Black and White: Journal of Contemplations

Blind Independence

2013-10-01T00:47:00.000-07:00

Freed to be enslaved
It is the unnatural way of things accepted as natural
It's the resignation of hopes and dreams
The leading of a miserable life
It is the acceptance of wrong without questioning

Blind independence
It is the fear of one's trusted kinsman
The backsliding of the pardoned soul
The subtleness of deceit
The lies told to the image in the mirror

Blind independence
It is attention paid to the temporal and the neglect of the immortal
It is the seizing of human drums
The dancer who ignores the song in his heart
The envious gaze of angels

Blind independence
It is the democracy of the complacent
The choice to remain as ignorant as one once was before knowing the truth
It is to act 'Christian' while blood is shed and nothing is said
It is to resist change

Blind independence
It is the folly of the illiterate leading the literate
It is the plight of trying to teach the obstinate
It is the curse of not knowing one is saved
It is the choice to stay in darkness when light shines just a step ahead

Blind independence
It the irony of the man who remains hungry long after food has been served
It is pride of the greedy who promises to be fair
It is the shame of the followers of the lost
The mockery of those who resist change

Blind independence
It is the refusal to be enslaved by strangers and the acceptance to be enslaved by brothers
The foolishness of resorting to terror
The abandoning of the round table
The frustration of 'all talk and no action'

Blind independence
It is the shame of heroes past
The pain of the present generation
The burden of generations to come

Blind independence
It is to forget yesterday
To ignore today
To refuse to consider tomorrow.

Blind Independence
Strange
Absurd
It is a contradiction

Nigeria’s Worst Crime against Itself

2013-08-22T14:09:00.000-07:00

There is a vicious cycle that needs to be broken over our great country. It is the culture, civilisation if you please, of illiteracy. Stark illiteracy I should say. That is to say we have fully acknowledged our ignorance, accepted our ignorance and progressed in our ignorance. In recent years we have celebrated, and that publicly, mediocrity. It is alarming indeed to see the quickness with which we embrace our very own ignorance. Instead of breaking this chain, we have dulled our senses to the slavery of benightedness.

In an age where information and knowledge is abundantly made accessible, it is sad to see how we adamantly refuse to learn. Our nescience, empty - headedness if you please, is bewildering. Should it be any surprise how shallow our society is?

Someone once said, "The importance of education cannot be neglected by any nation. And in today’s world, the role of education has become even more vital. It is an absolute necessity for economic and social development of any nation."

Knowing this, what are we doing to improve education in our country? The value of education has become so demeaned, it is now a business where illiterate business men employ illiterate teachers to teach our children and roll out more illiterates.

Any business man who wants to stand out and be successful knows to employ outstanding professionals and experts. Government has failed in its duty to the nation. It has failed to provide the citizenry with quality basic education. It’s a vicious succession of illiterate leaders, employing illiterate trainers to train illiterate teachers to grow and harvest illiterate students.

What do we do? Here’s the debate.

It is Eleanor Roosevelt that said, "It is today we must create the world of the future." If knowledge is indeed power, knowledge then controls access to opportunity and growth which is what we have been crying for as a nation. How can we as a nation sit still and see opportunities pass us by?

There will be nothing sadder than to see teachers who cannot read the very language they are supposed to train with!

It begs the questions; who trained them? Who employed them? Who has been accessing them for the number of years they have been teaching? Where are the students they have trained? And what contribution are they making to the society?

It is cheerless to think of the problems we have created by our negligence! Is it any wonder that we are where we are as a nation?

I believe the time for change has come. Government needs to be overhauled. We need intelligent leaders who are in touch with the times and the changes these times demand. We need a paradigm shift. Policies and laws need to address these issues. Education should be given its rightful place and the attention required to make it worthwhile.

But like Henry Steele Commanger said, "Change does not necessarily assure progress, but progress implacably requires change. Education is essential to change, for education creates both new wants and the ability to satisfy them."

Having said all that, I must add that, I do not believe in leaving the fate of my child’s future to government’s ability to create change. The culture of corruption has bred such deep distrust of government’s intention. Nothing is done with care or attention. Greed is the very stitch that holds our nation’s leadership and society’s cloak in place. It is appalling to see the waste of our resources on projects that die natural deaths due to negligence, disinterest in the welfare of the people and gross disregard to the rule of law because, of course, it does not exist in this country. To change would require uncloaking. We need to divest ourselves of the very seam that makes us who we are today - a corrupt nation.

We can get away with anything now. But time and history always pays!

I believe that to move this country forward, we the citizenry that know what to do, should do the little we can, where we can. I believe that when Nigeria changes, government’s role in that change will be little or completely imperceptible. Thomas Jefferson stated this clearly when he said, "Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves, therefore, are its only safe depositories. And to render them safe, their minds must be improved to a certain degree."

He said something even more interesting to George Whyte, his legal mentor. He said, "I think by far the most important bill in our whole code is that for the diffusion of knowledge among the people. No other sure foundation can be devised, for the preservation of freedom and happiness...Preach, my dear Sir, a crusade against ignorance; establish & improve the law for educating the common people. Let our countrymen know that the people alone can protect us against these evils [tyranny, oppression, etc.] and that the tax which will be paid for this purpose is not more than the thousandth part of what will be paid to kings, priests and nobles who will rise up among us if we leave the people in ignorance."

It is plain that this is the crime we as a nation have committed against ourselves. Instead of raising leaders, we have raised kings, priests and nobles to whom we pay dearly for our ignorance [The elected leader whose greed blinds him to the fact that his post is temporary imagines himself to be king; the “priest” who draws from our ignorance to become wealthy and the elected officers, the bourgeoisie].

How comic!

It isn’t the job of a man, changing our nation’s educational system, it will take every man, here and there to not only speak up but to go ahead and create change where each can.

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela

God Arraigned

2013-06-25T15:09:00.001-07:00

Judge:

Accusations have been made

In this great court against the defendant.

There have been many witnesses

And incriminating evidences.

There is no doubt left in my mind

That the accused stands condemned

In the very things he has been accused of.

I am and bear witness to some of these accusations,

I have been a victim too.

The plaintiffs stated

That the defendant claimed to be good and loving,

But he does not care

About the wars that are killing innocent children,

The natural disasters that are destroying cities and lives,

The terror that is claiming the land

And the evil that threatens our very existence.

The defendant has been asked why he allows

Death to claim youths in their prime,

The young girl to be widowed too early and left with babies,

A father to walk out on a family,

A mother to die at child birth,

And parents to bury children.

“Where were you when I was raped?” He has been asked

“When the thieves came?

When the accident happened?

When I called

And begged for help?

How can you claim to be love,

To be kind,

To understand,

To care,

When all you think about is yourself,

And your laws and your judgements?”

Before I pass the judgement in this great court

Does the defendant have anything to say?

God:

I have been silent.

I have listened to your accusations.

I have watched the proceedings silently.

Permit me to speak plainly.

My patience is not my inability.

My grace is not my failure.

My love is not my weakness.

Your words against me have been false and harsh.

Judge:

But you answered nothing.

You chose to be your own lawyer

And yet you refused to speak in your defence.

We... I find your silence injudicious.

It has failed to help you in substantiating your innocence.

But you have my permission to speak.

God:

I will speak when I please

And I need no man to grant me permission.

You will listen and you will hear.

But I have granted you the ability to choose;

To believe or not to believe,

To obey or not to obey,

To live or to die.

I am sovereign!

I do as I please indeed.

But I think no evil.

I plan no evil.

I do no evil.

I have made all things beautiful,

But you have sought out evil inventions.

Your thoughts are constantly evil

And your world is the result of your choices.

I help all who look to me for help.

I understand and feel the pain of those who hurt,

The tears of those who mourn,

The anger of those who feel abandoned,

Left alone and dying.

