Squeaky

I miss my perfectly imperfect church

2015-12-07T05:38:00.001-08:00

I miss my perfectly imperfect church with its perfectly imperfect flock. This got me thinking a little about how far we can go to keep up a façade of perfection rather than accepting our flaws and trusting in our maker to mold us into His perfect will. Mind you this is being written by a perfectly imperfect writer who has spent a long time looking at the flaws in a perfectly imperfect society and complaining without end at all the issues I see around me. Then suddenly I realized that in picking and loving me, the perfectly perfect God, flawless in every way, chose me a seemingly broken vessel and with His loving tenderness, He fixed the missing pieces and daily He transforms me into a priceless masterpiece – bearing His very own seal.

I miss my perfectly imperfect church, but you see I must learn that the church isn’t about the perfect building or ambiance, it is about the people supporting each other, growing together and worshiping in one accord. We must never miss the fact that the church isn’t the building… though we seem to focus and spend so much on it. The church is actually about building… building each other in one accord so we are better equipped to fulfill our destinies. I have learnt a lot from my perfectly imperfect church that has helped me become a better person. But the truth is we all are not there yet, and we should never forget that. Daily we must strive to be beautified by His grace and mercies, with a perfect touch of His goodness and crowned by His faithfulness.

I miss my perfectly imperfect church and thinking about it now, I realize I do so for all the wrong and ephemeral reasons. For the deep things seem so lost in the drama of creating a semblance of a seemingly perfect church.

(Except otherwise stated, all images are culled from Google.com)

Choices

2015-10-29T05:04:00.001-07:00

A beautiful young married woman watched her friends with envy as they lived a lavish and carefree lifestyle. They always boasted to her that they had no care in the world, and nothing to keep them burdened like a husband or children. While they partied, she dutifully stayed home with her husband and children as she worked tirelessly on building her home.

One day after a long and seemingly amazing hangout with her girlfriends, she snapped and decided she wanted what they had, and could not stand one more day slaving away for her family. Her friends urged her to follow her instincts and for once to do what pleased her. She did not seek the advice of her family or relatives.

So she took the plunge into a new life of freedom, leaving her husband who watched in shock as his beloved wife walked out on him and their three young children. To say he was hurt was putting it lightly because he never for once saw this coming. He had dedicated his life to pleasing his wife and meeting all her needs, and he was assured she lacked nothing. Little did he know how wrong he was.

Having walked out of her home, she moved in with the girls. The first few months were absolute bliss. She reveled in her new found freedom and nothing and no one could stop her. Strangely enough, she marveled at how easy it was for her to forget her family which had once been the center of her life. The parties were worth her while and the travels that came with her new lifestyle were more than she could imagine.

All was going on well and her divorce had been finalized. She had cruelly advised her sobbing husband to get a life as she had found hers and to stop wasting his time hoping she would come back to her old boring life. After months of pleading with her, he finally got her message and simply let her be.

Then her friends secretly started dating. They started enjoying the life that came with loving and being loved. The whole business of being in a committed relationship suddenly didn’t look so bad and they were not willing to let anyone into their new found happiness. Suddenly the gang of friends began reducing as one after the other, her friends began getting married and starting up homes of their own and of course leaving the gang for good.

She couldn’t understand what was happening. All the fun seemed to be slipping away as almost all her friends were gone. Finally one day, when she was trying to cajole the last of the lot, there was a knock on her door. She ignored the knock and glared at her friend as she made to get up from her chair. The knock persisted, but so did she. She had made up her mind, this one wasn’t going anywhere, the gang or what was left of it had to be preserved at all cost.

Exasperated, her friend looked at her straight in the eye, then looked on the floor as a tear rolled down her eyes. They had always envied her and wanted so badly the beautiful life she had as a married woman back then. Hanging out with her was their way of experiencing a little of the heaven she was living, with a thriving career, a husband that adored her and beautiful children to crown it all. Somehow, her moving in back with them helped them learn what they needed to get the men of their dreams, and her life was a lesson to them to walk away from their friendship once they settled into their homes. They all had learnt well, unfortunately, she had learnt too well. She had learnt to become them, and they learnt to become her.

As her friend said the last words, her friend got up and hugged her revealing a diamond engagement ring. Her friend was definitely going out as the friend and the fiance were on their way to meet his family. Her friend hugged her again and then made for the door. She was too weak to stop her. She sat there stunned.

Suddenly she missed all she had thrown away, but it was too late or maybe not?

(Except otherwise stated, all images are culled from Google.com)

Growing old shouldn't have to be so bad...

2015-10-26T02:33:00.001-07:00

I say this often because it is true, a lot is changing and a lot has changed, this affects virtually every sphere of life including the act and art of growing old as well as the unique experiences involved therein.

Let me start with a simple question, how do you feel around old people, I mean the really weak and aged whether they are relatives or not? Think deeply about your answer and ponder on your reactions around them, then we can go ahead to talk a little more.

You see, now that I am much older than I was before I realize that treating old people negatively or suspiciously has always seemed ok or natural among the young especially the aged who are sickly or perhaps seem somehow queer. Indeed there is nothing new about treating the old with disdain, but seriously, how right and how fair is that?

How sensible is that if we all hope to grow old? Shouldn’t we fear that the same treatment will be meted out to us? We tend to run away from them, locking them into a lonely world. We tend to forget that these old and vulnerable human beings were once young and agile, once beautiful and handsome, quite frankly were once like us.

Now, there are different ways to look at this. For starters, when growing up or getting older, what are you doing with your life to protect your old age? Are you living on the right side of life or are you living a double life that can catch up with you later in life? Are you emptying yourself so you can rest assured that you have lived a life of purpose? How are you relating with your spouse and children at the moment and what seeds are you knowingly or unknowingly sowing into their lives? Can you truly say to yourself that you are going to reap a great harvest after all you have sown?

Growing old seems like a painful act with the many issues surrounding aging the major ones being health and money issues. On one hand people must consciously prepare for old age by saving for the future, but this in itself is not fool proof, who can determine what expenses will come up over time or perhaps health conditions that may creep in. Little wonder a wise woman recently said to me that when wishing someone long life, it is important to pray for good health and prosperity.

Let us as much as possible try to make the process of growing old a less painful one. Our government has a part to play in all this by taking a cue from western nations who provide adequately for the welfare of its aged citizens. Quite frankly Nigeria is a very painful country to grow old in, little wonder people are corrupt and embezzle money at the slightest instances to safeguard their future. Health care officials caring for the aged should be more patient and kind to them, after all, this is not a free service and they may end up growing old if Heaven permits. Families should also play their part as much as possible knowing that the aged will be around only for a while. Yet, interestingly, the aged should play their part by not wearing out those around them (I can imagine that is a tough call).

