*NIGERIA NEEDS HEROES NOW* by Fela Durotoye So much has been said recently about the cost of governance. And at a time of such economic difficulty, high inflation and an almost unbearable cost-of-living, with so many people crying out and many others fleeing the country, the cost of governance is no doubt a valid social conversation to be had at this time. But like many other issues in the public discourse, social commentary often has the tendency to over generalize; and broad assumptions may sometimes lead to errors of misconceptions, misstatements and misinformation. One of such errors is in a recent case study that went viral on social media regarding the current media team of the President, where my name was listed as one of the President’s media aides. Unfortunately, this statement needs to be updated to accurately reflect the current media team of the President. For clarity, I served briefly in the role of Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Values and Social Justice (SSA-NVSJ) for a tenure of six months, from October 2023 to March 2024. But I will also provide additional context, within the public discourse about the cost of governance. When I was invited to serve in this administration, I expressed, as a condition for accepting the call, my desire to NOT receive a salary from government as I considered this to be my service to my nation. Those who know me well will attest to the fact that this is very consistent with my track record of about 20 years of serving my nation through several nation building initiatives, projects and programs all at a huge personal cost to myself and my family. When I finally accepted the role in October 2023, it was on the condition that I would not receive any salary or allowances. During my six-month tenure, I did not accept any government funds for my service, expenses, or upkeep. I rented my apartment and took my personal car to Abuja. My utility cost, fuel cost and upkeep were all borne by me and I never requested for a reimbursement from government for any expenses I incurred. Everything I contributed—time, effort, and resources—was paid for by me and my family. Some may question why anyone would serve their nation for ‘free’. The answer is quite simple. Nigeria needs heroes (individuals willing to sacrifice for the greater good) especially at this time in our nation’s history. Like fictional superheroes that most of us became accustomed to as children, real-life heroes step up in challenging times to make a difference, often times, at great personal expense. My story of personal sacrifice is not unique. During my service, I met many unsung heroes in and out of government—dedicated individuals who serve without pay, sacrificing their time, careers, and resources to contribute to the nation. These are people with integrity, working tirelessly to move Nigeria forward, often in silence and without recognition. I have met many heroes who took a pay cut to serve in government at federal and state levels. I met professionals who took a leave of absence from their thriving careers, some who put their businesses on hold and many who relocated home from the diaspora with no other intent than to serve the nation they love so dearly. Many of these heroes have taken time away from their families and put their lives on hold to serve their nation, all for no financial reward or financial gain. They are not in government to steal. They are not in government to loot. They are not corrupt. Their hands are not stained. They are only there to serve. For sure, this is NOT something that I would expect every single person to understand, believe or even appreciate. If you, like some others will say, “It is a lie joor … abegi!!! … Nobody goes into government for anything other other than the money and power“, then I will not begrudge you. Truth is, not everyone loves their nation and I can never blame those who don’t carry the love for their nation in their heart. So, I will understand your plight and only hope that someday, you may get to meet one of the several real life heroes in the Nigerian government, serving selflessly at the federal, state and local government levels. Better still, I hope that after reading this, you may also consider becoming a hero and volunteer in government or in the private sector, civil society, academia or whatever capacity you may wish to serve our nation because Nigeria needs you to be a hero, especially at this time. I must acknowledge heroes like Jimi Tewe, Evelyn Paul, Simi Afilaka, Steve Harris, Ayanyinka Ayanlola, Tosin Babatunde, Seyi Oyemade, Semilore Adewale and others who formed the core of my team to support my mission to develop a NATIONAL PLAN for civic engagement. These are amazing human beings who volunteered their time and resources for six months WITHOUT PAY. My mandate as SSA-NVSJ was to create a plan to facilitate the largest-ever civic engagement program in our nation’s history through inspirational public messaging, transformational values-leadership training sessions and nation building conferences. For a period of six months, these ‘heroes’ worked tirelessly with me to create and refine a strategic plan to inspire and engage a critical mass of NATION BUILDERS. These are Nigerians, young and old, across our nation and in diaspora, who will accept responsibility to build the Nigeria we all want, the Nigeria we all love and the Nigeria we all will be so proud of. Our strategic plan clearly articulated a path to the following measurable outcomes by the 31st of December 2025: * Make 100 million Nigerians consciously aware of the drive to build ‘The Nigeria We Want’ through the largest civic engagement initiative in Nigeria’s history. * Inspire 50 million (which is 1-in-4) Nigerians to consciously commit to live a lifestyle of