But I’m never far away.

I am constantly working all things together for good.

Yet you limit your results by your words.

You complain while I work

And it is distracting.

You nag me with your accusations

And annoy me with your self pity parties.

Yet, I am patient.

I wait patiently for you to change your thinking

And your sour attitude

Which stink to the heavens.

Where is the praise?

Where is the thanksgiving that spurs me on to work?

What thanks do I get for the sun?

“It is too hot.”

What thanks do I get for the rain?

“Oh stupid rain!”

What thanks do I get for the new day?

“Oh another crazy day!”

What thanks do I get for the life I give you”

“I am sick and tired of this life, this work, this child,this spouse, this house, this, this, this, this, this...”

And it is only for a moment -

This challenge that has come to make you strong.

And it is so inconsequential -

This challenge when compared to the good that it ispreparing you for.

The birth process is over,

The child brings joy,

But who is thankful?

You fill my ears with pain.

It is painful to hear your ingratitude,

Upsetting to see that you distrust me.

To what do I owe your lack of trust?

You constantly give me reason to end it all.

You take me for granted.

And you dare to accuse me of your failings?

I have given you everything that leads to life andgodliness.

And you dare to accuse me of your shortcoming?

I have loved you with an everlasting love.

And you dare to accuse me of not caring?

As rightful Judge and King over all

I shall sit in judgement.

And I shall pass judgement.

What have you to say for yourselves?

Plaintiffsand Judge:

We are on our knees,

And we weep with shame.

We have been rash with our tongues,

We have spoken in haste,

Our words have been harsh,

We have ensnared ourselves.

We have no plea.

We are guilty.

God:

You have judged yourselves.

Plaintiffsand Judge:

Yet we plead the blood of Jesus.

And we come in his name,

And we ask for mercy.

Yes mercy and grace

That we have taken for granted.

We beg your love which we have abused

And your patience which we have drawn out.

Be merciful to us

And do not deal with us as we deserve.

God:

It is to think that I am selfish,

Without feelings for your pain

That you accuse me of being unjust and uncaring.

Yet know this:

I will share my glory with no other

And whatever you place above me

I will take away from you.

Rise!

You are forgiven.

Accuse me no more.

Reporter:

In an uncanny turn of events,

The case that was brought before the court was struck out.

The defendant became the judge

While the judge joined the plaintiffs

To plead guilty and pray for mercy.

In the matter between men and God,

Men were found guilty of wrongly accusing their Maker.

And, the defendant decided

In the goodness of his heart

To drop all charges.

This court was adjourned

And will reconvene at a later date

On the case between

Men and the devil.

LIMITED WITHOUT FAITH

2013-04-02T08:42:00.001-07:00

I read through the bible and I could not help but notice that this is a book of love. It is a book of the God who loves so intensely, so passionately and so consciously, you cannot claim lack of notice. His love sweeps you off your feet like a whirlwind. It washes over you like a tidal wave; you cannot resist the power with which it hits you. Hit, you fall under the forcefulness of this tsunami. The simplicity of this love brings you to your knees in tears. Its validity you cannot deny.

I am still standing.

Why?

I stand because I look within. I try to reason it out. Why am I loved? Do I deserve it? Does God really love me? Who am I to be loved?

I stand because I look without. I try to figure God out. What kind of God is he? If He truly is love, why is the world falling apart? Why are children dying of hunger and paying the price for wars they know nothing about? Why isn’t anything working?

I stand because my mind wants to understand God. I stand because I compare the truth of His love with my experience. I find it hard to believe I can be loved and that by the Almighty God.

Boundless, immortal, invincible, awesome brrzzzzz... There are no words to sufficiently, properly describe God. That’s how to describe my reach; how far my thoughts and analysis can go - brrzzzzz...

Limited.

I am limited. Language is limited. Human mind, human sight, human imagination, human experience is limited. We grope in the darkness of our human understanding. We search for the light that properly illuminates Him and even in that light we still cannot behold Him as He is.

Limited.

To know Him, we fall short in our search, to things we can see, things we can describe, things we can imagine. To understand Him, we reduce Him to things we can touch and explain and own.

Limited.

Who are you? I want to know you? Are you really there? If you are there give me a sign. Even our questions limit us; for even when a sign is given it is soon forgotten and we seek yet another sign, another explanation and ask more questions.

Faith.

That’s the answer to our limitations. That’s the light that promises guidance through our darkness. Faith in who He says He is; faith to believe Him even when His words are too true for our human minds to accept. We need to have faith in his love for us. Faith brings us closer to Him.

Faith.

THE BEAUTY AND BURDEN OF FREEDOM

2013-04-02T08:34:00.001-07:00

“I want to be free! I want freedom. I am tired of responsibilities and I don’t want to answer to anyone. I want to be my own man, make my own choices. Go where I want and do as I please when I please.”

That’s the cry for freedom.

We all have gone through or will go through this phase at one point in our lives.

I loved authority and order but I hated to be told all the time what to do and how to do it. I wanted to be my own boss and answer to no one. I lived in absolute comfort and peace in my father’s house. There was little that I desired and did not have. My father gave me all that life entreats to ensure I lacked nothing good.

BUT, I was restless. There was something lacking still. There was a need I could not quite fill. I looked at the lives of the seemingly free. They seemed to go and come when they pleased. They could do whatever they pleased and life seemed to lay no consequences at their feet. They were as free and as happy as larks.

I desired that. Freedom!

I walked out of my father’s house. I was tired of the pressures of responsibility, chores, discipline and constant correction. I walked out of my father’s cover and constant warnings of the dangers without. I walked out in search of freedom; freedom to breathe and be; freedom to explore and discover. I walked away from my father’s unending supply. I took what I had and hoped to figure out life for myself. I walked away from my father’s house and...

My father respected my choice and allowed me to leave.

At last!

I found freedom. I took in a deep breath and exhaled. I ran wild and my life was indeed a circus. I did not beg for friends, they found me. They were carefree and kind and fed my need for freedom. They encouraged my exploits and praised my idiosyncrasies. They helped me in my pursuit of freedom and in my bid to abandon all that kept me grounded. I became as free and as happy as a lark.

Yet, I lacked joy.

I had no joy and peace eluded me. I missed my father and longed for his approval. I wished I could talk to him but I could not call him because I knew I had failed him. I allowed myself tears, once, when I was alone in the dark and scolded myself in the morning, “Be strong and prove to the world that you are your own boss.”

Still, I lacked joy.

How do I explain to you the pain and fear of knowing that you are a failure in the midst of your seeming success? That’s exactly how I felt.

How do I explain to you the envy and the jealousy I felt for those who waited and got their fathers’ blessings? That’s exactly how I felt.

How do I explain to you the strain of staying happy when I knew no peace? That’s exactly how I felt.

I thought.

I ran away from over analysing things and thinking things through but thoughts of how low I’d fallen weighed me down. I was inundated by my fleeting success and yet plagued by restlessness.

I wanted freedom!

I sought my friends to share with them my pain, they deserted me. I drew deep in search of myself and all that I truly lacked. I felt abandoned by my father and all who cared for me. My house of ace cards, built on the sands of my fantasies crumbled around me.

Castle in Spain!

I woke up from my dreams and gnawing thoughts of my fallen state assailed me. Accompanied by shame, I thought I was no better than the pigs.

I wanted freedom.

Guilt gripped me with its iron clad fist. I fought for freedom. Pain sought to rip out my heart with its coal red hands. I ran for freedom. Death hoped to comfort me with its large cold arms. I chose freedom.

I ran home to my father and offered to be corrected, punished, disgraced and then accepted and loved. I threw myself at his mercy and begged that he did with me as he pleased. I was certain that if he flogged me in anger, I would feel loved. If my father screamed at me, I would feel loved. If he looked at me with the pain of disappointment, I would feel loved.