Growing old is a process in life and it comes with various responsibilities as one moves from infancy to adulthood and into the aged years. Learn to live life one day at a time, doing your very best at every opportunity so when you look back, you do so with joy and not regret. Ask yourself, what will you like to do differently? Now go ahead and do it. It is never too late to start living! Also remember, you have lived this long for reason, stay in purpose till the very end. Cheers.

(Except otherwise stated all images are culled from Google.com)

@2015

Just hold on

2015-10-23T05:29:00.002-07:00

Has life in general or any situation in particular got you totally at your wits end? Are you feeling like throwing in the towel and just giving up? Hold on, just hold on.

We all have had our fair share of challenges and I admit that it does seem like some people go through life hitch free while others seem to move from one challenge to the other. Well, such situations can be pretty frustrating especially if your situation is the later. But have you noticed that somehow through the darkness, there is always a reason to be thankful because somehow there just always seems to be someone who has it worse than you? Note that I am not saying compare yourself to other people, no, I am simply saying you always have a reason to be thankful.

So you have found a way of being thankful against all odds, what next, you may ask, I will say keep your faith and hope and never let the situation overwhelm you. After all, there is the popular saying that when there is life there is hope – indeed there is always hope. A hope that this is a season and it will pass, a hope that you are better than your current situation, a conviction that you will triumph against all odds.

That said, try not to focus on the negatives, those are only a plot to keep you down. Instead choose to keep your eyes fixed on the future or the life you desire and then consciously work towards achieving it. I believe in you and you should believe in you too. We will all get through life’s troubled waters, and the peace that transcends all understanding shall flood our souls like a river.

After all said and done, remember, the Lord is close to the broken hearted, so be rest assured that He is with you through this phase, like a bridge over troubled waters, He will ease your mind in Jesus name.

Shalom.

What if the sun doesn’t shine?

2015-09-08T06:45:00.001-07:00

There is nothing like the feeling of a beautiful sunshine after a heavy downpour or a glimpse of the sun rising after a particularly rough night, but the question I have for you today is, what if the sun doesn’t shine when you want it to, and more, what if it doesn’t shine when you badly need it to.

When I think of a person who had to endure this circumstance, one name that comes to mind, is Abraham. Yes, he had the promise, signed sealed and delivered directly from the Lord most high, a promise of an heir from his loins, a promise that he would become the father of many nations. Yet as the clock kept ticking and the grays on his hair kept increasing, it just felt even more impossible by the day. So much so, that Sarah got him a backup plan.

I know it is so wonderful when you say a prayer and get a reply or solution instantly, but what do you do in those moments when the answer is wait or a simple I have got this right, in the middle of the storm? Yeah, guess you know what I mean, at those times when the sun just does not seem to shine at all.

You see, life is filled with ups and downs and the rich and famous get their fair share just like the poor and lowly, so it is not a matter of the sun shining more on one group than the other. So, what remains is the strength to trust that if the sun doesn’t shine now, it will, someday, sometime, somehow. A strength to carry on even when all else seems to fail because you have your eyes fixed on the promise, with an unwavering faith, believing that in the end, everything will fall in place just like you were promised.

Will there be times you will feel like giving up? Yes, but please don’t, remember how Abraham started, and look where faith led him in the end. Interestingly, even when he got his promised son, he was still tested and passed in flying colours.

You may be at the verge of something really significant. You may be close to throwing in the towel. You may have experienced triumphs in the past and just received a huge blow. You may have never experienced an amazing moment and you are wondering if such exists.

To you I will say, hold on, don’t give up. The sun will rise, the storm will seize, it may be hard, but please endeavor to go through because there is definitely light at the end of this tunnel. So once again I will say, hold on, through the dark moments, hold on, and let the light of the Word and sweet presence of His spirit guide and see you through. You are not alone in this, be assured of this. Shalom.

(Except otherwise stated all images are culled from Google.com

Leaving a trail behind

2015-09-08T01:22:00.001-07:00

Times without number it has happened and the story has remained the same – blood, tears, sorrow and mingled bodies, yet there has been no legislation that can make as well enforce the much needed change on our roads.

I can imagine that such accidents have happened countless times, car going on its own, while a reckless trailer slams into it, or the breaks of the trailer fails and the cars all around it are as good as history. How about the new trend of containers overturning on cars or sliding into vehicles right in the middle of traffic! Come on, this is madness to say the least.

Now I wonder, what is the role of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in all of this? After all, they are good at checking every little insignificant detail while forgetting the life threatening ones that almost daily robs innocent lives. Just wondering, are there international safety rules that guide road usage for trailers, lorries and tankers? Aren’t there specific safety guidelines on how containers should be strapped on lorries to prevent them from turning over, taking into consideration the nature of our roads – you know highly uneven with bumps and potholes here and there.

Also, should the drivers of such vehicles have a certain level of education? You know so they can abide by the various safety rules and take necessary precautions to avoid and avert disaster. It is a known fact that most if not all drivers of such heavy duty vehicles are illiterates and then we kid ourselves expecting them to know any better.

Finally, what can be said or done about the mindset of the drivers of such vehicles who prefer to bully smaller vehicles on the road, which has resulted in accidents at various points in time. Should they undergo psychological evaluation of some sort before being allowed to handle such vehicles? Just wondering...

A lot has been said about the new government and how this is the era of change. It is time we experience this change on our roads, we do not have to wait for another life to be lost before the relevant authorities come together and do the right thing.

(Except otherwise stated all images are culled from Google.com)

@2015

Living on the other side of the storm

2015-08-26T07:00:00.004-07:00

In Nigeria, between July and August, there is a usually a break in the torrent of rain that is typical of the tropics. During this period, the weather is particularly cold and sometimes, the clouds create the impression that it is going to rain heavily only to give way to sunshine a few minutes later.

For a person who is used to this, going around with an umbrella is seemingly the wisest thing to do, so that either way you know that you are well prepared for what may come – rain or sunshine. On the other hand, those who try to predict the weather by looking at the skies are made restless because though this is usually a short period without rain, there are times when it drizzles and other times when it pours down heavily.

I guess you will agree that this can be pretty frustrating, especially if you get caught up in the rain. Like the weather, life can be that way too, and you just never know when the storms might hit. Now this isn’t about preparing for the storm, it is about going on during and after the storm. That is after the debris have been piled up, after the trees have been uprooted by the storm, after the house has collapsed or after everything seems to have gone totally upside down. Yes, that is what I am talking about.

How do you get the courage to go on when life has beaten you down? How do you face the world after you seem to have lost everything? How do you pick up yourself and start again when everything seems to have come crashing down all around you?

