By Sharif Ishaq Abubakar

Introduction

Man envisages hope and secures confidence. In the course towards thriving to make a better positive arrival to the future, emanating from a past and rolling to a thoughtful destination, though I’m not quite sure, I set goals to beat what has to spell the past. There is a joint alliance with history as a discipline and what a layman could call the “Good old days”. 

The good old days, as the essay subscribes to them, are precision in explaining what is commonly attested to when there is a flashback in a human being’s life, portraying the rosy and more easygoing way of life or the simple life of the past. This is usually not welcome in the language of academic historians, as what is more vividly visible is the past in response to the doctrine of history. 

The good old days in question are what I find and regard as a commonly digested utterance by those who find their past life more pleasing. They are not necessarily shouldered with success in a weighted rate, but a sense of appeasing and touching unforgettable times that the present has swallowed but left tangible emotions for the utterer to describe. It is not elusive. It happened, occurred, took place, and was quite eventful. 

With this periodic relevance, I sensed a spectacular alliance between the history known as a Study and the phrase candid by mostly good explainers of events and happenings, adhering and recalling their past days as the good old days. I see the two working relatedly, but I saw them separating as the latter could not get a fixed spot as shallow as a topic.  This essay, therefore, will highlight the alliance of History and the phrase” Good old days”.

The Past and the Emotion of the Old Days

This piece does not set itself in the medicinal or health advocative stance, guided by medication or clinical hypothesis. In this context, the past and the emotion of the old days patronise a common fact that should be well acknowledged by every human being, which posits that the past was not that less patchy or lacked bruises in the lane that gave birth to the present. There were struggles, but the man still thrived like the men of the stone age. The measures and methods might not constitute similar skills and advancement, but what ascertained the inbuilt tradition of man is to uncover the path for survival, which further comes with attached conditions and risk-taking that also spells more of man’s ways. 

If this is how the generational pattern of man’s life was and will continue to be, how did man develop emotion for the past and even refer to the past with an emotional remembrance phrase, the Good old days?

I found the worthiness of my response to these questions in stages of human being growth. 

In the study of history, those before us paved the way for the advancement we enjoy today, and we are responsible for what will become of future advancement. It is a stage, and it is periodical. Man, stages of growth come with several definitive developments and mistakes, which transform into lessons. Historically, our forefathers have been down to us, and we shall be forefathers to another set. 

Man grows up leaning on his parents, forming a bond and several events transpiring in his life; in several clicks of time, one can no longer go back to those days, but the days stay in the heart, brain and the whole body system, despite the natural heritage from the parents which of course speaks clearly of who you took after, one still look back at the gone days and smile, blushing out some event that occurred not because there were meant to make a joke of, but because there are several notable notations attached to that scenarios. The past is lovely because it makes you remember who you are and what you are supposed to strive for. The mind works in a mysterious way that flashes back in a second to events that take you out of your present, honouring the past and handing over the juridical capability to make your choice forward. It is emotional, but the phrase “good old days” weighs a lot.

The Alliance of History and the Phrase the “Good Old Days”.

Standing from within, inspecting the past, observing the turning points of events, and profoundly judging the historical stages that led to the current development, one would apparently love the past because it is historical; it takes you back to the meaning of the present. This sets a distinct correlation between the term history as a study and the above phrase.

What will become of the understanding of democracy or the modern pattern of international relations when one thinks of imperialism and how it transpired, where it became economically and practically legal to show nation strength and capability by annexing and conquering more land, these territories and lands have settlers and indigents inhabited in them. Still, the wake-up of the clamour of securing your land by defending and raising quite a courageous military to secure land proves the days to be readymade for wars. 

Territories prepare and anticipate war. Some nation-states have made a fortune and are where they are today because conquest was practicable before today, and there is no favour history can bring about their success without pointing at those days. Today, national flags speak volumes of reasons why they appear with specific colours, not because the past covers the unscratched step to their current capability, but because it was worth passing through the past and having the present as a representative of the past.

