My COVID-19 Experience & advice on how to survive self isolation

Who should become our governor?

There is no better time to discuss the matter of selection of a leader for our dear State than now. One of the main objectives of this movement is to able to ensure the actualisation of the Plateau heritage. We cannot do this by criticism only when events have occurred, but need to be able to move people to understand what should form the focus of ideology towards ensuring that one that has a passionate desire to bring about our collective dream to fruition emerges. It is not hidden the fact that we are in dire need of economic growth, employment generation, basic educational support for school children as well as adequate health care provision. The matter of security is second to none other, if tourism is to be boosted. The latter is not only from sporadic attacks from the "hedgehog" as explained from my earlier article, but from continued internal terrorism posed by theft, organised armed banditry and kidnapping. To be able to understand these collective goals, our people will need to be dissuaded from accepting "salt and change of raiment" penultimate to elections aimed at buying their consciences. You agree with me that this recommended change of attitude will require a long time and mobilisation support to achieve. We shall keep in view this as a long term goal for the MOVEMENT.

In less than four months, we have a short time to be engaged in this laudable objective of moving our recommendations from the electronic media to grass root ideologies. With the insatiable appetite of the hedgehog for blood-letting on the Jos Plateau, and due to the recent bomb blast incidents, we should be able to sell our recommendations. People on the Plateau are gradually understanding who among the politicians are self-seeking and hence changing their priorities to appreciate long term goals rather than "spoonfuls of porridge" for immediate gratification of prolonged starvation. It has been these immediate gains that led some among our fathers to sell our heritage that has led to the current proverbial "fish-bone down the throat" phenomenon for which we, the children have had to be drooling saliva from. It definitely has never been the best of times for our dear land.

The selection of credible people for positions of authority should and could have been done during party primaries. For lack of "specifications", the one who can pay the bills often gets selected to represent the party in most instances. I know that apart from being able to pay the nomination fee and show of interest fee, the only other criteria is to have been a card-carrying member. Hasty checks on codes of conduct are provided with the mere procedural modality of ticking the boxes carried out by an incapacitated system. So, you notice that the chance of those whose business have been self-seeking and robbery to emerge is high. With a promised transparent electoral system in place, we can choose to believe the propaganda for once and ensure that one whose qualities we shall further enumerate becomes our leader. Since we have the mandate to determine who wins at the polls, we hope that one or two political parties, or an independent candidate will produce credible candidates.

We may have little or no resources for our campaign but I believe we have got links to families who can spread the word to their neighbours. The query remains unsorted. Who becomes leader for the State?

I wish I had a name to provide, but I leave the choice to our collective minds. It is always easy to identify who does not deserve our vote based on past "wrongs" committed in the community- some of which are relative, ranging from being perceived as "not greeting me" to sponsor of terror attacks on the peace-loving people of our land. Basing our choice on identification of a saint shall thus elude our quest. We need to identify one whose records are glaringly not hidden from us. A man or woman who has been involved in community activities pre dating the election time.      There is a difference between someone who criticises the government for not providing water for the people and one that mobilises the community to provide and or make safe a clean source of drinking water for example.

Commissions of enquiry have been sitting severally in Jos to listen to how to solve the problems of peace on the Plateau. Some people for wanting to be "politically correct" have kept mute, not enthusiastically articulate, or did not even submit any memorandum to the members of these Commissions. Sure, we know them. How do we think they can defend what we stand for overnight if elected?

Let us look at the aspect of engagement of our youths in productive ventures as well as employment generation. Many previous politicians have used the principles of fish distribution to win votes. We need to let the current generation know that we want to be taught how to manipulate the fish-net and hooks. Our loyalty will span the term of office and ensure continued support against disgruntled moves. They should know that if we are restricted to the fish and cow option, we will opt for the highest bidder and yet remain aloof to their plight during governance. To ensure that one who knows how to create jobs and use human resources, entrepreneurship or engagement of our siblings in federal-character controlled job openings, the past records of these people shall be helpfully consulted from fora such as sister organisations. How many industries has been created by the person? Has he been helpful with scholarships for financially challenged promising locals? Any earlier advocacy for the development of the human resources that we have in the State? Look at his/her immediate extended family. Has he/she been living for me, myself and I and not supportive to those around him/her? We can be sure that such a person would continue to be that way after the mandate. Any change will only be minimal and utilised to advance his/her ambition alone. This has often produced sycophants  and politically-motivated annihilations, often distracting one from the actual governance; besides being a niche around which other crises breed.

