Opinion

Strongman Syndrome

Published

3 years ago

September 8, 2023

A youngman who had been away from home for some years, was furious that the gate of his father’s house could not be opened for him by his youngest sister. When asked why she refused to open the gate, the young girl said: “Somebody with plenty bia-bia was talking at the gate and I could not see his mouth or recognise his face; so I was afraid and locked the gate back”. Later, when the father asked “why cultivate over-grown beards?”, the young man replied that he had to grow beards so that people would fear him. Thus the fear of beards makes the strongman! Members of the armed forces, including the police, are not meant to grow or keep beards, but those who do so, including rebel leaders, often confess that beards boost respect and ego. Bearded officers who faced Court Martial or Orderly-Room charges were more quickly exonerated and acquitted. Similarly research in the culture of masquerade indicates that wearing of masks as means of disguise provides courage and cover in the process of carrying out mischievous activities. Who would not fear “ojuju” or give in to an intruder with a mask covering his face? Your life or your money!
Bestiality in humans often demands to be expressed and exhibited from time to time, as a reminder that man is an animal afterall! In spite of pretences and everything to the contrary, there is always the atavistic tendency for man to play the beast under various guises. Ancient Roman culture, in recognition of human atavistic tendencies, provided opportunities through festive occasions, for humans to release suppressed tendencies. A man can dress like a monster, mask his face and terrorise friends and family members, during the Ides of March, but only then!Studies in defence mechanism among animals show that some species of animals, including humans, develop astonishing strategies in making fools of ferocious and dangerous predators. While the ostrich would bury its head in the sand, to block out undesirable events, other animals would lure predators into some deadly traps and decoy that would end their lives. Among humans, women are known to be clever strategists in protecting and preserving their offsprings. For this purpose, when confronted with dangers, women use their intuition and tongues as powerful weapons. A French satirist, Voltaire, would say that “women are never at a loss, because God looks after them”.
It is true to say that behind every strong or successful man, there is usually a woman. It is also true to say that behind the fall of any strong man, there’s always a woman, especially the likes of Lady Macbeth. There are always women who would urge men: “Screw your courage to the sticking-place, and we’ll not fail”. Apart from the fact that men come into incarnation with some vow to carry out some mission on earth, somewhere along the line, women are meant to join and complement the accomplishment of such task. There must always be the “ying and yang” or positive and negative components, to bring about a complete circuit.
A Russian Theosophist, Madam Helena Blavatsky (1831-91), founder of the Theosophical Society or the Great White Brotherhood, with headquarters in the Himalayan mountains, prescribed strict discipline and austere, simple lifestyle as means of developing psychic power. Such austere lifestyle includes what is known as sublimation, involving the channelling of generative power and sexual urge into psychic development. Therefore, a physically strong man may be a weak and sickly baby in the psychic sense, a weakling! On the other hand, a really strong man, in the psychic sense, is one who has developed inner capacity such that his volition, thought and words are weapons mightier than arms. Neither is such a man really strong if he is capable of acting or using psychic power arbitrarily and without discipline or self control. What we find most common are men made strong by the instrumentality of money and positions of authority, with feet of clay, and wearing masks to inspire fear in others. Like the “ojuju” which children are afraid of, physically strong men are numerous in Nigeria.
The path leading to psychic development which accounts for the really strong man of great value, is not paved with gold, neither does it provide comfort. Those who take that path must pass through integrity, diligence, loading and screening tests along the line, which cause a greater number to drop out. Integrity test has to do with character and discipline, while diligence test is meant to bring out the strength and heroism in the aspirant. Loading test will tempt you with money, worldly power, authority, wine and women, loaded for your take. How many great Nigerians can pass through those screening tests and not fall by the way side? Anyone may ask: what is the purpose or value going for psychic rather than money or macho power? It is true to say that individuals do not get what they do not deserve, neither would they keep and sustain what they get through fraud or force. Similarly, nations get the kind of government and leaders which they deserve. Neither would they sustain what they fake rather than make through integrity and diligence. Obtuse humanity would rarely know why pearl is not meant for swine, neither are a few people being groomed for future tasks of a transformed humanity, exposed to a madding crowd!
It is quite sad, though necessary, that when a nation is getting close to a point of transformation, the worst excrescences of its ills and guilts get to a boiling point, prior to a transition to an era of sanity. It is however safe and pleasant that a few people being groomed to play vital roles in the new era of sanity remain protected by being blind folded and kept from vicious attacks of a madding crowd. In the transition process some stability is provided by allowing hustlers, pretenders to the throne and strong men to play around and prepare the ground for the new era. The process of amalgamation and transition demands that the old and the new must not present too wide a gap, that would constitute a threat to a smooth change.
Drama playing out in Nigeria in the past 50 years or thereabout can be best understood by individuals who are endowed with hypodermic vision. Similarly, a clear appreciation of global events would also help better, rather than look at the Nigerian situation in isolation. To knowing persons, bitterness, despondence or flexing of muscles would be unnecessary; rather, what can be sad is the obtuseness and myopia of a majority of humans. Neither is anyone allowed to see what his capacity cannot accommodate.
In politics of stomach infrastructure, the strongman syndrome represents a stage of transition, prior to the era of sanity. The strongman with feet of clay, makes demands and commands allegiance by the force of might and money; while the strong man with psychic might builds and transforms by the power of volition. Neither can a nation not mature enough for it, get such leaders whose power lies within, rather than macho might. Where Macho strong men rule, political institutions remain weak and corruption reigns.
Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.