leadership and excellence as articulated in a personal creed that will be translated into different languages, so as to deeply connect with the hearts of young and older Nigerians nationwide and in diaspora, using print, television, radio, and online media platforms. * Sign up and onboard at least 500,000 compatriots to a Nation Builders Network, where they will be actively engaged in social impact projects that will accelerate our national development process. * Ensure that at least 5 million Nigerians nationwide are directly gainfully employed through these nation building projects across diverse sectors. * Show with irrefutable proof that the lives of at least 50 million Nigerians have been positively impacted by the projects being implemented by these nation builders that have been mobilized, mentored and managed by our Nation Builders Network. * Facilitate a SERVICE REVOLUTION training for ONE MILLION public officers and civil servants on ‘Values-Based Leadership for Personal Excellence and Professional Excellence’, resulting in an improved culture of SERVICE EXCELLENCE across the entirety of the public sector at the federal, state and local government levels. This training will be done nationwide AT NO COST TO THE GOVERNMENT, through private sector donors and the support of certified leadership trainers and project management experts. Please remember that when I was invited to create this plan, I accepted the role as a clarion call to serve my beloved nation. Since my appointment was for a voluntary service and not a paid position in government, I was therefore onboarded as a volunteer and exempted from the government’s Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). Also, within the period of six months that I volunteered in government, neither myself nor my team received any funding from government, nor from any donor. We also did not receive any office space, official vehicles or office equipment. None of our expenses were paid for by government and we did not ask for reimbursements for any expenses incurred in our personal or official capacities. In essence, my entire period of six months in government did NOT cost the Federal Government of Nigeria One Naira or as is sometimes said, One Kobo. My team meritoriously served our nation without increasing the cost of governance or adding to our national budget. They dedicated themselves, their time and their resources to creating a national plan that would galvanize citizens to engage as nation builders and build the Nigeria we want; an excellent Nigeria of our dreams. In my opinion, these guys are some of our national heroes worthy of commendation. Some members of our NVSJ team including Jimi Tewe, Simi Afilaka and Steve Harris live on the US/Pacific time zone, which meant that for six months, they were literally awake from 2am their time (weekdays and weekends) working round the clock to attend strategy meetings in Nigeria, all without pay. Jimi Tewe took two trips to Nigeria for our team. Both trips were self-funded and he never asked for a ticket refund. Now these are just some of the heroes who served with me in government at huge personal cost, never asking for what they could get in return. George Omoraro and the team at RAGE MEDIA produced and printed hundreds of documents (of world class quality) at huge costs to his organization and at NO COST to the government. The Rage Media team sometimes had to plead with their print partners to work on Sundays just to print out documents required for approval at short notice. The Rage Media team never complained and George never asked for a payment or reimbursement for the production, operations and delivery costs; rather just always so grateful for the opportunity to serve. George Omoraro and the Rage Media team are the kind of heroes Nigeria needs at this time. Izehi Anuge, Bankole Williams, Peter Eze, Abayomi Awobokun, Pade Durotoye, Gbolade Adewole, Jide Adekola, Seyi Adisa, Lanre Olusola, Adekoyejo Oyewumi … all took time out of the busy schedule to share practical concepts for how to best engage a nation (of cynics, critics and contributors) and infuse values of personal leadership and excellence into our national consciousness. None of them asked for anything in return for their time and effort, but gave everything they could for the success of the mission. These are heroes volunteering to serve without any government position or title, yet serving in advisory capacity from the private sector at huge personal and reputational cost. Now, are there villains in government? Absolutely!!! We all know that some people are in government for what they will get, steal and take for themselves. Some people are there for the title and the power associated with the trappings of appointments and the paraphernalia of government. Nonetheless, my point is that we often fall for the erroneous belief that everyone in government is a villain, and therefore cast aspersions on anyone whose appointment has been announced in the public domain. Some people believe that every one of these ‘government appointees’ are just like the villains in government and anyone accepting to serve in government has gone to join ‘them’ to loot our public treasury and steal our Commonwealth. It is so easy for us to ‘rain’ insults on these appointees especially when the government in which they serve is not formed by the political party we supported during election campaigns. But we sometimes forget that governance (unlike politics) touches the lives of all citizens regardless of political affiliation, religious beliefs and tribal sentiments. If the government fails, we all suffer. The price of tomato, fuel pump price and foreign exchange rates are all the same for everyone, whether or not we support the government in power. Getting our best and