Square Pegs and Round Holes

So, I was jamming my naija playlist the other day and Ovuloria motioned to me saying it was too loud, as she picked a phone call. Meanwhile, there I was nodding my head to “Shitor ooo, Shitor”, my inner selfish kicked in and I motioned for her to move to kindly the other room. As the playlist progressed, it got to a tune I was not really feeling. After a minute or so, I made to reduce the volume, because I then felt the music was too loud. Just then I saw the next tune on the list. I did a fastforward to the comforting chant – “Heyyy Maleek Berry pon dis”. I suddenly needed more volume. As they say in Warri, I gave it belle and the room filled with more chants of …”too much juice, too much sauce…”. Hmmm…I nodded away as I sipped #15.

What you saw up there is classic human behavior. At times, the mood changes or situations change and that tune previously listened to and enjoyed at the same volume, becomes too loud and you instinctively drop the volume. Sometimes, it gets so bad that you fast forward or remove it from the playlist altogether.

This was what came to my mind today as I watched the ongoing BBOG anniversary program on ChannelsTV. As a sign of our collective hypocrisy, it did not take a few weeks into this administration for the same folks who saw this advocacy as a rallying point to expose the cluelessness and maybe even wickedness of the last administration, to now see them as meddlesome gnats. So much so that some “supporters” of this admin even went to one of the BBOG events to disrupt their march in a counter show of support.

My heart goes out to all the families who have been impacted by the insurgency in the North East. Thousands have been killed and hundreds abducted, including under-aged boys and girls who have been used as “wives” to terrorists and as trainee insurgents and suicide bombers.

While I commend the current administration for the work done so far in pushing the terrorists to the fringes, I would also advise that we need to put a strong focus on the root causes that give rise to extremism, terrorism and insurgency and makes this find an appealing place in the minds of our young ones in areas where this is prevalent.

SAN

When a fire incident occurs, the first thing that happens is that emergency services are called in. They arrive at the site as fast as possible, take a quick assessment of the situation, start putting out the fire depending on the “possible sources” based on feedback from witnesses, go in to rescue the inhabitants, create a “water wall” between adjourning houses to prevent escalation, etc. They ensure the fire is fully put out and everyone is out of harm’s way before leaving the site.

What they just did was to respond to consequence.

The next step is to call investigators in. Their brief is to identify root causes and recommend actions to prevent recurrence. Depending on the situation they may also arrive in tandem with the folks responding to the consequence. These guys use a combination of data gathering, sequence of events mapping, determining protective systems that worked, failed or were not present, etc. They arrive at immediate, intermediate and root causes and recommend corrective and preventative actions targeted at these. After this report is passed on to the relevant authorities, it is then implemented.

In the case of the fire above, investigators determine that the fire started from an overheated electrical wire supplying a 2 hp air conditioner. This is the immediate cause.

It was also observed that the home did not have early warning devices like smoke detectors and the overload prevention did not meet the spec required. The AC wall plug was also observed to have been near the curtain/blinds of that room. The home owner also kept their only fire extinguisher on a floor below the one where the fire started. Those were protective systems that did not work or were not available.

The investigators also found out that the cables used for the 2hp AC were not rated to carry the load and possible surge. This is an intermediate cause.

The home owner actually had a 1.5 hp installed initially and upgraded to a 2HP without changing the wiring or ensuring that it met spec. A visit to the municipal authorities also showed that the home in question had their building permit issued without specifying the different cable specifications for all the possible equipment that could have been installed based on electrical code specification. This is root cause.

Recommendations were made and implemented, at municipal level, that addressed electrical codes and ratings notification, inspections and enforcement/sanctions, awareness communication around the number of and location of extinguishers in the room per specific risk, keeping flammable materials away from likely electrical heat sources and reinforcement of the building permits process to address all these concerns.

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Back to the matter

While I agree that the approach above is currently applied in general conflict resolution and civil strife in this country, I am not convinced that the same is done to tackle the specific issue of terrorism and insurgency in a “visible” manner.

