Nigeria is a beautiful country, a great nation of intelligent, ingenious and pragmatic population. The entity called Nigeria is a giant, yes, a weak one or even a diseased one, but still a giant. I hear so many people wish they were not Nigerians, but I boldly defer because I am proudly happy that I am , I am part and parcel of a country that can change history, if only they can heal collectively. The diseased giant can be a real giant, a healthy one that will proudly stand in the exalted comity of nations imbued with greatness and raise her hands and be counted. Sadly, the diseases that plague this great nation are self inflicted, making a sane person wonder if the giant wants to self destruct.
I don't want to delve into the amalgamation sermon, nor do I want to talk about the struggles, executions, independence, civil war, marginalization, Ogoni nine, the various coups, June 12 or the present political whirlwinds , mudslinging and cajoling which our shameless breed of politicians engage in. I leave others to write more on already well written subjects, even though I know that those issues are the precursors to the diseases, though not the main diseases. These diseases are so deadly that they can kill this great giant silently or violently through a heart attack, stroke or even cancer. Some of the diseases are neurological, some are cancerous, while most are in the form of food poisoning. Na wah o! The earlier we stop misdiagnosing,the better for us-- our great Dora Akunyili (may her soul rest in perfect peace) suffered a small misdiagnosis outside these shores (if what we heard and read is true) while our doctors got it right- this became fatal years later ,that is the deadly nature of misdiagnosis.
This is a nation of dogged citizens, men and women with lion hearts, youths who chase causes and see them bear fruits, people who force change and who make nations quake and tremble when they shout in unison (check out the fuel subsidy protests, Chibok girls voices and the just concluded elections). This is a nation where our brains are academically tuned in and sound, we conquer wherever we tread ,and pitch wherever we see humans exist and eke out livelihoods. Nigerians can build empires in deserts repeatedly (but yet, we lack loyalty), see how united we are outside these shores (yet inside, we aren't).
Naija as we fondly call ourselves, has been repeatedly sabotaged by her own, betrayed by her own, cheated and scorned by her own and yet, she stands. Let us look at the diseases. There has been so many false dawns in this country , people got excited over nothing, flew into cloud nine and were mockingly brought back to earth and reality with a high crashing bang. If we genuinely love our nation as we profess, we will never wish her ill again, we will collectively cure her or make genuine attempt to. Genuine efforts yield a high level of positive results in everything they are applied to. The fact that heart attack is mostly fatal scares me, a heart attack is a serious medical emergency in which the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot. Lack of blood to the heart can seriously damage the heart muscle.
A heart attack is known medically as a myocardial infarction or MI.
Symptoms can include: chest pain – the chest can feel like it is being pressed or squeezed by a heavy object, and pain can radiate from the chest to the jaw, neck, arms and back, shortness of breath, feeling weak and/or lightheaded
overwhelming feeling of anxiety. Now, this disease (heart condition) is plaguing Nigeria in the form of TRIBALISM, with all the attendant symptoms of Myocardial Infarction (MI, not Abaga). Tribalism tore the fabrics of peace and unity in our coat of arm and national anthem. The attendant symptom of chest pain destroyed our peace which breeds our unity and plunged us into a dark dungeon that breeds suspicion, hatred and lack of trust. Now, relate the symptoms of pain radiating from the chest (centre of the nation, Abuja) to the jaw, neck, arms, back etc (the states), shortness of breath (a stuttering government), feeling weak and light headed with an overwhelming feeling of anxiety (we witnessed this pre-election, and only the calm surrender of President GEJ, calmed the already raw nerves nationwide), this ought not to be so. In the throes of tribalism, post presidential election brought up the "how Ibos cheated themselves out of the national equation in voting PDP( as if we are supposed to actually run a one party system void of opposition), the lagoon saga and the ranting tribal worm and maggot infested doctor in the USA" Shame on all who fanned those embers and pushed us to the precipice and tension filled edge of near volcano.
This brings us to to the issue of stroke as it concerns the country. Stroke attacks the country in the form of insurgency and militancy. What is a stroke? Medically, a stroke is a serious, life-threatening medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Strokes are a medical emergency and urgent treatment is essential because the sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is likely to happen.
Signs and symptoms
The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the word FAST: Face-Arms-Speech-Time.
Face – the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile or their mouth or eye may have dropped.
Arms – the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of arm weakness or numbness in one arm.
Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake.
Time – it is time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms. Now, don't wonder why I had to even include the symptoms, let's look at insurgency and militancy and relate it with the definition of stroke, "when the blood supply to the part of the brain is cut off" it becomes life threatening right? Now, we can't forget too soon what militancy did to the supply of oil and generation of national income , the blood supply (crude) to the brain (national treasury) was cut off or nearly cut off, then Boko Haram became active (cutting off the blood supply in the form of food, to the nation). Militancy in the Niger Delta and the Boko Haram issue were and are still national emergencies, bringing us to the part of the definition that says " Strokes are a medical emergency and urgent treatment is essential because the sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is likely to happen". Now, those that were directly affected by the insurgency and militancy will school you more on it, I won't bore you with that.
If we look at the symptoms of stroke, Nigeria suffered all 1. Face – the face may have drooped on one side, the person may not be able to smile or their mouth or eye may have drooped. This explains why we were globally shamed on our fight against terror, when we seemed to be speaking from two sides of the mouth, when we couldn't smile because each day brought terrible news of death and more deaths, internally displaced persons (IDP's) and the icing (the kidnaps and sacking of entire villages amidst military presence) of which Chibok took the front pages. We couldn't smile because there was nothing to smile about, we couldn't function properly as a nation because even the capital territory was not spared (if you remember that most people working at the city centre operate from Nyanya- Mararaba axis).
Arms – the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of arm weakness or numbness in one arm. When I saw this symptom, whole lot of thoughts flew through my head, now, there is an adage in my place that says that the strength of a man in his arms and sons. Our military couldn't easily grapple and fight the militants (especially because of the terrain), if you have spent time at the creeks, you will understand and appreciate what they had to contend with. Fast forward to the North East, the terrains are different, but the conditions are almost same (in terms of arm weakness or numbness). We appeared ill equipped at most times and incurred heavy casualties. Young and fine soldiers were needlessly killed by the fact that their formations, platoons of battalions were ragtag before their opposition, plunging most families into darkness and perpetual grief. I have started a documentary on this issue, and would like the affected families reading this to key in and share their stories, lest we forget. One family in particular, groomed this fine soldier, a captain, their light and hope, only to lose him and get pushed back to zero level and the poverty dungeons they were almost crawling out from. I weep!
Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake. Lol! Can you relate to this? It was all garbled speech all the way, look at the part that said "or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing awake" that was our lot in the face of the militancy, that was an even bigger lot in the face of the Boko Haram insurgency till the six weeks that election postponement heralded, Nigeria was awake but couldn't speak properly, our voice left us and when we found it, the speech was garbled.
Time – it is time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms. I don't want to talk about this because our lackadaisical ways of handling issues, local, national or global came to fore. We couldn't tackle these issues head on, our security reports were not used ASAP and we were just reactive instead of proactive. We were too slow to act, bloods were spilled and shared (according to our First Lady) and we never remembered that there is God because most of those in positions to attack the issue properly or guide the President right were profiting from the situation, they didn't want the country to recover, bringing my mind to a saying in my place that "ala adighi mma bu uru ndi Nze" meaning that "when a land is having turbulence and problems, it is the Nze's that benefit".
This brings me to another disease that is killing this nation, CANCER (IN THE FORM OF CORRUPTION AND GREED). Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissue. Cancer also known as a malignant tumor or malignant neoplasm, is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Now, corruption has dealt with us in this manner, it divides uncontrollably and spreads, killing off good cells. The cancer in our system are our executive, legislators and part of the judiciary and most heads of public corporations, government offices, parastatals and agencies. They have ruined this country, thinking that a call to service is a call to fund personal treasury. There is no element of patriotism in them, no iota of truth, no conscience for the plight of those who they are supposed to representing. After all, they can loot and go free, no one will prosecute them, worst case scenario, they enter a plea bargain! Kai! Is this fair? A nation greatly blessed will have her citizens as disease to her system. This is our time syndrome, where no one cares in the pillaging of the joint national treasury and resources. Tell me why a director can afford to send three to four kids abroad to study, why would a politician spend money with reckless abandon and make us borrow to service his lifestyle and pay higher for goods and services while the crunch is been felt by the common man. There are no jobs in the country( while they go about distributing the choice jobs amongst their children, cronies, nieces, nephews, cousins and relatives), the common man cannot afford to build a house, even when you spend 35years working and toiling for the government, your pension cannot give you a befitting house. How does it look that our senior citizens (of which my mum is one) will retire for years without receiving their gratuities and most times don't get their pensions on time (what if they don't have children to support them?). How does it look that smart young men and women cannot contest and hold seats and political offices simply because they don't have money to spray around or bribe their way through? ( rightly, a twenty year old won a seat in the UK parliament few days ago). How does it look that out of frustration, our young ones push drugs and get caught and executed abroad? ( someone said it is because they are not satisfied with what they have, I say noooo! What do they have? Do you know the living hell they call life on daily basis with the attendant pressures?). People suffer because their leaders are greedy and eat this country like cancer cells. People suffer because our past and present leaders have steadily disappointed us, no national planning for the teeming population, no provision for the yearly burgeoning graduates, no arrangement for industrialization, commercialization and exponential agricultural growth to harness our great productive potentials.