Opinion

Agony In Ivory Tower

Published

2 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

Quote: A university that tolerates missing scripts, result manipulation and ‘sorting’ is not merely failing students—it is quietly destroying the moral foundation of education itself.”

The sad cases of missing scripts, compulsory Sorting, inputting of wrong results and other obnoxious practices in some public universities, leave much to be desired. One cannot imagine how a student will be compelled to suffer consequences of the flagrant negligence of a Head of Department, a lecturer, Department staff or an ICT staff.Many academic and non academic staff in several public universities seem to be performing far below standard, thus unproductive to the university system. The unacceptable cases of sorting, missing scripts, missing results, inputting of wrong grades to students, should not be mentioned in a university, not even in any academic community. This is because people who are employed to work in various positions should have cognate work experience and unquestionable competence. They should not be seen as certificate welding illiterates but people who have been proven to be worthy in learning and character, diligent and competent to carry out assigned responsibilities with minimal or no supervision.

The university as a citadel of learning should boast of men of integrity, people who are repositories of applied knowledge and competence to drive the much desired holistic development in a nation that functions on quality teaching and learning. A situation where a student having gone through the crucibles of learning and written a prescribed semester examination or class-based evaluation test, is told that his or her script is missing or that he or she did not participate in that academic exercise, or must sort to pass, is an unpardonable error and a height of callousness. In fact some lecturers and staff of Departments are using the seeming systemic defect (which is their architecture) as an opportunity to extort students. Sometimes it is discovered much to students chagrin that the supposed missing script was later discovered when a ransom was paid.

Since a lecturer, or Head of Department has in their disposal both Yam and the knife and determines who takes what (if they wish to give without strings), students have no alternative but to submit to their importunate demands in order to graduate at record time.Such practices should be unheard of in an institution that should be a vanguard of moral and ethical values and conduct. What people learn in school constitute their behavioural patterns in the society. Where the school as an agency of socialisation cannot drive positive change first in its immediate environment, then the objective of education as a bedrock for the development of society, is inevitably compromised and counter-productive. The German Reformer, Dr. Martins Luther was quoted as saying, “I advise parents not to put their wards or children in any school where the Bible is not being used as a rule of life because such institutions will unnecessarily be corrupt”.

Gleaning from Luther’s sentiment one can deduce that the lack of respect and regard for values as well as the absence of the fear of God is the greatest undoing of most public schools. Another major challenge is that lack of Information, Communication and Technology literacy or compliance on the part of some lecturers and heads of department, may have informed the decision to give students’ scripts to secretaries to compile and input students results thereby making the secretaries the determinants of students’ fate. It is not saying a new thing that some of the secretaries in the process of compiling results have inputted wrong results, omitted names or down graded some students or given unmerited grades to others.Society today is ICT-driven and ICT-literacy enhances efficiency, speed and a reasonable degree of accuracy if the person behind the computer is level headed, articulate, competent, alive to responsibilities and is aware that negligence on his or her part is not only tantamount to a disservice to the university but to the students who may not graduate at record time because of his or her (computer operator’s) gross ineptitude or carelessness.

