Dear Great Commandos, A house divided against itself cannot stand. My dream and vision for us is a forum where PEACE, LOVE & RESPECT thrives. We are a big and wonderful family and there is non that is perfect. I believe we can all work together in harmony to organize our selves towards achieving our desired goal. With the current state of our UNITY can we boldly say that we got each others back? I believe that a true Commando will protect, save, help, support, encourage and above all celebrate each other achievements or progress. Young and Old, we are all assets to each other and not otherwise. Cojosa - Lagos Chapter will convene to review and profess a balanced way forward. Have a blessed weekend. Saleh Barka Flying Horse House 1986 Cojosa - Lagos Chapter
________________________________ From: tony denor <[email protected]> To: command secondary <[email protected]>; Command Jos <[email protected]>; "[email protected]" <[email protected]>; "[email protected]" <[email protected]>; "[email protected]" <[email protected]>; "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 9:56 PM Subject: [Jos Commandos] Let The Truth Be Told RE: THE INTERIM NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR COMMAND SECONDARY SCHOOL JOS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (AKA COJOSA) – LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD. 1. Introduction: Compliments of the day to you all and hope this mail brings you all up to speed on current issues affecting COJOSA. So much have been read and talked about on The Committee Of Friends – ‘Nite Of The Red Necks’ (before and after the event) which held on the 9th of March, 2013 @ Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. I was invited to the event by virtue of my being the current President of COJOSA – Abuja Chapter. The E – vite was very clear regarding attendance as such l didn’t even attend with my spouse. 2. My Expectation: I saw this event and the invitation extended to other Chapter Presidents (within Nigeria and Abroad) as an opportunity for the Chapter Presidents to meet and brainstorm on how best we can move the COJOSA family together, especially with the modalities of the formation of a National/International Executive Council which will be charged with the responsibility of coordinating the affairs of the various chapters and will be the point of engagement with the CSSJ Authorities, The Army, The Organised Private Sector, The Government, etc on our behalf. On the afternoon of Saturday 9th March, 2013 we met at Georgio Hotel Maitama, Abuja. In attendance were the following Chapter Presidents; 1. Anthony Akhidenor – Abuja 2. Barka Saleh – Lagos 3. Tajudeen Yahaya – Port Harcourt 4. Kaase Fyanka – Makurdi 5. Sogbeye George – Akwa Ibom 6. Kudirat Balogun – Ibadan 7. Kofo Owojori – Uk/Ireland 8. Mary Tombiri – Ero - N/America Simon Yiltok of Jos Chapter was unavoidably absent. My colleagues nominated me to chair the meeting as it was been held in my domain – Abuja. Hakeem Oyewo for reasons best known to him decided to attend the meeting instead of Kudirat Balogun who is the bona fide President of Ibadan chapter (I must commend kudirat for her maturity despite the apparent provocation- these are aspects of ‘Seniority’ we should strive to avoid). The meeting resolved as follows; i. Setting up an Interim National Executive to establish the framework for a National Convention with the aim of electing officers into the National Executive Council (NEC) of COJOSA which will supervise and bring the Chapters together for our collective good and that of CSSJ. ii. That there is a distinct difference between an Ex-Student of CSSJos and a member of COJOSA. iii. The event tagged ‘Nite of The Red Necks’ was deemed to be a good idea and commendable however, we observed that its promoters did not handle the issue of information follow well enough and thus created room for various sentiments and rumours to fly freely. However, it afforded the Chapter Presidents the rare opportunity to meet physically and discuss for the first time. iv. The ‘presidential meeting’ ended with a plan to meet after 3 months (22nd June, 2013- the 3rd Saturday in June) in Abuja. This was to enable us meet with our members and brief them of our meeting and the proposed plans and report back in order to make relevant decisions. 