UNITY THE SOUL OF THE LIVING

ELUSIYAN TOLU’ FRANCIS

Recognizing we are in a global community can be so wonderful!

Today we might have convenience on our side but there is something to be said about having an Andy Griffith Mayberry town atmosphere

Now the past can never be undone, and the lives now gone can never come back,

But if we as people can live and love as one,

Then we can start to get the world on track.

My family, my lovers, together we are one, together we are free,

Free to become anything and everything we ever needed.

His is the paradise of unity when our souls become whole,

We’ll see the most beautiful sights

We are all equal in the fact that we are all different,

We are all the same in the fact that we will never be the same,

We are united by the reality that all colors and all cultures are distinct and individual.

We are harmonious in the reality that we are all held to this earth by the same gravity.

We don’t share blood, but we share the air that keeps us alive.

I will not blind myself and say that my black brother is not different from me,

I will not blind myself and say that my brown sister is not different from me.

But my black brother is as much as I am me.

Also my brown sister is she as much as I am me.

I will never fail to remind you that the destiny of man is to unite, not to divide.

 If you keep on dividing you end up as a collection of monkeys throwing nuts at each other out of separate trees,

Indicating that if everyone helps to hold up the sky then one person does not become tired

If we all work together to reach our mission,

There will be no more hate or pain just pure elation.

If will fulfill the goals of our vision, there will be no more walls or injustice just one united nation.

United we are divided we fall!!!

THE CIVIL TRIAL OF CHRIST: JESUS BEFORE PILATE

ELUSIYAN TOLU’ FRANCIS

Why does Pilate appear so fair-minded regarding Jesus and so determined to let him go free? Pilate not only is uncooperative with the Jewish leaders who at first expect him to essentially rubber stamp their verdict, but also declares Christ to be innocent of any wrong on three separate occasions.

The answer to this fundamental question is of various folds. First, Pilate may have been impressed by the demeanour of the saviour in his presence. The lord’s dignity, courage, confidence and calmness before Pilate were exceptional. Secondly, Pilate was not ignorant of the corruptions of the Sanhedrin. As a governor in a problematic part of the empire he had spies and informers and may have known that the case against the saviour was unjust. Further and as a follow up, his questioning of the messiah revealed to him that the Nazarene was not a threat to the Roman Empire. Thirdly, an important factor in the midst of the trial was his wife’s warning found only in Matthew 27:19, ‘Have nothing to do with that just man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him’.

To a pagan roman who was no doubt very superstitious, such a warning would have been frightening. For these reasons Pilate did virtually everything he could to avoid being the one responsible for the execution of Christ; from his repeated declaration of innocence, to his passing of the buck to Herod, and also to his desperate move to have a prisoner released to the Jews. He even chose Barabbas to place next to Jesus who was a wicked criminal, thinking the Jews would let Jesus go.

But trgedically for Pilate he gave in to the majority of Jews who wanted their messiah crucified. He handed the saviour over to crucifixion not knowing that his name would forever be tied to this despicable, cowardly deed. Pilate ultimately was not interested in truth or justice but rather with pleasing his constituents and Caesar his taskmaster.

This incident is a strong indictment against raw democracy where the voice of the majority takes precedence over the rule of law. Indeed, Pilate reminds one of modern American politicians who have no Christian religious principles or ethical absolutes whatsoever. For them, the voice of the people is the voice of God. When civil magistrates follow the mob instead of God’s law; then the state progressively becomes a terror to righteous people.

Democracy has always resulted in anarchy followed by totalitarianism; for, given the choice between anarchy and a strong man, people choose the dictator. In a Christian constitutional democracy the law of God is king. There is a genuine rule of law where only Christian, Property owners, who are the covenant heads of families can vote, serve on juries, hold political office or serve as judges. Under such rule people have great liberty from men like Pilate for the laws of scripture protect them from arbitrary, pragmatic rule where the best of intentions usually result in savage oppression.