The ICT era makes the carrying of hard copy of results obsolete as lecturers through the Heads of Department can log on to the central server of the Exams and Records (if any) or ICT unit and input students’ results directly. By so doing the incessant cases where result on spread sheet is different from the one published online, more often than not, caused by abject negligence, will be avoided. The process will also end the intermediary services of some staff in the universities’ Information, Communication and Technology Department which has become a money spinner-a lucrative source of income to many of them. In fact some ICT staff reserved the power to award grades to students depending on students’ degree of compliance to terms and conditions. They can dubiously make or unmake a student. The university community should be considered too lofty to have careless, negligent, immoral and academic or professionally deficient people as academic or non-academic staff.

The Governing Councils and Senates of universities should be proactive in addressing the menace of missing Script, inputting of wrong results and sorting. This is necessary to end the slogan “Education is scam” so the system can produce quality students who are truly found worthy in learning and in character by operators who exemplify diligence, moral and ethical values. The much-needed reform must begin within the institutions themselves, because the future of any society is shaped in its classrooms.

By: Igbiki Benibo

Opinion

Strength of Emotional Equality

Published

2 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

Quote: “Love thrives not when one gives more, but when both give fully — not in competition, not in performance, but in partnership.”

In every healthy relationship, there exists an invisible balance. It is not measured in grand gestures, expensive gifts, or public displays of affection. It is measured in something quieter and far more significant: emotional equality. When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, love becomes less of a negotiation and more of a partnership. Emotional equality does not mean both individuals express love in identical ways. It does not require matching personalities or mirroring temperaments. Rather, it speaks to balance — a shared willingness to invest, to communicate, to be vulnerable, and to grow. It is the difference between two people walking side by side and one person constantly trying to catch up.

In many relationships, imbalance begins subtly. One partner initiates most conversations. One apologizes more frequently. One carries the emotional labor — remembering important dates, managing conflicts, sensing tension, and attempting reconciliation. Over time, this uneven distribution of emotional effort breeds exhaustion. The partner who gives more begins to feel unseen. The one who gives less may grow comfortable in emotional passivity. Love, in such a space, starts to tilt — slowly at first, then significantly. Resentment can creep in quietly, disguising itself as patience. Silence may replace honest dialogue. What once felt effortless begins to feel heavy.

When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, responsibility is shared. Both people are accountable for the health of the relationship. If conflict arises, neither hides behind silence nor dominates through control. Instead, they engage. They listen. They speak honestly without weaponizing words. Equality creates safety — and safety strengthens intimacy. It allows both individuals to express needs without fear of ridicule or rejection. One of the most overlooked aspects of emotional equality is vulnerability. True connection requires courage. It demands that both partners risk being misunderstood. But when vulnerability is one-sided, it becomes exposure rather than intimacy. If one person consistently opens up while the other remains guarded, trust cannot fully deepen.

Equality ensures that emotional risks are mutual. Where one shares fears, the other shares too. Where one admits weakness, the other responds with openness rather than judgment. In such a space, authenticity flourishes. Another crucial element is validation. In emotionally balanced relationships, both partners feel heard. Their concerns are not dismissed as “overreactions.” Their feelings are not minimized or compared. When couples operate on equal emotional ground, they acknowledge each other’s experiences as legitimate. They may not always agree, but they always respect. Validation does not mean surrendering one’s viewpoint; it means recognizing that another’s emotional reality matters.

Equality also protects individuality. Contrary to popular belief, healthy love does not erase personal identity — it enhances it. When both partners are emotionally secure, they do not feel threatened by each other’s independence. Personal ambitions are encouraged, not resented. Friendships are respected, not restricted. Growth is celebrated, not feared. Standing on equal emotional grounds means neither person shrinks to accommodate the other. Instead, both expand, knowing the relationship is strong enough to hold their evolution. Power dynamics often expose emotional inequality. When one partner controls communication — appearing and disappearing unpredictably, withholding affection, or using silence as leverage — imbalance emerges.

Emotional dominance weakens intimacy. It creates anxiety instead of assurance. But when couples share emotional power, there is consistency. There is clarity. There is no need to decode affection because it is offered freely and intentionally. It is important to understand that equality does not imply perfection. Couples will still disagree. They will face stress, miscommunication, and moments of frustration. However, when emotional footing is equal, conflict does not threaten the foundation. Instead, it becomes an opportunity for understanding. Both partners approach challenges as teammates rather than opponents. They choose resolution over ego and repair over pride.

