tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79178173612156622772024-03-21T05:34:13.129+01:00@SignetsealHi guys.
If it bothers me - I'll say it! However, I have relinquished the principle of self-ownership - yes, I am not my own, I've been bought with a price. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-45261105933265555422015-04-25T14:10:00.001+01:002015-04-25T14:16:21.515+01:00One Day!You climbed through the ladder you were given but when it got to my turn, you removed it quickly so I wouldn’t climb. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KqPewtOWlMCQC0obawN0S-TffxmDCMGNY2SWMo9I45FAymL9ekEAvo7dXcHib2nRdCqs68EOhyUqpQcoylWW_NhJqviQ-DmqPc7Vu3gVALNNRbG-gU95WCZeLRSAuXSIPVZSjiFV9o8/s1600/rustyladders.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KqPewtOWlMCQC0obawN0S-TffxmDCMGNY2SWMo9I45FAymL9ekEAvo7dXcHib2nRdCqs68EOhyUqpQcoylWW_NhJqviQ-DmqPc7Vu3gVALNNRbG-gU95WCZeLRSAuXSIPVZSjiFV9o8/s320/rustyladders.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
I was at first confused and dismayed but I recovered from this evil you threw at me. It took me longer but I finally climbed. You made it tougher but you ended up making me tougher. <br />
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I climbed, without a ladder, using sharp rugged stones as stepping stones. Sometimes I fell and many times I was bruised. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDz3Attt692cY-YkwuWwFZZU8jutxgGafA_FhWBXPdXQX5rXl0YHm367gIfjfHESsM76Rcc0_ywZbuZMrFtDvy3HPV2yRcxzXcdGr-dBHq5ANqz8RiKYrw2VcmkDNs1CvzBpmgk3Dcy0/s1600/AAEAAQAAAAAAAABuAAAAJDIzMDFmNjA4LTZhMTgtNGY4NC05YjA1LWViMDM3NzQzNjk2NA.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDz3Attt692cY-YkwuWwFZZU8jutxgGafA_FhWBXPdXQX5rXl0YHm367gIfjfHESsM76Rcc0_ywZbuZMrFtDvy3HPV2yRcxzXcdGr-dBHq5ANqz8RiKYrw2VcmkDNs1CvzBpmgk3Dcy0/s320/AAEAAQAAAAAAAABuAAAAJDIzMDFmNjA4LTZhMTgtNGY4NC05YjA1LWViMDM3NzQzNjk2NA.png" /></a></div><br />
I saw you way up there. Watching me struggle, watching me limp, watching me grunt and perspire. And all you did was smile. <br />
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Yes, you sat under the shade someone was kind enough to put there. You sat there, smiling at my pain, drinking cold bottled water someone was kind enough to give you while you watched with glee as the sun beat down on my perspiring wearied back. <br />
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Throw down the ladder I begged, you did not. Throw down some water I cried, you did not. Not even a hanky for my sweaty brows. <br />
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But I thank God that you are not my God. For all along, He was watching and giving me strength I never knew I had. Now that I have arrived where you once were, I have dropped back the ladder you removed so that other climbers can climb with ease. <br />
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And as I continue to climb, I pray that I am fortunate to meet a ladder or two left by more kindly souls than you, to help in my journey ahead. <br />
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Thank you for teaching me this great lesson – that with resilience persistence and faith, eventually we all get there, One Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9D0a4AXDCST5L2LrzlpTKbQgGaZwGkwpJlOI2-K6JowPltUtHzE5osGgkWLGh_HfpL02SQTbk4k8JZZchJyLuVjlWgE6NvYaUWYfIrApYAYM3LIGgBm8J7E6j39hPtZEuTU4c80dy3k/s1600/one-day.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9D0a4AXDCST5L2LrzlpTKbQgGaZwGkwpJlOI2-K6JowPltUtHzE5osGgkWLGh_HfpL02SQTbk4k8JZZchJyLuVjlWgE6NvYaUWYfIrApYAYM3LIGgBm8J7E6j39hPtZEuTU4c80dy3k/s320/one-day.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
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To you my dear climbers, stay the course, work the talk, forget the naysayers, ignore the mockery and the gossip and through all of your pain, struggle and tears, you too will get it done – One Day!<br />
<br />
© By Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi <br />
@signetseal; <br />
<br />
Image credits: linkedin.com/pulse; google.comAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-36995863178839342122015-03-21T19:11:00.004+01:002015-03-21T19:11:52.740+01:00I DON'T LOVE GOD ANYMORE!“I don’t love God anymore.” She said to me. <br />
Heavy words. Unfortunate words. Scary words but true words – at least at the time it was spoken. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmliwF27PLHBwGNKTLhRjdvHOdOW6CiYrNv3aoZIX8XPmCvraSoMoa9we_r38J-5iaUkylqStBPV_ADddS0ittjGsJrkdLJluISBXVeZnjhHtZ7WjCY7JObXCTSfNkdKoeZD2sy6YqNlY/s1600/pain-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmliwF27PLHBwGNKTLhRjdvHOdOW6CiYrNv3aoZIX8XPmCvraSoMoa9we_r38J-5iaUkylqStBPV_ADddS0ittjGsJrkdLJluISBXVeZnjhHtZ7WjCY7JObXCTSfNkdKoeZD2sy6YqNlY/s320/pain-1.png" /></a></div>“I don’t love God anymore.” She said again. How can a simple sentence, spoken so calmly but bluntly be so complicated and unnerving? I looked into her eyes just to be sure she was alright. I looked deep into her eyes just to be sure she wasn’t joking. I looked at those eyes and they stared back at me with candidness. I exhaled. I sighed. <br />
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What do you say to someone who tells you this? How do you respond to the emptiness and frustration that such a statement carries? How? Something told me not to say anything. Just listen Chalya, listen. I did. I kept quiet and I listened. This was no time for preaching. She continued: “look at me. I am what…45…no child, no husband, not even a great job – responsibilities everywhere.” She sighed. “I am tired of going to church. I am tired of attending all these ceaseless church activities that does nothing for my life. This God doesn’t love me ojare. Wetin? Na only me waka come? I say I no dey do again. Look at all my friends. The crazy and baddest ones are happily married. After all the crazy stuff I know they did, they still ended up with great husbands, great kids and great jobs!” She drank some more from the tea I had served and like someone who was thinking upon the ludicrous, she laughed impatiently and added with incredulous disbelieve, “And the funny thing is that, after like 2 to 3 kids, fine husband, fine job and fine house sef, they have also found Jesus! They are now officially born again and now they want to to come and be preaching to me – me far. Chai, I don suffer.” She exclaims in frustration. <br />
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I am still silent. Only this time, I am no longer looking at her. I am simply staring at the rug in my bedroom and my mind is wondering far and asking where it all went wrong? I am as bewildered as she is confused. I am as speechless as she is pissed. What am I suppose to say to such a great woman of God? How am I supposed to reply to a woman who knows God better than I do? What, how, which? I continued to listen as she vented. “Is God not seeing all the correct married guys coming for me here and there? All these rich and wealthy men disturbing my peace, ready to give me what I want cept marriage if I can also give them what they want. Some even want me as second wife sef, I said no! look at me Chalya.” I didn’t look. She stood up and repeated for emphasis. “Chalya, take a good look at me.” I raised my somewhat disconcerted eyes from the ground back to her. “I’m I not still beautiful. Have I not taken good care of myself? I’m I not educated, sanctified and walking the walk. Look at me. I have tried and I have tasted and I am yet to see that the Lord is good. What is wrong with me that God decided that when it comes to my own matter, my answers will never be given? Me, I have said my own, I am tired with wanting to please a God who doesn’t want to please me in return. I don’t love Him anymore girl, I just don’t. As from today, it is official, I don backslide. Wetin wan happen make e happen. She clapped her hands excitedly while I looked on. This lady of the spirit and the Holy Ghost, this lady who sings and preaches, this beautiful specimen of a child of God that I‘d always admired and still do. She shook her weave of hair from side to side as she pranced up and down the room venting out more profound analysis of her dire situation. “No be only me waka come this earth biko. This life of chastity and purity has given me zilch. Sex I haven’t had in years. I can’t even remember what it feels like to be wrapped up in the arms of a strong man. Na wetin!” Hands on akimbo, legs tapping, she threw back her head and laughed scornfully. “Remember Wemimo now. That little girl of yesterday that calls me aunty, well Wemimo got married barely three weeks ago. What of Ifeyinwa that did worse than Domitilla sef is now Pastor’s wife. Modupe something, that one we cally Dupsy, that very fat one, nosy and can be tiresome to be around, she is living da vida loca.” I almost laughed but for the seriousness of the moment, I smiled. Regina could be hilarious and realistic in speaking. “I no dey do again” <br />