NIGERIA: A COUNTRY OF JUSTICE OR INJUSTICE

Elusiyan Tolu’ Francis

In the present world, the image of Nigeria is that of a corrupt-ridden, disorganised, unstable, and shamelessly pretentious country. It is a failed nation that swims in the massive ocean of corruption and seems drowning for she sinks daily in malevolent acts and grows spontaneously in despicable vices. Though acclaimed as the giant of Africa, what is visible in Nigeria is only a similitude of a pygmy and a dwarf nation that continues to struggle in the pangs of poisonous situations that have continually hindered its growth. This diminutive nation has inculcated in her citizens the very plague that hinders her development, hence, everybody whether consciously or not wears that diminishing garb. We therefore become microcosms of failure and abject blindness. The truth be told! This crucial pang of dwaftness has eaten deep into the nations fabrics such that it affect everything does and that again is vividly seen in recent times of the minimalistic culture that is transmitted as the ordo rationale in our beloved country.

That minimalistic proclivity has thrown the nation into a state of identity crisis.  To borrow the words of IBIYEMI AKINWALE VICTOR ‘The Nigerian has not an identity for herself. She is lost amidst the crowd. The Nigerian is joggled in the middle of cultures and cultures stand as markers of identity. She has nothing to show forth as truly her own in the presentation of cultural phenomena. So lost, that the question of her origin is mostly reviewed by the superior races to which she is loyal. Indeed it is a drama of crisis. Nigeria has come so, not because she does not truly have her own patrimony but because she has become an insatiable voracious consumer of others dung’s. She has therefore lost everything that truly was hers’. Nigeria evolves daily as a consumer nation. She not only borrows unstoppably from other cultures but she has become addicted to depend disproportionately and excessively on others for her existence.

Nigeria literally has become an official dumping ground for others. In the odour of this offensive pong, she lost her identity. Nigeria therefore can be described as a country of paradoxes, perplexities and complexities. A faceless association of people that lack the essentialities of a country. Maybe there was never a country!

The hesitant continuous pursuit for armistice, peace, development, growth, in the country and more explosive, volatile and irascible expressions of emotions in current times have questioned the matrimonial compatibility of the many ethnic groups under the canopy ‘Nigeria’. To also borrow the words of NIYI OSUNDARE ‘the current image of Nigeria is that of a big for nothing country where nothing works the right way, a country that is finding it increasingly difficult to govern itself’

Why don’t we abandon our exercise in hypocrisy and face up to the fact that we live in a country that is rotten to its very core, a country whose near-fatal structural defects bring terrifying echoes of the year 1914 and Frederick Laggard’s imperial amalgamation? What June 12 election did was to proffer a hope, or the hint of a hope, that out country could be one, that it is, indeed, possible for a candidate potentially great country, his/her ethnic, religious, social origin notwithstanding[i].

Corruption, a household name in Nigeria is the fountain of all our troubles. It is grossly unfortunate that Nigeria continued to grow daily in this crime and no hope of redemption. For much has been preached on something related to this topic to effect a rapid metanoia[ii]. Corruption was there before colonization, for many ignorantly equate corruption to colonization. However, it heighted with the event colonization and ever since it has continued to sporadically multiply destroying all facets of progress and success in Nigeria. The characteristics with corrupt countries are political instabilities, money laundering and theft, debauchery, hunger, strife, wars, terrorism sometimes, and other catastrophes.[iii]

The scarcity of justice in Nigeria has essentially increased the threat and danger of crime and violence; assessing the fact that quality education is very expensive to get, admission into federal universities is very tough and the hardship that follows passing through the school is thoroughly exhausting, yet graduates pour out of school in thousands annually without job[iv]. Even as millions are living in poverty, small scale businesses close down by the day primarily because of high cost spent on generating electricity by the business owners; the leadership of Nigeria has practically denied the masses basic needs to survive especially in this modern age and also gradually normalized ‘pain’ on the populace, the masses are angered and the broad consequence is that, they have to survive through any means available to them, violence and crime are potential options in this situation. Many social issues and controversies in Nigeria if subjected to moral debates, it would not be difficult for anyone to conclude  that the people who own and deserve public resources are been denied of their rights which has led to increased crime and violence in the nation.

