Retour: Obergefell v. Hodges 576 U.S. ___ (2015) by OYIKI Great LLB 5

P.S This was written in 2015, eight days after the Same-sex marriage case was decided.

The world does not ask for precision and logic in literature nor in inspirational pop-philosophy; it demands them in the law. This discourse is based on the recent decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges 576 U.S. _ _ _ (2015). The writer is of the opinion that the court redefined the meaning of marriage thus creating a new right; rather than interpreting the meaning of marriage as it has been known from time immemorial.

The judiciary as it is well known, is saddled with the responsibility of interpreting the law. To interpret simply put, means to explain the meaning of something. It thus follows that where there is nothing to be interpreted the power of the judiciary is inertia. As it would be an exercise in futility to place something on nothing an expect it to stand.

It is not the eight wonder of the world that the Supreme Court of the United States in the case supra, has deviated from the age-long definition of marriage being "the legal union between a man and a woman" to "the legal union between a man and a man or a woman and a woman". I do not disagree with the above definition on any other consideration, but one: the legal soundness of the decision in view of the function of the judiciary.
To interpret who a man or a woman is, needs no formal education as this is elementary knowledge to a pupil in elementary school and to the illiterate mother selling pepper in Lagere Market.

Forsooth, judges, in the course of interpreting the law, make laws. This, however, is done by interpreting an existing law and not by usurping the power of the legislature to make laws.

Judges, if my elementary knowledge of Legal Method is to go by, interpret the law within the confines of three major canons of interpretation: the Golden Rule, the Mischief Rule and Literal Rule.

In defining the Golden Rule, Lord Keith Lindblom in Alice Ellen Cooper v. Dean Charitable Foundation v. Greensleeves (2015) UKUT 320 (LC), quoting Lord Neuberger said: "in using the Golden Rule to interpret statutes words are prima facie to be given their ordinary meaning".

In consideration of the above definition, can we say that the majority in Obergefell's case adopted this canon of interpretation? We do not need the interpretative ability of Lord Denning to answer this question in the negative. Reason being that the definition of a man or a woman is clear to the legally blind.

In defining the Mischief Rule, Justice Barrett in Ocs One Complete Solution Ltd v. Dublin Airport Authority Plc (2014) IEHC 306, said: "the Mischief Rule assumed that the legislature does nothing without a reason, and so that there is a reason for the passing of every Act and every provision within it; this reason is the legal or social mischief that the Act or provision therein is intended to address: grasp that mischief you grasp what the Act or provision is intended to mean." The poser that will be put forward here is that is it a mischief for a man to get married to woman? Arguendo it were a mischief, I would come to the irresistible conclusion that the legislators who passed the law that defined marriage as the union between a man and a woman were gays. Still on that assumption, I would ask if they were gays, how did they give birth to their children? Well, I do not expect that question to be answered as I am not concerned with that in this discourse.

The third canon, as stated earlier is the Literal Rule. In defining this, we do not need to travel out of the continent to get a definition as our very own Kekere Ekun J.S.C in FRN v. Ya'u Mohammed (2014) LPELR-22465 (SC) said in defining the Literal Rule that: "the guiding principle in the interpretation of statutes is that where the words used are precise and unambiguous they must be given their ordinary and natural grammatical meaning." An attempt on my part to comment on the above dictum would be a restatement of what has been said earlier.

Having reiterated some of the trite principles of law guiding the interpretation of statutes, one would thus ask whether the Court in the case at hand gave consideration to any of the aforementioned canons? or it went on a wild goose chase by redefining the age-long meaning of marriage, thereby usurping the function of the legislature? I will, without the fear of being disagreed with, answer the latter question in the affirmative.
What the Supreme Court of the United States has done by premising its decision on the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the Equal Protection Clause, Due Process Clause, has paved way for a number presumably ridiculous law suits seeking for the enforcement of their "liberty".

If we are to go by the logic in the argument- which prima facie supports the action of the Court to make law- used in coming to the decision in the instant case, why would a person who has sexual relations with an animal be considered insane? Morevover, marriage is not defined, or has not been defined in Obergefell's case as "the union between two CONSENTING adults". You would agree with me that the Court, going by the the doctrine of stare decisis, interpreted "liberty" in the said Fourteenth Amendment to include the right to be legally married to an animal. It is in this wise, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, while dissenting said "if there is dignity in the bond between two men or two women who seek to marry and in their autonomy to make such profound choices why would there be any less dignity in the bond between three people who, in exercising their autonomy seek to make the profound choice of marry? "

What the majority of the United States Supreme Court has done is that they sat as super-legislatu
re to weigh the wisdom of legislation. The result of this in time to come, would be calamitous for both the people and the law. No better dictum captures this than that of the United States Supreme Court in Dred Scott v. Sandford 60 U.S (1857) when it said: "When fixed rules which govern the interpretation of laws are abandoned and the theoretical opinions of individuals are allowed to control the Constitution's meaning, we have no longer a Constitution; we are under the government of the individual men who for the time being have power to declare what the Constitution is, according to their own views of what it ought to mean".

Moving on, assuming without conceding, that the judgement is spot on in legal principle, I would assert that case-laws (from unelected Justices) do not carry equal operational force as laws made by the legislature (from elected representative) as the former is only a secondary source of law.

In conclusion, I will adopt the concluding paragraph of Chief Justice Roberts as mine. He said: If you are among the many Americans – of whatever sexual orientation – who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means, celebrate today's decision. Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment of a partner. Celebrate the availability of new benefits. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it."

ARTICULATE THE CHARACTER

ARTICULATE THE CHARACTER

'THE QUALITIES OF A GREAT MAN ARE VISION, INTEGRITY, COURAGE, UNDERSTANDING, THE POWER OF ARTICULATION AND PROFUNDITY OF CHARACTER.

The articulation of character is the only thing that can be the check of 'time'. A man can be obsolete with his behaviour with the rate of check on his attributions.

Controlled character should be constantly check with mindful sanctions. The power of character can make man the best at the same time otherwise,  its the power of character that can make attainment of success rapid but if its fading work needs to be done.

Yoruba proverbs says: "EFIN NI IWA"(CHARACTER IS LIKENED TO SMOKE) it spreads wide even to the length you aren't capable of. Its the number one thing that should be mostly censored at every moment of exhibition.

Articulate the character that makes people feel you are more than what they think you possess. Articulate the character that want to hinder your potentials. Reshuffle the character in you that is stale, change peoples impression.

You are the carrier of your own character, never make your character a burden that will be 'insolvent'. Its  left to you to do what it takes  to make your character advertise positivity and the kind of positive potential you posses.

'CHARACTER IS THE SECURE FOUNDATION OF THE STATE.'

The most dreadful thing is to make your negative character overcome your inner potentials. It is disgusting if your character can't speak for you! It will be overwhelming if your character could speak out loud for you. Its the only normal phenomenon in human organ.

Human being tend to overlook the checking of character constantly but they aren't aware of what its called "OMO DAADA" (GOOD CHILD) what makes it so! Its the character. The honour would be unquantifiable if on possess good character.

Its the only bond that is assigned to human for the check and for accountability, its  the only thing that makes a man steadfast in his day to day activities, its the security that watch guard every person for moral or immoral activities, its the thing that makes man unconscious 'vigilante'(Yoruba). The flow of attitude is the correction of characters and that which is bestowed by a corrected character.

Let's inculcate the test of sanction on our day to day activities by consulting the faculty of conscience.

"THE FACT THAT MAN IS A NEWSPAPER REPORTER IS EVIDENCE OF SOME FLAW OF CHARACTER".

AYEBIELE KHALIL
OLUWAJUEDALO
(JUEDALAW).
LLB1.

"THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS IN NATION BUILDING"

Introduction:

It’s true that in today’s world with specific emphasis on Africa, there has been an increased awareness that nation building is totally dependent on the type of parliament and democratic structures that forms and informs the processes through which laws/bylaws are instituted in the interest of transforming society for the common good of mankind. In other to achieve the then proposed eight “Millennium Development Goals” (MDG) in a bid to eradicate extreme poverty by the year 2015, it recognises the significance and obligation of parliaments by urging governments generally to work more thoroughly with parliaments in formulating, applying and monitoring nationalistic development strategies and ideals that will deliver a social-economic & political utopia

Executive Summary:

Who is a Parliamentarian: A Parliamentarian is a professional in the rules of order and the proper procedures for the conduct of meetings of deliberative assemblies. Parliamentarians assist governments and institutions in the drafting and interpretation of bylaws and rules of order, and the planning and conduct of meetings”. Opertec Inc 2011.