I would feel loved if only, he would look at me, touch me, even if in anger.

I wanted freedom.

I ran home to my father and he opened his arms and embraced me. He kissed me with love and restored me to his original plan for me and said the words I never hoped to hear again; “I love you.”

Freedom is the love of the Father that frees me from the bondage of sin and death.

Freedom is the love of the Father that holds me to a higher standard of right standing with him.

Freedom is the choice of rightness within the confines of His will.

Freedom is responsibility within the sovereignty of our right to choose.

Freedom is submitting our choice to His approval and accepting His will and way as final authority.

Freedom is the willingness to be corrected and accepted in the beloved.

I am the prodigal child and here is the beauty and burden of freedom.

THE FORCE OF IMAGINATION

2012-07-20T13:24:00.003-07:00

I am a freaking billionaire!

That isn’t according to your bank account as it spells “BROKE” ... correctly... unfortunately, but according to your mind as it has the power to propel you into action towards becoming a billionaire.

The power of thought is such that the Holy Book says you are a product of your thought. It is the mind of men that produced such grand thinking that the Creator of this ability in man confessed, “... this they begin to do and now NOTHING will be RESTRAINED from them which they have IMAGINED TO DO.”

The question is, “what are you imagining to do?”

What is the image, the dream, invention, concept you have given your mind to feed on?

Imagination has to be strong enough you can see it, wild enough to push you into action, magnanimous enough it can be sustained beyond you and can include others.

Your wealth is subject to the state of your mind. It does not mean that a billion confessions of, “I am a billionaire” will change the state of your bank account. As long as the people were imagining building a tower, God said nothing but when they began to push/ birth their imagination by actually beginning to build the tower, God admitted they would be unstoppable.

Selah!

Your thoughts control your internal environment – the way you respond to people and situations - the reaction of fear, anger, irritation etc.

Fear is the chief enemy of action and until you begin to act on your imagination, you ... (it has taken me a great while to arrive at this) are your own enemy!

What are you afraid of?

Do you see a problem or an opportunity?

Which is best? To take a calculated risk of investing when people are pulling out, especially during a crisis, or to pull out and be safe?

When do you think is the best time to Arise and Shine? When there is light or when there is darkness?

Laziness is another enemy that keeps you from reaching for greatness.

Laziness in thought: if you put your mind to work and keep a journal of your thoughts, you might just succeed at surprising yourself. You may find you are a great writer, a very creative idea spinner. And if you push your mind to break through every known boundary you may just discover what Nigeria and indeed Africa needs to break even.

Laziness in language: Jim Rohn advices to make one’s language useful and to learn to put one’s experience in language that might be useful to others. Communication affects every area of one’s life. Reading and writing are great ways to improve your language and like I always say if reading is quite a task, start with some nursery rhymes.

Laziness in action: So you don’t know where the money will come from why bother to think or plan!

Opportunity is of benefit only to the prepared, so work on a plan, set goals and keep refining your plan till opportunity knocks at your door. To produce worthwhile results requires worthwhile actions, no matter how small. Those actions must be sustained over a period of time and that requires discipline.

Discipline cannot be achieved if your IMAGINATION is not STRONG enough to make you see the substance of an idea.

Think Big!

In conclusion, there is no way our society is going to break out of its rich – looking – poor – man syndrome until we are willing to help enough people get what they want. It is the same principle that guides the banking sector in giving of loans.

Greatness, remember, is simply achieved through finding a way to serve many people. Loan your talents and creativity and skills to helping others get what they want, you’ll be helping yourself get what you want.

I think.

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Does Free Education Equal Quality Education?

2011-04-08T04:48:00.002-07:00

Here is a tsunami boiling beneath political propaganda and like everything else we know, it will one day explode in our faces and we will all pretend we did not know about it. Imagine a society of people who cannot express themselves in proper English, teaching your children or great grand children in school, or representing you as your local government chairman or councillor, or governor or senate representative or maybe as your president. It is not that he speaks a native tongue… no, not at all, it is that he speaks English with so much gusto and confidence while his verbs and tenses are scattered abroad like Jews. Forgive my noting the obvious.
The debate is not so much free education as it is quality education. When we do things in our half-hearted manner, we tend to praise our shallow efforts as being the final and only solution to the problem. So here we are praising free education as the solution to illiteracy, when we do not have to look farther than our backyard or the national news to see that illiteracy is a chronic disease that may demands a life changing operation.
Well, here I am on a sunny afternoon trying to cool off in a fancy boutique and the store owner is in a fix. She finally has a sales girl but she might as well be without one. The sales girl is a product of free yet poor quality of education. She claimed to have taken WAEC but cannot read or spell correctly. And this is not one exception among a thousand; this is between 35 and 40 out of a class of 50 in any public school on any given day. It is not enough to send our kids to the best school there is and think it is the only thing to be done, history has shown over time, and we fail to learn, that if the man who takes the lead is somewhat educated, his wife may just be the disease carrier.
Does free education equal quality education? Here’s our debate!

The Politics of the Present Nigerian Voter

2011-04-05T06:34:00.001-07:00

Nigerians are at once fortunate and unfortunate to be going to the polls at a time such as this when the world and especially Africa is experiencing change on a major scale. In an age where people are enlightened and unafraid of change we have been called out to “a one man, one vote” election that is praised as being the one time when Nigeria will have elections that are not predetermined.

We are thus fortunate to have this election going on in a time where revolutions are fashionable in the world and in Africa and unfortunate in the sense that we have an electorate whose sense of duty and responsibility has been dulled as far as participating in this process is concerned.

Change cannot be expected to take effect immediately; it is always resisted at the initial stage and praised when it produces positive results. But here is an opportunity to build from the foundation a stable political system, howbeit challenging, by taking hold of this Johnathanistic invention of “One man, One vote.” This process is not an invention of chance for as Voltaire, my favourite French Writer said, "Chance is a word void of sense; nothing can exist without a cause."

The cause for this laudable process is the corruption that has long coloured this course, one that we have decried for so long. To be then given a taste of something of positive difference and yet to be afraid to embrace the change we have long sought is foolishness to me. And yet again as Voltaire said, "It is hard to free fools from the chains they revere."

It is therefore pertinent that we do not act as fools but that we put aside our impertinence and desist from looking for everything wrong with our political system. We should act! We cannot hope for any meaningful development if we do not insist on change. We have been given the process, our only politics, is action! We must embrace this opportunity to speak and to be heard.

Democracy indeed is the politics of the voter and America has proven this theory true in the way that her politics is conducted, issues are resolved at the polls and it is not the electing of a man, although his character is investigated and judged, it is the electing of an idea, an ideal whether it is presented by a party or by a man representing the party. It is not, as Obama proved to America and the world, a politics of “I can do that” but that of “Yes we can”.

Having been given this opportunity, what should our response be, should we hold on to our prejudice and be “Nigerian” about it by insisting on that nothing-works-in-Nigeria-except-through-corruption attitude? Should we sit back and watch how this turns out and not be directly involved in how it turns out?

I run the risk of sounding political but I like to think that my views are more nationalistic than political, I am not advocating a party or a person, I am advocating a process that could eventually lay the power of this democracy in the hands of its true owners- the people.

The present electoral process needs to be embraced and used effectively to its maximum if we are truly going to experience the change that we all seek.

It is easier, as I always say, to be complacent and watch from the sidelines, and instead of encouraging, to criticize the process and discourage everyone involved in making it work. In doing so, we not only take from ourselves the right to exercise our authority as voters, but also the right to protest when things do not work.

We cannot afford to base our excuse on what is past. In light of where we are as a nation that excuse fails to hold true and has no value whatsoever.

