For the love of me

When is it enough?

2010-03-10T03:21:00.000-08:00

Lately, I have been thinking. Really thinking.

In another five years do I still want to be putting on the generator? Do I want my son growing up shouting 'UP NEPA'. (He already does) or do I want to do something about it? I have a few options: Migrate to a 'civilised' country, retire early to a remote village or force the government to do something about it. Needless to say, I took the last option.

It's no longer enough to sit down and nag about NEPA or PHCN, it's time to act.

It doesn't matter if you don't live here or if you have three passports, as long as Nigeria flows in your veins either by birth or blood, then NIgeria is your home and is yours to build. Recently in the Birmingham, a friend of mine took me round the city in his car, there's a Nigerian flag there, he has a British passport but he flies the Nigerian flag. In the train as well, a white boy asks a Bengali girl, where she is from, she says London, and he says, nope, I mean where are you originally from?

The Enough is Enough campaign hits Abuja streets on the 16th of March,2010. If you cannot attend, can you at least sponsor someone? so that when Nigeria improves, we can all nod our heads in pride, saying, I was a part of that change.

These psychos in power will never do good except we implore them to, I am ready to, Are you?

www.enoughisenoughnigeria.com

And the Lord saved us.

2010-02-22T03:12:00.000-08:00

It's 5am and a neighbour is screaming Igwe,Igwe. My first reaction is to lock all the doors as I think there may be thieves around, then I see red. There is fire in the building.

My neighbor went to top up his fuel and next thing, it went up in flames, we suspect he didn't put of the generator before pouring the petrol but I refuse to believe it, can anybody be that stupid? So everyone is running out of their flats, on my way down, I remember my Jimmy choo bag that cost me both arms and both legs, God forgive that it should burn, I run back and grab my bag abeg and my car keys. Please a girl is allowed her vanities.

The compound is filled with good samaritans, some with Omo, water, sand, all sorts, but the fire keeps spreading, we start to bring out fire extinguishers from our cars, there's one in the house too and that's the one that saves us. Fortunately, the neighbor who started the fire, just went through a fire drill at work so he is able to open all the extinguishers.

My generator is burnt, my net, my water pipes. Amazingly, no one else loses anything(apart from the culprit whose generator is completely burnt down), perhaps I should visit mountain of fire, only last week, my phone crashed.

Please everyone, get fire extinguishers and more importantly learn how to use them. Had we none, I wouldn't be here typing this as I would be wailing about the loss of all my books.

A few days ago, I blogged about this heat causing deaths, little did I know, that it could easily have been mine. Thank God for God.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord deliverth him from them all.

Keeping Silent

2010-02-20T10:18:00.000-08:00

In the time that I was gone,Yaradua was also gone. Three months and counting and we still can't find the president? There is nothing more to say as everyone has said it all.

I have not exactly stopped blogging but I find that these days, I have less and less to say. I have become simply the observer, removed from my immediate environment.

A few months back,my baby was ill and my neighbor(fantabulous woman)took us to her place of work, LUTH. I'll admit, they probably have the best professionals but the environment, HMMMM. and it's got nothing to do with money, what's the price difference between a pedal bin and one you have to use your hands? Was I really expected to use my hands to uncover the bin and with the same hands touch my baby? There is no running water in the children's ward except at nurses' station and parents are not allowed near. The toilet is a no go area so parents use potties for their kids no matter the age and push the mess under the bed till the next morning. The mother beside me has no mosquito net for her baby, the nurses claim they have run out of nets, how do you run out of nets in a mosquito infested ward in a country where malaria is still the highest killer disease in children. Some good parent lends her one. Some mothers sleep under their children's bed to escape the murderous mosquitos. sleep is the last thing on my mind, my baby's temparature is at an all time high, I am constantly sponging it. I seek out a nurse who only follows me the third time, she feels his body and advises I pour water on him. As early as 5.am, we are woken up by a shrill voice that rings louder than a rising bell. She tells mothers to return chairs(most mothers sleep on chaiirs)and clean up their kids. I see some women with buckets and I join them,we follow a path and find a tank that has water. If there's water here, why can't there be water everywhere at LUTH?

The experirence at Luth leaves my stomach tight and my tongue tied. I am sorry for Nigeria, sorry for my countrymen. Is this life that we live here? what would it cost to have running water in hospitals so that people can at least have clean toilets? I bet the Director has been given enough funds to provide that but in true Nigerian style, he feels the money would do better in his pockets. Is the heart of the Nigerian man more desperately wicked than the heart of other men? Why do Nigerians like to amass wealth and more wealth at the detriment of the poor, the sick.

It's been so so hot lately-35 degrees and above- and I keep thinking of OBJ and other past leaders that have syphoned Nigeria's wealth. Wealth that should have generated electricity, wealth that could have saved lives,for I know that people will die from this heat, from generator fumes, from congestion, from frustration and while people are dying, some people will be depositing stolen millions in swiss accounts.
On the last day, what will you say to God? That you stole money that people should have used to feed? That you sold your conscience for a car or two?

I am sorry for you, oh thieving leader, sorry for you oh Nigeria, for you are a country of many vagabondsssssss.

PS.

I didn't change my layout to this, it just happened.

Nigerians as terrorists ke?

2010-01-05T09:58:00.001-08:00

Nigerians have been included on the list of Countries to watch out for and Prof. Dora says it is not fair. Can someone please tell me exactly what not being fair means? Dora goes on to add that she knows Nigeria will be de-listed by the GRACE OF GOD. Is this woman for real? By the grace of God? I have always believed that religion is a major reason Nigeria remains so backwards. If it is no ; pray for Yaradua's recovery, it is; pray for Nigeria to be delisted from America's watchlist. These leaders need their heads checked.

Let me first of all say that I condemn Umar Farouk's actions in particular and all acts of terrorism in general. But I think the way Nigeria has acted has been very shallow. The guy is a NIGERIAN. That should be the government's primary concern not what America would now think of us. Why are we so afraid of America anyway, the way I see it, America needs us more than we need them, they know that, unfortunately we don't. All sorts of groups and bodies spring up, disowning Umar. We may disown him all we want but the Nigerian blood runs in his veins like it runs in ours. Does a father particularly the African father throw away his son because of his sins? For those of us who are Christians does God feed us to the dogs because we have done wrong? Please do not get me wrong, Umar should be tried and punished but Nigeria should have at least attempted to make a case for him. We could have blamed it on insanity, on external influences, on peer pressure, anything at all but we were so quick to wash our hands off him, to distance our selves from him not because we hated his crime so much but because we rever America too much. God forbid that they should deny us all visas, where then will our poor run to find wealth and our rich run to spend their wealth?

I strongly believe that there is more to this than meets the eye. America MAy have stagemanaged this from the beginning. The boy had been reported by his father to America. America conveniently let this pass, it wasnt serious enough, they said and then he attempts to blow up a plane and does not SUCCEED and NIgeria's name is included in their watchlist. Come On!

Surely they must have a plan. I çan't imagine what it is but I doubt that it is far from wanting to establish a military base in Naija or unconnected to their oil interests in the Niger Delta Region. It may be my mind over working but I doubt.

That I may blog

2009-12-05T08:58:00.000-08:00

I still don't have a laptop. I feel like a farmer without a hoe. so much for claiming to be a writer.

It has been reported that it was reported in PM News that Pastor Bimbo Odukoya is in Hell, some pastor made this declaration. I don't know if anyone asked him what he was doing there in hell himself. I have heard many ridiculous things but this must be the height. Who is this man? What is the relevance of this stupid information? Couldn't he have gotten his five minutes of fame without making such a callous statement?

Yaradua, dear president, what can I say? And Jonathan Goodluck, what can I say either? For once, I have no opinion. I'm just watching from my window.

I attended the experience and I loved the experience. Babatunde Fashola gave a short speech, that man, that man, oh that man.......
I was particularly impressed with the prayer points raised. Before, Our pastors would be praying some very soft prayers but last night was fire. so much prayer for Nigeria. Finally, Nigerians are really getting fed up. I believe religious bodies have huge roles to play towards change in Nigeria. The people listen to them for one thing.

My life has been good. A few tough situations here and there but I shouldn't complain really, I still have things going on well and I am grateful for little mercies. The love and respect of a good man, the unconditional love of son, a job I enjoy, the bestest friends and God's faithfulness and infinite mercy, guidance and so much more.

God bless y'all.

Robbed.

2009-10-06T06:47:00.000-07:00

I didn't see the robbers. There may never even have been any. But my laptop dissappeared from my laptop bag from inside my sitting room. Everything else is intact, the charger, the headphones. My baby has two minders. A 40something year old lady that leaves by 6pm and I have a young girl that returns from school by 2pm.
The young girl(after much questioning)says some lady came to the house at about 6.30pm after the nanny had gone. Said lady asked for water and blue and yellow capsule, she said we didnt have, lady asked her to go check in the room, and SHE WENT. Now, I don't know what is blue and yellow capsule so it's not possible for us to have had it so?
My laptop is always with me but was home that day cos I was out of town, Igwe went to take the kids to my sis at about 7pm. He didn't meet this strange woman.

The young girl has strict instructions never to open the door for anyone when we aren't home, so why did she open the door for a stranger who said she was looking for her Aunty? Can she be lying, she's an excellent liar but has never stolen from me. The Nanny is new, just about a month, can she be the culprit?The Story is very funny. Most people say send both of them packing but I've been through so many domestic help, I don tire.
.

I hate being stolen from but more than that, I hate the intrusion. And all I kept thinking was they could very easily have taken my son. Thank God for God.

Nigeria: Is there not a curse?

2009-09-08T03:57:00.000-07:00

I am Nigerian with a green passport FACT1
I do not apologise for it. FACT2
It makes immigration officers hair stand. FACT3
For the love of me does not care. FACT4

THE NATIONAL PLEDGE

I pledge to Nigeria my country

To be faithful, loyal and honest

To serve Nigeria with all my strength

To defend her unity and uphold her honor and glory

So help me God.

For those of us who studied in Nigeria we must have recited the pledge at least a million times through primary and secondary school. Apparently, it meant nothing if anything to us.
First it was district 9. The SA/Hollywood film that portrays Nigerians as 419’s prostitutes etc. I have not seen the movie but the reviews have told me all I need to know.

Now it’s the Sony advert. I think this is extremely cheap and irresponsible of SONY. For a whole team to come up with that, pass it through several people and still decide that the advert was perfect, then it’s a big big shame. Nigeria, a country where the product is sold in mass. But my grouse is not necessarily with SONY, it is more with Nigerians who don’t see anything wrong with it, and those who think that Dora has no right to ask that the advert be retraced and Sony offer a public apology.

When I read some of the comments on the issue, I almost gave up on Nigerians. How dare we say that it is okay for people to insult us? Yes, Nigeria has corrupt leaders, Yes Nigeria has yahoo, yahoo boys, Yes, Some Nigerians are stupid and foolish and docile and cowardly and just empty barrels but that does not justify another national calling us these names to our faces. If the security guy falls asleep on his post, does that justify the thief? Is a drunk driver justified because a pub was left open?

I don’t care that almost all our leaders are thieves giving us a bad name. Whenever I travel, I travel with my head held high. Yes, they scan and scan and rescan my passport but I don’t care, I will not apologise for being a Nigerian, they can’t never intimidate me. When they are done with their scanning, they hand me back my passport and I walk away, sometimes I can’t resist adding if they are sure they don’t want to scan some more. Being Nigerian is not a crime and one day, I swear, my child will stand proud that he is one.

My brother was initially refused a British study visa, they claimed that my mother, who sponsored him ,had forged her statement of account. My brother was livid. Being a journalist, he replied them immediately threatening fire and brimstone and demanding an apology. How dare them call his mother-who had served his fatherland in the civil service for thirty five years- a fraudster? If the embassy staff were not diligent enough to decipher what statement was false and which wasn’t, should he be made to pay for their irresponsibility. He raved and ranted and they called him up, apologised and granted him the visa.

What is my point?That it don’t matter that Nigeria is more bad than good(and that is debatable)It don’t give no one no right to insult us. And we have to learn to stand up for this country. If not for us, for our children. I believe that the older generation is lost and there is no saving them. Only us, the younger people can save this country, but how can we save a country, we have no passion for, we hold no respect for?

I don’t think anyone would pat another on the back for insulting our parents, our tribe or our religion, so why do we let them insult Nigeria?
It doesn’t matter if we become the best country in the world, if we have no self respect as a nation, no other nation will respect us.

Finally, to all those thieving leaders who have contributed in bringing shame upon our nation. MAY THE FULL WRATH OF GOD DESCEND UPON THEM!

Uncensored

2009-09-01T15:51:00.000-07:00

That should actually have read unedited. Just bits and pieces of stuff.

Sanusi and the highway thieves.

I got that from a book-samankwe and the highway thieves. Wonder how many of you read it?

So Sanusi or CBN has sacked 5 bank chiefs. I find it very embarassing and disturbing. Particularly on the part of Ibru and Akingbola who are regular speakers at their churches. Someone must have redefined christianity while I slept or how else do you explain the fraud, and yes, I insist it is fraudulent to give loans to non-credible people, I understand Ibru recently acquired a bank in Sao-Tome and her sons all had ghost companies which they used to borrow money from Oceanic. Depositors money! They should be tried and if found guilty, treated as common criminals.

However, there is something uncanny about Sanusi's approach, about his urgency and about the concentration on these five banks. Having been Nigerian long enough, I know that he has got something up his sleeve. There have been many rumours: they want to sell the banks to Northerners, they want to use the banks to secure a loan from IMF, he is settling a personal vendetta and so on and so forth.

Nigeria really has me baffled, while I believe that crimes must be punished, I do think that when it concerns public interest, one must thread softly. So Sanusi says these banks are on the virge of collapse, and with the same voice, he plans an international roadshow where he intends to market said banks to would be investors. I need someone to explain it to me like I am a four year old.
A very bad marriage
I have watched a friend battle with a very bad marriage. The evil that some men do has absolutely no bounds. The beatings, the threats to her life etc. Her story would give any one goose bumps. Finally, though there's been progress. There's been a restraining order on him and the divorce case is in court. This is a cry out to women, please, please, please do not marry an extremely jealous, violent, poor, heavy drinking etc man.

Centage talent hunt
I watched Centage talent hunt run by Kennis music. I don't know what it is that makes us Nigerians not do things well, Just how hard can it be? Don't they watch other shows, don't they understand that the judges are much a part of the show as the contestants? The judges are Jimmy Jatt, kenny Saint 1 and sme other guy I have never seen. They all wear some funny looking glasses, this is something I can't understand, how are they supposed to have eye contact with the contestants when they are wearing dark glasses? or they don't think eye contact is important? Those judges are so boring, all talk the same. I hope I never come across the show again.

