As has become a tradition of sorts, a retrospective look at this column via readers’ e-mails like I already do time to time, is due. This, the fifth one, like others before it, wasn’t easy to put together, with all the sifting through and editing the messages to curate the ones you’re about to read. It’s a potpourri, as usual. While I hope you find them as interesting as I did, here’s hoping you stick around for more in the coming months. Thanks for reading.
– Abdulkareem
Re: Memories of Nigeria’s colours in black and white
I keenly read your 3-part recollection of your life as a young Nigerian through adulthood, and I must say it is indeed compelling. I must say I had a similar pathway, with a similar background to yours and I could totally relate. As much as I enjoyed reading all three installments, a great sadness enveloped me after reading the final part, because I wanted more. Also, I became sad because the youths of today never had experiences we had, even as bad as some of it was at that time. All hands need to be on deck to fix our country. I don’t know about others, but I certainly want my country back, diversity and all.
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Bello Babadoko, Zaria.
Re: Memories of Nigeria’s colours in black and white
Well-written and brilliantly put as your series of columns was, it was nothing but an exercise in projecting elitism. This nation is going through trying times, and the last thing we need is a treatise of good old days gone by, talking about an idyllic, perfect childhood and young adulthood. I honestly don’t see a need for reflection right now, while our problems play out in real time. But still, I enjoyed it, as I have other installments before it. Thank you.
Mamman Usman Bello, Ibadan Street, Kaduna.
Re: Life, death, and blind Nigerians
Thank you very much for calling out secessionists for the cowards they are, be they Sunday Igboho, Nnamdi Kanu, or any other clown who fits the bill. Nigeria has been a nation for decades, and our destinies have become tied together. I certainly want to have my country remain the way I was born into it: as one.
Ife Babaeko, Ibadan.
Re: Uniformed, yet uninformed
Our ‘uniformed men’ certainly need reorientation, retraining, and even rebooting, if the way they carry out their duties is anything to go by. I am thankful for their service, yes, but they need to up their game. After all, they are all that stands between us and a totally anarchic society.
– Folake Falana-Ikenna, Lekki, Lagos.
Re: Who’s checking checkpoints in Abuja?
You wrote out my mind regarding the ridiculously unprofessional checkpoints that dot our capital city at night. I noticed that the day the above-titled column came out, the new IGP who just got announced, seemed to have banned them. While that’s basically the first thing any ‘new broom’ does, it somehow gave me hope that someone somewhere listens. But unfortunately, all the ones in Wuse 2 are back, and ‘hungrier’ than ever, with cops exhibiting highly unprofessional behavior whose details I don’t have to give, as most Nigerians know what I mean. I’m not knocking the Nigeria Police Force, no. I’m simply pointing out the need for a better way to do things, checkpoints included.
Jimmy Maicheto, Garki.
Re: A plea for an education on education
We all know that tired, flawed maxim that the teacher’s reward is in heaven. We need to reward them right here on earth, as they are the ones that spend more time with our kids than we do, essentially shaping them more than we do. Would you send your child to an underpaid, disgruntled doctor when he or she is sick? I’m sure the answer is no. Therefore, let’s fight for an improvement in the lot of these unsung heroes. Thank you for spotlighting this sir.
Olufemi Obafemi, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Re: World Capital of misplaced priorities
I couldn’t possibly agree more with most of the questions you raised in your above-titled article, and some of the answers you provided. Instead of action, we jump to embark on pointless jamborees that serve no-one but the beneficiaries. And government is the biggest culprit, showing how hard of hearing it is time and time again. If we want this nation to get anywhere remotely near where we want it to be, we first of all need to get our priorities right.
Kephas Ephraim Hassan, Barnawa, Kaduna.
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