For starters, you must understand that this is a tricky phase and getting the support you need from family and friends can make a whole lot of difference. But you see they may be going through their storms too, and try as they may, nothing they do may seem to cut it, leaving you with one and frankly the only true option – your Maker.

I feel it is interesting how we feel we can get things all figured out ourselves without seeking the guidance of the one who knows all things and is in all things. Like any great masterpiece, it does make sense to seek the producer’s manual when in doubt right? Same with us, in the midst of the storm or after it, we will do good to seek His face at the trying times. I do not pretend to have all the answers, but I hope this few tips below will serve to guide you and see you through this phase:

- Remember the good times and God’s faithfulness in the past: If He was faithful then, we will be faithful now because He changeth not and remains the same yesterday, today and forever more.

· - Learn the lessons along the way: A period of pain is always filled with great life changing lessons you tend to miss during the great times. Learn the lessons during this phase, but try not to be too hard on yourself.

· - Be grateful for each day: It is so easy to lose sight of the little miracles along the way, but by being grateful for these your faith is increased and with this comes hope for a better tomorrow.

I believe tomorrow will always be better than today, and every trial is only a stepping stone to a great triumph. Yes, a whole lot is going on all around us and it is so easy to give up, but come on, keep the faith, hold on just a little while longer and soon everything will fall in place.

When it’s not OK

2015-08-18T09:19:00.000-07:00

It’s been in the news for so long it has seized to be news. Men who lack the ability to do the needful when their ‘member’ wants them to commit atrocities just to suite a burning desire have always been around from the highest offices to the lowest enclaves. Recently, the frequency in this occurrence has become so alarming that one wonders if a curfew should be placed on innocent women and even girls.

I am not even going to start with the pain faced by victims of rape or the shame they face which in many instances stays with them for the rest of their lives. My focus is on the punishment meted out to those who commit this dastardly act. Now, this may sound pretty barbaric but, would it not be an act of kindness if one helps such individuals lose that which they lack the ability to control? Yes, you heard me, lose it totally so that when they are faced with a similar situation in future, they have nothing to worry about because their evil tool has been totally done away with.

This is an aspect of the law we should seriously begin to consider because I believe once a rapist always a rapist. Nothing no matter the sentence can change such an individual or discourage new ones from springing up. Please don’t say this is extreme, consider for a second what you would do if as a woman you are a victim of such... now decide what laws should be passed to set this wrong right. Perhaps a different law that carries a similar weight can be thought of, but we should not lose miss the focus here - enacting a law to totally deal with offenders.

The time has come to say enough is enough. Women must rise up together and take a stand that will lead to a global legislation against rapist. If we don’t make the move no one else will. Enough said.

Keep on keeping on

2015-08-14T07:00:00.002-07:00

In the beginning, there was darkness all around and the earth was without form and void, and then the Lord said, “let there be light” and all the elements were created, put into place to ensure that that which was required came into existence. It was an action by the creator of the whole universe and one in which we can (and frankly many have emulated given the different creations all around the world) and should emulate.

Will there be times when you are absolutely sure about something and you go all out to create it and then it fails totally or it turns out you were completely wrong in the first place? Yes. Will there be times when everyone makes fun of you because of the mistakes of your past or a situation in which you fall down and just can’t seem to get up? Yes. Will there be times when you are totally right and no one but you sees it and agrees, leading to that uniquely awkward situation? Yes. But you see, study the biographies of the world’s greatest people, what you will get is simply a series of failures who refused to give up or stay down. When they fell, they dusted themselves and got up and then kept the spirit and forged ahead, keeping their eyes on the mark.

I am learning to understand that it is soo wrong to beat yourself up over a situation or assume that life would not sometimes happen to you. I have learned to understand that even the best of us are faced with challenges, but the difference between a victim and a victor is persistence – the ability to keep at it, till the very end, or perhaps to take a detour when the need arises as long as at the end of the day, you get to your promised land.

While going through challenges, it does help to remain positive. I know it’s easier said than done, but you know what, being negative is just extra baggage you can do without, while being positive gives you hope, a feeling that eventually everything will work out fine.

Now, here’s the big one - trusting in the Lord even in the midst of life’s storms. In the beginning we can argue that the earth was everything but perfect, yet the Creator had a clear picture of what He wanted, and so went about speaking and creating these. Yeah, that’s the same principle with you. He is the writer of the scripts of your life. He knows every single character that will appear during the plot, He knows every conflict and every victory, above all, He knows the end from the beginning, and you know what? His thoughts towards you are thoughts of good and not evil to bring you to an expected end.

So, when you are faced with that daunting situation (and with the way the world is going now, there are so many of them all around – trust me) know that everything will be OK in the end – His end. Cheer up now, wipe away that tear, smile a little and heave a deep sigh of relief knowing that the Lord has got your back and He will never leave you His dearest sheep, come what may.

(Except otherwise stated, all images are culled from Google.com)

Business as usual

2015-08-14T02:07:00.000-07:00

The world is really changing and values are fast changing as well. Wrong has taken up new shades and right is now viewed from the perspective of wrong. We all seem to be going in the same direction and no one is really standing up as we choose to take a convenient stand on the various issues we are facing in our time. For instance, various subjects are being raised all around the world that obviously stands against the teachings in the Holy book, yet religious organizations have continued with the same old sermons to enrich the congregation and invariably the church with little concern about the need to keep standing in times like this.

I know that having money when you need it is so important after all, the bible says money answereth all things. Yet, a total focus on material gain at the expense of spiritual growth does give one cause for concern. An obvious slant to the immediate gains as against the long term and even the hereafter is totally worrisome. I kind of wonder, what is the place of the church in all the propaganda of the enemy going on all around us? What stand are we meant to take as individuals and as a religious group? What will be our contribution to stop the trends all around the world and to ensure that we keep standing against all odds?

As I look all round, I see the scriptures being fulfilled and it is making more sense when the bible says that many are called but few are chosen, and men shall become lovers of themselves. I kind of ask myself, if religious organizations start losing cash in inflow of income, will you still take a stand for the Lord? If you were faced with the option of losing all the wealth that has been amassed because you want to take a stand, will you still take that stand?

I can easily understand the plight of corporate organizations in all of this, but the church, the body of believers, cannot and must not be excused for its none action and seeming passiveness and nonchalance.

It is time we all stop playing to the gallery. It is time we all stop seeking the easy way out. It is time we take that inconvenient stand that will shake and shape the world for good. The scriptures are not meant for convenient interpretations, they are timeless truths which remain unshaken, a guiding light that should shine through these seemingly dark ages.