Light up Nigeria
I went into the group last night and was reading the comments. Some Andrew guy is insisting Nigeria can never have constant power supply. I thought the group was for us hopefuls who want to come together and see how we can find a solution. If you don't believe in a cause, why do you join the cause? Naijans sha. someone mentioned that that's how it was said that a black can never be president yet....
Nigeria will have constant power supply. All of us who believe in this country will see to it.

P/S
I apologise for the layout of this post-something to do with my browser.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

2009-07-29T09:08:00.000-07:00

Nigeria must be the toughest country to live in. Okay, scratch that as I remember being stuck in Khartoum, Sudan sometime ago.

This morning after driving many miles to drop my car off at the service centre somewhere very far away, I come back home and settle down to write. But of course there is no electricity, and the generators won't start. I apply my little knowledge of machines and get one to work. Thirty minutes after it dies. Pray tell, how do two gens pack up at once, particularly at a time when I have a deadline? So I come to my office, and believe this, the gen isn't working either, Is this what it means to be jinxed? I use the small gen with my heart in my mouth as it has blown up two of my power packs previously.

I put the lapy to charge and off to lunch I go at my buka only to discover they have been closed down by the council or something for having an unclean environment. While this is a good thing, why today that for the love of me is starving and broke and pressed for time?

I am back with my lapy only I can't find the strength to write and my client is calling me incessantly as I have already been paid for the job. I am just staring at the screen, it'll soon be time to hit the gym, I hope no surprises await me there or I will just book into mountain of fire for deliverance.

Sat-3 is down, whatever that is. Starcomms is one of the few functional internet provider in this country at the moment and the speed is....... Only in Nigeria, walai.

Reuben Abati

2009-07-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

Don't Panic. It's not another rejoinder to his (goof) article. Instead, I think he may have redeemned his image with this piece.

'President Yar'çdua insults us when the same week that Babalola ruined our December, he told us through egbon Ojo Maduekwe, that we should wait and judge him after his tenure. The Foreign Affairs Minister said: "We will not join hands with those critics, the government will not be distracted by the daily torrent of abuses thrown at its doorsteps by those who do not even know the names of their local government areas. They are intellectual hit men, seen to pull down every administration and are too lazy to fight for power. In the course of time, the outcome of our seven-point agenda will vindicate us." President Obasanjo said precisely the same thing about Nigerians, pipeline vandals and intellectual hit men and see where he has left us. Can Yar'çdua and his hit men please convert all of these many words that continue to tumble out of their mouths into megawatts of electricity and give us light in this country? Then, they can judge us. '

I thought that was fantastic. Yaradua, please kindly do as he has asked, if you are the president, turn these words into electricity.

He also responds nicely to Is-haq Akintola who thinks Arabic should be restored on the Naira notes.
He asks: "The question is what is wrong if Arabic is on the Naira? Is English not there? The Arabic on the Naira symbolizes the existence of Muslims in the country while the English on the Naira represents the Christian population. To remove the Arabic unceremoniously is to tell the Muslims that they do not belong." He wants the Arabic inscriptions restored. Wrong. Absolutely wrong and mischievous.

Yes Mr. Reuben,please tell him. Nigeria is a SECULAR state and will remain so. If you want to be an Islamic fundamentalist so bad, you may want to migrate. I just simply don't understand these guys, How on earth is the presence of Arabic on the naira note going to better the lives of Muslims, Is it going to end the Niger Delta crises which clearly the govt. has no idea what to do or will it provide us electricity? The North has been in power for years and yet the North remains the least developed in Nigeria. Shouldn't Akintola be impressing on his leaders to do something to alleviate the sufferings of the Notherners who are predominantly muslims? He is talking about arabic on Naira notes. If you are looking to start a war, you have failed. People are to hungry to fight unworthy causes.

May something great happen to y'all this week.

He is just not into you.......

2009-06-12T09:41:00.000-07:00

I saw this movie last night at the Ozone cinema ,Yaba, Lagos. That was my first time there despite it being a walking distance from my office. Everyone complains about the island/mainland divide and everyday it seems more obvious. Ozone cinema is so different from silverbird cinemas, V. I despite it being owned by the same or sister companies. It's as if the management couldn't be bothered to try too hard, it is after all, Yaba. Anyway I digress.

He is just not into you is a movie about relationships; the signs that tell if he is interested or not and the stupid reasons women make up for themselves when a man isn't calling or picking his calls. It takes us around different continents, and naturally when they show African women, it is of women in huts. Nonsense, but again I digress.

My beef today is with women who lay everything at the feet of the man simply because they want him to marry them, if he aint going to marry you, he aint going to marry you no matter what you do and if by some chance he marries you, you'd be so miserable in the marriage. Why does everyone make such a big deal about marriage anyway? Before you guys jump on my throat, I am happy I am married and would recommend it but if someone insists that he/she is happily single, why must we force, coerce, urge them to marry? For christians, will there be a reward in heaven for having beeen married?

Why do we(read women) tie our happiness to a man? I have always been happy, (how can I not be happy when there's food and fanta and icecream?) before I married and much as I love being married, I would still have been happy had I not married! Get a life, women!

I am angry because a friend of mine married a guy she met a total of 6 times and now the guy's turning out to be an absolute jerk and she's shocked? How can you be shocked? And she's such a good kid she don't deserve this,now she wants a divorce and fast so what was the point?The marriage is just about six months.

Her mother pushed, her friends pushed etc. Everywhere you turn they are asking when you are getting married, and when you marry, they are asking when you'll have kids and when you have kids, they are asking when you'll die.

Another acquaintance has been married 4 years and has never worked and it isn't like the husband is rich. All she does is sit at home and wait for him to come home and nag when he doesn't. Now the guy has moved out, I would too if I had a husband whose only job was to wait for me to come home.

Women please, get a life, get friends, get a job, volunteer at a home, anything. Stop waiting hand and foot on a man. If he loves you, he'll show it, if he treats you like a jerk, then he don't send you. Move on. Fish plenty for water.

In the time that I was gone:

2009-05-23T11:42:00.001-07:00

My cousin was kidnapped. Yeah, not someone I know from afar. It happened right in my family. We paid 2 million naira. And got her back. So based on that I should be one of those campaigning for the millitants to all be killed as I have experienced the evil that they are or have led to.(I don't think it was millitants who kidnapped my cousin, just some criminals). But I am not because I can't see the millitants, all can see are women and children being killed. Innocent citizens suffering for nothing that is a fault of theirs. The oil has been more of a blessing than a curse. The people were better off without it. They could fish and there wwas no crime, now all that's gone. All they had left was life, and in true Nigerian style, they believed that where there was life, there was hope, but even that has been taken from there. Many of them are dead. I don't even know who to blame, the government or the millitants. I am just so sad,sad for the many innocent people whose only crime was being born into the Niger Delta.

My boy took his first steps. Time sure flies, one momment he is very tiny and the next he is a man as one of my friends would say, na to marry remain.

I met someone while playing scrabble online. Ann. She is absolutely fantabulous. An Israeli but originally a New Yorker. She is a writer. I think writers are one of the most intelligent of people. Duh if you don't agree.

The reason for which I stopped blogging became invalid. Was passing through a phase and happy that it is over.

How have you guys been?

The many different goodbyes.

2009-02-16T01:33:00.000-08:00

And so it ended. But I had an absolutely fabulous time, the best part was when I ran into Derek Luke at the airport. I have an autograph and a picture to show my kids.

And with that I'll be kissing the blog goodbye. I thought I would be able to do 100 posts but alas.
My posts have become too personal and I seem unable to change that. I have also lost the anonymity that I once had so this blog is no longer serving the purpose for which it was created.

But I am here, lurking around in the dark and maybe oneday if I find my political cap again, I may return.

I had a good time here. I met wonderful people.

Be good y'all.

This song is like my best song ever!. Enjoy !

Day 3 and .......

2009-02-11T11:53:00.000-08:00

Part 1. Charlie Checkpoint Museum. something someone made, looks like an Okada. He escaped with it with his son strapped to his chest.

A handmade plane. was also used to flee germany.

Someone hiding in a loudspeaker box. That's how he made it past the border.

Another hiding spot.

Tied to these cylinders are balloons,well something that looks like balloons. People tied themseleves to the strings and ... I really can't remember how it worked but it did.

Part 2. Beautiful berlin.

My roommate and I skipped classes this morning and decided to see the town instead. Here is what we saw.

The Charlie checkpoint museum was a bit depressing. A bitter reminder of what man is capable of. The sufferings of innocent men and women and children have all been preserved. It reminded me of Biafra. I wondered who is better off; Germany who has kept the sad memories and unashamedly invites people to see it or Nigeria who has done everything to make us forget Biafra or act like it didn't happen.

There aren't many people who go shopping, actually there aren't many people in Germany. Particularly absent are children. I have seen more dogs than kids since I got here. The shops are beautiful.This galleria, I think is the most beautiful shop I have ever seen. It had five floors. All I could afford there was chocolate.

DAY 1 - I LOVE YOU

2009-02-08T04:42:00.000-08:00

No, I don´t mean you silly.

I flew with an old, fat, pot bellied man who says he is a natural healer cum film maker. There was a long wait at Amsterdam and seats too uncomfortable for sleep so we got talking. There´´s a third Nigerian with us but he doesn´t say much. We get to Berlin and share a cab, fat old man tries to hold my hand in the cab, I ask him if he is well, and he starts to confess undying love. I can´´t remember the last time I was so disgusted. Yuuuk.! I think that if you are going to go about chasing women as a married old man, you should at least be good looking,very rich or very tush otherwise what's the motive?

I have three roommates: Hungarian, Portuguese and English. The Hungarian and I are painting the town red. She is the bum.

I like it here; the program that is. Every writer/film maker should attend. There's so much to learn. And so many people to meet.

I think the whole of Europe looks the same. I haven´t been to that many European countries though.

The bell has just gone for another workshop.Funny they should use abell but it works.

My eyes have seen.

2009-02-01T14:13:00.000-08:00

A new car wash has been opened in my area. They sell alchohol. so while you are waiting for your car to be washed, you can get high. Igwe thinks my own is too much, I should leave guys alone. Alchohol is considered one of the few pleasures of life.

This morning while we drove to church,we saw a bad accident. It was glaring it must have been a drunk driver. I wondered if he was coming from the car wash.

The second set of pictures is of the church we used for the film. It is a real church. People sit here sunday after sunday listening to the 'gospel'. In this filth? The place was stinking, I'm surprised none of us got sick. Besides its being a church, people actually live here.

Back in Naija

2009-01-29T11:35:00.000-08:00

I am happy to be home. My son was ecstatic to see his momma. Unfortunately, I have to travel again soon without him. I feel bad particularly as he is a little unwell. I pray that he will be fine soon.

At the airport, I always see people packing and repacking their bags. Don't they have scales at home? I find it really not nice.

I met a blogger,loomnie in Birmingham. i was initially skeptical, what with his intellectual blog, I thought he would be a bore but surprisingly, he was fun.

RE: The arrested goat.

Because I am Nigerian, I do not completely dismiss the possibility of a human turning into a goat or any other animal for that matter. I however think that police work is serious work and should be taken as such. There should first of all have been an investigation such as: was a goat missing, or was a man missing, has this ever happened? etc. They are police men for heaven's sake not court jesters.

Reloaded

2009-01-29T10:28:00.001-08:00

What a laugh.

2009-01-26T00:40:00.000-08:00

Police parade goat as robbery suspect

Written by Demola Akinyemi

Friday, 23 January 2009

*For attempting to ‘steal’ a Mazda car

It was a shocking sight yesterday as men of the Kwara State Police Command paraded a goat as an armed robbery suspect.

The goat "robbery suspect"

For more on this see vanguard.

Ah Nigeria, my beloved Nigeria. When shall we break free from the holds of superstition. This goat belongs in my pot for heaven's sake. It will be perfect for asun and here it is awaiting trial.

The goat "suspect" is being detained over an alleged attempt to snatch a Mazda car. The mysterious goat, according to the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Tunde Mohammed, while briefing bewildered journalists at the Force headquarters, is an armed robber who attempted to snatch the said car, Wednesday night, and later transformed into the goat in a bid to escape arrest.

Winter

2009-01-22T10:48:00.000-08:00

Fortunately it's not so cold here.

My graduation is tomorrow. Yippie, I did it. I almost didn't graduate you know but Jehovah did it.

I didn't come with my boys because of plenty tory. I miss them plenty.

I just finished a short film on the childwitch brouhaha. I couldn't reach the guy(the one who supposedly killed 100 witches) but he claims he was paid to say that. While I don't completely believe him, I have never entirely believed the documentary. Even NIJ teaches better journalism than that.
I also found that most of those babies/kids portrayed as abandoned by their parents were orphaned children and most if not all are in homes.
I have seen enough of British press to know how they manipulate stuff. That's why I decided to dig some more and I am not finished yet.

yes, there are several of these pastors about who call these kids witches but they all take money and supposedly cast the witchcraft out. If the nailing of a kid happened, I didn't find the culprit or anyone who witnessed it.

Calling a child a witch is now a crime in Akwa Ibom. Parents and pastors alike will be inprisoned.

The other side of the story is that so many people tried to get me to change the script to infer that childwitches truly exist. So a lot of people believe in it. Some of the cast claimed to have witnessed it.

I'm out.

PS.
Does anyone live in Birmingham, my brother is new here and hasn't yet discovered the African shop. And I counted pennies before coming. Help!

AN update of sorts.

2009-01-10T00:42:00.000-08:00

It’s 12am. I want to sleep so bad but I have to finish the script. I send it in tomorrow. The producer will take no excuses. The baby is still sleeping,Bless him, but anytime now he will wake. He is 7 months today but still wakes at night sometimes up to three times. It’s taking a toll on me. Mothers in the house, help!

My Christmas trip home was cool. My parents were amazing. I was fed, pampered for a week. Was back in Lagos before the new Year. I attended plenty parties. Enjoyed them all, the dance, the food, the people, the colour.
Once, I was an Okada major. Were I still one now, I would have bought my own helmet. Perhaps an inflatable one. Ain’t no way I would share helmets with a million Lagosians. And no, i don’t think I will disappear if I wear one but I worry about lice and other things. I’m becoming germophobic like headandaround.

I am job hunting but not very seriously. I am trying to take this writing thing to another level. I hope hunger no go kill me. Working from home is tough though because Igwe almost always calls, asking to check here and there for this and that or Igwe junior’s nanny would bring him claiming he wants bube. They don’t understand what the distraction does to me. And when I go to the office I share with Igwe, his friends keep coming; for the love of me,can I just check my mail, can I quickly burn a CD etc. More Distractions.

