Thursday, 24 October 2013
COURT INJUNCTION AGAINST BRYMO
Nigerian Singer Olawale Ashiru ‘Brymo’ who until hitherto was one of Chocolate City’s biggest signing seems to be in legal hot water with his Label. Brymo reportedly signed a contract with the label which has Jude Abaga ‘M.I’ as the Oga at the top. Brymo’s contract with Chocolate City was meant to last till 2016, but given his human affinity for disputes seems to be at loggerheads with his label. Chocolate City which has other talented artistes like IcePrince, M.I and formerly Jesse Jagz is one of the biggest labels in the country.
Now why am I going way out of my comfort zone to make this story? Chocolate city on Monday 21st October got an injunction through their legal firm, L & A Legal consultants against Brymo, “restraining him from recording, releasing, distributing any composition, song, musical works or carrying out any activity as a recording or performing artist through or for the benefit of any other organisation other than Chocolate City pending the determination of the suit against him.” So in other words, if he doesn’t settle his dispute with Chocolate City, his career is ‘finished’, as he cannot even do a collaboration or feature on another artiste’s track. To do so would be in contempt of the orders of the court.
Brymo seems to be very pissed with the development, as it is very paramount in his intentions to opt out of the label as soon as possible, but Chocolate City having nurtured him into the artiste he is today is reluctant to let him go, at least not until the expiration of his contract in 2016. This current development has been raking a lot of public reaction, given the fact that Brymo is one of Nigeria’s talented artiste. Many are concerned about the future of Chocolate City, which has already lost Jesse Jagz, another talented hip hop artiste to a similar brouhaha.
What is worthy of note is the lackadaisical attitude with which many Nigerians sign contracts these days. Many do not even know the implications of what they are signing. Most of our ‘big-shot’ artistes are what I would term illiterates, as they didn’t finish their education. Some dropped out of school to make music, while others didn’t even have intention of schooling at all. This is one of the major reasons why most of them ‘gbagaun’ on Twitter and other Social Networking sites on a daily basis. In fact, some of them even go to such lengths as ‘gbagauning’ in their lyrics. It is not out of place to listen to a Nigerian hit song and wonder whether the person who wrote the lyrics actually read what he wrote.
Nigeria is a country that is so talented, that the number of upcoming artistes is actually more than the audience who are interested in listening to the track. The Legal Watchmen is appealing to all upcoming artistes to biko, biko, biko, understand the terms of contract with the label that is signing you. If the terms of the contract is voluminous, and worded in a manner that may induce headache, try and get a lawyer or at least a law student to explain your rights and liabilities. There is a well-known Latin maxim in law: ubi jus ubi remedium. Where there is a right there is a remedy. No matter how disparaging the terms of contract may seem, there would be loopholes which you can utilize in your favour.
It is high time education is taken seriously in this country, and standards set.
Brymo is very talented no doubt, but even the best talent when left idle for three years will experience strain and pressure. It is best that he settles this amicably in the interest of his career. He is too talented not to work.
Incase you don’t know who Brymo is (are you a learner?) Naa him sing Good Morning and Ara. And he put mouth for Iceprince’ Oleku.
I am oluwanonso_Esq on Twitter.
Monday, 21 October 2013
PREDICT AND WIN
I believe that we have reached a level of maturity in this country when we should not be told of our responsibilities any more. So I cannot fathom why the Telecommunications Industry, and more specifically, the Telecommunications companies have not started commercialising this ASUU strike. I receive albeit useless messages from MTN and AIRTEL daily asking me to subscribe to one information plan or the other- things that do not concern me. They sometimes offer information such as health tips or sports updates.
But since the inception of this ASUU strike, or more specifically, when ASUU and Federal Government broke down their negotiations, I foresaw a very cool way for these Telecommunications to make money from students. They ought to offer information services such weekly updates on the ASUU strike for just 50 Naira/month. This is something that most students sitting at home would have gladly subscribed to. And it goes without saying that the intuitive company would have made their profits in serious figures.
Besides, I want to bring myself to believe that multinational companies that make large turnout in profits have a corporate responsibility to Nigerian citizens to raise their standard of living (I stand to be corrected). That is why we have various scholarship programmes and promotional offers by these companies. We receive messages from GLO everyday telling us to partake in one promo or the other. So I cannot bring myself to understand why till date, no one has thought of the idea of a predict and win game. I long to receive that message from MTN to predict correctly the date that ASUU will call off the strike and win a Blackberry Bold 5. Of course, that is for starters. Others can come up with better ideas and better prizes.
And banks should not leave out in the fun. Since our bank accounts have been dormant for these three weeks, they can also come up with interesting offers or promos for us. Think of an advertorial from GTBank that the person who checks his (empty) account balance the highest number of times in a day could win a TECHNO phone.
We students cannot be the overall losers after the strike. We must have something to show for the (nearly) four months that we spent at home. Money cannot bring happiness, but it is more comfortable to cry in a Toyota SUV than in a Keke Napep.
I am oluwanonso_Esq on Twitter
Sunday, 20 October 2013
A CONFUSED MINISTER
Weeks ago, President Jonathan Goodluck Jonathan gave the chops to nine (9) Ministers under the guise of cabinet reshufflement. A lot of Nigerians were expecting the Minister of Petroleum, Alison Diezani Madueke to be heaved-ho of her public duty considering her corrupt stunts of public money. Although much is yet to be revealed about this acclaimed Petroleum Minister, the Minister of Aviation, Stella Odua has overnight become the flavour of the mouth of Nigerians.
On the 3rd of October, 2013, two days after the Independence Jamboree, an Associate Airline bound Ondo state, crashed in Lagos state minutes after take-off. According to reports, the airline had an engine glitch and was on a test-flight. It was even alerted by the automated machine within the plane before take-off that she was not air-worthy. Within the space of two weeks after the unfortunate incident, two plane crashes were adverted. We should not be quick to forget the Dina air disaster that occurred in Lagos on June 3rd, 2012. After the 3rd of October incident, a lot of reactions elicited from Nigerians. Via the social network, the radio, the electronic media, et cetera, well-meaning Nigerians ventilated their spleen on the Aviation Minister who as a result of external and internal pressure couldn’t but arrogate the disaster as an act of God. Considering her confused state of mind and her life being on the line, the Ministry of late acquired for her two brown new BMW bullet proof cars to the tune of two hundred and fifty-five million naira (N255, 000,000). Let us not be deceived that the money was from her personal income. Miss Wise thinks buying two bullet proof cars will be sufficient enough in saving her life from any supposed and perceived minatory. Let her not forget like Goodluck Jonathan who raised an alarm that there may be some Judas Iscariots in her Ministry. I expected her to have complemented it with a bullet proof house so she can live a bullet proof life.
Some police officers in Imo State have threatened to strike after they were posted to violence-prone States in the North. One would have expected the Federal Government to channel these monies rather in purchasing bullet proof armour vehicles, cuirasses, breastplates and even helmets for our security forces considering the incessant security threats by some sinisterous guerilla forces in the North-Eastern parts of the country.