It is my prayer that we all receive the strength and the will to run this race and in the end get the crown of glory in Jesus name, amen.

(Except otherwise stated, all images are culled from Google.com)

Stop, Zebras crossing!

2015-08-07T06:49:00.001-07:00

I am amazed at how we copy traditions from other countries but absolutely fail to implement them properly, especially when such traditions or policies come with a high cost of execution. One of such are the zebra crossings we have all around Lagos state. For me, these play one major role, beautifying the streets in collaboration with the flowers and trees planted all around. Yes, our streets and highways have been coloured for the sole purpose of adding some new shade to the typical boring streets that come in a monotonous black. After all, your stepping on the zebra-crossing does not guarantee that cars will stop for you without either threatening to hit you, run you over or better still cause you to make a quick dash across the street to safety. Funny though that if the actual zebras were crossing I know Lagosians will not hesitate to halt just to ensure no harm comes to their car – sorry, bet you know it is never going to be about protecting the innocent animal. SMH!

Now, in other countries, I know that there are actually laws on this, little wonder the citizens know to wait when people are trying to cross. So tell me, my dear state, how come we spent so much money on creating zebra crossings on the street and have for years now made no attempt at safeguarding the lives of people by ensuring total compliance? I think someone in government must be held responsible for this, if not you may have to agree with me that the drawings on the streets are not as beautiful if they are meant to serve as only colourings and nothing more.

I’d like to take this a little deeper and say, every time someone is hit on the street or almost run over their blood is on you because our government which is meant to protect the people consistently fails to do what is right. However, this is the era of change, and I choose to believe someone somewhere will see this, and ensure the right thing is done, and for that I choose to say thank you in advance (please don’t let me down). Eko o ni baje o!

(Except otherwise stated, all images are culled from Google.com)
©2015

Starting a fire to catch a rat

2015-08-04T01:29:00.005-07:00

Have you ever had your house badly infested with gigantic rats? You know those types that are so large and bold you literarily step aside for them to pass for the sake of peace. The ones who are so smart they eat up the bait without getting caught, and are so strong, they can’t be caught or glued by the typical mouse trap, and in anger for trying to catch them they burrow into your concrete leaving cement scattered all around the house – yeah, that’s the kind of rat(s) I am talking about, nothing nice about them, they are just plain nasty!

I can imagine how frustrating it is trying to catch or better still get rid of these particularly annoying rodents who eat up everything without paying or even clearing up after the meal, neither do they wash up after pooping and peeing all around the house! I hear some have temporarily vacated their houses for these ones just so peace can reign, trust me, this is no exaggeration. On the other hand, some have taken more drastic measures like starting a fire only to burn down everything but the silly little rodents. Now, that’s a sight to behold wouldn’t you say.

I like to think of our nation, people and even our religious practices from this perspective. Many times I have spoken or perhaps written about focusing on the minors and maybe this is just another way of seeing this. Every day we complain about the evil in our land, the evil in the world and even the cruelty all around us as we point accusing fingers at everyone but no one. Our nation boasts of some of the largest religious organizations with a very minute or microscopic bit being righteous in the real sense of it. We support embezzling public officers who pay tithe of stolen money and dine with the princes and princesses who have overburdened the people with heavy taxes with little to show at the grassroots level of any form of development that can truly alleviate poverty. In the open we preach sermons of righteousness, but behind closed doors our actions are despicable to say the least. The question is how long will we continue this folly, how long will we live a lie, how long will this pretense go on?

We may say to ourselves, my neighbour’s rat is not my business, but if he or she burns down his house and sets yours ablaze in the process you will be affected when your house gets burnt down or when the lovely rat relocates to your equally lovely mansion. There are issues going on all around us that can easily be resolved if we decide to do the right things, live right and work together as a team rather than working and gossiping against each other. Remember, united in good we stand, but divided in evil you will always fall. This is not a curse. Let us not be quick to forget our humble beginnings or the moment of our conversion when we made that commitment to stand for our Maker, live by His precepts and love our neighbours as ourselves. In His faithfulness He has uplifted us but lets ask ourselves, have we truly kept your side of the bargain with Him? The clock keeps ticking and the time to make wrong right is now – not a second later. It is really dark all around, let there be light!

(Except otherwise stated, all images are culled from Google.com)

It's ok to cry

2015-07-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

In life, we are driven by rules of what is acceptable and what is not. These rules define us, shape us and to a very large extent limit who we are and our ability to freely express ourselves. For a woman, even though the society frowns at an adult crying in public, there comes the moment when you just can’t hold it down any longer and suddenly you find the tears pouring out uncontrollably, and you just sincerely may not know why you are crying. The tears may be as a result of hurt and pain that remained unprocessed and unresolved for many years, or it may just be a little innocent occurrence that served as the final breaking point, and then, there you are smiling one minute and soaked the next. Yet, though this is embarrassing, for a woman, it is still acceptable – to an extent, after all, the world says, we are the ‘weaker’ sex and our ‘hormones’ sometimes get the better of us, so you see, at times, the society is kinder to a crying woman (well this is totally different from the case of the former minister of aviation who burst into tears on national TV after a plane crash in Nigeria), but I guess you know what I mean.

On the other hand, I worry for the men folk. They just never get to cry enough, show enough emotion or even let off rational steam when they so urgently need to. Now, I understand that it does seem kind of awkward for a full grown man to suddenly burst into tears for no reason without people wandering if he has some missing screws. But maybe that is the problem, the screws of men may have been so tightened they are unable to unscrew when they need, or even if they want to, how can they when the man is meant to be the head, the guide the one who should have it all figured out? Please note, I am not for a second trying to be on the side of men, but I feel sometimes, and emphasis on sometimes, the world should go easy on the head so it remains correct enough to function optimally. To the men I say, when you are in safe company, it is OK, to be you, vulnerable and human because at the end of the day, whether you like it or not, you are still human, though wired differently from the woman.

Yeah, life will happen. Situations will arise. When these happen many will rise to the occasion and a few more will fall at the peak of pressure, but it’s OK. It’s OK to cry a little. It’s OK to sigh. It’s OK to reach out for help. It is OK not to have it all figured out at the moment. If you must, cry, but remember giving up is not an option, there is too much greatness in you for that. Keep on standing for soon you will have reasons to smile again.

