For those who follow the Forbes magazine list of the richest people in the world, you would already know that Aliko Dangote was listed as one of the four billionaires in Africa and officially the richest man in Nigeria.

For those who don’t follow the magazine, let me bring you up to speed. Forbes Magazine is a globally respected financial magazine that reports on all that has to do with wealth, lifestyle, business and economics as it affects or concerns the global business players. It has a website forbes.com and annually releases data of the richest people in the world.

Okay, now that you are up to speed, I guess that as a Nigerian you are excited that one of us has finally appeared on the list, and if you are African, you are glad that the list of rich africans is expanding. I am excited too. To an extent actually, why I hear you ask, well my answer is, where is the probity?

I am not concerned that he got his wealth mainly from Government patronage. I am not bothered that he uses mean spirited business antics and is the reason that loads of other Nigerian businessmen swam in the waters of bankruptcy. I am not worried that as a monopolist, he has driven the Nigerian commodities out of the reach of the ordinary man. These do not prick me, because all the others on that list are sharks themselves, but what I know is that there is an extent of probity in their existence.

What I mean by probity is; what do they give back to the countries in which they exist, both officially and unofficially. Officially in terms of taxes, unofficially in terms of philantrophy.

So I ask, can Alhaji Aliko Dangote kindly make public his tax filings for the last 25 years. Can we Nigerians ensure that due diligence is done, in the perusal of these filings so that we know that he has paid back his fair share to the country, just like the average well meaning Nigerian has. That he has given back to a country that has given him so much. In foreign countries, tax evasion ranks just below murder as the worst offence you can commit. The rich go to lengths to hide their money from the tax man, and when they can’t they pay up. Has Alhaji paid up? We must know that he is law abiding before we celebrate him.

Now I wonder, what has he given back to Nigeria and the country in general in the realm of philantrophy, We all remember Bashorun M.K.O Abiola, we remember his large heart. During the 1990 presidential debate, he made a statement, “To whom much is given, much is expected in return” May he rest in perfect peace.

So now, what has Aliko given back to the society in the light of such largesse he has? Where and to whom was this given? The Bill Gates, the Warren Buffets etc have given to Africa in terms of the fight against AIDS and global poverty, but what has Aliko and the other 3 african multi billionaires done to join in this fight?

The saying is that “Charity begins at home”, so we ask you Alhaji Aliko Dangote, where is your charity? and before you answer, where are your tax filings?

These are the days when the faint hearted hide in the shadows of life. These are the times when men with hearts of stone dare not wander out under the watchful moon.

Something is out there in the night and we know not what it is. Someone is out there lurking in the shadows intent on cutting the thread of life that links us to the present. Even the night mourns because the gates of hell can no longer hold the armies of darkness.

Sin has overtaken the world and only the righteous can stand up to be counted.

Let us all, hold tight to our faith, because in this season of anomie, only the spiritual shall survive this plague that stalks the night.

You are warned!

Will tomorrow ever come.. and if it doesnt come when do we have to bring a new beginning to our existence … when do we look up to a new leader and ask of him to lead us to our full potential? When do we excise from us the cantankerous politicians who bring with them to the present, our present and our future,  the baggage of the past?

What does experience count for if in itself, it is an anathema to success? Why do we mortgage our future and that of our children and their children and their children’s children because we are too stupidly ignorant to participant in the discourse that shapes the future? When do we say enough is enough? When do we ask for change? when do we demand change? When do we stand up for change? when do we fight for change? when do we die for change?

when do we ask - where is our Obama?