I have read so many articles, opinions and suggestions and views about the state of our nation. Regardless of the diversity of these views, everyone is or appears to be in perfect harmony with one fact: Nigeria is corrupt and in desperate need of change. Not just any change, but a positive change that will enhance the life of everyone. Change that will usher in equal opportunity for every body. Many also agreed that Nigeria has more than it would take to improve the life of the greatest number of her citizens. Everyone agreed that the ban on our nation is corruption; from corrupt citizens to corrupt government officials. Everyone unequivocally agreed that Nigeria is corrupt and needs a change.

However in all these, the answer to one fundamental question appears misdirected: who will do the changing? In what seems to be an answer, everyone echoes.... the government. Like the picture of the witnesses on that balcony the day martin luther king was shot, everyone  pointed directly to one direction. Everyone syas: the government must change the nation. Most authors, experts, even retired looters all say the government should change our country. But wait a minute, the government to change the government? Has it ever happened?

Maybe a brief history of nations and world politics will give us a hint. The great wall of segregation stood firm in America for over a hundrend years. Did the segregationist change and reinvent themselves for good? Adolf hitler in his deranged mind soaked his hand with the blood of millions. Did he suddenly change his mind and stopped? Did Idi Amin end his reign of horror because Ugandan’s complained about it? Oh! Maybe if not death, whether natural or hatched, Abacha would have broken down in tears one day and change Nigeria for good. What do we say about Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, what about Mobutu? What about the apartheid regime in South Africa? May be these people would have read a commentary on the newspaper, weep their hearts out, confess their sins, and change their reign of selfishness. No, it never happened. If history is right, there must be an energy applied to either change power or change those in power. The will of the people, or the will of nations who support freedom. Oh, and that unstoppable force of change that those in power seems to always forget. The unexpected visitor whose cold hand grips and drags a soul to the land of oblivion unexpectedly.

In the case of Nigeria, what are our options? Death cannot wipe away every corrupt government officials and every corrupt citizen; unless God decides to rain down fire and brimstone. At this very point, you may have looked at yourself and puzzled, what can i do? I wondered as well, and then suddenly, I realized that the people are the power, until i realized that there is no force on earth that can crush soul force. The will of a few might be bent, but no one can bend the will of all, unless the all allows it. Everyone and almost everything can enjoy a ride on your back until you decide to stand and not bend. Every Nigerian must stand up to say ‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

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[i] Niyi Osundare ‘June 12 and After’ in Dialogue with my country (Ibadan:bookcraft publishers,2011)p.288.

[ii] Metanoia: this is a greek word which means total conversion.

[iii] Forbes reveals this with the other corrupt countires like Somalia, Myanmar, Afghanistan,Iraq,Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, sudan, chad, Burundi, equatorial ginea....etc.

[iv] Rotimi Ogungbola ‘crime, violence, and social injustice in Nigeria’ sharareporters.com/2013/04/05 ‘retrieved 17/03/2016.

DISTINGUSH AMONG ORGANIZATION, INSTITUTION, GROUP AND ASSOCIATION

ELUSIYAN TOLU’ FRANCIS

INTRODUCTION

The concepts Organization, Institution, Group and Association have long existed ever since man exists. But it is very consequential to note that many people all over the ages seems to be confused about the difference between Organization, Institution, Group and Association, Or rather been able to distinguish among them. Some say that Organization is the same thing as Group, while institution is also the same as association or vice-versa. Many scholars down the ages have tried to define these four concepts, so has to make people understand the difference between them, and to be able to make use of them appropriately in sphere they find themselves. For the purpose of this paper we shall be elucidating and distinguishing among the concept Organization, Institution, Group and Association, what some scholars have said about them and how people can understand them better.

