Opinion

Endorsing Of Election Candidates: How Proper?

Published

11 years ago

January 19, 2015

Comrade James Anyanwu – Public Servant
In my own opinion, they are free to openly endorse any candidate of their choice. My reasons being that firstly, they are our leaders, we look up to them as our leaders and they most of us. For instance if you are my pastor, you know me very well, you know what I can do. That’s why in the church you see the bishop or Pastors assigning some positions of responsibilities to some people in the church because they who can fit into any position and do better for the growth of the church.
Likewise in the society a royal father in a local government knows most of the people whether wealthy or poor. He knows what this man can do in the community. So, if the royal fathers say a particular person is fit to occupy any position which people have been crying to see a better person to occupy. He does that because he knows the person in question. He knows his character and what he can do for the society or for the local government. That is why I say they are very free to endorse any election candidate they know can perform.
If two members of a particular church are vying for the same position, the man of God there knows the best among them. If that will bring problem in the church, he can come in as a mediator and tell the congregation that “this is the person I want,” with reasons to convince the congregation. The Bible says, they will give account of us before God. They know every one of us despite the fact that the heart is deceitful some times. But the pastor is in a position to identify who is who in the church and if he appoints the wrong person, it will affect him also in the church. Likewise in the society. If they make a mistake and support a criminal who is pretending to be a good person, may be because he is using money to influence people in the society, tomorrow that person’s leadership is going to affect the pastor, the traditional ruler and the community also. So that’s why every one of them has to put his eyes down and know the right persons to endorse. If a royal father feels strongly about a particular candidate, irrespective of the number of candidates coming out from his community, let him make it open to the society, that “this is the person I am endorsing and I want people to endorse him with me”.
No doubt his choice might not be the choice of every other person, but because his the royal father representing that community, I believe his choice may not be the choice of the people. This will not cause any crisis in the community except for those who want to forment crisis. Let me us the Benin Kingdom as an example. The kingdom is ruled by Oba. If the Oba raises his voice to say “this is my candidate” nobody in the whole Edo State changes it because they are under the Oba.
Yes I agree that the pastors and royal fathers are supposed to be neutral but they can endorse candidates and yet be neutral.

Chief Gbebee Jolly Traditional ruler
No! No! Please. Traditional ruler and religious leaders should be neutral. They should have nothing to do with the emergence of any candidate. Let us keep off from politics. Politics is a game wrong various players which does not involve us. We have to settle issues between the candidates should they arise so we don’t have to be biased. Traditional rulers should be as neutral as possible so that if there is any problem between the candidates we will be very objectives in resolving the matter and advise them properly.
So, traditional rulers should keep off from politics completely so that we can be in a position to advice them when they go wrong.

Stella Abbam – Business Woman
In my own view, traditional rulers and religious leaders are not supposed to openly identify with any election candidate. All the candidates are their subjects, children or whatever, so they should support all of them. If I am a candidate contesting for any elective position and my traditional ruler or pastor publicly declares his support for my fellow contestant or opponent in the same community or church, I will feel bad.
They are not supposed to be partial. They are supposed to stay aside and not to tell the people “please vote this person or that person”. Everybody should be free to make his or her own choice. So our traditional rulers and religious leaders should stay out of politics. They should rather play advisory roles so that the elections will be free and fair devoid of rancour and acrimony.

Chief Monday Wehere – Newspaper Publisher
You cannot remove that from the polity of Nigeria because the power of the governor is so enormous. The power of the president is so enormous. The governor will determine who becomes a first class chief. There are no longer traditional institutions being recognised by the people. Assuming the traditional institution is just on its own, being recognised by the people, it does, the ruler does not get money from the government, or even if it does not need to appeal, it would have been different. The system is so bad that some traditional rulers, before they can even get their allocation from government, they need to be loyal. They need to be loyal before they can even get recognition. So many stools are overdue for recognition, they are not being recognised because they are not loyal to the governor, so what do you expect them to do?
Assuming the system is made in such a way that the people will say, we make a representation to the government, recognise this stool and the government does it, you will find out that the traditional rulers will go back to the people and believe in the people more. But as it is now, the traditional ruler does not even need his people, all he needs is the governor. Once the governor recognises him, the people will follow him.
So, for the fact that traditional rulers depend on the system for survival, they have to support the system. So they have to be endorsing so that they can continue to eat otherwise they will die of hunger. It is not so in South Africa.
You can hardly see a South African traditional ruler come and say he is supporting a president, no. While the white people where there, they arranged it in such a neat way. But in the Nigerian system, sorry if you don’t endorse any candidate if he wins you are black listed. So it is the forces. It is not their fault.
The case is even worse with religious leaders. The problem of the society today is a reflection of what is happening in the churches. Religion has the power to stop all violence, all criminalities in the world but they are not doing what they are supposed to do. When a governor is elected, you will see him patronizing a particular church, giving them millions of naira, making them rich while others are there. So what do they do? They also do the same thing that traditional rulers are doing, otherwise one day, government can even come and revoke your c of . So until the power of the Governor is broken down to just mainly infrastructural development then there will be no problem. But now the power of the governor is very enormous. If you want to go to Jerusalem the government must approve. This is completely wrong. That should have been the work of Christian elders like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
So unless we really design the government that suits us, thing are not likely to change. The problem we are having now is that we are using a wrong government. We are following America’s system of government. We need to evolve our own system of government that will bring out our best. We need to really overhaul the system. The system of government we are using now does not favour us. When we repair that then it will be easy to repair the rest.