What and who on earth must have induced a Minister to expend such exorbitant amount in purchasing two transient bullet proof automobiles? It seems as if these bullet proofs will act as her talisman from death. From the annals of history, the most protected are not always the ones that live longest. I would suggest that Stella Odua gives her life to Christ as her amulet, so as to remedy her from her indecisive, hysteric and confused presence of mind.
Written by DAVIDSON OBABUEKI.
WHERE IS JUSTICE?
I watched with unspeakable wrestling and agony in my soul as humans were been beaten, battered, shattered and kindled with fire. With anger so devoid of mercy, emotion were expressed in so vivid a way that would have a made a 13th Century Viking cower in fear. Distracted by head-lifting and side-shifting, I tried to pause and cry but the tears only welled up in my eyes. I found myself in a tightrope of pains wrangling in my brain. I watched as spectators counselled and stoked up their death. I watched as they writhed and struggled in the sheets of flames. I also watched as they gasped for breath but none was forthcoming. All that they could inhale was the pungent smell of burning flesh and mangled bones. I imagined them never meeting their waterloo after their labour of love for their country. And I saw as they drooped, deflated and died under the irresistibly chilling hot shadows of fire. I saw, I watched, I imagined and I wept for the four Nigerian students of the University of Port Harcourt as they were lynched to death for flimsy reasons by angry mobsters in Umuokiri in Aluu Community on October 5th, 2012.
One would have thought that justice would be expedite in circumstances of this nature, but exactly a year after, justice still hangs on the balance. I cannot stoop so low to praise our justice system as she has plunged herself into a situation where Rome is burning and Augustus Caesar fiddling his fingers. All the talents that pleased God to bless Ugunna Obuzor; an eighteen (18) years old, 200 level, Geology student, Lloyd Toku Mike; a nineteen (19) years old, 200 level, Civil Engineering student, Tekena Elkanah; a twenty (20) years old, Diploma Technician student and Chiadaka Odinga; a twenty (20) years, 200 level, Theatre Arts student have all been plunged into eternal oblivion. Just imagine the physical and emotional trauma their parents are going through because of delayed justice.
After the public hue and cry by the citizens of India upon the gang rape of a twenty-three (23) years old woman, who subsequently died a week after in hospital from the internal injuries occasioned by the act by four men, the Indian Supreme Court wasted no time in sentencing them to death. The actions of the angry mobs who murdered the four Nigerian students were carried out within a day, and in spite of the hue and cry from Nigerians, there seem not to be an element of justice. All we can perceive is delayed justice and its eventual denial. The Adversarial system of justice in force in Nigeria is very slow and it is no disparagement on our judiciary to learn and if possible adopt the apace Jury System of other countries who are at the vanguard of justice. I am always tempted to ask, what is the essence of a State without justice? And St. Augustine answered me in his book, ‘City of God’, that; “Without justice, a State is nothing but a robber band”. From the decision reached in Major General Hamza Musdapher’s case by our Nigerian Courts, the citizens are still yet to feel primarily the keen of justice, and savor the cutting-edge of the law.
Chapter IV of Section 33(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria. It was never certified by any Nigerian Court that the students committed an offence that warranted those blood-thirsty and barbaric members of the Aluu Community to intentionally snuff out their right to life. Or was it that the animals who devoured the Nigerian students deemed it appropriate to form a court to trial people. If that been the case, then that mobocratic rule was no less than a Bill of Attainder or a Bill of Pains and Penalties where a man was pronounced guilty without trial. The name Aluu means ‘abomination’, and according to the diseased members of that community, what the students did amounted to an anathema before them but not before the law. The members of the Aluu Community took the laws into their own hands and constituted a Kangaroo Court where no rules apply and resorted to jungle justice. The murderers, onlookers, the members and people around the scene who contributed in stoking their killings, like Macbeth who heard a voice cry saying sleep no more Macbeth doth murder sleep, the innocent sleep are as well culpable by virtue of Section 7 of the Criminal Code Act which delineates that when an offence is committed, each of the following persons is deemed to have taken part in committing the offence and to be guilty of the offence, and may be charged with actually committing it, that is; (a) every person who actually does the act, (b) every person who does any act for the purpose of aiding or enabling another person to commit the offence, (c) every person who aids another person in committing the offence, and (d) any person who counsels any other person to commit the offence. And Section 319 of the same Act provides that any person who commits murder shall be sentenced to death. As plain and clear as these provisions may seem, justice seems unforthcoming.
The bane of Nigerians still remains fiat justitia (let justice be done). This is not the Roman Colosseum situation where early Christians were killed by lions and gladiators as public sport. Neither is it Cosmas and Damian situation; two Arabian brothers who after surviving ordeals of drowning, burning and stoning eventually ended up been beheaded and nothing was done to that effect. My heart bleeds for justice because it is the sharpest part of the law that when denied of it, the whole essence of existence becomes blunt. My balance has been offset. The souls of the four students killed in the Aluu Community in Port Harcourt have submerged me in a justice-thirsty state. Where are the human right activists, the long arm of the law, the coroners, the radicals, the legal practitioners of our country? Where are they? Justice hands on a balance. When will justice flow down like a river and integrity like a mighty stream in Nigeria? Says the LEGAL WATCHMEN. If justice is not manifestly and undoubtedly seen to be done, fate will play herself in the succeeding years to come.
Written by Obabueki Davidson.
Saturday, 19 October 2013
SIMPLE AND SHORT!
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First of all, I'd like to apologise for our little hiatus (google is your friend). Blame it on ASUU hehe. Now, you know how you see a writeup about something that seems interesting, so you start to read. You make it past the first and second paragraph, by the third paragraph you get curious 'how long is this thing sef' and so your eyes dart down to the end of the page and see that you aren't even halfway through and you're like ' HELL NO!' Nobody has time to read some long, boring article about something that doesn't affect the price of garri in the market.
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In the light of keeping the words to the barest minimum; let me just say to the writers; let's make the effort to keep it as short and as entertaining as possible and to the readers, well we can't always expect pictures so look at it that the lack of pictures gives you the freedom to paint your own pictures from the words you read. So have a little patience and endure to the last paragraph.....most times
you'd be glad you did.
Sunday, 13 October 2013
Thursday, 10 October 2013
THE POLITICAL QUESTION
Some physicists have over the years succeeded in discovering divergent laws of Physics, and have carried out series of test in the laboratories. I will not in any way rate them a hundred percent, for notwithstanding their scientific niche, the failure on their part to relate their blest discoveries to the direct elements of the society have left the great unwashed at the mercy of quandary. The rising tide of evil spirit living amongst men has no doubt crept into the political structure of Nigeria. It may be difficult to decipher this, but these “evil spirits” are seen and its operations understood by some people. Like its “invisible nature” but tangible defects, the Simple Harmonic Motion in the laws of Physics, lends color to the political question.