brightest minds to volunteer at every level of government, at little or no cost to our nation, is critical to our national development regardless of which party we align with or which candidate we support. ‘Dragging’ appointees and trolling them on WhatsApp group chats and social media commentary will only serve to discourage our heroes, whilst having absolutely no impact on the villains going into the government to loot the treasury. This may be why many heroes needed in government today are outrightly rejecting or still hesitating to accept the clarion call to serve our nation. Some of them are not even willing to be seen anywhere around the decision makers in government for fear of social media retribution. I will say it again, loud and clear, not everyone in government is a thief. Some are just heroes doing great and tireless work without adding a single penny to the cost of governance and our national budget. Many of these heroes are ordinary citizens (like you and I) who are tired of complaining and choose to try to make a difference through their ‘little’ contribution. During my brief stint in government, I met several of such heroes whose unpaid efforts inspire hope that we can altogether build the Nigeria of our dreams. Will their efforts be enough to change decades of decadence in governance? Maybe not. But they will rather try than cry. And they will do what they can to serve our nation with integrity and excellence, against all odds. The truth is, Nigeria needs heroes, now more than ever. We need heroes in government at all levels. We need heroes in the public sector agencies and heroes in the private sector businesses. We need superheroes volunteering in NGOs and civil society organizations. These heroes must emerge at this critical juncture of our nation’s history. These heroes must commit their time, energy, expertise and resources towards the advancement of social development initiatives in the areas of: *H*: Hunger, Healthcare, HumanRights *E*: Education, Employment, Entertainment *R*: Roads, Rehabilitation and Religious Tolerance *O*: Orientation, Orphanages & Vulnerable Persons (Widows, Elderly, Special Needs and Internally Displaced Persons) *E*: Energy & Electricity, Environment *S*: Safety & Security, Shelter, Service Excellence, Sports, Sexual Exploitation and Social Justice. Nigeria needs heroes who will serve with purpose, adding value without necessarily adding to the cost of governance. We need excellent advisers and assistants to local government counselors and council chairmen, DGs of agencies, commissioners and governors, ministers and the President. Please also remember that not every legislator has gone into the legislative chambers to steal. Some legislators just need a team of credible and competent advisers and assistants to craft the right bills into law. Perhaps, even the ‘legislooters’ can change for the better with the right counsel and advise. If the right people don’t advise them, then the wrong advisers will most certainly have their say and have their way. Nature abhors vacuum. All said, if you can, please volunteer to serve in government, civil society or the private sector. Serve without the stain of corruption, serve with excellence and give your best for our nation. If you are unable to serve, do well to encourage and support those who are willing to risk their lives, families and reputation to serve our nation. And please resist the urge to undermine, discourage or disparage them. The labor of our heroes, past and present, shall never be in vain. Nigeria’s greatness depends on the willingness of its people to rise and make sacrifices. Be the HERO Nigeria needs today! God bless you and May God bless Nigeria 🇳🇬. FelaDUROTOYE

Kingdom colonization, in the context of Christian mission and ministry, refers to the process of extending the kingdom of God into every sphere of a nation, transforming its culture, values, and institutions. Specifically the sphere that must be colonized are called the Seven Mountains or Seven Spheres of Culture which are; Religion, Family, Education, Government, Media, Arts & Entertainment, and Business. The goals of kingdom colonization can be summarized as follows: Goal 1: Spiritual Transformation: Establish a strong, vibrant, and multiplying church that reflects the kingdom of God. Foster a culture of prayer, worship, and discipleship. Promote evangelism, outreach, and missions. Goal 2: Cultural Transformation; Influence the arts, media, education, and entertainment to reflect kingdom values. Promote a culture of excellence, integrity, and morality. Encourage critical thinking, creativity, and innovation. Goal 3: Socio-Economic Transformation; Address poverty, inequality, and social injustice through sustainable development initiatives. Promote economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, and job creation. Improve access to quality education, healthcare, and social services. Goal 4: Governance and Leadership Transformation; Promote good governance, transparency, and accountability in government and institutions. Develop and support leaders who embody kingdom values and principles. Encourage active citizenship, community engagement, and social responsibility. Goal 5: Environmental Transformation; Promote environmental stewardship, conservation, and sustainability. Address climate change, pollution, and other environmental challenges. Encourage eco-friendly practices, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture. Goal 6: Reconciliation and Unity; Promote reconciliation, forgiveness, and healing among diverse groups and communities. Foster unity, cooperation, and collaboration among different stakeholders. Encourage interfaith dialogue, mutual understanding, and respect. Goal 7: Discipling the Nation; Develop and implement a comprehensive discipleship strategy for the nation. Establish discipleship programs, training initiatives, and mentorship opportunities. Promote a culture of discipleship, accountability, and spiritual growth. Isaiah:9:6, Matthew 28:18-20 and Revelation 11:15