I am struggling to lose weight. I am now more sympathetic towards fat people. I didn’t know it would be this hard. Gym three times a week, very little to eat and the fat is still stuck on me. Maybe I will do drugs next.
I met a blogger. Online still. Great personality.

Happy new year everyone. May all good things come to you this year and always.

My christian post

2008-12-10T10:19:00.000-08:00

I am a christian. I believe God in totalty.I live life knowing that the bible is true. If he said it, then it is true. And if he asked it of us, then we should obey. Even in seemingly little things as not calling people fools, not worrying, not stealing even a pen from work etc. It is of course, only by His grace.

I am very tolerant of other religions, beliefs as long as it is not going to harm the next person. To each his own. I hardly ever preach to non-christians, my life should be the message. I strongly believe that if 30% of christians were really christians,then 70% of unbelievers would convert.

I am also very unsympathetic towards 'christians' who come crying foul about how one pastor or the other decieved them into having sex, or someting of the kind. I recently read on NVS about some foreigner telling all she went through at TB Joshua's hand. I just do not get it, how lazy can Christians be, read the freaking Bible silly and you won't be tossed to and fro. Nonsense! Christ has invested in you the power to heal, to get wealth, to trample upon snakes and scorpions, to show love, to be free etc. Just spend a little more time in prayer and stop running off to pastors at the slightest sign of wahala. You would be amazed at just how much power God has invested in you. While I am not deemphasizing the need for pastors, I am instead emphasing the need for Christians to build a personal relationship with Christ. If we knew God for ourselves, there will be no business for child witch hunters or TB Joshua's of this world.

Much as I am fascinated by healing, I believe that the most important message Christ preached was love. Love yourself.Love your neighbor as you love yourself. As we celebrate the yuletide, my prayer is that we will all learn to love ourselves more and in the same vein, love our neighbors.

DO SOMETHING KIND FOR SOMEONE THIS SEASON, LET'S PASS A SMILE ACROSS MANY FACES.

Farafina presents;

2008-12-04T11:42:00.000-08:00

Going all out for Nollywood

2008-12-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

I passed by someone’s blog the other day and she had a nasty comment about Nigerian films. Something about all the films being crap. Now had the entire post been on Nigerian films, I may not have been so upset but it wasn’t, it was on a totally unrelated matter. She just felt the need to chip that in.

I write for Nollywood. I also write short stories, which have been published locally and internationally, I have even managed to win myself an award. The same brain/skill/talent I use to write these short stories is what I use to write Nollywood scripts. But because the white man has put a stamp on my stories, the Nigerians have therefore called it good. I would sooner write the screen play than the story because for the screen play I tell Nigerian stories in any way that I want to tell them. For the stories, the market is not here so when I write, because my audience is the westerner, I am continuously looking over my shoulder to be sure that he is following me therefore I am often forced to write to type.

I was privileged to meet a very well known young Nigerian author whose works I admire. In the course of our chat, I mentioned that I did not like one of her works. She did not give me a chance to complete the sentence but jumped to defend herself almost in anger. This is a lady whose works have received much acclaim, why did it matter to her that a layman like me did not like it. I expected that by now she would have been used to criticism but perhaps no one can get used to them.

My first question to self appointed critics is always, what have you done yourself? When last did our engineers build bridges , or the scientist invent a thing, or the mathematician a formula or the doctor/pharmacist a cure. It is only in the Arts and Fashion world that we are creating our own content. It is easy for the office worker to sit behind his high chair and criticize other people’s efforts because we are unable to judge him, but I bet that a large percentage of these oversabi’s are performing poorly in their own respective fields. Big brother can testify to that.

I read stories on blogs every now and then and some of them are so bad yet these same writers would say all Nigerian films are crap. The generalisation just makes me mad. Yes 80 %, maybe even more of our films are poor , but for whatever little percentage that is left, they deserve credit. Criticism is good but only when it is constructive, all I ever hear is oh, the story is unrealistic. Yes, stories should be believable but if I wanted to write reality, I would be writing nonfiction.

Nollywood has got it’s challenges, we know it more than you do, and we are doing the best we can towards overcoming them and producing better content but in the meantime, this is what we gat. If you don’t like it, don’t watch or as one of my friends would say, Abeg fly!

Help: I am an Akwa Ibom witch.

2008-11-27T06:39:00.000-08:00

My mother hardly reads or listens to the news. She says it is not good for her age and blood pressure. I think I may have to do the same.

For the past months, it's been one horrible news after the other. From Okere being harrassed by naval officials to Elendu's arrest to Akwa Ibom Child witches to Ribadu's victimization. I am not sure I can take it anymore.

Why have we as Nigerians chosen to create disasters for ourselves. I heard a comedian say that the natural disasters we have in Nigeria are majorly the Nigerian police and NEPA. He should have added religion or supestition to the list.

I am amazed at the level of ignorance and poverty among our people because the way I see it, these are the two most important factors that would push a mother/father/relative to label his kid a witch and agree that he/she should be killed or abandoned.

While I applaud the people who have taken this issue up(I would personally like to see the perpetrators brought to book),I know that it is not enough to try to stop the madness or to rehabilitate the children. What we need to collectively do is to enlighten the public on the stupidity of some of these allegations. I hate to ever bring in the government but in this case, the government has to help. It has to be made a punishable offence if you label someone a witch. Otherwise, we would simply be turning round in circles. The noise will fade, some of the spiritual houses may be shut down but give it some time and there will be back with more evil deeds.

The issue cannot be seen as just an Akwa Ibom problem, for it isn't. My neigbor thinks I am taking a huge risk by not first taking my domestic staff for deliverance and she isn't the only one. Several people even in supposedly civilized cities like Lagos believe in this. Get a maid from the village and you must first deliver her as she may be a witch. As long as this is the general belief or the near general belief, then the likes of Helen Ukpabio will continue to thrive and the abuse will continue.

For us to have a lasting solution, some churches will need to be shut down.The church has too much influence on its members. The case of Pastor King is still fresh in our memories. Where on earth is PFN or CAN in all of these?

OF SADNESS, SORROW,AND HOPE

2008-11-08T07:52:00.000-08:00

Thoughts and voices elude me. Blank.Blank. Did this happen in this life or in another?

The media has been agog with the story of Uzoama Okere who was stripped and beaten by men of the underworld headed by Harry Arogundade earlier this week.They operated at day in full public glare, I can imagine one of them telling the other to take it easy, and the other replying that this is Nigeria and he can do as he pleases. The question that faces us now is can he? Will we let him?. Because we are the only ones who can decide what happens next. Nigerians are such a docile set of people, I, inclusive but since we have all been intoxicated by Obamaness, perhaps we will now rise and challenge this situation.

I’m starting to think that we are not really humans here, how else do you explain the way the leaders treat us and more importantly, the way we allow them to treat us? Even animals have defence and attack mechanisms, what do we have? As a blogger friend of mine, nonesuch, wrote, to make up for the lack of power supply, we bought generators in all shapes and sizes, for bad roads we bought jeeps, and for security we turned to OPC. Practically everyone I know in Lagos, has got OPC on their streets. So now, I wonder for police/ military brutality, will we wear straight jackets?

"So why am I so sad? My fear has always been that in typical fashion, we will celebrate Obama mindlessly but fail to understand and do those little things that bring about such great moments in history. I fear that in the way we admire, enthuse about and consume the world’s most luxurious and innovative products but fail to make one of our own at any level of sophistication, we will enthuse and buy into Obamamania but we will not “do” Obama. We watch the brightness from such a beautiful spectre and like a fly become transfixed and immobile in the light, at best only flapping our enfeebled wings in admiration. Forever the fan, never the player." (Funmi Iyanda)
In the above, Funmi mirrowed my sentiments. As I see the young, old, good and bad sing Obama’s praises and chant :Yes, we can, I wonder if we actually can, if we are willing to take any bold steps towards Change that we so desperately need. A newborn has been named Obama, soon there will be also Obama part 1 and 2. And that just may be the end of it.
Ebun Olatoye has called for us to gather at 14 Muri Okunola at 12.30p.m on Sunday November 9 and at 4pm- 7pm in front of Moremi Hall to protest the injustice. Will you respond, Will I?

My bloggers

2008-11-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

I have just received some not very good news, but I refuse to dwell on it and choose instead to cast it as a burden on God for he careth for me.

I read so many blogs and they all mean different things to me, but off the top of my head i will be writing this so if I leave you out, it don't mean nada,this is supposed to be quite unserious.

Waffarian: I just find her very funny. Even when she writes something serious, it still comes across to me as humourous. Her post on catching the bus had me cracking up. Fortunately, she posts often so I can always rely on her to entertain me. oops, I just visted her blog, her most recent post isn't funny at all. Another online writer has been arrested,here.

Jaycee: She is like my devotional. After a hard day,I visit her blog to relax with God.
Fineboy agbero: Now that kid is simply kolomental. I thoroughly enjoy his stories, wish he would blog more though.

Solomonsydelle: I rely on her for the latest info on Nigeria. I caught the end f the channels closure news on TV and immediately rushed to her blog, she didnt dissapoint me, she had the whole story up.

Jinta: Egbon mi. Even though he doesnt write very serious stuff, he comes across as serious. Possible because I have a picture of him in my my head-respectable maried man. yes I know he isn't married,the phrase just sounded nice.

Headandaround: I almost always agree with her point of view. Looking forward to a post of hers that I will shake my hea and say nope, nope, that's not true.

Walking: The newest kid on the blog, wonderful relationship talks,all the guys on blogsville should read her.

bellanaija/gistmaster/lindaikeji: They save me money on softsale,I can get all the gists from their blogs.

Fiyanda: I loved her when she used to write for tempo(yes,I old small), her blog takes me back to those days.

Afrolicious-babe: I don't normally read sex stuff or anything that alludes to it but Afrobabe writes about it so beautifully its dificult not to be hooked. Come to think about it, she doesn't really write about sex, does she?

Gnaija: Amazingly intelligent and still sounds fun.

Naijablog: Have a lovehate relationship with him, some of his posts annoy me so but he is quite up to date so I visit often.

freeflowingflorida: I want the old her back.

Anotherwomanslife: Fantastic writing, fantastic personality.

Name withheld: I had a crush on this one till I met him and the crush disappeared.Don't ask me why. And don't look at me like that, who said married peeps don't have crushes, I have a permaent crush on DW. Igwe hates the fact yet he has a crush on Dakore. Who is more likely to meet his/her crush?

PS-too lazy to link the blogs,forgive me.

Is it human nature or.....

2008-10-26T06:03:00.000-07:00

Someone I know just left Kiri Kiri Prison in Nigeria after a two week sojourn. The reason she was there will be another post.

She tells me she met people who have been there for months/years for offences as little as going out before 10am on environmental sanitation days. They were fined 5,000, couldn't pay and were thrown in jail. They may or may never get out. Now, I haven been taken to court as well for not using the pedestrian bridge by some crazy Kai people. They fined me 3k or something or three months in jail. I found it all quite amusing and didnt really take them serious. Igwe came to the place-some customary court in Surulere- with a truckload of soldiers. We ended up not paying a dime. Igwe chose instead to spend more money entertaining the bored soldiers than to give some judge who probably didnt pass his law exams. Now thinking back, I remember several people who had no one to call, and who begging the judges/policemen/Kai officials. Listening to my friend as she recounts the stories of the inmates at Kiri, it occurs to me that I could easily have been one of them had I no family or friends. Three months I hear is never three months so I would have been blogging from Kiri ville.

Of particular interest to me was the story of a young girl whom she befriended. I will call her Ekaette. Ekaette had a baby as a teenager in some village, couldn't cope so she left the baby with her mother and came to find some green in Lagos. She joined a brothel, which fortunately or unfortunately got raided and that's how she landed in prison. She may have doctored her story but point is she has no familyin Lagos and no idea how she will get out. Several inmates have been abandoned there and their only hope is on activists who from time to time take up their cases and see to their release. Just what kind of legal system do we run?

But that is not even the Koko of the matter. Naturally, the conditions there are bad. Supplies are limited if not inexistent. My source tells me churches,charities etc come regularly with sanitory towels,tissues, soaps, and other regular women needs but the inmates don't get a thing. The wardens, junior and senior alike take them home. It's an open secret. They do not care what you think. How on earth do these people sleep at night. I just don't freaking get it, why would anyone want to rob people that have already been robbed of so much.

I went to visit her and I had to pay(I am trying not say bribe) at four different points to be able to see her. And this was during visiting hours. If you do not pay, you are not allowed in. No wonder some of the inmates are forgotten by family, as some people may not have any money to spare. And these officers are paid a salary. How do they sleep at night?

I used to say that God should do to us as He did to Sodom and Gomorrah, destroy all the bad people in the land and if I am found wanting, I too should go.Then I repented and thought that was too harsh but when I hear stories like this, I think perhaps that's the only option. There seems to be too much evil in this country. Just where do you start from?

Where did Nigeria go?

2008-09-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

I just read this. Practically everyone I know has been robbed either in traffic or in their homes. A gun has been pointed at me not by robbers but by agberos(perhaps there is no difference) who scampared off when I gave them NGN500 originally meant for my dinner. I, like many Lagosians had almost come to accept crime as part of our lives in this crazed country. You hear of robberies and rumours of robberies and shrug, how many times will you shed a tear? But this story gets to me,it sobers me. Why? When will it end? Will it ever end?

A friend of mine tells me the soaring rate of crime in the country is caused my unemployment. I disagree, I think greed now lives in us. If you aren't making quick cash off politics, then you should be making it off yahoo,yahooo and where you cannot break into either field,you carry the gun. If your friend's driving the latest BM, you've got to get one for yourself. Yes there's unemployment, but there's employment too and self employment.
And of course, there is the fact that the government has gone to bed. last year, you couldn't walk leisurely on my streets in the dark, you had to walkrun to avoid running into the dark guys. We resorted to OPC, and now I can take walks without much fear(cos you still have to be afraid).In the mornings,I see them brandishing guns meant for the police. We bought the guns, we pay them a salary and we pay taxes too.
This is not my country,this is not the Nigeria of my childhood where my family sat under the moonlight listening to Grandpa's tales. The Nigeria where we had no fences nor gates.This is not the Nigeria of my dreams where everyone has food and water,and power and security and laughter. Where did that Nigeria go?

I am also sad that Yinka Craig is dead. I really wanted him to win the fight against cancer. Like Fela, his works,his name will live long after him.

