Yes, it is a while I put down anything here.
Probably because I had a lot of stuff to tidy up of late and a number of loose ends to firmly tie up.
Or most possibly it is because I have really become so disenchanted I can't think of anything thought provoking and worthy of some cerebral exercise. Well, all these may be true but not entirely.
I guess the main reason I have not put down anything here in a while is because I had become enamored with a new LOVE.
It is a good thing to be married. Yea, I can say that for a fact now. Because I am.
Interesting how people scare themselves about marriage. Building stereotypes of their future partners, by so doing missing the inner essence of suitable partners right before their very eyes.
I was chatting with a friend a few days back, a question that has always dogged me from teenage years popped into my mind. So I asked this friend (who is a lady by the way), "would you date a guy who is still living under his parents' roof and does not have a car?" The question was innocuous enough.
However, the response I got was somewhat disheartening (at least to me): " I have an official car and leave alone. I don't see a reason why I should date a baby", she replied.
Wow!!! A damning verdict on a brother. No wonder guys get to ages of 40 and above before they even start thinking of settling down. And then so many girls out there will complain there are no "serious" guys out there.
I tried to make a case for so many of the young brothers out there who have to "struggle" and "hustle" in the very harsh, stifling and unfriendly Nigerian environment. Well, maybe my case was or wasn't good enough.
But, I will like to know your own opinion on this matter....Guys, babes(especially).
How do you judge a guy's competence or incompetence to take care of you?
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
THE RAINS AND DRAINS OF LAGOS
Early this morning the heavens opened up and watered the earth bountifully.
Maybe it was a good thing it rained, but I am sure many Lagosians will have a different view on this.
Not with the attendant heavy flooding that greeted them on their way to various workplaces and businesses.
In recent times, the state government had been commended on its "fantastic infrastructural development programme".
I wonder if it is a case of bad implementation of the programme or a case of been "hoodwinked" into believing there is infrastructural development going on.
What I saw today was an eye-sore, people were forced to slosh in 4-5ft of water on their way to various locations. It is sad that in Lagos state we are yet to comprehensively deal with this problem, even when we know our problem as a water prone city.
Other cities have a well structured drainage system, even ones that has been built over a century ago. And these channels still work perfectly till date. I wonder why in this country we fail to get things right at the first attempt. We seem not to even get it right at the second, third, fourth or fifth attempt. This begs the question: when are we ever going to get anything right?
A question that begs for the right answer the first time of attempting it.
Maybe it was a good thing it rained, but I am sure many Lagosians will have a different view on this.
Not with the attendant heavy flooding that greeted them on their way to various workplaces and businesses.
In recent times, the state government had been commended on its "fantastic infrastructural development programme".
I wonder if it is a case of bad implementation of the programme or a case of been "hoodwinked" into believing there is infrastructural development going on.
What I saw today was an eye-sore, people were forced to slosh in 4-5ft of water on their way to various locations. It is sad that in Lagos state we are yet to comprehensively deal with this problem, even when we know our problem as a water prone city.
Other cities have a well structured drainage system, even ones that has been built over a century ago. And these channels still work perfectly till date. I wonder why in this country we fail to get things right at the first attempt. We seem not to even get it right at the second, third, fourth or fifth attempt. This begs the question: when are we ever going to get anything right?
A question that begs for the right answer the first time of attempting it.
Monday, September 7, 2009
CALLOUS WORLD, DANGEROUS PEOPLE
Something scary I heard this morning: A man and his family on trip, passed by a pregnant woman in labor on the express. The man didn't stop, but the wife took him up on it.
She challenged the husband that as a man of God he should have conscience to stop and help. The man's conscience was pricked So he reversed.
Unfortunately, it happened they fell into a trap by ritualists. They had to donate a member of their family. After an agonizing interlude, they chose the last born. It was a horrible, painful and sorrowful decision to take.
A few kilometers down the highway, they met a police checkpoint. They narrated their story to the police, but on getting to the scene of the incident all they found was the headless body of the baby.
What a world...What a story...Nigeria.