What is a Parliamentarian: According to Jim Slaughter an Attorney and a professional certified parliamentarian, “A parliamentarian is a consultant who advises the presiding officers and other officers, committees, and members of a government or a government itself on matters of parliamentary procedure”. Parliaments have a fundamental statutory role to play, primarily in grooming and growing the nation’s capacity to take complete control of programmes that will yield sustainable national growth. Because Parliamentarians are agents of the people, and by so doing representing the interest of everyone especially the vulnerable in society, in accordance with democratic principles that’s informed by genuine priorities, obligatory legislation, sincere budgetary allocations, and exercise oversight expenditures.

Nevertheless, , in as much as Parliament is a product of democracy and a product of the people’s mandate, often times they lack independence and most of the times the resources to deliver its functions especially in developing economies. This has misconstrued and hindered the role of parliament in delivering the principal objective of providing effective development policies that will echo and represent the concerns of the people, because such primary necessities have the tendencies to be ignored due to inadequacies of the instruments for policy formation and as a result defeats the principles of separation of power.

The norm amongst citizens and politically conscious minds in most African nations today is the emergent of issues that are related to democracy and good governance as obtainable in developed democracies and possibly replicate it in Africa. It’s as a result of this trend that brought about the need for change in other to get Africa out of the perils of incompetent leadership and improper policy formation that has impoverish the continent for decades in terms of infrastructures and basic amenities that is associated with civic progress. Therefore the Parliament being a significant government institution in a democratic system of government, is critical to delivering genuine democracy and good governance that will impact the principle of nation building. Due to the fact that the Parliament forms a statutory constitutionally designated representatives of the people, parliaments are therefore mandated with the task to ensure government is truly of the people, for the people and by the people according to the tenets of democracy, especially in the performance of the key functions of legislation, representation and oversight functionalities that will actively create a platform for development and implementation of laws, policies and practices that promotes true democracy and good governance.

It’s therefore imperative that in a democracy where Parliament is elected to uphold proper mandate, they tend to represent the people with all sense of responsibility and also accountable to them because that is the very nature of democracy and the dictum of separation of power. In a true democracy where the parliament is allowed to function, the people are the owners of government and when the people are the owners of the government a true representation is achieved and therefore this leads to the building of credible and strong democratic institutions that will administer and function effectively towards delivering good governance.

Therefore the key responsibilities of the any Parliament is to scrutinize the activities of government by form of checks and balances, secondly to legislate by making and changing laws of the land, thirdly is debating and deliberations of important matters arising and lastly, checking and approving government revenues and expenditures viz a viz budget and taxation.

With reference to the Nigerian case, legislative power is being held by the federal government and the National Assembly which comprises of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, collectively they form the law-making arm of government in Nigeria which is saddled with the responsibility to check on the executive arm of government. There is also the Supreme Court which is the highest Judicial Arm of government in Nigeria which emergence was after independence solely for the purpose of separation of powers. All of these measures was in a bid to strengthen Parliament in other to realise progression in terms of policies and laws formation that will create a space for proper and adequate development that is true to the people’s needs.
Countless researches has shown that, what is actually required to stimulate and sustain development and growth in the continent today is good governance and this is dependent on the nature of parliament available and how proactive they are. By so doing, precise consideration is adhered to on how the parliament can uphold transparency and accountability towards good governance by guiding the executive arm of government and by also checking and regulating itself and the behaviour of its parliamentary members. Ones this is achieved, a country and its people are on the way to an incredible and perpetual nation building. Because these issues affects every facets of the country in terms of social amenities and infrastructures, be it social-economic or social-political etc., they tend to form the core objective of any Parliament that’s saddled with the responsibility to form laws, deliberate contemporary issues and oversee taxation and how they are being expended to help run the country.

It’s a fact that we live in a perceived democratic world and therefore it’s important to go in line with democratic tenets, which means every single person in a nation has a say in how the nation is managed and this is done through the election of the Parliamentarians to represent and protect the interest of the people because the Parliament is bestowed by the constitution of the land to create policies that will drive very meaningful nation building principles. However there is a contradiction in Africa as to how a Parliament or Parliamentarians are instituted, in many occasions these members of Parliaments are selected instead of elected and such imposition has stalled the political will to make laws that will benefit the country and the common man and this is the bane of all the setbacks in nation building because these selected Parliamentarians do the bid of their sponsors rather than that which serves the interest of the state and its citizens. Most of our institutions and the people in-charge of these institutions are a product of selection or imposition and therefore the framework that is designed to form these policies and laws for national interest is being compromised and not until the Parliament is a true representation of the people’s choices and its members play by the rules it will continue to be a vicious circle and a rat race.

In conclusion, in other to make progression, the Parliament must have an assigned interest in municipal affairs and must be strongly involved in decision-making processes at all levels of representation, law-making and oversight functions, for example: power to introduce genuine legislation, introduce legislation with fiscal costs, override executive vetoes, approve cabinet officials, approve treaties, approve government intent to take loans or grant loans, approve or disapprove overseas travel of the chief executive or other governments reps, compel the executive and others to provide information when required to for national interest, censure government ministers and other officials if necessary and approve/disapprove the budget.

An effective Parliament should not just communicate to the nation but also listen, many developed nation’s Parliamentarians will source policy capacities and technical know-how from Civil Society Organisations (CSO) to build up the capacity of the arm. Therefore the stability of governance in any government encourages the legislature at times to gain, and at other times to lose control comparatively to the executive. In a stable government, the arms act as checks on one another so that no single arm becomes excessively influential or too powerful to the others and this is what forms the characteristics of nation building through the Parliament but a very familiar situation in developing nations is that parliaments are typically much weaker than the executives arm and this is a worrisome trend.

Author: Dr. Patrick Ofolu

BEING POSITIVE By OLAOYE Gideon A. (G1)

BEING POSITIVE

A negative thinker see a difficulty in every opportunity, A positive thinker see an opportunity in every difficulty; you have to be optimistic- OLAOYE GIDEON .A (G1)

Revolutionary greetings to all Great Ife! Student. I want to  believe that our lectures have been progressive?Having observed how tensed the academic environments is with academic affairs coupled with the imminence of test and examination, am forced to pen down the words of truth in me.

Greatest Ife! Articulate Ife!
A negative mindset will never give you a positive life! Challenges defeats losers but it inspires winners; the body always achieves what the mind believes; so stay dedicated, it's not going to happen overnight! A negative mind will always struggle to see and create a positive outcome. Yes, a negative thinker sees difficulty in every opportunity; a positive thinker sees an opportunity in every difficulty. A positive mindset finds a way it can be done; a negative mind looks for all the ways it can't be done. Change your mindset, and you'll change your life! Your attitude determines your direction!

Your destiny is not determined by the number of times you stumble, but by the number of times you rise up; dust yourself off and move forward! Don't let anybody tell you, you can't just because they can't; you tell them, you can and it will surprise you that you will surely succeed! The less you respond to negative people , the more peaceful your life will become. Entire water of the sea can't sink a ship unless it gets into the ship.
Similarly, negativity of the world can't put you down unless you allow it get inside you. Staying positive does not mean that things will turn out okay; rather it is knowing that you will be okay no matter how thing turn out!

Don't always start your day with the broken pieces of yesterday! Don't allow your wounds to turn you into a person you are not; Oh yes, the past can hurt you, but you can either run from it or learn from it! Be better than you were yesterday! Spending today complaining about yesterday won't make tomorrow any better. Wake up every morning with the thought that something wonderful is about to happen. If you realize how powerful your thoughts are; you would never think a negative thought. For success, attitude is equally as important as ability! Every thoughts you think is creating your future! You have to be positive.

Listen, the primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it. What consumes your mind control your life! So tell me why you shouldn't be positive? Be optimistic always and stay focus.
In conclusion, please note that that you have to learn to be  positive ; never give us on your dream because without courage, you will never start and without consistency you will never finish. So don't give up,keep working, keep moving ,be positive and success will be yours. All say TOGETHER WE CAN ✌✌✌.

Signed: OLAOYE GIDEON .A ( G1)

SELL THE OIL, NOT THE JAR OF OIL by Ambassador Ademola Adeoye

Not long ago, I was invited to speak on the issue I have chosen to decisively look at today. It is a very crucial portion of life that no one can afford to fail to notice. It is what makes folks poor, not a lack of money.  This is the major reason why many African men and African women are broke. And I do not need to tell you that it can be so unsightly and horrible when one cannot pay his or her bills. What’s more, the toughest pressure to be under in life, leadership and business has to do with finances. I hope you do know.