Just Talk

2008-09-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

On Dragon's den

So I watched dragon's den some nights ago. Hmmmmm. I used to watch the Uk version, my brother and I considered buying the franchise to air in Nigeria. Someone beat us to it. Now, If I wasn't previously worried about the Nigerian Educational system, now I am alarmed. something has to be done and urgently too. The entreprneurs or wannabe entrepreneurs were just plain annoying. No proper research. Very bad presentations, I don't understand it, how do you go asking people to give you millions and yet you do no homework. One of the guys claimed to be a photographer, when asked what training he had, he said he had attended some workshops and read some books on photography no specifics given. Another was asked something about the sales of her product, she said she's only the designer so she couldn't provide any figures? Yet another money seeker was asked what percentage of his biz, he was putting on the table, he hesitated, then said 30%. One of the dragons asked him if he hadn't thought of that before, and he answered in the affirmative. Now, don't people know when to lie?
I wasn't interested in most of the ideas so I can't remember them but the presentatation bothered me a lot. I know that basic education in this country sucks but if one has spent time brewing a business idea(no matter how crappy), isn't it only proper to do put in a little effort into the idea and into one's self?
PS. I do not think that dragon's den is necessarily a representation of the average Nigerian enterpreneur.

On Chilerem
That is my son's name. I know I have announced his birth like a hundred times on this blog. Forgive me if I have started to bore you. This part is inspired by afrobabe's and florida's recent post on Christ. On the fourth month, I was rushed to hospital for bleeding sillylily, doc did his examination and announced that I was about to miscarry. They put me up and waited.Now that happened to be the day Igwe was coming in. There he was at the airport,excited to be seeing his round wife soon, only to be told, the roundness would be gone by the time he arrives. We refused to accept it,and prayed and prayed and prayed. I know the exact moment I was healed, the blood ceased. A scan was done, baby was fine, no trace of blood nor its origin. igwe arrived in the evening. I was still round.
I say this to encourage someone, it don't matter what you are going through orwhat you are looking up to God for,just hold on,help is on the way.

I leave you with the video below. He is my brother in law so you must like itoooo. Just kidding, its okay to be sincere.

Back

2008-09-18T03:43:00.000-07:00

I typed a long post yesterday and it disappeared. I will sue bloggerooooo.

Anyway I'm here. Missed you guys. A big thank you to all who contributed towards my dissertation. God bless y'all.

The birth of my child was a miracle. Several emergencies but God saw us through. I dont like the NHS but I gas to give them credit;I called an ambulance once and in 2 minutes they arrived.No kidding, my brother had barely got off the phne with them when they arrived.

My one year sourjourn in the U.K has made me more ati-west than I was before. And more determined to do something about Naija, do not ask me what, but I must.

I'm good generally and happy to be back in Nigeria and to the blogosphere.

Will be back with a proper post soon.

Still on my dissertation.

2008-06-18T03:35:00.000-07:00

I need a bit of help.
The Brutish Airways issue is one of my case studies so please if you blogged about it or linked it or put up a poster about the boycott, could you kindly let me know. I am trying to ascertain the power and effect of blogging.

Also, expert bloggers in the house, apart from the neo-counter, is there any other way I can find out how many visitors were at a blog? I believe that politiocal/activist bloggers like theafrobeat,solomonsydelle,gnaija,comrade,chxta,nneoma etc attract as many readers as others like afrobabe,jinta,pink-satin etc who deal with softer issues. But I need to prove this, and right now all I got is the number of comments each post generates and thats not good enough. Help, anyone?

It's difficult to be holding a little baby and typing away, but I attended Sefi Attah's reading long ago and when asked how she finished her novel despite having to care for a little girl. She said, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, and recounted how once at 3am, she was feeding the baby with one hand and typing with another. I am drawing my inspiration from her.

I am a bit concerned about Jintaoooooo. Does anyone know where he is?

Cheers y'all.

CRAZY

2008-06-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

Thanx for checking up on me guys.
Just had a baby boy. It's been crazy but as soon as things settle a bit, I will return with part one and two and three of plenty gist in true Nollywood style.

Plenty Plenty Nonsense

2008-05-23T03:34:00.000-07:00

Someone should warn Okiro. First, he said he wanted to vet Nollywood scripts to stop them from portraying the police in a bad light. Who doesn't know the police is bad. Hiss,hiss. Now he wants to set up anti-terrorist squad. The thives and militants that are harassing hardworking Nigerians everyday, are they not worthy of an anti-something squad?
Last weekend, Igwe was robbed at gun point on his way home. They stripped him and his brother of everything.Five nasty looking men wielding five nasty guns. And Okiro and his men where busy brainstorming on how to deal with Al-quaeda.Nonesense!

Someone should also warn Soludo. He should stop shooting his mouth about how Nigerian graduates are unemployable and explain to me why he introduced coins knowing fully well we weren't going to use them.How much was spent producing the coins? Was it another ploy to bleed Nigeria? And while he is at it, he should also let me know why his highly capitalised banks seem to always need money and more money. Almost all the banks have had two IPO's now,very soon they will return to the public a third time . Inspite of this, their marketers are always about town,looking for more deposits. What exactly is the money for, when one can't even get loans,my sister battled with one of the banks for months trying to secure a loan,they finally approved 1m(less than she asked for) and wanted her to pay it back in three months. It was for a movie and they knew it, how do you make a film and distribute it in three months. She told them to shove it up you know where. I thought banks had pledged to help SME's. He should explain to me in very simple terms since I went to a Nigerian university and won't understand big 'grammar'. All the politicians, ministers, and their entire generation, who studied abroad, how have they improved Nigeria? Every knows the problem but no one can fix it. Nonsense!

PLease also warn SEC or NSE, whatever body is in charge. Chicken republic decided to go public, with my hard earned little money I bought some of the shares, three months later, they return investors' money saying they had changed their minds? Imaginez, so what did they do with people's money in three months?They probably fixed it and reaped interest. Should SEC not have a law to protect against such? Warn themooooo.Nonsense!

Finally,please kindly inform Yardy that he is the President of Nigeria and not Britain or the States. He gave an interview to financial times on his plans for the future,what happened to the Nigerian Media? It is Nigerians at home that are desperate for change: the nigerians who are constantly afraid for their lives, who have no power supply,no adequate health services,no good roads,do these people read FT? He thinks perhaps he is too much for the local press, he shouldn't worry, they will soon put him in his place, OBJ did more than that. Nonsense!

On the bright side, Igwe got his bank and ID cards back.He was robbed at Yaba, got a call from someone who claimed he saw them on the floor at Ketu,may have been a good Nigerian or one of the thieves with a conscience. My sister in law was robbed once, she got her cards sent to her home address by speed post.No kidding!

I am here

2008-05-21T05:19:00.000-07:00

I saw this picture, liked it and decided to share.

Also a little tatafo: BBC aired pictures of the Tsunami passing them off as the Chinese Earth quake. Any wonder I do not like the Western press? Why do they love horror stories of other nations so much? They have since apologised, saying it was a mistake. Mistake indeed!

My dissertation is going well. Still havent received a lot of consent mails from several bloggers but will continue to chase them. Thank you everyone.

Dissertation due soon

2008-04-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

So I won't be here as often as I used to.
Enjoy the poetry in my absence.

Cheers.

Let's Help Save Yinka Craig

2008-04-22T07:04:00.000-07:00

UPDATE
There seems to be a fraud issue concerning the Yinka Craig fund. The number given in the article is rumoured to be false. And it is being suggested that the writer of the article may not mean well. These are all rumours but since it is a money issue, I would suggest we suspend this.
I for one, will stick to praying for the family for now but if anyone would still like to know more, please visit their site.

First I will like to commend Nigeria village square for the good work they are doing. Not too long ago they donated NGN 720 for Baby Andrew's operation. He has since returned home, the operation having been successful. Today they are calling for donations to help Yinka, I will not repeat the entire story here, please just follow this link. Yinka Craig has been diagnosed with lymphoma. He needs 38 million for a transplant in the states. Considering what the family has been through already, they simply do not have the funds.

I have met the man before, a long time ago when my sister was new in entertainment and needed help. He offered it freely.

There is a number on the article that you can call and find out how to make the donations or we could come together and contribute a sum as Nigerian bloggers. Those in the Uk could send their donations perhaps to afrobabe or jinta. That should take afrobabe's attention off sex for a while. And the states perhaps Solomonsydelle. And Nigeria, maybe Head and around. These are just my suggestions and do not have to be agreed with.
I know times are hard now particularly in this UK where one budgets for bread money, but nothing is too small, and if done collectively, you will be surprised at what we would come up with.

As I often say, the Nigerian government has failed us, but we must not fail ourselves. All we have is one another.

Please if you believe in the cause, kindly link this on your blog.

PS
Dr Erastus Akingbola of Intercontinental bank has already donated 5million. He is always doing stuff like this. I doff my heart for him.

In remembrance of him

2008-04-20T13:56:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow,

we would have lit candles

And you would have blown them out

You left my womb, but you stayed in my heart

And though I never saw you,

I created an image of you that will last a life time.

Tomorrow,

You would have been one.

A call for the boycott of Bristish Airways.

2008-04-13T03:42:00.000-07:00

The story is reported on Nigeria village square. Reuben Abati also has an article on same issue.

A question of leadership.

2008-04-07T01:19:00.000-07:00

I bring you good tidings. My brother just returned from Nigeria. He visited our home state:Akwa Ibom and after being away for only two years was amazed at the changes.

The new governor who hasn't been there for up to a year is doing amazing things. Uyo, he says looks fantastic, all roads in tact. He has extended the road fixing to other smaller cities in the state. And last december, civil servants were paid the thirteenth month. His explanation: The state has money, everybody might as well enjoy it. Akwa Ibom being mostly a civil service state was overjoyed.

An airport is also being built so we can stop having to go through Calabar everytime we visit home.

The best part is Operation 'Oduma'. Oduma in Ibibio means thunder. Thieves were besieging the state ,suspected millitants who had superior weapons. So dear Godswill(governor) drafted the army, the navy, the police into a group called Operation Oduma to battle these daredevils. And guess what they succeeded. All you have to do is call and they are there as quickly as possible. Two of my cousins have used the service and in less than five minutes, the security service arrived and the thieves scrammed and in one instance were apprehended. The people walk about freely now knowing they are safe. This is how I remember my state as a little child.

May God bless the governor and keep his foot in the right place.

My brother also noted changes in Lagos. BRT surprisingly works. He says Nigerians actually queue without any struggles. There are however not enough buses as he tried to get into one but the queue was unbearably long, he had to leave. I was sceptical about the BRT buses and I still think it wasnt a carefully thought out project but the fact that it has kicked off and Lagosians have embraced it is a good sign. May God bless Fashola and give him wisdom to bring further changes.

I believe in Adams Oshimole. I trust him, and even as he has not yet resumed office, Iknow that he will bring the desired change in Edo.

Suddenly, the New Nigeria doesn't seem like such a pipe dream anymore. The federal government may have failed us, but we will not fail ourselves.

Nigeria will rise again!

29 Years Later

2008-04-02T01:51:00.000-07:00

I have lived a good life.

I have loved many and many have loved me.

I have no regrets.

It's my birthday. This year will be a blast.

The Thieving Women Of Nigeria

2008-03-29T04:09:00.000-07:00

There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women.
~Madeleine K. Albright

Patricia Etteh certainly tops the list. In September, 2007, she was accused of spending N628 million on renovations of her official residence and that of her deputy and for the purchase of 12 official cars. Patricia Etteh was the first female to be appointed Speaker in the Nigerian government. She had a chance to be a heroine but blew it.She was eventually forced to resign.

Iyabo Obasanjo. The EFCC is still investigating her role in the N3.5billion contract to the Austrian company Schneider which did not follow due process.And now it is being alleged that the ministry of health gave her a gift of N10 million. I would have thought that with so much negativity surrounding the Obasanjo name, she would have used her place of authority to undo whatever little damage she can to her family name but Alas!

Professor Adenike Grange was until last week the minister of Health. She, too has been forced to resign due to charges of corruption.She is alleged to have supervised the squandering of N300million unspent public funds last december. She is a medical doctor, one would have thought that certain professionals would dare to live above certain crimes. Grange must have taken an oath after medical school to put human lives before all else, and yet She spends N300million on furniture, car etc while several Nigerian women and children die of poverty related diseases. I wonder if this is the same Grange of Grange schools,Lagos -one of the moxt expensive primary schools, if that is the case, I guess it only makes the situation worse as it shows some people's insatiable need for money. Grange like Etteh, could have been a heroine, making changes in the health sector which Nigeria so badly needs but she didn't and instead has dipped her name in the mud.

Senator Eme Ufot Ekaette though not reported to have stolen any money, I could not help but add her to this list because of her obvious lack of intellect as she proposed the infamous indecent dressing bill.

I have been shut down more than once at talks on issues of women empowerment and equality, Etteh and Ekaette are always thrown at my face, now Grange has been added to the list.

However, Dora Akunyili continues to do us proud. She has received several awards including Times award-one of the 18 heroes of our times and an Intergrity award by Transparency International.If she could stand out as one great Nigerian woman, surely there are a few others. We will soon discover them.

On some entirely unrelated issues: I am happy that Oshimole is now governor of Edo state. Congratulations to him and to the people of Edo for backing him. I see change coming.

An aircraft belonging to wings airline allegedly owned by Ibori dissappeared about two weeks ago and has since not been found. If this isn't the height of shame on the Nigerian Aviation sector, then I don't know what is.

Is it just me?

2008-03-27T13:04:00.000-07:00

Someone just upset me so bad.

I am chatting with a distant friend on yahoo messenger and he says to me:

'Come home quickly and give your husband a son'. I say nothing and he continues.

'Having a son is a man's pride, I am sure you know that, the moment you give him a son he will love you forever' I am still silent and he adds, 'don't let too much time pass you by'

I just flipped.Is it just this guy I know, or is it Nigerian guys or is it guys generally, why the hell do people just talk without thinking?. Last time I chatted with this guy( I really should stop) he went on and on about this baby issue, why did I leave my husband to come study, was I pregnant?Eventually had to tell him about our last bereavement and silly guy wanted details,imagine. I told him off albeit nicely, but this time I blew my top. If you don't have anything to say, by all means sharrraaap.

A friend of mine lost her baby last year and has since been trying for another. Nothing is happening and when it does, she miscarries.All this is tough on her but the toughest part is neigbours, church members who keep asking her if 'anything has entered, and why they are taking so long'. I know some of these people may mean well, but pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease, everyone should know where to draw the line.

Gosh, I am pissed!

A time such as this.

2008-03-24T08:41:00.000-07:00

For christians in the house,here's praying that the true impact of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ will be manifested in us.

That the fruits of Christ's spirit which are love, joy, peace, longsuffering,kindness,goodness,faithfulness, gentleness and self-control may dwell in us making us better people with each passing day.

Happy Easter

The old and the new.

