Nigeria and the 90/10 Principle

Farida A. Aminu.

Ninety per cent of life is decided by how you react. The remaining 10 per cent is what we don’t have control over. Recognized as one of Time magazine’s 25 most influential Americans, Stephen R. Covey, author of the 90/10 principle dedicated his life to demonstrating how every person can truly control their destiny with profound, yet straightforward guidance.

Stephen Covey gives an example on this and reiterates that we actually determine the whole 90%. HOW? By our reaction! This is how it works; you cannot control a red light, but you control your reaction. So basically, we can’t escape a lot of things that happens to us, but the end product is determined by our response or action.

This is how it happens: You are having breakfast with your family in the morning before work, you daughter knocks up a cup of coffee onto your perfectly ironed crisp white shirt. You totally have no control whatsoever over what just happened, but what happens after this will finally be based on your reaction.

You curse you little daughter, yell and walk out. She breaks into tears, and you blame the mother for keeping the cup too close to the edge of the table. You both argue extensively, and you storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter too busy crying to finish up her breakfast, and getting ready to head to school, she misses the school bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work.

You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive at 40 miles per hour in a 30 mph speed limit zone. After a 15-inute delay and throwing some amount of traffic fine away, you arrive at school and your daughter leaves without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you just realize you have forgotten your briefcase back at home.

Your day has started very terribly, and as it continues, it sees to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home after work, but when you arrive, you find a little wedge with your relationship with your wife and daughter. WHY? Because of how you reacted in the morning. Why exactly did you have a bad day? (a) The coffee caused it (b) Your daughter caused it (c) The police caused it? Or (d) you caused it. The answer is ‘’D’’. You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds was what caused your bad day.

Here is what could have and should have happened: Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say: ‘’’it’s okay honey, you just need to be more careful next time.’’ Grabbing a towel, you go upstairs and change your shirt. You grab your briefcase, and come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff.

Notice the big difference? They are two different scenarios. Both started the same, but both ended differently. WHY? Because of the way you reacted. You really have no control over the 10% of what happens in your life. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

Now you are aware of the 90/10 Principle. Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, unnecessary tension, trials, problems and headaches, just because of a simple reaction that was not in place. We can actually determine a lot of things that happen to us and the effects or influence that will result aftermath. Things happen, and some of the times awful incidents tense us up and turn us into slaves of our own hearts. If you let this in, then your reaction a lot of the times will be based on the state of mind you find yourself, being inclined to let out your inner hulk which can be damaging to the situation.

Our reactions have to be carefully thought about, before action. Words especially, once uttered can never be retracted, leaving either a scar or a little delight on the recipient. Staying positive is always the best way to handle even difficult and negative situations. Negative reactions will only build up more negativity in the long run and make circumstances even worse. We need to always battle with our minds when we find ourselves in an antagonized spot.

Which brings me to the crux of the matter: No doubt, Nigeria faces monumental economic, social and political challenges. But what has been the reaction of our leaders? How have they reacted to our security challenges? What are they doing about the 20 million Nigerian youth who have no jobs? What is government reaction to Boko Haram, falling standards of education, deteriorating health and decaying infrastructure?

Considering that things seem to get worse every day, it clear that Nigeria’s political leadership have never heard of the 90/10 principle, or have chosen to ignore it. This is why governance in Nigeria seems to be a knee-jerk reaction, instead of the result of considered policies and actions.

Is Nigerian all about gloom and doom?

Hidaya Harazimi.

Since the amalgamation of our nation, along our journey through time and history, destiny has led us to many, seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Many did not see a future for us as one nation, but thanks to our strong will, unity and faith we are still here today as one. True, we find ourselves in times of drastic changes; things are not as they were and will probably never be. Yet it is on the winds of uncertainty that our wings of faith must fly.

These are very trying for us as a people. There seems to be imminent collapse in the framework of our existence as a nation! From unusual bombings to baseless massacres; decline in our education systems, leaving our infant youth to feed themselves with crude education since the government has failed them; to vile politics and chronic corruption – on and on one can go, listing those things that do weaken the heart of the patriot. Yet again, one should take a second look at the state of things and realise that it is not the beginning of the end.