Who does it affect the most when we cannot pay our bills—as leaders over our homes? It affects our children the most! How do I mean? When the arrow-head of a family cannot pay his bills, it will impact negatively on the family, especially the children. This is a very serious issue, particularly in a third world country as Nigeria.
What happens when those of us who are leading various homes are poor? We will not be able to send our children to first-rate schools. We will not be able to put good clothes on their back. We will not be able to take them to first world countries for vacation. When they take ill, we will not be able to take them to countries where their health-care systems are working. The truth is that many children are not in high spirits with leaders over their families today because of poverty. Poverty kills and sends folks to the land of the silent ones ahead of time and too soon. I detest it. And I want you to detest it too. This is why I have chosen to write on this fundamental area at the moment.

When those of us who are leading over homes are poor, it will impact negatively on our wives too. Remember, no woman would be happy when her children are not being well taken care of. And when there is no happiness in a home, the home will lack the strength to advance. This is what leads to tension in many homes today, leading to them falling apart—if nothing is done to salvage the situation before it becomes too late.

There are many pious and smug folks in our beautiful country who either have been wrongly taught or wrongly believe that they could become wealthy without knowing how to give birth to either breathtaking products or render excellence-driven service and sell themselves and whatever they have got to offer. The only bridge that connects people to prosperity is their capacity to brilliantly and superbly sell themselves and what they have got to offer. Remember, if people do not like you, they are definitely not going to buy from you.

For the umpteenth time, as an individual, you will need to learn how to sell yourself and what people within your reach are in a dire need of. If you do not know how to sell, forget about coming out of the pit of poverty. If I were you, I would do all I can to learn how I can become an excellent salesperson in the 21st century. There are many homes in Nigeria at the moment that do not know anything on the issue I am briefly touching on today. Equally, there are too many homes that do only buy from others. They are not selling anything to anyone. This is why they have been leading an imbalanced life financially.

When it comes to coming and staying out of debt, knowing how to sell is inescapable. Selling is the capacity to make money and this is superior to money itself. If you are given money (to pay your debt) without having the capacity to produce and superbly sell it, with time, you will land back in the den of debt and abject poverty. For the umpteenth time, to come out and stay out of debt perpetually, you shall need to know how to brilliantly sell what you have got to offer. But you are only to sell the oil, not the jar of oil.

What does the jar of oil mean in this context? You are to sell what is being produced, not what produces it. Keep your own jar of oil from the public, so it is not duplicated. Across the planet-earth, front-line companies do not reveal their jars of oil. If their jars of oil (recipe) are revealed to their competitors, they will soon be out of business.

What you will only see all around you is the oil, but you will never see the modus operandi (the jar of oil) that produces it. I remember the story of the family that was heavily in debt in the Bible. It was while the family was swimming in the painful pool of poverty that the husband passed on. Time and space would fail me to completely drain the truth contained in the narrative. But see this: the late husband had what could birth wealth in the family, but he was too blind to see its worth. Years after the husband passed on, the jar of oil was still in the house, but the wife also failed to see its worth. They were in debt, not because they did not have money, but because blindness kept them away from the solution to their problem. And you know that it is impossible to run with what you are blind to!

This is where I am coming. The responsibility of the family I am talking about was to fabulously sell the oil, so they could come out of their debt and perpetually stay out of it, but the family was not told to sell the jar of oil. They were to cover it! Apart from the widow, there were only three other trusted people who knew about the jar of oil—their recipe for financial success.
Cover your own jar of oil (recipe for financial success) while you cleverly sell the oil!

See you where great leaders are found.

MEANING AND SOURCES OF NIGERIAN LAW OF EVIDENCE

By WALE ADEAGBO TOYIB. Director of Litigation, JUSTICE CHAMBERS, FACULTY OF LAW, OAU, ILE-IFE.

Despite the existence and relevancy of the Evidence Act 2011 as an instrument regulating the whole mantra of evidence in Nigeria, the word evidence still strives for a statutory definitions. The academia and the judiciary have however helped out in this regard. Thus, to have a handful grasp of what evidence means, recourse shall be made to case laws and textual authorities.

According to PHIPSON, evidence means ‘the testimony whether oral, documentary or real which may be legally received in order to prove or disapprove some facts in dispute’. In his own attempt, C.D. FIELD scholarly defined judicial evidence thus (in the following words):
Evidence received by court in proof or disproof of facts, the existence of which comes a question before them …..Known as judicial evidence.

In fact, AGUDA also adopts the tag of judicial evidence in his text on the Nigerian Law of evidence, He comments that judicial evidence is the totality of how facts are established in a court of law excluding arguments and inferences. CROSS stated that evidence consists basically of testimonies, documents as he quipped thus:

The testimony, hearsay, documents, things and facts which a court will accept as evidence of facts in issue in a case.

According to COCKLE in Cockle on Evidence, the term evidence as used in law, which is also called judicial Evidence has the same means as is commonly used, to wit: the means by which facts are made evident or established to the satisfaction of persons enquiring into them, granted that such facts are credible and sufficient to satisfy or convince prudent minds.

The Court of Appeal in ONYA-v- OGBUJI (2011) ALL FWLR (Pt556) 493 per Salauwa, J.C.A defined evidence in an encompassing manner and self-comprehensive one.

The term evidence has been aptly described as any specific of proof, or probative matter legally presented at the medium of witnesses, records, documents, exhibits, concrete objects, etc. for the purpose of inducing belief in the mind of the court or jury as to their contentions.
This definition has enjoyed adoption by Nigerian courts in various cases, and so was of judicially amplified in KOLO-v-LAWAN (2011) ALL FWLR (Pt597) 725 CA also in AWUSE -V- ODILI (2005) 16 NWLR (Pt952) 416 at 496 CA.

In essence, Evidence can be said to be the means by which facts in issue are established by a judicial tribunal. Such evidence could be oral testimony of a person who actually perceived the facts, through any one of the documents to prove facts which are in issue, or real evidence which is the production of material objects other than documents.

The importance of evidence in deciding the success or otherwise of a party’s case cannot be over emphasized. Virtually, all a party needs to do in order to achieve success in a court of law hangs upon the Law of Evidence. It is of course a reality that judges who hear matters are not superhuman, neither could they penetrate human minds in passing their judgements. Rather as a matter of procedure, they merely bound to act on facts as presented to them or as are adduced by the disputants. This has been given credence in ONIOMOH -v- UNIJOS (2006) ALL FWLR (Pt304) 552 CA that:

Evidence whether oral or documentary consists of facts, and facts are the fountainhead of the Law. It is facts that determine the fate of any proceedings…By law, cases are invariably decided…on their peculiar facts and circumstances, see UGWU V ARARUME.

According to the learned authors of C.D. FIELD’S LAW OF EVIDENCE, the function of the law of evidence is to narrow down the matter which have a logical, probative value. They conclude that because the law of evidence prevents judgements based on prejudice or illogical conclusions, it is indeed an aid to the administration of justice.

Because of the umbilical relationship that Nigerian had with the British colonialists, hardly will there be any law in Nigeria that its distance source will not hang on the Received English law comprising the common law, doctrines of equity, and the statutes of General Application in force in England as at 1st January, 1900. This was the case on the law of evidence as applied in Nigerian courts before 1945 at which the Evidence Ordinance No 27, 1943 came into force.

This ordinance enjoyed series of amendments from 1950, 1955 (twice). In 1958, it was re-enacted as the Evidence Act. This Act was in force till1990 when it statutorily baptized as Evidence act Cap112 LFN 1990. The provisions of the 1990 act further slightly amended were reproduced verbatim to form the Evidence Act 2004, which was on the 3rd Day of June, 2011 repealed and was replaced by the Evidence act 2011 Cap. E14, LFN.

By the provisions of S.2 & 3, the Evidence Act has been put at an arena of superiority on evidence-related issues in the light of any other enactment on litigation procedure. The Evidence act though acknowledges the existence of any other act, or any other legislation validly in force in Nigeria as part of the laws in which resort can be made to, however, they are of lower rank to the Evidence act.

It should be noted that no matter how superior an enactment can be in Nigeria, and in any other democratically-oriented nations, it will still be subject to the provisions of the Constitution which in our jurisprudence called the grand norm. By S. 23 of PART I of SECOND SCHEDULE, the CFRN 1999 makes evidence a matter within the exclusive legislative competence of the National assembly. Further affirming the constitution as a source of law of Evidence in Nigeria are the provisions in S. 36 (1) and (4), (5), (6) d & e CFRN 1999.