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My dear friend Regina (not real name) slapped her thigh. “Cloth sef person no dey wear again because say I love Jesus pass Mother Mary. See my clothes Chalya. You sef know say when I was in the world, I correct no be small. My dressing was the bomb! Now see as following God and loving Him pass Apostle Paul has reduced me to a church rat. Me, wey don follow Jesus enter everywhere enterable. No, enough is enough is enough. I will not wait until I am fifty when it’s too too late. Now as it is sef, e don late for me. See other sisters taking matters into their own hands and succeeding. Me I dey here dey form Holy regina. This sister, has had it up to here” She held her neck. “If God will be God, let Him be God, no problem. Me, too will repent after I have sorted myself out. I will no longer be the suffering model for longsuffering.”<br />
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Venting is good, very good, Venting is spontaneous. It is deep cleansing from deep frustrations. It allows you the freedom to blurt out stuff you wouldn’t usually have said when calm and normal. It helps you speak out the deep thoughts that only you thought and worse, it helps you to say things you never knew you were capable of thinking how much more saying. It is good to vent just make sure when you do, it is to your trusted friend. That way, what is said is not misunderstood. And vent Regina did. I learned a lot in one morning but especially that all super homosapiens are still humans at the end. We all want the same things but in different ways and at different times. <br />
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But back to the issue of not loving God, was I going to speak for God? Was I going to tell God about Regina’s situation when He already knew about it? Was I going to answer for a loving God that didn’t seem loving anymore to my friend? What exactly was I going to say for God that she didn’t already know much more better than I? What words could I possibly say on God’s behalf that would make a daughter of God believe any differently? Was I even suppose to speak for God in the first place? <br />
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Well, one thing was quite clear to me. I wasn’t going to speak for God in this instance. No. God is well able to speak for Himself. God is well able to tell this very special, beautiful and utterly disconsolate daughter of His that He still loves her. Wouldn’t it be foolish of me to say your daddy or your boyfriend loves you, when he never tells you himself? Wouldn’t the very words “I Love You” be useless coming from the wrong mouth? How would you feel if someone kept telling you that your guy or chick loves you but they never ever tell you themselves? O yes it would be unbelievable. The words: “I Love You” is better heard from the mouth of the lover of you. Nothing less. I wasn’t going to tell her the usual auto-flex responses we Christians sometimes hurry to say to a disheartened and angry soul. No. I wasn’t going to go into a fully activated hyperbolic preaching of God’s pouring-down-from-heaven kind of love nor did I quote those wonderful scripture passages that said “I know the thoughts I have towards you…to give you a future and an expected end…” etc. She knew them by heart already. No I will not tell her that God loves her. She’s heard that all her life. It was time for Baba God Himself to demonstrate His love for her. I believe God is more than capable of telling His own daughter that He loves her. No I will not speak for God in this instance. But I would intercede for her. I would ask God to pour out His divine love on her. “I can do nothing Lord” I cried within me. “You on the other hand can do everything. She is your daughter, not mine. She is your handiwork not mine. Let your love which surpasses all understanding begin to speak to her. The time of theory is so over Lord. Please act your Love towards her. But I will not speak for you Lord. I can only appeal that you show her your mercy and pour out your grace and favour over her. You alone can do the telling and the loving. You alone can demonstrate the POWER OF YOUR LOVE to her. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5muDz5niWNi1XAjMsjjRvkQB3pr00kcHo8ZwXxFnPLj_1q1y74HHzPlB_pbWZKwkiHib1wtszHON2x3OP1i1H5FAOu4s9mFBVNzQgt3gdxTA-HijsvZno2j7_vqFcT_Bh6ijVMWRKCWw/s1600/maxresdefault.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5muDz5niWNi1XAjMsjjRvkQB3pr00kcHo8ZwXxFnPLj_1q1y74HHzPlB_pbWZKwkiHib1wtszHON2x3OP1i1H5FAOu4s9mFBVNzQgt3gdxTA-HijsvZno2j7_vqFcT_Bh6ijVMWRKCWw/s320/maxresdefault.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
I feel you sister Regina. I do. I think every faithful follower of God gets to this point when you aren’t feeling God’s love; when the taste of the rituals of religion goes all sour in your mouth and your situation is a very far cry and a poor reflection of the extravagant love of the God of the bible and this God, this God that you often hear about from the testimonies of other testifiers seems silent about your case. I understand that at such times the atmosphere around us is redolent with doubt and fear and uncertainties about our future. There is no simple answers to your questions of WHYs and WHENs. What do you do when everything you are is not enough? What do you do when everything you’ve got and done is not working out like you hoped? I wish I knew. I wished I had one of those Brother Daniel and Joseph wise answers with a formula to boot. This I do know though. I retreat. I stop all my busy-ness and I step away from the many energy draining activities that have the form of godliness but lacks the power thereof. I pause and I go one on one with God, away from all the expectations of people. Expectations can be very burdensome you know. But I never go on like we sometimes like to do in Christendom saying it is well when it is not all well. There is an “it is well of faith” and there is an “it is well” of hypocrisy. And until I find my peace, it isn’t well. God will usually sort me out when I am in a place of absolute abandonment. He will. He does. He has. Peace. <br />
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Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi<br />
@signetseal <br />
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Image credits: youtube.com, Google. Com Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-90428173546353527572015-01-29T19:53:00.001+01:002015-01-29T19:53:33.668+01:00This Election Will Not Be Objective - At All!I have been amused by the much pretence of many Nigerian Christians and Muslims alike, on and off the social media network as regards their logic when trying to appear seemingly objective and academic in their discussions about voting for President Jonathan or General Buhari. Based on the realities on ground in Nigeria, there is no way around being objective in a political climate beclouded by the subjectivities defined by two major faiths (Christianity and Islam) and three critical issues (Terrorism, Corruption and Religion). <br />
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Oftentimes, I hear people talk about the need to be objective with regards choosing the candidate to vote for come February 14th 2015 and they go to the extra length of mentioning Mandela and Martin Luther King, comparing their candidates and these times to the times of the apartheid regime in South Africa and the civil rights movement in America. They forget that the common denominator then was the oppression by the white man in their own country. The common denominator today in Nigeria is a perceived oppression by our own brothers in our own Fatherland. The composition of Nigeria now CANNOT be compared in any way with that of South Africa or America. <br />
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South Africans fought for a common purpose – to put an end to the apartheid regime that culminated in the freedom of Nelson Mandela. Mandela and Winnie were the prominent leaders of that struggle based on their commitment and sacrifices for the CAUSE. And therefore, black and white South Africans rallied round them. On the other hand, Martin Luther King’s civil rights movement was to put an end to black segregation and oppressive laws against black Americans and he made notable commitment and sacrifices for the CAUSE, therefore both black and white Americans rallied round him. <br />
