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Conversation Nigeriana (6)

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Monkey Tail, Government Officials And Policy Implementation

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Hope O’Rukevbe Eghagha

Kalio: Our President has finally spoken!

Orezime: Yes, the come has become the come! He has even over spoken! Two interviews and a national broadcast! We’ve never had it so good under him!

Aboki: It is not enough that he has spoken.

Obukohwo: Exactly, whether or not he spoke well is the kettle of fish!

Tunde: He has spoken well! Especially from one side of his mouth

Emeka: Yes, the side of the mouth that says nothing good about Igbo people!

Orezime: You people have come again! You have been screaming from roof tops that he should speak; now that he has done so, you are shifting the goal post!

Aboki: The president is my kinsman; but I must tell the truth. As a leader, he must learn to balance all the forces in the land. Unity in diversity!

Tunde: A melting pot. A leader, especially a democratically elected leader, should be a statesman. He must rise above partisanship once he takes over the presidency! Anything short of that would trigger off bitterness, rage and violence!

Orezime: I am just afraid for this country. Where will all of this lead us?

Kalio: Regionalism! True federalism! This country cannot be the same again. Even if a southerner takes over in 2023, the push would be towards creating a weak centre.

READ ALSO: Again, Buhari Rules Out Restructuring Of Polity

Emeka: Not the Nigeria that I know! We forget too easily. Nigerians forgive their leaders and return them to office after a slap on the wrist!

Aboki: But I must say that he has dismissed the nonsense narrative that he is not in control of his wits! He showed that he was fully abreast of everything in the country.

Orezime: Give me five jor! I was happy that he granted an interview to Arise News and the next day, the mouth-organ of government did its own interview. The man has woken up! I pray he keeps the momentum!

Emeka: As for me, it is good that he has spoken up and shown his open hatred for Igbo people. We used to think that his aides made things up. Now, the wind has blown and the anus of the fowl is exposed! Let me quote a social commentator, Festus Adedayo: if anyone was undecided that Buhari was at the roots of Nigeria’s worsening ethnic crises in the last six years, or so, that Arise TV interview removed all doubts!

READ ALSO: Conversation Nigeriana (5)

Aboki: That is one man’s opinion fa! Is that what you must take seriously?

Kalio: The aggregate of the opinions of people expressed in newspapers is indicative of public opinion. All reasonable governments pay attention to opinions in the newspapers!

Orezime: Exactly! Dr. Chris Ngige, a former governor and senator, has defended the president vigorously. He was explicit and definite in asserting that Mr. President loves the Igbo people and that Igbo people have been given high positions in the government!

Emeka: What else did you expect him to say? Attack or criticize his master and lose his seat at the table of power?

Kalio: But he could have kept quiet. This is the home that he must return to. He should not forget what happened to Ukpabi Asika, the man whom the federal government appointed as Administrator of East Central State during and after the 1967-70 war.

Emeka: People forget history. How could the president threaten a whole ethnic group with a sinister reference to the genocide of 1976/70?

Tunde: It is because nobody was brought to book. The three Rs deceived the people- there was a victor and there was the vanquished!

Aboki: Look here. The Igbo were defeated in the war. Did you expect the nation to just take them back with open arms and appoint them to head sensitive institutions?

Emeka: Why not?

Aboki: Because they could use such institutions to fight the central government!

Emeka: What nonsense! Fight the federal government? Do you believe such nonsense? Did General Ihejirika as Army Chief fight against Nigeria?

READ ALSO: Conversation Nigeriana (4)

Obukohwo: Calm down everybody; calm down. We are here to hold a discussion to enlighten one another. We are not here to push ethnic agendas.

Kalio: Look here, if you do not push your ethnic agenda, forget it no one will do it for you. Nigeria is now dog eat dog! A tragedy if you asked me!

Obukohwo; I agree with you. I was shocked by the threat letter posted all over the Delta State capital last week threatening jihad against the state because the governor like other governors in the south, has banned open grazing! As of the time of writing, there had been no response from the president or the presidency!

Orezime: There has been a response from the Nigeria Police assuring everybody that they should go about their lawful duties in the state.

Kalio: Was that not what happened in Benue State? Did they protect the governor from the vicious attack by those scoundrels in herdsmen disguise?

Tunde: But why has the state governor not openly reassured his people that he would protect them from any attack?

