My dear President,
Thank you for your reply to my post. I have since spoken to Ugo Ben and a few other well meaning commandos who got in touch promptly after the post. I was not aware the issue had been laid to rest long ago. I must admit I have not visited the group or read anything from it in a very long while (not a smart thing to say). The three people involved are among the most passionate and committed commandos i know and I have the highest of regards and respect for them and their sacrifice for our great body.
It is my turn to apologise publicly and say sorry to everyone. I was just upset that we were trying to spoil a beautiful thing by the way it was handled by those concerned initially.
Now let us translate all that into more positive
energy for the benefit of everyone and our dear country.
LUGO, Kofo, and John, I am glad at the maturity you all displayed (as I have just found out) and the amicable way everything was resolved. Just a note for the future, let us all endeavour to carry all (irrespective of set, location or status) in all we do and try to accommodate all shades of opinion. I am sorry for over reacting. i do not plan to reopen old sores.
God bless Commandos!
Victor Okhai '82 set
From: Barka Saleh bbsa...@yahoo.com>
To: JosCommandos@yahoogroups.com; 'adams john' <ajsa...@yahoo.com>
Cc: 'lugo Ben' <raftex1...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 23 November 2011, 11:16
Subject: RE: [Jos Commandos] (unknown)
Senior,
We have truly missed your presence in the mail.
The matter below has been resolved by all parties and lessons learnt in the process.
Sir, we sincerely look forward to your continuous guidance and support on matters that concern us and the
school.
We beg you not to stay away from us for long again.
God bless Cojosa
Saleh Barka
Flying Horse 1986
From: JosCommandos@yahoogroups.com [mailto:JosCommandos@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of victor okhai
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 10:05 PM
To: joscommandos@yahoogroups.com; adams john
Cc: lugo Ben; Josites Cojosa; Adams John Sagai
Subject: [Jos Commandos] (unknown)
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 10:05 PM
To: joscommandos@yahoogroups.com; adams john
Cc: lugo Ben; Josites Cojosa; Adams John Sagai
Subject: [Jos Commandos] (unknown)
Dear Commandos,
I have read with a lot of concern the exchanges between Ugo Ben '82
and Kofo Owojori ('86 Set)/Sagai John Adam ('86 Set) on what should
ordinarily be a family affair.
while the objectives of raising 17million naira is by itself not a bad
idea, I think the methods suggested by Ugo Ben are also worth looking
into and do not in any way suggest a probe which as John and Kofo have
rightly pointed out is not our job.
I think every idea that is thrown into the public domain should be
prepared to subject itself to scrutiny, debate and counter opinions
especially where issues of finance are concerned. This is for
acountability, probity and integrity.
I believe all parties mean well. We are all understandably passionate
about our alma mater but let us exercise restraint.
John and Kofo, make we no forget say senior na senior now. if una get
any problem una for call senior Ugo Ben, one of our most responsible
and respected seniors and discuss di matter instead of di way una
address am on a public forum. Haba! E never bad reach like dat now. I
am personally disappointed by the language and tone of your text. I
will not personally tolerate any of your juniors addressing you like
that. Once a commando, Always a commando.
Let us please find an amicable way of resolving this matter and stop
washing our dirty linens on the net.
--
victor okhai '82 set
+234-8023015604
I have read with a lot of concern the exchanges between Ugo Ben '82
and Kofo Owojori ('86 Set)/Sagai John Adam ('86 Set) on what should
ordinarily be a family affair.
while the objectives of raising 17million naira is by itself not a bad
idea, I think the methods suggested by Ugo Ben are also worth looking
into and do not in any way suggest a probe which as John and Kofo have
rightly pointed out is not our job.
I think every idea that is thrown into the public domain should be
prepared to subject itself to scrutiny, debate and counter opinions
especially where issues of finance are concerned. This is for
acountability, probity and integrity.
I believe all parties mean well. We are all understandably passionate
about our alma mater but let us exercise restraint.
John and Kofo, make we no forget say senior na senior now. if una get
any problem una for call senior Ugo Ben, one of our most responsible
and respected seniors and discuss di matter instead of di way una
address am on a public forum. Haba! E never bad reach like dat now. I
am personally disappointed by the language and tone of your text. I
will not personally tolerate any of your juniors addressing you like
that. Once a commando, Always a commando.