Nigeria's nation-building prospects involve addressing historical challenges and fostering inclusive governance. Here are key areas: Addressing Historical Challenges: 1. Ethnic and Religious Tensions: Encourage interfaith dialogue, cultural exchange programs, and education. 2. Resource Distribution: Implement equitable revenue allocation, ensuring fair sharing of oil revenues. 3. Linguistic Diversity: Promote language education, cultural exchange, and national languages (Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo). 4. Colonial Legacy: Reconcile colonial-era injustices through truth commissions or national dialogues. Inclusive Governance: 1. Federalism: Strengthen state and local governments, granting autonomy. 2. Electoral Reforms: Ensure free, fair elections through independent electoral commissions. 3. Anti-Corruption: EFCC, ICPC, and other anti-graft agencies should be retweet for better performance. 4. Representation: Increase women's and minority representation in government. Economic Development: 1. Diversification: Shift from oil dependence to agriculture, manufacturing, and services. 2. Infrastructure: Invest in transportation, energy, and water infrastructure. 3. Education: Improve access to quality education, vocational training. 4. Entrepreneurship: Support SMEs, innovation hubs, and start-ups. Social Cohesion: 1. National Identity: Foster shared values, history, and cultural heritage. 2. Youth Engagement: Empower youth through education, skills development, and leadership programs. 3. Community Development: Support grassroots initiatives, promoting community ownership. 4. Reconciliation: Establish national reconciliation commissions to address past conflicts. Key Stakeholders: 1. Government: Demonstrate commitment to reform, accountability. 2. Civil Society: Engage in advocacy, policy dialogue. 3. Private Sector: Invest in social responsibility initiatives. 4. International Partners: Provide technical assistance, capacity-building support. Implementation Strategies: 1. National Dialogues: Convene inclusive discussions on nation-building. 2. Policy Reforms: Enact legislation supporting inclusive governance. 3. Institutional Strengthening: Build capacity in government institutions. 4. Citizen Engagement: Encourage active citizenship, participation. Challenges and Risks: 1. Resistance to Change: Entrenched interests may oppose reforms. 2. Security Threats: Boko Haram, separatist movements, and banditry. 3. Economic Pressures: Dependence on oil revenues, economic instability. 4. External Interference: Geopolitical interests may undermine nation-building. Opportunities and Benefits: 1. Stability and Security: Reduced conflict, improved governance. 2. Economic Growth: Diversified economy, increased investment. 3. Social Cohesion: Stronger national identity, reduced tensions. 4. Global Influence: Enhanced international reputation, leadership. Nigeria's nation-building journey requires sustained efforts, inclusive dialogue, and commitment to reform. Do you have what it takes? If you do, get involved in political process. Kingsley Ayinde

The NATIONAL PRAYER ALTAR *MARATHON PRAYERS* Monday 7th - Sunday 13th October 2024 *THE TRAGEDY OF A REVIVAL* *_I see a crowd_* *_I see cash_* *_I see cars_* *_But I do not see Christ_* - Pastor S. G. Elton A group of foreign intercessors visited Nigeria some years ago to assess the internationally acclaimed revival going on in the country. After their exercise, they wrote a short report as follows: “The Nigerian Church is five miles wide, but one inch deep.” Undeniably, there was a revival in Nigeria from the ‘70s and it culminated in a massive conversion of souls and the birth of many 'new generation' churches, most of them evangelical. The orthodox denominations also witnessed a huge expansion. Nationwide, the population of Christians increased. Unfortunately, the population increase did not translate into national transformation. As the churches multiplied, darkness rather than light covered Nigeria. All manner of vices assailed the country until bloodshed became a daily occurrence and genocide unfortunately became part of the national identity. Churches were not spared, as scandal upon scandal rocked many churches and their ministers. Churches became known for greed, covetousness, and compromise. To worsen matters, allegations of occult practices, mocked as "charismatic witchcraft," plagued the Church. What polluted the revival that should have transformed the country and launch it into its assignment as a missionary nation? The answer lay in the desire of some preachers to be famous, wealthy, and influential. The consequence of that evil desire was what God lamented to Pastor Elton as the proliferation of crowds, cash, and cars, without Christ. Of course, any obsession with those items indicates a separation from Christ. While there is nothing wrong with a crowd gathering to worship, or cash and cars in the church, the problem starts when the motive for acquiring them is personal lust rather than the Kingdom of God. The first indication that a minister of the gospel has missed the mark is the desire to be celebrated. Some want to be famous, influential, and adored. That inordinate ambition has driven them into seeking 'powers' from the dark world. They appear to have forgotten that Christ did not call anyone to be a superstar or a celebrity in His Church, but to be servants. It is an anomaly when servants seek to be famous and be treated like celebrities. A bishop shared an impactful vision of a