News
Food for Living: See the Big Picture
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
The future means many things to many people.
As a doctor responding to questions about the cure and future of the COVID -19 pandemic, your response will definitely be different and maybe uncertain. As an undergraduate, graduate, or a Ph.D student, your response will also be different when asked about your plans upon graduation. What of a business man/woman, a teenager, a parent, an entrepreneur, an organization, association, politician looking at the picture with a lens of the eye about what the future holds? If you’ll agree with me, your response to these questions will definitely mean different things to you.
If I may ask, what does the future mean to you? Depending on how you see the future, one certain thing is certain; you can create the future you want to see. During the course of this article, we shall be discussing the future from a transformational mindset approach. According to Abraham Lincoln, “the best way to predict the future is to create it”. Abraham Lincoln was literally saying that the way you make your bed is the exact way you’ll lie on it. Alternatively, you can say, your life is “technically” in your hands.
Ben Carson advised us in his book “Think Big” to always see the big picture about life as opposed to thinking like a mediocre. The journey of succeeding has many roads. During the course of the journey, you’ll experience many roadblocks, bumps, green light and red light. Despite all these challenges, one thing is almost certain, you’ll get to your destination if you play by the rules and do what you are supposed to do in addition to having your creator’s presence.
I used this illustration to show how challenging life can be as an individual, corporate organization, or even public sector entity desirous of bringing change to the sector.
It is generally expected that you will face challenges as an entrepreneur or business person trying to introduce or market your product. It is generally expected that as a single male/female believing your creator for the right partner, you will feel a certain way, especially when you feel you are mature for marriage; it is expected of a student to feel disappointed after investing time and resources to prepare for an examination, but fail. It is also expected for a Job seeker to feel frustrated when he receives rejection letters from prospective employers. The list can be literally endless.
If I may ask again, what’s the big picture you see ahead despite the circumstance you are currently facing? Do you see light at the end of the tunnel? If you’re determined to succeed in life, you must see the big picture. Your present situation does not determine how your life will end, regardless. It is normal to feel bad. It is okay to cry. It is okay to feel disappointed. It is okay to be vulnerable. It is normal to fail, but one thing that is not normal is for one to live in regret. Be rest assured that everything happens for a reason. Wisdom makes us understand that your eyes and feet are forward looking for a reason. Does that tell you something? Whatever has happened to you is an experience, don’t allow it to define you. Move on! They are all part of the learning curve. Remember, if you don’t have experience, it will be hard to tell your story. People resonate more with stories than action.
As a mentee, you may have reached out to mentors, potential investors, friends or even family members to support your business, but all effort seems to be hitting the rock, please hang in there. Don’t feel too dejected to the point of giving up when people reject your product or fail to support you; please don’t take it personal, or ever think that humanity is not helpful or kind. Remember, nobody owes you anything. Everyone has his/her own issues. For instance, someone might not feel attracted to your product, or might not be in the right position to support you, it can even be that he/she has another cause he’s passionate about. It is also possible that corporate originations might have exhausted their corporate social responsibility incentives by the time you reach out to them.
Great minds like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Tony Elumelu, Femi Otedola, Dr. Dele Momodu, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Nelson Mandela, Henry Ukazu among others are always concerned about the big picture. They have been able to rise from ground zero to shape the world with their products and thought-provoking ideas.
It is important to note that great minds have eagle eyes and are capable of rising above others and elevating their game. Seeing the big picture entails preparing for the big future you desire. Isn’t is true that words not backed by action are dead. As you may know, nothing good comes easy, you must be prepared to meet unforeseen challenges and be prepared to fight for the cause you truly believe in, and believe the universe will find favour in it and complement your work.
Your desire for success should always outweigh your fear for failure. Today, I charge you to think big, don’t settle for less, aim for nothing but the best in all you do and if you get the second best manage it but don’t aim for whatever is available. Raise your benchmark high like a lady with high moral standards, strong enough to attract a marriage partner.