In an unprecedented manner, the Evidence Act 2011 has added another source to the Nigerian evidence law. By S.255, it is now permissible for the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation to make regulations generally prescribing further conditions, though with respect to admissibility of evidence that may be relevant under the act.

In summary, the sources of the Nigerian law of evidence are:

•The Evidence Act 2011;
•Other local legislations, Statutes or Rules of court;
•Judicial opinions of justices of courts of record in Nigeria;
•Opinions of courts of foreign jurisdiction (persuasive effect);
•The received English law where applicable;
•The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and
•Regulations, practice or reference directions made by the Attorney General of the Federation.

RECOLONIZATION OF THE BLACK MAN By Adeleke David Temitope

RECOLONIZATION OF THE BLACK MAN

  The uniqueness of the black man is not only depicted in his intelligence and physicality but also in his ability to adapt and cope with difficult situations and an unpalatable economic  hardship.
   For centuries, decades and years,the black man has not only been constantly racially marginalised but also deprived of the ability to access a world of his own. Although,we believe colonization is long gone but I insist recolonisation is the Black's lot and indirectly we would continue to get robbed of our own views towards life and our ideas would only be made to look inferior.
Presently,we are still colonized by the western world in almost all areas of our life both economically, morally,in sport and educationally.
  We live in a world where we are made to believe that the only key  to success is academic excellence without considering the capacity and interest of individuals.
No doubt it is,  but research has shown that the main aim of education  nowadays is to train pupils to work in big factories and industries and not necessarily to build individuals with the ability to think creatively, innovatively , critically independently with the ability to connect. I bet if Mark zuckerberg were to be a 'black' he wouldn't succeed that much. Because he would live his whole life  believing that ,"without education, he wouldn't succeed". So therefore, 'FACEBOOK' might only be in our dreams.
  From my little research, I learnt Chinese teens make torches and lamps,then send them to the dark continent (Africa).
Although,they are not overly better than us, but they have come to the realization that education is to be more practical oriented and rather than the policy of reading bulky pages and cramming without having the ability to reproduce what is  been learnt ( LA cram LA pour ),they have been imbibed with the mentality  that, "we are products of our innovations".
   Frequently , black gurus and the best brains among us leave our midst to develop the western world all because of the ideology that they wouldn't make it here and no matter how much they try, they wouldn't be appreciated nor would they be able to maximize their potentials over here.
Dr Phillip Emeagwali, who designed the world fastest computer which performs computations at 3.1 billion calculations per second, using 65,000 processors is now a citizen of the United States with his work been used to predict the likelihood and effects of future global warming and to forecast the weather over there. Just to mention one of hundreds of them with special talents but who are now resources not contributing to the development of his fatherland.
   My contention is that until we come to the realization that the black man and black nation is a brand that can stand independently, valuing its own assets and  believing we have what it takes both mentally,  intellectually, physically and morally to develop ourselves, we would continue to be short —changed and our resources (both human and material ) would be carted away for use because we don't value them and this is the RECOLONIZATION PROCESS.

Just trying to make common sense.
   
Adeleke David Temitope
LLB1

NO SYMPATHY FOR THE OLD By ADEBIYI Adeayo Isaac

  On the cloudy evening of Tuesday 13th june I joined hundreds of GreatIfe students walking towards the SUB car park calling it a day after spending ten hours navigating the labyrinths of Obafemi Awolowo Univeristy walking from one lecture hall to the other in a quest to sandwich myself with fellow colleauges to grab whatever knowledge possible in an over crowded, ill ventilated lecture hall with an helpless sound system. After a very stressful day i walked down to SUB car park to board the bus to the school gate only to behold a multitude of students queuing to also board the bus to various destinations in town, i was surprised and frustrated, i never got wind of the update that a new form of boarding the bus as been created by the student union so after complaining to myself and cursing my luck i humbly joined the queue and waited for my turn i wish i had the luxury to take a bike and not join the average students in their efforts to get home after what must have been a stressful day, but my bank account is as fit as the president.

       As we queued in our hundreds rain began to fall, it seem heaven wasnt ready to alleviate my suffering both man and nature were waging a war against me, a battle in which i had no say, i was the hero in another hemingway classic. So has my legs got weaker, my cloths getting drenched and my body lacking the super power abilities to pull me out of the situation, patience was all i was left with. Eventually it got to my turn and as i was about to board, one of the union honurables said in yoruba “E JE KI MAMA WOLE“ which means “let the elderly woman board“ mama had been standing somewhere behind me but i never noticed.

     So i wonder and thought that after spending fourty five minutes in the rain waiting for a bus it was requested that i relinquish the last seat available which was the fruit of my patience to mama, as the morals in me battle it out with my physical frame which was begging to be put out of its misery i let my morals prevail.

     I however was subjected to a series of complaints from the positivist side of my being which had the sympathy of my aching body. It asked How many kilometers did mama walked today trying to attend lectures？would mama still wake up in the midnight to read？would mama have done the same if i were to be in a desperate situation probably if i were late for an examination？and most importantly when mama was my age they had a better country where education was almost free and the university was like a vacation to Europe, mama's generation inherited a country with the prospect of becoming great and mismanaged it leaving mama and me in this pathetic situation, so shouldnt mama suffer for the sins of her peers？After all this questions i placated the positivist in me with the moral words of “Do good for the sake of God“.

        I eventually got a bus and left for school gate when i was walking home from the gate all wet like i fell into a well i began to ponder why is Nigeria like this？why does my generation have to suffer for the carelessness, recklessness, financial mismanagement, lack of foresight and the corruption of Mama's generation?

Why should we have to be packed in lecture halls like sardines and be given a three thousand naira ticket for a one year prison experience in the name of hostels？Why should a lecturer who when he was a student lived in a room of four, had his laundry done for him, ate chicken and fresh fish for free and was taught by the best of scholars in the most condusive of environment, should such a lecturer who reaped the fruits of the good works of AWO indiscreetly fail my generation who are suffering from the incapacity and failures of his generation？Do such a lecturer have the moral judgement to make life unbearable for me by giving me twice the work he was given without the privilegdes he enjoyed as a student?

    So after all this questions it was vivid and glaring that mama's generation have failed, they have failed in every aspect except probably in reproduction, In reproducing innocent children who will bear the burden of their failure.

    With the way the country is sliding fastly into the wilderness it is time for a new generation to step up and save the mess Mama's generation has created, it is time that the Nigerian youths wake up from their slumber as the Nigerian youth can no longer just strive for survival while a failed generation subject them to untold hardship. If the Venezuelan youth cant take it, if the Algerian youths cant take it, if the Hong kong youths cant take it then there is no reason why the great youths of the most populous black nation should take it.

     Every Nigerian youth would agree that the time is right for Mama＇s generation to be disgraced out of office and a new geneatoon should take over the realms of power. The political term “youth at heart“ used to define the term “youth“ by the current political generation to trick and cajole the electorate into voting them into power can no longer stand, we no longer want old leaders with a youthful and ethusiastic heart for looting the treasury. It is time for the real and true youth, the ones who have been given the tiltle of “leaders of tomorrow“ to claim the title as it would never be handed to them by the current crops of leaders. It is time the Nigerian youth realise that it matters little in how many fragments this country is shared this current crops of leaders wont relinquish power, they have been there during the khaki wearing days and most of them are still in the decision making process of this country, looting away the future of their children and grand children.

    The dream of a youth political leader would take a significant step come the 2017 Anambra state gubernatorial election. It is a big step that Mr Nonso Ozoemena is flying the flag of the YOUTH DEMOCRATIC PARTY （YDP）in the coming election. I am particularly excited at the prospect of a youth becoming the governor of a state in Nigeria and the foundation it wil lay for revolutions to come. I do hope the youth population of Anambra state share my enthusiasm and drive for the prospect, potentials and future of the YDP and i hope other youths with the resources and qualifications in other parts of the country will follow in the footstep of Mr Nonso by running for offices in all levels of government.

   I am not however lost in my excitement that i do not know the vivid fact that corruption has no age nor gender but hoewever enough is enough this current generation is unredeemable they are lost beyond salvation and i believe it is time to save the country from total damnation and the current political generation from the perpertual disgrace they have found themselves.

    I therefore charge the Nigerian youth to suceed where our grand parents have failed, not to learn and inherit the evil genuis of corruption of which our grand parents would forever be remembered for, Instead we should be the change we want to see in this country, we should confront corrupt leaders and refuse to keep quiet in the face of oppression. The Nigerian youth should know the value of their votes and use it to throw the current political class into ashes.