Some quick (proactive and reactive) suggestions

1. Ensure the rule of law. Do not create reasons (outside the law) for deification/martyrdom of individuals and ideas
2. Regulate religious teachings to weed out extremism. This must be done by the state and supported by religious leaders. Punitive measures must be applied through targeted legislation.
3. Respected local and religious leaders should focus on preaching the counter narrative. This has to be a deliberate and concerted campaign.
4. Strictly enforce the UBE clause that mandates education for all up to JS3. This refers to the federal and not religious curricula. Take kids off the streets into class and then trade or any other gainful activity.
5. Sponsors, at all levels, must be exposed and punished with their sources of income/influence cut off permanently

I am afraid if this is not a strong focus, we will continue to have this periodic cycles of insurgency/terrorism. It is a long road, but we must start today.

SAN

Many years ago, a senior colleague, “Mr. Ade”, told me how he met his wife. He was driving in the rain and found her walking with two kids without an umbrella and with some uncoordinated pieces of luggage. When he stopped to offer them a ride, he saw that she was crying. They had nowhere to go. Her husband had just kicked them out of the house after she reported the last case of physical abuse to her parents and they sent him a warning.
This Good Samaritan offered them his home and in no time they were married. He told me this story as he invited me to his place for the naming ceremony of their third child together. Their fifth as joint parents. 
One hears of all kinds of domestic violence nowadays. There are testimonies on radio talk shows, pictures on social media, news reports of the ones that ended in loss of life and limb and even others that one comes across from time to time in person. I am not trying to be prescriptive, but self preservation should trump emotions when DV becomes a constant in a relationship.
Adekunle Gold’s 2016 album, titled “Gold” is the best album I heard all 2016 whether from a local or international artiste. How do you listen to an Album over and over and only skip one of 16 songs? I digress. Track 13 – Fight for you, speaks about a victim of domestic violence and how the writer would not only want to protect her, but present himself as a better alternative. 
It reminds me of Mr and Mrs Ade and the look on his face as he told me that story. My head swells whenever I hear that song. Adekunle Gold offers himself as one who would respect her and treat her like a king. He says in Yoruba – Aya Oba onsukun, Aya Oba onjiya (The wife of a King neither cries nor suffers).
Is she not your queen? Is he not your king? Why not treat one another as such? 
For you who is still searching: find “the right one” and make sure you treat them right…always.
Good morning.
SAN

That was how I was tending to mine and my neigbour’s lawns one time. As a routine, I would mow both lawns and water them from my sprinkler system. There were even times when I chased away stray animals and cleared anthills from my neigbours lawn. Even when they were out of town, I would ensure their yard was well looked after.

One time, I travelled for a few weeks and returned to meet my lawn overgrown, with dog poo everywhere, full of weed and sprouting a developing anthill. I looked across at my neigbour’s lawn and it was in immaculate condition. I was confused. 
After toiling continuously for three days, I was able to get things under control in my yard. So, after my Saturday maintenance activity on my lawn, I washed up and oiled my calloused hands and went across to say hello to my neigbour. I was greeted with the usual warmth and pleasantries. I found a way to bring up the condition I met my lawn upon my return. 
My neigbour said: “yes, we noticed things were not right at your yard, but we did not want to encroach. Also, we knew you would take care of it once you return”. 
#Afamako. 
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*No neigbour, past or present was cited in this FABLE.

SAN

Photo credit: my lawn.

The books you buy, keep or read say a lot about your personality. One can easily guess taste and behavior trends by going through people’s books. What you read feeds your mind and ends up shaping your thoughts and behaviors.

I raided Doye’s book shelf recently and today being the World  Book Day, I am sharing  pictures from a random selection of this eclectic  reader’s book choices through the years. Meanwhile, I have known Doye since I was maybe eight. He’s always been quite “bookish”. You should have seen his glasses before the Lasik. 😜😄🤓

Tell us your opinion of some of the books shown here.

See pictures below the cut.

SAN