Oluyomi Ola-David Insights

Who saves the king Who rules the mighty Horses are false hopes Strength has no deliverance Who redeems the slave Who frees the bound Spider nets are vulnerable Hunger has no food Who scatters the crowd Who enthrones the lame Royal minds are just servants Donkey has no ego Who buys the time Who sells the goods Merchant ships are fully loaded Deep sea has no poverty Who rescues the army Who restores the lost Eyes of the Most High are present Angelic host has no excuse Who prepares the table Who anoints the head Cups of mercy are running over Good strategy has no idol Who goes down to Egypt Who relies on chariots Simpletons are scape goats Justice has no pigment

What is education Without a compass Of what use are blind eyes What is religion Without a bridle Of what use are lame legs What is trade Without a good Of what use are empty stalls What is vision Without a virtue Of what use are flat wheels What is business Without a reward Of what use are fairy tales What is development Without a mind Of what use are blunt tools What is hope Without a promise Of what use are empty clouds What is country Without a patriot Of what use are broken hands  _ Compatriots arise Shareholders shine Light win Excellence reign

Race Is not won by the swift The steady Wins abundant opportunity Favour Is not won by the skilled The thoughtful Wins abundant endowment  Battle Is not won by the strong The weak Wins abundant territory Seat Is not won by the trader The peaceful Wins abundant returns Grace Is not won by the worker The humble Wins abundant time ... Newness of life to Nigeria! Grace to Nigeria! Peace to Nigeria! Possibilities in Nigeria!

Birth Nigeria  And pursue her peace Refine Nigeria Excuse and silence impurities Build Nigeria And engineer her change Make Nigeria Excuse and silence indolence Bless Nigeria And fulfill her purpose Grow Nigeria Excuse and silence poverty Breed Nigeria And light her lamp Enlighten Nigeria Excuse and silence mental slavery Be Nigeria And restore her hope Lift Nigeria Excuse and silence mediocrity

As I strive to conclude grading examination scripts for a semester of undergraduate work, my thoughts and good wishes are with all hopefuls for Nigeria's forthcoming general elections. In our rejuvenated democratic space, thoroughbred Nigerians now have handy scoring guidelines from recent history, with which to grade contenders in the race, for their good or bad politics. Looking through the trajectory of Nigeria's governance and development, I am really working for a united Nigeria to win over all things and everyone else. My rationale: In a truly progressive climate, the pursuit of nation-building and shared prosperity ought to prevail over unfounded religious sentiments, ethnic prejudice, selfish ambition, and a sense of entitlement. Very much like industrial policy, politics and governance breed winners cum losers, and Nigeria's timeline presents many reasoning points: In 1914, intentions of the British colonial masters won, and the Northern and Southern protectorates

Cast a vote If you can Here or there Nigeria wins Ride a chariot If you wish Right or left Nigeria wins Light a lamp If you will  Day or night Nigeria wins Say a prayer If you can Yes or no Nigeria wins Toss a coin If you wish Head or tail Nigeria wins Bounce a ball If you can Up or down Nigeria wins Climb a hill If you will Top or bottom Nigeria wins Call a feast If you wish Small or great Nigeria wins - Nigeria, take a step  Nigeria win Nigeria, be transformed Nigeria win

Prudence has foresight The fair ones are hidden Favour is wealthy And the good name is chosen Humility has honour The holy ones are reverent Justice is blessed And the good soul is guarded Vision has range The trained ones are steadfast Credit is useful And the good currency is pure Seed has life The planted ones are hopeful Rebuke is capital And the good ear is open Generosity has bread The poor ones are graceful Peace is input And the good heart is attached Purity has premium The saved ones are free Grace is heritage And the good lip is true Salt has properties The real ones are tasty Depth is beautiful And the good table is served Knowledge has tutor The wise ones are disciples Rod is welcome And the good lesson is free Pleasant has shelter The choice ones are fortified Tangible is kept And the good word is fixed Counsel has wells The excellent ones are taught Question is rational And the good response is sent Pocket has friends The powerful ones are learned Cause is grand And the g

Diverse nation Ruined the country United nation Can rebuild the walls Selfish nation Impoverished the country Selfless nation Can enrich the land Drunk nation Robbed the country Sober nation Can restore the heritage Stubborn nation Stunted the country Willing nation Can develop the field Proud nation Ruled a country Lowly nation Can serve her ... Nigeria is possible And so she is Redemption is here And so is healing

Idols are futile Empty paper before whirlwind Sea is stirred Steady like a busy bee Popular noise was rejected Peace dances to a distant harmony Depth is handsome Now walks like servant on table of sea Chariots are vulnerable Now horses gallop to owner's strings Opulence is pale Vanity is drunk with pride Labour was expected Yet lowly was chosen Agile tools were on display Yet the lame gained the key ... Mark the lines Head or tail Nigeria wins 🇳🇬✌

In every cycle There are variables On any graph The axis is constant In every play There are characters On any scene The writer is present In every climate There are forecasts On any street The GPS is certain In every contest There are hopefuls On any stage The victor is crowned In every game There are players On any field The referee is king ... Know the source Opt for truth Know the maker Opt for process 

Bouncy ball Opts in Set stone Opts out Deep ocean Opts in Shallow pond Opts out Keen eagle Opts in Blind bat Opts out Stretchy garment Opts in Stiff rag Opts out Lowly donkey Opts in   Pompous horse Opts out Poor sense Opts in Rich ignorance Opts out _ When poverty is wise No one heeds the melody When prosperity is less so Every inch is covered by noise

Spit is cream Insight is choice Mockery is fuel Patience is normal Lace is transparent Exception is classy Great is small Ready is steady Ant is trainer Colour is plain Extra is ordinary Solemn is priceless Wind is subject Inbox is full Nation is champion Score is complete Chaos is void Peace is better Unity is twin Weave is perfect