Aside from the above example, why would a layman refer to the past as the good days, and how is it related to history?

Indeed, they have been developed, but glaring at the present harbours inflation and population growth as resources tend to be fewer than in the past. Looking back to the past and scoring those days as good days defines the long way the past determines the future and how related they are. It breaks an alarming projection when the hope of the future is always cherished to be better. It hence gives birth to a predicament when the future of the past becomes less provident than it was judged to be. 

Man is hence left with a single option: turn to the better days, which is why history deals with everything. History is used to judge the progress of a certain goal; it tracks the impact and provides facts that place the past and the present on a scale for one to choose between whether the past had a more promising trajectory, or the present thwarted those policies initiated to befit the future (Now Present). Either way, I will cite Nigeria as a critical reference.

Nigeria gained independence in the year 1960. The individuals who worked through the path of success in attaining Nigeria’s freedom from colonialism were highly respected and celebrated with greater hope for the country’s future. All reflection points to leadership, health care, education, youths, democracy, infrastructure, and other aspects that require reliable leaders’ consent. That was hope, and it started on a good platter, but the future led to crises and other predicaments, resulting in a civil war within six years of attaining a positive foot in the country’s history. 

The future rolled on, leading to several phases of military leadership, and the country bounced back to democracy in 1999. Why, then, will one refer to the days of the leaders of the first republic as the good old days? There is a response to the question when one depicts the days of the previous leaders who died not owning or amassing the wealth of the public or citizens of the country despite being labelled as corrupt. 

One of the reasons the First Republic’s political settings crumbled was corruption. Still, till today, the pattern of corruption has only taken a glorifying approach that seems more degrading than that of the leaders of the First Republic. That is to assert that in a situation where the past seemed to be more politically sound than the future (now present), the past must be seen as the good days, not because it was hoped for to be that way, but because it proves better than the worsening present/ future.

 Conclusion 

 This essay captured the relevance of the past, thereby mirroring the fact that not all events that happened in the past historically can be beaten by the future or present. Some might indeed wish the past should fade, but growth seems to make one attached to his past so much that the yearning for past memories leads to a label known as the “Good Old Days.”

Sharif Ishaq Abubakar wrote via Sharifishaq55@gmail.com. He is a PhD Student at the University of Abuja, Department of History and Diplomatic Studies.

By Uzair Adam Imam

President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Anthem Bill 2024, reverting to the old national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee”.

This was revealed by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, at a joint session of the National Assembly marking the Silver Jubilee of Nigeria’s 4th Republic.

The old anthem, composed when Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, replaces the current “Arise, O Compatriots” anthem.

The lyrics were written by British expatriate Lillian Jean Williams, and the music was composed by Frances Berda.

The anthem played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s national identity and unity during the 1960s and late 1970s.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has banned all public gatherings and demonstrations in the state, citing a potential breakdown of law and order.

This decision comes after intelligence suggested that opposition figures planned to sponsor protests and incite chaos under the guise of supporting the dethroned Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.

According to a statement by the Governor’s Director-General, Media and Publicity, Sanusi Tofa, “This decisive action is a preemptive strategy aimed at averting any potential breakdown of law and order orchestrated by adversaries of the state.”

The government has directed security agencies to apprehend, detain, and prosecute anyone violating the order.

“We are privy to credible intelligence indicating that certain prominent figures from the opposition party in Kano have devised plans to sponsor student associations and political agitators from other northwestern states,” Tofa said.

“Their plan is to incite chaos under the guise of advocating for the dethroned Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.”

Governor Yusuf warned student groups against being manipulated by troublemakers, saying, “Through this declaration, we caution student groups against being manipulated by troublemakers who are resolute in fomenting disorder in Kano.”

He urged citizens to go about their normal activities, assuring them that the government would maintain vigilance to ensure peace in the state.

The governor said, “We urge all citizens of the state to carry on with their normal activities as the state retains its serenity.