When I look at our fathers generation, I weep. That generation finished Nigeria, they gave us civil war as young men, the gulped down our oil windfall, devalued our Naira, created tribal and religious sentiments, stole our democracy, embezzled our joint national fund, refused to die and inflicted suffering on the present generation. I am in my thirties, my generation never enjoyed the scholarships and free educations they enjoyed, federal scholarship boards died during our time because merit selection was scraped for favoritism, jobs became an issue for night vigils and praying and fasting just like the land rush in the US, they rushed all meaningful properties, acquired all and drove price of everything up while living ostentatiously on our money as if they have cited any industry somewhere. For them, political offices are life long oil wells and that too should be pensionable.
Our youths, are becoming wiser, no more ranting on social media, no more being swayed by peanuts, because when the peanut finishes, hunger rules. The revolution is just starting, new leaders are gradually emerging. Soon, our father's generation will retire (either to their numerous houses, old age or grave), not that we wish them bad, at least we can still tap from the most devious old minds as long as they have experiences which we can tap from( the positive ones). God will help us!
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Thursday, April 2, 2015
THE 3 CHANGE AGENTS AND THE VICTOR
THE 3 CHANGE AGENTS AND THE VICTOR
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For over a month, I have not written a word. The words come, but I have been having a form of drought in composition, that was till Saturday. I picked my pen severally between Saturday and Tuesday, wrote different pieces but they still felt inadequate to describe the current events.
A million words kept rushing at me immediately I sat down- there are a lot to write, a lot of thoughts, a lot of emotions.
I first met the General-- no, not really meeting, I watched the General from a close distance at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja (NAIA), and the tall, elegant General struck me as a personality I can trust, with a docile and humble demeanor. Don't get me wrong, I am not in the Pro-Buhari team, I have my friends doing that, my sympathy has always been with GEJ, another humble and quiet person. At that moment, I stood calmly at the newsstand inside the departure hall, watching the General. I could have switched my allegiance , but that's not me. I am one who joins you to fight for a cause till the end, that cause was the re-election of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a mission unaccomplished, nevertheless I am happy that I didn't abort.
I first stood in the same room with President GEJ in 2012, and I loved what I saw and gradually changed the opinion I had of him when I confirmed that power never changed him, he remained humble and sensitive, but I can't say same for those he surrounded himself with, as they pushed the ship off to a rudderless sail, forgive me for this, but that is the truth. I came to understand why Jonathan was a humble lieutenant in Bayelsa and later at Aso Rock. Why when President Umaru Musa Yaradua died, he was calm, humble and patient till the constitution was followed, implemented and power handed over to him. This attribute and many more that has been over flogged gave him the massive votes and goodwill that his cabinet helped him fritter and totally squander while disconnecting gradually, then completely from the masses.
I have never met Professor Attahiru Jega, but I sincerely love what I have seen over the years, a man who has been an umpire with class and wisdom beyond what we have come to see and associate with in Nigerian referees-- especially when there is wealth and inducement around the corner. A character that chose a sterling name and image to an unnecessary and undeserved glory. Of a truth, a few can do what Jega has done, because I cannot begin to imagine the pressures that come with that office if what I see on the streets daily makes perfect sense.
Now, let me get back to the first thing that prompted me to write this piece, March 28th, 2015-Nigerian Presidential election. I remember some of the articles Dele Momodou wrote on both contestants, and the open letters he wrote to the sitting president, the advices from him and other quarters. I can't say if they were read or not, if they were heeded or not, but I know one thing for sure, the game actually changed when Dele Momodou wrote that article on how the General has changed his political garb and become more attuned with the times, and how he is seeing the emergence of true opposition capable of building a stronghold and unseating this government. I read some other articles on how the APC will put up a good fight now, but was not ready for the centre [we can now tell if they were right], at that time, I agreed, but now, I am not sure, let's see if they will implode like some prophesied. APC has been carefully grafted and guided by Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a birthday mate [an Arian] and a man I love to hate.
The change mantra caught up fast, simply because PDP started acting like a party bereft of ideas-- then war started on twitter streets, jumped into other social media platforms-boy! Was it easy? Phew! I prefer writing my poems and short stories, because then, I can create and destroy any character or illusion I want by scribbling something on my pad. Twitter was so interesting, and the originality, word play,banter and the waves that came with it showcased the versatility, knowledge and Suave of the young Nigerian mind. We are a fearful force if unified against the ills of the society, a tornado if we become this passionate and patriotic, as no nation, politician or individual can stand before us. I remember a popular one that stirred the hornets nest " election is not won on twitter" to which @omojuwa replied " and we took the war to the streets", @radicalyouthman didn't disappoint either,two parallel but similar twitter Generals.
Nigeria is the true winner in the election for so many reasons. The three agents of change performed their duties with credibility and sure sense of purpose, but the Nigerian public controlled the fourth and the fifth realm, and we now know: (1) That when we sneeze, politicians will listen. (2) We have re-written the political equation, roadmap and pattern of events in this country, birthing two strong political parties that will now genuinely take a slug at each other. (3) We have instituted the process of free, fair and credible elections in the country. (4) We can collectively change or break monopoly of party irrespective of how rich, politically balanced or schooled in scientific and tactical manipulations of results they are- APC should take note, they should build on a transparent process,nothing less will be enough and accepted. They should continuously and repeatedly seek the path of truth and fairness, well spoken in the words of Aristotle that " We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore is not an act, but a habit". Nigerians gave PDP sixteen years (16 years) to build the nation and make us true giants again, that sixteen years yielded so many good results and so many negatives too. APC should be rest assured that we won't wait for another sixteen years to sweep them away with their brooms if they don't lead the country well on the foundations of fairness, truth, equity, growth and transparency.
I hope I have not digressed, I have been pro-GEJ through and through, and he earned my respect with his attitude, reaction and utterances throughout the prelude to the election (barring some campaign stuff), he promised Nigerians free, fair and credible election- also during and after the contest, where he stretched forth his hands and showed good sportsmanship by congratulating the president elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, before the actual result was released. This is by any means no mean feat. Disagree if with me if you like, call me names if you want, but he was and still is the first agent of change. He was the initiator of the process, starting with accepting to oversee the same process that will remove him from the office. This brings to mind an interview I watched, where he said " maybe, I will become the first sitting president to lose election, and hand over to the opposition. If that happens, we would have achieved something great, because we will make history as we won't subvert such a process". Maybe he had premonition, but the truth remains that his conduct has been quite commendable, giving professor Attahiru Jega the platform to become the second change agent and thereby entering the Pantheon of immortality in our country and writing his name in gold. Even if the opposition refuse to accept this, they know that he had the office, might and control to swing everything in his favour, even at the risk of plunging the country into crisis. He allowed the nation to come first, Kudos!
The second agent of change did not disappoint either. I know quite clearly that he would have faced all forms of temptations, direct and indirect inducements and bribery attempts, he stood up and got counted. Don't ask me how I got to know because I am a Nigerian, and we believe everyone and everything has a price. To the Prof, I say " you have done well, even with the challenges, you conquered, history will always remember you well and children unborn will be told your tales" , please don't bungle the 11th of April.
I know that the third agent of change is a gentleman and distinguished soldier who has the rigid military government as the only chink in his armour. He has doggedly persisted when many would have given up, he always said "it is because of my love for this country". I have listened severally to his acceptance speech, I sense no falsehood, even as he emphasizes change, speaks hope and institutes a new dawn. Don't think that those who didn't vote for you hate change-- nope, on the contrary, change is one thing we individuals crave for. Rather, note that people are sometimes skeptical, and some sections of the country are yet to heal. You have been stately calm and cultured, most of your supporters are not. The rapid hate attacks on a particular tribe on the social media by some people calling for total genocide,annihilation and extermination of (the Igbo's) said tribe and the haste that they got retweets (I won't dignify the bigots with mentioning them here) and follower-ship the hate gospel mongrels got, sent chills down my spine. I looked at my three innocent sons who are growing in Abuja and making friends across ethnic and cultural divides and my heart sank. It sank because I see my generation teaching another innocent one hate. The speed and expertise with which the sitting president's posters, banners and billboards were destroyed in the North and FCT scared me, I well know that it can't happen in the South if the situation and events were reversed. You are a great man, imbued with meekness and wisdom, the goodwill that was sent to Otuoke four years ago has landed in Daura, do not renege on the promises in your opening/acceptance speech. Nigerians will die for their country when they see good, committed and patriotic leadership; and please let your chieftains reign in their rabid-attack dogs( no one has monopoly of violence), we are all stakeholders in this great nation and victims of our individual births as no one chose the tribe he now comes from.