The Simple Harmonic Motion is the periodic motion of a body along a straight line such that the speed of the body is directed towards a fixed point and is equal to its displacement from it original position. For clarity's sake, the pendulum is assumed to be a body or mass in a motionless state along a straight line. The pendulum only moves left and right towards a fixed point if displaced from its original position. This movement is known as the vibratory or oscillatory movement (toing and froing movement). The political landscape in Nigeria is likened to the operation of a pendulum. By the social contract theory propounded by the triads of John Locke, Thomas Hobbes and Jean Jacques Rosseau, the citizens of Nigeria have conferred their sovereignty on the government in return for security amenities, shelter et cetera. This graphical representation reflects a direct relationship between Nigerians and her government. The small body mass that sprouts out of the pendulum is the government and the string or straight line that connects or binds the people to her government makes up the pendulum, hence we have a government in motion which is the basis of administrative law.
However, by the Simple Harmonic Motion, when the pendulum assumes a state of equilibrium, much progress in the country is achieved. When displaced to and fro its original position, we loose our grip. Why?
The Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy set out in Chapter II of Section 13 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, makes it the duty and responsibility of all organs of government, and all authorities and persons, exercising legislative, executive or judicial powers to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of this chapter of the constitution. The Athens Act of 1953 emphasized that government as well as citizens should be subject to the law. But how possible and efficient can a government be subjected to the law and conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter II of the Constitution when the Simple Harmonic Motion in our political pendulum is often displaced and swung at cross purposes with the citizens. Who are the “unseen” political displacers? Just as a pendulum is displaced by a living thing, in our political atmosphere, who are the displacers? Are they spirits?
When Nigeria gained her independence on October 1, 1960, a lot of Nigerians were grateful to our founding fathers. They were the fighters of our faith. They secured for us the original position that is now been displaced by some “masqueraded evil spirits” who parade themselves as godfathers. A lot of names have been mentioned as regards people using underground methods in masquerading the operation of government. From the Federal Government down to the States and Local Governments, these masqueraders reign supreme. I am still yet to demystify the rationale for displacing the equilibrium of government to and fro. Is it that the “evil spirits” that shifts the free flow of government’s machinery do that to sit on the coat tail of the government? Or do they do it to enrich themselves? If their actions are carried out to better the country which I doubt, it will be a plus to the social contract between the government and her citizens.
The fixed point of the toing and froing movement of the pendulum of government has already been set by these “masquerades”. They ensure that the pendulum does not exceed a particular limit according to their displacement thereby making the nation grapple and dawdle behind in development. The displacers, determines the direction and extent (fixed point) to which the body [leader(s) and the led (pendulum)] will reach. The displacers and the displacement theory is the political questions. Who are the displacers in our Polity?The citizens are always on the receiving end. When are we going to unmask these masquerade? So say Nigerians. To some Nigerians, the “masqueraders” remote-control the cabinet of the small mass of the pendulum. To others, the one been remote-controlled subject themselves to the “unseen” organ grinder, owing to the fact that when they bow out of national service, they receive their fringe benefits from them.
Which either way, the Simple Harmonic Motion can only have a seismic and direct effect on Nigerians if only the government will be sincere enough to pray their way through in unmasking these defective “evil spirits” who swing the machinery of government to and fro even after retirement.
I stand to be disputed. But all railleries and clamours against this write up are subject to the Davidson’s principle that “if there be any man made law subsisting, that law is relative and questionable”.
WRITTEN BY DAVIDSON OBABUEKI
The Things Guys Should NEVER DO When Relating With Girls
3. While making your first impression, TRY, TRY and TRY to speak good
English! This cannot possibly be over-emphasized. Don't hit her with the 'Can I has your
number' bomb. If she's a smart girl, she's going to be running in the other
direction the next opportunity she gets. Then again, that doesn't mean you
should go all 'Patrick Obahiagbon' on a sister. Keep it simple, that way you
are less likely to make mistakes.
4.
Even though you may disagree, its better not to collect a girl's number the
first time you meet her. If you just chat her up and wait until the 2nd meeting
to collect her number; she already has a certain respect for you because its
something most people wouldn't do and then the chances of you starting a good
friendship are better.
5. So at this stage, we are assuming you
both have started talking casually. DO
NOT lie. This would probably be a very difficult habit to break. When talking
to a girl or anybody for that matter, do not give them the idea that you are
something or someone that you really aren't. If you do that, you are only
opening up a black hole of lies and It will never end. Don't say ' I manage a
hotel' when all you really manage is the gate of the hotel. And don't say ' I'm
a poet ' and then get angry when she asks to see one of your poems. Keep it
real and keep it true; if you don't your lies will come back and bite you in
the butt and it wouldn't be pretty.
6. Next, DO NOT ask to meet up with a girl
who is barely an acquaintance. So you meet someone today and by tomorrow, you
are asking 'Can we meet?' The guy who does this is most likely desperate, and
if he isn't then he makes himself look desperate and quite reckless too. He
might as well invite a complete stranger over. Until you've known her well
enough, its unwise to go out with her. If you think two weeks is enough and you
invite her out and she brings six of her friends who eat all your life's
savings in one afternoon; you'll have just yourself to blame. That, by the way,
is almost the best case scenario.
7. DO NOT EVER EVER EVER tell a girl you
have just met and barely know ' I love you '. Yes yes, people do it and go as
far as ' if you don't love me back, I wouldn't be able to sleep'. You might
argue that it is love at first sight which is hardly ever the case though but
if you are so sure it is, kindly keep it to yourself till you know her well
enough so you don't end up scaring her away. Apart from scaring her,
proclaiming your love when you are barely even friends makes you appear daft
and unfortunately, once you crossed this line, you most likely never get a
do-over. Girls prefer to earn such things and so your saying it before knowing
her for a week just cancels all chances you may have previously had.
8. DO NOT call, ping or text like a maniac.
There are those guys that you meet and you feel like you might as well have
downloaded an app and left it on all day. They just function to kill your phone
battery! How does a normal person leave 14 missed calls. I don't owe you money!
No matter how interesting you think the girl is, don't send her messages all
the time, she had other friends before she met you. You don't just meet someone
and decide to be their personal alarm clock, not everyone likes to hear the
sound of your voice at 5:30 in the morning. If you must call, do it at
reasonable time. Not too early and not too late.
9. DO NOT make yourself her personal
therapist. This is a common one. When you meet a girl, in a bid to get to know
her; don't delve in and start shooting all the personal questions. If you talk
about surface things and the conversation leads in that direction- Fine but do
not take it upon yourself to ask every personal question there is or ever will
be. It can be quite annoying and you don't want her despising you, at least not
yet.
10. DO NOT introduce the girl you barely
know to your friends as your girlfriend. You may be able to bask in the glory
of having a gorgeous 'girlfriend' for a while but when the news reaches her,
you would get the embarrassment of a lifetime. She would take the effort to
tell you and your friends that she isn't and I'm sure we all like to avoid
embarrassment when we can. If you think she wouldn't find out, wait till her
actual boyfriend gets wind of it......hehe that one would be a story for
another day.Go here for a male's point of view on the topic
For
those of you who didn't know, well now you know. Don't forget them. Thank me
later.....
Wednesday, 9 October 2013
GUYS! things you shouldn't do when you want a girl
.
(1) Don't stare or ogle at a girl uncontrollably.sure this girl is 'the most beautiful goddess I've ever seen', yes, she is more beautiful that the evening sunset, yet that does not give you the license to fix your retinas at her.she will not only find that creepy and uncomfortable but it gives off the impression that you are a desperado. Subtle glances are a lot more appealing.
