Come let us reason
together! (The Holy Bible). This statement highlights the importance of God in
His majesty places on the concept of collaboration, togetherness, coordination
and cooperation.
God is capable and can do all things, however, He delegates
and shares responsibilities to the members of His “cabinets” (Angels),
expecting high performances from them in return through dedication,
commitments, perseverance, and team work. The concepts of Division of labour,
specialization, inter-dependence and inter-relatedness are deeply rooted in the
administration of the Most High by inference from the above declaration.
The existence, workings and
survival of the Heaven and Earth, to the believers, is miraculous, yes it is
but the sustainability and the perfection of these realities at which we all
marveled is God’s way of demonstrating to all mankind, the importance of
division of labour and interdependence from which calisthenics derives its
philosophy. All these attributes of togetherness, collaboration, coordination,
self-discipline, team-spirit, perseverance and commitment are embedded in the
latest O’calisthenics initiative of the present dynamic government in the State
of Osun led by her charismatic Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
The Calisthenics display by
more than 8,000 young Omoluabis in the State of Osun to commemorate the 25th
anniversary of the creation of the State was beautiful, colourful, thrilling
and pleasing to the eye. The show brings to one’s mind, the glory of
yester-years when the Nigeria’s independence /State occasions were celebrated
with colourful display of calisthenics including March past and other
activities in the states concerned and the nation at large.
The 2016 State of Osun
anniversary was unique by every standard as it had on that parade, young
Omoluabis in their tender age from across the nooks and crannies of the State
who might be having their first experience as far as calisthenics is concerned
at any level in that kind of environment where dignitaries including a sitting
Governor and Foreign Ambassador (Cuba) would be in attendance to watch them
display their skills in calisthenics.
This latest initiative by
the administration of Ogbeni Rauf tagged “O’ calisthenics” has benefits and
lessons for all and sundry (the young, old, private concerns, States and the
Nation as a whole). The show on one part reminded us all of the good old days
when States/National events like the Independence day celebrations bring people
together from all works of life to witness march past, calisthenics display and
any other event as may be applicable as against today’s experience where almost
every form of government or privately organized have been reduced to mere talk
shows.
This effort at revamping
the culture of callisthenic by the Aregbesola’s administration goes beyond mere
gathering together of Young Omoluabis for a-day march past and display of
different colours to form different words and phrases, it is to re-awaken the
culture of coordination, commitment, perseverance, collaboration,
self-discipline, team spirit, selflessness and cooperation among Nigerians and
to highlight the fact that, with proper collaboration among the people of this
country, Nigeria will surely go a long way in her quest for excellence.
O’ Calisthenics simply
involves the mixture of young ones from different backgrounds, schools, ages
and heights clad in different colourful attires participating in rigorous
exercise and gymnastics, marching, singing and dancing but with one goal in
mind; a beautiful display. It involves rising to the occasion when duty calls,
discharging ones duty with all sense of responsibilities in relation to the
other members of the team to achieve the common goal within available
resources. The level of concentration, collaboration, self- discipline,
team-spirit, coordination, perseverance and commitment put in place during the
last O’calisthenics display in Osogbo are what Nigerians require to emulate at
all levels with everyone doing those little things that can add-up to give our
nation the much needed lift to the greater height. As little as clapping,
standing, waving or moving that the least person in a calisthenics group does
amongst his peers goes a long way to affect the final presentation that we all watch,
admire and cherish so much.
Beyond the beautiful and
colourful display by these young Omoluabis, the benefits of the programme to
the kids are enormous and unquantifiable. Aside being empowered to be developed
and nurtured into professional calisthenics and gymnasts in the future, it also
inculcates in them the “can do spirit” that is fast fading away among the
Nigerian youth of today. The realization that hard work pays is also not lost
on them. They now know that good preparation, perseverance and hard-work will
surely bring successes and celebrations at the end.
Another benefit accruing to
these youngsters is the scarce opportunity to exercise regularly and keep-fit
by engaging in activities that can promote good and healthy living. As cheap as
this seems, it is mostly needed by them.
It is a known fact that the culture of exercise and grass-root sports is
fading away in our public schools in the country, developmental activities are
in competition with the limited spaces across educational facilities in most
Nigerian cities, with O’ calisthenics in place, students in Osun now have the
opportunity to gather together regularly to exercise and engage in other
sporting activities of their choice thereby promoting the chance to really
discover their raw talents while they are still young.