To those of us who lost this election, not because we didn't hear the change train coming nor because we don't love Nigeria enough, but because we were already on a train losing focus, running out of ideas and needing a new thing to stimulate, electrify and sensitize us to the fact that the power truly belongs to the people and also the glaring truth that we are maturing fast politically, and I say in the words of Alexander Graham Bell --" when one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which opened for us". Interprete this according to your understanding , but get the lessons in this whole episode.
Permit me to now introduce the winner, the victor, the person who came out smiling; that is the Nigerian populace, the masses who decided that they will either not come out (as in SE) because their governors failed in most states or the other states (like Benue etc) who decided that they have had enough. The masses who would have been turned one against another if things had failed at the centre while our leaders board the next available flights with their children to their various mansions all over the globe. The ones whose blood would have turned to streams and rivers on our streets and paved ways, whose infrastructure would have been destroyed and irreparable damages inflicted on. Even if the underaged had not voted in the North, PDP would have still lost because I don't believe their votes were up to one million. Having said my mind, we are stronger and wiser now, we have realized the enormous powers we wield and that those we send to Abuja must be accountable and answerable to us. What is now left is to exercise the other power " the power to recall the Abuja politicians" when they fail. We may no longer wait for a period of four years for change. GOD BLESS NIGERIA! !
----------------------------------------------------
For over a month, I have not written a word. The words come, but I have been having a form of drought in composition, that was till Saturday. I picked my pen severally between Saturday and Tuesday, wrote different pieces but they still felt inadequate to describe the current events.
A million words kept rushing at me immediately I sat down- there are a lot to write, a lot of thoughts, a lot of emotions.
I first met the General-- no, not really meeting, I watched the General from a close distance at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja (NAIA), and the tall, elegant General struck me as a personality I can trust, with a docile and humble demeanor. Don't get me wrong, I am not in the Pro-Buhari team, I have my friends doing that, my sympathy has always been with GEJ, another humble and quiet person. At that moment, I stood calmly at the newsstand inside the departure hall, watching the General. I could have switched my allegiance , but that's not me. I am one who joins you to fight for a cause till the end, that cause was the re-election of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a mission unaccomplished, nevertheless I am happy that I didn't abort.
I first stood in the same room with President GEJ in 2012, and I loved what I saw and gradually changed the opinion I had of him when I confirmed that power never changed him, he remained humble and sensitive, but I can't say same for those he surrounded himself with, as they pushed the ship off to a rudderless sail, forgive me for this, but that is the truth. I came to understand why Jonathan was a humble lieutenant in Bayelsa and later at Aso Rock. Why when President Umaru Musa Yaradua died, he was calm, humble and patient till the constitution was followed, implemented and power handed over to him. This attribute and many more that has been over flogged gave him the massive votes and goodwill that his cabinet helped him fritter and totally squander while disconnecting gradually, then completely from the masses.
I have never met Professor Attahiru Jega, but I sincerely love what I have seen over the years, a man who has been an umpire with class and wisdom beyond what we have come to see and associate with in Nigerian referees-- especially when there is wealth and inducement around the corner. A character that chose a sterling name and image to an unnecessary and undeserved glory. Of a truth, a few can do what Jega has done, because I cannot begin to imagine the pressures that come with that office if what I see on the streets daily makes perfect sense.
Now, let me get back to the first thing that prompted me to write this piece, March 28th, 2015-Nigerian Presidential election. I remember some of the articles Dele Momodou wrote on both contestants, and the open letters he wrote to the sitting president, the advices from him and other quarters. I can't say if they were read or not, if they were heeded or not, but I know one thing for sure, the game actually changed when Dele Momodou wrote that article on how the General has changed his political garb and become more attuned with the times, and how he is seeing the emergence of true opposition capable of building a stronghold and unseating this government. I read some other articles on how the APC will put up a good fight now, but was not ready for the centre [we can now tell if they were right], at that time, I agreed, but now, I am not sure, let's see if they will implode like some prophesied. APC has been carefully grafted and guided by Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a birthday mate [an Arian] and a man I love to hate.
The change mantra caught up fast, simply because PDP started acting like a party bereft of ideas-- then war started on twitter streets, jumped into other social media platforms-boy! Was it easy? Phew! I prefer writing my poems and short stories, because then, I can create and destroy any character or illusion I want by scribbling something on my pad. Twitter was so interesting, and the originality, word play,banter and the waves that came with it showcased the versatility, knowledge and Suave of the young Nigerian mind. We are a fearful force if unified against the ills of the society, a tornado if we become this passionate and patriotic, as no nation, politician or individual can stand before us. I remember a popular one that stirred the hornets nest " election is not won on twitter" to which @omojuwa replied " and we took the war to the streets", @radicalyouthman didn't disappoint either,two parallel but similar twitter Generals.
Nigeria is the true winner in the election for so many reasons. The three agents of change performed their duties with credibility and sure sense of purpose, but the Nigerian public controlled the fourth and the fifth realm, and we now know: (1) That when we sneeze, politicians will listen. (2) We have re-written the political equation, roadmap and pattern of events in this country, birthing two strong political parties that will now genuinely take a slug at each other. (3) We have instituted the process of free, fair and credible elections in the country. (4) We can collectively change or break monopoly of party irrespective of how rich, politically balanced or schooled in scientific and tactical manipulations of results they are- APC should take note, they should build on a transparent process,nothing less will be enough and accepted. They should continuously and repeatedly seek the path of truth and fairness, well spoken in the words of Aristotle that " We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore is not an act, but a habit". Nigerians gave PDP sixteen years (16 years) to build the nation and make us true giants again, that sixteen years yielded so many good results and so many negatives too. APC should be rest assured that we won't wait for another sixteen years to sweep them away with their brooms if they don't lead the country well on the foundations of fairness, truth, equity, growth and transparency.
I hope I have not digressed, I have been pro-GEJ through and through, and he earned my respect with his attitude, reaction and utterances throughout the prelude to the election (barring some campaign stuff), he promised Nigerians free, fair and credible election- also during and after the contest, where he stretched forth his hands and showed good sportsmanship by congratulating the president elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, before the actual result was released. This is by any means no mean feat. Disagree if with me if you like, call me names if you want, but he was and still is the first agent of change. He was the initiator of the process, starting with accepting to oversee the same process that will remove him from the office. This brings to mind an interview I watched, where he said " maybe, I will become the first sitting president to lose election, and hand over to the opposition. If that happens, we would have achieved something great, because we will make history as we won't subvert such a process". Maybe he had premonition, but the truth remains that his conduct has been quite commendable, giving professor Attahiru Jega the platform to become the second change agent and thereby entering the Pantheon of immortality in our country and writing his name in gold. Even if the opposition refuse to accept this, they know that he had the office, might and control to swing everything in his favour, even at the risk of plunging the country into crisis. He allowed the nation to come first, Kudos!
The second agent of change did not disappoint either. I know quite clearly that he would have faced all forms of temptations, direct and indirect inducements and bribery attempts, he stood up and got counted. Don't ask me how I got to know because I am a Nigerian, and we believe everyone and everything has a price. To the Prof, I say " you have done well, even with the challenges, you conquered, history will always remember you well and children unborn will be told your tales" , please don't bungle the 11th of April.
I know that the third agent of change is a gentleman and distinguished soldier who has the rigid military government as the only chink in his armour. He has doggedly persisted when many would have given up, he always said "it is because of my love for this country". I have listened severally to his acceptance speech, I sense no falsehood, even as he emphasizes change, speaks hope and institutes a new dawn. Don't think that those who didn't vote for you hate change-- nope, on the contrary, change is one thing we individuals crave for. Rather, note that people are sometimes skeptical, and some sections of the country are yet to heal. You have been stately calm and cultured, most of your supporters are not. The rapid hate attacks on a particular tribe on the social media by some people calling for total genocide,annihilation and extermination of (the Igbo's) said tribe and the haste that they got retweets (I won't dignify the bigots with mentioning them here) and follower-ship the hate gospel mongrels got, sent chills down my spine. I looked at my three innocent sons who are growing in Abuja and making friends across ethnic and cultural divides and my heart sank. It sank because I see my generation teaching another innocent one hate. The speed and expertise with which the sitting president's posters, banners and billboards were destroyed in the North and FCT scared me, I well know that it can't happen in the South if the situation and events were reversed. You are a great man, imbued with meekness and wisdom, the goodwill that was sent to Otuoke four years ago has landed in Daura, do not renege on the promises in your opening/acceptance speech. Nigerians will die for their country when they see good, committed and patriotic leadership; and please let your chieftains reign in their rabid-attack dogs( no one has monopoly of violence), we are all stakeholders in this great nation and victims of our individual births as no one chose the tribe he now comes from.