(2) Dont be double sided like a casette. In other words, don't lie to impress a girl. Sure we see movies where a girl gets impressed with all the trouble the guy had to go through for her but then again that's why its a movie.Be real to yourself and eveyone around you.If you lie that you have a Bugatti, trust me she might definitely want a cruise in that buggati soon.
(3) Keep ur language simple and PG-13.So I have this friend who thinks he could impress girls with a wide vocabulary of swear words and guess what, suprisingly girls run away from him. Using swear words is never cool especially when you are with a girl. It tends to give them this feeling that you are aggressive and that's a step backward. A solution to this could be expanding your vocabulary.
(4) Hygiene: *sighs*... O my, a lot of guys are culprits on this one. There is nothing more repulsive to a girl than a guy with body or mouth odour. Infact this single flaw could liquidate all ur efforts and strain ur relationship wit the opposite sex. Do whatever you have to do to stay clean. I think this is pretty clear enough
(5) Your style of dressin matters a lot... Being a gentleman doesn't actually equate dressing in a suit or tie but it is very neccesary not to dress out of line... I know many guys have their unique sense of style but sagging is NEVER cool... It is actually repulsive to most girls. Sadly, most guys ignore this and they end up pulling a 'Lil wayne' in d worst place possible: a class of Law students
(6) Gurls love scholars-smart, intelligent people with a purpose in life. However, if you want to impress a girl NEVER try to act smarter than you actually are. You might (most definitely will) end up making a fool out of yourself. For example, stop asking all too obvious questions in class, there better and more effective ways to do dat. Try gettin straight A's in your next exam instead. This 'I-too-Know' syndrome will only put you in the lecturer's bad books, and will probably portray you as someone who cannot reason out things with his brain.
(7) Exercise patience: I might sound like a Pastor here, but patience is really neccesary.You meet this girl on Facebook, and you've had sleepless nights because of her. Big deal.Do not rush things when dealing with her. Patience is a virtue here. Keep the conversation simple and things will fall naturally into place. NEVER, I repeat NEVER send amorous messages to a girl you just met on Facebook or Twitter, not only will she ignore you, she'ld tell her friends and probably everyone else too. So don't be too surprised to see a picture of your message trending as a big joke on Twitter.
(8) Say the right thing at the right time: You finally got a girl to go to dinner with you on a first date. You are so excited and you don't wanna mess things up by saying the wrong things. Lemme give you a hint. You could talk about everything in the world but don't talk about her body. Leave her big tummy alone,ignore her giant mole (or beauty mark as she might want to call it), and keep things simple.Girls love flattery but even that has a limit.Don't ask too many questions at a time,its a first date not an interview session.
(9) Bbm-blackberry messenger..in this side of the world,bbm is more used than dictionaries (I stand to be corrected). Socially,it is a very useful gadget in meeting up. If you re chatting with a girl and eventually u ask for her contact, she would probably decline the first time (if she has worth). As a guy don't panic. Infact the little trick here is to quickly act like nothing ever happened.here's a quick re-enactment:
Boy:can u give me your numba so I could give you a call sometime.
Girl: I am sorry, but I don't give my number to strangers.
STOP!!! Don't do this:
Boy: I am not a stranger,I could be the number one guy in your life if you jst give me the chance. (OR) Do I wanna eat ur number. Why can't you just trust me.
Rather just act in line:
Boy: ok dats true though, anyway what have u been up to lately.
Don't ask her for number again and I bet you she would bring back the topic herself
(10) This next one is a bit raunchy but trusts me it happens to a lot of guys. You see this hot girl and you just can't resist approaching her, but alas there's a problem. You have a boner!. Keep your dirty mind in check. A responsible girl who notices that will be automatically turned off and your chances blown away.
(11) Every girl loves a funny guy; "that guy that makes me smile", "that boy who makes my day" etc. However,you should always know the limit as a guy. if a girl tells you are funny, enjoy that feeling. If she tells you are a clown, that's badnews. You might just end up in the friendzone as her personal jester.Don't try forcing your jokes on her if she doesn't understand, just let it go. And also important, don't tell dirty jokes, sure it worked for the family guy, but this is reality. It could easily sell you off as a pervert and am sure you dont wanna give off that kind of impression.
I could go on and on about what you should and should not do but I think this would suffice. If a girl rejects you it doesn't neccesarily mean you did something wrong though you just have to examine yourself. Ultimately being male is a matter of birth. Being a man is a matter of age. But being a Gentleman is a matter of choice.
Gems from a gentleman.
Monday, 7 October 2013
ANIMALS IN HUMAN CLOTHING
Written by Davidson Obabueki.
“Man is but a political animal”. I cannot but affirm the truism of this statement made by Aristotle centuries ago as it is taking its toll in the Nigerian Federal Structure. The mace a physical symbol of dignity and authority was reduced to a baton stick when Chidi Lyold a majority member of the Rivers State House of Assembly thwacked the mace on the head of a fellow member of the house. Such was a political travesty that could never had been imagined! Even if both parties had political vendettas, would it have been appropriate to wash one’s dirty linen in public? This legislative picture portrays a decorated battle field where the dramatis personae are replete with animals in human clothing displaying beastly traits. What examples are left to emulate from these old men whose polls have been flaxen. The truth remains that in the punnet of legislators, there are still those who are lily-white. But as events unfurls, the pulpit is twice as fast corrupting the pew. A public officer who cannot carry out at least to a reasonable degree, if not all her mandate is likeable to a sick animal in a litter and as such must be quarantined by way of recall.
The government in Nigeria is the only vessel known to develop a leak at the top. Sub-article 1 of Article 21 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) provides that: “Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or indirectly.” I ask, where goest this country? A country where the falcon can no longer hear the falconer, where the “leaders” no longer care for the led. Sub-article 3 of the same Article 21 whets my appetite to state that: “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government.” I am forced to ask, what sayest thou tenets of democracy? Its principles are ill winds that blows nobody any good.
It was an economic shock when the emoluments of the Nigerian legislators within eight years of selfish talks where estimated to have amounted to a trillion naira. The highest paid legislators in the world. What a mean feat to shrug off. What actually do the Nigerian legislators transact in their Tower of Babel? Nothing but the rehearsals of talks and laws that favours the rich minority. Little wonder did Oliver Goldsmith posit that “The rich rule the law and the law grinds the poor”. It is saddening that the ideas and practices of those in the corridors of power have successfully been adopted and co-opted by splinter groups ranging from the university level down to the nurseries. It is only beastly animals that can display these kind of traits. Like their counterparts, when devoid of food resort to cannibalism. The clock of vengeance knells every dawn to dusk at every acts of betrayal. As General Maximus posit: “What we do in life echoes in eternity”. The prayers of Nigerians have pertinaciously spell-bounded this nation from her division.
The time has come for Nigerians to come out of their shell and know exactly what democracy entails by choosing leaders who are peopled-personed and not animals smoke-screened in human clothing. For democracy entails not the conferment of power on the few but on the many.
Davidson writes from Benin-City.