Excuse me; I am highly ‘inflammable’

2015-07-24T04:32:00.002-07:00

I came across this petrol tanker and couldn’t help taking a picture. It was such a classic I simply burst into laughter! Oops! Did I just say burst? That’s tricky business o, considering the state of the tanker and its particularly interesting ‘backside’. Yeah, the backside was staring me straight in the face as if it was going to fart any time soon. But you see the average Nigerian tanker farts on a per second basis also known as dark smoke coming out of the almost broken down vehicles that ply the highways posing major threats to lives every single day. This tanker was just a classic. You know when people say flaunt what you have? Yeah, that’s just what this ‘bahd’ guy was doing. Firstly, he was bullying the little cars with his mere size (though I must admit it wasn’t reckless unlike its siblings who were literarily kicking the ‘little cars’ off the road). Secondly, the thought of posing behind him in the name of traffic was pretty scary especially after I read the caption behind it which read “Respect Your Selft” “Highly inflammable”. See levels o, please note, this is by no means a typographical error. You have been warned. Lol!

Show me what you’ve got

2015-07-22T03:58:00.001-07:00

When you have talents, you have talents, pure and simple. Your talents – if you have been able to fine tune them have the ability to make way for you on levels you may have never imagined before. Your talents literately give you the wings you need to soar even in this ever changing world.

Some talents are more obvious and well, more sort after if I may dare say so. For instance, people with a good voice are usually in high demand because of the power of music – in the religious and circular world, no one can deny the force behind a song and its power to move whether positively or negatively.

On one hand, we have the circular songs with simple inspirational lyrics delivered with such a perfect rhythm and voice you are instantly ‘uplifted’ into a peaceful realm just by listening to them. Also, you have the tunes with ‘weird’ lyrics which are mainly geared towards building not too clean images in your mind, mixed with jagged tunes that go with a voice that leaves you having something that feels more like a headache.

On the other hand, you have religions tunes which mind you can come with the jagged voice but if backed by the anointing could leave you totally uplifted without any instrumental backup. Now imagine if you have that wonderful voice, with a great instrumental team and just the right acoustics, what you have is an experience that words scare can describe. But you see, there are two factors that we should consider as we use our talents to uplift souls, especially for the kingdom.

First, it’s an attitude thing, and it really is. Can you remember the most popular angel who lost his glory and place to pride? Lucifer. You can liken him to the lead singer in the heavenly choir before his fall, but then, his place went into his head, and soon he totally lost it and with that he lost his place in heaven. Today, we have beautiful choirs all around and a key trait to look out for is pride individually and collectively. How does the choir (as a body) treat other parts or departments in the church? It is understandable that the choir holds a high or exalted position but the question is at what expense do we exalt the choir and what effect does this have on the members of the choir and their relationship with other departments in church which feel overlooked or looked down upon? After all, all parts of the body are equally important and must be treated equally as each can sincerely not function without the other, just try it.

Secondly, the anointing, which for me makes all the difference between a circular song and a truly religious masterpiece. A beautiful voice with a beautiful soul and the anointing brings forth the ultimate worship experience any day, anytime, anywhere. But then the question is, how often do we focus on the anointing upon the individual leading the worship session as against the perfect pitch of the voice or awesome skill with instruments? I can imagine that this is a delicate balance, one which should never be trifled with. The anointing is the experience. The anointing guarantees the presence of the Most High, and invariably guarantees that He will move in a way that will bring about healing and that much needed change that is so badly needed. The voice without the anointing is as good as circular, same with the instruments, and when you bring in the ‘circular’ into the church for a worship experience, we change the church from a magnificent place of worship to a simple auditorium.

Now does it mean we cannot listen to clean circular songs in church? I will say we can, but this should be differentiated from a worship song or not used as a form of worship. Once again it is a thin line, but one that it will do good to be mindful of.

After all said and done, the truth is being in the choir is no easy business, and we all should consciously pray for the members of the choir and the instrumentalists so they do not miss it or miss out on the blessings. The focus must remain single minded for when it weavers, there is the possibility of a fall and the better the voice; the greater the glory, the better the skill, the higher the attention. As you strive to worship and lead people into that atmosphere of worship, it is important to maintain a clean house (a pure and humble heart) for such are the vessels which are continuously filled by the Spirit who always longs to fill you up afresh so you can resist the evil one at all costs.

Your talent is a gift given to you for a purpose. When you use it right, the sky becomes only a stepping stone for you.

(Except otherwise stated, all images are culled from Google.com)

Early Sunday Morning...

2015-07-21T03:10:00.000-07:00

All around the world, as the sun rises and the cock crows, activities begin in earnest as people prepare for the major highlight of the day – the Sunday service in church. In some homes, breakfast is skipped so the family can make the early service and get back home in good time. For others, a late service means they get to bond with one another or maybe play a little before they set out together to receive the word dished out hot from the pulpit. For another set any service will do, as the service and church simply serves as a place of hope where they come in to be refilled having been beaten time and time again by life.

As the traffic builds up around the church/worship area, tempers begin to flare. Suddenly the saints become demons as they wrestle with the principalities also known as ‘fellow brethren’ as each one tries to squeeze into the limited parking lot, and the narrow streets, all at the same time. Then we begin to see a new manifestation and dimension of the saints as they temporarily take off their ‘pure garments’ and adorn themselves with the darker shades of their worldly garments. This for me is just an intro, but the real issue is within the service.

Many times I wonder and ponder what will happen if rapture were to take place on a Sunday morning during church service. I wonder if it were to happen during let’s say praise and worship, how many people will know that something has happened or will we all just continue dancing away as we try as frantically as possible to dance away our sorrows or put up appearances forgetting that religion for the sake of religion does not guarantee a place in Heaven. What if for instance it is during a ‘powerful anointing’ service and the pastors get left behind and the ‘anointees’ get taken up, while the ‘anointed’ continues his/her work without even realizing what is happening? What if the well awaited rapture takes place on a Sunday morning or even a midweek service, how many of us will the Lord find worthy and still standing?

This is not to point accusing fingers at anyone. This is not even an attempt at a holier than thou attitude. It is just a simple reality check for you and I. We may have gotten really busy playing church that we forget the real essence of a relationship with our Maker. We may have gotten really used to going with the flow that we forget the real essence of what Christ lived and died for. We may have gotten so busy seeking institutional growth that infections are festering and we are just not even aware of it, and when things blow out of proportion, it just might be too late if we fail to look a little closer at how the church (the institution and the people) may have drifted over time. As individuals we may have spent so much time focusing on everything but what’s important and suddenly we may just be awoken to the fact that we were or could be left behind.

This is just a little piece, a reality check, a wake-up call for us all! It is my prayer that we will be found worthy at that most crucial moment when our ‘Husbandman’/’Bridegroom finally comes to take his ‘Bride’ home. Remember, many are called, but few are chosen.

As you ponder on these few words I wish you all a beautiful week ahead.