Orezime: Can the governor protect his people if there is indeed an attack? Does he have control over any army or police or quasi-security outfit that can repel AK47-wielding hoodlums or jihadists?

Kalio: I am happy that Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) has responded on behalf of the region! The response was scary if it indeed was issued by that dreaded body!

Obukohwo: Chief E.K. Clark, that old warrior has also said that ‘Niger Delta people will resist Fulani jihadists’ attack with all their might!

Orezime: Does Clark have an army?

Kalio: Not that I know of. But he is highly respected in the south, the last man standing from the older generation who still has the balls to speak truth to power!

Aboki: This is all dangerous to the survival of the country!

READ ALSO: ISWAP Commander, Others Killed In Airstrikes

Emeka: Is that all you want to say? When a cow herders’ association, Miyetti Allah was threatening everybody, was it not dangerous? Is violence or words of threat the monopoly of one ethnic group? Come on! This government has created chaos. It banned IPOB but has allowed Miyetti Allah to thrive and issue ultimatums. He has not used such strong terms as were used against the Igbo to condemn the scallywags who rum the fiendish Boko Haram.

Aboki: Look here, you misunderstand me. Even some of us from the north are embarrassed by Miyetti Allah. That body does not speak for me, does not speak for the north. The organization that speaks for the north is ACF!

Emeka: The perception in the country is different!

Tunde: Yes, the perception out there is different and dangerous!

Obukohwo: As you know, perception is very important in governance!

Tunde: A situation in which non-state actors have taken over the public space is unhealthy for us all.

Aboki: That is the point! We do not want another Libya here!

Emeka: I don’t care anymore, not with the rate of killings in the southeast of innocent people. I do not support Nnamdi Kalu’s strategy, if he has one. But the genocide taking place in Imo state right now should not be tolerated in the 21st century.

Kalio: We do not want disintegration into anarchy!

Aboki: Nobody wants that!

Tunde: Tell your brothers in Abuja!

Aboki: Excuse me!

Professor Eghagha can be reached on heghagha@yahoo.com and 08023220393.

 

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Opinion

Professor Nuhu Yaqub, 1951 To 2025: The Departure Of A Great Man

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Dele Jegede In Conversation With Prince Yemisi Shyllon

By Toyin Falola

December 8, 2024: Professor Nuhu Yaqub was with us in Abuja, in the company of great minds—Jibrin Ibrahim, Yakubu Ochefu, Chris Ogbogbo, Aisha Maikudi, Chido Onuma, Tunji Olaopa, Paul and Paula Edeh, Adagio, Okello Oculi, John Odah and many more. We did a mini-seminar on Jibrin Ibrahim. I invited Nuhu Yaqub to speak, and he gave a great speech, starting with his introduction to Marxism. Days after, we spoke twice on the phone. An active and healthy man was gone within three days of sickness, leaving us and the world on Saturday, January 4. I was hit by his departure with an emotional anguish that is taking a longer time to heal.

I have known him for decades. As the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, he invited me twice to give two Keynote Addresses. As the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Sokoto State University, he and Professor Malami Buba, his Deputy, invited me to give the University’s first Distinguished Lecture. We exchanged family visits in Austin and Abuja. A candid man, he did not require efforts for him to stay in mind on all aspects of national issues.

The phenomenon of death remains one mystery that humans, and maybe all living creatures, may not understand for its strange nature. At the superficial level, death signifies the finitude to everything living, and it is in this category of interpretation that we humans lurk ourselves, not because we are sometimes not inclined to see beyond the anguish that is brought when we lose people who are dear to us, but because the human mind is not conditioned to process the shock, the urgency, and the forever delinking which occurs when we lose individuals or cherished pets.

Death is a leveller, for it takes the lives of everything without concerns about the irreparable damage that it does to the people behind it. Losing a giant intellectual and humanitarian energy such as Professor Yaqub has dug yet another deep hole in our national heart and left a hollow space that may be difficult to fill. We feel this way because we consider his demise not as a transition into another phase of human existence, which it originally signifies, but as a finitude to the material importance for which the man is known to his immediate family, academic family and national brotherhood.

To say that I am overwhelmed is to mildly describe my emotional state at the breaking of the news that the selfless individual has passed on. It is such a case for me because, in academic brotherhood, it is not only difficult to come across people genuinely committed to a lifelong philosophy, but it is almost impossible to come across individuals who have the mental energy or the political goodwill to effect changes when they could walk their talk.