To those of us who lost this election, not because we didn't hear the change train coming nor because we don't love Nigeria enough, but because we were already on a train losing focus, running out of ideas and needing a new thing to stimulate, electrify and sensitize us to the fact that the power truly belongs to the people and also the glaring truth that we are maturing fast politically, and I say in the words of Alexander Graham Bell --" when one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which opened for us". Interprete this according to your understanding , but get the lessons in this whole episode.
Permit me to now introduce the winner, the victor, the person who came out smiling; that is the Nigerian populace, the masses who decided that they will either not come out (as in SE) because their governors failed in most states or the other states (like Benue etc) who decided that they have had enough. The masses who would have been turned one against another if things had failed at the centre while our leaders board the next available flights with their children to their various mansions all over the globe. The ones whose blood would have turned to streams and rivers on our streets and paved ways, whose infrastructure would have been destroyed and irreparable damages inflicted on. Even if the underaged had not voted in the North, PDP would have still lost because I don't believe their votes were up to one million. Having said my mind, we are stronger and wiser now, we have realized the enormous powers we wield and that those we send to Abuja must be accountable and answerable to us. What is now left is to exercise the other power " the power to recall the Abuja politicians" when they fail. We may no longer wait for a period of four years for change. GOD BLESS NIGERIA! !
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
PITAPEE 2!
He felt so empty,it happens whenever they quarrel , this time something tells him it is different. He has a swollen left eye and other minor injuries to show for it. She can be an embodiment of sweetness, and can also make your life miserable. She gets physical when she feels like, and plays the victim when she isn't having her way.....which is almost every time.
"Who is Chinenye?"
He was taken by surprise, surprised not because he doesn't know she goes through his phone when he sleeps, he knows. Sometimes, he leaves it to make her fight for him and realize that others are ready to grab him.
He doesn't cheat on her, not yet. He has not been able to get himself to that point. He almost did though with Yetunde, he couldn't withhold himself with that one.
He has always prided himself on his self control, " I do whatever I want, so hold me responsible for all my actions", that has always been him.
He couldn't stop with Yetunde, their closeness took him by surprise, not when she changed her dressing and her sexiness was too much to resist.
Men clamoured for her attention, but she preferred him. He knows how handsome he is, he has always had his pick, it comes naturally " almost genetic" he mused while smiling and picking up the second phone.
His father had been legendary with the ladies "that man fine well well "is all he keeps hearing, truely, his dad was handsome.
His grand mom will always remember her late son with tales, tales of sadness and joy. From what he witnessed and has been able to gather about his dad, a trilogy won't do him justice. Here, I deviate his mind returns to the matter at hand. Yes, Yetunde " hmmmm " he sighs, dt babe is one he regrets kind of. Not after that hot kiss and breast sucking in the back seat of his car while rain pelted the car mercilessly. If he joins his grand fathers story, wahala go dey, that one kuku marry seven. "Lol"
She found out and smashed his phone , he loved her too much and in-order to keep her sanity [she loved him jealously] , he let Yetunde go. The babe has been on his matter ever since.
" I ask you again, who is Chinenye?" That brought him back to Mother Earth, he quietly turns to walk away " don't you dare think up a lie or it will be over this minute"
He smiles " Childhood family friend, their last daughter" he replied
"their last daughter and you are exchanging erotic messages with her?"
Her eyes were now blazing
" you have betrayed the trust that family has on you" she was approaching menacingly, "I know you need your freedom, I am not enough for you"
" baby...." " don't baby me" she snaps
This is prelude to another big fight he thought previous fights had taken tolls on him, he snooped around her a while ago and it was ugly what he found. She was into deep sexual and erotic chats with guys, and when she was fully turned on, she will jump on him, exhibit sexual wildness and they will fuck like rabbits.
He started getting worried when his advances will be turned down this minute as she will be busy pressing her phone only to grab him the next minute and make the craziest love to him. It was explosive and sweet, then when he noticed that pattern of keeping to herself, pressing her phone, rejecting his advances and waking him for hot sex only to doze off, he went for the phone and menh! what he saw on the chats that night was something else, that was when he started monitoring her.
Back to the present, Chinenye was a little girl when he last saw her, though she was beautiful as a baby. If you hear little girl, they just had eight years between them and he never looked at her in that way till he met her accidentally in Abuja. The girl has been doing the chasing, initially, it was amusing, a third year student of Biochemistry, she is out to prove to him that she was grown, and can take whatever she wants.
"Babe, always remember that I am a converted womanizer, I won't go that path again, don't push me"
Immediately the words came out of his mouth, she snapped.
She started cussing and raking, that was when he remembered that this suspicion started after he dealt on what he called "indirect infidelity and mental castration" at that time. He felt dirty and used, like she was just using him as a sexual toy or imagining the bodies ramming into her when he was making love to her. The intensity of her cum at those moments were different.
They talked about it on five different occasions as the cycle repeated itself . Everything came to fore and rest after she travelled for a wedding and mistakenly he found out only when he scrolled through her phone and saw her in her sleeping gear and the guy bare bodied in a phone. She has spinned different stories about that visit and that they didn't sleep together.
" Hmmmm, I choose to believe her" just for his sanity and the love, after all they are not married he reasoned.
That story and others is for another day, what matters now is what Chinenye has caused, the broken door left in her trail and the Optician he has called to see after visiting the pharmacy.
"Who is Chinenye?"
He was taken by surprise, surprised not because he doesn't know she goes through his phone when he sleeps, he knows. Sometimes, he leaves it to make her fight for him and realize that others are ready to grab him.
He doesn't cheat on her, not yet. He has not been able to get himself to that point. He almost did though with Yetunde, he couldn't withhold himself with that one.
He has always prided himself on his self control, " I do whatever I want, so hold me responsible for all my actions", that has always been him.
He couldn't stop with Yetunde, their closeness took him by surprise, not when she changed her dressing and her sexiness was too much to resist.
Men clamoured for her attention, but she preferred him. He knows how handsome he is, he has always had his pick, it comes naturally " almost genetic" he mused while smiling and picking up the second phone.
His father had been legendary with the ladies "that man fine well well "is all he keeps hearing, truely, his dad was handsome.
His grand mom will always remember her late son with tales, tales of sadness and joy. From what he witnessed and has been able to gather about his dad, a trilogy won't do him justice. Here, I deviate his mind returns to the matter at hand. Yes, Yetunde " hmmmm " he sighs, dt babe is one he regrets kind of. Not after that hot kiss and breast sucking in the back seat of his car while rain pelted the car mercilessly. If he joins his grand fathers story, wahala go dey, that one kuku marry seven. "Lol"
She found out and smashed his phone , he loved her too much and in-order to keep her sanity [she loved him jealously] , he let Yetunde go. The babe has been on his matter ever since.
" I ask you again, who is Chinenye?" That brought him back to Mother Earth, he quietly turns to walk away " don't you dare think up a lie or it will be over this minute"
He smiles " Childhood family friend, their last daughter" he replied
"their last daughter and you are exchanging erotic messages with her?"
Her eyes were now blazing
" you have betrayed the trust that family has on you" she was approaching menacingly, "I know you need your freedom, I am not enough for you"
" baby...." " don't baby me" she snaps
This is prelude to another big fight he thought previous fights had taken tolls on him, he snooped around her a while ago and it was ugly what he found. She was into deep sexual and erotic chats with guys, and when she was fully turned on, she will jump on him, exhibit sexual wildness and they will fuck like rabbits.
He started getting worried when his advances will be turned down this minute as she will be busy pressing her phone only to grab him the next minute and make the craziest love to him. It was explosive and sweet, then when he noticed that pattern of keeping to herself, pressing her phone, rejecting his advances and waking him for hot sex only to doze off, he went for the phone and menh! what he saw on the chats that night was something else, that was when he started monitoring her.
Back to the present, Chinenye was a little girl when he last saw her, though she was beautiful as a baby. If you hear little girl, they just had eight years between them and he never looked at her in that way till he met her accidentally in Abuja. The girl has been doing the chasing, initially, it was amusing, a third year student of Biochemistry, she is out to prove to him that she was grown, and can take whatever she wants.
"Babe, always remember that I am a converted womanizer, I won't go that path again, don't push me"
Immediately the words came out of his mouth, she snapped.
She started cussing and raking, that was when he remembered that this suspicion started after he dealt on what he called "indirect infidelity and mental castration" at that time. He felt dirty and used, like she was just using him as a sexual toy or imagining the bodies ramming into her when he was making love to her. The intensity of her cum at those moments were different.
They talked about it on five different occasions as the cycle repeated itself . Everything came to fore and rest after she travelled for a wedding and mistakenly he found out only when he scrolled through her phone and saw her in her sleeping gear and the guy bare bodied in a phone. She has spinned different stories about that visit and that they didn't sleep together.
