News

Adding Value: Journey to Greatness by Henry Ukazu

Published

2 years ago

June 24, 2023

Eric

Dear Destiny Friends,

Action is the foundational key to all success – Pablo Picasso

Every one of us wants to be great, but the question many of us haven’t answered is, are you ready to pay the price for success?

Success on its own comes with a price tag depending on what you are willing to do, and the price you are willing to pay. Your journey might be a little bit different and relative.

The challenge most people have in life is that they are not willing to go through the organic process of gaining credibility which entails having theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject matter in addition to leaving their comfort zone.

According to a great philosopher, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step in the right direction. When you miss the foundation, you might be a victim of defective success. It should be noted that success means different things to different people. To some people, success means having a home, earning degrees (Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D etc); while to others, it might be getting married, having good children, being rich/wealthy, becoming a governor, president or attaining the highest level of their professional experience. However, the highest and best form of success is personal success.

The question we need to ask ourselves is, how do we attain success? Alternatively, we can say, what’s required to be successful? I think the first question we need to ask is, what do I want? When you answer that question, the next stage will be preparation. This is where the bulk of the work comes in.

It is sad to note that many people just want to be popular without minding whether the route is good or bad. In the same way, many people are just concerned about succeeding in their craft without minding what it takes provided they get what they want. They are not concerned about the ingredients of success. What they fail to understand is that genuine success is organic.

In the journey of life, we all have dreams, passions, visions, and goals we would like to achieve, but sometimes we don’t have the right structure or platform to navigate through the process. When you have these right dreams and vision, but lack the right direction, you might hit the rock.

According to Mary kay Ash, “Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve

The journey of success is a long way to freedom. It entails networking with the right people, having the right mentors, mentees, associates experiencing failures and gaining theoretical and practical knowledge of the relevant information involved in addition to leaving your comfort zones amongst other variable factors. As you journey through this process, some people may laugh at you, but trust me, this is normal, especially when they don’t know what you are working on.

It’s sad to see that many people who want to succeed in life are scared of taking the bull by the horn, by taking reasonable and strategic risks as well as investing in their future. But the interesting thing is that great minds are willing to do what shallow minds are not willing to do. These great minds do not wish for an easy life because they know they can’t attain true success on a platter of gold. They must earn it and work for it. These successful people are concerned about action; they continue to move despite mistakes, challenges, disappointments, and any setbacks they may have.

Those who have truly embarked on this success journey know fully well that their success is not measured by what they were able to accomplish, but by the opposition they were able to overcome due to their courage. For you to truly succeed, you must love what you are doing. You can make money without loving what you do, but you can’t truly succeed without loving what you do.

It’s sad to note that most people are scared of making a move. Let me tell you, every day is an opportunity for you to make an impact. Go out and relate with people, ask questions; the worst you will get is a no. Even if you are rejected, you’ll know you have tried. Even the Bible book of life said, ask, you shall receive, seek, you will find, knock, and the door shall be opened unto you.

Be informed, no great thing ever happened without imagination. Elon Musk, Bill Gates, President Barack Obama, Mark Zukerberg, Michael Adenuga, Tony Elumelu and Henry Ukazu all dreamt of doing things. They didn’t just wish; they activated their interest.

Dear friend, you are carrying a big billion-dollar vision in your mind, don’t allow it die with you, the world is cheering for you. If you are determined to embark on your journey, you must be bold and dare to go the uncommon and less traveled path. You might be ignored, laughed at, and humiliated; that’s part of the price you have to pay for what you desire. When you get the inspiration in your spirit, write it down and spur it into action. Every one of us has a mission on earth. We all had a purpose which will be fulfilled on earth.

In conclusion, decide today what you’ll want the world to remember you for and dare to embark on the journey. Be advised, the process and journey might not be easy, but with your mentors and determination, you’ll succeed. I look forward to seeing you at the top.

Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate and creative writer Design Your Destiny and Unleash Your Destiny. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com

News

Sack Wike Now, Niger Delta Youths Tell Tinubu

Published

2 days ago

March 15, 2025

Eric

The youth chapter of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Nyesom Wike, to retract his publicly disparaging remarks against the Ijaw nation and the leaders of this socio-political body.