But then I am only consoled by the understanding that although Professor Yaqub’s transition might have done unprintable damage to our emotional health because of the various shared ideas, values and virtues, his passing on has foregrounded the irreplaceable importance of committing oneself to a meaningful philosophy. It is on this basis that I highlight the exceptional contributions that this individual made to the human world before his transition.

As a political scientist, it has been established that Nuhu Yaqub devoted his intellectual ambition towards the actualization of better national conditions by facilitating a radical evolution of Nigeria’s political system in ways that address its specific and unique peculiarities. Aware of its diversity, the outstanding Professor had campaigned for inclusive leadership to be embraced by the political players in the country in the spirit of creating a haven for the citizens and forging a country that is capable of answering to the wishes and aspirations of everyone.

To become a national hero in my book, what matters is to demonstrate some consistency in one’s philosophical conviction as long as it does not endanger the human family. I can say confidently that this man was not only consistent about his conviction but also invested in it in every sense. I remember clearly how he staunchly argued and equally supported courses of action that would see to the rapid departure from the colonially imposed political culture in exchange for one that would fix the country and free people from the shackles of ideological suppression.
Unlike many other academics, Yaqub was very practical with his solutions, especially because he understood that the possibility of achieving greatness lies especially in the ability to be deliberate and disciplined. Perhaps this would explain why he irrevocably supported the idea of clinical scholarship, research, and intellectual engagements that would lead to the enthronement of an academic culture that is both vibrant and resilient. He has never refused to educate anyone who cares to listen that research engagement is at the centre of Nigeria’s and Africa’s political transformation, revealing why it is dangerous to compromise on such a commitment.

Would it not be surprising that such a man was foresighted in his examination of our basic sociological and sociopolitical fate, so much so that he campaigned that education was a necessity for everyone if the country would evolve to become a force in the global society? He was motivated to say this because he understood the underlying potential that is lurking in the human and natural resources that the country is blessed with.

To become an important force in the world, people have always been required to evaluate events from an impartial angle, and that can only be possible on the occasion that people are given a solid education. It is understandable because many issues that are causing problems in the country are founded on the beliefs that are imposed by individuals who constantly take away the right to education of their citizens.

You would begin to understand and not underestimate his position when you appreciate the place of education in the formulation of policies that are needed for the transformation of a country. I have held numerous dialogues with him, and at every opportunity, no matter how little, he would strike up conversations about national issues that are pivotal to the country’s civilizational advancement. In any case, what dominates such conversations is that education is needed in policy formulation because it is through policies that humans transfer their refined ideas to organized guidelines to be used in guiding the decisions of the government to achieve great outcomes. If people are uneducated, there is a possibility that they will be micromanaged by others who have that advantage. This is the fear of the righteous man who committed to such a just cause. He has maintained over time that when people are intellectually refined enough to contribute to the debate of welfare improvement, especially as it relates to them, they would, therefore, be encouraged to participate in the affairs of the country if they are given the fair atmosphere where they can thrive without any external threat.

Away from the strictly professional life that this successful man lived, it would be strange that people of his educational and administrative stature still maintained a life of humility and embrace, as he did not consider himself as being superior to people on account of his giant strides in life. Evidence of his selflessness and humility abounds as people with whom he shared one thing or the other have attested to how he opened his space to anyone who wants to experience it.
For a man who was erstwhile Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, the information about how to manage opposing opinions to drive the monumental changes that are recorded in the academic institution today cannot cease to amaze people. More than anything, they are indicators that he was professionally inclined and discharged his very responsibility with a great sense of commitment and demeanour. It cannot be overemphasized how his simple nature infected many of the people who have come across the man in different spheres of existence. I cannot stress enough how his sudden demise has brought some hard reality that is difficult to swallow.

How else can we describe the individual as great, especially in the course of academic liberation, if not through a series of great initiatives he made to improve the conditions of things? It was under him as a Vice Chancellor that the University moved out from their temporary site to the permanent one, which required a great deal of sacrifice from members of staff, and he championed it. Not minding the personal and professional costs that this demanded, Professor Yaqub became an important figure in shaping the university. It is no coincidence that his death has sparked a national reflection as people who have either benefited from the largesse of his professional responsibilities or those who had personal relationships with him continue to reveal how his demise has become a national melancholy.