valedictory program in Heaven. In the revelation, men were being sent off to the earth to serve God. As each one was departing, a party was thrown to usher him out of Heaven, with the expectation that he was going into the world to do the will of the King of kings and Lord of Lords. It was like the send-forth of a country’s ambassador into a foreign country. What the bishop witnessed in that heavenly realm was lavish and glamorous. However, when it came to his turn, instead of a lavish party, an angel handed him the equivalent of a packet of Cabin Biscuits. There was no trumpet sound, no music, no wine, no rich food, and of course, no rejoicing. Stunned at the “shabby” treatment, he approached the angel who was the Master of Ceremony to protest. As he opened his mouth to complain, the angel’s face turned into fury. His eyes blazed like liquid fire, and he roared in wrath, “That is how all of you are. When heaven sends you to the earth, you are celebrated in the hope that you are going to serve God. When you get there you mess up your assignment. Henceforth, there shall be no celebration for any of you again in heaven. If you complete your assignment and return successfully, you shall be celebrated!” The bishop said he woke up fearing he was dead. The fury he saw on the face of the angel and the force of the words he heard made him conclude that he was dead. He woke up sweating and shaking in fear. He said he did not know how he managed to survive that encounter. The Nigerian revival was messed up by men who loved the crowd, the cars, and the cash, more than they loved Jesus Christ, if they did at all. They were servants of Christ all right, but their affection shifted from their Master to the mundane things of the earth. Today, some of them head denominations and ministries, and they are living in luxury like superstars and celebrities. They are celebrated in the Church and in the world, while Heaven mourns their lifestyle. One day, they will return home to render their account. That angel would be waiting. The condition of Nigeria today is sufficient to make any servant of God sober and mournful. Unfortunately, many ministers of the gospel are carried away with the adulation of men. Some behave as if the church were their private property, and the people of God were gathered to serve them. In fact, many of them refer to the Church of Jesus Christ as “my church," their billboards and banners blazing with the grandiose photograph of 'the man of God' and his wife, their faces digitally edited to be 'without spot or wrinkles.' How could there be so many churches in Nigeria with the darkness of corruption, bloodshed, poverty, sexual perversion, and other vices persisting? Jesus Christ described His followers as _“the light of the world”_. If indeed Christians are the _“light of the world”_, how come darkness is covering Nigeria? The answer is, the light is not shinning. Jesus warned, _“take heed that the light in you be not darkness”_ (Luke 11: 35). Children of light can be covered with darkness if they are not careful. That is the tragedy of the Nigerian 'revival.' Fortunately, the Lord does not give up. Another revival shall come upon Nigeria. Then, the leaders of the revival must be ready to practise Christianity according to the command of the Master. The first example that Jesus gave His disciples was the example of servanthood (Jn. 13:15) while the second was that of enduring suffering (1 Pet. 2: 21). The Lord also taught them that in His Kingdom, the leader was the servant of all. He made it clear that there was only one “Father” of His Church, and that Father is in heaven. (Matt. 23: 9). In verse 8 of the same chapter, He stated, _“all ye are brethren”_. In John 20:17, He included Himself in that structure of brothers and sisters. No one called Jesus Christ “daddy” as a religious honour, or “Brother Jesus.” He was and is still called by his first name, yet He does not mind. Such is the humility of Christ. It is His servants who believe that, unless they are called “Daddy” or "Papa," they have been disrespected. The practice of calling ministers of the gospel “Daddy” and “Father” is not Christianity but syncretism, the mixture of Christianity and tradition. The oft repeated example of Paul calling himself “father” is not tenable because no one in the New Testament called Paul “father”. Neither did anyone call Peter, James, John, or any other New Testament saints “father”. The Scriptures cannot be broken. The Lord issued a clear command to _“call no man on earth your father.”_ It is time to return to the simplicity and humility of Christ so that our honour can come from God. In John 5:41, the Lord says, _I receive not honour from men_. Thus He chided those who sought honour from men:_"How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?"_ (John 5:44). Another revival is coming. The Church must prepare and learn from the mistakes of the last revival polluted by men. It is time to return to the narrow path. *PRAYER POINTS* *1. Isaiah 42:18-20* Pray and repent for the blindness and rebellion of ministers of the gospel whose actions polluted the revival which God sent to Nigeria. *2. Rom. 16:17–18* Pray and dissociate the Nigeria Church from the actions and choices of men who place their personal interest above the interest of Jesus Christ in the Church. Declare before God that their actions do not represent the Nigeria Church. *3. Ezekiel. 34:7–12* Pray that the Lord shall seek and regather His people who were offended by the lawlessness in the Church and stopped associating with Christianity. *4. Mal. 3:2–4* Pray that God will purge the Church and uproot all those who pollute the work of the Holy Spirit. *5. Jer. 3:15* Pray that God will give the Nigeria Church pastors after His heart, who will teach and guide the people of God aright. *6. Ps. 85:4–7* Pray for fresh outpouring of the spirit of revival in Nigeria. *7. Hab. 2:14* Pray that Nigeria shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the seas. *JOIN US AT THE DAILY PRAYERS FOR NIGERIA* which started since 18th April 2022 *TIME:* 9.00 – 10.00pm daily (Nigeria time) *VENUE:* ZOOM ZOOM link: https://zoom.us/j/96806190505?pwd=K2RqcUN3YjRwQzEzRDZaMUt2N1ZsUT09 *Meeting ID.* 968 0619 0505 *Passcode:* 024184 *PLEASE SHARE*

