Stella Dimoko Korkus.com: Audacity of Hope: A Corper's Encounter with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

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Saturday, February 21, 2015

Audacity of Hope: A Corper's Encounter with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan


All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it is the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership. —John Kenneth Galbraith.




There are three kinds of people: Those you meet and instantly forget a few minutes later.  Those that give you a negative impression when you meet them, and those that leave long-lasting pleasant memories after you’ve met them.
I am Onyeizu Chinedu from Obingwa LGA of Abia State; a Harvard University trained professional and a Petroleum Engineering graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.


In late 2002, I was posted to Bayelsa State as a “Batch A” National Youth Service Corp member. After the three weeks orientation camp, I was assigned to serve in Kiama Grammar School, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area; where I taught physics and mathematics.

Of course, I had a pleasant experience teaching in the community school and hanging out with friends and other corps members most evenings under the famous Kiama bridge.

One of the most significant incidents of my youth service experience occurred outside the classroom and it started with a visit from an elderly friend of mine, Papa, who supplied fresh plantain and fish to corpers. Anytime he visited, I observed a cloudy white substance that covered a large part of his right eye.

 While we conversed, I remembered we were encouraged at the NYSC orientation camp to engage in group or personal community development projects (CDP). So the idea of surfing the net for an NGO to help the old man came to my mind, at the same time, as a corps member who had benefited from his free food, I decided to make it a personal CDP and explore any opportunity to relieve his condition.
Initially, I pondered whether my meager N11,500 monthly allowance popularly referred to as allowee will be enough to accommodate an extra investment in a humanitarian initiative and also sustain me in Kiama village. But since Papa wouldn’t hesitate to share his bunch of plantain, which is actually all that he had, I didn’t waste time to conclude that any effort to restore Papa’s sight will be worth my time, energy and allowance.





The first thing I did was to register the initiative as an NYSC CDP. Afterwards, I started researching to learn about the name and cause of his eye infection. When I was told it was cataract, I started surfing the net on weekends to either find a group, an NGO or a medical institution that will be willing to offer free eye service surgery to Papa. As luck could have it, I found a medical charity in the United Kingdom, “Sight 2020 Direct”. I wrote them an e-mail, asking whether they could come to Bayelsa for a free eye surgery camp. After several e-mail exchanges, I was able to convince the group to come.


However, I didn’t know that I had a big bureaucratic hurdle to jump with the state government ministries. For common sense sake, we are referring to a group of ophthalmologists and nurses that are coming to carry out a free, again free eye saving surgery for cataract blind persons in the state. With the assumption that government officials would be enthusiastic about the project, I reached out to the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health and the numerous special advisers to the Governor on health matters. 



To my utmost surprise, I was turned to a ping pong “Chinedu come tomorrow, Chinedu the commissioner is busy with an important delegation, Chinedu the initiative is laudable, we will consider it and call you, Chinedu do a formal application using the NYSC letterhead etc.” After three months of seeking for help and support from the government, I exhausted my resources and the resources of the corps members that volunteered to help.


At a point, my small team and I decided to organize the eye camp on our own. We informed the NYSC state office and got approval to go ahead with a humanitarian branded message and creative ideas on how to execute the project. We started making progress as more corps members volunteered to join. Soon we had opticians, medical doctors, etcin the team. We set up make shift diagnostic centers across the state, used opticians that volunteered in areas outside Yenagoa. Within weeks, we registered over 50 blind patients and conducted visual acuity tests on them.


 I remember organizing a sensitization road walk along the major streets of Yenagoa wearing a white T-shirt; we branded “Sight for all Bayelsans in 2003”. Because we had no money, we produced the road walk T-shirts out of a cardboard paper cut-out and then used diluted oil paints to write on it. However, the Bayelsa Radio and TV stations agreed to place our public announcements and jingles on air free of charge. That leverage helped us reach out to patients that reside far from Yenagoa. I hardly slept for two hours in a day. I would co-ordinate and plan project deliverables with the volunteer optometrists, follow up on other corp members that volunteered to support logistics and at the same time pursue the ministries responsible for health matters in the state. But determination and the passion to serve our nation kept us going.

When the UK- medical team landed in Port Harcourt airport on November 14, 2003, I still had no financial or logistical support from any government agency. Meanwhile patients had started contacting medical officials in Okolobiri General Hospital. Before I made the last move towards getting the state government’s attention, I said a quick prayer in my mind. I asked God to intervene; at least for the sake of the poor blind persons that have made it out of the creeks to receive sight saving surgeries. 