“We will persist in vigilant oversight of the situation to address any individuals or factions trying to undermine the relative peace that the state currently enjoys.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has urged for tranquility amidst the ongoing leadership crisis involving Kano’s traditional institutions.

The Islamic body made this call in a press release issued today, May 29, 2024.

It also appealed to Islamic scholars and Kano residents to refrain from rhetoric that could exacerbate tensions.

Acknowledging what is going on, the council said there are “contradictory statements emanating from some quarters of the Ulama in Kano concerning the current traditional leadership crisis in the state.”

It added by imploring Islamic scholars, revered as “custodians of Islamic learning, values and guidance”, to exercise caution and refrain from pronouncements that could heighten tensions and divide the Muslim community.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

According to reports from L’Équipé, Paris Saint-Germain failed to pay Kylian Mbappé’s salary in April and his bonus in February.

This shocking revelation has led to lawyers getting involved to settle the dispute. 

As one of the top players in the world, Mbappé’s contract is reportedly worth millions, and the failure to pay his salary and bonus on time has raised questions about the club’s financial management. 

The situation is still developing, and fans are eagerly waiting to see how it unfolds.

 By Sabiu Abdullahi 

In an outstanding debut season with Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham has been officially named the La Liga Player of the Season for 2023/24.

The 19-year-old midfielder has made a phenomenal impact, scoring 19 goals and providing 6 assists in his first year with the Spanish giants. 

His impressive performances have earned him this prestigious award, solidifying his status as a fantastic player and an unbelievable signing for Real Madrid. 

Bellingham’s achievements have been recognized by La Liga officials, who honored him with this award for his exceptional contributions to the team’s success. 

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Rivers State police have arrested 13 individuals, including four soldiers and a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer, for alleged armed robbery, hijacking of food trucks, and diverting them to other locations.

According to the police spokeswoman, Grace Iringe-Koko, the arrests followed a thorough investigation triggered by an initial arrest of suspected burglary in a private warehouse in Elimgbu community, Ohio/Akpor LGA.

Two of the initial suspects were identified as a corporal in the Nigerian Army serving in Delta State and an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps serving in Kabba, Kogi State.

They confessed to abandoning their posts to engage in criminal activities in Rivers State.Further investigations uncovered a larger criminal ring involved in armed robbery, hijacking, and goods diversion.

The gangs hijacked trailers loaded with various goods, including fertilizers, imported clothing, and POP cement.The police recovered stolen items and a white Toyota Hilux used in the gang’s operations.

The four soldiers involved were dismissed by the Nigerian Army and handed over to the police for prosecution.

By Ibrahim Tukur

As we celebrate Children’s Day, I want to use this opportunity to remind all parents of the importance of sending their children with disabilities to school.

Education is a powerful tool for transformation. When children with disabilities are educated, they have the opportunity to grow up and become socially and economically valuable members of society. Education empowers them with the knowledge and skills to navigate life’s challenges and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

The consequences of not sending children with disabilities to school can be severe. Without education, these children are at a higher risk of growing up in ignorance, which can lead to a life of dependence, poverty, and unemployment. Many may resort to street begging as a means of survival. This not only affects their quality of life but also perpetuates a cycle of poverty and social exclusion.

Education provides children with disabilities the tools they need to escape the cycle of poverty. It opens doors to better job opportunities and higher incomes, allowing them to become self-sufficient and financially independent. Educated individuals are better equipped to make informed decisions, solve problems, and advocate for themselves, fostering independence crucial for their personal development and dignity. 

Additionally, education helps children with disabilities integrate into society, reducing stigma and discrimination and promoting understanding and acceptance within the community.

By ensuring that children with disabilities attend school, we are investing in a future where everyone has the chance to succeed, regardless of their abilities. Let’s work together to break down barriers and create an inclusive environment where every child can thrive.

On this Children’s Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to educating all children, including those with disabilities. Our collective responsibility is to ensure they receive the education they deserve, paving the way for a brighter and more inclusive future.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A sudden outbreak of gunfire at the mini palace of the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, in Nasarawa GRA, sent residents fleeing in fear on Monday night. 

