THE YORUBA KINGDOM PART 1

To know the truth of history is to realize its ultimate myth and its inevitable ambiguity - Roy P. Basher.

On this note series of my post on this Topic will deal with the African history,the Africa culture so we could know where we once were and realized the good and the bad civilization has brought upon us.

In the precolonial era Africa used to be a very peaceful abode for its inhabitants and her tradition is one beauty to uphold for humanity. Majority of the Africa cities operate what is known as the monarchical mode of rulership where the king is the Primus inter pares and his subjects are loyal to the tradition.
Delving into the history of major African cultures,I will start with the history of the earlier Yoruba

kingdom.

The Yorubas earlier occupy the land to the south and west of the lower Niger. They form one of the leading tribes in Nigeria. Their neighbors are the Hausas and Fulanis to the North,and shared International Border to the west with the Dahomeyans - now referred to as the Republic of Benin,which was a vassal state of the old Oyo Empire between (1724 - 1823), and to the east is Edo state which was initially known as the Benin Kingdom.

ORIGINS
The Yoruba ancestors belonged to the Quresh tribe of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Their first father,according to history was Lamrud or Namrud. He had an idol-priest called "Ya-harba" from where the tribe got its name who also double as his son. The word "Ya-harba" is an Arabic word meaning 'warrior' or 'army-general'.
When Islam was introduced in Mecca in the 7th century, Lamrud, Ya-harba and their supporters refused to embrace the religion. Soon,the newly converted Muslims were forced to take arms against Lamrud and his pagan supporters. The pagans were defeated after which they fled the city,crossing the Red Sea to Africa. They got to Egypt in 648AD. Soon they moved to Tripoli,Algeria and Morocco. During this Journey the Idol-priest, Ya-harba, Consulted his oracle ,and he was told that he and his people should go to wherever the oracle directed them. They followed the Oracle's direction until they eventually arrived at Ile-Ife.

History related that Lamrud and Ya-harba died on the way. It was Oduduwa who led the Yorubas to Ile-Ife. This is why Oduduwa,and not Lamrud or Ya-harba, is referred to today as the father of the Yorubas. But even though Ya-harba could not reach Ile-Ife his people decided to immortalise his name by calling their settlement 'Ya-harba', which was later transformed to 'Yoruba'.

There were some who left Mecca with the Yorubas but who did not get to Ile-Ife. Some stopped at the bank of the Red Sea. These now form part of the ethnic groups of the eastern provinces of the Republic of the Sudan. They are known as the Bejas and the Adandawa in Eritrea and Ethiopia. Others are the Shajia (also in the Sudan). They, like the Yorubas, carry tribal marks. In the Chad Republic, there is also another group called the Wadai, who claimed the same historical background as the Yorubas. There are the Bagarinus and the Kanuris of Bornu who said that their ancestors came from the same place as those of the Yorubas.

THE CULTURES OF THE YORUBAS

The Yorubas are very rich in cultures. These include carving, painting, bronze and brass casting,dancing and a host of others. Excavations made around Ile-Ife have uncovered some of the carvings and other works of the early Yorubas. Some of these are at present preserved at Ife museum,Lagos museum while some have mysteriously got to other parts of the world,particularly to the European countries and America.
The beauty of the Yorubas is embedded in the social aspect of her culture. Festivals like the Egungun festival,King's coronation, Wedding ceremony,and celebration of respective Yoruba gods like Ogun,Sango,Osun and Esu etc.
During the celebration of this festivals,local and traditional attires are often on display for competition, drummers alike and dancers lights up the occasion with varying kind of dance steps.
The Yoruba also lay claim to local drums like the Gangan,Dundun,Bembe,Sekere and many others. Vocal praises like the Ewi,Ijala-always performed by the hunters,are also on show whenever there is celebration around.
Yoruba musics and songs are not only fantastic but also philosophical, proverbial and educative. This explains why people of other lands are often carried away whenever they hear the Yorubas beat their drums or sing their songs.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OTHER YORUBA TOWNS
As stated earlier, when Oduduwa decided to end their journey,the place they established their settlement was Ile-Ife which is widely regarded by the Yorubas as their cradle. Oduduwa and his people were not the aborigines of the land. This was because they found that there were some people already living there before their arrival. These people were headed by an Ifa priest called 'Agbonniregun'. But they were soon absorbed and Agbonniregun became Oduduwa's consultant. For example,he always consulted him on vital issues affecting the life of the city.
Oduduwa had a son called Akanbi or Okanbi who, in turn, had seven sons from his legal wife.These were 
Onipopo of Popo, Onisabe of Sabe, Olowu of Owu,Ajero of Ijero,Orangun of Oke-
Ila, Owa Obokun Ajibogun of Ijesaland and Oranmiyan who happens to be the youngest. The Ooni who succeeded Okanbi as the ruler of Ile-Ife was begat by a favorite female slave of Okanbi whose name is Orunto.