EDO ELECTION: The evil called political structure; a lesson for Nigeria. By Bolaji O. Akinyemi. Buhari was the most popular individual candidate in all his failed attempts at becoming the President. He possibly would have won any of those elections had he competed with his competitors as independent candidate. Not until Buhari merged his structure with Tinubu's to create the political party named APC was he able to ferry his ambition to his desired destination; the presidency. That election was won by the Structure not the party. The success of any election is determined in Nigeria by an invincible movement of rigging enablers called political structure. Unfortunately our hope to build a counter structure of Nation Builders who will stand their ground to spend and be spent is neither encouraged by Nigerians and Politicians. This is what is playing out in Edo, Obaseki showed no concern to the structure that gave him his 2nd shot at it in 2020, though some of us could look beyond the smaller picture, because we are inspired by the Larger, of building our nation. But how do we motivate our field men to keep the game going under a government they worked for; only to lose their means of livelihood. Community Ambassador for Peaceful Election, CAPE was led by a woman who gave her all and contributed in no small measures to what made Obaseki the Governor of Edo State in 2020, she was then a senior admin officer of Ekiadolor College of Education. Her influence as one-time student affairs officer was deployed to our mobilisation strategy. Past and present students signed on. I came in from Lagos with a male and female team, she housed our Director of Organisations who led the female team, and got one of her former students to house me when a notorious individual came to the house of a father who was hosting me and Abayomi Agbede Daniels who left his family in Lagos to work in Benin on the CAPE project for almost 4 months. The said woman got rewarded for working for Obaseki by being thrown into the job market. Abayomi couldn't even get a thank you. It didn't matter that I led our team to seat and deal with the SSG who was also the DG of his campaign. The strength of structure over intellectualism is what is before us in Edo. Kogi Election followed our historical political pattern, Ajaka was the best in campaign rhetoric, but Ododo was fortunate to belong not just to APC, but the structure that wanted power within APC and invested heavily in the same. No Election has ever been won on the shores of Nigeria by a good political party with the best candidate. Politics in Nigeria is about the structure, funding, mobilising the machineries of rigging across all the interested communities of gain, in the value chain; electorate, media, security agencies, the umpire and even the Judiciary. This structure extends into the military, to create political stability. Let me amaze you, there are prophets in this next work who in days of the military were to prophesy that there will be change of Government in the beginning of the year, just to create a soft landing to missions they were very much part of. Many are still in this business. Unfortunately, those who don't understand how this things run are jumping on the bandwagon. This is our reality! A very difficult situation to overcome, reason hunger is strengthened by successive governments to sustain the practice. We know how the only free, fair and credible election in Nigeria ended in 1993. As we approach 2027, let's reflect on the lesson of 2023. In no particular order, Sowore, Obi and Adewole were the best candidates in 2023 election for us to choose from, they had political parties, great manifestos but unfortunately none of them had money to invest in building structure nor could they oil the existing structure. Obi for example was the most popular of all the candidates but was ditched by the invincible movement at work that enables vote buying by the electorate, publicity shunning by mainstream Media, cover from arrest of political thugs by security agencies and cooperation by the umpire and of course ultimately the currying of the judiciary to do the needful of carrying the spoils home to be shared. Politics, someone said, is war without blood and war, he said, is politics with blood but the defining line of victory about politics is who is counting the votes and how he is counting those votes that will determine the outcome of politics. In our case INEC is the umpire counting our votes. The question is how are they counting it? The role of INEC is the nucleus of the structure we were told in the last election will snare the noise on the social media. The food for thought for all of us living in hope of a better and greater Nigeria is are will going into the next election with INEC whose Chairman the President will soon appoint? If will must protest, then substance that will interest the international community must be on the front burner of issues for which we must protest. European Union was disappointed with our last election, that should be the basis of calling out Nigerians to press for electoral reform, we must particularly demand for the need for appointment of INEC Chairman to be reviewed for election. Truth be told, Nigerians are not ready for either the war with blood or the one without blood. Tinubu