By Kola Animasaun
Allah helps a society,even when it is ungodly,and He never assist an unjustnation even when all itscitizens are Muslims- Ibn Taymiyya (1263AD – 1328)

Zoning or no zoning is an elite thing.  In other words, it is a selfish thing.  The elite own the two sides of the coin – head you lose, tail you lose.  It is a win-win situation for them.
Some of those who are fighting tooth and nail for zoning expect to continue to profit from it.  For example, some of the friends or cronies; classmates and relations of the late Umar Yar’Adua are working to see that they do not lose out.

They are not about to give up but to see that they win again.  If they win, then, their fortunes will turn..
Of course, those who oppose them (no-zoning) are shouting at the top of their voice and the slogan has been “democracy”, whatever that means now.  Of course, they conveniently forget “quota”, Federal Character and all other things.  They mean to play their game to the hilt.

The North does not forget the venerable Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto.  He always reminded them: to acknowledge the differences among the peoples of Nigeria and to respect these differences.  At least, the Sardauna of Sokoto was very honest and forthright.

The history of our lack of respect for promises dates back decades.  Let the founding fathers of this nation bear witness to how far we had proceeded.

How many promises we have kept and how many have been broken?  By not respecting our obligation, we lose respect and we cannot hold others to their obligations.

For the purpose of argument, let us say we did not make any promise in writing, can we not bind ourselves to a gentleman’s agreement?

Obasanjo was Presdent for two terms (and he wanted a third).  Yar’Adua stepped into the first term before death caught up with him.  If Jonathan bridged that gap for the North, should he complete the second term agreement or not?

We must learn to respect agreements we freely enter into.  Otherwise…

My Thatcher is 70

All other goods by fortune’s hands are given
A wife is the peculiar giftof heaven- Alexander Pope.

Yesterday, my own jewel of inestimable value was 70.  How time flies!  It has been like yesterday when Siliphat Modupeola Lawal and I met and became like twain.

I have not counted the years because they go quickly.  Because we are like newly weds every day; it is a challenge every day.

My wife and I met in the Christmas of 1959 and we married in September 1962.
I do not know of man or woman, who settled any quarrel between us.  We quarrelled and settled between ourselves.  Mama, her mother, was eternally happy for that.  And our girls are always proud of that.

Of course, I am the weaker of the duo as far as our children are partial to me.  She is the stronger one and she had a name which she only found in her old age. Her girls called her – Margaret Thatcher – for her strong handling of the girls.  They have turned into fine girls that men will need to have as wives.  My wife has been my own first Public Relations Officer.  She does not put any word wrong.  When i am not well, she is like a mother and she does not mind my lack of demonstration when she is ill.

At 70 years my wife has not changed.  Like a matured wine , she is getting better and better.
This wife, my wife Dupe, is a peculiar gift of heaven.

I cannot forget my friend

And the song from beginning to the end I found in the heart of a friend.
– HW Long fellow (1809 – 1882)

I cannot forget my friend with whom I have shared my wife’s birthday these many years.
Joseph Adeleye Orishagbemi would have been 78 years old yesterday.  But he died before his 78th birthday.  He was the Attah of Aiyede Ekiti.  As the Yoruba would say: the wicked have done their worst.

As you see, death does not kill the Nigerian, the wicked do.  And to be frank, the wicked did.  Oba Adeleye was kidnapped and in the process crashed his vehicle.

He had spent 15 years on the throne and it promised he could have spent many more years on the throne of his fathers.
Oluwa jeki eyin e daa, Aamin.