The story of how each towns are formed to make up the entire Yoruba land will be discussed on the next episode. Ema fi Okan Balo

Siasia to Recall Enyeama,Emenike,Others.

It is no hidden fact that senior players in the Super Eagles team are not comfortable with the coaching attributes of Sunday Oliseh which led to major fallouts with the erstwhile Super Eagles Coach.

In the latest development following the sacking of Oliseh,Samson Siasia, who is one of the coaches appointed by NFF as a caretaker coach for Egypt clash has revealed plans to recall Vincent Enyeama and Emmanuel Emenike to the national team. The two football stars announced their retirement from Super Eagles after reported clash with former coach, Sunday Oliseh. Speaking to the press on Friday, Siasia said;

“It is an emergency assignment. If they (the NFF) say we should do the rescue job, we have to do it for the sake of Nigeria. We will go for the best legs. I mean players with commitment, to ensure that we qualify ahead of Egypt. We will look at the players we believe can help the team, including Vincent Enyeama and Emmanuel Emenike who retired from the team last year. The coaching crew will sit down and make up the list, and the Egyptians must fall as far as we are now in charge.”

 

Fresh Crisis Hit Governors Forum As Oshiomhole, Amosun Shut Down PDP Governors - Pointblank News

Fresh Crisis Hit Governors Forum As Oshiomhole, Amosun Shut Down PDP Governors - Pointblank News