remains the biggest investor in politics in Nigeria and if the bigger the investment, then the greater the gain will be. The only way to beat BAT in the 2027 game is for we as a people to find the synergy to structure ourselves to make bigger investment in politics for greater gain than he and his cohorts; except this is done, we may be daydreaming of our desire to see a better and greater Nigeria. Let me congratulate the President for making good his promise to gift the office of the Governor of Edo State to his party. I also congratulate a man not deserving of it, Mr Monday Okpebholo the announced winner of Edo Governorship election by INEC. Let nobody who hasn't built the dynamics of influence in the judiciary waste his time by going to court. Fadahunsi was the toast of the people in 2015 election, winning with 6 local government of the 10 Local Government areas and his party producing 2 of the 3 Reps in the Senatorial District. The Tribunal confirmed the election was not credible hence the deductions by their lordship which still gave the APC the victory in which the winner lost all the 4 Local governments in his Federal Constituency. The confirmation of Fadahunsi as the people’s choice have reflected in his landslide victory at the polls in 2019 and 2023. Fadahunsi, led the opposition to win the Governorship as the only Senator and leader of the party in 2022 after an unprecedented empowerment program where he distributed 200 minibuses and over 500 motorbikes among other empowerment tools to constituents, which led to the fall of the APC at the polls a month later and his performance has led to Osun voting out all APC national lawmakers, replacing all Senators and Reps member with PDP candidates in the 10th Assembly. People like Fadahunsi and not Wike or Makinde who were trading in 2023 should be the custodian of the future of the party. He has a lesson learnt to teach PDP, hopefully may they be humble enough to sit down and learn. LP is presently a season film and I can promise you that is what it will be till 2027. If paid moles are in charge of PDP and are delivering, we can be rest assured that LP is taken already. The people alone are the hope of Nigeria as it stands, not just by trusting that protest will deliver us from our political abductors. We need to tinker with how we can free ourselves. For we the people, I would like to ask us, have we learnt our lessons from Obaseki's sophistication and corporate political dealing? May I congratulate APC ahead of Ondo State Governorship Election, that one is a walk over. I will write about my role and experience in the PDP primary that produced Ajayi as the Candidate of PDP and the Aspirant I worked for. For us, it is a better and greater Nigeria or nothing.

My vision of a new Nigeria with strategic policy direction based on these values: wisdom, justice, compassion, integrity, competence, capacity and character. What a wonderful vision for Nigeria: *Vision:* A Nigeria where Wisdom guides our decisions, Justice ensures equality and fairness, Compassion drives our actions, Integrity is the foundation of our leadership, Competence and Capacity are the hallmarks of our institutions, and Character is the bedrock of our society. *Strategic Policy Direction:* 1. *Education*: Emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving, and value-based learning to cultivate Wisdom. 2. *Judicial Reform*: Strengthen the justice system to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability, upholding Justice. 3. *Social Welfare*: Implement policies that demonstrate Compassion, such as universal healthcare, social security, and support for vulnerable populations. 4. *Leadership Development*: Foster Integrity through leadership training programs, accountability mechanisms, and anti-corruption initiatives. 5. *Institutional Capacity Building*: Invest in Competence and Capacity development for public institutions, ensuring effective service delivery. 6. *Civic Engagement*: Promote Character through community engagement, volunteerism, and moral education initiatives. 7. *Economic Development*: Encourage sustainable economic growth, driven by innovation, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility. 8. *Security and Rule of Law*: Ensure safety and security for all citizens, while upholding the rule of law and protecting human rights. *Implementation Roadmap:* - Short-term (2025-2030): Establish a Values-Based Leadership Academy, launch a National Integrity Campaign, and introduce Wisdom-Based Education reforms. - Medium-term (2030-2040): Implement Judicial Reforms, expand Social Welfare programs, and strengthen Institutional Capacity. - Long-term (2040-2050): Achieve universal Competence and Capacity in public institutions, and embed Character Development into national culture. This vision and strategic policy direction can guide Nigeria towards a brighter future, where values drive progress and prosperity for the delivery of our commonwealth to all citizens. *By Kingsley Ayinde

Commonwealth of Heaven Philippians 3:20-21 But our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself. How should Christians bring our commonwealth which is in heaven to bless the political economy of our nation? Christians can bring their heavenly commonwealth to bless their nation's political economy by: 1. Praying for leaders and the nation (1 Timothy 2:1-2). 2. Advocating for justice, compassion, and righteousness (Micah 6:8). 3. Engaging in politics through voting, campaigning, and public service. 4. Promoting biblical values and principles in public policy. 5. Supporting Christian-led initiatives and organizations. 6. Encouraging ethical business practices and entrepreneurship. 7. Fostering community development and social responsibility. 8. Modeling integrity, honesty, and transparency. 9. Educating themselves and others on biblical citizenship. 10. Seeking divine wisdom and guidance in decision-making. 11. Building bridges between faith and politics. 12. Championing religious freedom and tolerance. 13. Addressing poverty, inequality, and social injustices. 14. Encouraging environmental stewardship. 15. Supporting missions and outreach initiatives. By doing so, Christians can: 1. Demonstrate God's love and care for the nation. 2. Bring spiritual transformation. 3. Promote moral and ethical governance. 4. Enhance national prosperity. 5. Showcase the relevance of faith in public life. Remember, "Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20)