2008-03-13T02:08:00.000-07:00

It always puzzles me when bloggers who do not update regularly ask me to update. Headandaround, take your timeooo.Like comrade, I too do not like to do an I woke up on the wrong side of bed post.(nothing wrong with such postsooo.) Anyway I decided to cite a few differences in the past and in today's as a Nigerian. Hopefully the bad will not surpass the good.

Previously, Nigerian men were very brave. Once, when I was younger, there was loud knocking on our gate and my father went out with his matchete asking who they were.No fears. It turned out to be some long lost uncles looking for a place to sleep.
Last year, armed robbers visited our compound, one of my neighbours, the ony man actually present, offered them his laptop and the only money he had(2k) even before they asked.Inspite of his kind gesture, he still received a butt from the gun on his cheek and still shakes like a leaf if you sneak up behind him today. His wife still teases him(I know guys will attack me for this one).

Most Nigerians studying here paid their own fees themselves. Most of them I know from home-colleagues, school mates etc. We worked hard, we invested hard, and we saved hard and here we are most of us less than 30. Previously, you had to be a military personnel's kid or your parents were in oil or they used their entire or half of their gratuity to sponsor you.Rarely were young ones able to finance their own postgraduate education. There was no booming bank industry, or insurance or telecoms,or advertising, or entertainment. But today, thanks to the emerging middle class, now we can.

I vaguely remember generators growing up. From my life in Ikot Ekpene till I moved in with my sister in the 90's, it wasn't so important to have one. Either it wasn't as hot as it is now, or NEPA was much better but now it's a must have. What with the advent of I better pass my neighbor(the small ones that cost less than 10k).Where did we go wrong?

All you had to do was say you were a christian in the past, and it meant you had integrity, now the devil seems to me living in the church. To say you are a pastor arouses even more suspicion.

Women are so much bolder now. A friend of mine visited the galleria recently, left her boyfriend to use the bathroom, when she returned, a young girl was chatting him up. Shuooo. The good side is that this boldness extends beyond relationships, women are speaking up and demanding better recognitions for their roles at home, and at work.

Children are so sharp these days. Asking very intelligent questions. At a 4 year old's party, a girl asked the boy why he was dancing with another girl, and he asked why she was late for his party. Now, I don't know if that is a good thing, and that is not what I meant by intelligent question.

Thanks to the new media-blogs, saharareporters(where do those guys get their pictures from?),social networking sites etc most Nigerians now have a voice. Change is coming.

Noticed any changes? please do share.

Igwe and the forty thieves and other stories.

2008-03-03T00:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday evening, Igwe went to the 'bureau de change' at Sabo, Yaba. As he was haggling with the money changers, bullets started flying in the air. So everyone scattered. Unfortunately Some people were wounded, and several windscreens broken. The robbers had a field day. The interesting part is that the Sabo police station is about two minutes from the crime scene. According to him, one of the thieves was stationed infront of the police station firing into the station and daring any of them to come out. Typically none of them did.Nigeria, I hail thee. Okiro, I salute you. You certainly are doing great things about the safety of lives and property.
Igwe went back for his car which was fortunately unscathed and was told that some well meaning Nigerians had taken the wounded to chemists as Luth and Igbobi(the govt. hospitals closest to the area) are on strike. They didnt think private hospitals would treat them without deposits and the bleeding had to be stopped ASAP.
I pray for Nigeria as if I owned it, and a blogger friend of mine knows how I pray when I am praying about the corrupt leaders. Someday, God will hear me.

Ben Okri was in Leicester, I bought one of his books so I could get it autographed, gave the guy my name and he asked where that was from, I said Nigeria,why he didn't stop there, I dont know, he asked which part and I said Akwa Ibom, he had no idea where that was, even when I said former cross river, he still loooked blank. I wasn't even upset as I had always thought he was from Benue,I have since found out that he is from Delta. How can you be from Delta and you have never heard of Akwa Ibom?. They call him 'Nigerian born British writer' maybe that explains it.
There is a good part to it though, he is 48,single, goodlooking and quite an interesting character. Interested anyone?

I have finally discovered local chicken. It tastes just like the ones my mum used to rear, those ones that raomed around the compound free until they were old enough. Yesterday as I cracked the bones, I was in high heavens. I had so complained about how tasteless chicken here is, I think they grow them in 5 days. Yes I like food.

My Nigerian revolution meme(of some sort)

2008-02-20T09:14:00.000-08:00

I don't know why it took me so long.

‘Until we, as Nigerians get up and say enough is enough. Until we realize that we deserve much, much, much more than we are getting, until we get to the point of no return, when we are prepared to die for what we believe in- indeed until we believe in anything other than in our personal comfort- we will continue to be led by our noses.’ Chxta

I got the above quote from chxta’s blog, I couldn’t agree more. Nigeria is in our hands. Nobody else’s. We all have to rise up and demand change. The government isn’t going to do it till we vote the right people in power or better still contest for these positions. With all the hullabaloo about the last elections, the only credible candidate in my opinion was probably Pat Utomi but he didn’t win. If the elections were not rigged, perhaps Buhari or Atiku would have been president. Would that have been better?

Now that Obama is making headway with the American presidential elections, Nigerians are starting to think perhaps Utomi may stand a chance. Before this, we said he was not experienced enough, he did not understand Nigerian politics. For all the people who understand it, pray tell, what have they done for us.

I believe in demonstrations, in strike, whatever is necessary to register a message. In the Western world, they have pressure groups, when the British government wanted to extend Heathrow, they did a march at the airport, when they wanted to shut down post offices, they also demonstrated, they do not always succeed but they have a voice, a very loud one. In Nigeria what do we have? Apart from the NLC and a few activists who else dares to speak out? Most NGO’s seem to be interested in HIV and some youth advancement programmes, while I applaud these causes, like Pink Satin noted, some things can only be done by the Nigerian government but we must impress on them to do so. We cannot build roads, we cannot conduct elections, we cannot supply ourselves power etc. As long as we have a ‘siddon’ look approach, then Nigeria will not change. I remember the last NLC strike and how traders started to complain about how much they were loosing and they wanted to go back to their markets so they could earn their daily bread. As I read the news on the fire in Tejuosho, this episode came back to mind. Had the NLC or some group, said lets march to the governor’s office everyday for one week and demand for a functional fire service, these traders would have said no, leave us to enjoy the little that we have, now its all gone, gutted away by fire. If we had a fire service that worked, perhaps some things would have been saved.

I do not like discomfort as I suppose no one else does but we must be ready to suffer a little discomfort before we can enter the land of promise.

The bill on indecent dressing has now gone for second reading; again we look on in silence. It will probably be passed and the Nigerian police will have a field day. I can just imagine them ordering me out of my car so they can inspect my clothes. Perhaps then we will start to complain in hushed voices afraid that even the complaints may land us behind cells.

Sometimes I wonder if we are not under a government that we deserve. Yesterday I had a conversation with a friend of mine who has lived in England for about seven years now, her previous years having been spent in Nigeria. She said a friend of mine was moving back to Nigeria against her will but on her husband’s insistence. I said she will adapt and added that my friend also moved to England because of her husband, she doesn’t like it here but is slowing adapting. My friend said one can adapt to England but that it would be impossible to adapt to Nigeria. This coming from someone who grew up in Nigeria.
This is perhaps where the white man differs, my history sucks but I do know that England, America, Germany etc had their own tough times, the citizens didn’t run or condemn their country as hopeless, they stayed together, worked together and today we are running to them, calling their country Heaven. While I have nothing against anyone who chooses to live abroad, I would expect that they at least contribute positively even if only in speech.

Before Nigeria can change, we must adopt an if I perish, I perish attitude and speak up for change because if we continue to lie low because we do not want to die or be discomforted in anyway, then crime will take over our beloved nation, planes will continue to crash, road accidents will continue to occur, another ‘Odi’ massacre may happen. Like Niran Okewole said in his poem about the Nigeria bomb blast ;‘to escape by fire is to die by water’. Those who thought they had escaped death from the blast died in the carnal.
There will be no simple way out. All well meaning Nigerians must come together and decide enough is enough.

Still on the issue of decency.

2008-02-08T01:47:00.000-08:00

Read Reuben Abati's article here

Another piece I thought my readers would be interested in for those who missed it on the news. NHS is closing its doors to foreign doctors.I think this is just the beginning, it is slowly going to cut across several other fields. England has been screaming immigrants must go for a while now, just like we screamed Ghana must go sometime back. I know loads of Nigerians here practising as doctors, I fear that they may not get their contracts renewed, what then would happen to them? Please tell me what you think?

And another

2008-02-02T14:15:00.000-08:00

This one is by Jeremiah Gyang. I adore the guy. His message is very different; rapture, repentance, forgiveness, holiness etc, the things we hardly hear much of these days.Any time I hear he is in concert in Lag, I try to be in attendance, usually he sits on stage quietly playing his guitar and singing softly. I didn't know he had this much energy as displayed in the video.

A WEEKEND OF SONGS

2008-02-01T13:05:00.000-08:00

I decided to post some of my favourite songs this weekend. I am starting with Aye Ole by Infinity. I love the yoruba language. It is so deep, I often say that if I ever choose to have my book translated into a Nigerian language, it would have to be yoruba.
Enjoy and have a great weekend!

No woman, no cry

2008-01-25T11:35:00.000-08:00

N’Assembly may promulgate law against indecent dressing

The above is a newspiece on punch newspaper. I cannot believe it. Is Eme Ekaette drunk or on drugs? How on earth will this take our country foward, will it put food on the tables of the millions of Nigerians that can't afford even akara, will it provide healthcare for the indigenes of Okokomaiko, Bariga and other highly populated areas in Lagos. Has she ever gone there to see eight people living in one room with little or no ventilation? And this is all she can think about? This is the legacy that she wants to leave behind?

Some weeks ago, I wrote about women being women's worst enemies.I didn't expect that so soon, I would have to do a 'part two'.I just want to know how this will improve the lot of the average Nigerian. And what is indecent anyway? Are there bills to protect the woman from a violent husband? or bills on child abuse? on rape, on victimization of women at work?
Ekaette is hoping that women will rise up to support her, and yes several women will, women who feel that their husbands will stop cheating if they are no longer exposed to semi dressed women because I can't imagine what other reason there is for this crazy idea.
I am so upset that words fail me.

FURTHER RANTING

2008-01-22T11:15:00.000-08:00

The first part of this post was inspired by a post on in my head's blog .Other issues are just me ranting on.

I do not like Western media, so when I saw the piece on Jeremy's blog on child witches in Akwa Ibom, I thought these people have come againooo. But I did not think much of it until head and around blogged on it. I have two issues with it; one, what is the authenticity of this story? For all I know, the video was shot in Botswana. Secondly, what is the purpose of the documentary? Was it because the writer wanted someone to read it and do something about it?or was it to show the world how savage Africans are? Does it make them feel better when they continue to show only strictly terrible sides of the continent. Even on completely unrelated news pieces on BBC for instance,as a footnote, they must add some crazy records from UN or show some videos about Africa's suffering children.The idea is to represent Nigeria so why don't they ever show Abuja, Lekki, Calabar, etc?

I have lived in the village, I have had times of lack even as a child but I was NEVER unhappy. What I remember now is running through my gradfather's orchard plucking away his fruits in abandon, riding bicycles through untarred roads without any fear of being hit down, and my grandmother's unbeatable meals. I do not remember mosquito bites even as we sat under the moonlight listening to folk tales and there were no trips to the hospital. I was healthy, we all were. I spent a weekend at Ikogosi warm water springs, it was a beautiful time, even without electricity, network connection etc.

I am grateful for civilization and everyone deserves a chance at it but it does not neccessary mean happiness. Some times it can do us more harm than good as we have seen in the Niger delta, the people were probably happy that oil companies were coming to them, they had no idea that their source of livelihood would be taken from them without a replacement. I, like Paul, have learnt to be content in whatever situation I find my self.

I am very passionate about Nigeria. I have no regrets that I was brought up and educated in Nigeria.I do not say that I am Nigerian and proud because I do not see the need to. And I know that a lot of Nigerians are proud of their citizenship but lately I've been getting worried about Nigerian's comment about Nigeria. Particular over here, it's not just Western media that is giving out bad vibes, we all are. I do not apologise for being Nigerian, if some of my people have chosen to be 419 scammers, then it's a pity, the same way it's a pity that our leaders are corrupt and have sold their souls. NO one can make me feel bad about it cos it ain't my fault in anyway. The same way it's not the average Briton's fault that their teenagers are finding stabbing and teenage pregnancy a fun game. We have our issues, they have theirs.

Nigeria has issues, I would be a fool not to admit that but most of my memories are fond ones and these are the ones I share often. Twice my car overheat at Lagos Island and Ebutte metta,and it was the area boys, the same ones whom I expected to rob me who gave me water. We may not have emergency lines that we can ring in emergency situations, but there'll always be a neighbor, sometimes a total stranger to help. If there's a fire outbreak, fire service is unlikely to have water but neigbors will give up their last buckets to lend a helping hand. One day hopefully, we will have more to celebrate but for now this is what we have. This love that we all share as Nigerians living in dire conditions.

On a lighter note, the soweto choir comes to leicester next month so while you guys are stuck in Lagos traffic or standing in jampacked trains, I will be putting my feet up and enjoying pure unadulterated music.

Just Ranting

2008-01-11T02:28:00.000-08:00

I remember once, I was talking to a renowned Nigerian publisher, a man whose opinion I respect, I mentioned that I live in a compound with four flats and all inhabitants are Igbo. I joked that if a tribal war broke out, we would be first target but he assured me there would be no tribal war in Nigeria and I should worry about other likely things. I believed him but watching Kenya's drama unfold, my mind goes back to our conversation and I wonder. Who would have thought that brothers will rise up against brothers in the once stable Kenya.

I am Ibibio but grew up in a small town-Ikot Ekpene, the people there are Anangs. We differ in dialect, in dance but that's all I can think of and I can't imagine that one day the same people I danced with naked under the rain would one day hold knives to my throat because they say 'a-nyong' while I say 'ameyong' both meaning welcome.

I dont understand why people give wrong information, the bank debited my account some amount and I wanted it explained, the banker I met, who looked more like a school boy, told me it cldn't be handled there and I should call some number, the guy at the number ended up confusing me even more, so I went back to my branch and demanded to see the manager who sorted it all out and gave me a refund. These kind of things puzzle me, why didnt he simply say, I'm not sure about it,let me get someone who can help! While I was working in Naija, the key point of our training was if in doubt, ASK. Once my brother-in-law went to cash a cheque for his mum, and the cashier said her name wasn't in the system, my mother in-law went there panicking only to discover the lady had mispelt the name.

School resumes on Monday. Much as I find most lectures boring, I am actually looking forward to it. I always feel like I am in China with so many chineese students and boy do they have gadgets, laptops of all shapes and sizes, and the phones, they just blow my mind. My next holiday is likely to be in China.