This final move was to visit the head of a Bayelsa youth organization. I met him and explained my ordeal with the state government ministries. He apologized and asked whether I met with the state deputy governor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. I said no; but that if any help has to come, it should be quick because the expatriate doctors were already on their way to Bayelsa from Port Harcourt International Airport.


He made some calls and asked me to quickly get into his vehicle. We drove down to the Bayelsa State Government House and we were ushered into the deputy governor’s office. We logged in our names and after a few minutes we went into Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s office.
I told him about the free eye surgery programme and my fruitless efforts to get support from the state ministries. I was specific, I asked him for three things: accommodation, security, and transportation. After listening to me, he smiled and thanked me for initiating such a laudable project in Bayelsa State. You may wait at the reception.” His voice was gentle, like he was giving me a suggestion, not an order. I left his office and waited at the reception room. I was exhausted and anxious, still praying in my heart for a miracle to happen.


As God could have it, the Chief of Staff soon appeared and relayed a message from Dr. Jonathan. “You will be provided a coaster bus, five mobile policemen and accommodation at Intercontinental Hotel, Yenagoa. In addition, they gave me the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand naira to purchase medical equipments for the project.
I couldn’t believe my ears. To me it was a modern day miracle; especially after passing through hell in the last couple of months.

The free eye surgery programme started on Tuesday, November 18, 2003, at Okolobiri General Hospital. The Sight 2020 Direct team performed a total of sixty-eight surgical operations; removing cataracts and inserting intraocular lenses. Over sixty-eight blind indigenes of Bayelsa State had their eyesight restored at the end of the programmeThe full story was published on pages 24-25 of the December 13th,2003 SUN Newspapers.

Twelve years have gone by since my youth service in Bayelsa State, but I have never stopped wondering what would have happened to that free eye surgery programme if Dr. Goodluck Jonathan hadn’t intervened. What would have happened to Papa and the other 67 blind patients?

I strongly believe that Dr. GoodluckEbele Jonathan certainly belongs to the group of individuals who give long-lasting positive memories. He addressed the major anxiety of his people at a time it was needed. Although we met for less than ten minutes, his prompt action that fateful day had a huge impact on my life and the lives of those 68 patients.

From that brief encounter with him, I learned that persistence pays off. Problems and challenges may obstruct your progress, but if you believe in yourself and your goal, you will eventually succeed. I remember waiting for hours, particularly at the ministry of health with nobody paying attention to me. I remember being referred to this or that special adviser, and being forced to use my meager corper allowance of N11, 500 (less than $100 today) to support the free eye surgery programme. Despite these initial setbacks, the breakthrough finally came.

The second thing I learned from my encounter with Dr. Jonathan is that there are government officials who genuinely care about the welfare of Nigerians and strive to improve lives. Even in the midst of corruption and apathy, you’ll find God-fearing leaders who provide immediate solutions to pressing problems.
The last thing I will like people to take away is that it’s okay to aim high. I could have donated textbooks to the students of Kiama Grammar School and registered the donation with NYSC as a personal community development initiative. But I decided to aim high and impact as many lives as possible, and thanks to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, I succeeded.

These three lessons inspired me to share my national youth service experience with Nigerian youths and with those who find it difficult to cope with government bureaucracy and the challenges of life.

A lot has been written about the upcoming February 14 presidential election, and most of the debate revolves around speculation. I already know my choice for the office of the president and it is based on personal experience, not fantasy or rumors. He might not be a perfect president; but he is a man that can listen and act;especially when approached with solutions to our national problems. However, my vote will go to the affable former deputy governor of Bayelsa State who believed in a youth corper and acted promptly to improve the health of the helpless.



Disclaimer: I will like to inform the general public that this article is self sponsored and not a product of the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organization.




68 comments:

  1. God bless you hustle sir,my dad did cataract surgery too

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    Replies
    1. Hmmm...

      When I look at him (Mr. President), how you describe him is all I see.

      It's well with Nigeria.

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    2. All this story just to make me vote GEJ? Nah...thanks but no thanks!!!

      Well, 2003 to 2015 enough enough time for anyone to have changed, more so when MONEY and POWER is involved.