We need to get off our cowardly stance of lookers – on and get involved in this growth process and not wait to criticize a truly honest effort when and if it fails. And should it fail, we will not lay the blame anywhere else but at our doors because this is not about a party, a person or a clown, this is about us, this is about Nigeria. Let us not be cowardly and act with ostentatious swagger by insisting on judging our future by our past.

Our only politics is action - Vote Wisely!

THE WIND OF CHANGE: TUNISIA, EGYPT, SUDAN...

2011-02-18T01:58:00.003-08:00

THE WIND OF CHANGE: TUNISIA, EGYPT, SUDAN...

In the past few weeks we have seen what effect poor leadership can have on a country, we have seen the power of technology and indeed the web. Young people have reached the zenith of their frustration and today they rise as one to demand change.

We have seen greedy leaders, who have hung on to power for decades, being ousted from office, while some have tried to prove their sovereignty. It is in the light of these current winds of revolution, that youths across the world and especially Africa have begun to look within their own country. Issues are being discussed on blogs and social media and the thought is, “if they can, then we can.” This is what we have seen in Tunisia, Algeria, and Egypt and indeed it will sweep through Africa and the world. The issues are the same; repressive government, autocratic rule, corruption, unemployment, lack of opportunities, social and economic environments that impede growth and poverty, and still our leaders wait for blood to be shed before they do something. It is impossible to think that a person who has his nation’s interest at heart would wait 23 or 30 years to effect change, and when the people rise as one against you, to think that that is the best time to bring about change. It is inconceivable, to think that without one individual, a whole nation would cease to function. It is an attempt to play God!

Years of repression and oppression have led to a divided country in Sudan, revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, who wants to be left behind?

AFRICA, THE WEB AND THE WIND OF CHANGE - OUR LEADERS AND THIS AGE

2011-02-16T02:31:00.000-08:00

AFRICA, THE WEB AND THE WIND OF CHANGE

OUR LEADERS AND THIS AGE

To lead people, walk beside them ...
As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence.

The next best, the people honor and praise.
The next, the people fear;
and the next, the people hate ...
When the best leader's work is done the people say,
"We did it ourselves!"
Lao-tsu

It’s a rude awakening.

And do not blame us,

It has been a long time coming.

We did try to wake our fathers,

A gentle tap here,

A gentle tap there

Still they slept on.

We panicked and gave them a slap.

Rude?

Neccessary!

Are we here by choice? That can be argued. If Africa is fallen, it is we the Africans that have failed. It is not what was done to us, it is what we do to ourselves, and it is what we allow, what we permit, what we accept and what we submit to. It is not just about what our fathers failed to do or did not do right, the question is - are we any different?

The times are changing and they are upon us now, what must we do? We must rise to the occasion, we must dialogue, we must create awareness, we must network, we must tweet, we must blog, we must open up, and we must speak up.

To most of our leaders, these were strange words until Obama came and won the elections on the internet and now they crawl around our social media space seeking support for the elections. This is where we live, our leaders must come here. On this web, they’ll find we are objective and can reason one with another, and it really is the safest bet in everyone’s interest. If the leaders knew where to meet the youth, dialogue would have prevailed over the mass protest sweeping across the land. Change is upon us and our leaders cannot claim ignorance any longer, they need to support and adjust to the change.

To ask young people not to protest but to go home and stop watching satellite television shows a high level of ignorance. In this web age, we do not necessarily need this medium to get information; there are several media and our leaders need to be updated. Ignorance it seems pushes us to test the principle of walking on water without faith. And here is the greed in human nature: our leaders test their ability to lead a people who are done following.

It is pertinent that we learn now and at once that change is constant. Where this fact is concerned, emphasis and repetition has failed to enlighten. We cannot behave like dogs that need constant training to adapt to learning and instruction, but if this is a problem God himself must deal with, then who am I not repeat over and over again that change is inevitable? Today we are under, tomorrow we lead. What are the options we have? Do we follow the lead of our antecedents or do we create positive changes for the next generation?

This age of awareness is not calling for repressive governments, for terror, for intolerance or corruption amongst leaders. The web lends power to the people. It gives access to information and there is no one who can tell that his peers are doing well abroad, no one who knows that he has the opportunity to do well at home that will submit to the lie of lack of resources.

Awareness – our leaders need to adjust with the times and learn to be proactive and not reactive.

You cannot lay food before a starved child and expect him not to eat, in Africa we respectfully wait for the elders to eat first but do not dare think to finish the food.

AFRICA, THE WEB AND THE WIND OF CHANGE REVOLUTION VS. TERRORISM

2011-02-15T02:22:00.001-08:00

CHAPTER 2

REVOLUTION VS. TERRORISM

“Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Revolution cannot be achieved through terrorism. It is a contradiction of intent to try to rid oppression with terrorism. It is indeed a paradox that is obvious in this age. Terrorism, in my opinion has also gained widespread knowledge and access into society thanks to technology. Globalisation has its downside in this sense because one society is now exposed to learning and imbibing the ill in another. And what was once a taboo in Africa is now acceptable because we are part of this so called Global Village.

The question is can we create positive change through terrorism? The answer is NO. We cannot get rid of corrupt leaders through terrorism. We have seen over time that the people who wield terror against corrupt leaders for whatever purpose tend to turn out like the corrupt leaders themselves.

History records these events and we can see it even in the military regimes in Africa. The coup that removes a greedy general is always planned by a greedy general, whose greed supersedes that of the general he ousted. His fear of being forced out causes him to be even more so wicked than his predecessor.

Absolute power is corruption!

Terrorism negates the brotherhood of humanity. It is a clear fact that disagreements will exist, but the idea of democracy or even brotherhood shows us that we can achieve much through dialogue and if that cannot be done then we must use the tools available to us to fight for our rights. It is important to note that a protest or even war is in no way the same as terrorism. In my opinion, terrorism is an act of cowardice; it makes the likes of Hitler look like a hero. At least he had the decency to show his face. Humanity will not bow to terrorism and brotherhood will prevail!

When do we go to war? When do our peaceful and civil protests turn to violence? Is it when our demands are met? Is it when we are treated as human beings with rights and privileges? Is it when we are allowed to live and express ourselves within the confines of our mutually agreed upon constitutional and representative rights and responsibilities? Is it when we are allowed to live within the consciousness of our God- given sense of what is right and wrong?

When do we go to war?

AFRICA, THE WEB AND THE WIND OF CHANGE The reasoning of an African youth

2011-02-14T03:19:00.000-08:00

AFRICA AND THE WORLDWIDE WEB

“The time comes in the life of any nation when there remains only two choices – submit or fight. That time has come now to South Africa. We shall not submit and we have no choice but to hit back by all means in our power in defense of our people...”

Nelson Mandela

Africa, the continent of the largely black and mixed race, has been the sleeping giant for decades but in recent times, certain events have led to the awakening of the giant. It is interesting to note that for centuries, Africa and indeed Africans have been lulled to sleep by patronizing persons, both foreigners and natives who come with promises of a better life and future, and once they are given the opportunity to serve have tended to dominate and oppress the people to a point where they accept their fate. I agree completely with this observation;

“When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said, 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land”

Bishop Desmond Tutu

However, as it is in every human society, the oppressed have their day and they always insist on being heard. Indeed, the time has come for Africans to decide to be Africa’s voice as done in times past, even though then it was against foreigners, today it is against fathers and brothers who want to be Africa, all by themselves.

A society has never been about one man, it is about a group of people that share the same values and beliefs and traditions and culture. In Africa it is generally about respect and hospitality and brotherhood. The opportunity to demonstrate these values was given when the FIFA World Cup was brought to Africa. It wasn’t about South Africa 2010; it was indeed a thing of Pride for all Africans. It did not matter that no African country came first; it mattered that we could show the world that we too can. It was another moment of pride and indeed every African walked taller when this historical feat was achieved and facilitating these historic event is technology.