She challenged the husband that as a man of God he should have conscience to stop and help. The man's conscience was pricked So he reversed.
Unfortunately, it happened they fell into a trap by ritualists. They had to donate a member of their family. After an agonizing interlude, they chose the last born. It was a horrible, painful and sorrowful decision to take.
A few kilometers down the highway, they met a police checkpoint. They narrated their story to the police, but on getting to the scene of the incident all they found was the headless body of the baby.
What a world...What a story...Nigeria.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
A SHAME
The current happenings in the banking sector in Nigeria only serves to add an element of credibility to the way we have always been colored as a people and a nation by the western world. No amount of National branding can clean up the image unless we start cleaning our own dirty cupboards.
The hullabaloo that has followed the N747 billion loans saga only brings to the fore the sheer lack of conscience and high level immorality that exists both in the private and government sectors.
In the past we have heard and made so much noise about high level corruption in government, now it seems we witness a new chapter...the era when the wind blew and we all saw the fowl's y***h.
The sanctimonious ways in which the banking gurus had gone around strutting and negotiating the corridors of economic land mines set by the new banking rules of CBN that ushered in the 25 "mega banks", didn't give anyone a clue as to the deep rottenness and the utter profligacy that goes on behind the scenes.
When Madam Clinton gave her scathing speech on Nigeria during a recent visit, a lot of partisan nationalists raised dust. But, can anyone prove that the level of poverty has not risen from 46% to 70% over the last 30 years, as she claims? Can anyone also present prove that there has not been successive failure at different levels of government over the years?
Even in Lagos where we are witnessing some form of a renaissance, it is a scheme fraught with lots of fraudulent acts....I won't be surprised someday when we get to hear about it.
It is a shame really, but I have always maintained that the country's problems have become so humongous we need divine help. Just like it happened with Abacha...
Like one great politician once said: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country". But in Nigeria it has been cannibalized and rephrased: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for yourself."
God help us all!
The hullabaloo that has followed the N747 billion loans saga only brings to the fore the sheer lack of conscience and high level immorality that exists both in the private and government sectors.
In the past we have heard and made so much noise about high level corruption in government, now it seems we witness a new chapter...the era when the wind blew and we all saw the fowl's y***h.
The sanctimonious ways in which the banking gurus had gone around strutting and negotiating the corridors of economic land mines set by the new banking rules of CBN that ushered in the 25 "mega banks", didn't give anyone a clue as to the deep rottenness and the utter profligacy that goes on behind the scenes.
When Madam Clinton gave her scathing speech on Nigeria during a recent visit, a lot of partisan nationalists raised dust. But, can anyone prove that the level of poverty has not risen from 46% to 70% over the last 30 years, as she claims? Can anyone also present prove that there has not been successive failure at different levels of government over the years?
Even in Lagos where we are witnessing some form of a renaissance, it is a scheme fraught with lots of fraudulent acts....I won't be surprised someday when we get to hear about it.
It is a shame really, but I have always maintained that the country's problems have become so humongous we need divine help. Just like it happened with Abacha...
Like one great politician once said: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country". But in Nigeria it has been cannibalized and rephrased: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for yourself."
God help us all!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
THE TRIBUTARY COME UNSTUCK
life is but a journey, yea
We all know that.
But, a journey to where
No one knows that.
Here at a cross road
No directions as to which way is best
North, South, East or West
At the mercy of spineless wit and orders spewed by a wreckless priest
North or South
East or West
Confusion rushes in and blurs the line
The crescent moon incandescent and inadequate to light the way
The way to salvation and eternal bliss
Weak, thirsty and bloodied from this journey
The vessel rickety and oozing effluvium grinds to a halt
A nasty stink accompanied by greedy buzzing
Is constant reminder of age long pryhhic battles
At this crossroad, the vessl stalls
North, South, East or West
Not even the Bible cladding prophet can tell from the rest,
The way to truth indicated by the cross
Casting shadows in the midday sunshine.
