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Principles and Politics with Governor Deval Patrick -Dr MJ Yushau

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Professor Deval Patrick

 

By Dr. Muhammad Jameel Yushau

Thursday was the first day of class with Professor Deval Patrick on “Principles and Politics.” Unlike most classes that take place twice a week at HKS,Deval Patrick’s class will hold on Wednesdays only from 4:30pm to 7:15pm.

I was attending the editorial meeting of The Africa Policy Journal when I realized it was five minutes to class. So we rounded up the meeting, and I rushed to the class. As I entered, the class was full. Everybody was seated. I started scanning the room looking for a seat, i found one on the front row. I greeted Deval on the way, shook his hand, and to my surprise, he said “Hi Jameel.” Perhaps he has recognized me from the shopping day when I asked him a few questions.

The class began with a poll as many professors do to gauge the understanding of concepts or help them clarify issues. Ahead of the class, we have watched several videos of Ted Kennedy’s interview launching his presidential campaign in 1979, as well as his convention speech after he lost the primaries to President Jimmy Carter. We also watched Ronald Reagan’s video launching his campaign in 1979.

HKS Diary (25): One holiday, eight cities

The class went straight into analyzing the ‘why’ in the desire of of both Kennedy and Reagan to seek for public office. What were their motivations, desire for impact, vision and readiness to seek for the presidency? How authentic were they, and whom were they targeting?

Students shared multiple perspectives about modern day politics. What I found most intriguing in the discussion is the similarity in the challenges faced by many countries. Students who spoke came from several countries, including Argentina, Costa Rica, Nigeria, United States and more. The challenges of campaign financing contributing in breaking the ethos of politics and how legislators spend more time seeking for campaign financing rather than focusing on the job resonated with many students. If you think your country is the only one facing challenges, you need to spread your net of learning. Neither developed or developing countries have a political system that is perfect. Nor do they have public office holders who are flawless. Every country is a work in progress within the realm of their development.

Unlike many classes, Professor Patrick provides ‘refreshment’ to the 100 students taking his course. The class might be late in the day, but it provides both intellectual refreshment and a light dinner to keep the energy level going. Next week, he will be inviting two former presidential candidates to speak to the class.

A little surprise for me after I commented in the class about politics in Nigeria, Professor Patrick told me he once lived in Kaduna, and he has visited my home town of Kano, in fact he has the ‘kaftan’ that he received during his visit.

Takeaway: Learning does not come from the teacher alone. You learn a lot from fellow students. That was the atmosphere established by Deval Patrick on Thursday.

International

Kenya Mourns Loss of Defence Chief and Top Brass in Helicopter Crash

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Kenya’s defence chief and nine other top brass died on Thursday in a military helicopter crash in a remote area of the country, President William Ruto said.

Today at 2:20 pm, our nation suffered a tragic air accident… I am deeply saddened to announce the passing of General Francis Omondi Ogolla,” Ruto told reporters.

The president, who had convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council after news of the accident emerged, said nine other “gallant military personnel” on board were also killed while two survived.

He said the Kenya Air Force has dispatched an air investigation team to establish the cause of the crash, which took place in Elgeyo Marakwet county, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) northwest of the capital Nairobi.

The helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff from Chesegon, where he and his entourage had been visiting a school, Ruto said.

“A distinguished four-kistar general has fallen in the course of duty and in the service of the country,” he said.

“Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals, gallant officers, service men and woman.”

Ruto announced three days of mourning from Friday, with official flags flying at half mast.

He said Ogolla, 61, had left Nairobi on Thursday morning on an air force Huey helicopter to visit troops deployed in the North Rift area in Operation Maliza Uhalifu (Operation End Crime in Swalihi), and other sites.

Kenyan authorities have long battled insecurity in the Rift Valley region, with armed bandits and cattle rustlers rampant.

“The helicopter burst into flames after crashing and it had more than 10 senior commanders on board including General Ogolla,” a police officer had told AFP earlier.

They were in the area on a security mission because there are KDF (Kenya Defence Forces) soldiers deployed in the region,” he added.