Happy new year everyone. May all good things be yours this year.

It was a good year

2007-12-18T04:08:00.000-08:00

Okay, So I'm just having my own thanksgiving. It is in no particular order.

This year Igwe and I celebrated our first anniversary. Something I wasnt sure we would do. Those couples who go five years without a first fight, how on earth do they do it?. Igwe and I fought so much in the first three months, we thought the marriage would crash. We were coming from very different backgrounds and it was tough living together. But love saw us through and here we are, one year after, wondering what it was we were fighting about anyway. I thank God for my marriage, for my husband, he is such a good man. He doesn't pass an accident scene, it scares me to hell, knowing Lagos, but he insists he took an oath, life must come first. And his family, they are such amazing people. May God bless them all.

My mother used to have severe knee ache, at some point she could barley walk. She saw so many professionals but no show, then one day Mama calls, says the pain is all gone. She discovered some container that you put water inside, and it changes the water to medecine, naturally Igwe thinks it's bull. My brother thinks its her mind, says the pain may have been caused because she was worrying too much, now she has an in-law and a grandson, she is much more relaxed and has forgotten about the pain. I do not care for the reason, I just thank God that my mum is well. And my father, he doesnt even suffer from the common cold. They are so healthy, independent, content. I bless God for them.

This year my sister had a baby boy. He is so adorable and has brought us all so much joy.

I have the best friends in the world, they are always there for me, wishing me well, praying me through a tough situation. I thank God for them.

We made some good money from the NSE this year. Amazing returns. And lost some too mostly through those wonder banks. Yes me tooo, I wanted to use 100k and make a million, no be thief I be?

This year I also acquired a brand new car. There are some things I have never bought, phones, perfumes, cars and yet I always have them. My sis gave me my first car, we had a great time, the car and I, then the car got upset, and developed mood swings,overheating today, injector wahala tomorrow, eventually Igwe got tired of being called to come save me from obscure locations so he sold the car and bought me another, tear rubber. I am just so thankful.

This year we lost our baby, it was such a tough time but God saw us through it. I also found that most women do not survive placenta abruptio so it could have been much worse, na so I for just die without winning the nobel. I thank God for life even for pain because I know He can never give us more than we can bear.

I thank God for my blog family. I have met so many wonderful people here. May God bless you all. This will probably be my last post for this year as Igwe is coming so I'm off to my third honeymoon. Have a merry Christmas everyone and a wonderful new year. Please say a prayer for Nigeria as we cross into the new year, for Yardy, the governors, ministers etc, If God can use anything, He can use them to make Nigeria great again.

And to everyone who is going through pain, I leave you with this song, I listened to it over and over during my bereavement and it gave me hope. I dedicate it to positive girl. May you be blessed now and always.

This is not a post

2007-12-13T07:44:00.000-08:00

My last few posts have been too serious so I decided I was going to do something light. But this is not it. This just came up and I thought to share it.

A crazed lady has been calling Igwe saying he is her ordained husband. That she has visited many spiritual homes and they all said same thing. Hubby used to work at General hospital and treated her some years back. That as far as I know is their only link. And she isn't youngooo, in her early forties.

Anyway some weeks ago, she appeared in his office begging him to save her from whatever it is that is worrying her by marrying her even if he will divorce her later.

And last night she called again. Same story, marry me or I die.

See me see trouble.

I think he should be careful, avoid her like a plague just incase she decides to use jazz but my doctor husband does not believe in Jazz. If it cannot be explained scientifically, then it does not exist.

What do you guys think?

PS Igwe-hubby

Religion-The Weapon of mass destruction in Africa

2007-12-05T02:33:00.000-08:00

I watched in awe as the Sudaneese mob carried placards and matchetes calling for the death of an English teacher for naming a teddy bear Mohammed. Is this another Sudan or is it the same war torn one. Are these the same people who barely have food to eat? Humanitarian services are struggling to keep most of them alive, Nigerian soldiers have been killed there all in a bid to help out and yet there they were marching on the streets , burning pictures of Gillian, calling for her death. Is this what religion has done to us? That we no longer(if we ever did) have respect for life? I remember the cartoon in Denmark, and how they were riots in the North of Nigeria over it. Having worked in a call centre in Nigeria, I know that about 70% of Northerners do not speak English, let alone Danish, so how could they have read the cartoons?

Religion has taken over our sense of reasoning and of judgement.

My sister's nanny is Jehovah's witness. No one told her when she was taking the girl, a few days after she arrived, her mother called to ask if she had gone for teachings. My sister wanted to send her back, but the girl wanted to stay, it was agreed that she will follow my sis to her own church, then when my nephew is a year, he goes to day care, she would also enrol in a school, then she can go for her teachings. Three months on, the family have prevailed on her to come home. And so she is leaving, her chances of a good life temporarily cut short. Let me paint some background pics, this nanny is 20yrs, finished secondary school about three years ago and has been at home doing nothing since. Now, she is returning to the same home to continue doing nothing because her parents think it is the worst sin not to fellowship with other witnesses for 6 months. My sister is very nice, almost to a fault, and is also quite comfortable, the girl lacked for nothing, I even used to take Awake and watchtower magazines to her. I feel sorry for the girl cos she is a nice girl and wants to stay on.

But again, religion has prevailed.

A friend of a friend of a friend is being battered and bruised by her unfaithful husband. We think she should take the kids and scram while she still can, but her pastor says not, there is no room in christendom for divorce. The husband is a worker in church so the pastor is aware of his philandering and violent ways yet he tells her she must submit to her husband. God forbid that he should beat her to death one day, what will he then say, Is there room for murder in Christendom?

I want to say that I respect people's religions, cultures, traditions etc but I can only do so when it positively influences human nature. To use religion to destroy ourselves must not be tolerated. We cannot use religion as an excuse to kill, to maim and destroy people's lives.

Just so you would know,I am not an atheist, I am a Jesus' freak. I have my bible stored everywhere, my phone, my laptop but most importantly, I have it stored in my heart. If I am not able to go to church for a year or more, nothing can take away the fact that I am a Christian and I love the Lord with all my heart.

THE ENEMY WITHIN

2007-11-14T04:28:00.000-08:00

A lot of things have been upsetting me resently.

GENEVIEVE NNAJI: Ehn now, that’s the big question. You should ask the marketers in Nigeria. Why haven’t they been premiered? And this is the answer: they can’t be premiered because they are not good quality.
This was a response this star gave at a an interview of the film premiere of 30 days later. She said a whole lot more. Nobody is saying that these films are good quality, we know they are not but Genie, these people made youoooo. Without these marketers, there would simply be no Nollywood today and that is the simple truth. She said once that the film that brought her to limelight was Sharon stone in Abuja, the title alone should tell you the film must have been bull, but it brought her to limelight. And she musn't forget that, from the days that she couldn't act to save her life and these marketers gave her a chance over and over again. Now, she is a mega star she's calling the marketers names. 30 days later, Keeping faith were premiered not neccessarily because of quality but because of funds. And she would never have been a part of it had those marketers not first of all starred her in their 'bad quality films'.What am I saying, that you should not bite the fingers that fed you, it's okay for outsiders to say that the marketers are doing balderdash but not you Genie. There's something called diplomacy. You can say these same things but in very different words, the message would still be there without anyone feeling insulted. Isn't that why we went to school? Once I read an article by Femi Osofisan, beautifully written piece, how since they the literary veterans have better stories, and the marketers have the means, they should collaborate, sounded really cool, but at the end he called them illiterates, and I just thought for God's sake, why is he blowing it?

I hated my job, there were so many things I thought were wrong with the system, but I would not publicly come out and say that the company was full of sh*t. They gave me a job when no one else did, they paid my bills for two and a half bleeding years, I may not be ecstatic but at least I am grateful.

Anyway, I also read that Baba OBJ said Chief tout Adedibu is the father of PDP, why on earth can't he just shut up and concentrate on producing broiler eggs? Why do they give him a chance to speak anyways?

The one that upset me most was this article in punch by a female writer, I am still trying to get her email, If I have to go to punch to find her, I will. Here is an excerpt;
"Some ladies present were raped, while some luckily escaped. Surprised? You should't be. But need we blame the rapists? What with the dressing of the girls, who were scantly dressed?"
So the rapists were justified because the girls were scantily dressed. Is a drunk driver justified because the pub was open, or the thief because the security guard was asleep?And it was written by a woman, why are we our own worst enemies? Thinking about it now, I dont think a guy would have written that. Why is it easier to blame the 16 year old for following an aristo, and the forty something year old aristo himself is given a pat on the back for being an aristo. Who should know better?And these newspaper articles, dont they get edited, did that piece pass through a second opinion? I am just so mad. Why is it the mother most times that thinks the woman should endure a violent marriage? I can imagine telling my mum, I want to leave my husband perhaps because he is beating me, she would probably find ways to blame me, tell me how my father never beat her but that is because she never pushed him to the wall, whereas if I did tell my dad, he would probaby arrive at my house the next day, walking stick in one hand and armed policemen in another. Nobody messes with his girl, he would thunder.

Why why do women hate one another so? If we dont stand up for a sister, who will?

Beads for christmas

2007-10-28T05:09:00.000-07:00

Isnt this just creative! Interested, please visit beadsfactor.blogspot.com

Just a thought

2007-10-28T04:36:00.000-07:00

I just love the guardian's opinion page, please go to this link.
http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/editorial_opinion/article04

On a lighter note, a few days ago, my brother's colleague, a woman of nearly 70 came up to him whispered something strange and asked if she got it right. My brother looked confused so she said how do you say goodbye in your language?
"what is my language" he asked?
And with all confidence she said "Gambian"
I am Nigerian and not Gambian
Really? Doesnt that mean you speak Gambian? I thought all Africans speak the same language.

My brother has been quite upset but I thought it was quite funny. And I have been wondering why Africa has so many languages anyway? Why does Nigeria with a population of about 140 million have about 250 languages whereas USA with a population of about 301 million, there's only one language?

WARNING- LONG POST

2007-10-25T02:41:00.000-07:00

I pledge to Nigeria my country
To be faithful loyal an honest
To serve Nigeria with all my strength
To defend her unity
And uphold her honour and glory
So help me God

Yesterday at graduate fair, a student said he wanted his project topic to be on how to reduce risks on expatriates’ life in countries like Nigeria case studies-Shell workers in the Niger delta.

I thought, best way to is ask them to leave. Easy. Then I panicked, what if they actually leave, I mean I know there’s a fat chance of that happening but what if it does, what if these militants actually succeed in driving them out or something else does. What exactly would happen? Can we drill our own oil? Would we be able to successfully build and operate our own oil companies? I am sure we know the answer to that. Remember Nigerian airways and more recently Nigeria textile company(forgive me, I am not sure of the exact name of the company but they just folded up at a time that wearing African textiles is hip.)

All day I have been thinking what is it that makes the Nigerian unable to do his own business as well as he should. I know there’s Dangote, Mike Adenuga, the man or people behind Chi foods and so many others but are these enough? Will these keep Nigeria alive if tomorrow all we have is ourselves to cater for ourselves?

Which brings me to an aspect of Nigeria I am hugely interested in. Nollywood. This for me is the next big thing as agriculture is slowly dying if it hasn’t yet died. And I still don’t quite get the banking system, My mind is perhaps like that of a 6 year old, why do they keep raising funds, from one IPO to another, and sending women out as corporate beggars to raise funds, and funds and more funds. Funds that most people can’t borrow because of crazy interest rates. Anyway back to Nollywood, what makes Emem Isong (whom I think may be the best script writer of our times) not take a course in film production or screen writing or anything closely related since she left theatre school in 1990.She tells me she has read all the screen writing books there is to read and perhaps it is enough. Why has Lancelot Imasuen, an immense talent , not thought of furthering his career, to learn a few new tricks. Will talent alone sustain us in 2020? A Canadian film maker recently visited Nigeria, he told Emem about all her films, he had watched every one of them and sought her out when he got here. He told her what he thought was right and what was wrong and is thinking of a collabo. Why does the white man look at something and think of ways to improve it and enrichen himself thereby,cos don’t get it wrong, its not because he wants to make Nigeria or Nollywood better, he has seen the possibility of huge profits here and he is trying to cash in. And all we Nigerians are seeing is how crap Nollywood films are? My biggest fear with Nollywood is that one day we will wake up and we would have lost control of it to expatriates and even if they are telling the same stories, we would embrace it because it’s coming from the colonial masters.

I always say that if Chimamanda had not first gained international recognition, then we would have snubbed her here. “What does she think she is writing” we would have asked, what can she possibly know about the Biafran war, small girl that she is.

I think that Half of a yellow sun gained international acclaim because it is a fantastic book, written by someone I consider a genius but also because of its theme. When you are writing about Africa, you must dwell on war, on corruption etc. and the western world will embrace you, which is why I put up the story below, it won because I portrayed Nigeria as foolish, why would a child give out his 13 year old daughter in marriage and why would a full grown man sleep with one knowing the possible consequences. There’s only one answer, because he is African and that’s how the western world likes to see us. If you attempt to leave the box, then you go nowhere. Try watching CNN for only an hour, and see all the hungry poverty stricken black faces you see there and the 419 scammers.

A Nollywood flick recently showed at Odeon, they spent 40million or so(I am deliberately being vague) to convert the film to 3mm or something like that just to show in the London cinema. I keep asking why? Why is it so important for us to show in London, is the population in Nigeria not enough? I keep thinking what a whooping 40 million would have done to the film industry, it could have started plans for a film village which we badly need.
Nollywood is the one industry that shows glamourous cars, lovely houses and dwells on positive themes, love, career etc. so why are ignoring it, except ECOBANK, God bless them.

I am sad and worried, when push comes to shove, will Leke Alder’s thinking room sustain our economy, will Dangote’s spaghetti feed our nation? Will Tara’s make up beautify even our hearts?

Open our eyes Lord to see opportunities in our nation and grasp them.

Teach us Lord to love one another, seeking only one another’s good.

Let the wise not hoard their wisdom but share it with the not so wise amongst us so that together we can make Nigeria great.

So help us Lord, Amen.

2007-10-21T10:16:00.000-07:00

And so I am in the UK for my masters. This is the first time I have been away from my husband this long and my, it is hard. I do not know how I am going to survive a year. If I hadnt paid my fees, I may just have upped and gone back home. I miss him like crazy. Being away from him has made me realise just how much I need him. I pray God gives us both the strength to cope. He calls me like five times a day telling me christmas'll be here before I know and we'll be together. Everyday when I wake, I thank God for him, he is so good it amazes me.

It was 7 degrees here this morning and this crazy people said it's not so cold. My brother wondered why I was shivering inspite wearing like 4 clothes. I am coming from a country where it's usually twenty something and they ask me why I am shivering.