" Hmmmm, I choose to believe her" just for his sanity and the love, after all they are not married he reasoned.
That story and others is for another day, what matters now is what Chinenye has caused, the broken door left in her trail and the Optician he has called to see after visiting the pharmacy.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
JTF, Sons, Husbands,Fathers,Our brothers!
Kaka kaka kaka kaka kaka kaka......boom!
He woke up disoriented briefly, grabbing his riffle and kitting up within one minute.
Kaka kaka kaka kaka kaka kaaka......boom!
This was getting closer,voices, biggle and whistles were being blown. The camp alarm has been triggered, the base is under attack.
His heart beat increased and cold sweat ran down his spine.
He only had this kind of feeling once, that day he ended up with a minor bullet wound on his left leg, just above the knee. Luckily, no bone or vein was ripped.
He hurriedly lifted his pillow and kissed his wife and children, a boy and two girls before slipping the picture into his pocket.
He said a silent prayer as he filed out with others, crouching in orderly and pre-rehearsed movements as they took there various positions.
The gun battle was getting intense, the armored vehicles were rolling out of the base, with troops following suit when the first rocket landed at the centre of the base, and all hell broke loose.
" Jesus!"
" Allah wo yoooo!"
The worst part is that everything was happening too fast and in pitch darkness!
The enemy armored carrier with headlights were facing the base, heavy shelling and gunfire was being exchanged seriously, everyone was engaging everyone.
"How did they manage to get this close, almost over running the camp?"
He kept asking himself even as he was taking down those trying to climb over the fence and demarcation embankments. The camp averted a similar attack last week when he was sentry.
He remembers seeing that slight movement from the corner of his eyes,it was pitch dark.
Then he saw a figure trying to climb into the third armored tank parked close to where Officers were quartered, and from the other corner, he saw something like a torchlight flick once, then twice.
He shot spontaneously and good enough, he got the idiot!
Then to his surprise, fire was opened from all around the whole camp with vehicle headlamps flooding the base, somehow, his spontaneity saved the day because if they had gained access to that tank, the possessor would have gunned down any Officer coming out from the quarters while the camp would have been run over in less than two hours.
They suffered heavy casualties, but repelled the attack, that was last week.
They felt it will take another two or three weeks before a repeat attack because that is usually their modes operandi, but no!
Let it not be that those on night sentry duty dozed or relaxed their vigilance. Last month, an Officer heard a rustle, whispered to his mate and flashed his light, only for his head to be blown off. Such is the tale, such is the war they are waging, such is the pain they face.
This is his fourth month here, he has two months to go, some guys left last two weeks and another set came in last week. Body counts are increasing, families are losing their heads, wives are turning widows at tender age.
He was still taking various combat positions, shooting and giving cover to his mates as they fight back to back in this humid, dry, dark and unfriendly environment.
A granade exploded close by, taking two Officers with it.
"That was close" he thought, everyone on this mission has had brush with death at one point or the other.
"Ratatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatataatatatatatatatatata!"
"Kaka kaka kaka kaka kaka........ratatatatatatatatatatatatatatatata!"
"Boom, boom, boom!" "Chiiiiiiiiiiiiikabooooom!"
Body counts kept increasing even as smoke and the smell of burning flesh pervaded the whole place.
They were gradually gaining the upper hand though with a heavy price, there will definitely be an inquisition when the whole base is secured.
That was when he felt it and the numbness that hit him after the pain.
He was scared to touch it, he knew something has gone badly wrong.
Then the blood, it started rushing like river Niger.
Immediately before he hit ground, his life started rewinding at a fast pace.
He immediately saw himself checking into the camp and being documented,
He saw himself six months ago in Italy, concluding his anti-terrorism course after spending the previous two months in Israel.
He saw himself holding his new baby eight months ago and telling his wife
"baby, all is well, God has started blessing us"
That was his last thoughts as he hit the ground, then......darkness.
*This series will chronicle the loses and pains of our gallant JTF operatives giving their lives in the fight against BH* these are true life stories of those who survived. May the souls of those who died in fighting for freedom of this nation and our right to live in peace rest perfectly in the bosom of The Lord.....Amen!
He woke up disoriented briefly, grabbing his riffle and kitting up within one minute.
Kaka kaka kaka kaka kaka kaaka......boom!
This was getting closer,voices, biggle and whistles were being blown. The camp alarm has been triggered, the base is under attack.
His heart beat increased and cold sweat ran down his spine.
He only had this kind of feeling once, that day he ended up with a minor bullet wound on his left leg, just above the knee. Luckily, no bone or vein was ripped.
He hurriedly lifted his pillow and kissed his wife and children, a boy and two girls before slipping the picture into his pocket.
He said a silent prayer as he filed out with others, crouching in orderly and pre-rehearsed movements as they took there various positions.
The gun battle was getting intense, the armored vehicles were rolling out of the base, with troops following suit when the first rocket landed at the centre of the base, and all hell broke loose.
" Jesus!"
" Allah wo yoooo!"
The worst part is that everything was happening too fast and in pitch darkness!
The enemy armored carrier with headlights were facing the base, heavy shelling and gunfire was being exchanged seriously, everyone was engaging everyone.
"How did they manage to get this close, almost over running the camp?"
He kept asking himself even as he was taking down those trying to climb over the fence and demarcation embankments. The camp averted a similar attack last week when he was sentry.
He remembers seeing that slight movement from the corner of his eyes,it was pitch dark.
Then he saw a figure trying to climb into the third armored tank parked close to where Officers were quartered, and from the other corner, he saw something like a torchlight flick once, then twice.
He shot spontaneously and good enough, he got the idiot!
Then to his surprise, fire was opened from all around the whole camp with vehicle headlamps flooding the base, somehow, his spontaneity saved the day because if they had gained access to that tank, the possessor would have gunned down any Officer coming out from the quarters while the camp would have been run over in less than two hours.
They suffered heavy casualties, but repelled the attack, that was last week.
They felt it will take another two or three weeks before a repeat attack because that is usually their modes operandi, but no!
Let it not be that those on night sentry duty dozed or relaxed their vigilance. Last month, an Officer heard a rustle, whispered to his mate and flashed his light, only for his head to be blown off. Such is the tale, such is the war they are waging, such is the pain they face.
This is his fourth month here, he has two months to go, some guys left last two weeks and another set came in last week. Body counts are increasing, families are losing their heads, wives are turning widows at tender age.
He was still taking various combat positions, shooting and giving cover to his mates as they fight back to back in this humid, dry, dark and unfriendly environment.
A granade exploded close by, taking two Officers with it.
"That was close" he thought, everyone on this mission has had brush with death at one point or the other.
"Ratatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatataatatatatatatatatata!"
"Kaka kaka kaka kaka kaka........ratatatatatatatatatatatatatatatata!"
"Boom, boom, boom!" "Chiiiiiiiiiiiiikabooooom!"
Body counts kept increasing even as smoke and the smell of burning flesh pervaded the whole place.
They were gradually gaining the upper hand though with a heavy price, there will definitely be an inquisition when the whole base is secured.
That was when he felt it and the numbness that hit him after the pain.
He was scared to touch it, he knew something has gone badly wrong.
Then the blood, it started rushing like river Niger.
Immediately before he hit ground, his life started rewinding at a fast pace.
He immediately saw himself checking into the camp and being documented,
He saw himself six months ago in Italy, concluding his anti-terrorism course after spending the previous two months in Israel.
He saw himself holding his new baby eight months ago and telling his wife
"baby, all is well, God has started blessing us"
That was his last thoughts as he hit the ground, then......darkness.
*This series will chronicle the loses and pains of our gallant JTF operatives giving their lives in the fight against BH* these are true life stories of those who survived. May the souls of those who died in fighting for freedom of this nation and our right to live in peace rest perfectly in the bosom of The Lord.....Amen!
Saturday, February 21, 2015
PITAPEE!
She has always been a heady sensation for him, a feeling beyond love,lust or fatal attraction. He couldn't explain it at first, explaining it away as the feeling that comes with a new found love. They are friends, soul-mates even or better still, something deeper. On his part he can say that,he used to know when she felt she had something deeper for him...these days, he can't really say.
The circumstances in which they first met and parted ways can be called awkward, but it left an imprint on his mind. He should have struck then, if only he knew that two years down the line he would fall hopelessly in love with her, if only he knew that what he had for her could make him give up everything, yes everything just to be with her. All he needed was to see that she was ready to damn all and face the music with him.
Now, it seems funny, funny because she may argue that he didn't push too hard, but he knew that she was at a low point in her life for far too long. The path of recovery was long and tortuous for her, he didn't want to seem to take advantage of a period she needed love, much love, care and tenderness so as to regain her self confidence, worth and swag. Now, she has all that, he is happy he was the rock all those years, that he was a central part of that process, but........
Two years ago when they met....
" This is my mum"
he looked at the striking resemblance, they could pass as sisters even, with one claiming to be the elder sister.