We, the young people of Africa, would never be exposed to these revolutionary moments without the technology available in the age we live: The satellite, that allows us access to media houses reporting issues around the world and the internet, which has turned the world into a global village. With just one click, one is exposed to the billions of opinions and views available online. It is incredible that one can connect and exchange views and ideas in matters of seconds with someone a thousand seas away – the social media secures for us this grand opportunity.

To be young in Africa today is a great opportunity because we have been offered the potency to create change where we see fit – The World wide web. Access to it is a right and one we must guard jealously. We cannot afford to sit by anymore and allow people, foreign or native, alien or related to lie to us and oppress us and keep us from the opportunities that are available to the rest of the world which we too can have and do have.

There is so much potential in Africa and yet we agree to submit to corrupt leaders who sell us short in the bid to gain absolute power and reign like monarchs in our hard-won democracy. We have the web and we must indeed use this medium to bring about the much needed revolution in our societies. We must oust corruption and live to build a better society for the next generation.

Words have power and we have the web, we must put this power to the web and see the wind of change blow across our land.

The Excuse “Impossible”

2010-08-14T01:01:00.001-07:00

To be or not to be considered ridiculous or just plain silly is the choice that helps us achieve our wildest dreams or keeps us where mediocrity holds sway!

The word impossible is the excuse of cowards. People who do not have the courage to push themselves beyond their comfort zones, over the edge of that which is within easy grasp. To upset our well planned out life is something we are not willing to consider.

Every time I read the place where Jesus said, “… greater things shall ye do.” I get pretty upset because I can tell something isn’t right. I think, “Grand ! Easy for you to say!” Not that I do not believe Him, it’s simply beyond my human mind.

To think the outrageous and the ridiculous demands faith that says you can walk on water or raise a dead man. (Think on that for a second)

But then I read Myles Munroe and he goes off and says something as outrageous as ‘yeah doing greater things should be natural’. Ok! So this is outrageous but not unnatural!

I keep thinking to myself the world is doing it and they don’t even acknowledge God and yes, they are still missing out on something – Greatness. The old testament folks had it figured out and Jesus hadn’t even died. Something’s completely wrong.”

I am not talking walking on water here or even raising the dead which can be done. I am talking about that wild dream in your heart that keeps frustrating the ‘Mondays’ of your life. Myles Munroe says the reason you go to work feeling frustrated is because the counsel of God shall stand. What that means is, if you die without fulfilling your purpose, you die frustrated even if you had all the money in the world.

We need a paradigm shift! It’s not enough to think it’s possible with God only, it is possible with you and I and even more so because we have all this grace available.

There are obstacles but there are no impossibilities.

There are walls but there are no limits.

It's your choice to settle down and be comfortable or shake off your fears and take a risk.

Adventure!

My take is, if a man can think it, it is possible.

It takes a lot of mind stretching and perseverance and just the willingness to apply oneself to see possibilities.

It is a process and a challenging one at that! It isn’t one for the faint of heart or the weak willed and we can understand from Abraham to Jesus, why T.D. Jakes would ask if we can stand to be blessed.

Being blessed as Solomon was demands choosing to have grand resilience or limiting ourselves to a few thousand concubines and missing out on where God would take us.

Impossibilities is the excuse for lazy minds.

There are simply no impossibilities!

If you can imagine it, heaven knows you are your only limitation. That is the story of the confusion of tongues (Babel).

.Some distant cousins you should think of killing. Seriously it's legal!

2010-08-11T08:29:00.001-07:00

Worry- a subtle foe one needs to deal with constantly.

Worry is the thief of time and energy. Anyone who entertains him knows he is high maintenance. He consumes your time exaggerating every little issue and magnifying every little care.

Worry saps your energy and won't leave until you understand that, "of all men, you are most miserable because you have this little problem. "

Worry seeks to put faith in a corner. ''Face the fact, he insists, your reality is sickness, lack and pain and if you think God cares, then just let me invite my friends over.''

Think on this for a moment if you please. Worry always arrives uninvited, promises to stay for only a minute or two and once you let him in, he stays a day, two or a week. Worry almost never goes anywhere without his buddy Frown.

Frown takes his place on your forehead and before you can even find a Word to counter all that Worry has said, his friends, Guilt and Shame have arrived. They are here to remind you to keep Worry because you failed, ''here and there.'' They point out, with crooked and dirty nails, your failures on this dirty map of your shameful past. ('Crooked and dirty nails' because they had to dig up this buried and forgotten map.)

And shame? Yes she is here to let you know it's ok to stay ashamed. "Forget that God has forgiven you, the shame is yours to keep forever'', she bats her eyes while reminding you with a voice that seeks to comfort or produce some self- righteous or self-pitying feeling.

Worry wants you to deny who you are and what you have in Christ. He wants you to say, 'God I know you care but I don't trust you to take care of this need that I have now.' Worry magnifies his friends, the Cares of this world and seeks to belittle God's ability to fulfill His promise.

The truth is God has already provided all you need but worry keeps you from finding the faith to receive what you need.

Worry is persistent and never gives up and if you must overcome him and his friends here's how.

When next worry comes to visit, tell him about the last time God came through and how He amazed you with His faithfulness (Praise and Worship). Tell Worry about the promises God made to take care of you, to never leave or forsake you ( confession of your faith). Tell him about the address God gave you to always drop off the Cares of this world. (Casting all your cares on Him for He cares for you.) Invite your friends, Peace, Faith, Hope and Joy over for tea.

Worry hates nothing more than a smile and a person who refuses to be anxious about tomorrow. He'll come again to remind you of the Cares of this world and insist you think of ways to resolve them. Take him aside and give him the address you dropped off his friends, the Cares of this world - at God's.

Isn't it amazing how we allow worry keep us awake at night only to find out in the morning that God had already supplied our needs and keeping company with Worry was such a waste of precious time.

Imagine the cost of housing worry and his gang. Get careless around them and they open your door when Depression comes knocking. Now this isn't just a petty thief like worry, shame and guilt whom you are comfortable with just because someone told you they are your distant cousins and you have to treat your family right. Right?

Wrong! Depression is an armed robber and he can kill you just as well as worry, guilt and shame. These are cousins you tie to the drum and practice shooting with, so when Depression comes, you are armed and ready.

We forfeit Peace and yet we have a friend, Jesus, who has taken it upon Himself to bear our burdens.

I've learnt that "taking it to the Lord in prayer" doesn't require beads and a long winding worry-encouraging-prayer.

I know worry can be persistent so I simply go to Jesus with a simple, 'Jesus help, this is beyond me and you promised to take care of me. Thank you.'

If worry keeps nagging, I simply remind him that God has never failed and won't start with me first. I send him to God with, "I forgot your friends, the Cares at His feet, see I'm careless! Go ask Him about it, if you can and must. I have a book to read or I need to sleep...''

Redeem the time!

Worry knows when he is no longer welcomed and he always leaves with a sullen face and if you are wondering why, it's because Frown hopped on his forehead.

Truth and Crazy Philosophy

2010-02-28T02:39:00.000-08:00

Is your mind vast enough to ponder Truth as it is?

There are different kinds of truth: The absolute truth or the truth as presented by known facts which are, in very truth, reality. And then we each have our truths - the truths we tell ourselves based on our experiences, our backgrounds and the model upon which we form our opinions.

There is that popular saying, ''Truth is what is and that is the beauty of it!'' That is a factual statement that should not but can be argued.

This statement brings two questions to the fore. The first is, 'What is Truth?' The other is, 'What is?'

I believe, and strongly too, that the answer to the latter provides the basis upon which each person can define his truth. So by your philosophy or, if you please, based on your values, how would you answer the question - What is?

Philosophy can be toxic if it has no tangible evidence or a foundation upon which to build its claim. Philosophy cannot be for and against. Philosophy does not call for diplomacy and tolerance; it is either for or against.