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Their issues were quite simple and straightforward because they were fighting an evil called Apartheid and black segregation. <br />
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THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM <br />
Enter Nigeria, a country besieged on all sides, plagued by many issues ranging from the evil of corruption to the evil of BokoHaram and Islamic fundamentalism in a secular Nigeria. As it stands now, the complexities of Nigeria’s problems are deep and foundational, more so, since Nigeria is divided between a Christian south and a Muslim north – whether we accept it or not, religion will play and is playing a critical role in the voting preferences of Nigerians. But what is also obvious, is that, geographical region is equally playing an all important role in this 2015 election. Why so? <br />
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In the elections of 2011, even though the incumbent President Jonathan was from a minority group as against his opponent General Buhari, majority of Nigerians threw their support behind President Jonathan irrespective of region and religion. However, the Northern elites were not happy about Jonathan’s victory and promised to make his tenure in office ungovernable which they did by employing the effective but evil weapon of terrorism called Bokoharam. In trying to make President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure difficult, starting with the North Central of Nigeria aka the Middle belt region, Bokoharam unleashed mayhem and violence in its wake, leaving heavy casualties in Plateau state, unto Nassarawa, Kaduna, Benue, Bauchi, before engulfing the whole North extending even into the supposedly protected federal capital territory Abuja. To put it mildly, as one resident in the Plateau observed that where Bokoharam stopped, Fulani marauders took over. No thanks to the level of violence and havoc unleashed, most of the people of Plateau have come to equate the term Bokoharam and Fulani with one religion only – Islam. Now, the perception amongst many people in Plateau seems to be geared against Islam. Many people believe that if this level of terrorism can happen in Plateau when there is a Christian President on seat, what will happen when a Fulani Muslim becomes the next president? Will it translate to expecting more violence in the not too distant future? These and much more are real fears and questions in the hearts of the Middle Belt people. <br />
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From my interactions with some of the Yoruba and Igbo individuals, those who have lived in the North and have seen firsthand the atrocities and mayhem committed by over zealous Muslims tend to lean towards voting for Jonathan from a subjective viewpoint influenced by the negative and terrible experiences they’ve had while living amongst the Muslim communities in the North. However, interactions with some Yorubas and Igbos who live in faraway Lagos and in more safer regions lean towards voting for Buhari from an objective viewpoint having never experienced the fear of a suicide bomber detonating in crowded market places. <br />
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Invariably, our subjectivity and objectivity is influenced by our personal experiences and perceptions. At the end of the day, terrorism will work for and against both candidates. Those who believe the North created this terror will vote against Buhari. Those who believe Jonathan was weak in handling the terrorists will vote for Buhari. <br />
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THE ISSUE OF CORRUPTION <br />
Corruption is endemic to Nigeria and as vicious as the ebola disease. I know it. You know it. We know it. Perhaps one can even say that Ebola is the lesser evil, attacking only the body – detect quarantine and deal with it. One’s options are limited. You don’t know if you’ll survive but chances are that you’re going to die and die quick. Corruption on the other hand is not easily detectable. It attacks the body, soul and spirit. It is subtle and deep with wide ramifications. Corruption obstructs economic growth, it stifles entrepreneurial spirit and process, it mismanages meagre resources, it weakens managerial competence, destabilizing political stability and national integration. A good example of corruption in leadership is the kind exhibited by Governor Jang of Plateau state which reeks of blatant misuse of power while in office, ethnic chauvinism, granting gratuitous favours to one’s family, tribe, friends and key supporters while crippling the development of the state. Another example of corruption from my standpoint is the University of Jos school fees and paying of master fees brouhaha. The decision to subject struggling university students to paying a N25,000 acceptance fee and charging students for online payment of fees does not only border on insensitivity to the plights of students in a depressed economy but also based on corruptive influence and managerial incompetence. So unlike Bokoharam and ebola that kills quickly, corruption kills you slowly but surely. Corruption kills you everyday – you die a little each day when a corrupt leader sits in governance over your affairs. <br />
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Those who will vote Buhari, will damn all other consequences of religion, terrorism and vote him for the singular reason that he would drive out corruption in government. Those who will vote Buhari will vote for him based on his squeaky clean image and hope that he will do to Nigerian Politicians and all corrupt Nigerians, what Jerry Rawlings did in Ghana. I do not see how feasible that is in a democratic dispensation but hopefully, voters of this category hope to see a great decline in institutional corruption. THE <br />
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ISSUE OF RELIGION <br />
Ah, this is the tricky but apparent one – isn’t it obvious already. I am Christian, I’ll vote Jonathan. You are Muslim, you’ll vote Buhari. What could be simpler than this? Only that, it isn’t as simple as we think. If we are to follow the dictates of the holy books of the two religions, then both faiths are expected to vote for the believers of their faith and not the infidels. Understanding that the religious leaders of both faiths in Nigeria wield a certain power and influence over their congregation is sometimes the beginning of political wisdom. Nigerians tend to want to please their Pastors, MOGs and Imams over the divine creator of these beings. And the politician who is astute enough to appeal to their religious piety gets the nod of approval from the religious masses. I remember how the people of Plateau were deceived into voting for Jang because he rolled on the grounds of the state stadium before God in a show of remarkable Brother Jeroboam fashion. <br />
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Still on the issue of religion, Christians are usually expected to vote for a candidate that would allow freedom of religion and to pray for those whose positions contradicts their values. Muslims on the other hand are told to vote out the infidels - they are not children of Allah. So you find many religious Nigerians voting against any candidate who may pose a threat to their religious freedom. Any candidate perceived by the masses to encourage zealots whose idea of justice is to wreak havoc and violence in a vengeful post election spree will be voted against. <br />
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Today I want to believe the voting populace of Nigeria are getting wiser in democratic years. It should be good practice in every election that there be a central point on which political candidates ought to base their reasons for campaigning for election. Bandying around the general word change is not enough. Change should come with specifics on where and how the change will be effected. Being only a man of righteousness does not solve Nigeria’s problems. There are obvious realities affecting ordinary Nigerians that borders on safety and security of lives and properties, adhering to the rule of law, freedom to coexist peacefully in any Nigerian state, freedom to practise one’s religion, freedom of assembly for a cause without persecution, access to jobs and opportunities based on merits and many other critical issues to discuss. In a country where merit is often killed in favour of ethnic affiliations and political favours, in a country where national development is overruled by selfish interests, Nigerians need true and unwavering leadership that will carry through and make Nigerians proud to be Nigerians once again. <br />