Killing me softly…

2015-07-21T00:49:00.000-07:00

In one way or the other, we are all connected in this circle called life, and this connection is much closer and delicate than we think. It’s amazing how invariably everybody does kind of know somebody or is related to someone or friends with another so that in the end, your neighbour’s cat might just be a distant cousin of the cat of the Queen of England – just saying.

Whether we know it or not, our actions kill way faster that there is so much more that binds us together than sets us apart. This is true for religions if we can only see that as people we are actually brothers and sisters and not mere strangers. This is true for of our diverse cultures – we all speak the same language in the end though our tongues may differ. This is true across countries and continents – we remain human beings with the basic needs and necessities, though this differs from one geographical location to the next.

I think it does make sense to try working in the shoes of the next person before we judge. It does make sense to understand how it pinches and why it pinches before we cast people off, run people down or even gossip about one another. When we do this, we learn to understand the driving force behind the actions of people and we may just get a different interpretation at the end of the day.

Interestingly, another point we miss is perhaps making light of issues and learning to laugh at ourselves. This comes easily to some and seems like a major task to others, but you see, it is an act that we all must learn to practice for then the burden of life becomes lighter – way lighter than the best machine guns. Our actions kill way faster than the best cooked poison. Like a ripple, our actions or inactions and perhaps reactions too can make all the difference between war and peace within ourselves, families, nations, continents and even religions.

(Except otherwise stated, all images are culled from Google.com)

Show me the oil

2015-07-16T06:52:00.001-07:00

Somehow I think there must be ‘monsters’ in charge of drinking fuel, if not, how can it be possible that Nigeria one of the largest producers of oil in Africa – and not just any type of oil, but sweet oil – is constantly either out of supply or for some amazing reason or the other the fuel just never seems to be available when we need it – like in our cars or at the filling stations and at the right price too!

In the beginning, aka in the good old days (I tend to refer to this a lot, not because I am saying we should go back and live in the past, but simply because somehow some things worked then and for some reason we just can’t seem to make them work again – at least for the time being). Ok… digressing again *deeply sighing*

Earlier on in the year, there was the gist of the falling price of crude oil and how this was going to greatly impact on us. There was panic everywhere and that is understandable seeing that our economy is largely dependent on the exportation of crude oil. But while the whole drama of crude oil played out, other economies kind of found a way to balance the effect by applying the simple principle of demand and supply. But in my nation, we only plunged as all the issues grew bigger and the solutions either grew smaller or they simply seemed for the time being to defy solution.

Let’s consider some of the issues. Ah! Yes, our refineries. Every time I think of the issue of refineries I always want to scream because its senselessness is absolutely mind blowing. I mean, we export crude which is a composite of various oils (petrol, diesel, and kerosene), gases, greases etc., only to import the refined versions at more expensive rates! Ok, this is not news right? But I think we are quite wrong, this is NEWS, at least from an ‘economic’ point of view.

I wonder if refineries were to come up would there be enough incentives for the operation or would the venture simply be frustrated by the big ‘importers’ of Africa’s gold? Would there be policies in place to nurture such ventures so investors and indeed the nation can reap a benefit for the first time in a long time?

How about the drama playing out between the oil marketers, banks and NNPC? Initially I wanted to tag this a show of shame, but if they don’t know that choosing to cripple the economy for their convenience will have a ripple effect in the long run, then who am I to scribble such words if the ‘ogas at the top’ are not mindful of this? I can imagine that there is a rational and well thought-out reason for this!

I kind of feel we all would stand to gain more if we could focus on helping one another and seeking ways to heal our economy as against looking for the slightest opportunity to fatten our pockets. Whether we like it or not, we all are losing one way or the other as a result of all these, and paying the price too. But what hurts is that it is always the vulnerable and voiceless who suffer the most. So I am asking, no, appealing, let’s all do something and commit to healing our economy and nation together. After all, this is our nation and where we can truly call home.

(Except otherwise stated, all images are culled from Google.com)

What if the ovation isn’t loudest?

2015-07-15T03:14:00.002-07:00

It is a common saying that you should leave when the ovation is loudest, and many have passed comments and run commentaries on situations based on this. A typical example is our former president who shamed critics and decided to hand over gracefully haven lost the recently concluded elections in the giant of Africa.

You know, many have applauded this move of Goodluck Jonathan, and he just may go down in history for achieving this feat. Yet many cannot deny the many opportunities he lost that could have totally changed the dynamics of his government. Now, my question is, what if he still has some value to add in the current administration perhaps by joining forces with the new administration to resolve the issues his governance helped to put in place? I’m just saying, what if? What if he wasn’t haunted by the fear of embezzlement and he just boldly and openly offered his expertise to give the current administration a soft landing? Again, what if?

But you see, this may seem easier said then done because of the many issues that may need to be covered which might get uncovered and so rather than serving as a guide, there is the fear of what will they use/find against me. This has been the typical practice in Nigeria and so many African countries (interestingly with the recent unveiling of the economic crises in European countries such as Greece, this issue is not limited to African countries alone).

The issue here is one of an obvious lack of succession, continuity, leadership and ownership in government; perhaps it is just the prayer to leave before everything crumbles so it can be said ‘it did not happen during my time’ or ‘simply it has got nothing to do with me’.

As I put pen to paper, I am mindful that it is always so easy to analyze popular figures while we forget to focus for a moment on you and I. You see, I do believe it does make sense to leave when the ovation is loudest, but what if the ovation was never there? What if the ovation was just pretense, what if the ovation was just a valley leading up to a hill or even a mountain? This saying may be convenient and true, but it shouldn’t lead to escapist tendencies among our leadership or even in us as individuals.

At times, me may need to stay a bit longer, for who knows, maybe then, we can reach heights never before imagined. Just thinking...

(All images culled from Google.com)

Hard times don’t really last. It’s all a matter of perspective!

2015-07-14T08:22:00.002-07:00

I love to say life is always a matter of perspective and I am not about to change my stance on that. Perspectives have a way of defining the way you see things, the only problem is, if your perspective is wrong then the basis of your premise becomes faulty – absolutely faulty.

Perspectives help create a balance on our outlook to life. Perspectives help show you the different avenues from which you can focus on and invariably the views you get from that which you focus on.

Time and time again, I hear people say these are hard times, the truth is based on economic facts, this is true, but based on scriptural realities, we must hold on to the words that say when the world says there is a casting down, we will say there is a lifting up. Yes, the realities of the holy book still hold true today if and only if we are willing or perhaps able to have faith that these truths will work for us at the most defining moment.

For instance, when you are running out of fuel, you have the option to panic or to simply trust that before you get to empty, provision will be made miraculously. After all, many have given testimonies about such occurrences, and the trick is not the doubt the possibility because if you do, they will not work for you.