The palace, located just 300 meters from the Kano Government House, has been under surveillance by a combined security team due to heightened tensions in the area. 

Eyewitnesses reported hearing heavy gunfire coming from the direction of the palace, sparking concerns about an attack. Some commuters diverted their routes, fearing for their safety. 

While the source of the gunfire remains unclear, it is believed to be related to a court order issued earlier on Monday, directing the deposed Emir to vacate the palace. 

The Kano State High Court also ordered Mr. Ado-Bayero and four other deposed emirs to stop parading themselves as emirs, pending the hearing and determination of a motion filed by the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, and the Kano State House of Assembly. 

The incident has raised tensions in the already volatile region, with residents calling for calm and restraint.

The Kano State Police Commissioner, Muhammad Gumel, and the command’s spokesperson, Haruna Kiyawa, could not be reached for comment.

By Abdullahi Khairalla

I am not a huge fan of reviewing books that come my way because of personal reasons, but this time around, I felt compelled to share some major lessons and takeaway from a book I personally found rich in ideas for building and shaping leadership journey of any aspiring leader across different sectors.

“Lead Disruption” is a book written by Dr. Akin Oke with thrust and focus on providing a guide for exceptional leadership performance in this era of turbulence and uncertainty.

To begin with, the author began by establishing the fact that, the world today is faced with all kinds of disruptions, chaos occasioned by the accelerating rate of change and uncertainty in our hyperkinetic environments caused fundamentally by three seismic events:

• Global Health Pandemic(Covid-19)
  *Global reorganisation of work due to the adoption of new technologies and
• The ongoing geopolitical transformations across the globe (east/west tension).This according to him, summarises our world into VUCA meaning– Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous.

Additionally, recent predictions about the advance of the fourth industrial revolution indicate that the speed of change, uncertainty and disruption to businesses will continue to increase. The world will have to brace up for potential global economic recession and the effects of climate change due to the continued depletion of ozone layer. This rapid change taking place, will invariably displace the old order and that will require leaders who are well-packed and positioned with requisite skills to transit their businesses and societies into prosperity in line with the new realities.

It is not a matter of conjecture that the Covid-19 has taken the world by surprise and has shifted and dismantled many old conventions, practices and ways of doing things that had previously existed during the pre-Covid era in our business space, industries, government halls and social realm. One thing that stood out is the complete migration of human race into a technological world, work from home, a situation he terms as the “new normal”

To effectively provide effective leadership in light of the current precarious reality of our fast-paced world, the book outlines among other themes and concepts such as self-awareness, resilience, innovation quotient, empathy and effective communication as critical elements for leaders to navigate through the tough and murky waters of the VUCA world.

I will touch briefly on each of the concepts for the sake of time. Self-awareness is the bedrock of effective leadership. This is because effective leadership, begins with good self-leadership. For a leader, knowing yourself and staying true and authentic to oneself is one of the salient assets you need, to be able to lead others in times of uncertainty. Asking yourself how well do you know your personal traits, your strengths, weaknesses, values and preferences? are very critical for a leader that aspires to lead his people even in times of turbulence. Dr. Akin Oke gave an analogy of a dangerous turbulence called “clear-air” by aviators that airplanes face which occurs when the plane has stabilised and in the cruising altitude and is always difficult to predict as radars cannot signal it in advance.