It is understandable for them to feel this way. I have become so engrossed in his scholarly interests and contributions that his sudden departure to the great beyond has dug a hole in my heart.
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَأَدْخِلْهُ فِي جَنَّتِكَ
Allahummaghfir lahu warhamhu wa adkhilhu fee jannatika.

Translation: O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, and admit him into Your Paradise.

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Opinion

Much Ado About Defamation

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Prof.Hope Eghagha

By Hope O’Rukevbe Eghagha

The Nigerian public space is currently dominated by a defamation brouhaha, with some alluding to a David and Goliath scenario, with either a fight-to-finish or a crushing, decimation outcome. The matter is subjudice; so, I am not going to dwell on specifics. The insinuations in the ongoing case are not healthy, and as some have suggested, all parties in the conflict would certainly go away with bloodied noses when the dust finally settles! My thesis statement is this: the pungent odour which follows defamation suits does not easily go away. In the court of public opinion, David is always right in the fight against Goliath.

Defamation! A powerful world. Even scary. To be defamed could cause one great embarrassment, especially if one is a public figure. Defamation is defined as ‘communication to a third party of false statements about a person that injure the reputation of or deter others from associating with that person’. It is also defined as ‘when a person makes an untrue statement about another individual, either verbally (slander) or in writing (libel), to a third party and the statement causes the individual damage’. To win a defamation case, one must prove that there was a false statement, that the statement caused one injury, that the statement was published, and that the statement was not made under privilege.

One of the earliest cases of defamation in North America happened in 1656. One Sarah Bridgman accused her neighbour Mrs. Mary Parsons of witchcraft. Can you beat that? Witchcraft. Mary’s husband sued Sarah for defamation and the court ruled in Mary’s favour and she was asked to make a public apology, pay a fine, and court costs. It is said that though Mary was cleared again twenty years later of witchcraft, rumours of witchcraft continued to follow the couple even after they moved to another city. This case reminds me of two good friends in my secondary school days who fell out and one accused the other of witchcraft. Both ladies were said to have gone to a ‘babalawo’s’ house to disprove or prove witchcraft. The story is that the baba confirmed witchcraft in one of them, an accusation which she denied. The smell of witchcraft went with the beautiful Miss A throughout our school days. Indeed, all friends avoided her till we left school. I do not know whether this foul accusation is what has prevented Ms A from featuring in any post-secondary school event, some forty-five years after the incident. No one seems to know Miss A’s location.

In 2022, movie star Johnny Depp sued his ex-wife actress Amber Head because she defamed him in a Washington Post article in which she insinuated that her ex had been a violent spouse. She didn’t mention his name but anyone who read the essay knew that her husband was the target and subject. Depp lost out on several job opportunities on account of the article. His suit in a Virginia court was successful. The jury awarded ten million dollars ‘punitive and compensatory’ costs against Amber because it was established that ‘portions of the article were defamatory to the plaintiff’.

In Britain, actor Tom Cruise was the victim of libel, this time by a newspaper, The Daily Express which alleged that ‘Tom Cruise got married to Nicole Kidman because they wanted to mask their sexuality and of course adhere to the Church of Scientology, who had apparently arranged the whole thing’. The newspaper also alleged that Tom was ‘impotent and sterile! How could they prove that these hurtful and damaging allegations were true? In the end, the newspaper apologised to the couple and paid an ‘undisclosed six-figure sum.

In 2022, a Federal University Dutse student Aminu Adamu Mohammed was arrested after the spouse of then President Muhammadu Buhari, Hajia Aisha filed a complaint to the police alleging defamation. Aminu had tweeted a message which the complainant found uncomplimentary. The international outcry on social media brought undue attention to the presidency, and everyone wondered why Madam did not ignore that post. Aminu was detained for two weeks in harsh conditions. Aminu was released in December of 2022 on compassionate grounds after he apologised to the complainant. It is interesting that NANS demanded an apology from Hajia Buhari for beating up their member while in custody!

In the case of Bakare and Ishola, two men who were involved in a fight, one of the parties was found guilty of libel because in the heat of an argument, the defendant had called the other in the presence of observers, ‘a thief, ex-convict, and someone who just came out of prison’. The court held that the words indeed were ‘vulgar abuse!

