Education was declared a basic right of an individual by the United Nations years ago, and while others around the world took this as a challenge, the Nigerian state is still struggling to make that a reality even for 50% of its population. That notwithstanding, coupled with the defiant nature of the people against what might seem to bring them down, many toil day and night defiling the course of nature in the process just to get quality education which is almost a taboo in this part of the world. This was what prompted students from various part of the country in a quest for quality education to find themselves trooping in through the front gate of the Kogi state polytechnic, Lokoja. One need not explain the level of poverty and neglect the Nigerian populace struggle with, it’s so ridiculous that paying the school fees of wards is celebrated as a great feat in some families. After all the fights and strides to gain admission, and funding the very expensive process, some wicked individuals have sworn to even make that process more tedious by adding to the long list of bills to pay in the guise of providing study materials otherwise known as “hand outs” to students at exorbitant rates.

The students of the Kogi state polytechnic, Lokoja will put up with all the below par treatment from the host community, the brutality of hooligans, the deplorable state of infrastructures etc but won’t be subjected to a 21st century kind of slavery by selfish, greedy and heartless lecturers who instead of effectively managing the minimal resources for the gain of all will engage in the shameless act of demanding extra fare from students and parents trying to earn a decent future for themselves. Investigations reveal that lecturers charge up to 2000naira for some few paged note in a country where the average man live on below $1 per day. It’s quite unfortunate that the same lecturers who would threaten fire and brim stone if their pay delays for a day engage in this kind of gruesome act, the same set of people who will criticize every move of government and label political office holders corrupt are here making life unbearable for young Nigerians who we call the leaders of tomorrow.

Against this backdrop, I’m saying it’s time to rise, it’s time to stand up for what’s right, it’s time to tell these modern day robbers to their face to stop this insanity before it gets out of hand. It’s time for the authorities to keep this kind of attitude in check, encourage equity and fairness and punish offenders to keep others out. Nobody will accept double taxation from government, students shouldn’t suffer same. Add a voice to this campaign; I’m sure there are other institutions that are experiencing this too. Japheth J. Omojuwa said “the quest for change is not a switch, it’s a marathon” let the race begin!

http://giz-pen..com/2013/10/kogi-poly-where-lecturers-still-charge.html

I slept late to wake up late

now it’s a quarter past eight,

can’t wait to hear the goodnews

but with time hope fades

so I give up to fate.

It’s been over 3 months it started;

my teachers and the government in warfare.

the teachers are groaning,

of the national cake, they want a fair share

they say a man can’t teach

unless he’s well fed.

On one hand,

they’re doing it for my welfare.

Government says no

how to get 3trillion they don’t know,

yet they fly private jets

no one wants a canoe

millions are suffering

while they’re washing klin in omo.

It sounds funny,

like a super story

but it’s real

the plight of the Nigerian student.

Where two elephants fight

the grasses wither

but one thing the elephants fail to consider

without the grasses;

in the future lies hunger!

culled from http://giz-pen..com/2013/10/poem-tale-of-two-elephants-ASUU-vs-fg.html

NGF, Rivers’ Crisis and the Rest of Us Part 1
Rotimi Amaechi
It’s been more than a month since the Amaechi saga kicked off and like a serial movie it has witnessed its fair share of twists, turns and intrigues. If the whole episode had been a Nollywood movie, bookmakers would’ve dismissed it as mere fiction, boring and tiring


but the chairmanship position of a “social club”, like Dele Momodu called it, a constitutionally irrelevant post has generated more controversy so much so that it eclipsed the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by university lecturers. While the future of the country hangs in balance as the supposed leaders of tomorrow continue to sit at home with a little far away from nothing to do, today leaders decided to another show of shame; finger pointing, tongue lashing, sparing no media in airing their dirty laundries and once again confirming the fear of many Nigerians that they have no plan whatsoever to turn the fortunes of this nation around.
Patience Jonathan
The super story I hear didn’t start today but is the result of years of cold war and bitter scheming and rivalry. Stories confirm it started when Governor Rotimi Amaechi was allegedly desperate to buy the approval and blessings not of the people who voted him in to serve but our dear first lady who also recently claimed to hold the world record for the youngest mother in history by giving birth to a man when she’s only 7 years older. The encounter didn’t end well between mother and son as Mr. Amaechi received knocks and was schooled by mama on how to run the state, I guess that’s what you do when you double as first lady and Governor’s mum. Well, it didn’t go down well with Amaechi as expected from the children of nowadays- they never listen to parental advice. The fight soon became full fledge when like any other power drunk greedy Nigerian politician Amaechi refused to step down as NGF chairman against the wish of his father or step-father, at least “father” is involved- President Goodluck Jonathan, this particular son doesn’t respect either of his parents, I wonder where he got it from, maybe it’s a family thing. Well, an African father will never tolerate that, so Mr. jonathan in all his presidential powers rose to deal with the situation with the help of handful of loyalists the Reuben Abati, Labaran Maku, and Godswill Akpabios of this world.
The rest of the story you know most of, media houses got screaming headlines easily off those who have been specially trained to use their tongue in causing trouble and lawmakers who took wrestling training with specialty in wielding the maze for beating purposes. The opposition party is having a filled day too, pumping up campaign songs titled “vote out PDP, their umbrella is leaking”. I sincerely pray and hope to see the day when real issues will hold such weight, like the ever growing breach of peace and security, decline in quality products and services etc.
As always, I have questions that beg serious attention and answers:
1. Why is Governor Amaechi so desperate to hold onto the chairmanship of NGF?
2. Why does President Jonathan feel threatened by Amaechi’s insistence?
Goodluck Jonathan
3. When will APC start minding their business and come up with a better campaign agenda?
4. When will our elders grow up?
5. What does it mean to the Nigerian society?



source http://giz-pen..com/2013/08/v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo.html