What destiny asks of us now is that we unite under the grief and tribulation of the surrounding events so we may rise in peace to prosperity. Some people whose patriotism is not as firm or has been shattered by recent events, think it is best we break up into different countries. NAY! Why should we break apart what God Almighty has made one? It is better for us and in the interest of future generations to remain as one nation. Many see miracles as our way of doing things but I think we cannot survive on mere probabilities, luck, or fortunate coincidence. So we should adhere to realistic voices.

Therefore, dear compatriots, our fate solely depends on us. More like simple mathematics: you work you eat you live, you desist you starve and simply seize to exist. Beloved Nigerian youth, I remind you, that you have the power, you ARE the power. Remind yourselves that this is a democracy, your government, by you and for you. So for change to occur it must start with you! You are a great people, of great wealth and great talent. Once a great philosopher used a simple metaphor to explain such an events, saying ”do you expect the armed robbers and thieves to be where there is no wealth of any kind? No, of course; they only visit those places where there is certain presence of all sorts of treasures.

Nigeria is a land of great treasure. And it is the responsibility of those who possess those treasures to protect them”. In our case it would be our responsibility to protect ourselves, our people, for more than anything, we are the treasure. Do not think that our current leaders are enjoying these times any more than you are. In fact if truly they are leaders, it ought to hurt them much more. It is clear that our local government chairmen are worried, our commissioners are worried, the governors are worried, and so are the ministers, the parliamentarians are agitated and the president, I must say I have no word for what he should be feeling.

The little we can do to help them help us help ourselves is that we give them our humble cooperation without demur. We must also help them with some words of encouragement. The little ‘Thank you’ and once in a while ‘God bless you’ go a long way in boosting the morale of such public servants. Furthermore, we should pray for them, so they become less servants of themselves and more servants of the nation. So they become less of victims of corruption and more of those who strive to rid our society of it.

An important aspect of our society and our security is the police. We are all in a way policemen and women. After all it is our responsibility to maintain security and order in our homes and surroundings. The police force only exists for little extra support. It is our civic responsibility that we help them and of course their right that they are helped in all ways.  Certainly together, we can easily curb crime in our communities, from the smallest petty thieves to the most advanced organized crime and terrorism. It is very sad to watch our beautiful, beautiful country in such a state.

Here we are in the in the west of Africa blending the tropic and savannah, uniting the Benue and the Great Niger – full of amazing views of savannah, valleys, plateau, mountains, rivers and falls. Containing every mineral gift of nature, natural gas, coal, the rocks of all kind including uranium, gold, both the black and the white! Oh how can one deny such a blessed people the right to enjoy the Almighty’s blessings? It is indeed humbling.  It is said that after every violent storm comes cool winds. That is why Nigerian youth must keep hope alive.

FINEST QOUTE

You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation 

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president Jonathan's independence day address