Diplomacy and Tolerance are philosophies – yes, but they have been the source of many disputes and to take sides on any matter is to be extremist. It is to pitch Obama’s diplomacy against Hilary’s intolerance and yet have them on the same team.

To be Liberal is to be too liberal and to be conservative is to be too conservative. There seem to be no common ground and although Philosophy, on the one hand, preaches diplomacy and tolerance, on the other hand, it demands that you not be Machiavellian.

What are we then to do? Toss out these crazy schools of thought and create our own philosophies?

To every man his truth!

There’s my abiding tenet. We each can insist on the validity and the absoluteness or fixedness of our truths but do not try to force your truth on me. My truth is absolute to me because I have tested it and found it to be true. If your truth is true, hold on to it.

Truth is its own proof!

Philosophy on grand issues such as these can be long and winded and can rouse cutting debates and men have been known to engage in them from the beginning of time.

If Truth is what is... what is, therefore, for me is the source of truth. I bring my philosophy to a quiet close by agreeing that Truth is indeed what is and that is the end of the matter. And if you are wondering, ‘how and why’, my answer simply is, Jesus is Truth and God's word is where I find conclusion to everything. Indubitably!

There’s the source of my philosophy! It can be argued but I insist on its authority.

Mothers and God

2010-02-18T23:25:00.000-08:00

How would you define motherhood? Motherhood is a never-ending job. It takes eternity and a day!

Every time I call mother, she always has a word of encouragement to give. She always says, ''It is well my dear, I am praying for you. I am praying for all of you.''

Being a mother cannot be an easy job. I look at mothers and think, ' A woman needs Jesus!'' A woman needs Jesus to be her very best friend. Anything less, in my judgment, is courting trouble.

Mothers, in my view, do experience a little bit of what God must feel bringing up children. Teaching them and guiding them in the way they should go, correcting and loving them, anyway, when they fall short of the standard, forgiving them when they disobey and hurt you. Mothers, and by these I mean truly Christ-like mothers are God's gifts to us.

A mother's job is never done. She is forever going to God with a request or the other and oftentimes it is hardly ever for herself. She is constantly reminding God to keep her children, save her children, bless her children. God must have an earful of Mothers' requests and tears and pleas!

Mothers and God are a formidable team and if you have one like mine, you can say like me on the one hand, '' If mummy said it, it is as good as done'' because I know she talked to God about it and on the other hand, '' If God promised, it's already done'' because He never fails.

To every mother holding out hope for a child, my take is, ''Motherhood is a full time job and you need a strong ally - Jesus.'

A toast to Mothers and God!

God Doesn’t Play Safe!

2010-02-18T23:24:00.001-08:00

God doesn't play safe; He pushes you off the edge to help you grow.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Be careful what you ask for?” You need to heed it! Every enlargement comes with a challenge and we find ourselves complaining in the midst of our blessings.

'God I asked for a child but please could you make him stop crying and whining and demanding?

‘God, I know I asked for a husband but where did you find this one?’

‘God thank you for this job but please how long before I get another?’

God, God, God... we complain all day. I imagine God smiling and saying, 'Well you asked me to bless you and I have. I see a blessing in this challenge and all you see is a problem.'

We need to learn to find our blessings in every challenge. No wonder we are admonished to always be thankful even when making our request known to God. I believe it is because nothing is too wonderful for God. Our little minds and small thinking are putting enough limitations on God already. It is after all God's good pleasure to bless us.

God does not play safe at all and unless you are willing to play along you better be careful what you ask for! Think for a moment, if you please; if the Israelites knew the route God would choose and the IQ games He'd play to test their faith, do you think they'd have cried for deliverance from Egypt? You and I know they complained and murmured and piped till old Moses lost it. IQ level on a scale of 1-10.... Zero!

It isn't easy at all! You and I would have done no differently, limited as our view is. I admit that God's ways and thoughts are way too wonderful for me. But to know God is to know that if it is God it isn't going to be normal it will be extraordinary. To know God is to be strong and to do exploit. To believe Him is to have no impossibility. To have the mind of Christ is to know that God's store is open to me, all I need do is ask and believe and I'll have what I need.

I believe that the waiting period is the period we build trust. Trust does not come easy. A million years of faithfulness can be destroyed with one minute of distrust. Doubt, maybe...doubt always comes but we chose to believe. Distrust? No. We are safe with God. He never fails but God has never played safe. We play safe; we talk safe, walk and work safe, save safe, think safe, live safe, love safe, give safe. Safe is good when it keeps us from evil and it is bad when it keeps us from experiencing the abundance of God's blessings. And, because we like the comfort of our safe zone, we go about with our, let-me-manage-what-I-have attitude and disgrace the grace of God.

The great men of faith certainly did not make it to the hall of fame riding through life in a limousine of bliss. No, they trekked through blizzards of hopeless situations bearing hope and believing God against all odds. They were pushed over the edge and they grew. And today, we allow ourselves be driven through life suspended in hummer jeeps while life hums by and we are left wondering why we never experience God as they did. God help you should you have this thought sweating in a molue!

The words of Jesus when He said, ''...greater works shall ye do'' seems like the distant echoes of a long forgotten movie and here we are trying to remember what comes before it. 'How in the world am I ever going to do anything greater than what Jesus did? Was He really serious? No no no... Did he even say that?' No wonder T.D. Jakes asks, ''Can you stand to be blessed?''

We, like Jesus, need to set the joy of God's blessing/reward before us before we take up the cross. You can't ask for your tent to be enlarged if you are not willing to set the pegs and pitch the tent when God marks out the territory. You may never understand the depth of what's yours, if you are unwilling to count the stars or at least try to wrap your mind around what number could possibly be used to quantify them.

Risk! God does not play safe. He would not be God if he did! God is wonderfully so God, it is an insult to go to Him and hope He'll play safe. How do you intend to grow or ever be who He wants you to be? Or... what do you think? If Abraham knew you'd call him father, he'd be bothered; being a hundred? And Sarah? Well is it safe to give birth at such grand age?

See! That’s why se say, “This is God!”

Self Pity and the Rest of the Suffering World!

2010-02-18T23:23:00.005-08:00

Every time I find myself complaining, I pause to think about those who have it worse.

The world is so full of suffering to complain about not having, even for a short period of time, something as grand as light, water, a little clean space and air (in special reference to Lagos) to breath seems totally wrong.

It suddenly becomes, ‘Self pity and the suffering millions in the world!’

Frustration and anger, in times like these, are feelings I beg to have. I found myself in this catch-22 or dilemma, if you please, some days back it made me totally upset. I love nothing more than peace, quiet and a clean space and stress of any kind, at such a time, irritates me. A quiet prayer to Jesus and a smile are enough antidotes.

To come home to a ‘claimed’ family member who wants to know if I truly fasted (even though she's bent on the fact that I'm lying), to my space being messed up by some space agents, to food getting bad because PHCN refuses to share electricity demands that I be frustrated. Add to that the suffocating stench of Lagos and you have a recipe for, ‘How To Go Insane. ‘

Tired and hungry, I refused Jesus and a smile.

Do you know what is worse than depression? Anger. Not just any kind - anger that is unfocused. Nothing is worse than being angry with no one in particular. So I refused all manner of reasoning, I begged God not quote scriptures and just cried my frustrations out till I found myself laughing. That's when I got it... I chose the wrong feeling.

I thought to myself, “There are people that have it worse than me.” Truth is;

Time doesn't wait for you to feel sad and depressed and then come out of it

Time doesn't wait for you to make the choice to be happy.

Time doesn't wait for you to make a decision to go on or give up.

Time keeps ticking, demanding that you keep up or fall out

Time is now and now may be all you have.