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    3. Yea seriously he has a point. We all know GEJ is nice and wants everybody to enjoy the wealth of the nation but there are other ways to go about it. When you surround yourself with brilliant and intellectuals, they will/can work something out for all not sorround yourself with some thieves and selfish idiots. They'll ruin your goodwill. Perhaps ya'll should look into the story of equity bank. You can google it. They were almost down but now one of the very best banks in the wold

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  2. The summary of the literature is simple

    Vote for Gej is alright

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  3. . try and see of it wud b possible to see jona now.. The wolves around him will Neva allow dat

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  4. I know that GEJ is not the best that will happen to Nigeria but he is the best gift ever that God has given to Nigeria. He is the messiah of our day and the moses that will lead us to the promise land. A man with passion to see the best come to Nigerians. my dear president may God bless you; keep you and continue giving you wisdom needed for piloting this great nation.President m iga adi.ka chukwu gozie gi .singing as I fade towards the background;
    anyi ejebe go
    anyi ejebe go
    anyi ejebe go

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  5. thank you for coming out with this story. nigeria has never had a better president like GEJ. Its just a pity boko haram had to blind people to his good deeds. come march 28, my vote goes to GEJ

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  6. Wow....some people are so self-less. Articles like this are what I want to read not the ones filled with hate and vile.

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  7. I'm officially feeling bad cos it wz jst ceiling fans that I donated to d school during my service year in Ifoko Asari Toru Rivers State...

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    Replies
    1. I didn't donate anything during my service year, you tried.

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  8. Hmmm..very intriguing story. God bless yur hustle. I always know that Oga Jonah has a soft heart.

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  9. Wow. This is actually touching. GEJ is actually a good man, but he is surrounded by sycophants and greedy people. Since I have decided not to vote for him, and I have been chewed raw for #sai_ing Buhari# lol. Na to siddon for house get me that day na.

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  10. Hmmm..very intriguing story. God bless yur hustle. I always know that Oga Jonah has a soft heart.

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  11. I didn't read...*straight face*

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    1. The mistake the Nigerian Youths will make is to vote for Buhari, if this old men who hv refused to quit from politics were not given opportunity, i believe they would have started a revolution. is it not an abomination for a father who shld teach his children to fish is instead giving them fish. it means the growth of the child is not important to him. how can a son still be begging his father for wat he shld be in control of, its a shame. The leaders of tomorrow wants the same men that became leaders in their 30s to still lead them in their 80s, God forbid. Gej believes in the youth and he has proved by giving the youths opportunity. Nigerian youths shine your eyes.

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    2. @ Zizzy Genovese now scroll up and read!
      It's an order! Oya add some laugh lines to ur straight face...."lol

      Delete
  12. I love your article and I love even more your CD project, thanks for reaching out to those poor blind and nearly blind individuals. God bless you.
    You have your personal reason for voting for our dear president come March 28th, others too have their own reasons and convictions for voting for the candidate of their choice. I just hope and pray the process will be free, fair and peaceful. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. Wow! Well done Chinedu. If we live our lives without impacting the lives of people around us apart from our families, then we have lived in vain and wasted Jehovah's oxygen on earth.

    Any good thing we do for anyone, we shall receive the same from the Lord... Ephesians 6:8

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  14. Stella, you haven't been posting my comments on other post.
    Any "Troblem"?

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  15. Hmmmm.....nyc one. Una don hear. Vote GEJ 2015....transformation agenda *side eyes*

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  16. Awwwwwww...
    From deputy governor-Governor-Vice President-Preaident....
    Who ever calls him bad luck is a fool and who ever calls him clueless is an idiot...
    He is such an angel that was sent to Nigeria but some goats won't allow him to work...
    GEJ for continuity....
    I love my presdo....he rocks!!!!...

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  17. Hmmm! I am impressed reading this! God bless u! God bless jona! How's papa today and others! Uve bin a blessing to them!...so what free plantain prompted!

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  18. Too long. someone please summarize

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  19. Your efforts are commendable as a corper you did all of that. People would always have you to thank for their sights. And Nigerian government MDAS their bureaucracy is too much and so annoying and you get the idea that they are not even interested.
    Hi all,‎


    Please check out my blog, Wordsbykoko.blogspot.com


    Thanks :)

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  20. Kini itan yi ko wa?

    The Jonathan of 2003 is not the same Jonathan of 2015.

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  21. Well written with emotional and passion,Godluck is very gentle and humble

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  22. Beautiful, sensible ppl know Jonathan means we'll! Its jus sad that ppl so desperate for power will do anytin to sabotage him. I only wish he could be alil more firm. Anyway as for me n my household it is GEJ come march 28!

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  23. Story Story. You are just one out of 200. Not enough boy.

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  24. God bless you Chinedu Onyeizu
    Good intentions are not enough, anyone can make great impacts if they aim high, I served in Bayelsa too, beautiful place with beautiful memories

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  25. GEJ is worthy of emulation. He has done so much for this country. He deserves to continue till 2019. Only He has the guts and the goodwill to save Nigeria.