FELLOW NIGERIANS: Today marks 53 years of our Independence as a nation. First and foremost, I would like to say congratulations to us all. Through thick and thin, we have built this country together. Through triumphs and trials, we have developed a Nigerian identity in our own way. In truth, Nigeria is still a work in progress and we are challenged everyday to keep building in spite of the various obstacles that we face. Our strength has been in our diversity. If we look back over the years, we can say confidently that there is every reason to celebrate. Today’s Independence anniversary is unique because it is the last before we mark our centenary. On January 1, 2014, Nigeria will be 100 years old as a country, following the amalgamation of the Protectorates of Southern and Northern Nigeria in 1914. Beloved country men and women, traditionally, the Presidential address on this symbolic day has served two purposes. It has, quite rightly, been used to remind all Nigerians about our heritage. It has also allowed my predecessors and I to comment on our stewardship to the nation and make political capital out of a state occasion.   Scoring political points But this year, I will not. Because, today of all days, we should not be scoring political points. On the contrary, in this last year of the first century of our Union, we should be addressing our future as a Nation and a people! I admit that these may not be the best of times for our nation. Our people are divided in many ways – ethnically, religiously, politically, and materially. I cannot hide from this reality. I cannot hide from my own responsibilities. As we prepare to mark the centenary, therefore, today offers us an opportunity to reflect on our long journey to nationhood and the progress we have made so far. Whatever the challenges that we may face, we have every reason to be proud of our national accomplishments; we have every reason to remain proud and optimistic. Our collective national journey has witnessed great watersheds, thanks to our spirit of endurance, perseverance and sacrifice. Getting the rest of the job done with determination and courage is just a matter of time. We are Nigerians, a nation of talented people, endowed with resources, potentials, and Divine Grace. In our journey to greatness as a nation, we have built an economy that is robust and erected enduring infrastructure and institutions of democracy. Our social system is now more inclusive, open and compassionate. We are waging a steady battle against poverty, unemployment, and corruption. Our sense of community, solidarity and shared expectation is strong and capable of withstanding the present social, economic and political challenges that still confront us. In saying this, I am reminded of the comments I made a week ago to a cross-section of Nigerians in New York during the 68th United Nations General Assembly. I declare now as I declared then: we have a duty as Nigerians, whatever may be our differences or prejudices, to always put Nigeria first. Our politics should be an art of patriotic labour and selfless service to the community, particularly by the political elite who are placed in positions of great trust and responsibility. Politics has its own high moral principles which abhor distracting and divisive rhetoric. As men and women in leadership, we must continually focus on service, duty, responsibility, and the next generation. Those who are elected to govern at all levels must focus on improving the lives of our people, not selfish ambition. In the words of the American theologian and author, James Freeman Clarke, ‘a politician thinks of the next election; a statesman of the next generation’. Whether we are Muslims or Christians; rich or poor; from the North or the South; East or West; regardless of our political affiliations, this is the time for every one of us to be a statesman! My clarion call, therefore, on this special day, is that we should begin to align our political utterances and conduct solely to the nobler passions that unite our people. Politicians do not make a nation; ordinary folks do. Our nation is made great by the big and small efforts of regular citizens. These are the teachers and men and women in academics who inculcate the knowledge and wisdom that transform into tomorrow’s wealth; the traders and market women who tend to our everyday needs; the farmers whose labour feeds the nation; the artisans whose work ensures that our homesteads are well maintained; the doctors, pharmacists, nurses, accountants, bankers, engineers, and other professionals who add value to our lives; the sportsmen and women and those in the creative industry who bring honour and fame to our nation; Secure nation And the men and women of our armed forces and security services who toil day and night so that you and I may live in a safe and secure nation. It is the individual and collective heroism of these regular folks that has placed our nation on the path of greatness. Politics and politicians sometimes distract the people and create unnecessary tension. But our independence celebration is about the same people, the people of Nigeria: their industry, sense of mission and purpose, and their patience and perseverance as we navigate historical turns in our march towards prosperity and self-sufficiency. Today, I salute the people of Nigeria. My Compatriots, history has proven that nations take time to evolve. We should rejoice in our democracy because it enables us to be united by our differences, not destroyed by them. And, there is no more crucial time for us to be united than now. The threats we face may be real and immediate. But we are not alone in this regard. It is a difficult season for much of the world: industrialized or developing; rich or poor. What matters are the lessons we learn, the wisdom we demonstrate, and the victory we snatch from the jaws of likely defeat. And I tell you, more than anything else, there are lessons to learn, and every cause to be thankful. If I must cite one example, take Syria. As we all pray and work for a return to normalcy in Syria, it would be helpful for us to reflect on the fact that Syria was once a peaceful, thriving, multi-cultural nation which played host to a mosaic of religions and ethnicities. But that once idyllic nation has today become a theatre of human misery of unimaginable proportions as a result of the activities of extremist forces. Fellow Nigerians, the spectre of extremism haunts every democracy in every corner of the globe. While we celebrate our independence and good fortune, our hearts must grieve for those who have lost loved ones in numerous terrorist activities around the world. Back home, I admit being overtaken by deep feelings of grief, whenever news reached me of the appalling atrocities in some of our States, especially the North Eastern part of our country. Just two days ago, terrorist elements attacked the College of Agriculture in Gujba, YobeState killing a number of innocent students of the institution and other residents in cold blood, most of them in their sleep.  