Anonymous – Politician
I think we have to look at the issue from two angles. Firstly, Nigerian politicians are very wise. We know that Nigerians are very religious people who take any message coming from the pulpit hook, line and sinker. Nigeria believe so much in their leaders. So the politicians are just cashing in on that to woo the electorates, knowing that if he is presented as the God’s anointed by a man of God the people will believe, accept and follow him.
Again I think politicians always do not go to religious leaders and traditional rulers mainly for endorsement. Sometime they seek their blessings. Some of us believe that one should seek God’s blessing before embarking on any venture. So that’s what some candidates intend doing by approaching the traditional rulers and religious leaders and I don’t see anything wrong with that.

Opinion

Beyond Physical Intimacy In Relationship

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2026

The Tide

Quote:”Love is not sustained by sharing the same bed or displaying affection in public; it is preserved by the daily investment of trust, understanding, empathy, and meaningful conversations. Two people can be physically close yet emotionally distant, because lasting relationships are built not merely on intimacy, but on the consistent nurturing of hearts that remain genuinely connected.”

In an age where relationships are often measured by appearances, social media posts, and outward displays of affection, many couples are discovering a painful truth: physical closeness does not always translate into emotional connection. Two people can share the same bed, hold hands in public, and even maintain a seemingly happy home, yet remain strangers to each other’s deepest thoughts, fears, dreams, and struggles. This reality is captured in the thought-provoking message that emotional intimacy goes far beyond physical intimacy. While physical attraction may ignite a relationship, emotional connection is what sustains it. When emotional bonds weaken, relationships begin to suffer quietly, often long before any visible signs of trouble emerge.

One of the greatest misconceptions about love is the belief that affection alone is enough to keep a relationship healthy. In reality, genuine love requires much more than romantic gestures and physical presence. It requires understanding, communication, trust, empathy, and the willingness to be vulnerable with one another. Without these elements, couples may coexist rather than truly connect. Many relationships today are experiencing a silent crisis. Couples are spending more time together physically but less time engaging meaningfully. Busy schedules, work pressures, financial challenges, digital distractions, and personal ambitions have reduced many conversations to routine exchanges about bills, children, responsibilities, and daily survival. The deeper conversations that nurture emotional intimacy are gradually disappearing.

As a result, many partners feel unseen, unheard, and misunderstood. They may be present in the relationship physically, but emotionally they feel isolated. This emotional distance often creates frustration, resentment, and loneliness. Ironically, a person can feel more alone in a relationship lacking emotional connection than when they are physically alone. The danger of emotional disconnection is that it rarely announces itself loudly. Unlike dramatic conflicts or public scandals, it develops gradually. It starts when couples stop sharing their feelings openly. It grows when assumptions replace communication. It deepens when one partner feels consistently ignored, dismissed, or taken for granted. Over time, the relationship loses its warmth and vitality.This explains why some marriages and relationships that appear perfect from the outside eventually collapse unexpectedly.

Observers are often shocked because they only saw the physical togetherness, not the emotional distance that had been growing for years beneath the surface. Relationships do not usually break down overnight; they deteriorate through the accumulation of unresolved emotional gaps. Building emotional intimacy, therefore, requires deliberate effort. It is not a one-time achievement but a daily commitment. Emotional connection is built through consistent acts of attention, kindness, and understanding. It develops when partners genuinely listen to each other without judgment. It grows when people feel safe enough to express their fears, disappointments, and aspirations without fear of criticism or rejection. Trust plays a crucial role in this process. Emotional intimacy flourishes in an environment where honesty is valued and confidentiality is respected. When trust is broken, emotional walls quickly rise.

Rebuilding those walls requires patience, sincerity, and a willingness to heal together. Another important ingredient is empathy. Every individual wants to feel understood. Sometimes partners do not necessarily need solutions to their problems; they simply need someone who listens and acknowledges their feelings. A relationship becomes stronger when both individuals strive to understand each other’s perspectives rather than merely defend their own positions. Quality time is equally important. In a world dominated by smartphones and endless digital distractions, couples must intentionally create moments of genuine interaction. Simple activities such as sharing a meal, taking a walk, discussing personal goals, or praying together can strengthen emotional bonds significantly.

