You probably know the story of the rat trap in the farmer’s barnyard:

The farmer put a rat trap in his barnyard to eliminate the rodents spoiling his store. The rat saw it and raised an alarm to all other animals: “There’s a rat trap in the barnyard!”. He ran to the hen, but she was not interested. “So what? Do I look like a rat to you?”.

The rat went to the pig in the sty, but the pig was indifferent. “Go away, fool. My feet are too big to get caught in a rat trap”. Off went the rat to the cow, who was bigger than the other animals, and commanded more respect: “There’s a rat trap in the barnyard!!!”

“The essence of this piece is to bring to national consciousness, what has been lurking in my (as indeed, OUR) subconscious. It is to highlight our responsibilities and the pro-active roles we must play. God has blessed several Nigerians with several ideas that would ensure that we seize the moment and so, I’m sharing mine with you with the hope that you will share yours with me and every Nigerian; holding nothing back.”

Those are the words of a well-meaning (I hope) Nigerian, Ezekiel Nya-Etok, as published in a paid advertorial on Page 16D of This Day Newspaper (Thursday, September 16, 2010). I hope the money he sacrificed to have this advert printed will not go to utter waste. It is in this hope that I wish to join my voice with his, to reach as many Nigerians as possible, with only ONE message: You NOW have your political future in your HANDS, literally.

Collective responsibility is a concept or doctrine, according to which individuals are to be held responsible for other people's actions by tolerating, ignoring, or harbouring them, without actively collaborating in these actions.

God save Nigeria

Collective responsibility is about being responsible to oneself, and for the actions or inactions of others. You are part of a society for a reason. If you live in isolation, the tendency for a short, hard and insecure life is high. On the other hand, being part of a social grouping (political, national, religious, or otherwise) guarantees some form of protection, as safety is more assured in a crowd. However, whole civilizations have been known to perish without trace. This makes one wonder: Could they not have had safety in their number?

Michelle Obama returned to USA last week, after spending 5 days holidaying in Spain, with her 9 year-old daughter, Sasha, a list of friends numbering about 40, and a retinue of her personal and security staff on White House pay-roll (tax-payers’ money). In the middle of the first week of holidays, the American voices of probity and dissent were raised to question the economic rationale behind her apparently ostentatious stay in Spain. Many questions were asked about her spending, who paid for what, and why such display of affluence must go on in the face of the wounded American economy. We often wonder why Americans are so proud of their culture, nationality and lifestyle. The answer is not far fetched – there is inclusion, probity, and accountability in governance.

Recommended Business

Pamela Evbota, the self-styled Chief Helping Officer of Ladiesnetworking.com, is a certified Helpingpreneur, speaker, and teacher. A Helpingpreneur™ is anyone involved in providing help or support to other people/entrepreneurs for a living. She works with women who are at a cross road in their life, work, and/or business. These women want to get crystal clear focus on what their purpose and passion are in life.

How Governors Rig Elections, By Donald Duke
Sunday, 18 July 2010 00:00 From Alifa Daniel, Asst Political Editor, Abuja.

This is worth reading, folks. May God save Nigeria. Amen.

Definition: Small and Medium Enterprise in Nigeria

One of my articles you may find useful...

Congratulations! Nigeria will be 50 years as an amalgamated, sovereign state come October 1, 2010. The Federal Government in wisdom(?) has earmarked billions of Naira for celebration. Intended use includes feeding the less-privileged masses. I wonder if this is not a case of feeding fish instead of teaching to fish.

If you were Mr. President what would you be doing or spending money on? The question is not academic. Your answer will be discussed amongst positive-minded stake-holders and future leaders. Make your opinion count...

It is a good policy to be good, or nice. We were all brought up wired to believe it pays to be good, and evil not to be. All media around us convince us that you will always pay for being bad, and you can never lose by being good. However, we encounter culture shocks when we relate to the “real” world, and the idioms prove false. People take you for granted because you are just a nice guy. The obnoxious, insensitive egomaniac wins the deal by undermining other competition, bribing his way through, blackmailing or de-marketing others. You lose out only because you played fair by the rule-book. It would not matter if it was a one-off scenario, instead of a constantly recurring one. So, how can you make money, grow your business, and get respect from competition, by remaining nice?

For want of a horse-shoe, the battle was lost... I remember learning my first lesson in warfare and civics by that poem. The import of it is to teach that everyone and everything has its place in the order of a society.