To build an egalitarian economy and a thriving nation in Nigeria, consider the following: Egalitarian Economy: 1. Progressive taxation: Implement a fair tax system where the wealthy are taxed more. 2. Social welfare programs: Establish programs like healthcare, education, and unemployment benefits. 3. Labor rights: Enforce fair labor laws, including minimum wage and workers' protection. 4. Cooperative ownership: Encourage cooperative businesses and community land trusts. 5. Reduced income inequality: Implement policies to reduce the wealth gap. Thriving Nation: 1. Good governance: Ensure transparent, accountable, and effective leadership. 2. Education and skills development: Invest in quality education and vocational training. 3. Infrastructure development: Build modern infrastructure, including roads, power, and water. 4. Economic diversification: Diversify the economy beyond oil exports. 5. Innovation and entrepreneurship: Encourage innovation, entrepreneurship, and small business growth. 6. Security and rule of law: Ensure safety and security, and uphold the rule of law. 7. Environmental sustainability: Promote sustainable practices and environmental protection. 8. Social cohesion and inclusivity: Foster a sense of national unity and inclusivity. 9. Healthcare and wellness: Invest in quality healthcare and promote wellness. 10. International partnerships: Foster beneficial international relationships and partnerships. Additionally, address corruption, promote transparency, and encourage citizen participation in governance to build a thriving nation.

Here are some biblical principles of civil government and their application to the Nigerian case: 1. *Submission to authority* (Romans 13:1-7): Christians are called to submit to governing authorities, including those in Nigeria. 2. *Rendering unto Caesar* (Matthew 22:15-22): Paying taxes and respecting the state's authority are essential. 3. *Promoting justice and righteousness* (Micah 6:8): Nigerian Christians should advocate for justice, equality, and righteousness in governance. 4. *Loving neighbors* (Mark 12:30-31): Christians should prioritize the well-being of fellow Nigerians, regardless of tribe or religion. 5. *Seeking wisdom and discernment* (James 1:5-8): Christians should pray for wisdom and discernment in governance and decision-making. 6. *Addressing corruption* (Exodus 23:8): Nigerian Christians should speak out against corruption and promote transparency and accountability. 7. *Promoting peace and unity* (Psalm 133:1-3): Christians should work towards national unity and peaceful coexistence. 8. *Respecting the rule of law* (1 Peter 2:13-17): Christians should respect and obey the laws of the land, even when challenging unjust systems. 9. *Advocating for the vulnerable* (Proverbs 31:8-9): Nigerian Christians should speak out for the rights of the marginalized and oppressed. 10. *Praying for leaders* (1 Timothy 2:1-4): Christians should pray for Nigerian leaders, seeking God's guidance and wisdom for them. By reflecting on these biblical principles, Nigerian Christians can engage with their civil government in a way that honors God and promotes the well-being of their nation.

Casuistry can use authoritative means to develop political party bylaws by: 1. Referencing constitutional documents: Casuists can analyze the party's constitution, charter, or founding documents to identify core values and principles that should guide bylaw development. 2. Consulting legal frameworks: Casuists can examine relevant laws and regulations that govern political parties and their operations, ensuring bylaws comply with legal requirements. 3. Citing party history and tradition: Casuists can draw on the party's past practices, customs, and decisions to inform bylaw development and maintain continuity. 4. Invoking expert opinion: Casuists can consult with experts in relevant fields (e.g., law, ethics, governance) to ensure bylaws reflect best practices and authoritative guidance. 5. Conducting thorough analysis: Casuists can meticulously analyze various scenarios, cases, and hypotheticals to develop bylaws that address potential issues and conflicts. 6. Seeking input from stakeholders: Casuists can engage with party members, leaders, and other stakeholders to ensure bylaws reflect the party's values, needs, and concerns. 7. Evaluating ethical implications: Casuists can assess the ethical implications of different bylaw provisions, ensuring they align with the party's moral principles and values. 8. Considering precedent: Casuists can examine how similar political parties or organizations have addressed similar issues in their bylaws. 9. Using logical reasoning: Casuists can apply logical reasoning and argumentation to develop clear, consistent, and coherent bylaws. 10. Documenting the process: Casuists can maintain a record of the bylaw development process, including the reasoning, analysis, and authorities relied upon. By employing these authoritative means, casuistry can help political parties develop comprehensive, ethical, and effective bylaws that reflect their values and principles.