Previous records of leadership should not be hastily dismissed. This should however be low down in the list of priorities for making a decision as tenures come and go and no one person continues forever.

We should therefore watch out for one whose proactive venom is strongly loaded with zeal to produce a dream state for all of us on the Plateau. A place that shall be the envy of the other States of the federation. A dry old stick cannot be easily bent. Move away from those who steal resources from us and donate same at launchings, accompanied by long speeches. We must not be guided by their supposed "God-given visions", but by sound and rational evaluations of what we consider to make good and purposeful leadership. Their story of how they had conquered the lion and the bear must have been accompanied by an evidence of haven participated in delivering our people during distressed situations. He does not need to be tall and handsome, but able to battle the hedgehog and not giving promises to woo those who can handle the current issues on the Plateau.


Nimzing Ladep

Jos Plateau NLPG: Is Jos plateau sold for destruction?

Jos Plateau NLPG: Is Jos plateau sold for destruction?: "The recent bomb attacks in this beautiful city that has served as a haven for many and sundry provoke retrospection and deep meditation a..."

Is Jos plateau sold for destruction?

The recent bomb attacks in this beautiful city that has served as a haven for many and sundry provoke retrospection and deep meditation as to the future of "The home of peace and tourism". Who owned this city and why has he not kept watch when the destroyer crept in through the crack, window or the gateway while the watchman gave himself to revelry and drunkenness? Was there no succession plan? Was the tongue of the elder slurred by a curse that it resulted to the current loss of control? Why are the elders creating a matter of concern for the children. If our only inheritance is sold, where do we start our future from? Remember that our weapons of war had been deceitfully retrieved from us by the arbitrator, making us believe there will be no need for them. They then gave us the name, PEACE and gave us lots of food(which was corruptly kept away from us by some within our ranks).

Our fathers took to drunkenness while the intruder divided our inheritance among themselves and their unborn children. When we talked, he gave us the allegory of the snake and the hedgehog and said, "Whoever is most inconvenienced and feels uncomfortable should move out of the hole." Gradually, we moved centrifugal from our cherished inheritance unaware of the long-term plan of the enemy. We hoped that the hostilities would give way to understanding. That was our understanding of peace. We thought that will stop the advancement of the hedgehog. We had hardly burrowed additional holes when the hedgehog appeared, this time with additional missiles from the porcupine and started shooting from a distance; demanding we moved away from the left-over property. Alas, a new territory was emerging that had an agenda alien to our culture. The hole enlarged to become a cave we dare not move close to.

The deceitful arbitrator came to the rescue and thought a political assignment of control be given to the land. He used this system to widen the rift within our ranks. At this time, we became suspicious of our parents for selling our property. Then we found out that some of our brothers were promised some change of clothes and bottles of wine. Being earlier impoverished, it was a big opportunity to escape poverty. But our siblings did not know that what they were offering was a bait to create more enmity among ourselves. When it was discovered that the gap in our relationship was wide enough, the arbitrator withdrew, claiming we were old enough to offer solution to our problems. At this time, he had lumped us together as one (included those that has deceitfully took over property). He claimed a law (with its discriminatory interpretation) exists to solve these kinds of disputes. Instead of rising to the challenge of reversing his mess, he clashes us with our enemies and causing a misinterpretation of the matter at stake.

We mentioned during the settlement that we were being fought for our choice to embrace a particular religion, but were told that our problem was political. We presented evidence to show that a religious war had been declared on us from within and outside the country, but for want of political relevance, the judges spoke in euphemisms and declared that we were being eccentric. To prove their point, they let go those who troubled us. Our chronic wound remained abhorrent to our bodies, waiting for the next available provocative fly to take a painful bite. From time to time the healing process of this wound has become thwarted and has fast become cancerous and disseminating. Unless a Surgeon's knife is placed for a radical solution the rest of the country will in no distant future become sites for tumour seeding.

