USA Africa Dialogue Series - THANK YOU JOHN MOORE‹ >> ‹Re.: How politics shortchanges Nigeria.

Ayo, 

Your column, 

Then follow-ups from 

The wondrous Arigbede and Ogunseye. 

What more can one say? 

Only that the waters beneath the earth 

Run ever closer to the surface;  

And with ever greater strength. 

When they break through, 

Will it be merely a surge or an 

All-consumng flood?  

Thank you John Moore, 

Author of Waters under the Earth, 

And long with the ancestors 

For your continuing nudges from above. 

Your metaphors are powerful and lasting. 

They continue to frame our predicament 

And our fate. 

All of us. 

Rest well, my friend. 

And continue to send us your messages and reminders. 

We greatly need your continuing presence and your company. 

Please. 

mv

From: Bolaji Ogunseye <erinje@yahoo.com>
Date: Monday, 18 December 2017 14:19
To: Prof Ayo OLUKOTUN <ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>, Prof Ayo OLUKOTUN <ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>
Cc: Prof Toyin FALOLA <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>, Akinjide OSUNTOKUN <josuntokun@yahoo.com>, <ofemibabatunde@yahoo.com>, USA-AFRICA dialogue <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>, Ebunoluwa Oduwole <ebunoduwole2k2@yahoo.com>, Orogun Olanike <dam_nik@yahoo.com>, Lanre Idowu <lanreidowu@gmail.com>, Tunji Olaopa <tolaopa2003@gmail.com>, Bolaji Akinyemi <rotaben@gmail.com>, Femi_Osofisan Osofisan <okinbalaunko@yahoo.com>, Prof YACOB-HALISO <jumoyin@gmail.com>, "Nwulu, Paul" <P.Nwulu@fordfoundation.org>, Odia OFEIMUN <odia55@yahoo.com>, Michael VICKERS <mvickers@mvickers.plus.com>, <adigunagbaje@yahoo.com>, <taleomole@yahoo.com>, Prof Wale ADEBANWI <waleadebanwi@gmail.com>, Tade Aina <tadeakinaina@yahoo.com>, Prof Jide Owoeye <babsowoeye@gmail.com>, Insa NOLTE <M.I.Nolte@bham.ac.uk>, Prof Richard JOSEPH <r-joseph@northwestern.edu>, Olufunke Adeboye <funks29adeboye@yahoo.co.uk>, Chibuzo NWOKE <chibuzonwoke@yahoo.com>, Ayobami Salami <ayobasalami@yahoo.com>, Prof Bayo ADEKANYE <profbayo_adekanye@yahoo.com>, Christian Ogbondah <chris.ogbondah@uni.edu>, Hafsat Abiola <hafsatabiola@hotmail.com>, Nimi Wariboko <nimiwari@msn.com>, Dr Banji OYEYINKA <boyeyinka@hotmail.com>, <laioso@ymail.com>, "hassansaliu2003@gmail.com" <hassansaliu2003@gmail.com>, <rotimisuberu@yahoo.com>, "Prof. Lere Amusan" <lereamusan@gmail.com>, mimikofemi <mimikofemi@yahoo.com>, <fawolew@yahoo.com>, "Chukwuma, Innocent" <innocent.chukwuma@fordfoundation.org>, Jinmi Adisa <jinmiadisa@gmail.com>, "Dr O.A. DOSUMU" <toksx@yahoo.com>, <paddykay2002@yahoo.com>, Attahiru Jega <attahirujega@yahoo.com>, Prof Ogunmola Ogunmola <gbogunmola@gmail.com>, Noel Ihebuzor <noel.ihebuzor@gmail.com>, Prof Tunde BABAWALE <tunde_babawale@yahoo.com>, <jadesany@yahoo.co.uk>, <adebayow@hotmail.com>, Oluwayomi D ATTE <david_atte@yahoo.com>, Niyi Akinnaso <niyi.tlc@gmail.com>, Bunmi Makinwa <bunmimakinwa@hotmail.com>, "S.O. UWAIFO" <so_uwaifo@yahoo.co.uk>, Niyi Osundare <oosunda1@uno.edu>, "Prof Eghosa E. OSAGHAE" <osaghaeeghosa@yahoo.co.uk>, Prof Olufemi VAUGHAN <ovaughan@bowdoin.edu>, Prof Osinbajo <yemiosinbajo@yahoo.com>, Felix Adenaike <felixadenaike@yahoo.com>, Royal Gardens <royalgardensnet@gmail.com>, Prof Jide Owoeye <babsowoeye@gmail.com>, Toks Olaoluwa <olaoluwatokunboh@gmail.com>, Segun Awonusi <segunawo@yahoo.com>, Segun Gbadegesin <gbadeg2002@yahoo.com>, F&C Securities Limited <fc@hyperia.com>
Subject: Re: Fw: Re.: How politics shortchanges Nigeria.