Articles and contributions are welcome. Send all articles/contributions as Microsoft Word attachment to oluwanonso.equation@gmail.com
Saturday, 5 October 2013
A PRESIDENT WITHOUT BALLS!
WRITTEN BY FEMI-FANI KAYODE
Permit me to begin this contribution by quoting a portion of an
essay that I wrote on 26 September 2011 which was titled ”On
Goodluck Jonathan, David and Goliath”. The portion reads as
follows.
”A few days ago from the sacred pulpit of the hallowed chambers
of the National Christian Centre in Abuja and in the prescence of
the entire leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan proclaimed as follows- ”I am
not David….I am not a general…..I am not a lion…..I will defeat the
Goliaths in our land”. These are deep and instructive words yet I
do wonder whether Mr. President understands the spiritual and
practical implications of what he is saying.
If he says that he ”is not a David” how can he then possibly slay
the ”Goliaths in the land?” If he says that he ”is not a general” how
can he be an effective Commander-in-Chief who commands the
respect and confidence of his army and his officers? If he says
that he ”is not a lion” how can he overwhelm the animals in our
jungle that seek to destroy and ravage our land? The lion is a
noble and courageous animal that defends it’s pride and family
and protects it’s own. That is why it is known as the ”king of the
jungle” and that is why our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Himself
is known as the ”Lion of the Tribe of Judah”.
Every king worth his salt must have the spirit of the lion and the
warrior in him to a certain extent. It is a fundamental pre-
qualification for good quality and inspirational leadership and
that is what distinguishes the pretender and the usurper from a
real king. May the spirit and weakness of Ahab not be our
President’s portion even though his words seem to have ensnared
him. History proves that weak kings and weak leaders always pull
down and destroy great empires and strong kingdoms.
If you have any doubt about that consider what happened to the
Roman Empire under Nero, Claudius or Caligula. If you still have
any doubts after that then read up on Russian history or watch an
excellent old film called ”Nicholas and Alexander” about Tsar
Nicholas the 1st, the last Tsar of Russia and how his strong-willed
wife and his consistent display of weakness shamed and brought
down imperial Russia, destroyed the 300 year old royal dynasty of
the Romanovs, led directly to the First World War (which in turn
led to the Second World War and then later the Cold War), caused
the communist revolution, led to the Russian civil war, resulted in
the murder of his whole family and ended in the establishment
and creation of the most evil and godless empire that has ever
ruled half of the world- the cold and all-powerful Soviet empire.
That is what weakness, prevarication, inconsistency, cowardice,
emotional slavery, inexplicable fear and the celebration of
indecision can do. Worst still you don’t boast about such
qualities because there is nothing to be proud of in them. Always
remember, whether you are a king or a subject, that courage is the
greatest of all the virtues. This is wisdom. Would someone please
tell our President”.
Once again please take note that the contribution that I quoted
above was part of an essay that I wrote on 26th September 2011,
almost two years ago to the day.
With the killing of 91 children by Boko Haram in Damatru a few
days ago, the slaughter of 140 Nigerian troops by Boko Haram in
Borno state last friday, the massacre of 41 school children in
Borno state by Boko Haram two months ago, the mass murder of
no less than 7000 thousand Nigerians by Boko Haram in the last
3 years and the raging war that is going on in the northern eastern
part of our country between Boko Haram and our military today
those words and that counsel that was offered two years ago seem
even more relevant today than it was even at that time.
The carnage that we are witnessing in our country today has come
as a direct result of the manifestation of weakness at the top.
When a President tells the world that Boko Haram are his
”siblings” whom he ”cannot move against”, as he did earlier this
year, he is asking for trouble. When a President keeps offering
Boko Haram amnesty even when they kept rejecting it and whilst
they were murdering his people, as he has been doing for the last
three years, he is asking for trouble. When a President installs and
supports a party National Chairman who describes Boko Haram as
”freedom fighters”, as he did earlier this year, he is asking for
trouble.
When a President announces to the world that he is ”not a lion or
a David”, as he did exactly two years ago, no-one should be
surprised when his people are killed like flies before his very
eyes. May God bring us a real leader that can save our nation and
may He take away this one who feels no pain and has no empathy
when Nigerian blood, nay even the blood of innocent children, is
shed with impugnity. Under the tenure of our ”lamb” President
more innocent Nigerians have been slaughtered by terrorists than
at any other time in the history of our country except during the
civil war.
What a mess, what a record. I continue to ponder about one thing
though- would the President have been so unperturbed and
detached from the whole thing if the children that were killed in
their school yesterday morning had been from his Niger Delta
area or from the east. It appears to me that simply because those
kids were northern muslims this President just ”doesn’t give a
damn”. What a tragedy. Whether christian or muslim, northern or
southern these are only children and they are NIGERIAN children
each of whom is entitled to the full protection of the Nigerian
state. I have said it before and I shall say it again, Nigeria has
become an abbatoir of human flesh and blood under the tenure of
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and all those who support
him should bury their heads in shame. The blood of all those
innocent people is on his hands because he swore to an oath
before God and the Nigerian people to protect them from such
evil. Instead of getting on with his job and doing so he has spent
the last few days boasting to the world about ringing the bell in
the New York Stock Exchange and receiving irrelevant, illusionary,
self-serving and absurd commendations for absolutely nothing
from President Barack Obama. May God deliver us.
Permit me to make a painful observation here. I was thoroughly
appauled about the fact that when our lamb President was asked
about the latest round of killings during his live ”Presidential
Media Chat” programme on sunday evening he not only told a lie
to the world by claiming that only ”21 or 22 students were killed”
at a time when the BBC and CNN had confirmed that at least 45
bodies had been found (more were to be discovered later) but he
also failed to express his condolences to the families of those that
had lost their loved ones. He made the same omission when he
failed to commiserate with or express his condolences to the
families of the 140 soldiers that were killed in Borno state last
friday whilst fighting Boko Haram simply because they ran out of
bullets during the course of the battle.
By way of contrast not only was he quick to offer his condolences
to the government and people of Kenya for the terrible carnage
that was inflicted on them by Al Shabab last friday when 68 people
were killed (I guess that to him Nigerian blood is not as expensive
or as important as foreign blood) but he was also quick to offer
the Kenyan government military assistance. If President Uhuru
Kenyatta decides to accept his offer let us hope that our lamb
President will give enough bullets to the soldiers that he will send.
Our boys are deeply courageous fighters and they certainly
deserve that much. They also deserve to have a Commander in
Chief that inspires them, that watches their back and that gives
them the very best. May the souls of all those that have been
killed by Boko Haram in the last three years rest in peace and may
the Lord take the leadership of this nation from the lamb and give
it to a lion king.
Permit me to end this contribution with the following
observations. As crude and as unpleasant as it may sound the
question must be asked – does our President have any balls? Is he
really a man? Does he have what it takes to fight a war against
terror or is it that there is more to this than meets the eye? Is there
a sinister and diabolical conspiracy and plan to ensure that
elections do not hold in the north-east and the north-west in 2015
given the fact that those areas are very hostile to the suggestion
that Jonathan should return to power that year? Is this whole thing
planned and contrived or is it a case of chronic incompetence,
ineptitude and weakness? Does Jonathan believe that it is in his
interest for the north to burn and for northern blood to be spilt?