3. The Event Proper: It goes without saying that the event was put together mostly by persons from the 82 – 84 sets. They invited and honoured the 1st Principal of CSSJ, some of the teachers that taught them, and they honoured the ‘Generals’. All this was quite commendable and l applaud them for that. This is where it should have ended based on the program of event which the circulated. But Alas that was not to be. ‘The Coup’: I use the above word because that was what happened. In the course of the Dinner, some ‘Seniors’ called me to say that they have set up an Interim National Committee for COJOSA to work out modalities for a National Convention, etc. I informed them that we had already met earlier in the day and certain decisions have already been taken towards all these plans and they should be patient as members of the various chapters needed to be briefed accordingly. My advise and protestations was ignored as they told me they had already made plans to make the announcements in the hall. I had to walk out in order to keep my cool. However some other schoolmates pleaded with me to come to back to the Hall. These ‘Seniors’ through the COF (Committee Of Friends) went beyond their Mandate (if any). They told you and l that they wanted to honour the first 3 Generals produced from CSSJ and it was to be a ‘private matter’. Why should COJOSA issue come up? Establishment of the Interim National Exco with positions given to ‘Strangers’. Recommendations/My Position: i. All the Real Commandos (COJOSA Members) MUST denounce and reject this group of ‘Bad Seniors’ and their Dictatorial tendencies,’ the Interim National Executive’ which is the brain child of persons who have NO MANDATE to take such decisions on our behalf. I hereby reject and distance myself from this committee as constituted it was a ploy to add my name and others to legitimise an illegality. It has failed. ii. Command Secondary School Jos Alumni Association is duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). It is a legal entity that can sue and be sued. It is not a body that can be toyed or fooled with, anyone who does should be prepared to face theMUSIC. It was incorporated on 23rd November 2010 .The Trustees of COJOSA are well known to members. So usurpers BEWARE!!!! Any plan by anyone or group of persons to hijack this Association through the back door will be resisted. Any genuine plan/proposals concerning the growth of COJOSA MUST involve the active involvement of the Trustees and the 7 Chapter Presidents In Nigeria as the stand today. iii. The Trustees and the seven (7) Chapter presidents in Nigeria– Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Jos, Makurdi, Ibadan and Akwa Ibom should go ahead with our plans and decisions reached by the Chapter presidents on 9th March, 2013 at Georgio Hotel, Maitama. iv. All Ex-students of CSSJ who are interested in joining COJOSA should endeavour to register with any of the listed chapters within Nigeria and Abroad as efforts are in top gear to publish a comprehensive list of duly registered and financially up to date members of the Association worldwide. A web site for members will soon be operational as we need our own UNIQUE forum to discuss COJOSA matters. Note that membership is Voluntary. v. All those who planned and executed this ‘Coup’ should apologise to the whole house for their desperate attempts to hijack COJOSA through the back door. This is the season of apologies and they should be humble enough to retrace their steps. vi. For COJOSA to grow we must eliminate this MADNESS called ‘SENIORITY SYNDROME’. A situation whereby ‘Seniority’ rather than ‘Merit, Competence, Dedication and Discipline’ holds sway can never lead to the peace and progress of any Association. We should be able to speak freely without FEAR OR FAVOUR. Conclusion: I wish to appeal to the duly registered members of COJOSA to remain alert and focused as persons who have failed to do anything for CSSJ over the years have now discovered that they can use COJOSA as a Platform to gain Political favour and Government patronage. We MUST resist these ‘Locust’ and we will defend the integrity of COJOSA by any means possible, by GOD we will. *COJOSA needs LEADERS and NOT SENIORS *COJOSA needs people who are GIVERS and NOT TAKERS * COJOSA needs people who are ready, willing and able to sacrifice their Time, Talent, Financial and Material Resources without expecting REWARDS. The days of ‘OBEY THE LAST ORDER & ZOMBIE LIKE MENTALITY IS OVER’. Note that no matter your year of graduation, you will have more Juniors than Seniors in time, thus we must treat all our so called Juniors with respect. Success does not consider age or year of graduation. Holding a ‘Private Event’ in Transcorp Hilton for a few hours those not earn you that Right. I will like to advise that before you reply (you have a right to), kindly read this mail again, take a deep breath then look at the mirror and ask yourself; 1. What is COJOSA, am l a member (good or bad)? 2. What have l done for CSSJ and COJOSA individually and collectively in the past 10 years depending on when you graduated? 3. Am l a Builder or a Destroyer? I look forward to reading from the Man/Woman in the Mirror. Long Live COJOSA, Long Live CSSJ, Long Live the Fed. Republic Of Nigeria. Best Regards. Anthony Eromosele Akhidenor Class of 1988 Octopus House President – COJOSA ABUJA.