Still on Patricia Etteh, I found the article in the link below quite an interesting read. Now we have something else to remember her by. May the soul of Aminu Shuaibu Safana rest in peace. One simply does not speak evil of the dead.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/editorial_opinion/article04

Finally

2007-09-25T08:33:00.000-07:00

Today was my last day at a job I have hated for over two years. I finally found the courage to up and leave. I feel great relief, it is something I should have done since. Now I can face my passions, pursue my dreams and God willing have my name written in history books.

My brother has been a major rock that I have leaned on on this literary sojourn, always asking me when last I wrote something, and telling me which competitions to enter for. Sometimes he tears my works to pieces asking if I was half asleep as I wrote it, in all he has brought me here. And I say a big thank you. To my family and friends who have promised to watch my back, this is saying God bless you. And to the man of the moment and a life time, my hubby who calls me Oriaku,they say it means "chopper of my wealth", may all good things be yours.

On project Nollywood

2007-09-15T00:45:00.000-07:00

I wanted so badly for the films to be nice. The Ecobank project films-project Nollywood. Particularly Caught in the middle.
My friend kept saying to me, Is it not Charles Novia, his films are all crap. I said this is different; he had time, he had money, he wasn’t forced to make the movie into two parts. And so I bought the film, filled with so much hope, to say that I was disappointed would be an understatement. My friend had a good laugh. He lifted the story from "How to lose a man in ten days", stole some things from "you’ve got mail." I don’t even have a problem with his copying but come on copy with dignity. What is going on with this Nollywood, why are we going backwards? Ten years ago, films were much better, I remember Living in bondage, The world is mine, Breaking point, Rattle snake and so many others. Now apart from a few producers, everyone else is doing crap. My question to Charles Novia is did he have to write the script himself. You were directing, producing, isn’t that enough credit? Must you take more? With all that money and time, why didn’t you call for scripts, there are wonderful writers in Nigeria, who have no platform to show their works, you could have given someone a chance. And your film would have made more sense. An average Idumota film is better than that crap you did, and most Idumota people have only SSCE.

Nollywood is taking advantage of its viewers. The people who watch movies would buy just about anything and they may actually enjoy it. But I buy too. And I want value for my money. I knew 100 days in a jungle would not be nice but I tried it all the same, of course it was worse. I couldn’t watch past the first 20 minutes.I remember Chico Ejiro from full moon, Juliet must die etc. Ten years after, his movies are still the same.or worse.

When I watched jetta’s Amazing grace, I was upset too. Same script problem, what’s wrong with all of them? I am a writer and I know when I have written something bad. I attended a workshop recently and I have learnt that it is not so much about talent but hard work, You can’t stop at the first draft, you have got to do 3, 4, or 5. You should have had a script conference, rubbed so many minds together,and I don’t mean putting a lot of empty minds together. I don’t even know what Jetta was trying to say in that film. The oyibo’s have their version of amazing Grace, released a few months after ours was. The difference was clear, not a fantastic film but the message was clear, they made themselves the villains and turned themselves into heroes. Yes they started slave trade, but they also abolished it. What exactly was Jetta saying? But Jetta should win a gold medal compared to what this project Nollywood people have done. There is no difference between them and road contractors who use cheap materials to repair roads knowing the first sign of rain would return the roads to the previous conditions. This is what Charles and his team have done, They got a contract and used cheap materials. You owe the public a responsibility to make good films. Clean up your acts!

Everyone blames the Nollywood problem on Idumota, now we know it’s not. It is this our oversabi attitude that is killing us. You can’t write, you can’t write. Period. Buy a script or have someone screenplay your story. And get someone who has brains to do your casting. The story doesn’t matter so much, the treatment does. The 500 naira I spent buying Caught in the middle and 100 days in the jungle could have fed an entire family.
I watched an interview with Charles Novia yesterday and he said he spent two years making this film, he called it his very best. When they asked him how rich he is, he was listing several cars, cars are not riches you know, knowledge is. Take a course in directing, improve yourself. Don’t crash the market before it has even fully kicked off because that’s what you guys are doing. Did you watch sitanda? Another stolen story, this time from another home video but I forgive them because the directing was beautiful, the shots were amazing, I can’t remember saying nice shot to any situation in Caught in the middle. I know the person writing the next Ambo story, I know they have made him do seven drafts so far. That’s more like it. I expect their next film to be so much better than the previous. The oyibo’s are not better than us, they just work harder, we have good stories but such terrible treatment. Let’s stop being so selfish, share your credits, share your money, that’s the only way we can improve. I would restrict my money to films made by Amaka Igwe, Emem Isong, Ego Boyo and only so I won’t be accused of gender discrimination, I will add Kingsley ogoro to my list.

I am for anything Nigerian. I want to beat my chest anywhere and stand proud of Nollywood. Please make it easy for me. And dear Amaka Igwe do us a favour and yank that fuji house stuff off the TV, I know you are still getting loads of adverts but money isn’t everything, your name is at stake. The program has since outlived its lifespan.

See me see toronkwacha.

2007-08-12T08:23:00.000-07:00

My mum just came in to town. Na so I no dey hear word againooo. For the love of me, what are you going to eat, for the love of me, you are letting your husband drink garri, eh, with that many cubes of sugar, that is not how i treat you fatheroooo. Everyone that comes visiting, Eh, and you have to be careful with friendsooo, they will just snatch your husband. see how short that one's skirt is. "That one" is my sister's friend who does not have time for "'small boys''my husband is not on her level.(my sister is also with me which is why my mum is around).Are you not getting too fat,see your legs, and when I skip breakfast, she says I am not eating enough.

Anyway, the main gist is that I wan go do masters for obodo onyibo come september. My mother only just found out. Here goes:

Mama what is this that I am hearing?
Me what?
Mama That you are leaving your husband
Me Leaving my husband, why? I dey craze. Correct bobo like my husband why would I leave him , God forbid bad thing.
Mama Dont use that your smart mouth with me, you know what I mean. what kind of masters degree are you going for, these young people, how old is your marriage, you want to leave him alone, a girl will just come and put kop no me(some sort of love portion) for him. How can you want to take that type of risk?

And so my mother goes on an on. See me see troubleoo, my hubby and I have so carefully thought this out, no one has even bothered to ask me, why we have made this choice now, na so so scream dem dey scream, if no be say i know say my mama love me, I for think say she wish me bad luck. my dear hubby had never heard of Kop nno mi, now the boy is so curious, hey, see as people wan come teach my husbad how to cheat. Now I understand why most Nigerian men cheat on their wives. People actually expect them to.

All these blabbing, I neva get visaoooo, I know say she dey pray mountain of prayer make I no get the visa, God no go gree. This from a woman who studied in the US for three years, dint come home even once during that period, when I confront her, she says my father is a different kind of man, Shuooo, so na my husband come be adulterer.

Better gist. I have everything sorted out about my future life in the Uk except accommodation, I plan to live with my brother but I have been worried about inconveniencing him as he has a chic. Real bornagain naija chic, but you neva knowoo, cold fit catch dem some nights and she go wan sleep over, you know as those dia flats dey small.The whole of my bro's flat na like my kitchen. so I have been wondering, where I go live? na so my broda call me say dem don break up. Her mother said he is the reason her daughter had an extra, say he was distracting her,shuoo, my broda wey like book pass anything. Three hour lecture the woman gave him and then asked him to go see the girl's pastor. My brother being in love carry imself goooo, na so d pastor ask am 100 questions, that just did, he called the thing off. No be bera luck i get so. now i have accommodation problems sorted out, may my brother not discover my blog, or na underbridge I go live. Na ijebu dey do meoo, I no wan work and I no wan spend money for rent.

WHAT A SHAME

2007-08-10T02:01:00.000-07:00

I am not quite sure how I feel. This feeling must be beyond sadness, beyond anger, beyond frustration. What on earth is going on? Have we really stooped this low, is this some kind of joke? When I first read of this indecent dressing drama, I thought someone was just trying to be funny, but reading Funmi Iyanda’s personal experience, I know now that it is for real.

We cannot take this, we must not take this. We will not take this. Something has to be done, I am tired of being docile. Tired of taking whatever crap is dished out to me. I am telling my mum I must fight this one battle, and she says what can you do, all we can do is pray. This I think is exactly the problem. We have so clouded ourselves with religion that we are almost blind. And our leaders know this so they take advantage. What on earth has prayer got to do with this? What exactly am I supposed to pray about, that God should change the IG or the governor or ….? This is a physical issue for Pete’s sake and must be dealt with physically. Much as I am a Jesus' freak I do remember that when the fishermen had toiled for long without catching any fish,Jesus took their fishing nets and cast it into the sea pulling out several fishes. He didnt command the fishes to jump out of the water into their laps.

I remember when I was at the university; a young girl was raped on campus at about 5.30.am. And people said, what was she doing out of her room that early? Did she not know the place was unsafe? Some of these people being women. Nigeria is crazy. Is the armed robber justified because the security guards were asleep? Should the drunk driver who hits someone go free because the pub was open? What on earth is wrong with us?
And so we carried placards in protest, sent letters/articles to the press, one was published, I do not know if it achieved much or anything but I can I least tell my children I did something.

Covenant university is refusing to graduate HIV positive students, and those unmarried but pregnant, NACA(National agency for the control of AIDS) has been trying to reach them, but no one wants to talk. A professor who just finished his Sabbatical at the university says they are all bound by fear, students and lecturers alike, but that is a story for another day. My brother lives in the UK and was recently refused a job because he is Nigerian; they told him to his face. A pregnant colleague fainted at work recently, we have a sick bay but the nurse at duty had no idea what to do, there was no ambulance to call, the hospital card in her bag had no phone number. Issues, issues and more issues and my dear country is arresting women for “indecent” dressing in a state where the governor is a lawyer. If I weren’t so angry I would find this comical.

We should stand up and speak out on this one, or else next they will tell us what hair styles to wear, and what color of lipsticks and nail polish to use. Where are all the activists on blogville, if we must go naked on the streets to be heard, then we should. Nigerians have been disrespected and downtrodden for too long.

Could not find a title.

2007-07-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of chimamanda Adichie's creative writing workshop and my humble self was in attendance. She is such a simple lady, absolutely unaware of her beauty and her talent.

Each partcipant was given a few minutes to introduce themselves, which was probably a mistake, some people just didnt stop talking. One lady said she started writing at the age of twelve. She gave us the precise date and time. She went further to mention so many other works she had written, their titles and synopsis and how she tore up some of them in anger. Chimamanda had to cut her short asking her to round up but she still didn't get it, she spent another five to ten minutes rounding up. I used to think that writers were the "tushest" people but my dear friend disillusioned me. She was completely unaware of the yawns and frowns of the rest of us. One other lady said she was hoping Chimamanda would find her a literary agent, Haba, first day? I just thought na wa for usooooo.
But it was fun, a lot of intellectual and creative people. and fidelity bank gave us some mouth watering dishes.

My sister is reading the guardian newspaper and is telling me about the university of Illorin's intention to ban male students from braiding hair and wearing earings. Nigeria continues to amaze me. what bleeding business has the school authority with the way the students look at a time where the quality of our education is so low. It reminds me of the last time I was at the university of Ibadan, where a lecturer said my hair wasn't fit for the academic environment.(I have dreadlocks) I graduated about 6 years ago and some crap lecturer who imparted absolutely nothing to me dared to comment on my hair? By the time I finished with him, he apologised and ran.

I look forward to a time where we will move from such mundane things and concentrate on higher matters, where people will not be judged by their appearance but the contents of their minds. I was at the university of leicester some time ago, and was shocked by their dressing. I couldnt help it, I stared. This is the least concern of the lecturer,all they want is a chance to mould their students into tomorow's giants in every industry irrespective of how they dress.

MY TAKE ON SOME ISSUES

2007-06-29T06:22:00.000-07:00

ON FEMALE CIRCUMCISION
That the name is female circumcision and not female genital mutilation. That the white man labeled it female genital mutilation in a bid to make Africa seem barbaric. I am against the practice. I do not see the need for it but I think the practitioners should be educated and not condemned. What they do, they do mostly out of ignorance.

ON LOVE
That the definition lies with each of us; it could be a feeling, a choice, a passion, a fat bank account, great sex etc. It all depends.

ON MARRIAGE
That it is not a do or die affair. It does not guarantee happiness, success or anything of the sort. That there are no laid down rules for achieving a good marriage, what works in yours may not work in mine. For some husbands, submitting to them may work, for others you may need to flog them, just kidding.

ON DIVORCE
That it is allowed. If a man hits you once, run. You don’t know what he is going to do the next time. Many have died before from domestic violence, don’t be the next. I don’t know if a woman can beat a man up, but if your wife beats you up, run. Violence should not be tolerated, particularly not in the home, there is too much at stake.

ON HOMOSEXUALITY
That I cannot judge what I do not understand.

ON INFIDELITY
That it works both ways, As the married man finds himself attracted to some gal other than his wife, so does the woman. You may not be able to control your feelings or thoughts, but you most certainly can control your actions.

ON POVERTY
That it is not inevitable. We can actually have a poor free country and we shouldn’t wait for the government. They have disappointed us for several years now and may continue to do so. I am going to take a leaf from 36inchesofbrownlegs and sponsor a child. Do same if you can. You may not be able to upturn an entire ocean but you can cast a stone to cause many ripples.

ON MUSIC
That is the fruit of love so play excess of it. (This is a stolen line, Shakespeare I think)

ON THE WOMAN
That society doesn’t favor her, dating back to the bible days, where the adulterous woman was caught in the act, which means the man must have been there too but they brought only the woman for stoning. So women learn to love yourselves. You are your own best friend. Be always prepared..

ON LIFE
That it is the best gift God has given us all. So live up! Work hard, play hard, eat well, exercise, and love more. You may be lucky and live long or you may die tomorrow. There are no certainties so give each day your best shot.

More on Tinapa

2007-06-29T03:49:00.000-07:00

A side view of the studio Tinapa
The entrance
Everywhere is so green in Calabar
On of the shops
And another

The lovely Tinapa

2007-06-29T03:36:00.000-07:00

A view of some shops

Away in Tinapa

2007-06-22T13:39:00.000-07:00

I have been away in Calabar,having the time of my life. Donald Duke makes me proud. Tinapa is absolutely beautiful, will put up pictures later. My internet connection is crazy at the moment so I may be out of touch for a while till I can change sources. Will be back as soon as I can.

Shout out to Chimamnda and Achebe. Inspite of Obj's attempts to drag our(nigeria) name in the mud, these guys refused to let him succeed. Nigeria has received some positive recognition via these duo for their creative writing excellence. To Chimamnda and Achebe, I doff my hat.