To be defamed one must have a reputation, a name. Obscure people do not respond to defamation. Some people are so embarrassed and humiliated by such libelous statements that they simply disappear from their social circles. For example, in a small group or association, a married woman who is rumoured to be having affair with another man cannot wash away the dirt-image, even if the allegation is not factual. Some just melt away, nursing their wounds. In our local social, cultural, and religious communities, people fight slandering allegations through established channels. Most do not go to court. A prolonged court matter could expose more terrible things or bring the whole matter to the attention of those who were not aware of the matter ab initio.

The emergence of social media has introduced new dimensions to defamation, libel, and slander, especially by faceless persons who generate false information and have others make such posts viral. There have been too many reputations ruined by false information circulated on social media. A slandered person does not find it funny.

The laws on libel are designed to protect the innocent. In our circumstances, political office holders are fair game for slanderous and libelous statements. There are always exaggerations and distortions in allegations against the high and mighty in society. The political atmosphere permits it. However, in Nigeria, the powerful persons in power can use state machinery against anybody who dares to criticise them or call them to account. Decree 4 of 1984 promulgated by Major General Buhari, stated that ‘any person who publishes in any form, whether or written or otherwise, any message, rumour or statement or report which is false in any material particular or which is calculated to bring the federal military government … to ridicule shall be guilty’.

The best advice is: truth is generally the best vindication against slander. Some people have heeded the advice by a philosopher: if evil is spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself; if it be a lie, laugh at it!

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Opinion

We Listen, We Don’t Judge

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Dele Jegede In Conversation With Prince Yemisi Shyllon
Prof. Toyin Falola

By Toyin Falola

I bring you greetings from Lagos. As a street slogan collector, I have many new ones, but my favourite so far is: We listen, We don’t judge!

Over the years, human communities have significantly transformed in many aspects to suit the times and the needs of their people. We have seen various nuances come up and go based on events, storylines and others seeking to pass a message or, in some cases, just for fun. Even though most nuances are better explained as trends may have started for fun, it is impossible to dissociate key lessons away from these trends. They can be in the form of words, a specific action, a mode of dressing, signs or based on the peculiarities of the society at that time.

Interestingly, social trends in today’s world are more than a fleeting phenomenon. They are the heartbeat of our societies and a mirror showing the reflections of our collective desires, fears, and values as a community. These trends, having emerged from the confluence of societal and cultural shifts, technological advancements, and human experience, have shaped how we interact and perceive the world. At their core, we get insights into societal priorities, which lend a voice to movements and values that might otherwise remain silent due to prejudices.

From the hashtags that publicise them to the causes and challenges therein, humans have been able to bring their various communities together with these trends, which serve as both catalysts for change and indicators of the state of our humanity. Nigerians naturally are used to lining behind hashtags that stand to make big changes in the communities. The publicity and support make these tags trend and gain nationwide adoption. An example is the famous EndSars hashtags, BringBackOurGirls, and many others of diverse natures.

In the final quarter of 2024, just as it happens annually, a social media trend that gripped Nigerians with equal parts fascination, excitement and unease emerged. The trend that came under the tag “We Listen, We Don’t Judge” came at a time when the media space was just relaxing from the loads of trends ongoing on TikTok specifically and other social media platforms. It came at a time when the nation was wading through the forest of economic crises amidst hunger and untold hardship. For many Nigerians, there were no assurances for a “Detty December” or “Oblee”, and then from nowhere out of the creative community of TikTokers came a trend that made Nigerians forget their worries at least momentarily.

It came as the digital confession of our times. Here, people share real-time or anonymous tales of their past actions, which sometimes are uplifting and, other times, downright scandalous. The idea was to pass a message or make revelations without expecting to be “dragged” online, especially as these trends became popular on Twitter (x), where everyone collects wotowoto. On one end of the spectrum, there were stories of kindness and rare humanity that reminded us of the goodness still alive in our society and at the same time, there were revelations that made jaws drop and made the audience question the decaying moral values in our communities’ betrayals, malicious revenge, workplace sabotage, and even outright wickedness.