    The Nigerian youth should not occupy themselves with carving out a distinct socio political entity as it does not guarantee a better tomorrow for them nor their children, instead they should use the power of their votes to vote out this current generation and also rise up to take power from the old who have no sympathy for the young nor themselves.

     Nigerian youth no matter the religion,creed or party should uphold the noble law of live and let live ,eat and give to your brother. It is time to have sympathy on the old, on the current state of the country and the future of this country and the best way to accomplish this is taking over the realms of power from Mama's generation and building a nation where the future generation will have no cause to have sympathy for the old.
   
Adebiyi Adeayo Isaac
Faculty of Law
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun state.

BETWEEN GOVERNOR YAHAYA AND DINO MELAYE

The Nigerian political terrain has become so petrifying that our leaders whom we expect to be sane and cognitive enough have painted the country as one that is sick in all ramifications; and as such requires a very urgent attention.

It is so shameful that Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state and Dino Melaye -the 'ajekun iya' crooner, whom the people entrusted with their rights in giving them their mandate for the leaders to provide a better structure for the welfare of the good people of Kogi state, are at loggerheads with each other. Really, it is becoming a battle to finish!

It would be recalled that Bello was the candidate presented by the APC after  Prince Abubakar Audu died before his potential political victory. Out of confidence, Kogi indigenes voted Bello into power, giving him the mandate to serve them for a period of  four years. Perhaps they voted in a man who would be more concerned with subduing potential political rivals and exchanging words with a sycophant like Dino _mi-o-raye_, a man who has really proven beyond reasonable doubt that he is bereft of sound attitude and has abandoned his constituents to their anguish.

It is rumoured that the Governor Yahaya led administration lacks administrative efficiency and  foresight. Loyalists of the Governor have tried to defend the administration, but indeed the noble man is messing up. When the Office of the Governor was confronted for owing some workers as much as fifteen (15) months salary, the Chief of Staff came out boldly to announce that the workers that haven't received their salaries were being screened and that they were owed just twelve months salaries. What a shame for a state that claims to generate 300% IGR. No doubt, Bello's administration is giving its might to the development of the state in terms of Agriculture and reducing the cost of governance by having a lean administration; the administration can only do better by facilitating the reopening of Kogi State University which has been under lock and key.

"If i die, I die." This is the _ipsissima verba_ that came out unguardedly from the self acclaimed "man of the people." Dino Melaye, ever since being crafted into the red chambers has been involved in one scandal or the other. Last year, he made a sexist remark on a fellow Senator- Oluremi Tinubu and even threatened to beat her up. He would later be the figure around whom a certificate saga revolved,  however, he found a subtle way of manoeuvring events and burying the matter in his own wisdom. What a clever man!

The obnoxious Senator would later be caught on tape making arrangements to bribe Akoh Ikpeme, a Tribunal Judge, not in Naira, but in the scarce USD, to pave way for his political voyage. However, Dino would only deny this and set the blame game rolling on Smart Adeyemi - his eternal rival in Kogi politics.

Nigerians and indeed Dino's constituents are fully aware of his dubious personality as a man of questionable character, corporate thief, squanderer whose source of wealth is not only questionable but has found a way to oppress his constituents and mislead Nigerian youths at large by the vain display of his _exoticas_. On several occasions, he has been questioned on his source of wealth. It noteworthy that oga Dino has never given a straight answer to this he claims to have gotten his wealth before his sojourn in politics. One can only imagine if he is stuck in illegal dealings.

Recently, the Senator went as far as launching his infamous book titled "Antidotes for corruption", an event where he invited some people who were brilliantly culminated by the erudite Wole Soyinka as "a group of disgusting reprobates" who are well known to be steep in corrupt practices. Among them is Mama Peace, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who is being investigated for his involvement in padding the 2016 budget.

Fellow Nigerians, these questionable men and women of crooked ways came together and celebrated the launching of a fellow pro-corruption crusader whose rise to the Senate is still under scrutiny.

The book was even sold at a ludicrous amount of money, expecting the poor masses to get a copy. Well, no one wants to waste his hard earned money on purchasing a book written by a less scholarly man.

It is however applaudable that the constituents of the dubious Senator have come to accept the reality that Dino was really a bad choice who is misrepresenting the people - Dino has become a laughing stock, the "ball boy" of the fantastically corrupt Senate President who will still meet his nemesis despite him being discharged and acquitted by the CCT,  and a source of entertainment to Nigerians at large.

As provided by section 69 of the Nigerian constitution as altered, the process of recall of the dreaded Senator is going on and really gaining momentum. One can only wait for the success of this process, which will not only be relieving, but historical.

As predicted, Senator Dino Melaye whom his constituents have lost confidence in is now making frantic efforts to truncate this constitutional process.  Youths are being instigated against the Government of the state and Dino has even alleged that the plot to recall him was instigated by Governor Bello by implication, Dino is making it known to his constituents that they are dumbs and know not what is right.
Dino should indeed be invited by Police authorities why he masterminded a protest without getting a permit from the police which  eventually led to the violent attempt on his life and the death of a resourceful youth in Kogi State.

The comedian cum vulgar Senator is now pointing accusing fingers at Yahaya Bello for sponsoring the assassination attempt on his life. Well, let the law take its course sir!

Just recently, he was caught on another tape fumbling to a friend of his on phone that "there will be no peace in Gaza" (Gaza symbolizes Kogi State). Well, this is not surprising  as the Senate is profound in mobilizing youths to vandalize properties and slay anyone who is on the side of the "opposition."

Greatest Nigerians, ever discerning youths, it is high time we all awoke from our slumber and stop the desperate political class from mortgaging our future. The future is now! Enough of the games being played by our leaders at the detriment of our welfare.

Youths in Kogi state and indeed Nigerians must stop and avoid being used by any cabal for political games.
It is no gainsaying that the Nigerian youths constitutes 70% of the voters' population in the country. The right persons must be voted for during elections and must be critically appraised if they fail to deliver to the people.

Collection of PVCs is vital, as it is the weapon of the eligible masses to stop corrupt officials from gaining power.

Enough of the havoc the  debauch political class has wretched on the country.

The labour of heroes past shall not be in vain!

GOD BLESS NIGERIA!

AWOSUSI Opeyemi
Faculty of Law,
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

ENTERTAINMENT LAW IN NIGERIA Farinmade Azeez Adedoyin (Mofhet) LLB1

ENTERTAINMENT LAW IN NIGERIA Farinmade Azeez Adedoyin
(Mofhet)
LLB1

  Many Nigerians are earning their living from the entertainment industry. Nigerian music, comedy, and movies have become a hit in Nigeria, across Africa and other continents. This has made the potentials in the industry to be encouraging and very rewarding. It is therefore pertinent for there to be a body of rules or regulations to regulate the industry. This will ensure certainty enhance greater productivity and promote returns on investments in the industry.
    Entertainment law in Nigeria is not developed but other legislation give force to the entertainment industry For instance, Trademark law governed by the Trades Marks Act, Cap T13 LFN 2004 regulates and protects  a brands identity, a trade mark is a sign capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one enterprise from those of other  enterprises. Copyright law governed by the copyrights Act Cap C28, Laws Of The Federation 2004 provides the rights that creators have over their literary and artistic works. Patent law is governed by the Patents & Designs Act, Cap P2, law's Of The Federation, 2004 which deals with safeguarding rights over scientific/technological inventions.

Basically, the framework of Entertainment law includes the following:

Merchandising in the entertainment business: this considers the creation, protection and merchandising of entertainment brands and products. It examines legal issues of brand development in the entertainment business in particular in relation to the use of trademarks, passing off (unfair competition) and design law, including the relationship of copyright law, and associated contract law use.

Law and media: this analyses the legal regulation of content and control of the media. It examines contemporary policy and regulatory frameworks for public and commercial media set in the light of technological advancement, and also legal and regulatory issues in operating the media such as censorship and advertising.

Law of digital entertainment and social media: this considers how law and technology has created entertainment business including the creation and distribution of products, examines how technological advances have affected relationships and rights within the digital entertainment business.
It analyses ways that law has responded to the digital environment and technological change and examines legal issues arising from the development and use of social media for business and personal purposes.