According to the youths, it is embarrassing that Wike insulted the late former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, even in death without respecting him.

Addressing journalists on Saturday, the National Youth President of the Youth Wing, Doben Donyegha, who gave the ultimatum, said that it was annoying that Wike abused the leaders of the South-South geopolitical zone less than 24 hours after its delegation met with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Wike, during a media chat on Thursday, described PANDEF as “the worst organisation anybody can rely on”, while also calling the board of trustee members of the body “political merchants”.

Donyegha, who also urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately sack the minister from his cabinet, said that the youth wing no longer had confidence in him and that keeping Wike in his cabinet may affect the president’s re-election chances in the Niger Delta come 2027.

The President of the PANDEF youths also asked the Code of Conduct Bureau to investigate the minister, alleging land-grabbing activities in the FCT.

News

Ahead Budget Presentation, Amaewhule-led Rivers Assembly Adjourns Sitting Indefinitely

Published

3 days ago

March 14, 2025

Eric

The Rivers State House of Assembly has adjourned its sittings indefinitely.

The decision to adjourn legislative duties indefinitely was reached during plenary, presided over by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, in Port Harcourt on Friday.

The development comes hours after the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, wrote to the Speaker, informing him of his intention to visit the House to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill for consideration and approval.

The governor, in a letter dated March 13 and addressed to the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, said he intends to present the budget on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, or any other day within March that the House may deem fit.

Fubara said his decision is in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment and in response to the lawmakers’ request for him to re-present the budget.

He recalled the bitter experience of visiting the Assembly Quarters with his entourage, where the lawmakers were temporarily sitting to present the budget, but he was denied access to the complex.

News

Suspension: Natasha Sues Akpabio, Others for Contempt

Published

4 days ago

March 13, 2025

Eric

The Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has filed contempt charges against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and others over her six-month suspension without pay from the Senate.

Others listed in the Form 48 contempt charge, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja and sighted on Thursday, include the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, Senator Neda Imasuen.

It will be recalled that Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on 4 March, while delivering a ruling on an ex parte motion filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan through her legal team led by Mr. Michael Numa (SAN), restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct from proceeding with any investigation against the plaintiff/applicant.

This investigation related to alleged misconduct following events that occurred during the Senate plenary session on February 20, 2025 and a subsequent referral on February 25, 2025.

The court’s order was to remain in effect pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.

The court also issued an order directing the defendants to show cause why an interlocutory injunction should not be granted to restrain them from proceeding with the purported investigation against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for alleged misconduct, as such actions would affect her privileges as stipulated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Senate Standing Order 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.

Additionally, the court declared that “any action taken during the pendency of the suit is null, void, and of no effect whatsoever.”

The Court granted Akpoti-Uduaghan permission to serve the originating summons and accompanying documents on all defendants through substituted means, such as delivering them to the Clerk of the National Assembly, cited as the 1st Defendant, or by pasting them on the premises of the National Assembly and publishing them in two national dailies.

However, just two days after the court’s ruling, the Senate proceeded to suspend Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months.

In response to the court order, the Senate President contested the power of the court to interfere in the internal affairs of the legislature, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction to intervene in Senate matters.

In her contempt charge, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that her suspension constituted wilful disobedience to the subsisting court order issued on March 4 stating that an enrolled order of the interim injunction issued by Justice Egwuatu was duly served on the defendants on March 5.

According to Form 48, the defendants/contemnors “deliberately and contumaciously disregarded” the binding directive of the court and “proceeded with acts in flagrant defiance of the authority of the court.”

The court, in a notice of disobedience of a court order signed by its Registrar pursuant to Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act 2004, informed the defendants/contemnors of their wilful disobedience to the court order issued by Justice Obiora Egwuatu.

It warned that defying the subsisting order rendered Akpabio, Senator Imasuen, and the Clerk of the National Assembly liable for contempt of court, which could result in their committal to prison.