Let us please find an amicable way of resolving this matter and stop
washing our dirty linens on the net.
--
victor okhai '82 set
+234-8023015604
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Adam <ajsa...@yahoo.com>
To: JosCommandos@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:30 AM
Subject: [Jos Commandos] 7 Reasons why the ‘Probe’ Idea is bad
From: Adam <ajsa...@yahoo.com>
To: JosCommandos@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:30 AM
Subject: [Jos Commandos] 7 Reasons why the ‘Probe’ Idea is bad
7 Reasons why the `Probe' Idea is bad
--------------------------------------------
We have read with interest the idea of probing the Administration
of Command Secondary School, Jos, with the hope of knowing why the
school has degenerated to its present state. The idea was first
muted by Ugo Ben, "BEFORE THE 17 MILLION INTERVENTION FUND" and supported/expanded by Mike Agana and Remi Harris.
You can read their submissions here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JosCommandos/message/4715
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JosCommandos/message/4726
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JosCommandos/message/4747
We beg to disagree.
As we will prove below, the idea is bad and should be kept aside by all Commandos.
Here are our reasons:
REASON #1
The idea of a Probe is a TYPICAL Nigerian REACTION to any problem.
In fact, it is used by the Political Elite to side-track Nigerians from the main issues.
There is never any tangible result from such probes/inquiries.
Remember the Power Probe? FCT/Nasir El-Rufai Probe?
What is the main issue facing Jos Commandos today?
How to restore it to its past glory.
Let's focus on the main issue.
REASON #2
The idea is a BETRAYAL of the warm reception given to the President
and Vice President of the Lagos Chapter by the present Commandant. He welcomed them, and trusted them enough to show them the truly bad parts of CSS Jos and even to take photographs. He could have refused them access to the school.
Is that how we will repay him?
He will now get a letter asking him to explain how he is running the school?
Or how his predecessor ran the school?
Is that why the Lagos Chapter sent them ?
REASON #3
Many of you do not know this: The current Commandant is less than 2 months
old in the school!
What answer can he give us?
Or do you expect him to start calling all previous Commandants (who are
probably his seniors) to answer our query?
He, too, must be shocked at the level of decay. (We think that is why he allowed the
representatives from the Lagos Chapter to look around.)
So, please let's allow the Commandant to settle down and do his work in peace. We
risk antagonising him and the Staff and thereby ruining the good relationship that
we need to fully impact our Alma mater.
REASON #4
The proponents of the idea don't seem to realise this FACT: We have NO AUTHORITY to probe anybody.
The few people who can probe any Commandant (or order a probe ) are:
a. President and C-in-C
b. Minister of Defence
c. Chief of Army Staff
d. Director of Nigerian Army Education
e. Senate Committee on Defence (and their counterparts in the House of Representatives)
Even the Minister of Education may find it difficult to call the Nigerian
Army Education Corps to order because of the special status of the Command Schools.
We are only ex-students of CSS Jos and we should know our place.
REASON #5
Ok, let's say we ask for a probe. What do we expect?
That a serving Lt. Colonel will apologise to us?
All the past Commandants (our FATHERS) will quake in their boots and apologise to us?
That the Nigerian Army will apologise to us?
That they will refund the monies they should have used to fix the school?
Let's get this clear: WE CANNOT TELL THE NIGERIAN ARMY WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR BABY.
REASON #6
We are an example of a FAILED ALUMNI Association ourselves.
Are we satisfied with our performance as Alumni?
What are our achievements in the 29 years after the first set left CSS Jos in 1982?
Can we compare ourselves with our contemporaries? FGC Jos? CSS Ibadan?
Have we donated one single desk?
Have we instituted a scholarship?
How many prizes did we sponsor at the Speech and Prize-Giving day? Or Inter-House Sports?
How many Chapters are on ground? Only 5? After 29 years?
Are we not ashamed that even the COJOSA Chapter in JOS, JOS, JOS (which should be the largest in membership) is in-active?
Was it not after 29 years - this year, AD 2011- that we finally succeeded in registering the Association? After 29 years?