These moments communicate an important message: “You matter to me.” Respect also forms the foundation of emotional closeness. Partners who consistently speak respectfully to each other, even during disagreements, create a healthier environment for intimacy to thrive. Emotional connection cannot flourish where there is constant criticism, ridicule, or contempt. Perhaps the most important lesson is that emotional intimacy is not built by grand gestures alone. It is cultivated through small, consistent actions repeated over time. A thoughtful conversation, a sincere apology, a word of encouragement, or a genuine expression of appreciation can have a profound impact on the health of a relationship. Ultimately, the strength of any relationship lies not merely in physical proximity but in emotional accessibility. The question is not whether two people occupy the same space, but whether they truly know and understand each other.

Lasting love is sustained when hearts remain connected even amid life’s challenges. As society continues to grapple with increasing relationship difficulties, couples must remember that emotional intimacy is not optional; it is essential. Physical attraction may bring people together, but emotional connection keeps them together. It is built daily through communication, trust, empathy, respect, and intentional effort. When emotional intimacy is nurtured, relationships become more resilient, fulfilling, and meaningful. And when two hearts remain genuinely connected, love does not merely survive—it flourishes

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi

Opinion

Yahoo Culture And Nigeria’s Moral Fabric

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2026

The Tide

Quote “A society that celebrates wealth without questioning its source gradually breeds a generation that despises hard work, glorifies fraud, and ultimately destroys itself from within.”

Nigeria’s battle against insecurity is not limited to terrorism. Another destructive force—popularly known as “Yahoo”—has steadily eaten into the nation’s moral and social fabric. Internet fraud, which has become synonymous with “Yahoo” in local parlance, poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s image, economy, and future. The activities of internet fraudsters have tarnished the country’s reputation globally. As a result, many law-abiding Nigerians abroad or seeking legitimate opportunities overseas often face suspicion and discrimination because of the notoriety created by these criminal elements. Originally, Yahoo was merely the name of an internet search engine created in 1994 by Stanford graduates Jerry Yang and David Filo. In Nigeria, however, the term has evolved into a culture driven by greed and materialism. It has become a disturbing subculture with its own language and values.

Expressions such as “mugu fall, guy man chop” celebrate the exploitation of unsuspecting victims, portraying fraud as intelligence and deceit as success. Yahoo boys are notorious for flaunting their ill-gotten wealth. They parade expensive cars, spend lavishly, and often display arrogance towards elders and society. Their extravagant lifestyle has even been blamed for rising rents and increased cost of living in cities such as Port Harcourt. Following crackdowns in Delta and Edo states, there have been concerns over the growing presence of these elements in Rivers State. What is particularly disturbing is that many of these young men and women, some as young as teenagers, have no legitimate source of income yet live in luxury. Their actions have ruined businesses, impoverished victims, and in some cases pushed people into depression, heart attacks, and suicide.

Yet, they continue to operate openly with frightening confidence. The prevalence of Yahoo culture reflects the deep moral decay in society. Sadly, some families not only tolerate the illicit activities of their children but celebrate and pray for their success. Anyone who condemns the practice often becomes the target of abuse and ridicule. A Port Harcourt-based pastor once experienced fierce backlash from Yahoo sympathisers after speaking against the menace. Nigeria’s permissive environment has unintentionally allowed the practice to flourish. Weak institutions, compromised law enforcement, and families unwilling to question the source of sudden wealth among unemployed youths have all contributed to the problem. The virtues of patience, diligence, and integrity are steadily being replaced by greed and a desperate desire for quick riches.

Perhaps one of the greatest casualties of Yahoo culture is education. The value of years of hard work and academic excellence has been diminished. Many young people now dismiss formal education as a scam, while apprenticeship and vocational training are increasingly looked down upon. The obsession with easy money has encouraged school dropout rates and undermined the culture of honest enterprise. An even more disturbing dimension is the emergence of what many describe as “Yahoo Phase II”—a phenomenon associated with ritual practices and occult beliefs. Although stories surrounding these practices are often difficult to verify, reports of ritual killings, organ harvesting, and other horrific crimes have heightened public fears. Young people seeking wealth at all costs are said to subject themselves to bizarre and inhumane instructions from self-styled spiritualists, resulting in unimaginable tragedies.

Regardless of the myths and realities surrounding these claims, one fact remains undeniable: the pursuit of wealth without values has devastating consequences. Society is increasingly witnessing cases of substance abuse, mental instability, and mysterious deaths among youths whose lives are built on criminality and desperation. Nigeria cannot afford to remain indifferent while a generation is consumed by greed and moral bankruptcy. Combating Yahoo culture requires more than arrests and prosecutions. Families must instill values of honesty and hard work. Religious leaders, educators, and community leaders must consistently promote integrity. Government institutions must strengthen the rule of law and ensure that crime does not pay. Above all, society must stop celebrating wealth without questioning its source. No nation can attain sustainable development when fraud is admired, hard work is ridiculed, and criminality is rewarded.