This act of barbarism is a demonstration of the extent to which evil forces will go to destabilize our nation. But I assure you, they will not succeed. My heart goes out to the families of all those who have fallen victim of these dastardly acts. Our Administration will not rest until every Nigerian is free from the oppression of terrorism. I reassure you that no cost will be spared, no idea will be ignored, and no resource will be left untapped in the quest to enable our people live without fear. On this day, I implore every Nigerian – wherever you are, whatever language you speak, whatever your religious persuasion, whichever Political Party you support -: let us join together to fight this evil of extremism. On behalf of us all, I commend our Armed Forces and security agencies for their dedication and bravery in the face of grave danger, and in the name of our collective liberty. Collective liberty Fellow Nigerians, this is a time to pull together behind the national cause: the cause of our freedom, and our future. We must rekindle the spirit of Nigeria, to ensure that every democrat and every lover of peace in this great nation continues to live in a free, peaceful, and secure Nigeria. On my part, I re-dedicate myself completely to the service of this great country. I was elected President to continue the process of building a prosperous nation where hopes, dreams and aspirations would be fulfilled. Nigerians, home and abroad, want a country they can be proud to call their own.  I am pleased to affirm that, no matter the challenges we face, we are on the right path to greatness. Our Transformation Agenda, which is part of the overall vision of making Nigeria a land of greatness, has been delivering positive and encouraging results. On May 29th this year, I presented to the nation a mid-term report of my Administration’s Transformation Agenda. This was conceived as an integrated policy aimed at reconstructing not only institutional governance for effective and efficient service delivery, but also a re-orientation of national norms and values.  The document captured the essence of our agenda in relation to core objectives and achievements. I have been consistently mindful of the weight of public expectation to find solutions to the challenges that confront us because the mandate we have is a free and sacred one. In all that I have done, I have been guided by this sacred obligation, to work hard for the good of Nigeria and to make life better for Nigerians. I want to assure everyone that Nigeria, under my leadership, will not fail. Exactly 53 years ago today, Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa urged us to ‘move with quiet dignity to our place on the world stage’. I am sure that there have been times when every one of us must have questioned how closely we have followed that injunction. But again, I can reassure you that Nigeria’s place on the world stage today is strong and safe, and it is certainly a place of dignity and respect. We must continue to build on this by remaining a nation and a people committed to ideals, the noblest humanitarian values, and the rule of law. Our Constitution is anchored ultimately on the idea of freedom and fundamental rights: freedom of expression; freedom from discrimination; freedom to vote and be voted for, and the right to human dignity. These are the core values of a true democracy. These are the values of which we must never lose sight.33. Crucial role of democratisation In my address to the UN General Assembly last week, I emphasized the crucial role of democratization in improving the fortunes not just of this country, but of our entire continent. Democratic values encourage diversity. They encourage discourse. They encourage disagreement. This is the joy of democracy. It enables us to have an opinion. And ultimately, the ballot box gives us all the opportunity to instigate change. When democracy works, it does not destroy a nation. It unites and defines it. Fellow Nigerians, our Administration has taken cognizance of suggestions over the years by well-meaning Nigerians on the need for a National Dialogue on the future of our beloved country. I am an advocate of dialogue. When there are issues that stoke tension and bring about friction, it makes perfect sense for the interested parties to come together to discuss. In demonstration of my avowed belief in the positive power of dialogue in charting the way forward, I have decided to set up an Advisory Committee whose mandate is to establish the modalities for a National Dialogue or Conference. The Committee will also design a framework and come up with recommendations as to the form, structure and mechanism of the process. The Committee will be chaired by Dr. Femi Okurounmu while Dr. Akilu Indabawa will serve as the Secretary. The full membership of the Committee will be announced shortly. I expect the Report to be ready in one month, following which the nation will be briefed on the nomenclature, structure and modalities of the Dialogue. Progress since independence Fellow Nigerians, the past 53 years have seen Nigeria evolve on an epic scale.  Our progress since independence has not always been smooth. This is, after all, our FourthRepublic; but despite all its flaws, it has lasted longer than all the previous three put together. That is progress and it proves that, our differences – real and imagined – notwithstanding, we are, in every sense, a united nation. This is no time for the harmful clutches of parochial sentiments and the politics of bitterness, impunity, arrogance and unhelpful indiscipline. We must stand as one, with absolute commitment and resolve to resist any force that threatens us and the sanctity of our union. I want to thank all our country men and women who have stood by this Administration in the midst of mounting challenges and enormous expectations. I recognize that it is not easy to keep believing in the possibilities of our greatness when our faith is constantly challenged. But let me assure you that, if we do not despair, we shall reap the reward of our labour in due season. It is my prayer that, another 53 years from now, our children and grand-children will look back on our effort and be thankful that we kept the faith. May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I wish you all a very happy 53rd Independence Celebration. I thank you.  

Quote of the day

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut, that held its ground.