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So these three remains: terrorism, corruption and religion. The winner of the 2015 presidential elections will be voted in by the majority of those mostly influenced by one of these three evils – that will be the greatest of them all. <br />
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However, for those saying vote objectively, well, this is one election that will not be objective. There are too many subjective variables for objectivity to hold sway. Until we have an objective constitution with objective parameters for everyone in society to succeed squarely without discriminatory concessions given to an elite few, the issue of objectivity seems farfetched. <br />
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I, however, will vote according to the issues that affect me the most. <br />
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You have one day <br />
As one Nigerian <br />
With one voice <br />
Having one opportunity <br />
To cast one vote <br />
For one person. <br />
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Vote wisely. <br />
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. <br />
<br />
Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi <br />
Twitter handle: @signetsealAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-38635319924444619632015-01-18T17:19:00.000+01:002015-01-19T19:00:21.800+01:00DON'T VOTE? DON'T COMPLAIN. #VOTEWISELYThe better Nigeria We Dream About Begins With One Vote, Protect Your Vote. <br />
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“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choices are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy therefore is education.” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt.<br />
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Agreed, it takes twenty two players to play a game of football. Eleven players to make a team but one football is pursued by the twenty two players in order to kick it into the goal post to score one goal for the team, the football club and the football fans in general. Whether you head it, kick it or chest it, all you want is the ball successfully getting through the goal post according to the rules of football. One goal must start the count that would eventually aggregate to the highest goal scored by a team to be declared the winning team in the field. <br />
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The politics of electing a representative in an election is like the game of football. And like the coach who must pick out the best players for the game, the onus lies with every eligible citizen of Nigeria to vote the best candidate to represent the interest of the people and the nation. The right to vote is one of the important fundamental rights that the citizenry of any nation should never take for granted. Take for instance the youth, which forms an estimated 70% of the over 170 million population of Nigeria, they can no longer be ignored. I have happened upon several advocacy groups on social media platforms, groups determined to orientate Nigerian youths about the importance of political engagement and ultimately, the power of one vote from a Nigerian youth. This is a good thing. Groups like YBE and other civil society groups are using its platform to mobilise, educate and advance the progress and development of Nigerian youths and engage not just the youths but Nigerians of every ethnicity and tongue in participatory ideals of good governance. We need more of such groups using their platforms for the effective political education of disenfranchised Nigerians who do not understand the true value of a single vote. <br />
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Youths (18-35) and all Nigerian citizenry must awake from political slumbering and become an active part of the process of politicking from organising issue-based debates to mobilizing the youths on social media platforms to becoming politically aware of the ongoing developments in Nigeria. The youth must demand good governance and accountability from its leaders. Using all forms of available communication technology, from radio to television to social media interactive platforms like their blogs, Facebook and Twitter, the youths should keep on sharing appropriate information and promoting open discussions of all issues pertinent to youth and national development in Nigeria. <br />
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As February the 14th draws near, let our votes be driven by issue based politics and not just mere propaganda and worthless sentiments. In a country where poverty is still extremely high at over 43.3% and oil prices are crashing almost daily, we need to vote in a leader who must be prepared to diversify our economy from the main stay of oil to other more productive sectors. Nigeria MUST move from being a consuming nation to a producing, manufacturing, and an efficiently run economy. Any government therefore that does not have a huge dose of vision, resourcefulness, transparency and entrepreneurialism, etc will only lead to more disappointments for Nigerians. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGY3mh947rkgell-tEfc01FkzfwxytpNm8vyjX3Ohp85IhtVqRy3c7DJC1VyjRDUUx2SNUpQzCKV4HlEWT31ICqkmGIuvU9ZDQpXEnrBTwTLXD1MotbnKABg0dSFpvOj8WVXPeDh14mc/s1600/dont-vote1~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGY3mh947rkgell-tEfc01FkzfwxytpNm8vyjX3Ohp85IhtVqRy3c7DJC1VyjRDUUx2SNUpQzCKV4HlEWT31ICqkmGIuvU9ZDQpXEnrBTwTLXD1MotbnKABg0dSFpvOj8WVXPeDh14mc/s320/dont-vote1~2.jpg" /></a></div>This is an appeal to all youths who are understandably eking out a daily living in a tough Nigerian economy, to refuse the shenanigans of politicians who would use cash and other tempting offers to buy your votes – which is your nonnegotiable instrument of power. Say No! - No matter how tempting the offer. While the issue of stomach infrastructure is very much a critical and realistic matter on ground, youths must resist selling their vote which comes every four years for gains that could be gone in 60 seconds without any lasting impact and hang on for more practicable and lasting benefits from a more worthy candidate. <br />
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If there will be a ballot evolution that evolution must start with you as a youth. The evolution begins with youth rising up to say: “NO, my vote is not for sale.” Youths must decide by saying: “I have ONE vote to give and I must PROTECT my vote at all cost.” To vote is your opportunity to have a say. To vote is your opportunity to make your choice about who becomes senator, governor or president. That opportunity comes with the responsibility of knowing who you are voting for, know what you are voting for, and know why you are voting for that person. It is your responsibility as a youth to know your candidate beyond and above their biographies and campaign slogans. Know who has demonstrated questionable decisions when they needed to make a decisive judgement call and ask them about it for more clarity. Know who has integrity and character amongst your senatorial, house of reps, gubernatorial and presidential aspirants. Understand that the finer the advertisement, T-shirt, slogans, stickers, posters and all other forms of political propaganda and jamboree does not necessarily equate to the better candidate. In truth, the better candidate may be disadvantaged in acquiring fine campaign materials. <br />
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These and much more are important points and questions that youths must begin to ask without fear of recrimination. Our leaders are not gods. They are people being given the privilege by you, yes you reading this, to serve on a public and wider platform. Your leaders are not doing you any favours by serving you rather they are fulfilling the terms of reference of the job they were elected to do by you – remember that. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvMNFY7Qp-gQr2SHhwbEzHdB7MVwwSmzHdbCEjaexIrTmZKSAmHmtm0fg5lFaPmDeKbADPxewj4P-SRdutY7CFXrBw1AZ3lXINelJG2OBuHiQIZbr0C0lfQRCgVOqtGrAd2lbdZJvx_o/s1600/2face1-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvMNFY7Qp-gQr2SHhwbEzHdB7MVwwSmzHdbCEjaexIrTmZKSAmHmtm0fg5lFaPmDeKbADPxewj4P-SRdutY7CFXrBw1AZ3lXINelJG2OBuHiQIZbr0C0lfQRCgVOqtGrAd2lbdZJvx_o/s320/2face1-1.jpeg" /></a></div>The election fever is upon us, yours truly included. It is highly important that we know how to present and articulate our thoughts without making disrespectful and insensitive statements on social media that merely serves as fodder for brewing more hatred in our national discourse. Learn to present your opinions and sentiments without attacking others. There is something called social media etiquette. Learn it. How are we ever going to have a civilized conversation on social media or elsewhere if we cannot endure the differing opinions of others? When you think about it, it is actually good to fight a good fight. What could be goodlier than who becomes Nigeria’s next president in this 2015? But easy does it…like this Nigerian pidgin rightly says: <br />
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“Person wey dey use him head break coconut no dey follow chop that coconut.” <br />
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Softly, softly, I beg us all, it pays to live and fight another day. Do not shed blood over our politicians. Mbanunu. What your sword can do, you will do better with a gentle but more persuasive tongue or pen. Use it wisely. Still, make una gather strength and while gathering strength for durability, please gather even more patience and tolerance because, believe me, electing your candidate is just the warm-up stage. Please reserve some of the same passion you are using to get your candidate elected because after the winner has been safely inaugurated in Aso Rock, we must still have stamina to hold them accountable over issues of national importance. We should all be in it for the long haul. <br />
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So please, let us all come out to VOTE! By voting, you are sending a strong signal that you know you hold the power and choice to decide who your leader becomes. Voting is your sacred responsibility that only comes to you about once in four years. It is your civic incontrovertible duty to vote. Your vote can change your world by giving you a candidate who will do the job of making your world better by making the right policies and approving the right plans to make your living conditions better. To stand up for a better Nigeria, use your vote well. It is your single most effective tool for creating the change you want to see in Nigeria. <br />
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You have one day <br />
As one Nigerian <br />
With one voice <br />
Having one opportunity <br />
To cast one vote <br />
For one person. <br />
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In an instance, your one vote multiplied by an estimated 50 million Nigerian youths translates to 50 million votes. See how powerful that one vote has become. <br />
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1vote x 50,000,000 Nigerian youths = 50,000,000 votes. BE THAT ONE! <br />
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~ Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi.<br />
@signetseal<br />
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Image credits: sierraexpressmedia.com, naijaloaded.com.ng, shetall.wordpress.comAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-37552158741933385922014-12-11T20:18:00.000+01:002014-12-11T21:14:22.470+01:00COME LET US PLAY POLITICAL SCRABBLES: it's between the hat or the hula.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadLMpFONWGC28k1jEp3OEhb2CdFBI9k7dJcYQKUt7cPdc3kbOJaKIZ3dX4jHyJvo8q3JSglpujanlM7bLcVrSNJAcggzRq2LNlw0f1iyCL599YDuSySvKu2QhXe2-5ZTqr82XZRlRnhU/s1600/Goodluck_and_Buhari_149824500.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadLMpFONWGC28k1jEp3OEhb2CdFBI9k7dJcYQKUt7cPdc3kbOJaKIZ3dX4jHyJvo8q3JSglpujanlM7bLcVrSNJAcggzRq2LNlw0f1iyCL599YDuSySvKu2QhXe2-5ZTqr82XZRlRnhU/s320/Goodluck_and_Buhari_149824500.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
Ok let us stick to their traditional names. If you were to spell Buhari like Boo-ha-ree and Ebele like Air-Bay-lay then you may not win at all on the Nigerian scrabble table. Simply because you often times, never spell a name in the manner of its pronunciation. However, if you are smart, shrewd and astute, you may yet produce a scrabble dictionary that would approve of your Boo-ha-ree and Air-Bay-lay spellings and God so kind, you placed it on a triple letter word, your score would of course be tripled. That is the way it is done in Nigeria- nothing is ever the same. <br />
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Now that we know who the Apc presidential flag bearer is, the tripartite is now complete: Pdp, Apc and Nigerians, in other words, Jonathan Buhari and Nigerians. But this game we are playing is called scrabbles, therefore we must acknowledge and refer to the scrabble dictionary from time to time to sort out any discrepancies or misunderstandings. If the word is not in the dictionary, sorry, you lose a turn and allow your opponent to gain a round. And if your opponent is a maestro of long lettered words, then you will be contending with a master who will be dropping premiums at every opportunity but if your sole advantage is that you are proficient in the use of those annoyingly wicked three lettered or consonantal words, knowing where to place a Z, Q and X where it scores most and hurts most, your opponent premiums have got nothing on your game. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZciyjmJWFnFd4-jAsaAWtAC1DL1B5JQ7BbjW0nHVZ0aa78xvGG8mTKEFJk8wPq-RC0Z3tx0wotbj0ISudXU1AYQylM7jVUbb1fcsMkCgyTAJDWPa2uc_9N4oo-d9F2rKvBF4YPl0RDw/s1600/APC-vs-PDP-300x300.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZciyjmJWFnFd4-jAsaAWtAC1DL1B5JQ7BbjW0nHVZ0aa78xvGG8mTKEFJk8wPq-RC0Z3tx0wotbj0ISudXU1AYQylM7jVUbb1fcsMkCgyTAJDWPa2uc_9N4oo-d9F2rKvBF4YPl0RDw/s320/APC-vs-PDP-300x300.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
If you have read this article up till this line, then of course you must be realizing that this writer sef is a scrabble lover or enjoys the stimulation of word puzzles. My point is quite simple really; politics in Nigeria is for the dexterous and the adroit, the cunning and foxy. What you thought was your edge on this side may be the very reason you may be hated on the other side. <br />
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Now that this truly bothersome and vexing matter of delegates, have been put aside, the first two groups in this tripartite will now be coming for proper courtship activities, they will now be putting together strategies to woo the bride – the third group in this tripartite – the voting populace to support their party flag bearer. I can almost taste the excitement in the air. <br />
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Who will the public vote for? How will this election be conducted? What will sway the majority into supporting which party? Will religion play a critical role or will ethnicity rear its ugly head? Will stomach infrastructure be instrumental at the rural level while intellectualism tries to sway the Nigerian elites? Is this game going to get dirty so that Ebele will now be spelt Air-bay-lay or perhaps Buhari can now be spelt as Boo-ha-ree through the introduction of a trip hammer? Will the maestros of three lettered words win or the consummate premium player set the stage for a victory? Are there more skeletons to be unveiled or will everything crumble like dominoes triggered by one masterfully played political stroke? <br />
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The Nigerian populace is watching. Some will call this 2014/2015 elections the clash of the titans. Some will say it is the Napoleonic Waterloo of wars. Perhaps it may be likened to Alexander’s battle of Granicus. Still, fantasy lovers like me would like to imagine a warrior’s scene like the one in Lord of the Rings ‘the Pelennor Fields.’<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJd-_OMGmqGBf5WB5uoXeTTeQ57H44zQ8QqFPnkhXpJrexLftt_GkBcv5GUJ38JwNXhNfmI0x6UXTWUus-lEvcEBfpoyiazj5S2rf7xXFyCEQ9BsPS869iCgjgI85cts_zsM9rIyycLlI/s1600/pelennor-armies.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJd-_OMGmqGBf5WB5uoXeTTeQ57H44zQ8QqFPnkhXpJrexLftt_GkBcv5GUJ38JwNXhNfmI0x6UXTWUus-lEvcEBfpoyiazj5S2rf7xXFyCEQ9BsPS869iCgjgI85cts_zsM9rIyycLlI/s320/pelennor-armies.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Wg_XHgc7Q9-xP8G5c3BBcAH7o3YVbrI-lliJXlDm5AlfgZLifXGIAtOK1nYj-1Y8_FBu1uEywEsjq3DEBOyADCMeLa6UFbNxPQtbb4-KdssKtQcYnk1tjhyphenhyphenR6SLqOcdDRxx74aPU5NM/s1600/tumblr_mg4e0bdrNn1qdelmgo7_r1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Wg_XHgc7Q9-xP8G5c3BBcAH7o3YVbrI-lliJXlDm5AlfgZLifXGIAtOK1nYj-1Y8_FBu1uEywEsjq3DEBOyADCMeLa6UFbNxPQtbb4-KdssKtQcYnk1tjhyphenhyphenR6SLqOcdDRxx74aPU5NM/s320/tumblr_mg4e0bdrNn1qdelmgo7_r1_500.gif" /></a></div>Who will be Sauron and who will be Gandalf? Haha. Whatever our imaginary and fantasy-inclined mind may bring, hopefully, this is one election that will see a lot of Nigerians coming out to decide who will be king come 2015.<br />
