Jess ETA

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From Pharisee to Tax Collector: Rethinking Tinubu’s Kenyan Comparison In a recent remark in Yenagoa, Bola Ahmed Tinubu suggested that Nigerians should find solace in being “better off than Kenya and other African countries.” While this may have been intended to soften the impact of economic hardship and rising fuel prices, the comment risks downplaying the severity of the current crisis. It echoes the biblical parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in the Gospel of Luke (18:9–14). A similar warning is found in the Qur’an (53:32), which cautions against self-righteousness. Like the Pharisee who boasted of his superiority over others to mask his own spiritual void, such downward comparisons serve more as a refuge than a remedy. This validated an earlier dismissive remark by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu during electioneering: “Na statistics we go shop?” Yet statistics remain indispensable - they are the language through which nations understand their condition and chart progress. No country can develop in isolation from measurable realities or without comparing itself with peers. Comparisons, when properly grounded, are not instruments of escapism but tools of accountability. What is objectionable is not comparison itself, but comparison stripped of credible, verifiable data—mere tax collector comparisons that soothe rather than solve. On key development indicators such as security, the Human Development Index, life expectancy, GDP per capita, literacy levels, and electricity access, Kenya consistently outperforms Nigeria. Nigeria is the fourth most terrorised nation in the world, while Kenya is not among the ten worst. Kenya’s HDI ranking is 143 out of 180 countries, with a coefficient of about 0.630, compared to Nigeria’s ranking of 164 out of 180, with a coefficient of about 0.530. Its GDP per capita is roughly $2,200–$2,300, compared to Nigeria’s $807–$835. Kenya’s poverty rate is about 43% of the population (approximately 23 million people), while Nigeria’s is about 63% (around 150 million people), over six times that of Kenya. Kenya’s life expectancy is about 67 years, while Nigeria’s is about 54 years. The literacy rate in Kenya is approximately 81–85%, compared to Nigeria’s 62–65%. Kenya’s electricity access is higher, while Nigeria has one of the lowest levels of electricity access in the world. Kenya has about 3.5 million out-of-school children, while Nigeria has about 20 million. Kenya’s inflation rate has been about 4.5% or lower over the past three years, while Nigeria’s has remained above 15% within the same period. Kenya’s exchange rate has been around USD 1 to KES 130 over the past three years, whereas Nigeria’s exchange rate rose from below ₦500/$1 to above ₦1,250/$1 within the same period. Even with developments in the Middle East and rising oil prices, Kenyans have not experienced the sharp increases in petroleum product prices seen in Nigeria. Across other key indicators, Kenya also performs better. In the end, these indices clearly show that Kenya ranks higher than Nigeria on several development metrics. The standard of living of Kenyans is better than that of Nigerians. If the President considers Kenyans to be suffering despite these stronger figures, then Nigerians are in a far more difficult situation. He should therefore refrain from self-consolation and, in honest reflection, take responsibility for the situation and make a determined effort to drive improvement. This requires a posture of humility, accountability, and commitment to addressing the factors that have slowed Nigeria’s development. A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO

I schooled in Onitsha High School, Onitsha. One morning, the principal Mrs Julie Ofoefuna informed us that Mr Peter Obi was coming to our school because the Senior Prefect called him and reported that the school building was at the verge of collapse which was true. We thought it was a joke because my school was one of the local schools then, we said” the governor has not finished visiting CKC, DMGS, St Charles, QRC”etc these are best schools then. By 12:00pm that day, he landed with Dr Kay Onyechi the state commissioner of basic education, he inspected the school. He said he will return after two weeks. Two weeks passed we didn’t see him, we took his words as normal Nigeria politicians 😭😭😂.On the third week which was school closing period, he landed. He came like a thief, no motorcades or sirens blowing ” he apologized for coming after two weeks, he said when he learnt that the school was in exam period, he decided to wait but to come after exam. In the end, he gave more than enough for the school renovation. He asked us what we wanted for lunch, nobody could mention any reasonable food. He gave each student ₦100 for snacks.

Physics is crazy o! They were spot on about the time for splashdown

Holy fucking shit. Finally found the name for it. Im going to cry Ive never been able to explain this to anyone they never know what im talking about

Not one original experience.