What if you decided just for the fun of it to try it out and see if it works? What if you decided to change your confessions and invariably your outlook at the times you are in. I can imagine it is so hard to see the sunshine in a heavy storm, but do you know the thought of a sunshine or maybe a rainbow makes it easier to go through the storm?

So, this is my little word of advice to you:

- When you are scared: Trust

- When you are alone: Hope

- When you are despair: Do not give up

Worrying is absolutely disastrous; I guess that is why we are enjoined in the holy book to be anxious for nothing. For some reason, worrying doesn’t solve problems, it only compounds them. So why not just change your perspective for a minute and choose to hope in peace and watch as everything fall in place in the end.

It may sound crazy, but I believe our Maker is still in the business of creating happily ever afters, so in the midst of it all, remember, it will end in praise if you don’t give up.

(Except otherwise stated, all images are culled from Google.com)

Two spoons of rain

2015-07-13T03:12:00.000-07:00

I live in a coastal region, that’s also kind of humid and sometimes particularly hot – well that’s expected considering that it is surrounded by various masses of water, added to the fact that it is located in West Africa, so the heat is pretty understandable, and interestingly so are the rains that pour heavily from time to time.

In Lagos, we experience torrents of rain that are accompanied by flood and endless traffic. The traffic can go on for hours because in addition to the flood, there is the issue of bad roads, so people have to calculate, to ensure they do not mistakenly park in the gutter or they don’t end up in a ditch which on a normal dry day they would have known better and avoided, but has now become covered by the endless flowing waters also called flood.

Now, Lagos is synonymous with traffic. I mean you can spend close to two or three hours on your way to and from work especially if you are plying the popular third mainland bridge during rush hour. Add that to a heavy down pour, the typical impatience of Nigerians and what you have is a totally hectic situation that can leave you almost totally losing it (if you get what I mean).

Well, we all expected (well many people) that in the spirit of change, something would have been done to the drainages to ensure that the obvious torrents would not have such a negative impact on the people and the businesses, yet day in and day out, we hear the announcements on various radio stations warning about the rains and the need to keep the drainages clean, but still, we are back to the same old story.

There are two sides to this problem. The first is ours. It may seem OK to always blame the government for everything, but we forget that we are the ones that suffer the most when the issues arise, after all, have you ever heard of the government house being flooded? Our part in this is simply keeping our drainages and streets clean. Seriously, this is not rocket science. Let’s just change our habits, simple. Throw things in the dust bin rather than on the road. Clear out the gutter regularly and not just on environmental sanitation days. After all, we do not our baths only on environmental sanitation days, so in the same way, maintaining the cleanliness of our environment must be a daily affair; it is also the responsibility of everyone.

On the other hand, the government does have its part to play. It is one thing to create a policy and another to make it work. It is one thing to call out for a change, and another to effect that change. It is one thing to stay aloof of the problem and another to get our hands and legs dirty so we can properly understand the problem in a bid to create a solution to it. It isn’t right to have the street cleaners clean the streets but forget to pack what has been cleaned because the garbage truck did not arrive on time. It isn’t right that the garbage trucks litter the streets with their garbage because they break down on the street and sometimes even spill the garbage they are meant to pick. It isn’t right that the government has not found the right channels for water so that when the torrents come, they are quickly channeled and evacuated so as to prevent the burdens that come with the rain.

Also, how can I forget, the government should also be mindful of how building projects are approved of in Lagos and indeed Nigeria. It has become a regular occurrence in the last few years for buildings to collapse during the heavy downfall, leading to loss of lives and agony for all concerned. So let’s agree that the rains will always fall – heavily perhaps, the responsibility should then rest on the authorities involved to ensure that they take proper care in approving building projects so as to prevent such avoidable accidents.

You know what, nature will always be nature and there is no sense in trying to prevent what is, or what we have no power over. The best we can do is up our game to ensure when the spoons of rain come, we all don’t get washed away without a fight or our consent. The choice after all said and done is ours to make, and it’s up to us to determine how prepared we are to face the inevitable facts of nature or simply live with its consequences. Enough said.

Falling may hurt, but it helps to get up

2015-07-10T06:24:00.001-07:00

When people say it takes falling down to get up, I have never quite paid much attention to the act and art of falling down. For some reason it just felt like something far away that could never ever come my way. It always felt like a mysterious saying that had no place in reality, my reality, but little did I know I was so so wrong.

In recent times I have had cause to wonder and ponder a lot (trust me a whole lot of pondering) about life, all it represents and the circumstances that make or break us. When I look at a baby for instance, I am fascinated about the growth process, how a tiny little seed can become something so great, with an amazing potential to change the world. I am fascinated by the act of a child translating from an infant to a toddler and soon becoming that teenager that just seems to know it all (even when they are wrong). I am fascinated by the cute little egg that hatches and becomes a little chick, and soon grows up to become a chicken which gets nicely roasted at supper time (ok... you may argue that that its destiny right? LOL). But you see, I have learnt that the growth sometimes comes with tremendous pain, depending on what part of the process you are in, or what you are being molded to become.

Let’s talk a little bit about the foundation of a house (I am pretty fascinated by this too though I am not an architect or a structural engineer) I have been told that the foundation of the house determines how high the building can rise. So sometimes, a building starts off as a hut, and ‘grows’ into a bungalow, but then, if it is to become something more, it has to be pulled down and its foundation rebuilt from scratch and depending on the plan of the architect.

The process of pulling down may seem like a tedious one, and involves a whole lot of shaking and rumble, but this is only for a while. Interestingly, the process of building a new foundation involves even more drama – now the soil needs to be checked to ensure it is right, and in some cases treated to get it right. The point is, the foundation is first broken, then fixed, and then the building of the magnificent masterpiece begins.

Some of us are like that little hut that seemingly had a merry life until the shaking begun and we find ourselves wondering what on earth is happening to us. We find our foundations absolutely shaken and for a moment it seems like our realities are distorted, but the truth is, this is only for a while, for a season if I may dare to say. I can imagine you saying you have no idea what I am going through or you have no idea what I have been through, but the truth is, I absolutely have no idea. We all have our battles that we all are fighting either secretly or openly, but the key here is to remember or be mindful of who is really doing the building.

Yeah, that’s it! If we have reached a point of total surrender, we will realize that we are being built for a bigger purpose by our Maker even if it hurts so bad at the moment. We will realize – perhaps eventually, that we had to become to truly come forth. We will realize that we are truly like clay in the potter’s hand and we will try as much as possible to hold on to that little glimpse of faith He so lovingly places in our hearts in the midst of the storm.