North, South, East or West
There is little hope of finding a way
The way to peace, unity and progress blocked
Not even five decades less one of incessant slogan chanting
Has helped this jaunty vessel to find the way
The way that leads to peace and unity
From the North, South, East and West of the national tributary.
We all know that.
But, a journey to where
No one knows that.
Here at a cross road
No directions as to which way is best
North, South, East or West
At the mercy of spineless wit and orders spewed by a wreckless priest
North or South
East or West
Confusion rushes in and blurs the line
The crescent moon incandescent and inadequate to light the way
The way to salvation and eternal bliss
Weak, thirsty and bloodied from this journey
The vessel rickety and oozing effluvium grinds to a halt
A nasty stink accompanied by greedy buzzing
Is constant reminder of age long pryhhic battles
At this crossroad, the vessl stalls
North, South, East or West
Not even the Bible cladding prophet can tell from the rest,
The way to truth indicated by the cross
Casting shadows in the midday sunshine.
North, South, East or West
There is little hope of finding a way
The way to peace, unity and progress blocked
Not even five decades less one of incessant slogan chanting
Has helped this jaunty vessel to find the way
The way that leads to peace and unity
From the North, South, East and West of the national tributary.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Just a WORD
The celebration of Optimum Exposures Limited winning the ADVAN award for Best media partner of the year for the fourth time in a row has come and gone.
However the lesson to be learn for me, as a staff and also a member of the preactising industry, is enormous.
Results and accolades are gotten through sheer dint of hard work, dedication and a life-long desire to defend corporate integrity.
In an environment where some of these values have been relegated to the backwaters of irrelevance, finding myself working in an organization that has made them the bulwark of her existence is a challenge, a honor and a priviledge.
In the almost two years I have spent working in such an environment, I have become imbued with the values and tenets which the company is known far and wide for.
Surely, in the course the coming years Optimum Exposures Limited will continue to win more awards and I will continue to grow and improve my own skills to be ready for a higher calling....
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
BEEN A WHILE I GOT ANGRY...
I wondered to myself why it has been such a long time I wrote anything here....
Up until some dudes got me thinking about some serious issues concerning this "great" nation called Nigeria.
First, two days ago on one of the online social forums someone asked me what my take was on the nation...wanted us to start a discussion on my own very "dear " country.
Then a few hours ago on another online social network (needless to say I am an online social network freak), the same topic for reference came up.
To my surprise I found myself getting angry at the dudes who professed "love" and "pride" for their "dear" country. I was hitting out at them with sharp and crisp choice words right, left and centre.
I guess I was going through what I will term my own version of transferred aggression. I hate and still hate talking about this country. Note, not that I do not "love" Nigeria, not that I am not "proud" to be a Nigerian, but simply because I have lost all energy and fervor to profess these emotions.
Too many times I and millions of Nigerians have been let down and left to rue the mistake of been born in a country with the unfortunate fortune of been "led" or is it "misled", by a lineage of nebulous and highly fraudulent leadership.
The damage has become so deep that I doubt if even a drastic surgical operation (figuratively speaking) on the socio-economic and political fabric of the nation will heal the decades of mistrust, deprivation, pain, humiliation, degradation, dehumanization, corruption and utter degeneration which the Nigerian people have had to cope with. To my own opinion, it will take several such surgical operations, over several decades before the wrongs can be made right.
Many social critics have spoken on the enigmatic subject, some for their troubles were jailed (those were the lucky ones), others paid with their lives (you can start counting from the Saro Wiwas on and on).
Why I ask should I add my voice to a subject that has always fallen on deaf ears? Even ears that belonged to tongues that once wagged and spouted the same feelings I am expressing here (remember the era of Prof. Babalola Aborishade as minister for Education?).
Now, after all these have been said (which is only 1% of what can be said)would you blame me if I say: "I hate talking about this country?"
Up until some dudes got me thinking about some serious issues concerning this "great" nation called Nigeria.
First, two days ago on one of the online social forums someone asked me what my take was on the nation...wanted us to start a discussion on my own very "dear " country.