Realising that there were some casualties during earlier pursuits, the hedgehog developed a new strategy. To gain control and move in without getting a bite from the snake, he has decided to shoot from afar. This time is therefore not time to run. We must develop new strategies of releasing our venom. Instead of waiting to bite before we release the venom we must develop the spitting cobra strategy. We can spit missile repellents or venom into the eyes of the hedgehog and his allies. We must stand together else we will wake up to find out that the territory we are struggling to keep has soon ceased to exist. We must understand that it is a fight for the soul of our land and agree to collaborate. We need to stop suspicions and side talks about our internal struggles. We ought to develop a strong gland system loaded with a heavy jet of profitable venom that will create an effect greater than the arrows of the intruder. One that can unshroud the strategy of the enemy and be able to produce impossible tracks of pursuit for him. With a common goal, we can only look back and be happy we are taking a turn. I thus propose the following:

Government
The executive and legislative arm of the government can pro actively produce bills with strong empowering components. I understand that there are no allowances for local policing in our country. There is however, every support for our governor to appoint government agents that can work among the people to cover security lapses of the current federal-controlled system. If it is everyone's business, you can be sure someone will do it. His name is No-one. There are many young and energetic unemployed people who can be trained to accomplish this. If you consider what we are spending on security at the moment, you will agree that it would take less to prevent the crises. Learn from Lagos state. When they employed additional traffic control personnel was it universally applicable or allowed? But you agreed it has worked well. When the then FCT minister banned Okada from the centre of the city did it not work? Security installations with bomb detection systems need to be put at specific sites at the slightest report of a likely incident. Other state governments should learn from our way of handling security matters just like Israel is to many nations. No rumour should be waived away as politically motivated. In the market places and public sites, rubbish should stay in their designated containers and people should be made to always carry their bags with them. This should be adapted as a cultural system of our city (the fact that bombs were successfully launched suggests that a pilot operation produced a proof of the principle: and leaves room to believe, more elaborate attacks are likely). Decisions of government should not be repealed based on the likely lose of political control. What has happened to the master plan project of the government, for example? Why do we hear so much noise of dissension within the leaders? Surely, this leaves a chasm for the arbitrator to misinterpret again the recent events. He will not say much about the selective sites of attacks. He will claim that it was an unfortunate development that is threatening the political survival of our land.

Religious leaders
It is somehow expected that the current events should occur based on the word. I would however, be happier if the persecution were following massive conversions, healing of the sick and miraculous events. But for the fact that our fathers embraced a pattern of worship which became culturalised and resisting an alien inversion has brought a mix of politico-religious interpretation to any mayhem; often swinging more in the direction of politics. The church however, need to be able to develop some security awareness but not to the point of barricading non-believers from the way to life. We need to remember that we ought to win and save souls, including those attacking the city. We cannot become physical like they. We should encourage our adherents to seek to speak the word of God boldly and that God should do mighty works of miracles among us. In supporting governmental efforts, we may insist those coming to the worship houses carry their luggages at all times, even when going to the loo. Any unattended item of luggage should be reported to the embedded security think-tank of the body. This may be more realistic for large assemblies. This should not relax when the hostilities simmer as is the nature with us. This way, we would be helping the government of the day to secure lives and property. It looks immediately gratifying to take up arms and pursue a virtual enemy. We risk creating a hatred for the message of salvation. We must not loose focus of what we represent.

Individuals
Peace maintenance is a role of all of us in this part of the world. When certain threats were given about how disturbed this time would be, I believe there were members of the society that heard the people breathing the threats. Were these people apprehended? Did they get reported; or did this information become known as a retrospective link to posthumously discuss the matters at stake? A lot of us have lost faith in the security operations as exemplified by the exchange of accusations between the erstwhile GOC and people in distress who sent text messages during the penultimate crisis. Keep sending information to the security system as soon as you can. There may be some swifter response compared to the past. Know however, that most responses from security personnel worldwide are often late; even though we seem to have later and more lousy approach than many nations. We can contribute to getting the system more transparent. We need to change our outlook to what we celebrate as achievement in life. We must move away from selfish ambitions and work for the common good of the land. protect your territory as jealously as possible. Only permit people to park their vehicles close to your business area/ house if you know them, or what they stand for. Ours is a matter of survival. Those instigating trouble can always find alternative homes ( as most direct culprits have been demonstrated to be non-Nigerians in previous events). We have got to vote in governments that has the good of our land at their hearts rather than giving mandates to those who want to build political empires at the expense of a mouthful of our future.

Our elders should look directly at our eyes and tell us who is trading with our inheritance. I believe there are still some among them who are sane and yet to get drunk with this wine of ambition. Name those who have decided to make a deal with our PEACE after getting us to surrender our arms in order to invite TOURISM. How did they get the "tourists" to pick up arms against the custodians of the land? Someone should speak please!!!