Death is unfair. Anger thus become a natural reaction to the unfairness of loss.
However mean we may deem the world, It is unfair, then it’s fair. It’s hateful, then it’s loving. It’s a very peculiar place on philosophical, metaphysical and religious levels. Although I know life may be unfair, I believe some of us have chosen to reveal ourselves one mask after the other.

I’m documenting this not because of the now but as a legacy to mankind, to be delivered to generations to come as a present to the posterity of those who are yet unborn. Let this message resound in the minds of people of diverse ethnicity, to my friends and foes alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Nigerians, born in this century, tempered by psychological wars, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which our nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed as of today, at home and around the world.

The industrial age built the trap we are mired in but it wasn’t built at once, it took centuries to perfect. The seduction was just like those enacted by the past electioneering campaign that tore our fragile unity to shreds along religious, ethnic and political party lines. Seduced by the bait of decent pay and unimaginable rewards in riches. Seduced by the apparent security of the enclosure and once the gate was shut, we were kept in by the threat of shame, the amplification of risk, and society’s reliance on more shinier rewards.

The industrial age has since faded away and been replaced by the connection economy- the wide open reality of our new economic revolution but most of us have no idea that we are no longer fenced in like our fathers. The fence is gone! We no longer depend on the Print media, we have news on the go as they happen via our mobile connectivity. We have been so thoroughly brainwashed, intimidated and socialized that we still stay huddled together waiting for instructions (as dictated by the homogenous slave traits in our DNAs passed from the Slave Trade days of our founding fathers), when we have the first, best, and once-in-a-lifetime chance to do something extraordinary instead.

Contrary to what you may have heard, I’m writing these to tell you that we are all created to do the extraordinary (art). Better put, we were placed on earth to make art. Why? Because we must…the new connected economy of our world demands art (the extraordinary) and will reward you for nothing else. It is not enough to graduate from the university, because millions graduate from the university yearly but we must distinguish ourselves amongst the crowd simply because we can…this is what it is to be human in today’s world.

Unfortunately for us society has sold us the wrong message in deception, which suggests living life ordinarily and doing mundane things just to keep up with the Jones’. It has created a culture where we are constantly reminded about the dangers of standing up, standing out, and making a ruckus. Industrialists have made hubris a cardinal sin but conveniently ignored far more common failings: settling for too little.

We  are so obsessed about the risk of shinning brightly that we have traded everything that matters to avoid it. The path that’s available to each of us is neither reckless stupidity nor mindless compliance. The part that’s available to us is to be human and do the extraordinary.

We certainly can’t do the extraordinary when we justify evil all in the name of partisanship or prejudice. We can not also do the extraordinary while stuck in a period in our life where life may have seemed to be unfair to us because we did not have our way in certain matters. The certain thing about life is that it goes on…until we reach the end of our individual race.

The extraordinary also does not lie in finding fault n government or ensuring they fail just so we can say we told you so. It goes deeper than that. Nigeria remains our collective responsibility regardless of where our allegiance lies.

“In character and temperament, the African of this race-types is a happy, thriftless, excitable person, Lacking in self-control, Discipline (and) Foresight, (Full of) personal vanity, (with) little sense of veracity (fond of Music), (His) thoughts are concentrated on events and feelings of the moment, (and) he) suffers little from the apprehension for the future or grief for the past, (He lacks) the power of organisation, (and is conspicuously), Deficient in the management and control alike of man or business, He loves the display of power, but fails to realize its responsibility…Perhaps the two traits which have impressed me as those most characteristic of the African native are his lack of apprehension and his lack of ability to visualize the future.” – Extracts from The Dual Mandate (1926) by Lord Frederick Lugard (Governor General of Nigeria 1912 – 1918).

What will you be remembered for? 

The political calculations of 2019 and beyond is in the hands of each and every one of us within the age bracket of 18-55. It is time to be responsible and objective with the focus on Nigeria and her people. This is the time to tear the drapes and veils of partisan politics and be united as a people to avoid falling off the precipice. We are a great people in a great Nation and until we individually manifest we can not move on as a united people.

I’m committed to giving my all to the becoming of willing masses from every geo-political zone in Nigeria in developing an affirmative action towards galvanizing a critical mass of transformation leaders that will deliver correct political leaders and millions of enlightened followers that are easy to govern, difficult to rule an impossible to enslave.

It is time to begin the curation of a political atmosphere that guarantees that the most talented and qualified citizens run for political office and makes it impossible for institutions (electoral, political parties or groups) to impose their personal agenda on our collective destiny.

The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind. It is time to renew our minds and build our future. We Can, We Will, We Must deliver our future.

Stay tuned for how you can be a part of this great movement. Follow the blog by email and also follow @segalink on Twitter for further enquiries and information. 

This post was published first on:  http://www.segalink.com/2015/09/just-before-you-expire-is-there-future.html