What can still The rage of the poor Who can silence  The noise of a multitude  What can cure The wounds of history Who can steer The sail to a new day What can close The ear made open Who can open The mind of a nation _ Society was designed To be just Stars were created To shine

Can we blame Darkness When we have not Switched on the lights Can we worry The beat When we have not Sang a different tune Can we plaster Wall cracks When we have not Fixed the foundation Can we blame The tools When we have not Sharpened them Can we blame Good enough When we have not Presented excellence  _ Should we blame Those who showed up And should we justify  Mediocrity

Toss the coin Head or tail We win Ring the bell Day or night We rise Tell the time Cloud or fire We journey Keep the watch Morning or evening We win Blow the horn High or low We reign Push the hand One or two We work Pull the strings Right or left We win Count the stars Small or great We shine Plant the seed Rain or sun We grow Seek the way Now or then We win Bring the means Goods or gold We build Stir the hearts First or last We can

One nation One tribe One people One culture One tribe One gate One heart One feast One gate One voice One goal One race One voice One hope One faith One love One hope One way One ship One sail One way One truth One life One house _ Decided we grew United we change Destined we rose United we build 🇳🇬✌#SDG16

They were not sent Yet they ran And were not goods Yet they sold They were not told Yet they spoke And were not called Yet they journeyed They were not right Yet they won And were not true Yet they ruled They were not walls Yet they stood And were not fire Yet they shone They were not gold Yet they glittered And were not waiters Yet they served

Like shepherd, like pasture Like chef, like feast Like seer, like palace Like temple, like city Like tree, like fruit Like home, like nation Like keeper, like gate Like prince, like people Like root, like branch Like principle, like practice Like nurture, like nature Like thought, like life _ Gratitude blames no one 🇳🇬 #SDG16✌

Flattery Could sink a Titanic Captain Requires steady vision  Fancy May tickle an empire Emperor Needs a frank little child Log May trip the sprinter Path Requires shining stars Grade Could deceive the gullible Chance Needs a true governor _ Poverty of means May trade-off time Poverty of thought Needs reform  

Who made the smith What formed the coals Who shaped the vessel What lights the fire Who primed the pump What stirs the water Who grew the seed What saves the tree Who fashioned the hand What informs the sea Who called the planet What takes the city Who winnowed the path What counts the sand Who tilled the heart What hides the bones  Who wove the branch What tamed the goat Who framed the book What adorns the sky

Learning never ends Prudence is always a student Thoughts are always welcome The mind will always ask ... Here was my response to the learning event I recently attended: I was thoroughly enlightened by your brilliant keynote, though I had to hurry out to another scheduled task during the Q&A session. Owing to my penchant for the poor, despised, and excluded segments of society, I noticed when you referred to the smallholder farmers, to whom most of Nigeria owes her nutrition security, as 'illiterates'. These ignorant and unlearned ones may be 'illiterates" by Western education standards, but I sure think they have sufficiently commendable native sense to have remained productive throughout the ages. My stance: what we need to do is make them see their innate capacity to innovate and upgrade their productive capabilities, not cast aspersion on their little strengths. Inclusive systems of local governance can help here. My question is: how are DFIs like the AfDB work

Should captives sing How can the plundered laugh Plead mercy for their iniquity  And preserve the land Should the noble forget How can the distressed remember Call up landmarks of deliverance And give hope to the weary Should the servants lack How can the faithful crew rebuild Gather prudence to the rubble And construct the nation .. Wisdom reign Princes be just Peace to Nigeria  Peace to the planet Faith will be great Hope will not disappoint Love will not fail Nigeria will win

The sheepfold is not whole Until the lost is restored Liberty is only contrived Until the captive is free The case is not conclusive Until light wins Womb is only closed Until laughter springs forth The bakery is not occupied Until the baker is born Hill is only arrogant Until the mountain emerges We are more than conquerors And we glow We are choice And we shine

Deep ocean Streams with royal silence Shallow pond Stinks with stale noise Open heart Claims hidden treasure Closed mind Cannot see the obvious Hungry nets Launch out to the deep Satiated boat Settles for necessity Elevated tongue Lifts and heals Present truth Acts now

Where is the faith That shifts mountains And gentle decree That straightens cycles Where is the victor That flexes no muscle And key That does not disappoint Where is the trust That surrenders all And royal majesty That spins no thread Where is the mind That harbours possibilities  And peace That awaits a change  Simple but wise Little but great One but majority Weak but strong _ Minors major in possibilities 

Patience Eats the best meal Endurance Gets the victor's crown Gratitude Reads the best book Oak Wins the choice ground Grace  Occupies the best room Ant Turns the desert around Peace Laces the best garment Doormat Welcomes the good news  

The old house Is filled with eastern ways The giants Are now aliens The cold pot Is full of mixture The feasts Are now abominable The old den Is full of idols The vessels Are now wooden The new house Is above every mountain The morsels Are now delightsome _ The line is thin Between false and true The difference is clear Between night and day

Weaned is peaceful Wild abides in woods Skin-deep is not enough Suits can be seamless Little is gentle Lofty knows it all Size is not everything  Depth has great rewards Custom is informative Stubborn traditions last long Open ear is not enough Actor follows the script Pillar is strong Rubbles can be useful Blocks are not sufficient Help has one just source

Good graces are sumptuous But fruitful tree is healthy Prison hills are elevated But mountain top is matchless Appointments are good But ownership is better Applauses are fleeting But legacy is enduring Events are seasonal But attitude is yearlong Leaders are stars But service is greatness  _ Human lives matter And methods are important