Entertainment contracts:
This includes the various contracts regulating the relationship between players in the entertainment industry. The principles of contract, employment and labor law come in handy to spell out the obligations of each party to the contract and bind them. Though the parties are free to enter into general contracts, it is important for them to know the legislation and customs regulating each entertainment activity in
to prevent them from making a void or unenforceable contract.

Farinmade Azeez Adedoyin
(Mofhet)
LLB1

TENANCY LAW: 12 THINGS EVERY LANDLORD AND TENANT IN LAGOS STATE SHOULD KNOW

TENANCY LAW: 12 THINGS EVERY LANDLORD AND TENANT IN LAGOS STATE SHOULD KNOW By Akintunde Esan, Esq.

A. Introduction

There are a lot of misconceptions on the position of the Law regulating Landlord and Tenant relationship in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos State which has the highest number of Landlords and Tenants in Nigeria.

This edition focuses on some key points of the Lagos State Tenancy Law
enacted in 2011 which every Landlord android  Tenant in Lagos State ought to know in order to avoid evitable embarrassments, trauma , disputes, court cases, imprisonment or payment of fines or damages.
B. 12 Important Points of Law to Note

1. Landlord: The person entitled to the occupy ate  reversion of the premises

2. Tenant: Includes a sub-tenant or any person occupying any premises whether by payment of rent howsoever or by operation of law and not persons unlawfully occupying any premises under a bona fide claim to be the owner.
In African Petroleum Ltd v. J.K. Owodunni (1991) LPELR-213 (SC) , it was held by the Supreme Court per
Nnaemeka Agu,JSC at p. 27, para B illuminated that:
"A tenant who enters upon premises by reason of a contract with the landlord is a contractual tenant. Such a tenant holds an estate which is subject to the terms and conditions of the grant. Once that tenancy comes to an end by effluxion of time or otherwise and the tenant holds over without the will or agreement of the landlord, he becomes a tenant-at-sufferance. This is strictly a common law concept.
But sometimes there is a statute which gives security of tenure to such a tenant after his contractual tenancy has expired. When: such a statute exists he now holds the premises no longer as a contractual tenant because there no longer exists a contract between him and the landlord. But he none-the-less retains possession by virtue of the provisions of the statute and is entitled to all the benefits and is subject toall the terms and conditions of the original tenancy."

3. "Tenancy" Means holding of interest in land or property by a tenant under a tenancy agreement.

4. Tenancy Agreement: An agreement whether written or oral , express or implied between a landlord and a tenant regarding possession of premises and use of common areas and includes leases and sub-leases.

5. Notice to Quit: Where there is no agreement or Tenancy Agreement as to the notice to be given by either party to determine the tenancy, The nature of a tenancy shall, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, be determined by reference to the time when the rent is paid or demanded as follows -
a tenant at will – one (1) week’s notice
a monthly tenant - one (1) month’s notice
a quarterly tenant - three (3) months notice
a half-yearly tenant - three (3) months notice
a yearly tenant – six (6) months notice
Though,  it is settled that, a notice to quit in order to be effective ought to determine the tenancy at the end of the current term of the tenancy, however, under the Lagos State 2011 Tenancy Law a notice to quit need not terminate on the anniversary of the tenancy but may terminate on or after the date of expiration of the tenancy. S.13(4).

6. Payment of Advance Rent:

a. A sitting or new tenant who offers or pays rent in excess of one (1) year for a yearly tenancy and six (6) months for a monthly tenant shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00) or to three (3) months imprisonment.
b. A landlord or his agent who demands or receives from a sitting or new tenant rent in excess of six (6) months from a monthly tenancy and one (1) year from a yearly tenant in respect of any premises shall be liable on conviction to a fine of
One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00) or to three (3) months imprisonment.

7. Ejecting a Tenant:
a. It is a criminal offence for a Landlord to demolish, alter or modify a building
with a view to ejecting a Tenant and
without the approval of the Court ; or
b. It is a criminal offence for a Landlord to attempt to forcibly eject or forcibly ejects a tenant.
c. It is a criminal offence for a Landlord to threaten or molest a tenant by action or words, with a view to ejecting such tenant.
d. It is a criminal offence for a Landlord to wilfully damages any premises with a view to ejecting a Tenant.
e. Any Landlord found guilty of a, b, c and d above shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N250, 000.00) or a maximum of six (6) months imprisonment and any other non-custodial disposition. S. 44.

8. A Licensee means a person who comes into occupation by mere permission, without the creation of a landlord and tenant relationship and has no estate or legal interest in the premises. Where a person is a licensee and upon the expiration or withdrawal of his licence, he refuses or neglects to give up possession, he shall be entitled to service of a seven (7) days’ notice of the owner's intention to apply to recover possession.

9. Grounds for Application for Order of Possession (S.25) : Unless are are  Tenancy Agreement expressly stipulates otherwise, the Court shall have power to make an order for possession upon proof of any of the following grounds –
a. arrears of rent;
b. breach of any covenant or agreement;
c. where the premises is required by the landlord for personal use
d. the premises is being used for immoral or illegal purposes;
e. the premises has been abandoned;
f. the premises is unsafe and unsound as to constitute a danger to human life or property; or
g. the tenant or any person residing or lodging with him or being his sub-tenant constitutes by conduct, an act of intolerable nuisance or induces a breach of a tenancy agreement.

10. Abandoned Premises (S. 15): A premises will be deemed to be abandoned where the-
a. tenancy has expired ;and
b. Tenant has not occupied the premises since the tenancy expired and has not given up lawful possession of the premises.

11. Premises: Includes premises used for business, residential and non-residential purposes.

12. The Lagos State 2011 Tenancy Law is not applicable in Apapa, Ikeja GRA., Ikoyi, and Victoria Island.

C.Conclusion

Most of the Landlord and Tenant disputes are based on misunderstanding of the expectations of the parties the Landlord is an investors who wants returns from his or her property, while the Tenant is a consumer who wants value for his or her money.
Though, there are terms which are statutorily implied in a Landlord and Tenant contract, it is better to have a
Written Tenancy Agreement where some common areas of dispute would have been proactively sorted out in advance. I have seen many Landlords shoot themselves in the foot by not consulting a Lawyer for a standard Tenancy Agreement or before attempting to eject a Tenant from their Premises.

Copied By
Wale Adeagbo Toheeb, Dir. Of Litigation
Justice Chambers
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

JUNE 12 STANDS FOR HOPE By Wole Zangani

Yes, it's another June 12 on this side of the Atlantic and it's the case that some twenty four years ago, that evergreen expression of William Gladstone "the most inexpressible calamity" found a home for itself in our history in the guise of 'annulment'.

One cannot help but echo the words of the Bard of Stratford-upon-avon when he said "All the world is a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and entrances and one man in his time plays many parts" ( As you like it). Those words are true for Moshood Kashimawo Olawale and they are true for us.

For some, today is a day for benedictions, for others it's the longest 24 hours clinically set aside for maledictions, lamentations, name calling and all sort of partial truths.

But for me and I hope for you too, today is a celebration of a chaotic synthesis; the matrimony of good and evil, for there's a truth in the saying ' there's a bit of good in evil and evil in good'

At times, I wonder how the judicial officers, military men, politicians, businessmen and the Gbadamosi's of Lapai (characters in the annulment drama) feel on a day like this. A day that arguably heralded the Abacha years of despotism and swiss accounts leadership!

I recall watching a journalist interview IBB on how he felt about the annulment episode and its incidentals and the man answered with astonishing temerity" I have told Nigerians to stop killing themselves. They should come and kill me....."(paraphrase)
Honestly, I felt like "awwwn, Dear General, relocate from that your hilltop mansion, release your bodyguards  on vacation and i might just take you up on your offer, you know".

But to be fair, I'm not sure IBB even understood the intrinsic meaning and calculated impact of annulment on the Nigerian polity, he was just like that proverbial sheep!

Speaking of proverbial sheep, when MKO was touring the world to amass political sympathy for his ' Hope Mandate', it's on record that he once likened IBB to the proverbial sheep in Yoruba oral tradition , that tasted salt and won't stop licking till it drops dead! Salt is sweet but it can also kill. Yoruba people sha!  IBB the licker!
He capriciously licked the toil of Abiola, Tofa and Nigerians in general. Or how do we explaining such an arbitrary cancelation? After the presidential hopeful spent cash and kind, engaged in intellectual disputations that have never been matched in our current political dispensation; for once, muslim-muslim ticket did not hold the electorates back! The national pledge for that period was ' hope and nothing else'. Some I we submitted that Nigerians have never been that united! What a waste.
After all has been said, the man MKO spent 48 months of his life in incarceration simply because he won't take the easy way out AKA 'renouncing his mandate, the mandate of the majority' and he crowned it all with the highest price a man can pay- his life! This is not hero worship, it's summarizing the life of a maverick just before the curtain of his life was drawn.