" good day ma, it seems you guys are having some difficulties getting your travel documents sorted"
she sighed deeply and explained how everyone seems busy and their turn seems to be taking forever.
He first noticed her when he passed them with his documents for submission in the inner office. She has this striking personality that sucks you in and makes you want to hold her.
Years later when they will make love and lie in each other's arms , she will always ask
" do I ooze sex?"
"Why do you ask?" he will always respond.
"Why is it that everyone I come across just wants to sleep with me instantly? When I was younger it used to thrill me, with time it got be scared that this is all men see as soon as they see me, now, it just makes me cry and insecure"
He will laugh it off and start a long lecture of why it is normal with her sort.
The truth is that she oozes something, something that awakens something in any and every healthy man she comes across. That thing makes most men lose control when left alone with a woman like her.
She doesn't dress provocatively or suggestively, in that department her decency is superb. He laughs most time when he remembers how crazy she is. That babe de craze shaa o.
Back to that first meeting. After he went downstairs, she came out and hung on the half wall corridor, from where their eyes kept meeting whenever he looked up.
" is this girl sending come get me signals to me?"
he asked his partner in crime.
"They should go and tell her that I burn whoever comes too close o"
His crime partner, a friend he made way back in school before they lost contact and met again at the same office laughed out loud
" ol boy, go rest. Na u de find her wahala, the babe is most definitely looking at me"
"See me see wahala o" he responded,
" babe wey em mama don virtually dash me stylishly for up, Oyaa Wetin be her name ?"
Truth of the matter even though he was forming, he didn't know her name, but he was going upstairs to find out and he will definitely make sure they were attended to ASAP! This is his territory and this damsel will leave here satisfied today.
He took the stairs three at a time and found himself by her side as if a magnetic force beyond his control was pulling him, maybe partly because he knows how dangerous his crime partner can be and has to stake his claim. They have an unspoken rule, once a claim is staked, you can only hover and watch till the other's game crumbles before you step in.
" Where is your file?" He asked her.
When she turned to answer, he couldn't help catching his breath, this is the most childish looking face he had ever set his eyes on and boy o' boy, those eyes, those eyes could kill.
"You should greet a lady first before asking her questions, that is called good manners" she retorted.
He almost got annoyed, but years later, he will come to love her spontaneity and the simplicity in her, and above all, the brains on that shoulder.
"I will greet you with a kiss" he grinned,
"and I will respond with a slap" she smiled without missing a beat.
" the file is with one Mr Kenny, oh! Here he comes" he walks up to the man and takes the file from him " sorry, let me handle this"
Fifteen minutes later, they were heading home and she had this smile that started gradually till it spread on her face like that sun immediately after afternoon rain
" wow! How did you do that?"she asked, he only grinned. "
Anyway, thank you so much, the name is........"
" don't worry, he responded, I saw your file and I have your phone number, I will give you a call"
the mum simply stood and shook her head " young people nowadays" she muttered....
The circumstances in which they first met and parted ways can be called awkward, but it left an imprint on his mind. He should have struck then, if only he knew that two years down the line he would fall hopelessly in love with her, if only he knew that what he had for her could make him give up everything, yes everything just to be with her. All he needed was to see that she was ready to damn all and face the music with him.
Now, it seems funny, funny because she may argue that he didn't push too hard, but he knew that she was at a low point in her life for far too long. The path of recovery was long and tortuous for her, he didn't want to seem to take advantage of a period she needed love, much love, care and tenderness so as to regain her self confidence, worth and swag. Now, she has all that, he is happy he was the rock all those years, that he was a central part of that process, but........
Two years ago when they met....
" This is my mum"
he looked at the striking resemblance, they could pass as sisters even, with one claiming to be the elder sister.
" good day ma, it seems you guys are having some difficulties getting your travel documents sorted"
she sighed deeply and explained how everyone seems busy and their turn seems to be taking forever.
He first noticed her when he passed them with his documents for submission in the inner office. She has this striking personality that sucks you in and makes you want to hold her.
Years later when they will make love and lie in each other's arms , she will always ask
" do I ooze sex?"
"Why do you ask?" he will always respond.
"Why is it that everyone I come across just wants to sleep with me instantly? When I was younger it used to thrill me, with time it got be scared that this is all men see as soon as they see me, now, it just makes me cry and insecure"
He will laugh it off and start a long lecture of why it is normal with her sort.
The truth is that she oozes something, something that awakens something in any and every healthy man she comes across. That thing makes most men lose control when left alone with a woman like her.
She doesn't dress provocatively or suggestively, in that department her decency is superb. He laughs most time when he remembers how crazy she is. That babe de craze shaa o.
Back to that first meeting. After he went downstairs, she came out and hung on the half wall corridor, from where their eyes kept meeting whenever he looked up.
" is this girl sending come get me signals to me?"
he asked his partner in crime.
"They should go and tell her that I burn whoever comes too close o"
His crime partner, a friend he made way back in school before they lost contact and met again at the same office laughed out loud
" ol boy, go rest. Na u de find her wahala, the babe is most definitely looking at me"
"See me see wahala o" he responded,
" babe wey em mama don virtually dash me stylishly for up, Oyaa Wetin be her name ?"
Truth of the matter even though he was forming, he didn't know her name, but he was going upstairs to find out and he will definitely make sure they were attended to ASAP! This is his territory and this damsel will leave here satisfied today.
He took the stairs three at a time and found himself by her side as if a magnetic force beyond his control was pulling him, maybe partly because he knows how dangerous his crime partner can be and has to stake his claim. They have an unspoken rule, once a claim is staked, you can only hover and watch till the other's game crumbles before you step in.
" Where is your file?" He asked her.
When she turned to answer, he couldn't help catching his breath, this is the most childish looking face he had ever set his eyes on and boy o' boy, those eyes, those eyes could kill.
"You should greet a lady first before asking her questions, that is called good manners" she retorted.
He almost got annoyed, but years later, he will come to love her spontaneity and the simplicity in her, and above all, the brains on that shoulder.
"I will greet you with a kiss" he grinned,
"and I will respond with a slap" she smiled without missing a beat.
" the file is with one Mr Kenny, oh! Here he comes" he walks up to the man and takes the file from him " sorry, let me handle this"
Fifteen minutes later, they were heading home and she had this smile that started gradually till it spread on her face like that sun immediately after afternoon rain
" wow! How did you do that?"she asked, he only grinned. "
Anyway, thank you so much, the name is........"
" don't worry, he responded, I saw your file and I have your phone number, I will give you a call"
the mum simply stood and shook her head " young people nowadays" she muttered....
Friday, February 20, 2015
I hate being an only child!
"I don't like someone being an only child, only child in the sense of only boy!" That mind set has always been in me since my childhood. I have always had this fear that something will happen, something tragic and heart wrenching, something the parents may never recover from.
Only child? They always have this reckless tendencies. Correct me if I am wrong o, but that has always been my own stand. I have seen a lot of them to know that it is only the grace of God that keeps them from early grave or destruction. I may be wrong as I said earlier, but when you see more than ten different cases, at different levels of growth, in different locations, you can't be blamed if you stick to this line of thought.
When I was seven, I remember playing with Ekene who will always be a ring leader, and try all those Commando stunts. He jumped once and crashed, he didn't open up on the pains he felt inside or the injury he had. Few days later, he started having this high fever, before you can say Jack Robinson, he was dead and gone! Dead! Dead! Someone full of life, strong and bubbly. What of Chika? We were in the same boarding school, his bed was two beds from mine to the left. We went on long vacation, after resumption his parents came, opened his wardrobe, packed his belongings and took his bed [he was dead and the story wasn't straight! something about village asikwa village asighi!] . Hmmmm!
Tobechi took that space, nice guy, jovial and kind. One day, the vehicle [known as Dynaa] that supplies food to our school stopped on the road after delivery! some students offered to push it, then a freak accident happened. The vehicle started and the man told then to climb in so that he could drop them at the school gate, and eyewitness story has it that as Tobechi was trying to climb in, the vehicle rolled back and his hands slipped. It climbed a part of his stomach, he was immediately rushed to the hospital. We held vigils and prayers, little did I know that the greeting we shared the Saturday morning that heralded this accident was the last, and Tobechi was gone!
I can talk about the youth corp member that fell into a well while we were serving at Osun State or the medical doctor son of Mrs Ojujiofor that just had typhoid and died . I can go on and on and on to buttress my points why I hate only child in a home. The pain of the loss is something I can't relate with, but I have felt some pains at the losses I witnessed at different points in my life because those people were close, very close to me,and at the time it happened, it wasn't funny.
This morning,my cousin who works in the same office with me called me and asked if I have heard what happened at the village. My cousin, an only son whose parents died few years ago had a little argument with a boy living in their compound over snail [imagine! Snail!] and the boy who is an artisan went to his room and picked his machete, came out and slaughtered my cousin. Just like that, he has left a pregnant widow behind. I haven't been able to get my head round this rubbish development. Snail? Don't go behind my room again to look for snail, the other insisted that he will, now see the nonsense that has become the outcome. Uchenna is gone and the boy is now in police custody[another life to be wasted], over what? Snail. I tire o!
