|
Tuesday, 02 December, 2008 01:27 am
|
| A Title Crazy Nation We Have |
|
|
| Saturday, 29 September 2007 | ||||||
     We live in society where everyone wants at least a little appendage stocked to his name, whether fake or real. People insist they must be addressed as Chief, His Excellency, Pastor, Honourable, Senator, Ambassador, Chief, Sir, Doctor, Architect, His Lordship, His Worship, Surveyor, Engineer, Barrister, Apostle, Archbishop, His royal Highness, His Majesty, Alhaji, J.P, Ovie, Oba, Olorogun, Ogbuefi, Pere, Igwe, Obi, Emir, Obong, Amanayabo. Somebody, just name it. Those most desperate to take it to the limit have become uncomfortable and unsatisfied with just being honoured as Chief. They have invented such titles as Double Chief, Triple Chief, whatever these mean. Elsewhere in the world, lawyers are simply addressed by their names even when they are tacitly known professionally as Barristers and Solicitors. But in Nigeria, if you do not place or hail the Barrister appendage before his real name when addressing a lawyer, he feels slighted. In the good old days these titles were scarce because they were awarded strictly on merit, professional excellence and good stewardship. Those were the days accomplished politicians like Zik of Africa, Awolowo and the likes of Aminu Kano meritoriously won commendable honorary and traditional titles. Today the title desperadoes have made non-sense of the award of titles, so much they (titles) now sell for naira and kobo. People who make success, rigging their way into political offices, looters of public treasury, aspiring politicians, hypocritical clergy men seeking underserved spiritual superiority and societal flops desperate to gain cheap popularity, all woo universities, Professional and other merit awarding institutions in cash and kind, to buy honorary doctorate degrees. The same way, they entice traditional rulers with money to trade all forms of traditional titles. In the nascent Christendom, the craze for titles and honorary degrees is no less resonant. Pastors, especially in the Pentecostal World, feel they are never recognized without being addressed as Doctor this or that. It is glad to find some respectable men of goodwill, credible enough to make the exception. We salute the humility of E.A. Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, and W.F. Kumuyi of the Deeper Life Bible Church. Adeboye accomplished academic excellence with a Doctorate (PHD) Degree in Applied Mathematics and was an exceptional University Senior Lecturer for many years. Deeper Life?s Kumuyi is no less academically sound. He too lectured as a PHD holder in mathematics in the University for many years. Inspite of their sound academic credentials, both men of God, worthy professors as they should be addressed, simply prefer to be addressed as Pastors. What could be more exemplary? Nigerians have made nonsense of the award of honours and titles by trading such honours to undeserving politicians and men of ill-gotten wealth whose stock in trade is perfecting the looting of the nation?s treasury. In the States, even the awards of Justice of Peace (JP) title have become commercialized. In the past, JPs were bestowed on excellent peace makers recognized for upholding justice and conflict resolution. Lay-Magistrates and men of good characters. Today, JPs are traded to money-bag politicians, praise-singers and thugs. What is the value in all these? Unfortunately, 419ners have also taken advantage of the situation, so much the strangest Toronto type honorary Doctorate Degrees are awarded for the highest bidders everywhere. This perpetual shame of a nation is only given prominence because society worships men of opulence and chains of titles. It does not matter the source of the wealth or the value of the honourary degrees or titles, people just bow to the men of titles. And what has all these titles done to us as a nation. Nothing. Absolutely nothing beneficial to our collective growth and development. With all the titles being traded two for one kobo, we are still backward, bankrupt as a nation. We are still grouped among the worst corrupt, underdeveloped, poor and unsettled in global circles. Why do we always have to concentrate on perfecting only negative and shameful standards? What is in the craze for the titles? Nothing, we say. Zik Gbemre National Coordinator (NDPC)  Quote this article on your site | Print | E-mail
Write Comment
Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6 |
||||||
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Latest Comments
| Nkem Owoh not dead - AGN |
|
I Hate The News Rumours are carried by enemies,spread by the ignorants,acept... |
| 01/12/08 19:47 More... |
| By Adeleke Awobajo |
| Tribe X Entertainment Presents Tonestar, Africa’s Newest Hip... |
|
Tonestar Links... First and foremost...thabnks to MyNaijaNews or printing this... |
| 30/11/08 14:18 More... |
| By Harry Baba |
| Project Fame: Remaining students go on probation |
|
urgent update i will like to recommend this website for the good job they ... |
| 30/11/08 12:03 More... |
| By frank |
| Pastor Mrs. Folu Adeboye's 60th birthday |
|
long life and prosperity i wish you a properous new year and all the best in Christ J... |
| 30/11/08 11:47 More... |
| By SIS RUTH |