Is the mindset of those that are pulling the strings of the view that
since the problem has been (to use the President’s own words in
his last media chat) ”localised” and ”contained in a certain area”
the government can sit back and watch the locals slaughter
themselves whilst they continue to drink champagne in the Villa
and fantasise about 2015? If that is the case has it not occured to
them that their fellow Nigerians live in those areas where the
problem has supposedly been ”localised” and is the blood of
those fellow Nigerians not red as well? Are they less Nigerian
because of where theywere born and who they are? Are the people
that live in the villages and countryside not as important as those
who live in the towns and cities?
Whatever is really going on here God sees all and anything that is
not of Him will surely fail. If it is nothing but weakness and
incompetence that has resulted in this unperecedented carnage
the President will answer before God for violating his solemn oath
to protect the Nigerian people from enemies within and from
enemies without and if it is a conspiracy to encourage and create
turmoil and chaos in the north just to ensure that they are
excluded from the vote in 2015, both Jonathan himself and
Nigeria as a whole will reap the consequences. It is worth noting
that that is precisely what happened in Mali in the elections that
took place before the north was taken over by the islamists and it
led to a full scale civil war. Any attempt to exclude any part of this
country from participating in the elections in 2015 under the
guise of lack of security or Boko Haram will result in the same
thing with catastrophic consequences for Nigeria. Yet as Napolean
Bonaparte once said, ”we must never account to conspiracy what
can easily be explained away by incompetence”. It is more likely
than not that the situation that is folding in the north-east and the
feeble fight that our government is putting up against Boko Haram
over there is down to Jonathan’s weakness and nothing more. So
when asked the question is our President capable of fighting the
war against terror my answer would be that I am afraid that I
doubt it very much. He just doesn’t have it in him. As the former
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair once said about
John Major, his predecessor in office, he is just ”weak, weak,
weak”.
I am a great believer in strong government and I am one of those
that has always believed that President Olusegun Obasanjo was
one of the best, if not the best, and most effective leaders that we
have ever had in this country. I say this not because I had the
honour and privilage of serving in his government but because,
when it comes to his record in public office, the facts and figures
speak for themselves. Not only are they outstanding but they are
yet to be matched and since he left office in 2007 everything has
gone to the dogs. Love him or hate him one thing is clear- not
under Obasanjo’s watch would 7000 thousand innocent Nigerians
be massacred at will in the space of just two years by a bunch of
murderous and heartless terrorists. He would have known exactly
what to do and how to do it to put a stop to such callous
lawlessness and anarchy right from the start. Equally significant is
the fact that such was his love for Nigeria that regardless of the
region, ethnic group or religious faith that the victims came from,
espoused or belonged to, his response to the terrorists would
have been swift, decisive and utterly ruthless. He would have had
Boko Haram in ”shock and awe” and the whole world would have
marvelled at it. This is because in Obasanjo we had a President
who not only had balls but who also had the courage, heart and
guts to match them.
The greatest error that we as a people ever made and the worst
tragedy and misfortune that has ever befallen us as a nation is the
fact that a meek lamb ended up taking a throne that was designed
and prepared for a lion. The unfortunate consequences of that
tragic error and misfortune are there for all to see. The shedding
of the blood of even the youngest, the most innocent and the
most vulnerable in our society by Boko Haram on a daily basis is
an eloquent testimony to that unsavoury fact.
Special thanks to @realFFK for his contribution.
Friday, 4 October 2013
Its in YOU!
Now, not to generalise but I'm sure its the same for a lot of us; the President talks or doesn't talk and we are at the forefront insulting and calling him all kinds of names for the things he hasnt done. At the same time, we are the ones screaming 'corruption' , 'greedy leaders' and all the other cliches that apply in Nigeria but have we ever stopped to think, ' what can I do to stop this?' or to change that? Don't say its when I'm in a position of power that i can make a change. Change starts from the littlest things. It could stem from throwing that sweet wrapper in the bin instead of out the window. Or closing that tap that is flowing whenever you walk past it. Or gathering your old clothes and sending them to an orphanage.
You never know whose life you could change with a simple "I am sorry" or whose day you could make by keeping a smile on your face. We cannot expect the president or the government to change the entire country, four years isn't enough for that; infact I doubt eternity is. We have to be the change we want to see. I read somewhere that if you can complain about something, then it means that there is a power within you to change that thing. Dont always wait for the next person to fix the problem because chances are, the next person is waiting on another person to fix it!
So the next time, you hear or see something that makes you question the sanity of others; make an effort to fix it. That perfect Nigeria you are looking for is waiting for you to discover it. Now go on and make a change!!!
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
INDECENT DRESSING: OLD FASHION
Written by Davidson Obabueki
Minis raised above kneecaps, variegated blouses sagging vital statistics, lips irritatingly decorated excessively with glossy substances, the eye-lashes, brow and the lids, misguidedly war painted with mascaras of uneven consistency. What!!! Beautiful monsters living a crude and rude existence. It was commonplace in the Antediluvian age to see some human walk nude. Gradually into the Stone and Iron ages changes were made in their modes of dressing this time in leaves, raffias and even in hides. In this 21st century Space age where technology and sophistications has become the mainstay in different countries, the mode of indecent dressing has left a blot on the landscape of development. Like humans in the Stone age, the exposure of one’s lap, bosom and other vital statistics in this Space age to the glare of the public is nothing more than living an old existence in a new age; and such becomes an old fashion of dressing in a new world of development.
The Western sartorial culture has to a large degree, openly infiltrated into Nigeria, fast leaving her in a global desert where dressing in translucent and skimpy clothing is often seen by some persons as modern life. What a dramatic irony! This ignorant and rather atavistic mode of dressing is twice as fast eating into the fabric structures in Nigeria and have become a quid pro quo benefit to some males who see the actors as veneer object of sex. The Nollywood and rag trade industry rear elements when upon performance, strip-tease before their audience who are always ignorantly ready to ask for an encore. The church a place of worship has become a hotbed for these indecent dressers who prostitute and constitute distractions with their bodies. The Ivory towers; a citadel of learning has been reduced to a hideout of indecent exposures in lecture theatres, classrooms et cetera. This honeymoon of indecency, usually bring with it, its corollaries, thereby engraving in the minds of people that these kind are objects of fun.
It marvels me to see a physically endowed lady decently dressed. Is it that she must have probably been aware of the consequences of this crude and rude existing nature of flaunting on indecent clothes? What delight is gained in dressing scantily before leaving one’s abode? Is there any dignity of manner or any attachment of ego in dressing diaphanously? Male folks that flock around you as a result of your indecently old style of dressing, do you think they respect you? Your chaste treasure and the vital statistics you wantonly advertise, how much has it improved your beauty? Before I am accused of being a male jingoist, the male folks are as well compunctive, as some take delight in sagging, and exposing their hairy chest just to display their macho. This immorally malignant epidemic is spurtly infesting innocent ladies and dudes who as a result of peer pressure or otherwise are fast extincting to the back of the beyond. The forensic decision reached in Jones V Randall, is of fundamental importance. The court frowning at immorality held that: “Whatever is contra bonos mores et decorum (contrary to good customs and morals), the principles of our law prohibit and the kings court as the general censor and guardian of the public manners is bound to restrain and punish”. Parents must readily implant moral values of decency in terms of dressing on their children. They must be nicodemusly vigilant as to the companies they keep.