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Unfortunately, as in all battles, there will be casualties from both sides. There will be persons who will not play by the book or the rules; there will be irreparable fall-outs and rashness in the heat of battle. Many will take it personal, and many more will use all manner of measures to score cheap goals in the spirit of politicking. <br />
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My advice to us will always be true. Those who want to be gladiators will be gladiators - kill or be killed. Those who will be warriors – be warriors. The non-participants, those who will cowardly remain by the sidelines with slaked lips thirsty for the sight of spilled blood – will be spectators. And those who will simply perform the civic but patriotic duty to cast their vote, by all means do so. But in all our doing, let us not burn bridges of friendship because Buhari was spelt Boo-ha-ree or because Ebele was spelt Air-Bay-lay. <br />
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Finally, whoever wins, amongst these two contenders forced on us, I have since decided that I will accept as president (like say I get choice) and pray that he be granted wisdom to be one of the best Presidents or leaders that Nigeria would have. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria <br />
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PS. Please read the poetic prose below and remember to live and let others live. <br />
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Politics of The Jungle: the Hunt Has Begun. <br />
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I am weary weary weary of all these talks and arguments <br />
Pdp this Apc that and everything in between <br />
I am sorry sorry sorry that I do not like your candidate <br />
For reasons small for reasons great for reasons way too much <br />
Whether it’s Abc, or Apc or Pd flipping P <br />
Impatient animals, lurking and growling with teeth sharpened for the Hunt <br />
Revolting smell of blood, not so for predatory folks in the wilds <br />
Instincts thoroughly awakened by fresh smell of blood knows a wounded prey is close <br />
Like sharks circling a prey in sea or vultures stalling for the carcass <br />
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Fear fear all around as the heat of contest is brutal and fierce <br />
Cannibalistic desperation desires just a bite into flesh <br />
Chunks of flesh bitten off the defeated are being chewed with relish and glee <br />
The entrails and blood are everywhere <br />
Acquire. Acquire as much The moment is now or never <br />
Survivability is the sport, greed is the name of the game <br />
The price of honour has gone way higher in a jungle of lust and greed <br />
The harsh light of survival has emptied the mind of sound reason and obvious truth <br />
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I am weary weary weary of them bloody politicians <br />
Clothed in suits or kaftans, hats or hulas, shoes or sandals <br />
None is saintly, all are beastly <br />
I cry foul foul foul <br />
It is politrickery and not politicking <br />
Viewers beware and be not carried away <br />
Monies changing hands, transaction is the language and the highest bidder is King <br />
For you see, there is an auction of soul and mind and endorsement is altered on a whim <br />
The usual suspects seem guileless on ground and deceit is all around <br />
The maestro of art and play are masters of images and half-truths <br />
This season will come this season will go <br />
Burn not the bridges of today for fallacies of yesterday <br />
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I am so flipping knackered <br />
Of the lack of a structure of merit <br />
Do not care for the pretence of eloquence and oratory <br />
This sweet mind of mine won’t be soured <br />
By matters too confounding for me <br />
Yes I care and I act and I respond <br />
Yet I am no gladiator, nor ever will be <br />
For a gladiator kills for the amusement of spectators and I got no stomach for that <br />
This democracy drives me crazy <br />
Just live and let me live.<br />
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~ Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi 2014 <br />
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Please don't go away without dropping a few lines here just so I know you passed by. Also you can engage with me at my twitter handle: @signetseal :-)<br />
<br />
www.thesealuponmyheart.blogspot.com<br />
Image credits: google.comAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-23059751152743102122014-12-02T12:58:00.000+01:002014-12-02T17:17:04.011+01:00But My Spirit Holds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqrNyzCcDi7XkqFKMx7Nrbp2nCvwiqGahM5mmnEdqTT7ADtOqBDeFrfAnx9qC51Zw4HubIDm-T4ySfFR583YBFWI3v7Lx92izKGdSAdek35ByneG7eGzWhWuQM9r8NzcXYWnTzrcbD6w/s1600/Free+Spirit+White+Horse.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqrNyzCcDi7XkqFKMx7Nrbp2nCvwiqGahM5mmnEdqTT7ADtOqBDeFrfAnx9qC51Zw4HubIDm-T4ySfFR583YBFWI3v7Lx92izKGdSAdek35ByneG7eGzWhWuQM9r8NzcXYWnTzrcbD6w/s320/Free+Spirit+White+Horse.jpeg" /></a></div>Born a woman in a crazy country, surrounded by discriminatory traditions of men <br />
Born a second in an average family of 10, with all the challenges of kith and kin <br />
Born a Christian and not knowing who Christ is until Christ introduced himself to me <br />
Born and steeped in the relics of religiosity, held back by inhibitions of conventions <br />
But my spirit held<br />
<br />
Born in an impossible country, where the act of faith is a feat of its own kind <br />
Bombed with sweet colours and flavours of multi-ethnic conflation <br />
Buttered with the biliousness of religious and military severity <br />
Bested, blamed biased and held by a bootlace of hope and affection <br />
Brazenly my spirit held <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwQK7DxvGKlz5FYpUF5__5Su1Bfn9sX6EMFTfkGodHbDxeCkUZSUqHeWpzXEUb2HJbd0UhuQVvjSgoN2-jd4BXxJsDu1yYJzFsKy34qNzUV1Ijdaqo3vckSXad0TDm6rs1cQ7lduC22A/s1600/cover~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwQK7DxvGKlz5FYpUF5__5Su1Bfn9sX6EMFTfkGodHbDxeCkUZSUqHeWpzXEUb2HJbd0UhuQVvjSgoN2-jd4BXxJsDu1yYJzFsKy34qNzUV1Ijdaqo3vckSXad0TDm6rs1cQ7lduC22A/s320/cover~2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Balderdash swirling like clouds above me, denied a place of residence within me <br />
Bucolic lovers have become bucolic slayers of men, women and children <br />
Bodies of unacknowledged past corpses dug out of nationhood navigated in bloody murky waters of past wars <br />
Brave victims and warriors of all manner of historical injustices still crying out for compensations that may never come <br />
Brazenly my spirit held<br />
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Baffled by the offensive basic instincts of a deformed mind of blind supremacy <br />
Banshee wailings of the spirit of an orphaned nation gives warning of a demise that can be prevented <br />
But the belligerence of barbaric domination will not heed the sense and sounds of times <br />
Bottlenecks of ethnic, religious, regional and vested attachments obstructing the flow of life to a wheezing nation <br />
But tenaciously, my spirit held<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8_5up5RuucLqKJ5OG4KD_s57rs4ZNGyua0bnKUqOzUzGFnYxSnPGFYrrfgX3MdolAj2_fO2NDnDLWeTpZpHjjGGbhHnRvCGw062uaVgngDX-eCV6yXGZDByfH34qIIaW2lIZl-U1kX8/s1600/Nigeria.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8_5up5RuucLqKJ5OG4KD_s57rs4ZNGyua0bnKUqOzUzGFnYxSnPGFYrrfgX3MdolAj2_fO2NDnDLWeTpZpHjjGGbhHnRvCGw062uaVgngDX-eCV6yXGZDByfH34qIIaW2lIZl-U1kX8/s320/Nigeria.jpeg" /></a></div>Beaten, battered, wounded, trampled and crushed <br />
Bold valiant audacious Nigeria <br />