Again, apart from a rude
reminder of what we were used to in the long forgotten past, this
O’calisthenics initiative is a laudable programme in that it is an example of
how youth energies can best be channeled
into a positive and useful venture. How best can you engage the youth in
a programme with such attendant benefits?
Gathering Youths together
in their thousands to learn the basic principles of collaboration, coordination
and responsibilities and responsiveness in a single atmosphere with greater
emphasis on division of labour and specialization. It is also an empowerment
with a difference which can be harnessed into a life-long career that may take
some of the participants up to the Olympics games and other International
events in the nearest future.
On the other hand,
Nigerians as a people must learn from this calisthenics experience that, indeed
everyone and anyone is capable of attaining his/her potentials in an atmosphere
that is conducive and devoid of any suspicious and rancor as we now have in the
country today where ethnic suspicion is the order of the day and violence now
becomes a weapon for demanding equality of opportunity from the authority at
every levels by her citizens.
Another lesson from the calisthenics
display is the realization that, hard work, selflessness, perseverance and
dedication to duty and state really pays. The last beautiful calisthenics
display lasted for few hours which were cherished by all. But it was a show
involving a lot of background preparations, painstaking activities, relentless
efforts, endurance and paying necessary attention to details when it matters.
All these are the
ingredients imbedded in the calisthenics display that a Nation building
requires; preparation; endurance and the participation of every stakeholder.
The sacrifices towards a nation building and its result are like the
calisthenics display that requires the participation of every stakeholder on a
day when the occasion demands. Nigerians (followers and leaders alike) must
know that whatever developmental efforts we are putting-in today will be
measured by one parameter i.e. peoples’ welfare.
Nigeria and indeed the
Yoruba’s are endowed with a lot from their history. Everything about the
tribe’s culture and traditions are geared towards producing and promoting the
concept of “Omoluabi’. Highly promoted is the communal style of living among
the tribe before the advent of the colonial era. This communal way of life is
seen in every facet of live from Economy to Social and even Religious
activities. Our society of the old rested on the philosophy of collaboration
like the calisthenics, where required attention is paid to details at every
stage for the colourful display of societal goals and achievements. What made
our society of old better than now is just the high esteem placed on the spirit
of calisthenics where you perform your duties as at when due with the
expectation that the next person will not perform less.
The advanced countries that
our leaders cherish and frequent so much these days owing to their economic
advances and the orderliness that has been entrenched in their societies just
as calisthenics display by the pupils but what are unseen are the numbers of
practice hours, trials, errors, commitment, dedication and selflessness that
went into it to have that much cherished colourful display of societal
orderliness and advancement.
Every Nigerians should see
the Nigeria project like a calisthenics display which requires the full
participation, concentration, coordination and commitment of everyone for us to
have the much desired colourful display we will be proud of in the comity of
Nations. Our responsibilities in the Nigerian project are different and comes
at different levels, for some, it is street cleaning, for others, it is about
economic sustenance while some are in-charge of security, other persons are
saddled with the responsibilities of educating the younger ones in the society.
It is then clear that, everyone’s contribution is required if the Nigeria of
our dream must come to reality.
We must recognize that the
little details that makes a beautiful calisthenics show successful, if left
out, may turn the show into a mere parade of individuals rather than a piece of
whole as the case is in the present day Nigeria. For Nigeria to move-up the
ladder and join the countries of the world that has gotten it right in their
quest for economic and social development, we sure have a lot to learn from the
concept of O’ calisthenics that was showcased by the Governor of the State of
Osun recently.
Nigeria and Nigerians at
different levels need to inculcate in themselves once again, the spirit of
calisthenics in all works of our lives, from Politics; Education; Economy;
Education; Religion and other facets of our National life. Imagine the O’
Calisthenics display without those colourful dresses, imagine what a show it
would have been without the leadership provided by their conductor, imagine how
it will seem on a windy and rainy day!.
We should all realize that
the society is like a calisthenics display, when everyone does it right, we
will surely have a beautiful piece, and when one person gets less committed and
gets it wrong, everything won’t add up. Long live Nigeria! Long live State of
Osun! Long live Aregbesola! Long live O’calisthenics. Osun tin dara!
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