Then a few hours ago on another online social network (needless to say I am an online social network freak), the same topic for reference came up.
To my surprise I found myself getting angry at the dudes who professed "love" and "pride" for their "dear" country. I was hitting out at them with sharp and crisp choice words right, left and centre.
I guess I was going through what I will term my own version of transferred aggression. I hate and still hate talking about this country. Note, not that I do not "love" Nigeria, not that I am not "proud" to be a Nigerian, but simply because I have lost all energy and fervor to profess these emotions.
Too many times I and millions of Nigerians have been let down and left to rue the mistake of been born in a country with the unfortunate fortune of been "led" or is it "misled", by a lineage of nebulous and highly fraudulent leadership.
The damage has become so deep that I doubt if even a drastic surgical operation (figuratively speaking) on the socio-economic and political fabric of the nation will heal the decades of mistrust, deprivation, pain, humiliation, degradation, dehumanization, corruption and utter degeneration which the Nigerian people have had to cope with. To my own opinion, it will take several such surgical operations, over several decades before the wrongs can be made right.
Many social critics have spoken on the enigmatic subject, some for their troubles were jailed (those were the lucky ones), others paid with their lives (you can start counting from the Saro Wiwas on and on).
Why I ask should I add my voice to a subject that has always fallen on deaf ears? Even ears that belonged to tongues that once wagged and spouted the same feelings I am expressing here (remember the era of Prof. Babalola Aborishade as minister for Education?).
Now, after all these have been said (which is only 1% of what can be said)would you blame me if I say: "I hate talking about this country?"
Monday, April 6, 2009
CRAZY WORLD, CRAZY PEOPLE
Finally I am convinced that there is something in the genes of the Black Man.
Something that makes him more emotionally balanced and stronger than the other races.
I have been brought to this point of conclusion gradually over the past month.
I don't care if the African continent is rated as the most ravaged by hunger, strife and diseases...I do not think the statistics are utterly true anyways.
I do not also care if science and scientists regard the continent as one of the waiting time bombs of this millennium.
In the last couple of months, my eyes have been open to the sheer brittleness and fragility of the human mind of that race called the WHITES or PINK or YELLOW (Call it whatever you like).
I have come to realize that for whatever it's worth, the black race has been built as the most enduring, most rugged and the most stable Human race on earth.
Do you believe me? Ok....Look at it this way...
Since the turn of the year, in the wake of the economic downturn and the depression that has swept through the world economies, how many black men have we had running through the streets committing heinous crimes?
Does it mean that we have been immune as a people and a race to these economic woes? Definitely not!!!
That has always been our story. A tale of perpetual economic woe, ably abetted by the WHITES and carried through with impunity by their puppets. The horrid news floating through from the United States, Germany, U.K etc leaves one to ask the question- who has got more excuse to break down and head into the streets killing people? The WHITES who have life all too good and rosy, a well set structure of government aid and help policies; or the BLACKS who live in perpetual poverty and whose governments doesn't give a hoot how they survive even if they lose their jobs and their families cannot afford basic health care services.
I think for the future, the next generation of WHITES should be sent to the African continent in a sort of exchange program, maybe this will help the other side to see how life is on this end of the hemisphere and how we deal with it.
Something that makes him more emotionally balanced and stronger than the other races.
I have been brought to this point of conclusion gradually over the past month.
I don't care if the African continent is rated as the most ravaged by hunger, strife and diseases...I do not think the statistics are utterly true anyways.
I do not also care if science and scientists regard the continent as one of the waiting time bombs of this millennium.
In the last couple of months, my eyes have been open to the sheer brittleness and fragility of the human mind of that race called the WHITES or PINK or YELLOW (Call it whatever you like).
I have come to realize that for whatever it's worth, the black race has been built as the most enduring, most rugged and the most stable Human race on earth.
Do you believe me? Ok....Look at it this way...
Since the turn of the year, in the wake of the economic downturn and the depression that has swept through the world economies, how many black men have we had running through the streets committing heinous crimes?