Thank God I have the gift of life, the opportunity to be of service and most importantly the grace to forgive, my anger, after all, was not without sin. I counted my blessings, wished self pity good bye, called my friends and loved ones, found Jesus and apologized, I even put in a good word for the suffering millions in the world. Need I say I slept like a baby? God had His arms wrapped around me all the same!

Abasiama! That's my swear word! It means God loves me...

Three Sales Men and the Distance They must Travel (A Poem)

2010-02-18T23:23:00.001-08:00

My past came knocking last week
I admit, I thought of opening the door
Then I remembered
I am dead!
I am dead to my past
I am alive to Christ!
God is the distance between my past and I

Guilt kept hammering on my door
Insisting that I open
He just wanted to remind me
“Of something I might be forgetting”
I thought, “Oh well, I’ll just entertain him a while!”
I was prevented by Calvary’s Cross
Jesus is the distance between guilt and I

Shame was the most persistent of all three visitors
He had witnesses and facts, he claimed
Justice, alleged he, and the law would have it no other way
I deserved to be put death, he pointed out
I opened the door and smiled at him
“I am dead already and the price paid in full”, I said straight from the shoulder
“And one last thing before you go”, I asserted
Mercy is the distance between you and I

With stunned faces they left, completely disheartened
I heard them arguing among themselves
“We cannot litigate her”, shame cried, “it’s out of the question”
“Why not?” asked guilt
Nothing pleased my listening ears the most
Than to hear my past admit
“God’s grace is the new law applied in this court
And His love is an impossible distance to travel!”

Written by Abasiama Ette
Started on the 23rd of Jan 2010 and completed on the 18th of Feb 2010

All That Fuss About Love

2010-02-18T23:22:00.001-08:00

Is there really more to love or is this frenzied act and feverish feeling all there is to it? That rush of adrenalin or that chemistry a confused man has for everything in skirt?

Love has been given a million and one definition and today, love is just another word. This demands careful thinking and I agree with the saying, ''fools rush in where angels fear to tread.''

Love is so watered down today, it is piped in every street corner, it's expression grandly televised and God forbid that I should show an anonymous act of kindness or be damned enough to offer a quiet prayer for someone in need or say I love you only when I'm convinced it's true.

We need to pull the wool out of our eyes and tell ourselves some practical truth!

If God is love and He gave His son to die for you and I, I'll tell you what love isn't;

love isn't selfish,love isn't arrogant, love does not place self first.

If God is love and He did what He did for you and I and still puts up with our sheer stupidity, I'll tell you what love is; love is a choice, love is sacrifice, love is painful and that is what makes it worthwhile.

We all know the Bible quote on love;

“Love is patient; love is kind

and envies no one.

Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude;

never selfish, not quick to take offense.

There is nothing love cannot face;

there is no limit to its faith,

its hope, and endurance.

In a word, there are three things

that last forever: faith, hope, and love;

but the greatest of them all is love.”

Everything else is a waste of time and energy and we all know, time's short.

Nigeria: The government. The people

2010-01-17T08:03:00.001-08:00

I am not a John Grisham fan but last Christmas, The Innocent Man was my gift. I am an avid reader and I was not going to allow my not so great affection for JG keep me from reading this book.
The Innocent Man is a true story of how a corrupt system can rub men of their rights to freedom, even in a free country like the USA. The story was at once annoying and frustrating as it was eye-opening. You read that book and you find yourself praying never to run against the government, the law and the police.
Bring it home. Nigeria is a great country full of potentials and indeed a great collection of smart people who, I strongly believe, if offered the right sets of opportunities could stun the entire world and if it were possible, God Himself. Given what we have, Nigeria is a woeful tale because the opportunity does exist to excel but our growth is stunted by the weeds we vote into office and refer to as our government. We are slowly becoming a failed state and yet we agree to be swept along by the tidal wave of corruption, injustice and plain malevolence.
Over the past 15 years and more Nigeria has had its fair share of questionable comic characters in government and you have to look no further than the National Assembly to find these comic strip characters with different accents and spectacularly confusing 'Englishes'. It leaves you wondering if you have truly been educated.
By these representatives are we saying one or all of the following things:
-It is difficult and almost rare to find a well educated leader in Nigeria?
-Every Nigerian is corrupt and even if they are not, power will definitely corrupt them?
-There is no hope for a better Nigeria?
We have been headless for sometime now and according to most people, 'the witch of Endor runs Nigeria from Saudi Arabia'. It is truly appalling to read from a National Paper that the Vice President is running the affairs of the state with directives from the first lady. (http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201001171114681) Is this constitutional? Really, what does the constitution say? The Vice President has since denied this but Saturday Punch insists on the truth of this account.
We have heard series of talks. It is the only thing we Nigerians know to do best… talk. We have seen pro Yar Adua campaigns and all manner of lunacy. Where are the oppositions in all of this? Where is our democracy? Are we in need of a Niger- Delta-type revolution? Do we continue in prayer or is God waiting on us? Are we taking a step forward or a thousand steps backward?
Away from politics; is Nigeria really suffering from this Economic Crisis or shall we find 2 years from now that someone was siphoning our money?
As far Education is concerned, we see what slapdash group of people represents us so there is no point investing in education. Anything goes?
As far as Agriculture is concerned, when the oil no longer counts, we will look into it.
Employment? Get a skill. Be an entrepreneur.
Poverty alleviation? Talk about it, get a vote.
Terrorism! New to Nigeria? Well we live with terror everyday in this country. Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab just slapped us in the face because he took it outside the shores of this country. We are terrorized by our government, our armed forces, registered and unregistered. We are terrorized by PHCN, CBN, NNPC and every 'N'd thing you can think of! Terrorism isn't new, no; we are terrorized even in the name of religion, houses of worship and kiosks are daily erected to everything above and beneath the earth.
Nigeria is a tale that only God understands but I believe that I understand Nigerians. We are witnesses to the crimes committed in this country, they never get solved and none of us wants to go sniffing for TRUTH, we know what happens to truth seekers. Nobody wants to be at the fore front of this fight, we don't want our lives to end suddenly in mysterious ways.
In this country, you are allowed to complain as long as you don't disturb anyone else.
In this country democracy means a government of the few, for the few, by the few. And we all know who these few are.
In this country, we believe in God because we look forward to heaven, see, hell is not a place you want to be in twice.
In this country, some day soon, children will take the reins and God help us, hell may loose its bounds.
Nigeria is a tale waiting to be told! So as individuals, we seek and hope to rise above...
For the fun of it, think of the 7 Point Agenda!
Have you watched 2012? Is it surprising that after the 'end of the world' Africa still stands? I mean, it must be because Africa is not part of the known world. Anyway, it is referred to as the 'cape of hope'. Funny, huh? Maybe our many issues and backwardness is a blessing in disguise? I know, Nigeria is better than most African countries and we have so much to be thankful for. So much believe me, except, of course the 7 Point agenda.
In my opinion, Nigeria is in need of serious action. I was no OBJ fan, but the man at least got me listening to and reading the news. This present government and its 7 point agenda is the most dreary, uninteresting thing that has ever happened to us as a country. So here is my 7 Point Action Proposal for Nigeria:
1. In the upcoming election, if we read about or hear anyone talk about something as stupid and as nationalism-destroying as, '' It is time to take the national cake to the north, south or further south (south-south)'', such a person should be declared a terrorist and shot in clear view of all. That is an example of a corrupt leader aiming to waste our tax.
2. Before voting anyone into office to represent us, can we at least ask that they read the English text we read in primary school? You know the one with Simbi and the rest... So if we need to dialogue with our representatives, we can at least say we understood each other. Dora could really get to know when to pause (you know... observe the English law of punctuations).
3. Can we sack our lecturers and professors and the NUTs and shut down all those progress- flagging unions and teach ourselves? I have a feeling we could do better by research, trial and error. For God's sake information is at our finger tips.
4. Is there a policy regarding employment in this country? What exactly can foreign companies do and not do to employees? Does the Nigerian work force in the public and private sectors have rights? If not can we please, seriously please, do something about it?
5. Can we do away with the registered army, train the unregistered army and hire them on a 2 month contract basis without arms? I'm not sure on this point, I think we should just pray for what we have.
6. Farm lands. Can you please start one in your backyard? Very funny right? Wrong, get a hoe and a spade!
7. Yar’ Adua! Can we ‘unvote’ him and his wife? If we can do this I believe Nigeria can be part of the 'Cape of hope' by 2012.