ORGANISATION

Gordon, et al. (1990) defined an Organization as “two or more people working together in a coordinated manner to achieve group results.” The Encyclopedia Britannica further defined it as “an arrangement of individuals or group into a coherent whole; with complex or functional interrelationship and a system of overall administration” it was Daft who says that organizations are entities that has a direct goal which are deliberately structured. Chester Barnard defined Organization as a “system of consciously coordinated activities or efforts of two or more persons” The word organization is from the Greek word Organon, which means “organ.” There are a variety of legal types of organization, including corporations, governments, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, armed forces, charities, not-for-profit corporations, partnership, cooperatives, and universities. In every organization, structure is very important that is (organization structure) because it the frame work around which the group is organized, and the underpinnings which keep the coalition functioning. All organization has a management structure that determines relationship between the different activities and the members, and subdivided and assigns roles, responsibilities, and authority to carry out different tasks. Organizations are open system; they affect and are affected by their environment

An organization can also be categorized as either closed or open systems by which a closed system does not depend on its environment; it is autonomous, enclosed and sealed off from the outside world. On the other hand, an open system must interact with the environment to survive; it both consumes resources and exports resources to the environment. Organization is communication, teamwork, response time, customer service, marketing, branding, social responsibility, attention to detail, systems, leadership, governance, strategic planning, performance measurement, information technology, product development, innovation, employee retention or supplier relationship.

GROUP

This can be define according to Robbins as two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together to achieve a particular objectives. Also, Monday et al (1990), said a group is defined as two or more people having unifying relationship, such as common goals or physical proximity.  Groups are a fundamental part of a social life. They can be very small, just two people or very large. They can be highly rewarding to their members and to society as a whole, but there are also significant problems and dangers with them. All this makes them an essential focus for research, exploration and action. In a group a set of people engage in frequent interactions. They identify with one another, they are defined by others as a group, and they share beliefs, values, and norms about areas of common interest. From this we suggest that groups are intended and organic. They are not some random experience and as a result they have three crucial characteristics:

Ø  There are parts

Ø  There is relationship between the parts

Ø  There is an organizing principle

Groups assist people, it develop people’s skill. Though, people join groups for different reasons. It may be for security, popularity, affiliation, status, self-esteem, power etc.

ASSOCIATION

Though in day to day discourses, the term institution very often used as a synonym to the word association still there exists a great deal of differences between Association, Institution, Group and organization. Human beings form association to fulfill his aims and objectives. Along with this he forms some rules, regulations and procedures which are known as Institution.

Association refers to an organized group of people having definite aims. State, flood relief association, political party is examples of association. Association lacks stability and temporary in nature. Association represents human aspects because it comprised of human beings. When a group of people organized themselves to fulfill some specific aims association is formed. Associations are concrete in nature because it has its own form. Associations are things and denote membership. Associations are formed to fulfill man’s needs and necessities. Association is an organized group, it has specific name by which it is known. Association exercises control in a formal way, and has a legal status.

INSTITUTION

Institution is often used for universities and it also a general and abstract political meaning. They are forms of procedures and way of doing things. For example college, marriage, family etc. are the example of institution. Institution is stable and permanent in nature. It refers to a social condition of conduct and behavior because; it consists of rules, regulations, laws and procedures. They are also abstract in nature because it does not have a concrete design and have no form. Institutions are mode or ways of service or ways of doing things. Men form association and live in it but he acts through institution. In other words institution gives life to association. It grows naturally and spontaneously, and also refers to organized way of doing things and a procedure of working. Institution do not have name rather it identifies itself through a symbol which may be material or non-material, it exercises control in an informal ways and do not have any legal status. It can’t sue or be sued. It is standard on its own.