Bestowed with the beauty of nature of mind and of resilient people <br />
Bitter braving odds, unrelenting breed of children who will not bow or yield <br />
But our spirit holds.<br />
<br />
~ Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi <br />
<br />
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Dedicated to the resilient Nigerian people.<br />
<br />
Hope this poetic prose lifted your spirit. Don't go away without dropping a few lines just so I know you passed by. Also you can engage with me at my twitter handle: @signetseal :-)<br />
<br />
Image credits: "The unbroken spirit" Loretta & Charles Aniagolu; recreateyourlifetoday.blogspot.com; google.com<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-1104862158950153572014-10-15T10:19:00.000+01:002014-10-15T10:19:54.106+01:00TO DEFLOWER A BOOK<b>TO DEFLOWER A BOOK</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGijIf0FbhnHdfmfjYwQ-ckBfzDeUB0IK74mr7PGc8QsIo-yMHgl0QloWCdc-dpEoTJ8X30kuoSMUWk-QBQn9LwC3W3IiVXW62KXyAVnx3oJ7BB2yO0bCa_4xVNg7V2Dtywgk7utz47eM/s1600/Lostinabook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGijIf0FbhnHdfmfjYwQ-ckBfzDeUB0IK74mr7PGc8QsIo-yMHgl0QloWCdc-dpEoTJ8X30kuoSMUWk-QBQn9LwC3W3IiVXW62KXyAVnx3oJ7BB2yO0bCa_4xVNg7V2Dtywgk7utz47eM/s400/Lostinabook.jpg" /></a></div><br />
“Chalya why do you keep underlining most of the passages in your book” my good friend once asked me. I didn’t have an answer for her then but with time, I came to understand why. As an avid reader, I love to deflower all my books thoroughly before I give them out. No kidding. I underline, and sometimes would use my favourite colours of markers, lemon green, orange, yellow & red to accentuate a passage that appeals to my exotic senses or resonates with my exact sentiments; underlining words or phrases that would leap out of the pages like a skilful dart player hitting the bull eyes. {You need to see my Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man Book}<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQ-d9Dciwfj7u4YSmAV2EZrz895cU6PsEIGBCX47E2c3fBzhfJyGnKW1DA5Qhg8m1pMy5cZmfnUqeOFyTQ7s88W_ddrehJ_LPGxxV0SurenyRS5XYyNi1V6GxLrE-UI50UtDLan7NZjc/s1600/ReadingInthebush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQ-d9Dciwfj7u4YSmAV2EZrz895cU6PsEIGBCX47E2c3fBzhfJyGnKW1DA5Qhg8m1pMy5cZmfnUqeOFyTQ7s88W_ddrehJ_LPGxxV0SurenyRS5XYyNi1V6GxLrE-UI50UtDLan7NZjc/s400/ReadingInthebush.jpg" /></a></div>Make no mistake about it. When I have thoroughly enjoyed a book, fiction or not, my fingers must make its comments on its pages. I and the author would become as one as we become intimately acquainted with one another on the book pages. Together, I and the characters would embark on a journey. If they travelled to Paris, I travelled the same roads or flew in the same plane with them, stopping over at the same side cafes and drinking the same sweet or bitter coffee they drank. If they sky-dived, I did and I felt their fear and courage of sky-diving, almost experiencing that high they got when they dared a feat and succeeded. If they went mountain climbing in the dead of winter or the heat of summer, I was right by their sides. If they were heart-broken, I too was heart-broken and if they made sweet love…well…erm, erm…no comments. But I never die with my characters, no, I simply refuse to die with them. If they choose to die, that is where I happily part ways with them – who wan die! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwU6iCAWWhLMFQkKRAoN2yNCbnSPU-PwwIa9NgOgxoSeA1DCOkTRYQp4C2ltvue9a1Dj-dXa3uB2fVbufRRpkAdyIXrBrd12pO_viAqmJ32kA_2QisuWSoIgtPRn-AknLIPK1QagePIc/s1600/Booksnottv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwU6iCAWWhLMFQkKRAoN2yNCbnSPU-PwwIa9NgOgxoSeA1DCOkTRYQp4C2ltvue9a1Dj-dXa3uB2fVbufRRpkAdyIXrBrd12pO_viAqmJ32kA_2QisuWSoIgtPRn-AknLIPK1QagePIc/s400/Booksnottv.jpg" /></a></div>As the song goes, let’s just say:<br />
“I know the distance it takes to sail around the world (The Librarian by Laura Jane Scott) and I have done it many times on seas of Van Gogh green” from the pages of my books. <br />
The point is, we made this beautiful, sometimes difficult, exhilarating journey together, not divorcing myself from the fantasies or realities of both their dreams and experiences. How then would you expect me to come out of such a breathtaking experience with the pages of my book unscathed, or like it just left the printers? What’s the point of reading a book without leaving a sign of your magnificent presence in its wake? Una sef!<br />
The world may eventually be overtaken by kindle and all things virtual but people like me will still be willing to pay a little extra to experience the feeling of holding and turning the pages of a hard paper book until it is properly deflowered. Which one consign you sef? Flees from Pa @Ikhide<br />
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<b>PS.</b> Can you imagine that the word ‘disvirgined’ is not in the English dictionary? But you just might find it in our Nigerian English dictionary. That should have been the appropriate title for this my piece o. #Sigh what a sweet word to say rather than deflowered, sounds boring.<br />
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<b>O Another PS.</b><br />
Seriously, got to join an interesting book club where one can be drinking hot mugs of coffee and eating cookies while discussing books! And yes, you can engage me any time about a book on my twitter handle: @signetseal <br />
This is Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi telling you that it is a wonderful thing to be lost in a book! Have a great day guys. Hugs. :-)<br />
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Image Credits: indulgy.com; girlsheartbooks.com<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-20430137444760331462014-08-20T14:07:00.000+01:002014-08-22T00:18:36.478+01:00THE NIGERIAN GOOD WOMAN – By Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCw3RtiGCG4ook7j688WoMqm4pQKad1J4y6oidBZJdq2zcebwRoakzmXf55jKGh6yX4AFqAAOD0KyJe8MWE_NuOP1qJme-Ak5yujJzT2gGdBZNofYPTyDCENSBIS3igas3cHV2828Ofg0/s1600/timthumb.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCw3RtiGCG4ook7j688WoMqm4pQKad1J4y6oidBZJdq2zcebwRoakzmXf55jKGh6yX4AFqAAOD0KyJe8MWE_NuOP1qJme-Ak5yujJzT2gGdBZNofYPTyDCENSBIS3igas3cHV2828Ofg0/s320/timthumb.jpeg" /></a></div>“Good women these days are hard to find.” <br />
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I should have punched him on the face. Suffice it to say my look did the punching and I hissed inwardly as I muttered to myself if the question shouldn’t have been the other way round. <br />
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I don’t think you understand the pressure of being a good woman in Nigeria today. If you did, then you will understand we were born to Nigerian parents whose generation believed that domesticity is synonymous with the word woman and perhaps with some level of education and church-upbringing, you’re on your way to becoming a good woman all things being equal. It goes therefore, that if you wanted to be easily identified as a Nigerian good woman worthy enough to be selected for ‘settle-down-with’ material, you must be willing to subject yourself to meeting their criteria or definition of the Nigerian good woman. Notice I said ‘their.’ This is because in Nigeria, you must be vetted by the parents, prospective spouse, prospective in-laws and of course, the ubiquitous pastor before you are eligible for the good woman brand of acceptance and only after you have successfully passed the wise evaluations of these enfranchised people are you able to be deemed ‘the Nigerian good woman.’ That said who then is a good Nigerian woman? <br />
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Shall we start from the beginning? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlczndgYCL9koBPJdRk9zCnotWsJaPCWPzw8-6MA9mq4PjRG8d7smwJxpkVzbgpDhj2NxOrb8Eo-GtgeZR8vUjRLGwtOpgKybAi6KkYJ-egR5eI2imMfyosU43HU416v0tEnAS3K8vsck/s1600/beauty-in-golden-headwrap.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlczndgYCL9koBPJdRk9zCnotWsJaPCWPzw8-6MA9mq4PjRG8d7smwJxpkVzbgpDhj2NxOrb8Eo-GtgeZR8vUjRLGwtOpgKybAi6KkYJ-egR5eI2imMfyosU43HU416v0tEnAS3K8vsck/s320/beauty-in-golden-headwrap.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
Home-Training: it is rightly expected by your parents that you fulfil all the requirement of a well brought up Nigerian woman. You’ve got to understand the traditional roles of a woman according to the tribe you were born into: daughter, sister, servant, caretaker, care-giver, mother, tire-less worker, you name it. You should be able to play these roles promptly and interchangeably when the situation calls for it. <br />