Initially, the trend came out as a harmless outlet for self-expression without biases. After all, who does not want a space to vent without the fear of being dragged? However, on deeper reflection, listening without judging revealed something unsettling about us as people in the contemporary world. Perhaps due to the acclaimed wokeness we take pride in. The revelations came in the form of a growing comfort with flaunting moral decadence in public space under the cloak of anonymity. This boldness begs the question: Have we lost the value of shame, or are we simply living in an era where anything goes as long as it’s “trending”?

The genesis of “We Listen, We Don’t Judge” is likely tied to our society’s harsh judgment culture. We are Africans, and we are quick to import our biases into situations. Just a few days ago, the internet came to life when a popular influencer got the dragging he deserved over an alleged financial anomaly. It turned out to be a prank, as he explained. The quick reactions from netizens showed how fast Nigerians are getting online savages. In essence, people are very much tired of being crucified for their mistakes and missteps. Expressing themselves with anonymity offers a chance to share without fear of backlash, to exhale deeply and let out those pent-up confessions. But as much as this trend feels liberating, it is equally a dangerous double-edged sword. It is like spilling secrets into the wind without having control over where it lands. For every person who uses the platform to unburden their soul, there are others whose stories glorify lousy behaviour, normalising what should remain unacceptable.

If, for a moment, we choose to justify the displays of successes via the means, we should remember that social media, in its entirety, is already filled with “hard work pays” narratives that border on vanity. The intention might be to inspire, but in a society where envy and bitterness are as common as roadside suya, oversharing your wins can easily backfire. Hence, there is a need to talk about the importance of “keeping a concealed mouth.”

Several old Nigerian adages teach concealment even though we shy away from them. These adages have served those in the past, and they all serve us equally if we take caution. This is the truth we have been running from. It isn’t brilliant that one shares every accomplishment online with the world. Truthfully, success is sweet, and sharing one’s journey can motivate others, but there should be a thin line between inspiration and incitement. This is where we need to draw the line.

Stories abound of people whose publicised wins brought them unnecessary trouble: friendships turned sour, families torn apart by envy, or worse, becoming targets for theft or crime, especially at a time when the nation is struggling to keep criminals at bay. Invariably, silence in a society where not everyone wishes you well becomes a virtue and is not only golden. Secrecy, in most cases, is not deceit. It is tantamount to wisdom. It is the understanding that not every part of one’s life is for public consumption. Personal wins should be celebrated with those who genuinely care for you. It is better to share lessons and not brag about wins and accomplishments. Putting this into practice requires adopting the pause button strategy. Before anything, ask yourself: what values does your story hold, or are you just feeding the noise? If it’s the latter, it’s better to hold your peace.

Going back to the confessions. It would be unfair to outright disparage them and label those who make them with names. However, it is important to clarify one or two aspects here. At first, there’s nothing wrong with acknowledging one’s mistakes. In fact, acknowledging them is a sign of growth. Even at that, confession without accountability is like shouting into a space. It changes nothing and helps no one. When people confess to malicious acts without remorse or a desire to change, it only creates a pattern and becomes performative, passing the wrong ideas to the masses. Worse still, it sets a precedent that it is okay to do wrong if you can laugh about it later.

Our society cares about morals and holds specific values in high esteem. As 2025 begins, let us talk about these trends. For those sharing success stories, adopting a principle of humility and discretion will go a long way in protecting the overall essence of putting the stories out. Your story should be about the lessons learned, not just the accolades earned. On the other hand, individuals who post past misdeeds should pick cues and shift the focus from airing dirty laundry to showcasing transformation and growth. Remember, we are in a digitised world, and the internet does not forget. Most importantly, our societies need more stories of redemption, kindness, and positive vibes and less romanticising of bad behaviour. These would transform greatly into the values we desire as a community and influence the qualities of positivity we embrace as people.

No doubt, the “We Listen, We Don’t Judge” trend has taught us two things we should hold onto dearly. The first is the reality that people are so desperate for spaces to be heard without condemnation. Secondly, society needs to strike a balance between openness and restraint. Especially as we all agree now that there is strength in understanding when to speak and when to remain silent. As we move into a new year, it is essential to channel our energies wisely. Share with purpose, not for clout. Protect your peace and your progress by keeping some things sacred. After all, the loudest achievements often come from the quietest corners. In 2025, may our voices and actions reflect a society that values growth, wisdom, and intentionality.

Remember, not every gist dem dey carry for head. Sometimes, the real power lies in silence.

Happy 2025!

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