Wow, I have this all figured out right? Wrong! I'm just saying!

Genesis: Be Deliberate and Specific

2010-01-01T08:52:00.001-08:00

In my last note, I asked us to make a list of what matters most to us and then spend the rest of our lives going after them. Top on my list is God and this morning I read something revealing about Him: He is deliberate and specific! In the book of beginnings, the creation story shows how God created the heavens and the earth, He spoke.

God spoke, it was, God saw it was good.

God did not say to the earth and the heavens, 'Be as I have imagined you to be', no he was deliberate and specific, He acted by design. For six days He spoke what He wanted and the results were exactly as His words would have them be

What good do you want to see in 2010, start speaking them forth and you will have what you say! God made us to have dominion and commanded us to be fruitful, be and do just that this year! 2010 demands that we be purposeful and explicit.

It is a great year for creativity!

Live deliberately!

Learn with intent!

Love consciously!

Act on purpose!

Pursue your dreams intentionally!

Letting Go and Moving On

2009-12-27T01:48:00.001-08:00

Have you ever suffered a loss of any kind? Lost a loved one, an opportunity, a friend, anything you valued?

I suffered some loss this year, the details of which I will not go into.

When someone dies it seems the reality is not so apparent until the burial. It is when the body is finally laid to rest that we suddenly realize our loss. It hits home so hard, we search inwards for memories we can hold onto for as long as we can.

Sometimes we hold out hope. As long as it isn’t buried we hope that the reality of its death is only a figment of our imagination.

There are some things that are dead in our lives, and to move on we need to lay it to rest. Such things as dead relationships, dead jobs, dead thoughts, dead feelings, dead ways of life! Anything that does not add any value to our lives but for which we daily expend our energy; things that leave us feeling depressed and low and keep us from attaining the height which we know we were created for.

It‘s time to bury ‘em and move on!

Don’t hold on to some sad memory from the past, let it go and live!

And before the year 2010 begins make a conscious effort to live fully! Here is how; Make a list of what matters most to your life, then spend the rest of your life going after it!

Happy New Year en avance!

Bits and Pieces

2009-12-18T22:55:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been in need of clear-detailed-straight to the point information and yet settled for just bits and pieces? I have and it really can be upsetting. Life is that way! As T. D. Jakes would say, in throwing more light on Psalm 119:105, we sometimes expect God to give us a floodlight (something like His 5 year plan for our lives) yet He gives us a lamplight (insight for now).

Friendship is built in much the same way. Bits and pieces! The fruit of this discipline is Trust. Trust that God will take care of us like He promised because we have seen Him do it time and time again. Trust that if this friend said it, s/he will keep her/his word.

Trust is the hardest thing to repair after betrayal but there can be no relationship between two persons or party without that foundation of trust. And trust is built in bits and pieces. Impatience may get you where you want to go fast but only the one who submits to the disciplines of patience through time will be kept there. Such a person would have been equipped with all he needs to succeed while the impatient man finds himself ill-equipped. Impatience has destroyed far more reputations, relationships and dreams than any other vice known to man yet God keeps saying of those who wait on Him, 'they shall not be ashamed.'

A Scottish novelist, George Macdonald puts it this way, '' It is a greater compliment to be trusted than to be loved.''

Over the past one year I have found this to be true. It is one thing to love someone and another thing entirely to trust them. It is simply the war between your head and your heart and most people have no idea how right their heads can be. Love is nothing without acceptance and the hardest thing to accept is an untrustworthy person.

We sometimes think that the pain of waiting is not worth the effort it requires of us, if there is a quick alternative. My grandfather would say, know your regrets first before you act. In other words weigh your loss first before you lose. Insightful! You cannot be too cautious!

I am not saying that one is not allowed to take risks. As far as I am concerned risk taking is where all the adventure is in life. I hunt it! Adventures that is! But not before counting my loss, my grandfather was after all a wise man!

Here is something insightful I got from watching Brothers and Sisters:

There are no shortcuts in life or in love.
This pain must be felt.
The alternative is much worse!
It is what makes us special!
What makes us beautiful!
What makes us worthy!
The pain of how we love.
Now that pain is accompanied by something else isn't it?
Hope!
With your pain there is hope and that is where you are.
Somewhere between agony and optimism and prayer…
So we are human.
Alive!
And that is what we have.

To add anything else to that would feel like a crime. Let’s take it in bits and pieces!

THANKFUL

2009-12-03T10:54:00.001-08:00

As the year slowly comes to an end, we carry out a review of how the year has been. We conclude it has been a good year or a bad year. Some people are able to list out their achievements and some can’t seem to see past the disappointments and failures. For some of us it has been a mix of highs and lows.

The important thing is to keep a thankful heart. I have had my fair and honest share of lows, some were heart wrenching caused me panic attacks, I cried over some and ignored some. I have had my highs and I thought that was when I felt God the closest. Was I ever wrong! God allowed me my tears and wild accusations. And when I was quiet enough, I found He had wrapped His arms around me and all the while I was busy howling about my pain, he was whispering, “Abasiama, I love you!”

Truth is I have too much to be thankful for! As the year comes to an end, I look back with gratitude because it could have been worse had it not been God who hid me, kept me and loved me through all my flaws and headache-giving, heart breaking, sometimes destiny-destroying stupidity. I admit, sometimes it is hard to confess to being your own worst enemy. Like a child who has been warned of the destructive nature of a burning fire and yet curiosity will not permit it to keep his tiny fingers out of the fire.

The beauty of it all is knowing that when the child cries out in pain, its’ mother doesn’t say, I told you so and leaves the child alone. No, she picks up the child and soothes the pain. God does so much better than that, he restores you, and He doesn’t just take away the pain and the hurt. The way God loves is incredible. According to Kirk Franklin, he says of God, “You look past where I am and see where I will be. Though millions call your name, You still make time for me… and though my life has changed, your promises You keep.” I have always thought that, “The best thing in life is to return to a place that has not changed and find the ways in which you have altered.” That place for me is in God.

Over the past 2 weeks I have received heart breaking news from 2 dear friends. One lost his mother, whom he used to refer to as his best friend and the other lost her dad. The lady, in talking to me about how disappointed she was over losing her dad, said, as she was crying, she bemoaned the fact that my dad has been sick for years, 6 years to be exact, and is still alive and hers just died. I thought to myself, “Thank God.” I may not honestly know how to comfort these dear ones as I do not know the pain of such personal loss. I have always told God that if He took away any of my parents before I am ready, which will be after my children give me grandchildren, I think I’ll lose my mind.

So even though the year seems to have had more lows than highs, I have a long uncountable list of things to be thankful for. Below is a list of the ones that readily come to mind.

I am thankful for God, Jesus, Jesus’ name and blood that quell my fears, The Holy Spirit, God’s word that sanctifies me, ministering angels that perform His command.

I am thankful for God’s grace, his mercy, his faithfulness, his undying, unconditional love, his patience with me, his pity, his provision, his guidance, his protection, and his thoughts towards me. I thank God for who He is!

I thank God for my parents, for my siblings and my entire family. For the life He’s given us. The promotions and positive additions to the family.

I thank God for my friends and their families. For the joys, the comfort through the loss, the promotions, the babies, the marriages, and all the little joies de vivre that we tend to take for granted.
I am thankful!