Dear Ayo,

Yes, that's him - the front-line fighter who was stitching limbs and stomachs of victims of the military's brutal suppression of the 'agbekoya' (peasant farmers') during and in the aftermath of their uprising decades ago. A former medical-school lecturer at Unife in the 70s, Dr Arigbede continues to inspire, to quietly fume at the system, to mock it with biting sarcasms, envision a radical, alternative narrative for the Nigerian project - and to generally challenge all of us to mobilise beyond particularistic and political-interest agendas.

That Dr. Arigbede, at 75, declares a readiness still to get on the field (join arms) for remedial (he prefers root-and-branch) surgery on our 'Project of Society' - is an impressive testament of his remarkable passion and continued commitment to REAL CHANGE in the face of a painful downward trend in the circumstances of our BoP compatriots, and of Nigeria's 'world of life' across our communities, towns and cities. I join him in restating that commitment, the continued relevance (and necessity) of which Prof. Olukotun every now and then reminds us. Ayo, thank you for a rare variety of national service through your keyboard!!

Those who continue to feel a sense of the commitment that Prof. Olukotun so ably signposts in his column, have a duty, at least, to persist in NOT allowing the acceptance of, adaptation to and rationalizing of cynical and avoidable governance failures to be further embedded in our institutions and society at large. To refrain from signing on to the false and privileged 'narrative of power holders' about Nigeria, in the face of searing mass poverty, receding opportunities and the physical spread of agglomerations of misery across our land. E ku ojo meta, (quite an age) Dr. Arigbede. How is your ONLY and humble farm residence at Ode-Omu; and your peasant-farmer colleagues and neighbours?

Bolaji

On Monday, 18 December 2017, 11:56:42 GMT+1, <ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com> wrote:

Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.

From: makanjuolaarigbede <makanjuolaarigbede@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, 18 December 2017 08:20 To: ayo_olukotun Subject: Re.: How politics shortchanges Nigeria.

My dear yet-to-be-met brother:

I have not met you in flesh and blood but I hope that you and I will soon collaborate to overcome this deficit.  However, I have met you in spirit every Friday in the wise words and thoughts you put out in your column.

I am not a frivolous writer but a 75 year old Nigerian patriot who has been driven by the need, as you clearly recognise in your column, to rescue our  beleaguered patrimony from the locusts into whose hands we have entrusted our destiny.  I have sacrificed my own life, comforts, professional ambitions, etc., and more importantly, those of my family, nuclear and extended.  I am a trained neuroscientist who has crossed class lines to accompany the struggles of our under- privileged compatriots, particularly the beleaguered smallholder farmers who, despite their vicissitudes, sweat to feed the rest of us. So, I believe I have the right to seek out and, if possible, join arms, with anyone who expresses the views that you do in your column for the PUNCH Newspaper.

Why have I waited until now to reach out to you?  The last paragraph of your piece for last Friday:  "This can only be done ..... by the citizenry coming into its own in the form of a People's Charter".  Is this a mere pipe dream or can serious citizens actually begin to work out how to do this?  Would we need to work to establish a People's Parliament, or what.

Speak to me, my brother.  A npee gbon ni, a kii pee go.  Thanks and God bless.

Sincerely,

Dr.  Makanjuola Olaseinde Arigbede
Odeomu,  Osun state.
08053627973;  08106503474.