Unbeatable Chelsea

2007-05-19T10:03:00.000-07:00

We won, we won!

Yippie, hippie, hurray!

Come on, lets pop the champagne, Chelsea got the cup!

We are the winners!

April 21

2007-05-11T01:20:00.000-07:00

I will remember this date for two reasons; I lost my baby, and the Nigerian presidential elections.

The loss of a child is something I will not wish even on my worst enemy. It is extremely painful. Anyway I woke up on this bright Saturday determined to beat my husband in scrabble as he beat me on almost all the games on the previous saturday. instead we had to rush to hospital. My car typically would not start so we called my brother in law who practically flew down and off we were to the hospital, there was no car in sight,no buses, no bikes, absolutely none. I kept thinking, what if we didn't have a car, or someone we could call, when the country declares no movement, does it occur to them that some women would go into preterm labour, that some children would have terrible asthma/epileptic/ulcer attacks, and would need to be rushed to hospitals? How are these emergency cases expected to get to hospital, with no cabs, buses or bikes plying the roads, and no ambulances to call.Are they just supposed to sit at home quietly and die? I have never tried the Celtel emergency 199 service. I do hope it works, I certainly appreciate their effort more.

So we get to the hospital. I am rushed into an emergency room, The O and G is called, He is at a polling booth, he comes as soon as he can but it is still a while and all this time, the girl bleeds away. He says it is bad, surgery is the only way out, and so the anaethesist is called and the paediatrician, the clock is ticking, they arrive as soon as they can.

My baby lives but only for a few hours. they did their best,and I believe them. My anger is more at the system, I had tried to call the hospital from home,network issues. Maybe just maybe, if everything was in place before I got there, maybe I would be holding my baby in my arms now.

On a lighter note, we sent an sms out to people informing them of our tragedy, we said they could sms but we were not receiving calls and people started calling immediately! Is it that we don't read? And people said all sorts, it's better it happened now than if the child was older? says who? some said maybe I wasn't resting enough? like I wasn't feeling bad enough! And they dared to blame me.
Our families and friends have however been wonderful. My mother in law particularly, and my friends took turns to be with me at home, I didn't lift a finger for two weeks. May God bless them.

God,Pease let me play God for just one day

2007-01-27T07:23:00.000-08:00

A few days ago, a friend of a friend was stabbed by area boys at Apongbon,She bled to death.

I am seething with anger at the government, at our leaders because the killers will not be found. And tomorrow another person might just may fall victim. Police reports confirm that attacks occur at Lagos island everday and they advise us to avoid the area. what if I cant avoid it? what if I work there,should I quit cos our security system is Zero?

The deceased made a 1st class. She had a good job, a baby of about one and a dear husband. She is what you would call an asset to the nation. If we are not loosing our talents to the Western world, we are loosing them to crazy deaths.

I am angry. I cannot describe how angry I am. I can only show it. Lord please, Let me be God, for just one day,one day is all I ask.

Baby,baby,baby

2007-01-24T07:58:00.001-08:00

For the past three months, i have had low cut on my head and it has been absolutely wonderful. No driers or long hours of braiding, no dandruff either. Have a bath and wash everywhere,head to toe. Unfortunately my joy was shortlived as my hubby ordered me to get a new look. And coward that I am, I rushed off to get the look.
And so I get to the salon only to meet my favourite hairdresser pregnant. The girl is a teenager for pete's sake. How do these girls do these things, maybe the question isnt how but why? the father is probably some trainee mechanic or carpenter who can barely eat and she let him get her pregnant,Much as I believe in abstinence, I know it would be hard to teach these girls, but havent they ever heard of protection, Im shocked that in 2007,okay she must have been pregnant in 2006,girls still throw their legs apart and throw caution to the wind. She is not even a paid hairdresser, she is still a trainee which means she isnt getting paid so what is the fate of that child. Im really pissed at girls,here I am ,fighting circumsision,rape,etc and there some girl is letting herself be banged and by some idiot at that. I take it out on my friend who owns the salon, accuse her of not giving the girls sex education.
I too,am with child, I have a job, I also run a bussiness,my husband works as hard as it is possible for a human to work,off by 7.am,sometimes not back till 11pm,yet still I worry, what with a country like ours.
Will I be able to give her enough? Will she stand a chance at Havard,Yale,Leeds?
I get to my office this morning and what do I meet,my teenage office attendant retching away. She tells me she has malaria but she has no temparature and her eyes are as bright as the sun. I say a silent prayer,Lord let it be Malaria,please.

End of year party

2006-12-05T10:31:00.000-08:00

End-of-Year Party for Lagos Writers
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All authors and aspiring authors are hereby invited toa get-together organised by the Lagos Branch ofAssociation of Nigerian Authors (ANA Lagos), to markthe end of the year 2006.
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Theme: The Writer and the Publishing Industry in Nigeria
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Speakers: Osarobu Igudia and Toni Kan OnwordiSpecial
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Guest: Mr Steve Shaba, MD, Kraft Books LTD, Ibadan
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Date: Saturday, December 9, 2006
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Venue: Cultural Hall, National Gallery of Art (Aina Onabolu Complex), National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
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Time: 2.00 p.m. prompt
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The special event, which will be spiced with exciting recitations, performances and readings from creative works of new and established writers, will present theright atmosphere for the exhibition of creative talents. All (published) authors are implored to bringcopies of their publications for presentation and sale at the event.
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New members are enjoined to formalise their membershipon or before the December 9 fete. (Membership registration: #3,000; Annual Dues: #1,000)
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Folu Agoi
0803 725 7165 / 0802 611 8565
Chairman, ANA Lagos

A story I Like by Anietie Isong

2006-12-05T09:53:00.000-08:00

The Last Messenger
Anietie Isong
They called him The Last Messenger. His predictions had the uncanny precision of a chisel. Word went round that many heads of states consulted him on the calamity that might befall their nations. But where the presidents stopped, the public proceeded. In The Last Messenger's website, followers posted volleys of questions: Will Mugabe be ousted? Who will discover the cure for AIDS? What will be the fate of Neverland? Who will arrest Osama?
On 12 May, The Last Messenger presented a lecture at the Centre for Religious Studies in London. When he appeared on stage, nine people on the front row, (mostly his followers), fell to the floor, in reverence. The man wore a red robe and black sandals. The followers analysed that. They said that the colour was symbolic. Red was the colour of earth, of fertility. His voice echoed in the hall as he spoke of his role: "I am not a medicine man. Neither am I a prophet. I am just a messenger of the ancestors. We cannot possibly speak of religion without touching the subject of the ancestors. Since ancestors are nowhere and yet everywhere, it is difficult to speak of them comprehensively."
He paused and mobbed his brow with a handkerchief. The audience struggled to catch a glimpse of the piece of cloth: it was red. They exchanged knowing glances.
"Many of you would wonder who an ancestor is," The Last Messenger quipped. "I will tell you. An ancestor is someone who died a good death after having faithfully practised and transmitted to his descendants certain laws. An ancestor is a link that fosters communion between the living and the dead."
The Last Messenger argued that the living must expect much from their ancestors: protection from sickness, death, the acquisition of wealth, long life, wealth or many children. An ancestor, he announced was expected to be faithful to his earthly kin, to provide answers for their many needs.
He spoke: "In Africa, religious beliefs are found in everyday life and no distinction is made between the sacred and the secular. The African therefore does not need to prove the existence of the Creator to anyone. He is self existing and needs no proof."
There were many questions afterwards. Someone wanted to know why the ancestors did not stop the Tsunami. If the creator had so much power why couldn't he end poverty in Africa? Why didn't he do something about the corrupt leaders in that continent? Why did the genocide in Rwanda happen? Were the ancestors not drunk from drinking so much blood?
The Last Messenger answered these questions. The press reported that his countenance did not change, that his smile illuminated the hall.
"The Creator is an angry and merciful one," The Last Messenger revealed. "He is behind all the events in the world. He is the Fountain of life and power. What the world is experiencing is a phase. And like the night, this will pass."
The Last Messenger could only spare a private consultation with Ralph, a professor of history.
"Professor Ralph," The Last Messenger offered his hands. "How may I help you?"
The professor remained silent. He tapped his feet on the padded floor. Perhaps he was crazy to be there. He had written several papers on religion in Africa. He had dismissed the likes of The Last Messenger as fakes, evil geniuses who manipulated the poor people of Third World countries. Why was he there then?
"Professor," the Last Messenger called softly. "Your heart bleeds."
"Yes, my heart bleeds."
They stared at each other while time seemed still and framed.
"Life is made of journeys," the Last Messenger growled. "For some the journey never ends, it's almost everlasting. Many journey in search of wisdom, love and fortress. Many unfortunately, never find the solace they seek."
The Last Messenger noted the discomfort of the professor fading away, falling off like dry leaves on a harmattan morning.
"Messenger," Ralph"s voice quivered, "do you think that I am losing my sanity? It worries me, you see, the way my mind goes back and forth, the way my heart hammers and peace eludes me."
The Last Messenger laughed. It was said that he rarely laughed. Ralph was just one of the privileged few who witnessed his laughter.
"My dear professor, you belong to that category of people who journey in vain to seek inner peace."
"Why? I have read books. I have written, observed and studied . . ."
"Knowledge is not hidden in books. Knowledge is bestowed by the Creator. He alone decides who to give wisdom…your hands."
"What?"
"Give me your hands."
The professor extended his arms. The Last Messenger traced the lines in his palms. He closed his eyes. It was said that he saw well when his eyes were closed. He began the journey then. A mazy journey of torment and discovery. He entered the professor's innermost chambers. He climbed several staircases. But on each level of the step was a mask, a mask that shed tears. He moved quickly. But the mask was everywhere. He tried to walk with great care…
"I see a mask, professor."
Ralph was petrified. "A mask?"
"A weeping mask."
The professor felt a sensation in his throat. Perhaps he was going to die. He was going to die then in the presence of this African. Would he be mourned?
"What type of mask is that?" He was surprised he could still speak.
"An African mask with whiskers. That mask is in your bedroom now. It does not belong there."
The professor fell to the floor. (Later when he reported this to his friends, they said it must have been his knees. Professor Joe said he suspected Ralph had always had arthritis.)
"You may think that a mask is just a mask," The Last Messenger said. "But I am afraid it is not. A mask has its own soul. It has the capacity to hold and evoke memories, to build bridges to past times, peoples and places. You must return this mask to its original peoples and place…"
When Ralph rushed out of the private room, covering his ears and screaming invectives, his colleagues in psychiatry offered to treat him.
Nobody knew how the Last Messenger left England. Critics of the Labour government swore he took advantage of the lax immigration system in Britain and sneaked out through one of the loose borders.
But his followers said that he simply vanished, as he was known to have special powers.
However, in his website, the following week, The Last Messenger wrote: "Never mind the calamities we are facing now. Like night, this will pass."
Anietie Isong
Anietie Isong's native language is Ibibio, one of the many dialects in southern Nigeria. He began writing in English in primary school. English, he says, offers him "a rich palette of words to choose from. In this language, I can play around with synonyms and antonyms. For instance, I can use the following synonyms: obstacles, impediment, hurdle and snag to refer to the word, problem. In Ibibio, the vocabulary is limited." Anietie's works have been published in Okike, Farafina, Spirit of the Commonwealth, New Fiction and other media. He lives Leicester, England.
In Posse: Potentially, might be . . .
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When the security guard is the thief

2006-12-05T09:52:00.000-08:00

I used to work at an airline some years back. Someday the guards who were keeping watch on the plane at the tarmac were caught sneaking away with aviation fuel, it was later discovered that that wasn't the first day. Several of them were involved. These people were paid to keep watch, to ensure that nothing is stolen from the plane but they became the thieves.

A couple of days ago, some policewomen stopped me and begged for money for the weekend. "Aunty please find something for us,abeg" one of them said. She didnt ask for my papers,or licence, all she wanted was money. Is this poverty or mere greed. She is paid an unsatisfactory salary I know, but so am I.

Something my pastor always says,oil flows from the head downwards. You probably won't find the people at NAFDAC stealing or begging. Dora has taught them better than that.
God forbid that I should ever have need to call the police, as it may just be the same begger on the street who would pick the call.

OUR DEEPEST FEAR

2006-11-14T10:18:00.000-08:00

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light,not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, "who am I to be brilliant,gorgeous,talented,and fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. we were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we subconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear,our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson

This is something I came accross somewhere. Nice.

You dey suffer, you dey smile, na your fault be that.

2006-11-13T10:17:00.000-08:00

The lyrics of the legendary Fela’s song rings loud in my ears as I speak to one subscriber after the other.
I get to work one morning, singing to myself, high from some touch of God. The conditions have been changed, the hours are longer. My target is higher, but my pay remains the same. I want to protest, I want to scream unfairness but I am afraid or as they say in my country’s language, I don’t have the liver. So I keep quiet and get on with the day’s job.
There is a guy working beside me, after every call, he swears, he curses, “I’m getting out of here, I can’t take this crap anymore. I have been here for too long.” I smile to myself remembering him, he said the same thing a year ago. Like me, he too does not have the liver.
I spent over an hour in traffic this morning, same old cause, bad roads, that road had actually been fixed a few months ago, today its gone back to the same condition, no body is going to say or do anything, the contractors have men in high places who would defend them, so much money was passed around, every one had a hand it . The people who didn’t, the few people who still have integrity, have no liver to protest.

Now I understand why my country is like this, why there is so much corruption, why we can't have 24 hrs electricity, why there is no security(my brother in law was the other day harassed by social miscreants-what a nice name- he got away and ran to the nearest police station, they asked him to go fetch the miscreants for them to deal with. yes that’s what the police told him),and why there are so many air accidents.
At work, we hurdle together, all of us complaining about how terrible the system has become, how the company was a better place three years ago. Ninety percent of us here hate it here but we are still here smiling believing that one day we will wake up and everything will be fine. At home we sit in front of our TV sets and complain about our government, but complain is all we do and nothing changes.
When I was 22,I quit a job because my boss told me I didn’t have a choice but to do what he asked and so I showed him that I did, That was many years ago, I was young, I believed in myself, I was a non-conformist, I had my principles and I lived strictly by them. You don’t like crap, you don’t take crap. If my boss asks me to cut out one of my hands today, I probably would, after all I would still be able to work for him with one hand. I miss being 22.
I probably should quit but how many options do I have, who would pay my bills? I can leave the country, and go scrub floors, no thank you, I would rather be a slave in my own country. Funny when I was 22. I had fewer options than I do now, so why can’t I just leave? why do I stay on to take the licking here and keep on taking it. Like many others ,I simply have no liver.

Silence

2006-11-04T04:02:00.000-08:00

There is so much in my head but no words to speak them. I am passing through the distance between time and death. Maybe the silence will help.