Now that Nigeria is a developing country trying to become one of the cynosures of the world by amongst others sensitizing and sanitizing her society of illegal structures and also the erection of vistas, the Minister of culture and Tourism, Minister of Environment, Ministry of Urban Development, the special adviser to the President on Ethics and values and various traditional rulers, must amongst other agendas ensure the riddance of this rural elements out of the system so as not to pose any social sewage to the enhancement of nation building.
Davidson writes from Benin-City.
What Is the Genesis of Nigeria's Problems?
Thanks to God, Nigeria clocked 53 yesterday. But it is no news that a majority of Nigerians feel that there is nothing worth celebrating in this country.
So, we are going to take a little opinion poll today, so share what you think is the fundamental reason for the problems that Nigeria is facing today. Do you think it started with the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1914? Or are our problems directly traceable to the Independence granted us by the British? Or is it any other thing?
Let the coments start rolling.
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
RAISING THE ANTE.....
If we don't pray for Nigeria, who will?
There are many Nigerians whom at the age of 53 have not yet bought their first car. There are many more who have not still found their dream job, and of course, countless more who haven’t yet built their dream house. There are many 53 year old spinsters who are still searching for Mr Right. And there are many 53 year old Nigerians who deep in their hearts, know that they are far from achieving their dreams.
Today marks the symbolic day which Nigeria was granted full sovereign powers by our British colonial masters. Five years ago, it used to be a day of joy, a day of fanfare and parades, and a day to showcase classy swag in the National colours. But today, I am hardly seeing anyone who is not mandated by the rigours of his job to do so in the National colours. The few Nigerian flags I have seen are not looking starched and proud, and the revered National anthem has hardly been sung in households.
Of course, there is a multiplicity of reasons to explain this seemingly unpatriotic attitude by most Nigerians. Many say that the country has given us very few things to be proud of. Today marks the inception of the fourth month for which university students have been sitting at home doing nothing. The security situation in the country is far from being solved. There was even a scare of fuel scarcity yesterday, and there are numerous other problems which plague this country as I write.
But the Good Book says that in all things give thanks! If we all use today to express our solemn displeasure at the state of affairs in this country, and rain abuses and insults (some of which they deserve) on the leadership of the country, and if we all choose to wear black instead of our National Green and White, then I cannot but ask, who then will wear the National colours? Is it the Ghanaians that will offer thanks to God on our behalf for at least having a nation which we can call our own? Is it the Cameroonians that will showcase our national colours and sing our national anthem? Is it the British kids that will hold parades and have fun in our national parks?
The urge to criticise the government is burning in every one of us, no doubt. But we can at least suspend this desire for the next 24 hours to celebrate the country. Even if we have nothing presently to celebrate, let us celebrate the efforts of our heroes past, for it was the selfless struggle of the nationalists that has brought us to where we are.
For if we don’t pray for Nigeria, who will?
Ramblings of a Patriot.
Friday, 27 September 2013
DRESSED TO KILL
DRESSED TO KILL
She entered the cathedral dressed to kill, or so she thought. To her, all
the guys were in danger. She was set to slaughter them, but it eluded
her that she was in fact dressed up in WAR.
She had taken an age to journey into the deepest of her wardrobe to
unearth all shades of colored clothes;and as she came out,a
rainbow hung above just like in those epic battles.
On her,the colours stop to riot,they gave WAR duel. They slashed at
one another,killing their mates just for personal prominence and the
result was a thick sweat that lined her brow.
Her face,brow and lips were blotted with colors, like a toddler tried
his hands on painting. She looked like a polished Arondizuogu
masquerade.
Those were not all.
She stood on a 12 inches mountain of doom, hoisted up to look like
a modern day daughter of Anak, deluding herself into thinking she
wore shoes. Her ankle ached. The attention getting koi-koi sounded
like the Ogbunigwe from the deepest of the Udi hills during the
Biafran War.
A cursory look at her head would send a little child scampering. On
it sat a medieval fortress which depressed on her so much so that
she had to suave her head right and left, just to relieve the weight. A
wig does not kill, she thought.
Her ears accentuated her armour. On them dangled her shield of
sheer metal. One could see her ear lobes stretched beyond
elasticity. They shrieked for help. She shushed them,while her golden
sword pierced her nose in crude fashion, but she flinched not.
Her neck was strapped with the necklace of valor, choking her breath
away. She struggled, swallowed and beamed a plastic smile.
She couldn`t complain, a general doesn`t. She was the ideal fashion
general, dressed to kill, but one wonders who would truly be dead
before nightfall.
Written by Ogbu Godwin.
This write-up is the imaginative creation of the writer.
Special thanks to Godwin Ogbu for his contribution. Contributions should be sent as Microsoft Word attachment to oluwanonso.equation@gmail.com
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
MUCH I CARE ABOUT SOMETHING
It is the oldest known logic in human history-Cause and effect. Action and reaction. True to type, Reuben Abati was on hand to rescue his Boss. It wouldnt be surprising should Mr. Abati tell us the President travelled alone to America, his words no longer hold meaning to me. The man now wears a thin veneer of responsibility to me. He could turn white to black in the twinkle of an eye.
A senior official in the Bangladesh foreign ministry had this to say about the 165-man delegation his prime minister took to the 68th UN General Assembly: "There is no justification of such a huge delegation spending huge hard-earned money of poor people by way of comfortable air travels and staying in luxurious hotels because only a few officials from the Prime Minister's office...have the engagement with the UN". This is indeed a great lesson to be learnt at no cost whatsoever, but our own President would rather ignore the statistics available to him.Certainly, I couldnt help but feel sorry for the Bangladeshi official, but he needed to have come from my country to know what it feels like "spending huge hard-earned money of poor people". He is even crying over a paltry 165-man entourage, whereas my own President felt the whole Government should be at the UN. The twinges of disquiet didnt readily creep in until much later because from the look of things, we are obviously on the path to doom. Which sane country would not try to salvage its dwindling educational environment, how little however? Except my President is trying to tell me his entourage-equalling a small village, is entirely made up of uneducated men and women, himself inclusive.
And so when I saw the amiable D.G of Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC), Arunma Otteh, smiling and nodding like an Agama lizard besides the President, while the latter was being interviewed, I didnt need the explanations of the self-acclaimed image maker, Mr.Abati. The action said much, not the least of which was: "Nigeria is the safest heaven on earth. Nigerian Universities are the best universities in the world. Nigerian Youths are more technologically advanced than their western counterparts. There are quadrillion jobs waiting for the over 500,000 graduates. Nigeria is indeed over-flowing with milk and honey."
Written by Arikor Collins.
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
TIME TO LASSO A WILD HORSE.
Before embarking on this task, I had dedicated a great deal of attention to ongoing happenings which might have rendered my efforts worthless, but everywhere around me was over-filled with encouraging signs.