AGONY OF AN UNEMPLOYED GRADUATE

According to Oxford dictionary,"Education"is defined as a process of teaching,training and learning,especially in schools or colleges,to improve knowledge and develop skills.
Many years ago,Martin Luther wrote "The prosperity of a country depends,not on the abundance of its revenues,nor on the strength of its fortifications, nor on the beauty of its public buildings; but it consists in the number of its cultivated citizens, in its men of education, enlightenment and character". When he wrote this,he was of the view that education in its best form will refine and shape the future of a country,and he channeled this to inspire the developing countries, majorly black nations to invest more in education to fortify their immediate future.
Also as a way of encouraging developing nations,one of the MDGs that was set in the year 2000,by the United Nations,was that by 2015,children everywhere should be able to achieve basic education which significantly translate to achieving the first two set of the 6-3-3-4 educational system we practiced in Nigeria.
With the growing level of civilisation and development around the world,everyone exhibited a certain level of determination to pass through a certain level of education to be classified as literate citizens. After passing through thick and thin to acquire some certain level of knowledge,it is disheartening, and ridiculous that there isn't a platform to practice what you've garnered down the years. There is no gainsaying that a country that failed to harness its best brain and product is doomed. It is so hard for any Chinese factory to employ a non-Chinese because they have an effective education system that is productive,likewise India,Russia and many countries around the world.
It is crystal clear that those entrusted with the nation educational policy has lost their touch and have been left dumb headed by the rest of the world. The first major problem that has enveloped the education system of Nigeria is the inability of the system to encourage Functional education. Imagine a foremost university in the country teaching its computer science students FORTRAN programming up till date. Little wonder some Nigerian graduates are unable to compete with their mates globally.
Let me state categorically, majority of Nigerian students are brilliant,inquisitive,effervescent and can stand up to their mate around the world if the system is being fixed to be positively productive.
The Nigeria educational system can be described as a schematic way of enslaving the helpless youths by the power that be. The mode of slavery is to send children to school,upon graduation from a balderdash system, they will be turn to political jobbers,praise-singers,and indirectly turn them to worshippers of their ill-acquired fame and fortune. It is disgustingly frustrating,for someone to graduate and end up as a jobless citizen.
Nigeria educationists needs to adopt a functional educational system that corroborates practical and theoretical mode of learning together. Functional education should be Paramount in any society.It defines a role for the individual in nation building and it enables the individual to chart a meaningful path towards the realization of that role.Functional education builds a complete human being who is able to meet challenges of the world.
Another problem that has affected the education system of the country gravely is the compulsory One-year service for all graduates. It is imperative for me to state some reasons why I detest NYSC and described it as a wasteful program that needs to be checked and essentially needs to be reform. NYSC as a program has been successful in the aspect of instilling discipline in many people. The prior motives of the initiators of NYSC was to integrate National Unity amidst our diversity which was to curb the act of ethnic bigotry and accord mutual respect to a fellow country man, it is safe to say that NYSC on this front have been successful.On a larger scale NYSC is wasteful for individual development.Any system or program that gives preference should be deemed useless.
Why will a graduate of medicine be posted to a hospital and an Engineer will be posted to a secondary school to teach Mathematics?
Why will a law graduate be posted to a law firm and a graduate of Agricultural science be posted to a Local Government office?
It is apparent that one graduate will be able to further his practice on the knowledge he acquired down the years,while one will jettison all he has learnt for good one year. The program needs to be reformed or replaced with a better program- a program where graduates will be able to practice the experience they garnered in school to enable them impact positively to the growth and developments of their immediate community. Those that went to University of education or studied a course that is related to education should be posted to schools. It is sane that NYSC should be a program where graduates will be posted to their respective field.
Nigeria leaders down the years,were bunch of selfish,visionless,and corrupts people, who never took their time to understand the context and significance of education to the development of a country. India was never where it is today in terms of education, it was the dedication of the government, that led them to the India of today.
Jawarhalal Nehru,India first prime minister, took an economic decision that placed pressure on the education system of the country. He closed door on importation of any foreign products varying from the essential to the less valued product and encouraged indians to make use of locally made products that was not available at the time. It took those in charge of the education system to put the onus on themselves,they designed an effective system that will be able to meet the demands of the teeming populace,the result is India of today.
Sequel to the failure in the education system,National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) came with a structural plan which was never executed by the power that be. They realised that the main target of the plan was for the emancipation of helpless Nigeria students and graduates from the educational slavery we are being condemned to. It is conspicuous that the successful implementation of the NEEDS plan will improve the nations education system and consequently reduce the level of unemployed graduates in the country. The NEEDS plan structurally have in it,a goal with its respective targets and how to execute them. It is unfortunate we found ourself in a nation where a viable plan will be jettisoned by those entrusted with the execution of the plan because of their lack of vision and selfish interest.
Nigeria is humorously referred to as the giant of Africa-a giant with the head of a newt, a giant that is unable to cater for the needs of it body. Nigeria used to be a country with great potentials. It is frustrating that the future of the country lies in the hand of a growing number of unemployed citizens. The nation has failed to harness its potential at independence to secure the present which has resulted in the woeful state of the nation.
The growing rate of unemployment needs to be checked in order to dent a general saying that an idle hand is the devil's workshop. It need to be referenced that the mind of a typical youth is like an open-blanked book,where anything written is indelible. Unfortunately, we are in a society where bad influence is the order of the day. Bad influence is parasitic and found its host in a jobless person, the host need to be catered for in order to reduce the rate of negative influence in the society.
Bad influence and joblessness are entangled together and it takes a careful and viable action to separate them, if not done properly,the state of mockery Nigeria will found itself will be unbearable.
The growing rate of unemployed graduate in the country is an indication that Nigeria is a failed state, she has been governed by leaders whose only attributes is failure, and lack of progressive vision for the Nigerian state.
The present day government needs to checkmate the failure of the previous government and put in place a viable education system and economic plan where its graduate will be able to rub shoulders with its mate globally. I hope the new regime implements his employment plan sooner before we form an Association of Unemployed Graduates which will be ridiculous to Nigeria as a country.
Little word of encouragement for my fellow unemployed graduates, it isn't our fault being a product of a failed system, a failed country down the years. While we remain morally upright in our course to better standard of living,let's hope the sun that shines on the face will make it brighter.

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Buhari Administration will not persecute anyone - APC replies Jonathan

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the incoming Buhari Administration will not persecute anyone, contrary to statements credited to President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said, however, that those who have played poker with the nation’s destiny must be willing and eager to clear their conscience before man and God.
"That the President-elect is a man of integrity is not an issue for debate, and he has made it clear that he will not be bogged down by endless probes. However, the hands of the incoming government will not be tied by those who have chosen to play the victim and exhibit a persecution mentality. Whoever has any reason to be afraid must lay bare such reason before Nigerians,” the party said.
It said that under the climate of change that Nigerians have ushered in with their votes, only the guilty needs to be afraid, and those with a guilty conscience, on account of their actions in the public sphere, must clear such so they can be at peace with themselves.
”The last time we checked, this does not fit the definition of persecution,” APC said.

The party wondered why the President chose a public forum to express his fears when he could have done so privately during his meetings with the President-elect.
”Since the presidential election was won and lost, the President and the President-elect have met privately a number of times. Why didn’t President Jonathan express his apprehensions during these meetings?. Even if the two have not met, the President could have reached out to the President-elect over any fears that he may be nursing, instead of engaging in an action that seems like he was being preemptive and seeking to curry public sympathy,” The party said.

APC insisted that the priority of the incoming government will be the welfare and security of the long-suffering people of Nigeria, and enjoined all citizens to support the Administration in charting a new path for the country – away from the rapaciousness and impunity of the past years.