The future of Nigeria depends on raising a generation that values character above riches and integrity above material possessions. If this dangerous culture is left unchecked, the consequences will be severe. But if the nation collectively chooses the path of morality, accountability, and industry, there remains hope that the tide can be reversed and the country’s dignity restored.

By; Confidence Adoo

Opinion

Good Health Through Socrates’ Prescription

Published

2 weeks ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

Quote: “In an age of advanced medicine and endless health information, the greatest prescription may still be the oldest one: know yourself. True health begins when we understand our bodies, emotions, habits and choices.”

The 21st century has ushered in extraordinary progress in science, technology and medicine. Diseases that once claimed millions of lives can now be prevented or treated. Information is available instantly, while fitness applications, health trackers and modern healthcare facilities have become part of everyday life. Yet, despite these advances, many people continue to struggle with physical illnesses, emotional stress, anxiety, depression and lifestyle-related diseases. This contradiction raises an important question: Why are people becoming increasingly unhealthy in an age of remarkable medical advancement? Part of the answer may lie in the timeless wisdom associated with the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates: “Know thyself.” Though spoken more than two thousand years ago, these words remain profoundly relevant today. They remind us that genuine wellbeing begins with self-understanding.

Knowing oneself goes beyond knowing one’s name, occupation or social status. It involves understanding one’s body, emotions, habits, strengths, weaknesses and aspirations. It means recognizing how daily choices affect physical, mental and emotional health. In many respects, self-knowledge forms the foundation of healthy living. One of the greatest health challenges today is the tendency to ignore warning signs until serious problems emerge. Many people neglect symptoms such as persistent fatigue, poor sleep, chronic stress, unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity. Because they are disconnected from their bodies, they fail to recognize that their health is gradually deteriorating. A person who truly knows himself pays attention to these signals. Such an individual understands which foods nourish the body and which habits undermine health. They recognize when rest is necessary,

when stress levels become dangerous and when professional medical attention should be sought. Self-awareness encourages preventive action long before illness develops. The same principle applies to mental and emotional health. Modern life is filled with pressures. Social media often encourages unhealthy comparisons, while economic challenges, family responsibilities and workplace demands create enormous psychological burdens. Many people suffer silently because they have not learned to understand or manage their emotions. Knowing oneself means recognizing emotional triggers, vulnerabilities and sources of stress. It involves identifying feelings of anxiety, sadness, anger or frustration before they become overwhelming. Self-aware individuals are more likely to seek support, adopt healthy coping mechanisms and maintain emotional balance.

Self-knowledge also promotes discipline. Many of today’s health problems are linked to lifestyle choices. Excessive consumption of processed foods, alcohol abuse, smoking, substance misuse, physical inactivity and poor sleeping habits contribute significantly to disease burdens around the world. Most people are aware of these risks. The challenge is often not a lack of information but a lack of self-understanding. Individuals who understand their motivations, weaknesses and tendencies are better equipped to resist harmful habits and develop healthier routines. In this way, self-knowledge becomes a powerful tool for self-control. Socrates also taught that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” While philosophical in origin, this statement has practical implications for health. Examining one’s life encourages honest reflection. Are we eating wisely? Are we exercising enough?

Are we sleeping adequately? Are we managing stress effectively? Are we maintaining healthy relationships? These are not merely philosophical questions. They are essential components of a healthy lifestyle. Honest answers can reveal habits that require improvement and inspire positive change. Ironically, while technology has made health information more accessible, it has also made self-understanding more difficult. Many people spend hours following social media trends and public personalities while paying little attention to their own health. They know more about celebrities than they know about their blood pressure, sleep quality or emotional wellbeing. A healthier society will require more than modern hospitals and advanced medications. It will require citizens who actively seek to understand themselves. Preventive healthcare begins with personal awareness.

Parents, educators, religious leaders, healthcare professionals and policymakers all have important roles to play in promoting self-awareness. Young people should be taught not only academic subjects but also emotional intelligence, self-reflection, healthy lifestyle habits and personal responsibility. Ultimately, Socrates’ ancient wisdom remains as relevant today as it was centuries ago. A person who understands himself is more likely to make healthy decisions, maintain emotional stability, build resilience and seek help when necessary. The journey to good health does not begin in a hospital, pharmacy or gymnasium. It begins within. As the world continues to confront complex health challenges, perhaps the most powerful prescription requires no expensive technology or medication. It is the enduring wisdom that has stood the test of time: know yourself. In understanding ourselves, we discover one of the surest paths to healthier, happier and more meaningful lives.

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi