Opinion
18
Sunday August 19, 2012
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
How Good is this Luck and how much Patience can we exercise? Uncensored Unc
Sheriff S Folarin
E-mail: sheffie2004@yahoo.co.uk 08094217972 (SMS only)
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ames can be powerful. They can be influential in the fulfillment of a man’s destiny. Some names are not just mere tags; they are meant to direct the course of events surrounding one’s life. In this part of the world, names are central in the cosmology of the people. That is why a man can bear as many names as there are events and landmarks. At birth, a child may get different names from from parents, grandparents and other senior family members. In Africa, the name either captures issues surrounding a man’s birth, circumstances or experiences of the parents, expectations or wishes of the people, or is prophetic to turn the fortunes of the family around. Among Christians, names are not just crafted and handed out. They are carefully and prayerfully given to show gratitude to God, place some demands on Him, or to ensure that there is the manifestation of God’s ways in a man’s life. Where some people give their wards meaningless names such as Stone, Ginsberg, Wineskin, Skinhead, Pepple, Gates, Clark, Aristide, Cena, Savage; majority of Africans take their time to choose names. That is why we see names as Oluwabamise (God has done it for me), Olatunji (wealth has come back to life), Olorunfemi (God loves me), Ogadinma (It will get better) and Imaobong (Love of God). When there is a breakthrough in a family in Yorubaland, a child could be named Olusegun. When people in Igboland appreciate God for His goodness, they could name their child Chidinma. In Hausaland, when there are certain prophetic happenings in the family, a child’s name could be Musa (Moses) to
reflect a breakthrough, Dauda (David) to show certain lifting, or Yakubu (Jacob) to show leadership. Truly, our names have rubbed off on our destinies and the destiny of people around us, particularly those whose affairs we oversee at some points: as parents, bosses, pastors, even as leaders. It could positive or negative. In some cases, names could work for us alone such that those around us benefit (or lose) little or nothing. We have had leaders in Nigeria with peculiar names. Yakubu Gowon. Yakubu means Jacob. He emerged as Head of State when he barely bargained for it. The lot just fell on him. He never thought he could beat the likes of Murtala and other senior officers in the army to fill the vacuum created by the cleansing of July 29, 1966. He led Nigeria in a critical time up to the Civil War. Nigeria eventually got delivered from the threat of disintegration and Gowon went down in history as one of the great leaders of the nation, in spite of the overthrow in 1975 and the image smear from an allegation that he had a hand in the Dimka coup of 1976. Jacob in the Bible was the Esau’s brother who least bargained for the kind of blessing that came his way. Their mother, Rebbekah, schemed and prepared Jacob for the raw and deeper blessings of their father, Isaac. Jacob went away with the original blessings and became the founder of Israel. His twelve children became the twelve tribes of Israel and one of his children, Joseph, became Prime Minister in Egypt. So, like Jacob, Yakubu got blessings he did not prepare for and founded a new Nigeria after the reintegration of Biafra. Olusegun Obasanjo had a peculiar story. He was born into abject poverty. He had no money, no books like his mates, not even shoes to wear to school. Eating once a day was a rare luxury for him as a child. In a society that prizes affluence and glorifies only the rich and venerates them, Obasanjo was sure to be confined to, and not supposed to be unbounded from the fringes, which Obafemi Awolowo once described as the “flotsam and jetsam”. But he defied and melted the odds and rose to become not only a military Head of State, but also a democratically elected President as well as one of the most respected global citizens
from the African continent. He lived his name, Olusegun (God is victorious or God has vanquished my adversities). As Head of State, he revolutionized the agricultural sector and came up with some other innovations that put Nigeria on the world map. Later in life, he overcame his worst adversary, Abacha, and walked free from the prison to the presidential palace in 1999. Goodluck Jonathan, like Jonathan in the Bible, has always been true and loyal to his friends. King David was rescued from Saul’s plot to kill him by Jonathan. David escaped and later emerged as King because of Jonathan’s advice and intervention. Our own Jonathan was faithful to his two known friends in adversity: Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Umar Yar’Adua. His other name, Goodluck, has, according to unconfirmed tales, spoken for him a number of times. We heard that he rose from nowhere or from being an Assistant to become Head on several occasions: Class Rep, Senior Prefect, Governor and now President (the last two we know though). Destiny has thus smiled at him. He has lived his name. But how far has his name rubbed off on Nigeria? How good has been Nigeria’s luck under Goodluck Jonathan? Sports: In the last one year, Nigeria’s high profile in international sports has dwindled. The Team Nigeria in the London Olympics returned with the worst Nigerian Olympics record. There are no known stars anymore, who can redeem Nigeria’s diming star in sports. Nigerian football has reached a cul de sac. For the first time in many years, there was no Nigerian soccer team in the last Olympics (they all crashed out in the African qualifiers). For the first time in decades, the Eagles did not show up at the 2012 Cup of Nations because they crashed out in the qualifiers. All attention has shifted from Nigerian soccer players to European and English Premier League stars, and to other African footballers in the European leagues. The soccer teams are in the shadows of the past legends. Where are the Dream Team, Super Eagles, Flying Eagles and World Golden Eaglets, that were conquerors of global football? They are gone and in the last one year, the luck went awry. Security: The worst nightmare in Ni-
geria today is insecurity. Previous experiences are nothing compared to the threats of Boko Haram, kidnappers and ritual murderers as we have it now. We have even lost foreigners to acts of kidnapping and terrorism this year alone. Top police officers and men of the army as well as other security agencies have lost their lives (they now do on daily basis). In the most unprecedented manner, lives of Christians have been wasted (just a few days ago, 20 were gunned down in a night service in a Deeper Life Church in Okene, Kogi State). The residence of the Vice President recently also came under attack. And just some days back, Boko Haram came up with the worst insult on a Nigerian President when they asked Jonathan to resign and become a “born again Moslem” as a precondition for dialogue or ceasefire. And Mr. President dignified them by responding: “I will not resign…etc…etc…” Corruption: This is obviously the worst of times in Nigeria’s corruption profile. It is wanton, bold and unchecked stealing and cover-ups. The entire anti-corruption columns have either collapsed or been compromised, while the image question worsens. Subsidy theft, crude oil theft, pension theft, et cetera. It cannot get worse than this. While some of these things are a direct result of government’s lack of will to tackle them, some are just happening against the will or expectation of the leadership. They just happen like they are certain vicious forces of nature that cannot be controlled, and one is wont to exclaim: what a luck! Patience, they say, should be our watchword because the wars on sports maladministration, terrorism and corruption may be protracted but will surely be won. And interestingly, Patience is the name of our First Lady. But may be when we see decisiveness on the part of President Jonathan, and he stops calling Boko terrorists “our brothers” while they slaughter his troops and Christians on daily basis, and may be when he combats other problems with tact, we will then become more understanding and exercise patience for Jonathan to restore good luck to Nigeria. •Dr. Folarin teaches Politics at Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
Osun Osogbo: When brand bonds with culture JOHN AJAYI
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he choice of Seaman’s Aromatic Schnapps, Nigeria’s original and number one prayer drink, as official schnapps of the Osun Osogbo Festival is certain to raise the profile of the centuries-old festival and reinforce the time-honoured practice of pouring libation. Undoubtedly, the partnership which dates to several decades will be highly visible again at this year’s edition of the Osun Osogbo Festival, which will begin on tomorrow, August 13 and end on Friday, August 24. The reason for this is not far-fetched. Seaman’s Schnapps, a premium cultural drink from the stable of Grand Oak Limited, is positioned in the market as a prayer drink. The drink promotes culture. It also celebrates tradition and associates itself with the lifestyles of consumers. Similarly, Osun Osogbo is about culture and tradition. Celebrated since 1370, it is listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). A visit to the groove will reveal to the curious person why UNESCO deemed it fit to name
the site as belonging to the entire human race. The serenity of the groove engendered by centuries of prayers at the site has given it a scared ambience that can only be treasured by lovers of culture and tradition. Its association with Seaman’s Schnapps, which represents enduring blessing, is therefore, better appreciated by cultural aficionados who are well aware that pouring libations is an integral part of the Osun Osogbo Festival. At the formal media unveiling of the festival in Lagos recently, Category Manager, Grand Oak Limited, Abiodun Ayodeji, said it was only natural for the brand to sponsor the popular yearly festival because of the importance that it attached to culture and tradition. “Our brand is a conveyor of everlasting and original blessing, hence our involvement,” Abiodun added. Corroborating his views, Festival Co-ordinator, Chief Jimoh Braimoh said the place of Seaman’s Schnapps in the celebration could not be over-emphasised as the original prayer drink is used for the pouring of libations to the ancestors. “We have to talk to the ancestors and we don’t use any other drinks other than Seaman’s Schnapps in talking to elders; we pour libations, so we salute Seaman’s Schnapps for its involvement, Jimoh Braimoh said. Inevitably, the
Osun Osogbo Festival provides the appropriate platform for Seaman’s Aromatic Schnapps to associate and bond with its key target audience. The brand is expected to be fully involved in entertaining consumers at the event with lots of activations. On August 9, 2012, a courtesy visit was made to the Ataoja of Osogbo, the royal ruler of Osogboland by the Seaman’s Schnapps team. The team made a formal presentation of Seaman’s Schnapps to His Royal Majesty. In return, the king offered original blessing to the company and brand at large. Seaman’s Royale has various programmes lined up to make this year’s event exciting and memorable. The brand’s franchised roundabout at Lakeview Ilogbo and Mayfair will adorn a new look, thus creating exciting sights to behold, especially at night. Also, on Tuesday, August 21, 2012, Seaman’s Ayo Olopon Championship will be held at the Ataoja’s palace, Osogbo. Winners will go away with lots of exciting prizes and branded gift items. During the Seaman’s Ayo Olopon championship, there will be side attraction games where spectators will have the opportunity of winning branded gift items. The grand finale is on Friday, August 24, 2012 and will be a fun-filled day as it starts with a visit to the Osun River by indigenes and well-
wishers, to receive the blessing of Yeye Osun. At the grove, Seaman’s Royale will have a stand where culturally inclined people will be treated to indigenous Agere dance and traditional music. The funfair will move to the Ataoja’s palace, where homage will be paid to the His Royal Majesty, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, Olanipekun Larooye II, the Ataoja of Osogboland and his reverred chiefs. Seaman’s Schnapps was introduced into the market several decades ago; the brand has strongly associated itself with culture and tradition of the Nigerian people. Seaman’s Schnapps has continuously defined the market in terms of its unique positioning, product presentation, pricing and marketing communication. Distilled from closely guarded recipe, Seaman’s Schnapps fulfils the yearnings of our valued heritage passed down the age. Enjoy its royal taste as you sail through life purely on the original blessings that come with it. The brand’s lead pack size is the Seaman’s Royale; its presentation grand style is emphasized through the unconventional green bottle that dignifies the personality of the schnapps and also the blue batik gift box that underlines its royalty. •Ajayi wrote from Osogbo, Osun State