I appreciate the all very important questions u have raised. Was hoping to come to a conclussion with some clear cut suggestions, but its still hazy to me now what should be done. Its very true that Command Jos is in deplorable state and needs quick intervention from all and sundry, but to begin to hope that millitary or retired personels should be contacted before kick starting the intervention funds may draw us back. If whoever is in charge now considers himself a superior officer to ur facilitator and does not care a thing about ur Command, decides not to act in favorable terms, it could be demoralizing and will send lethargic signals. While it is a wonderful idea to raise 17M from the various sets mentioned, it is also important to mention that a set that can raise more than a million should not limit itself to just 1M, and any set that can not raise up to that should be encouraged to contribute nonetheless. Further fact finding mission may not be very necessary to me as the information and pictures Kadiri posted speak volume of the sorry state of the school, and if having a discussion with the Commandant is the essence, then it is worthy to mention that Abuja chapter had a full chat with him in December and he also mentioned in clear terms the challenges of Command Jos, which was made public. It is a call to action, let's kickstart the entire process by making pragmatic moves rather than rhetorics. The action plan by the UK chapter is splendid, I will suggest we adopt it and move on, running... We are the direct beneficiaries and it behoves on us to give back. Command is beckoning on us in it's time of dire need, let's heed and wait for no one else. GREAT COMMANDOS!!
--- On Fri, 9/30/11, lugo Ben <[email protected]> wrote: From: lugo Ben <[email protected]> Subject: [Jos Commandos] "BEFORE THE 17 MILLION INTERVENTION FUND" To: "Josites Cojosa" <[email protected]> Cc: "Dennis Iyelih" <[email protected]>, "mary Tombiri" <[email protected]> Date: Friday, September 30, 2011, 1:30 AM Great Commandos, In as much as being among those who do not subscribe to the posting of verbatim discussions at EXCO or membership meetings on a public platform as this, it is good to learn that COJOSA-Lagos is sending 2 officials on fact finding mission: to visit and speak with the commandant of CSSJ. It is the first thing, the right thing and highly commendable. Photos of the deplorable status of once glorious CSSJ have been posted on FaceBook (kudos to Commando Ibrahim Kadiri). It is understood that great infrastructural developments are taking place in the other Command Schools but that of Jos. Looking at those pictures posted I see that some structures are been renovated (eg, admin block, the clinic, the classroom blocks). It will be interesting to know if there is an ongoing turn around or “makeover” on ground. If it is school wide or just some specific structures. Whatever the report from the fact finding mission; bottom line is that as alumni we have to make an impactful presence in the school that gave much to us. It is the right thing. I think that is the vision and mission of the chapters in ABJ, LAG, PH, UK-IRL and North America. 1. Will this require a coordinated effort to visit the Nigerian Army Education Corps to draw its attention to the deplorable conditions? We have very high senior military officers who were pillars to the birth of COJOSA that can facilitate such an audience. 2. Will it require the assistance of commandos whose parents are Generals or retired Generals? COJOSA may explore using such networks to lobby the right authorities to fix our alma mater. 3. Will it just require a loud media noise to draw attention of the authorities to the collapsed infrastructures at CSSJ? We have media people who are not only passionately commando, but have high interest in the vision and mission of COJOSA. I know of Vivian Akinyosoye. I know of Victor Okhai. 4. Will it require a 17 million intervention fund from commandos? May be, maybe not. Will this amount be less or more than may be needed? “Will the Cart come before the Horse or the Horse before the Cart? Is it possible that some set coordinators for the fund drive might end up having no body to coordinate? Very Possible. Is it practicable for a strong and accountable COJOSA to host a public event in Nigeria to raise funds for the cause of CSSJ? Very practicable. 5. Will there be better options than the ones enumerated above by great commando minds if the reports that may be presented by the 2 Lagos officials are made available to the other chapters to brain storm? Probably. 6. Finally, are there commandos on this forum who have not joined a COJOSA chapter? Please we need you. Thanks Ugo Ben (Class of 82) A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion....Grantland Rice