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  26. Goodluck Jonathan, humble and amazing. At least he will not sell Nigeria for a bowl of porridge.

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  27. SPONSORED POST DISCLAIMER SHOULD SUFFICE STELLA!! ABI NA CONTRACT THIS GUY WANT NI? OYA GO ASOKORO BIKO AND STOP INSULTING OUR INTELLIGENCE!

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  28. Goodluck Jonathan, humble and amazing. At least he will not sell Nigeria for a bowl of porridge.

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    Replies
    1. He's finished selling it for a bottle of Guilder.Meanwhile,don't believe anything this Judas has written.He'll soon return their money.All stupid lies.For starters,there is no intercontinental hotel in Yenagoa.

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    2. Its only a norm skull that will see an obviouse prove with date, time, location and even on the front page of a reputable news paper'the SUN' and still call it fake and cooked up story.. even my little niece of 3months cant reason like u jst did try get sense small @ 18:35

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  29. Story for the Gods... I am not moved at all.... Smh...

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    Replies
    1. U dont have to be moved..cos u are destined to remain stagnant. .while GEJ is on the move!!!

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  30. When it comes to Pre. Jonathan personal character , there is no question in my mind that he is a wonderful man and he must have done a lot of good things in his life to have gotten to where he is today. How many people that has been in power or still in power have his kind of resume ? From Dep Gov to Gov and from Vice Pre to Pre. Wow!!! He is a truly lucky and a man of uncommon blessings. Having said that about his personal character, I wish I can say same about his policy. He might be a very nice man but being nice doesn't make a good President. He is just too weak to preside over the country. We need a man like Buhari that is discipline and firm to handle Nigeria. Pre. Jonathan cannot even preside over his house by taming that wife )sorry husband) of his by the name of Patience. I don't think anyone has ever attack his oersonal character except his official character. Very God fearing and humble man but sorry folks, that doesn't put food on the table or change the economy of the country. WE NEED TO PUT SENTIMENTS APART AND FACE THE REALITY. AND THE REALITY WILL BE TO
    BE PRACTICAL AND THINK BEYOND SENTIMENTS. THINK ABOUT NOT ONLY THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE BUT ALSO THE FUTURE OF YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR GRAND CHILDREN BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION. Buhari might be tough and a nonsense man, but he will at least stop the excesses of the corruption going on I n the country and put some order and stability back into the country. Nigeria is not for the weak but for the strong. Jonathan should not listen to those sycophants around him. He has made enough money to last many generations of his family and should just let the election take place as planned and if he
    loses Gods willing, he should just pack his stuff along with his personal character and dignity intact retire back to Otuoke. There is life after being the President. Please don't jeopardize everuthing you have achieved because of greed. Power intoxicates but please let it go

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    Replies
    1. You couldn't have said it better.

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    2. U are so clueless for saying buhari is decipline and curruption free.. maybe u should start by asking him about the 2.8 billion that was missing during his time that was finally found in his western acc.. fella use am sing song * them still our money 2.8 billion* and they locked fella for 10years with the allegations that he wanted to leave naija with hard currencies to tour.who is deceiving who? Compare 2.8billion 30yrs ago (the worth). I know some people will come and say shits about this but I dey wait to answer una individually.

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  31. Guess pimples!!!! Its a testimony!! Oh God, deliver our president from frenemies so that he wil be able to do more 4 us. GEJ, take us to d land dat flow wit honey n milk!

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  32. This is so nice and I enjoyed reading it. Like you said, he might not be perfect, just like you, and like i've always told people,i'm voting for GEJ.

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  33. God bless u Chinedu 4 ur goodworks, Gej is still d best thing that cud&have eva happened in Nigeria's Presidency.
    Humble his he, a good listener ,good heart,etc.
    GEJ till 2019, he is still d best candidate for now. I will still catch more grenades for ur Continuation. GEJ4LIFE.

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  34. Hmmm...how I wish Jonathan is still the same person he was when he was the deputy governor of Bayelsa. And if per-adventure he's still the same, the people around him will never let his good works be seen, cos of their continous sabotaging. He may be a good man, but he's too weak and soft to lead Nigeria. He's doesn't want to step on toes, but he has forgotten that the secret to failure is trying to please everybody. He can't keep jeopardising the lives and future of the major populace, in attempt to make some few people feel good. Its not done.