At this point, pilots are not too concerned about it, because the body of the plane itself has the ability to come back to its original planned position based on the inherent strengths of the plane itself. “Aeronautical engineers call this ability positive stability and pilots will tell you that the secret lies within the complex technical configurations at work in-between the wings of the plane and the in the belly of fuselage. This is the same way ‘self-awareness works for a leader. Leaders should have this capacity within them-they must build that resilience within them, that positive stability. And you cannot do that without having a good configuration of yourself (you morality, integrity, honesty, etc)”

Again,self-awareness is very important as there is a strong nexus between private morality and public morality of a leader because his personality is molded by these two realities. Though, this assertion has met stiff criticism by some leaders who try to separate public morality from their private morality. Unfortunately, these two intertwined. While it’s true a leader is human like everyone else and is entitled to private life outside the public role, the reality is that the leader’s private life can have serious consequences on the larger society especially in terms of public perception or behaviour. A bigoted leader, for example, is unfit to lead a company or plural society made up of people of diverse inclinations, backgrounds and idiosyncrasies. This is because his professional sense of judgement will be affected. A bad father , would not be the ideal person to lead or speak to other about fatherhood or parenting,especially if his private life as a failed father is a matter of public knowledge.

Another key element highlighted in the book is of course ‘resilience ‘ which is about the ability of a leader to respond in a positive and constructive way to uncertainty. It is about adapting to a prompt change and capacity to bounce back after a setback. A leader is required to be resilient even in the face of towering threat and dilemma and do everything to emerge out of it. This of course led the author to introduce me to a concept previously unfamiliar to me ‘antifragility’ which is a notch higher than resilience. While resilience rests on the capacity to bounce back after a setback, antifragility has to do with not only bouncing back but how to learn to thrive in the face of adversity and uncertainty. Simply put ‘a resilient leader resists shocks and stays the same, the antifragile leader gets better”.

Equally, the author looks at the central role of innovation in propelling one to be an effective leader in times of disruptions such as the covid era. Innovative leadership lies in the ability of a leader to provide solutions that lead to improvement in the life of an organisation or society, using new ideas. Covid era is a referral case in point, with Zoom coming to the rescue of mankind at its most critical point of need. As a leader, your ability to generate breakthrough ideas that help and transform society at a time of needs and despair, speaks volume of you. Voltaire was right to say “no problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking”

The last but not the least, among the tips reeled out by the author is “empathy”. This is about a leader putting himself in workers’ or subjects’ shoes to understand their emotions and feelings while ultimately providing solutions to them. He interestingly demonstrated how a leader with no empathy may receive vitriolic backlash by his subjects or workers. The case of Adams Osiomole in 2013 was cited when he was begged by a widow illegally selling wares by the roadside, where he told her to, “Go and die”.

Although Oshiomole’s outburst stemmed from his frustration as a leader trying to enforce street trading laws in a bid to make the city better, his unguarded utterance was met with widespread condemnation. He had to organise a highly publicised reunion with the widow barely a month later to apologise.

The book reached its climax on stressing the invaluable role of ‘communication’ in engendering effective leadership. Effective leadership communication is about transferring message in such a way that it can be understood by all the parties involved. The leader should take into the audience’s level of understanding and ability, especially by enhancing the clarity and unambiguousness of the every message transmitted to them.

Without effective communication, nothing gets done in a society especially in hours of uncertainty. An example of former governor of New Yoke Mr. Andrew Cuomo was drawn especially his daily Covid-19 briefings viewed globally via CNN which were source of information, direction and vision casting without leaving his subjects second-guessing on every next move. It enabled New Yorkers to have clear vision of the impact of the Covid Pandemic on the state of New York and probably America at large.

As far as I am concerned, Borno state governor Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum is also a shining example of effective leader even in moments of fear and despair. This could be seen during his frequent state-wide broadcast during the pandemic in English, Kanuri and Hausa respectively which provided hopes, empathy, details of infection rates, estimated death toll, that way, the people of Borno were able to make informed decisions towards slowing down the spread of the virus by complying the with Covid protocols and appreciate the need to endure tough lockdown restrictions. This is the essence of leadership communication.

Finally, providing tips for building effective communication in leadership by the author is just “an icing on the cake” these are; Affirming words or communication with action(behaviour of the leader), Demonstrate and Provide stories, anecdotes that inspire and motivate action, Communicate relentlessly, Active Listening and encouragement of inputs, Clarity, and simplicity in communication.

Abdullahi Khairalla writes from Maiduguri