Akinbode's BLOG on Faith, Politics, Science, Engineering, Education and Health

In conservative communities, showing any sign of what is perceived as weakness is looked down upon. Being open about your bad situation is sometimes considered a sign of entitlement and attention-seeking. Mental health is one of the ailments many suffer in silence and don't get help for. It has reached an alarming rate among young adults . Science presents many reasons as the causative factors: 1. Change in socio-cultural behavior instigated by many things 2. Change in lifestyle of caregivers - parents. It is commonplace now that both parents are professionals and are often not available enough to supervise the upbringing and meet the emerging needs of their wards. 3. Technology - the internet, smartphone, tablet, laptops, Nintendo , X-box, etc are drawing time away from young adults (even adults). The time they should spend socializing by playing with their siblings, friends, and parents is spent playing games and surfing the web looking for what is not lost. 4. Peer pressure fr...

Whereas policemen carry bags and umbrellas for "big men" and politicians, whereas they are assaulted by celebrities in daylight. These same policemen go about harassing ordinary people for no just cause.. Seun Kuti slapped a policeman in daylight and he was not arrested there and then. It tells you that Nigeria is a lawless country. Police kill many Nigerians daily and nothing happens, but when one is confronted by a celebrity artist, he lost himself as the officer of the law and allowed himself to be humiliated publicly - it does not happen in a sane world. Seun knows he could not repeat the same abroad and not be arrested immediately and jailed. You know, many Nigerians are daily assaulted, maimed, raped, and extorted, and we see it as the norm - they carry guns and wear uniforms that symbolize they are the face of the laws of the land. I was almost killed by one in 2010 on the Iwo-Ibadan road when I challenged him for intimidating and harassing innocent road users. I just...

At a time when Nigeria is spending 96 % of its revenue to pay debt When resident doctors are threatening to go on strike and ordinary Nigerians are the ones that will pay the price. When millions of children are out of school When tens of millions of Nigerian youths are jobless When infrastructures are in a terrible state - hospitals, schools, colleges, airports, intra-city and inter-state roads When 100 of millions of Nigerians are hungry Our political class have decided to share over N63 billion as a severance package. This tells you the mindset of these people and where their hearts have been since they got to the office. This can only happen in a country where the electorates are powerless and voiceless.... This is what Nigerians have done to themselves....when we are tired we will stand up against recklessness, tyranny, and impunity.

Abraham Lincoln defined DEMOCRACY to mean the government of the PEOPLE, by the PEOPLE, and for the PEOPLE. If a government was not elected by the PEOPLE, it can never be a government of the PEOPLE, nor will it be for the PEOPLE. It is important that in every election, FREENESS and FAIRNESS are allowed. The people should be allowed to elect their leaders - good or bad. If the leader is bad, the people will have the opportunity to elect someone else in the next election. However, when a few powerful people subvert the process and buy votes to get to office, it can never be a democracy. Those who get into office through this means will never act in accordance with the laws that guide their office and they will abuse the power of the office with impunity because they know there is no accountability. They can always take the back door to get back to the office anytime they want. Those trivializing the importance of free and fair elections should know they are supporting tyranny, dictatorshi...

Before Buhari took the rein of power in 2015, the projection was that Nigeria's economy would grow by about 7.1% annually till 2030. The growth started at the turn of the century under the presidency of OBJ who paid off our national debt through negotiation led by Madam Okonjo Iweala. The growth trend continued under GEJ even though it was threatened by serious corruption left uncontrolled by GEJ's government. Nigeria's economy has shrunk in the last few years, and the future looks bleak for the nation. Nigeria's GDP growth was in the negative twice during Buhari's (the first time since the turn of the century) tenure. We were only above 3% once, and that was in 2021. Nigeria's Growth Projection, PRE-BUHARI   The government of Buhari was elected with a lot of hope but it is the worst mistake that happened to Nigeria since the turn of the century if not in its history. All indices of growth have gone south and the President remained blithe and unresponsive. He ne...

One in every FIVE dark skin people of African descent (Sub-Saharan Africans) is a Nigerian. For as long as Nigeria remains an under-performing nation, the black nation will not gain the respect of the world. This leads to the topic of how Nigerians at home perceive Nigerians in the diaspora. Many Nigerians at home are fiery and angry when Nigerians in the diaspora speak the truth about the state of the nation and the fact that we can not continue to be satisfied with incremental change that leads nowhere, and why the ORDINARY people of Nigeria are the only one who can make the change that the nation needs - first by electing smart, educated, enlightened, proven, and unifying leaders, especially the president; and by being the change we want in Nigeria in our daily endeavor. Some Nigerians at home use lines of attack such as: 1. YOU HAVE LEFT, SO, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL THE REST OF US LEFT HOME WHAT TO DO. No, we have the right - some of us still pay tax at home, we carry th...

One of the key wisdom I have imbibed (internalized) that has helped me greatly in my relationship with others is learning to agree while I disagree - it simply means, I have learned to acknowledge other people's positions and opinions without necessarily agreeing with them. This is a key wisdom that will help you in dealing and relating with your spouse, your colleagues, and rivals at any level.. Phrases such as: "I hear you, however,......" "I acknowledge your position, however, have you considered .........." "I recognize where you are coming from, in addition, I think ......." ....... and others like it are critical for interacting with others, lead to less shouting bout, and allow for more productive discussion in meetings and gathering.....I hope it makes sense to some...