Time often reveals whether emotional equality truly exists. In the early stages of love, intensity can disguise imbalance. Enthusiasm feels mutual. Effort appears equal. But as routine settles in and novelty fades, the structure of the relationship becomes clearer. Who still initiates? Who still invests? Who still shows up consistently? Sustainable love requires sustained balance. It is built not merely on attraction, but on deliberate reciprocity. Standing on equal emotional grounds requires intentionality. It demands honest conversations about needs and expectations. It requires both partners to examine their habits — whether they withdraw during tension, avoid accountability, or rely on the other to carry the emotional weight. Emotional maturity is not about avoiding conflict; it is about handling it responsibly and returning, again and again, to shared ground.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of emotional equality is peace. There is no constant anxiety about where one stands. No guessing games about commitment. No fear that affection may suddenly disappear. Instead, there is stability. There is reassurance. There is mutual effort. In a world where relationships often blur the lines between attention and commitment, equality offers clarity. It reminds us that love should not feel like competition or performance. It should feel like partnership. When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, they build something resilient. They build trust that does not fracture easily. They build respect that does not depend on mood. They build a connection rooted not only in passion but in balance. And in that balance, love finds its strength — not in who gives more, but in how both give fully.

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi

Opinion

NDDC: Time To Illuminate Homes

Published

1 week ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Quote:“Twenty-five years on, the Niger Delta cannot celebrate illuminated streets while families sit in darkness. Development must begin inside the home — where children study, businesses grow, and lives are built — before it glows on the roadside.”

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was established in 2000 with a clear and urgent mandate: to facilitate the rapid, even, and sustainable development of Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta region. The creation of the Commission followed decades of agitation over environmental degradation, infrastructural neglect, and socio-economic marginalization in the region. Its core mandate included the development of roads, bridges, electricity, water supply, health facilities, education, housing, environmental remediation, and economic empowerment initiatives. At inception, expectations were high that the Commission would transform the Niger Delta into a model of regional development. Over the years, the NDDC has indeed implemented numerous projects across the nine Niger Delta states. Roads have been constructed and rehabilitated in several communities, easing transportation challenges.

Schools have been renovated, and new classroom blocks have been provided in underserved areas. Health centres have been built or upgraded, improving access to primary healthcare services. The Commission has also awarded scholarships to students, including foreign postgraduate scholarships, empowering thousands of youths academically.Skills acquisition and youth empowerment programmes have helped many young people gain vocational competencies.Through various interventions, the NDDC has contributed to job creation and local economic stimulation.Solar-powered street lighting projects have been widely implemented in urban and semi-urban communities. These streetlights have improved visibility at night and contributed to enhanced security in some areas. Markets, highways, and public spaces illuminated by solar lights have experienced extended business hours.

For these efforts, the Commission deserves acknowledgment and commendation. However, development must always align with foundational mandates and pressing grassroots realities. A growing concern among residents is that while streets are illuminated, many homes remain in darkness. Rural electrification and household power access remain inconsistent and inadequate across large parts of the region. In riverine and remote communities, families still rely on generators, kerosene lamps, or complete darkness after sunset. The irony of brightly lit streets juxtaposed with powerless homes cannot be ignored. Electricity at the household level directly impacts education, health, and small-scale enterprise. Students cannot effectively study at night without reliable indoor lighting.Families cannot preserve food or power essential appliances without stable electricity.

Micro and small businesses struggle to grow without dependable energy access. While street lighting enhances public aesthetics and security, it does not substitute for domestic electrification. The proverb “charity begins at home” is especially relevant in this context. True community development must first empower households before beautifying public spaces. The Commission’s original mandate emphasizes integrated and sustainable development, not isolated infrastructural gestures. Balanced development requires that energy interventions prioritize homes alongside streets. Solar technology presents a unique opportunity for decentralized household electrification in off-grid communities. Extending solar solutions to individual homes would have a transformative social impact. Home-based solar systems could power lights, fans, small appliances, and communication devices.

Such interventions would reduce poverty, improve living standards, and stimulate grassroots productivity. By broadening its energy focus, the Commission would better reflect the spirit of its founding legislation. This is not a call to abandon street lighting projects, which have their merits. Rather, it is an appeal for balance, inclusivity, and alignment with core developmental objectives. Strategic planning should ensure that rural electrification and household access form a central pillar of ongoing interventions. Community engagement and needs assessments can help determine priority areas for household solar deployment. Twenty-five years after its establishment, the NDDC stands at a reflective moment in its institutional journey. The people of the Niger Delta say: thank you for the efforts so far—but not very much—because true appreciation will come when development begins at home and radiates outward, not merely when streets shine while houses remain in darkness.

By: King Onunwor