But 24 years after, Gbadamosi is still chilling in Niger State but I believe, just like MKO predicted, that he died long ago from  owing to the terminal 'seat-tight syndrome' and betrayal of public trust. Let's just say IBB is chilling in death alive! I digress a lot.

But let me concern myself with the achievements of the man MKO and what I think the youths should learn from that maverick!

Let's start with a snippet of what Wikipedia has on Moshood Abiola. "He was twice voted international businessman of the year and received numerous honorary doctorates from universities all over the world. In 1987 he was bestowed with the golden key to the city of Washington, D.C., and he was bestowed with awards from the NAACP and the King center in the USA, as well as the International Committee on Education for Teaching in Paris, amongst many others. In Nigeria, Abiola was made the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, the highest chieftaincy title available among the Yoruba, and has only been conferred by the tribe 14 times in its history. This in effect rendered Abiola the ceremonial War Viceroy of all of his tribespeople"

If our train of thought are headed towards the same direction, you will observe that much emphasis was placed on MKO's industry; or his 'business acumen' in contemporary usage. The contributor went further to highlight the 'connect between effort and reward as shown in the numerous recognition he got for his philanthropic gestures, social activism, stance against injustice among other things.

That been said, the youths of today should come to terms with the controversial 'Golden Rule' "he that owns the gold makes the rule"; and 'mining gold' is one of the craziest endeavor a man can embark upon but it's worth every step of the journey since it involves stretching your mind to the limit, discovering, questioning the status quo and unlearning harmful stereotypes (I suggest you see 'Gold' starring Matthew McConaughey).

One thing Wikipedia probably forgot to add is the truth that the maverick was an agricultural enthusiast; in spite of his qualifications in accountancy and the white collar phenomenon. That brings me to the issue of agriculture and the Nigerian youth; Tosin was here today and she said if an hypothetical mango gets plucked in Israel this morning, there's an high tendency Jack is sipping it with his wife Jacqueline in New York the next noon! Truly, 'it's not the big that eat the small, it's the fast that eat the slow' (that's a book- read it if you can)
The youths of nowadays need to appreciate speed! MKO did!

The life and times of MKO exemplified the awareness that JFK projected in his inaugural when he said " to those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe, struggling to break the bonds of mass misery......not because communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes but because it's right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich"

Kennedy went on to say 'For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life' but that's a matter for another day.

In the interim, I sincerely hope the youth celebrating Democracy today in remembrance of MKO understand that democracy fueled by dissent, youthful industry, education, maximized energy and hope! among other things!

May the words to come leave a lasting impression on you

"Because of this man, there is both cause for hope and certainty that the agony and protests of those who suffer injustice shall give way to peace and human dignity. The children of the world shall know the great work of this extraordinary leader and his fervent mission to right wrong, to do justice, and to serve mankind. The enemies which imperil the future of generations to come: poverty, ignorance, disease, hunger, and racism have each seen effects of the valiant work of Chief Abiola. Through him and others like him, never again will freedom rest in the domain of the few. We, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus salute him this day as a hero in the global pursuit to preserve the history and the legacy of the African diaspora"

Wole Zangani
Faculty of Law
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
12-6-17

THE ILLOGICALITY OF POWER By Ambassador Ademola Adeoye

The Illogicality of Power by Ambassador Ademola Adeoye

To start with, it is not contentious and debatable to say that Nelson Mandela was a servant leader par excellence. For most of his life, he quietly but firmly opposed the racist policies of apartheid in South Africa. In 1964, the White minority government condemned him to life in prison. As an effect of that judgment, he ended up spending 27 years in prison for the “crime” of speaking out against racism and oppression. Then in 1990, as South Africa came under an increasing pressure and difficulty from the international community, Mandela was released. In 1994, apartheid was formally abolished, South Africa held its first free elections, and Nelson Mandela was elected president!

In four years, he went from being a prisoner of his country to the leader of his country. Many people in his position would have seized the opportunity to turn the table on those who had stolen almost three decades of their lives, but Mandela chose to flex the power of love and moral authority rather than the power of the state. He demonstrated to the world that he was a new kind of leader, following a very old leadership model—the model of the greatest leader who ever lived, Jesus. The 21st century non-compliant leadership model of love.

A little over a year after Mandela came to power, South Africa agreed to host the Rugby World Cup Tournament in Johannesburg, the capital of this overwhelmingly black African nation. But the tournament inflamed a major national debate. Many black South Africans objected to the tournament, calling rugby a white man’s game. They demanded the removal of the South African team emblem, the springbok. The springbok, said the blacks, was a reminder of South Africa’s oppressive apartheid history.

White Afrikaners, however, demanded that the tradition of the springbok remain intact. The springbok had been the emblem of every rugby team South Africa had ever fielded. Tensions escalated. It was that time that Nelson Mandela needed to step in. He paid a visit to the South African rugby team and called a press conference. As the media cameras clicked away, he answered questions—and he was dressed in a springbok rugby jersey and a springbok cap. “Before democratic rule came to South Africa,” he said, “we were a divided country then, and the springboks represented oppression. But that is in the past. We are a united country now. Regardless of the past, the springboks are our team now. They may all be white, but they are our boys. The people of South Africa will get behind them and support them in this tournament.” Mandela understood the purpose of power and he used it to bring South Africans together. What a rare and unique servant-leader he was!

The following day, the white coach of the springboks gathered his players together and said, “There is no practice today. I want everyone to assemble in street clothes—suits and ties.” “Why?” the players asked. “Where are we going?” “You will see,” said the coach.

The coach put the team on a boat and took them out to Robben Island, to the prison where Nelson Mandela had spent so much of his life. The coach led his players into one of the cells and said: “This is the cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. He was kept here for 27 years by the racist policies of our government. We white Afrikaners tolerated Mandela’s imprisonment for all those years—yet he came out yesterday and publicly supported all of us. We cannot let him down.”

The springboks were considered underdogs in the tournament, but they went out and played like champions, stunning the world by winning their match. They continued on through the tournament until they faced New Zealand—the perennial powerhouse in the world of international rugby. It was a rough game, and by the end of regulation time, the score was tied.

In the stands was Nelson Mandela, clad in a springbok’s jersey. Also in the stands was a choir of black South African children. During the time-out before overtime, the children began singing an old miners’ song, much like the Negro spirituals sung by slaves in the old American South. Mandela began singing with them. Soon, thousands of people in the stands joined in, and that song of hope swelled throughout the stadium.

As the song ended, the springboks took the field, and they seemed supernaturally energized and empowered. The New Zealanders could not stop them. At the end of the overtime period, the World Rugby Championship belonged to the springboks of South Africa. The Championship did not belong only to the whites on the team, but to all of South Africa, white and black alike. That night, whites and blacks celebrated and danced together in the streets of a united South African nation.

Nelson Mandela understood the ultimate illogicality of leadership: A leader is not truly a leader unless he is a servant leader, serving all the people as a force for change, a force for unity, a force for prosperity, a force for progress and a force for love.

In our days in Nigeria and on the continent of Africa as a whole, we are in a serious need of servant-leaders—who understand the purpose of power. There are too far many people in the corridors of power, in our promising country and across the continent of Africa, who do not understand a hoot the true purpose of power. They do not know that power is for selfless-service and not for personal aggrandizement. They do not know that power is supposed to be used to enrich the citizenry and not to enrich self. At the moment in Nigeria, power is being used to oppress the poor and voiceless and not to set the poor and voiceless free from the shackles of poverty and diseases. From Ghana to Gabon, from Niger to Nigeria, from Cameroon to Cape Verde, from Egypt to Equatorial Guinea, the problem is the same. The whole continent of Africa is in a dire need of leaders, servant leaders, who are capable of birthing love, unity, prosperity and progress amongst the people.

See you where great leaders are found!

AFRICA THINK by OLUWAJUEDALAW

AFRICA THINK

A brave personnel is relevant than a multiple dozen of powerful men:- Juedalo 2017

Many critics were emphasised on Africa and Africa itself is on a deep sleep to proof or defend itself from the uncanny critics.
Africa, lot of things were said while you were asleep and I hope you wake up from your hibernation to stop the  propaganda.

I smell seeth and unwarranted melancholy because it wont be bearable. What you bargain with your people is fading and falling, Africa has been defaced with unpleasant paint, the bigotry of your habitants is the chaos that will never be solve.