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  35. So bcos GEJ gave a bus and meagre 200k for a eye programme makes him a good deputy govnor ?why didn't dey do something for the blind of the state if they were responsible enuf as leaders of d state? A corper had to carry their responsibilities!shame!
    Secondly,the line he said;'asking me to wait outside was more of a suggestion than an order',further prooves the extent of his inability to lead,cos a leader gives orders and instructions where needed?so what if the corper had said,'Sir I rather wait here in ur office,what will GEJ have done?maybe spread him a red carpet!#rme
    And dats how he's been handling the affairs of a whole nation with a population of 180mill pple!giving suggestions and pleas instead of orders!toying with pple's destinys.smh.its so pathetic.
    GEJ must go#
    Nigeria sai Buhari,

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    Replies
    1. oh shattap!!! how much did buhari give out while in power, wat exactly did he do to impact lives.

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    2. My dear eka joy ask dem what this buhari did o.. he was busy assignig peiple to frog jump, sentencing people to death without fair judgements(wat do expect from an aboki that enjoys the sight of a human blood), and he was busy thiefing naija money and puting In his western accounts. Abi he said he sees nothing wrong with naija schools? Abeg which of his kids is schooling in naija? Nigerians dont like good things..this is a big sign God is giving us but they have chosen to be blinded by the group of thieves shouting " change" they didnt change naija when they had the opportunity it now that they are old and close to their grave that they want to change naija.. the only fault u will hear from an APC supporter about GEJ is bokoharam and I keep asking them how many years did it take The GRATE USA (well organiged, computerised and well equipped with cameras on every nukes and crannies) to fish out and kill the almighty Osama binladin? People should be wise so they dont end up shutting their legs.

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  36. Commendable. I took a couple of lessons from this article. Persistence and Perseverance being some of them.

    I wish I could say I was this productive during my youth service. There is still time to pick up a cause and run with it.

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  37. Sentimental Bullshit. Jonathan supporters should focus on facts and not sob stories. Rubbish.

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    Replies
    1. Pls my dear what are the facts? I have my PVC already but I dont know who exactly I will vote for cos this two candidates are no for me. But I have to vote for one person cos my struggle on the queue, under hot son and my beautif slippers I lost wont be in vein o.. I have asked buhari supporters why they are voting for buhari and the answer I was getting was 'he is a elderly man with experience, but what did he do during his time? They said he brought decipline and he wasn't corrupt I said ok.. to PDP supporters they have listed he built roads schools couple with what tgis guys has posted. The one that made me changed my mind was when an elderly man asked me ' which people are coming out for presidential and I answered BUHARI and GEJ and shouted God forbid! Me sef shock I bin think say na as I call the names make am shout. To my surprise this very old man that lived during buharies time said buhari ruled nigeria like where a mad man ruled a country etc that we youths should be wise...now me confuse pass all of una.. pls dont ever abuse an old man that might even be older than your grand fathers. He has lived and Gods grace is still upon him to live more.. God bless nigeria!!

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  38. Not sure if NYSC 'allowee' as at 2002 was up to N11,500. Cuz as at 2008 it was still N7,775.

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    Replies
    1. God bless you!! I asked the same question and I asked those that did Nysc in 2007 it was 7k something. So how will 2002 be 11,500. Please this Is a sponsored post and if it isn't, be truthful abeg.

      We are not kids. Don't come out and be writing stories that touch. Yes what you did during your youth service for the people of baylesa,we applaude and may God reward you. But I sincerely feel you are writing this now for your own personal gain.

      Delete
  39. Nice one. What a good heart... Keep it up Dr Goodluck. But my vote goes to Buhari. No corruption. Zero tolerance

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  40. Mchewwwwww. Go to the street and see how people are suffering. Pele, keep hustling. I need change and the change is not GEJ.

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  41. anonymous 13:17 please go back and reread your post.... look at all the reasons why you should vote jonathan and the reasons why you should vote buhari....
    God is not a confusionist. he knows what is best for us. if only we can let him do his work by just quietly believing am sure we would be ok.
    once upon a time there was a case of God taking charge but the children of israel revolted just like you and asked for a king am sure you know how that story ended. away from being religious.
    once upon a time about 5 years ago there was a story of NDC and NPP in ghana and people like you revolted for these same reasons you stated and guess the result... thats Ghana today with very poor economy and no light, ghana has never been this bad. presently everything that was almost working in ghana is completely dead and there are daily protest in ghana today crying bad and poor governance. what other lessons do you need to learn to know that change AUTOMATIC. at a some point you need a person with these qualities to stabilise change for things to get better? Goodluck jonathan is the best thing that ever happened to nigeria, whether you see it or not and the force that has placed him on that seat is superior to what ever any human thinks until that force says otherwise too bad the man is not going anywhere.

    ReplyDelete

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