What’s the big picture you are dreaming about, and hoping to achieve and what are you putting in place to bring it to reality?
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the author of the acclaimed book Design Your Destiny – Actualizing Your Birthright To Success and President of gloemi.com. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
The Defence Headquarters has said the recent kidnap incident in Oyo State was carried out by terrorists displaced from other parts of the country following intensified military operations.
The military high command stated this on Thursday while reacting to what it described as “mischievous and misleading publications” surrounding comments credited to the Defence Headquarters on the classification of terrorists and criminal elements operating in the South-West.
In a statement signed by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Michael Onoja, the DHQ said the attackers behind the Oyo abduction were members of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad terrorist group displaced by sustained military offensives across the country.
“The recent incidence of kidnap in Oyo State was clearly perpetrated by terrorists of the JAS Group that have been dislodged from other parts of the country due to high-intensity operations being conducted all over,” the statement read.
The DHQ denied reports suggesting it referred to terrorists operating in the South-West as ordinary criminals, insisting that such interpretations were inaccurate and misleading.
“It is, therefore, inaccurate and misleading to suggest that the Defence Headquarters, at any point, referred to vicious and violent terrorists as criminals,” Onoja stated.
The military said its earlier clarification on security developments in the South-West was aimed at providing an intelligence-based context to avoid misinformation and unnecessary panic among residents.
It also stressed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remained committed to supporting constitutional governance and protecting democratic institutions.
“At no time did the Defence Headquarters undermine the authority of any democratically elected leader or seek to diminish the gravity of the heinous crime committed against innocent citizens by terrorist elements,” the statement added.
The DHQ further disclosed that troops remained actively deployed across affected areas in collaboration with other security agencies and local stakeholders to dismantle terrorist and criminal networks threatening national peace and stability.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain resolute in dismantling all criminal and terrorist networks threatening the peace, stability and unity of the nation,” the statement said.
The clarification followed recent attacks on communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where armed terrorists abducted pupils, teachers and other residents from Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle.
The incident also left several persons dead, while one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later killed after a video linked to the attack surfaced online.
Fresh facts have emerged over the abduction of school pupils and the killing of two teachers alongside an okada rider in Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as investigators uncovered how suspected informants allegedly maintained communication with the abductors through telephone conversations.
The Oyo State Police Command disclosed that investigators tracked the suspects through calls believed to have been exchanged with the bandits during and after the operation.
According to the police, the conversations allegedly contained details on how the criminals could successfully navigate routes within the National Park to hidden locations used as safe havens.
The breakthrough led to the arrest of no fewer than six suspects, who are currently in police custody and assisting security agencies with ongoing investigations into the gruesome incident.
Confirming the development on Tuesday morning, the State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the suspects were apprehended during coordinated security operations across different locations in the State.
“We have six suspects in custody and they are assisting the investigation,” Ayanlade said.
He added that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly served as informants to the bandits responsible for the abduction and killings.
“Our findings showed that some of the suspects were in contact with the abductors through telephone conversations and investigators are analysing those communications as part of efforts to uncover the full network behind the crime,” he stated.
Ayanlade further disclosed that security agencies uncovered discussions allegedly centred on routes through the National Park and locations believed to have been used by the criminals as hideouts.
“The conversations contained information on how the abductors could move through the National Park undetected and reach safe locations,” he added.
The police spokesman explained that the suspects were arrested during joint operations involving the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Agro-Rangers.
“The arrests were made possible through intelligence-driven operations carried out by joint security operatives working collaboratively to dismantle the criminal network,” Ayanlade said.
He assured residents that security agencies were intensifying efforts to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate linked to the attack.
“We are committed to ensuring that every individual connected to this criminal act is identified, arrested and brought to justice. Investigations are still ongoing,” he said.
The incident, which claimed the lives of two teachers and an Okada rider while school pupils were abducted last Friday, has continued to generate concern among residents of the affected communities and neighbouring areas in Oyo State.
Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has confirmed that one of the teachers abducted during the recent terrorist attack on schools in Oriire LGA of the state, has been killed in captivity.
Speaking on Sunday during a press briefing on the incident, Makinde described the situation as “difficult and challenging”, saying the state government is intensifying efforts to rescue the remaining victims.
On Friday, gunmen riding motorcycles invaded communities within the Ahoro-Esiele/Yawota axis of Oriire, Ogbomoso, and abducted students and staff members of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, L.A. Primary School, Esiele, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School.
The attack left an assistant headmaster, identified as Joel Adesiyan, and a commercial motorcyclist dead.
According to Makinde, a video received by the state government confirmed the killing of one of the abductees identified as a mathematics teacher.
“What we know is that seven teachers in all were abducted and unfortunately, we got a video this morning that one of the teachers, the maths teacher, was killed by the terrorists this morning,” Makinde said.
Authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of schoolchildren abducted.
In the aftermath of the incident, videos recorded from captivity began circulating on social media, showing abducted teachers pleading with the government and Nigerians for urgent intervention.
One of the viral videos featured Rachael Alamu, principal of Community High School, Esiele, appealing to the government to help secure the release of the victims before they are killed.
Makinde detailed that six persons had been arrested within the affected locality over alleged links to the attackers, and that another three “persons of interest” were also arrested in connection with the attack.
“The information available from the Commissioner of Police is that six individuals have been arrested within the locality. Some of them were believed to perhaps be informants to people running logistics for the terrorists,” he said.
Following the attack, the Oyo Police Command announced the commencement of an intensive manhunt and rescue operation involving multiple security agencies.
Makinde said personnel of the police, military, the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun, and local hunters were mobilised immediately to pursue the attackers.
The governor said, however, some Amotekun operatives sustained injuries after encountering improvised explosive devices planted by the terrorists during the operation.
“After the incident, Amotekun, the police, military and hunters were mobilised to go after the terrorists and it was along that line that they ran into IEDs and some of the Amotekun operatives were wounded,” he said.
Sources told TheCable that the terrorists had initially opened fire on the security operatives who were approaching the Old Oyo national park on motorcycles, causing them to flee.
“When the shooting subsided, the operatives decided to go for their motorbikes. Unfortunately, a dynamite exploded against one Amotekun corps member and he was wounded. He has been taken to the hospital for medical attention,” a source said.
“Apart from air raid, the Old Oyo National Park Area can’t be easily accessed through infantry. It’s a long distance from the Oowe River which forms a natural landmark boundary for the park. Motorcycles would have to be used for the journey, but the noise of the approaching motorcycles alerted the terrorists.”
Makinde linked the attack to increasing pressure being mounted on terrorist groups in the north-east, warning that fleeing armed groups are moving into other parts of the country, including the south-west.
“With the pressure on the terrorists in the north-east theatre, they will keep moving southwards. Today, the governor of Kwara state has spoken to me. But the problem we have is that when you have pressure in one place, we must be prepared on this side to either repel or neutralise any terrorists fleeing the pressure,” he said.
The governor harped on the need for sustained government and security presence in vulnerable communities, warning that temporary military operations without long-term security measures could leave residents exposed to future attacks.
“If all we can do is clearance operations for a week or two and leave that place, the terrorists will come back and the people will become vulnerable,” he said.
He assured residents that the state government would be deploying military and non-military strategies to secure the release of the abducted victims and tackle the growing security threat.
“We have decided that we will adopt not just the kinetic approach. We have not taken this lightly,” he added.
Makinde also appealed for calm and patience from residents, acknowledging the complexity of the operation.
“I want to appeal to everyone that we are doing everything within our power to ensure that this would be resolved quickly and we bring our children back safely, but it is a very difficult and challenging situation so there may not be quick fixes,” he added.
Source: TheCable