Only child? They always have this reckless tendencies. Correct me if I am wrong o, but that has always been my own stand. I have seen a lot of them to know that it is only the grace of God that keeps them from early grave or destruction. I may be wrong as I said earlier, but when you see more than ten different cases, at different levels of growth, in different locations, you can't be blamed if you stick to this line of thought.
When I was seven, I remember playing with Ekene who will always be a ring leader, and try all those Commando stunts. He jumped once and crashed, he didn't open up on the pains he felt inside or the injury he had. Few days later, he started having this high fever, before you can say Jack Robinson, he was dead and gone! Dead! Dead! Someone full of life, strong and bubbly. What of Chika? We were in the same boarding school, his bed was two beds from mine to the left. We went on long vacation, after resumption his parents came, opened his wardrobe, packed his belongings and took his bed [he was dead and the story wasn't straight! something about village asikwa village asighi!] . Hmmmm!
Tobechi took that space, nice guy, jovial and kind. One day, the vehicle [known as Dynaa] that supplies food to our school stopped on the road after delivery! some students offered to push it, then a freak accident happened. The vehicle started and the man told then to climb in so that he could drop them at the school gate, and eyewitness story has it that as Tobechi was trying to climb in, the vehicle rolled back and his hands slipped. It climbed a part of his stomach, he was immediately rushed to the hospital. We held vigils and prayers, little did I know that the greeting we shared the Saturday morning that heralded this accident was the last, and Tobechi was gone!
I can talk about the youth corp member that fell into a well while we were serving at Osun State or the medical doctor son of Mrs Ojujiofor that just had typhoid and died . I can go on and on and on to buttress my points why I hate only child in a home. The pain of the loss is something I can't relate with, but I have felt some pains at the losses I witnessed at different points in my life because those people were close, very close to me,and at the time it happened, it wasn't funny.
This morning,my cousin who works in the same office with me called me and asked if I have heard what happened at the village. My cousin, an only son whose parents died few years ago had a little argument with a boy living in their compound over snail [imagine! Snail!] and the boy who is an artisan went to his room and picked his machete, came out and slaughtered my cousin. Just like that, he has left a pregnant widow behind. I haven't been able to get my head round this rubbish development. Snail? Don't go behind my room again to look for snail, the other insisted that he will, now see the nonsense that has become the outcome. Uchenna is gone and the boy is now in police custody[another life to be wasted], over what? Snail. I tire o!
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Counterfeit.
It was raining heavily, so heavy that the wipers were just mere formalities on the windscreen. They moved at a snails pace and the vehicle fell completely quiet because of how risky the journey was turning out to be. His mind started playing tricks on him, first all the robbery incidents that took place on that high way started coming back to him the way they were gifted, which one will he even talk about? Kidnap has become like "kpukpukpu ugele", indiscriminately people varnish.
The car headlights? That one that can't pick up any image 3 feet away, na wah o! He should have just gone to sleep at his elder brothers house, what was he rushing back Umuahia to do? One fault he has is that he finds it hard to sleep in anyone's house other than his parents or his own house. The meeting had ended late and every member he knew of was residing at Aba. When the first listening appeared and a faint thunder struck, he muttered to his brother "you sure say I no go sleep?" That one only smiled, knowing he always says that each week but hardly follows up....." You know that you are always welcome and wifey will always prepare your specialty,mmmmh....run along mate, the rain will soon pour down". He shook hands and made a dash for the park and took one of his favorite sitting positions each time he took a commercial bus. He just paid the gushy he bought gala and fanta from the window and was unwrapping the gala when her voice stopped him in his tracks.
He turned sharply while thinking " where did that angelic voice come from?" Immediately he saw the face and the shape, he started practicing everything he has read or learnt on the Power of Attraction and Positive Thinking and got sorely disappointed when she chose the seat directly in front of his own. He sighed at another missed opportunity and started getting irritated at the waste of time, at which point the first drops came and stopped. He seriously considered getting down and even living the money he had already paid for ticket and heading back to the brothers house because it was really getting dark by 6.30 pm and that was a sign of the rains to come.
He only stayed partly because she was still in that vehicle, sitting like one of those Nubian Queens he has read and researched about. By the way, he is well read and informed, a way of life that has taken him to the fore of whatever environment or class he found himself in. Nubian Queen was on phone and he was paying rapt attention to her phone conversation. "I had to stop over at Aba to collect the gift" she missed a bit and continued "Gift ke? I just succeeded in cutting three hours from my journey to Umuahia, you know how bad these Aba roads are?, as I am talking to you now, getting to my house is a big problem when I get to Umuahia, you know that vehicles to that village may not be available and the weather is seriously changing" He started his Attraction practice again, willing all vehicles to which ever village to varnish when they get to Umuahia.
Like the elements heard his prayers because it started pouring almost as Nubian Queen dropped her call at which point the driver knew that waiting for two more passengers to fill the bus is a futile venture. The journey started and the first huddle was how to negotiate the traffic jam at the park area before jumping all those mad potholes that burst tyres when you jump in like an amateur driving. "Ol boy! See cursing a and raking " he considered changing seats severally, but held his peace. "This journey go long naa" , true to his thoughts, the journey was proving too long. Back to the present, the vehicle trudged along the Portharcourt-Enugu expressway on its way to Umuahia, with a headlamp that could barely see your outstretched hands if it were in front, a wiper that wasn't functioning because of how angry the elements were and a heavy breeze that ws increasingly threatening to push the bus off road.
Her phone rang again and she spoke in almost a whisper " for where? We are in the middle of no where, our car is fighting to stay on the road and all the robbers and kidnappers are strolling beside us" atleast Nubiaan has a good sense of humor, the type his mom calls devilish. Thinking of his mom made him start praying, funny guy, he prays whenever he is in serious difficulties " God, please don't let me die, for the same of my born again mom who is a widow, if I die, she will, you know that I am the apple of her eyes and she is the apple of your eyes....you know that she has suffered to raise us since daddy left and I wouldn't like her to pass through such pain again". Funny as it sounds to him when things are normal, but when they are not, he prays it with all sincerity and faith, it seems to work because the other day robbers attacked them at Iseleuku in Delta and he ran into that bush amidst hot pursuit from them in the daytime o, haaa! daytime! and they were just passing in front of the tiny bush where he hid and didn't see him is a proof that the prayer really works.
Nubian spoke to the woman by her left and as if on cue, the vehicle lurched and stopped. " driver, what is it naa?!"...a scared voice from the back shouted, one could sense and smell and even touch the fear in that bus. He was calm, after all he has said his saving prayer and Nubian was calm too. He mused " is this girl human? Everyone is panicking except her, are you sure she is not one of those mermaids or possessed girls they tell us about in church" anyway, today na today. A woman stepped down from the front of the vehicle, and he wondered how she could tell which junction she was dropping at because he couldn't see nada. " Driver which junction is that?" Nubian calmly asked as the vehicle continued its tortuous journey. It turned out that the passed junction was Ntigha junction, he started feeling better " two more junctions to go and now, we will leave enemy territory" he thought with a smile on his face. The enemy territory thing was as a result of the Ngwa stories and human meat, a story for another day.
"Hmmmm, this rain won't stop o! Nubian! Nubian! Nubian! How many times did I call you? It won't be easy today, that I promise you".
The car headlights? That one that can't pick up any image 3 feet away, na wah o! He should have just gone to sleep at his elder brothers house, what was he rushing back Umuahia to do? One fault he has is that he finds it hard to sleep in anyone's house other than his parents or his own house. The meeting had ended late and every member he knew of was residing at Aba. When the first listening appeared and a faint thunder struck, he muttered to his brother "you sure say I no go sleep?" That one only smiled, knowing he always says that each week but hardly follows up....." You know that you are always welcome and wifey will always prepare your specialty,mmmmh....run along mate, the rain will soon pour down". He shook hands and made a dash for the park and took one of his favorite sitting positions each time he took a commercial bus. He just paid the gushy he bought gala and fanta from the window and was unwrapping the gala when her voice stopped him in his tracks.
He turned sharply while thinking " where did that angelic voice come from?" Immediately he saw the face and the shape, he started practicing everything he has read or learnt on the Power of Attraction and Positive Thinking and got sorely disappointed when she chose the seat directly in front of his own. He sighed at another missed opportunity and started getting irritated at the waste of time, at which point the first drops came and stopped. He seriously considered getting down and even living the money he had already paid for ticket and heading back to the brothers house because it was really getting dark by 6.30 pm and that was a sign of the rains to come.