Does it mean that we have been immune as a people and a race to these economic woes? Definitely not!!!
That has always been our story. A tale of perpetual economic woe, ably abetted by the WHITES and carried through with impunity by their puppets. The horrid news floating through from the United States, Germany, U.K etc leaves one to ask the question- who has got more excuse to break down and head into the streets killing people? The WHITES who have life all too good and rosy, a well set structure of government aid and help policies; or the BLACKS who live in perpetual poverty and whose governments doesn't give a hoot how they survive even if they lose their jobs and their families cannot afford basic health care services.
I think for the future, the next generation of WHITES should be sent to the African continent in a sort of exchange program, maybe this will help the other side to see how life is on this end of the hemisphere and how we deal with it.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
MADNESS
I have always been a front line supporter for pro-gun activism. I believe the right to own and use a gun- under strict rules and laws, allows for lesser crimes. The premise for this argument and mine (in our Nigerian environment) is that you can defend yourself against maniacs and robbers!
However, recent events and happenings suggest the freedom gained from pro-gun activism is turning around to haunt us.
No doubt the majority of the western world is far ahead of us in Africa on this route (Pro-Gun laws), but to a large extent I believe a high degree of laxity has come out to the fore in their system and control valves.
How do we explain a household owning 18 guns! And a family in the western world's context is most often than not, very NUCLEAR. It is absurd, ridiculous and highly criminal for a Household to have 18 guns stashed somewhere...that is the equivalent of all the guns to be found in a Nigerian Police divisional office. Is the household one in the hunting business, hell NO.
Hence, for me the news in Germany of a 17 year old boy going around shooting down people with a Baretta pistol stolen from the parents' stash of 18 guns, is not only worrying but also smirks of the high degree of negligence and criminality- both on the part of the parents and the system that is suppose to control access to these firearms.
The spate of such killings by teenagers have brought to the fore serious arguments on the need for tighter gun controls. Yet, I do not believe that this is the way forward. However, I think stricter controls should be placed on the number of guns owned by an individual. Also, I believe the parents/guardians of a perpetrator of these kind of crimes should be made to face criminal charges, if it is established they have been negligent or overly criminal in their acquisition firearms- as in the German case.
Let us look at the scenario where one of the assailant's victims have had a gun of his or her own...would he have succeeded in killing 15 people before shooting himself DEAD?!
However, recent events and happenings suggest the freedom gained from pro-gun activism is turning around to haunt us.
No doubt the majority of the western world is far ahead of us in Africa on this route (Pro-Gun laws), but to a large extent I believe a high degree of laxity has come out to the fore in their system and control valves.
How do we explain a household owning 18 guns! And a family in the western world's context is most often than not, very NUCLEAR. It is absurd, ridiculous and highly criminal for a Household to have 18 guns stashed somewhere...that is the equivalent of all the guns to be found in a Nigerian Police divisional office. Is the household one in the hunting business, hell NO.
Hence, for me the news in Germany of a 17 year old boy going around shooting down people with a Baretta pistol stolen from the parents' stash of 18 guns, is not only worrying but also smirks of the high degree of negligence and criminality- both on the part of the parents and the system that is suppose to control access to these firearms.
The spate of such killings by teenagers have brought to the fore serious arguments on the need for tighter gun controls. Yet, I do not believe that this is the way forward. However, I think stricter controls should be placed on the number of guns owned by an individual. Also, I believe the parents/guardians of a perpetrator of these kind of crimes should be made to face criminal charges, if it is established they have been negligent or overly criminal in their acquisition firearms- as in the German case.
Let us look at the scenario where one of the assailant's victims have had a gun of his or her own...would he have succeeded in killing 15 people before shooting himself DEAD?!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
HALF BREAD
We will smile
We will laugh
Joy fills our lives
Happily we dance under the moonlit night
I will dance
And make merry
Even in the midst of sorrow and sadness
I will sing and rejoice
Life is a gift
To be cherished and carefully nourished
Even in the most dreary of days
Know, others are dealt worst fate....
THINK AND BE THANKFUL!
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