We have PERFORMED WOEFULLY AS ALUMNI and we should cover our faces in
shame instead of talking of probing anyone. We, the CSS Jos Alumni need
to remove the plank from our own eyes first. And it is a big plank.
REASON #7
Finally, this whole probe business is a DISTRACTION.
While we talk and talk, we are CONVENIENTLY AVOIDING THE BIG ASSIGNMENT
on the table: raising 17 million naira.
One week in the month of October 2011 has gone. By this time, we expected
that the idea would have been fine-tuned to perfection. The members of the
sub-committees should have been finalised. All Sets should have been contacting
each other and sensitising each other.
But, no, some of us prefer to probe.
Dear Commandos, we should leave this probing idea alone.
The CSS Jos Invention Fund Project is already in the public domain.
Abuja, UK-Irl and Lagos have clearly bought into the idea.
No one has said it is a bad idea.
No one has said it is bound to fail.
No one has said it is impractical.
However, we must not UNDER-ESTIMATE THE TASK AHEAD. It is not going to be
a walk-in-park.
Only a few Sets have the experience of working together.
It will be difficult.
It will try our patience.
But, we believe it is achievable. With a dose of healthy competition,
we will finally see the action Sets amongst us.
Already, one of the 2000-2010 Sets (who are exempted) are already
ganging up on Facebook to raise their money. It will be a shame if such a Set raises 1 million BEFORE their seniors.
It is our hope that when we do succeed, we will identify and use our
money in the best way for our dear CSS Jos. Even though we will seek
approval from the relevant Authorities, NO COMMANDANT WILL DICTATE TO US HOW TO USE OUR MONEY.
It is ours to spend as we wish.
But, we must be humble.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, while we will be available to discuss the CSS Jos Intervention
Fund Project, we do not intend this piece as a personal attack on anyone.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. It is just that our idea of raising
17 miliion to fix CSS Jos next year is BETTER than trying to investigate
how or why CSS Jos got this bad.
Meanwhile, we advise everyone to start contacting their Set mates and decide
on their Set Coordinators. Please re-read the Project Idea again and send us
your feedback or questions. We will be back soon to get the sub-committees filled up.
As from November 2011, we will see the most organised Set from CSS Jos.
Lets get started!
Kofo Owojori ('86 Set)
Sagai John Adam ('86 Set)
--- In JosCommandos@yahoogroups.com, lugo Ben <raftex1994@...> wrote:
>
> 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
>
--------------------------------------------
We have read with interest the idea of probing the Administration
of Command Secondary School, Jos, with the hope of knowing why the
school has degenerated to its present state. The idea was first
muted by Ugo Ben, "BEFORE THE 17 MILLION INTERVENTION FUND" and supported/expanded by Mike Agana and Remi Harris.
You can read their submissions here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JosCommandos/message/4715
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JosCommandos/message/4726
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JosCommandos/message/4747
We beg to disagree.
As we will prove below, the idea is bad and should be kept aside by all Commandos.
Here are our reasons:
REASON #1
The idea of a Probe is a TYPICAL Nigerian REACTION to any problem.
In fact, it is used by the Political Elite to side-track Nigerians from the main issues.
There is never any tangible result from such probes/inquiries.
Remember the Power Probe? FCT/Nasir El-Rufai Probe?
What is the main issue facing Jos Commandos today?
How to restore it to its past glory.
Let's focus on the main issue.
REASON #2
The idea is a BETRAYAL of the warm reception given to the President
and Vice President of the Lagos Chapter by the present Commandant. He welcomed them, and trusted them enough to show them the truly bad parts of CSS Jos and even to take photographs. He could have refused them access to the school.
Is that how we will repay him?
He will now get a letter asking him to explain how he is running the school?
Or how his predecessor ran the school?
Is that why the Lagos Chapter sent them ?
REASON #3
Many of you do not know this: The current Commandant is less than 2 months
old in the school!
What answer can he give us?
Or do you expect him to start calling all previous Commandants (who are
probably his seniors) to answer our query?
He, too, must be shocked at the level of decay. (We think that is why he allowed the
representatives from the Lagos Chapter to look around.)