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DICAN Hails Tuggar’s Leadership As Minister Celebrates 57th Birthday

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Ambassador Tuggar

 

The Diplomatic Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (DICAN) has extended its felicitations to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yussuf Tuggar, on his 57th birthday anniversary.

Tuggar, who comes from a distinguished political background in Bauchi State, has had an impressive career serving the country. His father, a prominent figure himself, served as the Organizing Secretary of the Northern People’s Congress before and after Nigeria’s independence in 1960, and later became a Senator.

Tuggar has held various notable positions. He served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany from 2017 to 2023. Prior to that, he was a member of the Nigerian House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, representing Gamawa. He also contested for the governorship of Bauchi State on two occasions.

Chairman, Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria, DICAN, Comrade, Idehai Frederick specifically highlighted Tuggar’s contributions in securing crucial partnerships for Nigeria.

“Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs played a key role in the conceptualization of the Siemens Power deal, which aimed to significantly expand Nigeria’s electricity grid capacity.

“He is also instrumental in attracting significant funding from German institutions for the Kano-Maradi rail line project,” DICAN Chairman said.

The Association however, wished the Minister a happy 57th birthday and many more fruitful years of service to fatherland and humanity.

Meanwhile, DICAN is an association of journalists covering Diplomatic related beats in Nigeria.

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International

Open Letter To The President of The United States,Joe Biden-Ibrahim Khalil

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President Joe Biden

 

176 Kabara, Kano State, Nigeria. November 5, 2023 Mr. President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500

HUMANITY FIRST

Sir! With due respect, Mr. President, we humans should not be killing ourselves for political, economic or religious reason in the messianic age. We are now living in the Messianic age; I am the Messiah, Messiah “Son of David” alias Imam Mahdi (“The Guided One”); and I am, however, not the Hidden Imam whom Mr. President talked about, but the real Imam Mahdi. Mr. President, this is not the time when world leaders should be divided between the two sides of the Israeli-Hamas war. Why should human beings – civilians and military officers alike, and especially women and children – be killed daily

Mr. President, Allah [swt] – the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – granted the Holy Land to the Patriarch Prophet Abraham [as] and blessed it for the nations so that Messiah “Son of David”, the 2nd anointed King after HM King David [as], the King of Israel, will establish a world government, which will establish real justice and peace for the Peoples of the World. The Holy Land wasn’t meant to be a war zone or graveyard for the descendants of Abraham: Arabs and Jews.

Mr. President, a 9-Year Global Project (Re-Establishment of the Throne of David in Zion) was predestined to begin in 2023 AD/1444 AH for the creation of a world government, world economy and world religion. This was 126 years after Theodor Herzl founded the World Zionist Organization; 79 years after the creation of the IMF and the World Bank; and 1954 years after the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. It is a righteous deed par excellence; and it would be undertaken by the Believers among us whom Allah [swt], the lord of the worlds, promised to bless to rule the world under King Messiah (Melekh haMashiach), the ultimate prince and King of the World.

Mr. President, I already addressed the Royal Proclamation to the United Nations, calling for the Re-Establishment of the Throne of David in Zion; the prophet Muhammad [pbuh] did prophesy the 9-year rule of Imam Mahdi (“The Guided one”) as the Caliph of the promised Caliphate: Seat of King David on Earth; and hence, I call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to save humanity regardless of race, religion or nationality throughout the world.

Thank you. Yours Sincerely, Ibrahim Khalil (+234 913 615 3018)

Cc:
President of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Norman Albanese President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau President of the Peoples’ Republic of China, Xi Jinping President of France, Emmanuel Macron President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo

President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella President of Japan, Fumio Kishida President of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador President of Russia, Vladimir Putin King of Saudi Arabia, HM King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud The Crown Prince, HRH Muhammad ibn Salman President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol President of Turkey, Tayyip Erdogan King of the United Kingdom, HM King Charles IIIPrime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu President of European Union, Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi The Pope, Francis I UN Secretary General, Antonio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres GCC GCL President of the UNGA, Dennis Francis President of the World Bank, Ajay Banga

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