    AFRICA SUPPOSE REPLICATE             'AFRICA IS FALLING'

Forgetting the path of your source will surely entice undiluted wrath. When the time comes the Excruciation might be unbearable.

Moreover situations leads to catastrophe, we lack intensive conciliation, we made them conceive the idea of inferiority, they are chauvinistic but the fact is we make them feel superior by condoning there obliges, we make them feel 'EUPHORIC' which is an 'ORDEAL' to our necessitated plans its time 'AFRICA WAKE FROM IT DEEP SLEEP'.

With no opprobrium, conclusion has been reached with their diagnoses. We have been settled with their sentimental oblongata that we have been posit to a permanent numeric post (third world)Africa where are thou? Your back is slippery.  They have chock your people to an encumber state without any harbinger of change.

Another aspect where my fatherland is witnessing devastation is leadership. Africa is chanced with the role of leadership.
Why are  we denied the best leaders? Our train of leadership is filled with mediocre. Our train is colliding. Its suffering from weak excavation and drained morals.

We need to inculcate the act of dimensional and conceptual ideas in our pre-actions, we need revolution in our leadership and most African youth need to be reoriented in leadership skills and acquisitions.

Its disgusting seeing an endowed continent being ruled by lustful bunches,  mediocre, those who cares only about there  personal welfares not for the love of its habitats.

This scenario is weakling the agile men of Africa. Its obvious that the dubious rulers only mimic the western heads in which they are not gifted with standard charisma but substandard ideas. They make more of exploits rather than positive political exhibition.
Africa have been exploited that's the main reason for being deposed in our independent thought.

To conclude the contention, its time, Africa youth we need to rejuvenate our mental  strength to face up the realities, challenges, unpleased situations we find ourselves, we are tired of hide and seek games. Its time for the truth to prevail, let the world know we are tired of the chaotic government brought to us by the retarded people. Let stand firm for one voice.

'PEOPLE MAY CRITICISE THE BLACK ACT OF THE BLACK PEOPLE BUT BELIEVE ME IF I'M CHOSEN TO COME TO THIS LIFE AGAIN I WILL LIKE TO LIVE IN THE DEEP FOREST OF THE BLACK AFRICANS':-JUEDALAW 2016.

AYEBIELE KHALIL
OLUWAJUEDALO
(JUEDALAW)
LLB1

SEVEN SECRETS TO SUCCESS By BELLO FAVOUR LLB 1

Success is accomplishing an intended purpose. It's a desired accomplishment. In order to be successful in our multifarious dealings, there are some primal things that we need to put in place. Seven of these indispensable things are:

1) GOD: Without him, you cannot go anywhere. He will guide you in all areas of your life . You cannot lead yourself perfectly. You need the supreme being. He never fails!

2)  The belief that nothing is impossible: Even  the word "impossible" says " I'm possible ".No one is a failure, all u need to do is to believe u can do it and yes you can.

3) Determination and hard work: Irrespective of your background or whatsoever... As long as you are determined and you put in your best ...u can make it!!

4) Do not give up: I have noticed one thing about our successful leaders, prominent people. They didn't just get to the peak, most of them have once failed before getting to where they are now. Friends! Do not give up. The fact that you once failed doesn't make u a failure.

5) AVOID PROCRASTINATION: Time is very precious. Don't be lazy. Do not procrastinate. Instead, do what you are supposed to do at the right time. Procrastination may be convenient, yes it can be, but it actually kills dreams

6) FRIENDS: This is very crucial, anyone that makes you feel inferior is not your friend. Associate yourself with good friends that will tell you when you are going astray. I noticed something about myself, and I know it happens to majority of us. Anytime my friends are reading, I will also want to read, which is very good. Most times we are influenced by our friends. Let's say your friends are that party type, you would also want to feel among so as not to be left out. Be CAREFUL of the people you keep as friends.

7) HUMILITY: Be humble!!
Humility goes a long way. Do not look down on people.The ones you think they can never make it in life might be the ones  that would later help you in future. Humility helps a great deal.

   Keep this in mind- FAILURE IS AN ORPHAN WHILE SUCCESS HAS MANY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

Are you a sibling to SUCCESS?
Do you want to be a sibling to SUCCESS?

I AM

YOU ALSO CAN

BELLO FAVOUR

LLB 1 OAUIFE

RACE

RACE

A heavy block lies in his chest. Sighing, he thinks of the race he has been running since he wised up, the one he never stopped to rest during its course. Then he remembers the echoing words of the ragged man, the one whom everyone mock and spit at. The words reverberates in his head, "the race of life is not always in favour of the fastest ". Conflicting thoughts flash through his mind like the clapping of colourful thunder, but the one with the strongest residual effect is the line that stuck to his medulla after reading one of Shakespeare's works, "Tis silliness to live,when to live is torment and then we have a prescription to die,when death is our physician "

He shakes his head when a sudden realization dawned on him. He realizes that he has not been concentrating on the race, he has been looking sideways expecting to see his comrades closing up on him. He remembers vividly the day he was on the second lap of the field, almost reaching the third lap, that he swiveled around thinking another racer was about to catch up with him but he didn't find anyone. It is now he realizes that he has been running the race alone, no one is involved in the race because it belongs to him alone. 

    Like Icarus, his cold dead lying beneath  the Now Icarian sea, after his wings made of feather and wax melted because he flew too close to the sun, so does he lie down now with the torturous heavy block in his chest pressing him down. He lies there,breathing shallowly, wondering why he never took a rest, why he pressed himself too hard, why he never found the time to remember the ultimate prescription given by the physician, why he never realized that matching his own pace steadily will give him more energy to move on. 

     He is crying inwardly, punishing himself for the breaking of his Icarus' wings but no one  passing by sees it. They pass by nodding gently as him in acknowledgement. He does not let his anguish show on his face, that his silliness has overrode him for he has tormented himself too much by not stopping at least once in a while, to breathe in and out, to enjoy the lush scenery, to extend a grateful heart to the Creator for giving him the ability to even raise a leg to run but No!, it is now that his last energy is draining away that he comes to the realization  that steadiness and going at your own pace without considering or trying to compete with other racers can make one finish the race with success. 

      These are the thoughts of the man named Nameless before his eyes finally closed to the bright light of the day

Olurotimi Josephine I
The Little Lady
LL. B1

THE LEGALITY OF THINKING

THE LEGALITY OF THINKING.

Where Success is concerned, people are not measured in inches, or pounds, or college degrees or family background; they are measured by the size of their THINKING. - David Schwartz.

When you are a habitual thinker, you remain happy till you die for thinkers are owners of ideas and owners of ideas rule the world. - Prof. A IDOWU, June 2017.

I recalled once calling one of my mentors to fix a meeting, he responded that he would be busy for almost the rest of that day. In quick succession, I questioned his engagement which was met with response that "Meeting you would tamper with my THINKING schedule"

Observation which fueled personal experience has revealed that the place of THINKING in the realm of progress cannot be overemphasized. Good thinkers solve problems, they are in fact never found wanting in the world of Ideas, Ideas vibrant and requisite to build an organisation. Needless is a restatement of the fact that a distinguishing factor of great men and successful people alike is that THEY THINK.

Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler once boasted, "What luck for rulers that men do not think". The dissection of his words reveals that the ability to think is in itself a check in the arbitrariness of rulers.
Thinking is legal and in fact, much more healthy. It is hard to overstate the value of good thinking. THINKING expands intellectual horizons, opens doors that are long locked with missing keys, thinking creates opportunities where there are ordinarily none.

The Nobel Prize - Winning physicist Albert Einstein, one of the best thinkers who ever lived, asserted, "Thinking is hard work, that is why so few people do it", Daniel Cortez added that the only intellectual hard work required for moving to the next ring on the ladder of progress is Thinking.

Napoleon Hill observed that "More gold has been mined from the thoughts of men than has ever been from the earth". The definition of individual wealth and by extension, the measure of his contribution to his immediate and remote society is then almost solely dependent on how he thinks.

The sage that pen the wordings of the Biblical book of Proverbs observed that Sharp people sharpen one another, that is a polish to the saying that Iron sharpens Iron and indeed speaks of the place of Sharp THINKING placed side by side with the relevance of gatherings in Learned circle.

All that is needed is THINKING.
It is MUCH BRAIN, LESS MUSCLE.
THINK and Uphold the Legality of THINKING.

ADEDIGBA DANIEL CORTEZ
Part 4 Law Student,
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
08108019481.