Nigeria, as most often is the case seems to be a land of absurdities. From Spartan State legislators to lascivious National legislators-whose licentious libidos could not be curtailed. From a National budget not passed six months into the fiscal year-because some selfish interests have not been met to the Government spending millions daily on refreshments. The political landscape is awash with them and the country seems to be thriving in them (absurdities, I mean). Little wonder then a writer gave it a befitting sobriquet, ‘A land of unusual precedents’. One absurdity has been gradually rearing its ugly head and sending out grisly warnings which have constantly been ignored. After the not-so-long political conundrum in Rivers State, the President’s wife took to different media to register her disapproval. But while condemning the upheaval, made such remarks as "This office", "it is our position" etc. It struck with awe how far our President's wife had gone in her ravenous bid for power, same with a random wife whose husband had managed to get himself into a little political position. A close look at the ongoing constitutional amendments never at any point provided for the "First-Lady syndrome" which is spreading like harmattan wildfire amongst wives of political office holders. But, the stark nature of the situation had hit me with a thrusting force-This is Naija-a land where everything goes.
It seems that Madame is garnering enough clout for her Darling husband's second term bid, and in the process doesn't mind whose toes are stepped on (even the constitutions'). She seems to be at the limelight of her husband's administration, taking delight in making grandiose trips abroad at the slightest instance, that one couldn't help but wonder if she wasn't the one we voted for in the first instance.
Ironically, the greater part of the blame should be apportioned to us. We had watched in our usual nonchalant attitude the progression from a tenuous trait to a repugnant character. From Maryam Babangidas' glamour and lavishness in a country bedevilled by mortuaries for hospitals, death-traps for roads and stones for bread, to Maryam Abachas' display of grandeur and opulence with taxpayers hard-earned monies. Then followed Stella Obasanjos' acts of personal aggrandizements.
My only fear and rightfully as such remains: is that should the status quo not be checked, the next President's wife might be a combination of all these traits mentioned herein, and only then, in our usual manner of crying over spilt milk, would we realize that the situation has crossed over from a handshake to a chest shake.
This article was written by Arikor Collins.
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Monday, 23 September 2013
It Begins With Me
I have learnt to accept whatever life throws at me. I have also learnt to accept the fact that as a Nigerian, there are many things which I just have to put up with. If I keep waiting for the Government to do things for me, I might end up like the 52 year-old lady who is still waiting for Mr Perfect to propose to her. Life has its ups and down, and life as a Nigerian definitely has more ups than downs. But it is left to me to choose whether to pick up the pieces from the ‘downs’ and create opportunities which will catapult me to the desired height, or to keep waiting in the abysmal pit for my saviour to come and rescue me.
People do say that life is not a bed of roses, but we cannot ignore the fact that life does indeed have all the necessary raw materials to make a lovely bed of roses. It is left to me to decide whether I will be the one to pick up the spade or I should simply wait for someone who is ‘better qualified’ than me to do the task. We are now in a generation where ‘anything’ can happen; and one has to constantly be on the lookout for such miracles.
Everyone wants to make it in life, but sadly, not many people are ready to take that leap of faith that will set them on the track to greatness. But the truth about life is that until we take that leap of faith, we are just going to continue waiting in vain like the 52 year-old lady who is still patiently waiting for her perfect man.
Many people are familiar with the story of the stowaway Nigerian boy who took that great leap of faith that has tremendously catapulted him into achieving his goals. This boy’s dream was to go to America, but he did not just sit back at home, content with watching Hollywood movies. No Sir. He took a great and dangerous leap by going the extra mile to see that he actualises his dream. And his sacrifice was ultimately rewarded with success.
Although I would really love to see someone else try it, but this article is definitely not encouraging anyone to try such dare-devilry tricks such as hanging on to the tyres of an aeroplane. The crux of the matter is that watching Hollywood movies alone and fantasizing yourself in America won’t take you anywhere near America. It is until you take that great leap, such as hiking that plane, or hanging on to that tyre, or even jumping out of that building that you will be many steps closer to the great America. Let me be as quick to remind you that there are many hospitals in America which specialise in treating broken bones limbs, as well as a number of well-funded psychiatric hospitals with sophisticated gadgets in America, should your plan go wrong.
Actually, we do not need to employ such extreme tactics before we get that close to our dreams. All that may be required may just be to purchase that change of course form, or to fill that JAMB form, or even to register for that examination. It might just be a simple visit to his office, or even to just speak out.
Just as that Nigerian teenager who ‘discovered’ himself amidst the tyre well of Arik Airplane, I have discovered my own selling point, and I am going to use that opportunity to build a bed of roses for myself. If we are all to do the same, then this world is definitely going to become one big merry Rose garden.
Posted by Oluwanonso.
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THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING
I remember as a child when I would just lie down gazing at the stars to philosophize. I used to ask God some deep questions pertaining to my existence. One such questions that I remember asking is why I am a Nigerian. Why was I not born to an American household or European parents? Or even if I were to be born into a Nigerian household, why did I not end up as the son of stinkingly rich business tycoons like Aliko Dangote or Femi Otedola. It was after watching the match that Chelsea played against Fulham on Saturday that it occurred to me that there are really some things that are beyond our control.
No matter how much we try to be in control of our lives, there are still some things that are things that we just cannot determine because they are completely out of our control.
John Mikel Obi scored his first goal ever in English premiership on Saturday after playing for over seven years. One cannot deny the fact that he is indeed an integral part of the Chelsea squad. But can it be that all these while that he has been playing, he did not strive hard enough to get a goal? During Michael Essien’s stay at Stamford Bridge, we definitely saw him score goals. And Essien and Mikel Obi were both defensive midfielders.
Thus, can we then attribute our centenary troubles in our dearly beloved Nigeria to lack of trying? There have indeed been many people who have tried to get Nigeria into the biblical Promised Land that our Colonial masters promised us when they first made contact with us. But it seems that no matter how hard these celebrated patriots try, there are always some insurgents who will want to place their own selfish agendas over and above the well-being of the general public. And sadly enough, these selfish insurgents are occupying positions of authority which places them at the helm of our affairs.
But as the Holy Bible records, there is a time for everything under the heavens. If it could take Mikel Obi seven years of hard work before he could get his first Premier League goal, then the do-gooders in this country who are sweating daily to shape this country into that desired Utopia should not be discouraged by the efforts of selfish insurgents- in whatever form they appear. Whether it is that politician that has been siphoning hordes of Nigerian Naira meant to build infrastructure, or the boss who has been wrongfully denying you the promotion which you so rightfully desire, or that lecturer who has been thwarting your every attempt to graduate successfully, we should not be discouraged. Rather, we should view these obstacles in the way an advancing striker views defenders who are trying to stop him from getting his desired goal by dribbling around the obstacle while also trying to avoid getting injured.
Even if it takes us 55 years, the time for this country to blossom is coming. And on that great day, no defender would be spared that dribble which will disgrace them for ever. No matter the number of lawyers that the corrupt politician lines up, or the amount of bribes that has changed hands, nothing will stop this country from getting there.
And on that day, I will be there to see it all.
This article was posted by Oluwanonso.
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