Somehow, our Maker helps us through the seasons especially the winters of life, when it seems the fall is so bad getting up feels absolutely impossible. He changes the ashes to dusts of gold that forms into something worth a magnificent thanksgiving. Yes, falling down does hurt, but getting up is sweeter, and soon it becomes totally worth your while. So get up, dust up, head up, win, He hasn’t brought you this far to leave you! So look up, smile and say cheese! J

(Except otherwise stated, all images are culled from Google.com)

When hope feels far away

2015-07-07T04:56:00.001-07:00

These are painful times. To some, tears feel closer than laugher, while to others a heartfelt giggle has become an essential yet scarce commodity. There is so much pain everywhere. Things are happening at a speed very few can comprehend. Perhaps this is just a sign of the times we are in.

Where is hope? Where has she gone? In what garment is she clothed? What is the true colour of her skin? Does hope have a personality? Does hope have a fragrance? If you met her for a fleeting second, will you recognize her in the midst of all this chaos?

It has been said that Nigerians are the happiest people in the world. Yes, this may be true for all the wrong reasons. Yet I worry that the joy we feel may soon be ebbing away as a result of all that is happening from the highest offices to the lowest ‘chairs’.

Our leaders across board and across the world have continued to pay lip service to the general well being of the people, while offices are expanded and new rights are being enacted to give people freedom from ‘right’ all in the name of rights; the truth has been polished all in the name of convenience, but over and over and over again we continue to look in all the wrong places for all the right answers.

Is there hope for peace when we have not sought to bridge the gap? Is there hope for love when we have built a wall called hate? Is the hope for freedom when the chains have become gold plated? Is there hope for truth when we consciously fail to differentiate between lies and the truth?

Yes, at one level or the other, we all are guilty of pushing hope away; yet, it is never too late to start hoping for all the right things, for all the right reasons and to believe that someday, the sun will shine again.

It is funny, we do not realize time is running out, but someday, sometime, there will be no time left and then the question will be, what have we lived for? What legacy have we left behind?

Truly I ask you these questions as much as I am now asking myself too. This is perhaps a reality check or maybe just a few words that had to be written. Either way, it is up to us to bring hope closer home again. Peace!

(Except otherwise stated, all images are culled from Google.com)

A few more chopsticks please

2015-06-30T01:02:00.002-07:00

I have seen this time and time again, and it has always made me laugh. But today, I just couldn’t help myself; I just had to ‘write out’. But come o, who is going to right this wrong, when those perpetrating it are just the same people – and their teams who are meant to be safeguarding against such. Did you guess right… yeah, you did, the men in black or should I say blue – funny how to an extent, the colour and the cars changed, but a lot still needs to be said about their character – well the generality of it.

You see, in the name of rebranding the ‘force’, ‘a few new rides’ were bestowed upon this ‘hallowed’ individuals, but you see, due to ‘constant population increase’ and an obvious scarcity, they have given into lapping while rapidly responding.

Yes, it was a hilarious sight for me a few days ago, when I saw these ‘individuals’ some looking particularly frustrated as they all juggled along the typical bad roads, nicely packed like well stuffed sardines in a tin. What was even scarier for me was the fact that one had his gun loosely hanging as he looked rather distractedly – more like he was lost in thought. Then we kid ourselves, expecting such people to valiantly fight crime even in dire situations – please.

It is funny though. Our nation is one that cries and cries about security. We scream at the top of our voices – especially our politicians (with their pots and spoons…), yet we play lip service to properly equipping the ones who are meant to protect our lives and property. Tell me, is it a broken down ‘okada’ that will race a fully functional power bike? Is it a hungry man that will chase a fully fed and highly motivated criminal? Is it a face me I face you wagon (aka ‘molue’) that will hunt down criminals and uphold law and order at all costs?

I am not saying our police officers are not well trained – I have heard they receive ‘top of the world’ training (mental or physical training? That’s another story now) but then, if this is not backed by equipping them rightly/properly we have a long way to go.

This isn't about pulling down the force mind you, it's just saying we all still have a lot of work on our hands as a country, as a people and definitely this transcends to every facet of our government.

Anyway sha oga, oya tell me na, wetin you carry, abi anything for ya boys? *clearing throat*

(Except otherwise stated, all images are culled from google.com)

It’s time to go commando

2015-06-24T03:17:00.002-07:00

Wonders they say will never end! The world which has been rotating nicely may soon tilt a little, no thanks to the giant of Africa! The fifty something year old baby is at it again, all thanks to its nannies and caretakers abi na caregivers we go call them?

This amazing country seems to be run by a mix of puppets, drunkards drunk on cornflakes and a few more totally high on expired snuff or what can you call this continuous folly – this never ending drama of absolute stupidity (forgive my manners)!

After the ‘umbrella’ dispensation borrowed pools of money used to feed the greed of a clueless regime, the masses are faced with the leftovers of pain and poverty they left behind, while these individuals continue to feed fat on the suffering of the people – I choose my words carefully here because I am convinced these individuals will indeed feed VERY FAT on suffering (and I do not mean this as a blessing to the crooks if by chance they are smart enough to understand what these words really mean).

The broom is now in power, masquerading as the umbrella, but to make matters worse, all in a bid to hold on to power by all means, the umbrella has placed a particularly clueless and partly pot-bellied being at another helm of affairs to bring forth words from his ‘pool’ of corruption so as to better embellish the system’s need for change.

Now, note here, I am by no means rocking the boat. Come to think of it, the corrupt few in our nation who continue to rob the masses of the little they have, have a backup plan should the nation fall to pieces – yeah, they are called yachts: for the purposes of cruising to nearby nations, personal jets (well since they can’t fly on brooms or with umbrellas like we have in popular cartoons) and personal estates scattered all across the globe just in case!

I laugh in Spanish for these silly characters, who hold no semblance to their Disney counterparts, they just feel like a badly done caricature, all seeking the best means to get richer quick, while the nation groans continuously.

Well, the time has come for Nigerians to understand the notion of democracy. I say shame on you for allowing politicians to dish out bags of rice for your vote when you can take a stand and demand they act right or be voted out. I say wake up Nigerians, the time has come for us all to take the destiny of this great nation into our hands. We cannot continue with the status quo. We must rise up, and stand up against the tyranny of corruption. We must realize we all have a right to government and we must decide how our nation is governed. We cannot do this by just praying we have to get busy and demand that the wrongs be made right! Not tomorrow, today!

That said, since our “babytors” aka 'sin-ators' sorry I mean senators need such a large budget for their clothing allowance, I will say, it is perhaps time we go back to the days before the fall of man?

At least then, things were cheaper and saner, won’t you agree? Enough said!

(All images culled from Google.com)