He only stayed partly because she was still in that vehicle, sitting like one of those Nubian Queens he has read and researched about. By the way, he is well read and informed, a way of life that has taken him to the fore of whatever environment or class he found himself in. Nubian Queen was on phone and he was paying rapt attention to her phone conversation. "I had to stop over at Aba to collect the gift" she missed a bit and continued "Gift ke? I just succeeded in cutting three hours from my journey to Umuahia, you know how bad these Aba roads are?, as I am talking to you now, getting to my house is a big problem when I get to Umuahia, you know that vehicles to that village may not be available and the weather is seriously changing" He started his Attraction practice again, willing all vehicles to which ever village to varnish when they get to Umuahia.
Like the elements heard his prayers because it started pouring almost as Nubian Queen dropped her call at which point the driver knew that waiting for two more passengers to fill the bus is a futile venture. The journey started and the first huddle was how to negotiate the traffic jam at the park area before jumping all those mad potholes that burst tyres when you jump in like an amateur driving. "Ol boy! See cursing a and raking " he considered changing seats severally, but held his peace. "This journey go long naa" , true to his thoughts, the journey was proving too long. Back to the present, the vehicle trudged along the Portharcourt-Enugu expressway on its way to Umuahia, with a headlamp that could barely see your outstretched hands if it were in front, a wiper that wasn't functioning because of how angry the elements were and a heavy breeze that ws increasingly threatening to push the bus off road.
Her phone rang again and she spoke in almost a whisper " for where? We are in the middle of no where, our car is fighting to stay on the road and all the robbers and kidnappers are strolling beside us" atleast Nubiaan has a good sense of humor, the type his mom calls devilish. Thinking of his mom made him start praying, funny guy, he prays whenever he is in serious difficulties " God, please don't let me die, for the same of my born again mom who is a widow, if I die, she will, you know that I am the apple of her eyes and she is the apple of your eyes....you know that she has suffered to raise us since daddy left and I wouldn't like her to pass through such pain again". Funny as it sounds to him when things are normal, but when they are not, he prays it with all sincerity and faith, it seems to work because the other day robbers attacked them at Iseleuku in Delta and he ran into that bush amidst hot pursuit from them in the daytime o, haaa! daytime! and they were just passing in front of the tiny bush where he hid and didn't see him is a proof that the prayer really works.
Nubian spoke to the woman by her left and as if on cue, the vehicle lurched and stopped. " driver, what is it naa?!"...a scared voice from the back shouted, one could sense and smell and even touch the fear in that bus. He was calm, after all he has said his saving prayer and Nubian was calm too. He mused " is this girl human? Everyone is panicking except her, are you sure she is not one of those mermaids or possessed girls they tell us about in church" anyway, today na today. A woman stepped down from the front of the vehicle, and he wondered how she could tell which junction she was dropping at because he couldn't see nada. " Driver which junction is that?" Nubian calmly asked as the vehicle continued its tortuous journey. It turned out that the passed junction was Ntigha junction, he started feeling better " two more junctions to go and now, we will leave enemy territory" he thought with a smile on his face. The enemy territory thing was as a result of the Ngwa stories and human meat, a story for another day.
"Hmmmm, this rain won't stop o! Nubian! Nubian! Nubian! How many times did I call you? It won't be easy today, that I promise you".
Poisoned Chalice--Part 1
Can this be happening? What is the meaning of this one, eh? She mused as she paced round the living room. This cannot be happening, not now, not again! She was screaming and raging inside, wondering when this jinx will be broken.
Anita paced round the living room, the background noise from the television was irritating her as she scanned the room looking for where she dropped the remote control to mute the noise. ......"hmmm, ISIS and their wahala, when will they stop this world madness?"
Her daughter was unconsolable in her room, with puffy eyes. She left her few minutes ago to gather her thoughts and see if there could be any remedy at this point. "Should I have kept my secret? Does he know too much? Should I open up to her?"..... These were the thoughts she that kept gnawing away at her peace of mind.
She strode back to her daughters room "Nne, stop crying, this isn't the end of the world" she drew her closer as she quietly and slowly wiped her tears and put back the stray strands of her natural her in their rightful place. " shhhh shh shhh, calm down sweetie, you are a strong woman, we are from a long generation of strong women, you will beat this"
Her daughter raised her head and smiled weakly and shook her head as a new wave of tears cascaded down her face, ...." Strong eh?!She laughed out like a maniac "strong eh ?! She started muttering to herself as she buried her face on the pillow, leaving her mums embrace. You can see the pain and the anger on Anita's face, but what can she do? What sort of problem is this? For three days now, her daughter has refused to eat or shower, she has loosened the hair she plaited a day before the events that led to all this pain.
She picked up her phone and went to her room, making sure that she didn't close the door behind her. She ws worried, more worried than she has shown. Her husband has repeatedly reassured her that their daughter will be fine, though she knows she will be, but she is scared of what she will become when she recovers from this. She has to be strong for her, she has to be by her side throughout this test period. She looked at the ceiling before dialing the number,one thought kept coming to her " tell your daughter the truth" one voice kept saying " don't try it, don't you ever try it, you will lose all you have ever worked for and your world will come crashing"
The source of this pain knows the whole truth, but she trusts he won't say a word. He can keep secrets, that she is sure of, but for how long will this remain a secret? She had planned to say something, but events moved faster than she imagined, and now this pain. " If I can survive that cancer, I can survive anything, this is the fourth generation of women in this lineage that has suffered this, and I bet this will be the last" immediately she said this, her sanity started coming back and she remembered her mothers words " it pains me that this same this is repeating with you" her mother had said twenty five years ago and she remembers vividly her response " mama, if it has to repeat itself to get sorted out, let it, I cannot be the sacrificial lamb for you people" the mother had merely laughed at her ignorance.
Twenty five years later, everything has become clearer. She now has a new resolve within herself. Ifeoma will be the last to suffer this, "my daughter will be the last to suffer this". She picked her phone and called the husband " honey, please make some transfer to me, I am taking Ifeoma on a journey to Lagos, we will spend two weeks" the man was confused on the reappearance of his wife's spontaneity, she used to be that spur if the moment person, but child birth and raising children has toned her down a bit. " I will give you details when we come back" she dropped the call. "It is time for Ifeoma to meet her real father" she mused.
Anita paced round the living room, the background noise from the television was irritating her as she scanned the room looking for where she dropped the remote control to mute the noise. ......"hmmm, ISIS and their wahala, when will they stop this world madness?"
Her daughter was unconsolable in her room, with puffy eyes. She left her few minutes ago to gather her thoughts and see if there could be any remedy at this point. "Should I have kept my secret? Does he know too much? Should I open up to her?"..... These were the thoughts she that kept gnawing away at her peace of mind.
She strode back to her daughters room "Nne, stop crying, this isn't the end of the world" she drew her closer as she quietly and slowly wiped her tears and put back the stray strands of her natural her in their rightful place. " shhhh shh shhh, calm down sweetie, you are a strong woman, we are from a long generation of strong women, you will beat this"
Her daughter raised her head and smiled weakly and shook her head as a new wave of tears cascaded down her face, ...." Strong eh?!She laughed out like a maniac "strong eh ?! She started muttering to herself as she buried her face on the pillow, leaving her mums embrace. You can see the pain and the anger on Anita's face, but what can she do? What sort of problem is this? For three days now, her daughter has refused to eat or shower, she has loosened the hair she plaited a day before the events that led to all this pain.
She picked up her phone and went to her room, making sure that she didn't close the door behind her. She ws worried, more worried than she has shown. Her husband has repeatedly reassured her that their daughter will be fine, though she knows she will be, but she is scared of what she will become when she recovers from this. She has to be strong for her, she has to be by her side throughout this test period. She looked at the ceiling before dialing the number,one thought kept coming to her " tell your daughter the truth" one voice kept saying " don't try it, don't you ever try it, you will lose all you have ever worked for and your world will come crashing"
The source of this pain knows the whole truth, but she trusts he won't say a word. He can keep secrets, that she is sure of, but for how long will this remain a secret? She had planned to say something, but events moved faster than she imagined, and now this pain. " If I can survive that cancer, I can survive anything, this is the fourth generation of women in this lineage that has suffered this, and I bet this will be the last" immediately she said this, her sanity started coming back and she remembered her mothers words " it pains me that this same this is repeating with you" her mother had said twenty five years ago and she remembers vividly her response " mama, if it has to repeat itself to get sorted out, let it, I cannot be the sacrificial lamb for you people" the mother had merely laughed at her ignorance.
Twenty five years later, everything has become clearer. She now has a new resolve within herself. Ifeoma will be the last to suffer this, "my daughter will be the last to suffer this". She picked her phone and called the husband " honey, please make some transfer to me, I am taking Ifeoma on a journey to Lagos, we will spend two weeks" the man was confused on the reappearance of his wife's spontaneity, she used to be that spur if the moment person, but child birth and raising children has toned her down a bit. " I will give you details when we come back" she dropped the call. "It is time for Ifeoma to meet her real father" she mused.
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