On 8th of May, the main news was that striking Doctors in the employment of Lagos State Government were sacked for abandoning their duties posts without leave. Of course, the web was agog with discourses centred around which party was right and which deserved to be stoned having been found guilty in the court of popular opinions. Friends argued with so much passion and vehemence and sometimes used uncouth words just to drive home their points. My Facebook wall played host to overnight amateur counsels for the plaintiff and the defendants (who were determined by spectators of the drama).
I posited then, and earlier in the day, that while I did not necessarily agree with medical doctors downing their tools of labour, I strongly refuse to condemn them since the LASG placed itself in a situation where the lives of its citizens would be used as instrument of negotiation. If there was an agreement to pay a certain amount in wages, then the government should live up to its own end of the bargain.
Back and forth; three weeks of negotiations, pleadings, threats, solidarity strikes and we have a happy ending to the whole incident. Like I said this morning, that a leader rescinds his decision on an issue does not portray him as weak. Compare the scenario to the Fuel Subsidy Removal saga we all were a part of earlier in the year and we all see what sets Babatunde Raji Fashola apart from many a-Nigerian leaders. We can only wish and pray that other governors and indeed leaders in whatever capacity learn from Fashola.
And now that the curtain falls on that series of drama in Nigeria from the Lagos Theatre, as far as the war between BRF and his sacked doctors, no victor, no vanquished!
So long folks, be kind! xoxoxo
Thursday, May 31, 2012
A New Beginning
It was during my youth service at Owo Local Government Area. I was posted to the office of the Director of Personnel Management as they were
called then (I hear the new nomenclature is Director of Local Government
Administration). Honestly, looking back, I wonder how to articulate my job description in that office. Sorry! That is not
the essence of this write up. Ola Orimoloye Esq it is who first advised me to
take up writing more seriously. He was the DPM and I had written some articles
and given to him to read and vet. Of course, I did not take him too seriously.
Me, write? What about? How and for whom? These were the questions I placed
before myself as limitations. Yes; I did that. And that was in 2005. Seven solid years ago. Of
recent, the call for me to take writing more seriously and to reach a wider
audience reached its crescendo. It cannot get louder than this; never! Family,
friends and associates have inundated my mail box and Facebook wall, all for
this purpose. Today, more than ever, the voice is loud, so loud it resonates in
my head, in this room; and no, it isn’t just one voice – it’s a cacophony of
voices all saying the same thing at different intervals – “write, Petra write;
start a blog; do something about this talent”. Okay! Okay!! Okay!!! I am not
good. I have told myself that over and again. But if you say, I should write
and blog, then I will. After all, you are the readers and judge. So, you want
me to blog, I will create one. Oh no! I remember I created a blog space on
Google since 2007, I will just activate it. Keep your part of the bargain- read
and critique; help me get better.
Forgive my manners. I was taught that when you go an
unfamiliar terrain, you introduce yourself. I am sure my teachers would winch
should they read the way I started this write up. But how come I am so
confident that with you, my dear friends, I could never do wrong? May be
because even without meeting some of you, I feel some connection already. A
string holding my words to your thoughts on this space. I know we are going to
have fun. Oops! I did it again. I am supposed to introduce myself. Okay, here we
go. I was christened “Iyabo” right on the day I was born. There was no need to
wait for the eighth day as such names were traditional names for specific
people based on some mythical or customary beliefs and traditions. Daughter of
Robert Akinti, I chose “Petra” for baptism and became known as Iyabo Petra Akinti.
I am married and my official name is Petra Akinti Onyegbule. But everywhere, I
prefer to be known and addressed simply as Petra. I am a very passionate young
lady, perhaps too passionate for my own good. I love God, I love my family and
friends; I love myself. I am driven by a passion to help babies born premature
(preemies) cope well in their fight to survive. I am ME and I have got many
flaws!
This space promises to be fun as I will be blogging about
everything and anything. Fasten your seat belts friends; this young lady is going
to take you on a cruise 37,000 feet above sea level. Let’s live and learn together. So long and be kind. xo
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