So, please let's allow the Commandant to settle down and do his work in peace. We
risk antagonising him and the Staff and thereby ruining the good relationship that
we need to fully impact our Alma mater.
REASON #4
The proponents of the idea don't seem to realise this FACT: We have NO AUTHORITY to probe anybody.
The few people who can probe any Commandant (or order a probe ) are:
a. President and C-in-C
b. Minister of Defence
c. Chief of Army Staff
d. Director of Nigerian Army Education
e. Senate Committee on Defence (and their counterparts in the House of Representatives)
Even the Minister of Education may find it difficult to call the Nigerian
Army Education Corps to order because of the special status of the Command Schools.
We are only ex-students of CSS Jos and we should know our place.
REASON #5
Ok, let's say we ask for a probe. What do we expect?
That a serving Lt. Colonel will apologise to us?
All the past Commandants (our FATHERS) will quake in their boots and apologise to us?
That the Nigerian Army will apologise to us?
That they will refund the monies they should have used to fix the school?
Let's get this clear: WE CANNOT TELL THE NIGERIAN ARMY WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR BABY.
REASON #6
We are an example of a FAILED ALUMNI Association ourselves.
Are we satisfied with our performance as Alumni?
What are our achievements in the 29 years after the first set left CSS Jos in 1982?
Can we compare ourselves with our contemporaries? FGC Jos? CSS Ibadan?
Have we donated one single desk?
Have we instituted a scholarship?
How many prizes did we sponsor at the Speech and Prize-Giving day? Or Inter-House Sports?
How many Chapters are on ground? Only 5? After 29 years?
Are we not ashamed that even the COJOSA Chapter in JOS, JOS, JOS (which should be the largest in membership) is in-active?
Was it not after 29 years - this year, AD 2011- that we finally succeeded in registering the Association? After 29 years?
We have PERFORMED WOEFULLY AS ALUMNI and we should cover our faces in
shame instead of talking of probing anyone. We, the CSS Jos Alumni need
to remove the plank from our own eyes first. And it is a big plank.
REASON #7
Finally, this whole probe business is a DISTRACTION.
While we talk and talk, we are CONVENIENTLY AVOIDING THE BIG ASSIGNMENT
on the table: raising 17 million naira.
One week in the month of October 2011 has gone. By this time, we expected
that the idea would have been fine-tuned to perfection. The members of the
sub-committees should have been finalised. All Sets should have been contacting
each other and sensitising each other.
But, no, some of us prefer to probe.
Dear Commandos, we should leave this probing idea alone.
The CSS Jos Invention Fund Project is already in the public domain.
Abuja, UK-Irl and Lagos have clearly bought into the idea.
No one has said it is a bad idea.
No one has said it is bound to fail.
No one has said it is impractical.
However, we must not UNDER-ESTIMATE THE TASK AHEAD. It is not going to be
a walk-in-park.
Only a few Sets have the experience of working together.
It will be difficult.
It will try our patience.
But, we believe it is achievable. With a dose of healthy competition,
we will finally see the action Sets amongst us.
Already, one of the 2000-2010 Sets (who are exempted) are already
ganging up on Facebook to raise their money. It will be a shame if such a Set raises 1 million BEFORE their seniors.
It is our hope that when we do succeed, we will identify and use our
money in the best way for our dear CSS Jos. Even though we will seek
approval from the relevant Authorities, NO COMMANDANT WILL DICTATE TO US HOW TO USE OUR MONEY.
It is ours to spend as we wish.
But, we must be humble.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, while we will be available to discuss the CSS Jos Intervention
Fund Project, we do not intend this piece as a personal attack on anyone.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. It is just that our idea of raising
17 miliion to fix CSS Jos next year is BETTER than trying to investigate
how or why CSS Jos got this bad.
Meanwhile, we advise everyone to start contacting their Set mates and decide
on their Set Coordinators. Please re-read the Project Idea again and send us
your feedback or questions. We will be back soon to get the sub-committees filled up.
As from November 2011, we will see the most organised Set from CSS Jos.
Lets get started!
Kofo Owojori ('86 Set)
Sagai John Adam ('86 Set)
--- In JosCommandos@yahoogroups.com, lugo Ben <raftex1994@...> wrote:
>
> 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
>