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You’ve got to be well grounded in all domestic chores ranging from cooking to washing to general housekeeping skills. <br />
You’ve got to have certain socially valued ideals like, speaking only when spoken to, no arguments or confronting elders, your elders are usually always right, you move, dress, speak, and appear a certain way. <br />
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And my favourite, you’ve got to be a constant church-goer and an obedient member of all church doctrines as per your denomination and to up the ante, you must be an active member in church for upholding public appearances. <br />
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And so while you’re being sharply groomed on fundamental African womanly behaviours, enter your prospective spouse who also has been well groomed by his own mother and has his own list of ideas of what his mother told him a good woman should be: <br />
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She should be from a good home (I don’t know whether having separated or divorced parents is considered a good home yet.) <br />
She should have a sound education (don’t know what ‘their’ sound means. Is it secondary to Phd, well, you figure it out) <br />
She should be member to a certain sane church-denomination (preferably the traditional church that everyone is familiar with) <br />
She should speak softly (don’t know at what decibel rate a voice pitch crosses over to loud) <br />
She should be respectful……………………………….Ok. Respect is a huge deal here. And not just huge, it is gargantuan. With respect, you’d better be really careful here. You will have to struggle with questions like: should you always allow him the right to win an argument 60 to 70% of the time? Should you agree with most of his ideologies at the expense of yours? Should you genuflect when you meet your in-laws for the first time or always? Did she actually say hi or hello or did she say the full good morning/afternoon/evening when you introduced her to your personal people? <br />
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Then of course, the dressing often comes into play: how does she dress? If you’re lucky, trousers or certain kind of dresses will not disqualify you but if not, you’d better stick to wearing wrappers and very long skirts and dresses. Did I hear you ask ‘how will I know if he likes my dressing without asking?’ Easy. The moment he opens his mouth to say ‘Jenny, you look fine in this but you look finer in wrappers’ know that your dressing is no longer social but the stakes are now political. It will eventually become a deal breaker if not addressed. O ye ladies that like sexy dressing, you’re on your own, I advice you leave that for girlfriend material.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdrAkIm-Bc-Y9SCs7jdNQ9jLHtgQB8R1cUaGuezwWY4DKPTwUcOQNQ9RT25xV8WOPdWIv42YflU6mPxyTVdgnR2xHc7OIf2451Sgvc5OO6KDHgQfAekukNYmbtmiB1Xk8d5noSUT7sTE/s1600/this-inspired-makeup-look-nicki-minaj-good-99941-1024x768.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdrAkIm-Bc-Y9SCs7jdNQ9jLHtgQB8R1cUaGuezwWY4DKPTwUcOQNQ9RT25xV8WOPdWIv42YflU6mPxyTVdgnR2xHc7OIf2451Sgvc5OO6KDHgQfAekukNYmbtmiB1Xk8d5noSUT7sTE/s320/this-inspired-makeup-look-nicki-minaj-good-99941-1024x768.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
I will not get started on facial make-up or your hair-do because by now you should know that there are certain make-up and hair-dos that good women do not wear and there are certain attachments that good women do not buy. You must have the look of a good ‘wifely’ woman. Like these my sisters like Mo & Mrs Ighodalo here: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsp0Jvxl1u7C2um0lgwDDK-IAF4CegkO1Lw2V0Ii_FYIP5zEueNZxHPKxdhDdl-wAytCv38S_UQc2nLvFITA9I1OrzKqmkz8KqtKQ9NEgv9ajnqLK0dCoIZUaBIJ984O0eqAXorgc0PKo/s1600/Mo-Abudu-top-media-mogul.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsp0Jvxl1u7C2um0lgwDDK-IAF4CegkO1Lw2V0Ii_FYIP5zEueNZxHPKxdhDdl-wAytCv38S_UQc2nLvFITA9I1OrzKqmkz8KqtKQ9NEgv9ajnqLK0dCoIZUaBIJ984O0eqAXorgc0PKo/s320/Mo-Abudu-top-media-mogul.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG0K8Aw7qzvcq8yOGIER4J5iG8wz_jHR5A1fh6qPAFQKLFei7q4JKtlDWuQu8ledmp03ySVlmNm8obDa4iupDnqfIgrmrtXj2PuwJB3GZVpXoT0VX7jyPtRYQ_TkiSrMWcOtYl89xm_s/s1600/Ibidun-Ighodalo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG0K8Aw7qzvcq8yOGIER4J5iG8wz_jHR5A1fh6qPAFQKLFei7q4JKtlDWuQu8ledmp03ySVlmNm8obDa4iupDnqfIgrmrtXj2PuwJB3GZVpXoT0VX7jyPtRYQ_TkiSrMWcOtYl89xm_s/s320/Ibidun-Ighodalo.jpeg" /></a></div>Let’s not forget the very sensitive matter of the number of Ex-es you had before you found ‘the-One.’ (Coughs, clears throat, erm…you know what I mean) <br />
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By the way, if you succeed in scaling through all these loopholes into your matrimonial home, be prepared to comply with a whole lot of rules on your mother in law’s checklist of good-daughters-in-law. <br />
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However and this is a humungous BUT, if you’ve past the age of 30, God forbid 40, and you are still single, everyone is allowed to call you bad until proven married. <br />
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Did I leave any out? I know I did. Please feel free to correct me. Add your voice ojare, I am all ears. <br />
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I hope you enjoyed this piece. I look forward to catching up with you via my handle: @signetseal and yes, would love to read your comments too. Do have a great week. Blogging at: www.thesealuponmyheart.blogspot.com Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-47144332035551567402014-07-22T01:29:00.000+01:002014-07-22T01:52:28.420+01:00Understanding How Quality Defines Choices - Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmqf2Kfy_KP48jpH_zm2yo26_FeLEXoQOzNxv5D7Vj4KY1_0IimhxDdEZDt7kMQUVrl99XPNVTaRf22qWqgYQd3dwEdbUQd1J0POSuZkOsXWOrOoeJsjc59GlwUUubKDgD2AQwss_UBk/s1600/Label_PSD_Template_Preview_Big-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmqf2Kfy_KP48jpH_zm2yo26_FeLEXoQOzNxv5D7Vj4KY1_0IimhxDdEZDt7kMQUVrl99XPNVTaRf22qWqgYQd3dwEdbUQd1J0POSuZkOsXWOrOoeJsjc59GlwUUubKDgD2AQwss_UBk/s320/Label_PSD_Template_Preview_Big-1.jpg" /></a></div>Every product has a grade, a tag, a label, a brand and a price – which is yours? <br />
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Our daily vocabulary is spiced with different adjectives to describe the different perceptions of what we experience each day. For example, we tend to notice the way we were treated at a bank, received in a home, the taste of the food we were served, the type of comfort we got in a hotel, the depth of the sermon we heard in church. So we inwardly question, was the speech evocative? Did it stir me up in an impactful manner? Does she dress well? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jgIthKq4fxnR2i_IpG2746GKGEfkacNp6F-eFUT4lUXLtcg1IniwGuDKRH70y0lK0200vjRX1PJBQaZ6NaLGq2m8r4xGGiB1remIw3-soX-GXVDLfJSU_00CC-Qch0DLERC7Adjb8VI/s1600/Toronto_Homepage_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jgIthKq4fxnR2i_IpG2746GKGEfkacNp6F-eFUT4lUXLtcg1IniwGuDKRH70y0lK0200vjRX1PJBQaZ6NaLGq2m8r4xGGiB1remIw3-soX-GXVDLfJSU_00CC-Qch0DLERC7Adjb8VI/s320/Toronto_Homepage_2.jpeg" /></a></div>Can he speak good English? We want to know where he works? What she does? Where they live? On and on we go, all in the spirit to qualify what we meet, see, feel, or understand. <br />
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We see red roses, we call them beautiful flowers. We eat a great meal, we call it delicious. We read a novel and we just can’t put it down. We stay at a Trump hotel <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bPAqO_3WeyhQoLXr8eT9BOMBpkNRdx_vY40gjvK33KVvtYzdXz1osb3OrdaIV9LH1_-imVrPq62aJ-hA0iKc5zlSe_xcfuDZXMnvqL3v2g_N4MLcB9H6rFOa9tBFjfnzZrG7o2aq29o/s1600/trump-towers-las-vegas.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bPAqO_3WeyhQoLXr8eT9BOMBpkNRdx_vY40gjvK33KVvtYzdXz1osb3OrdaIV9LH1_-imVrPq62aJ-hA0iKc5zlSe_xcfuDZXMnvqL3v2g_N4MLcB9H6rFOa9tBFjfnzZrG7o2aq29o/s320/trump-towers-las-vegas.jpeg" /></a></div>and we experience luxurious service at its best; we watch a game of throne series, and we want to keep on watching. We read an article and we rave about it. Our human nature loves to qualify what our senses like or do not like. Without realizing it, our traditional five senses (sight, smell, touch, taste and sound) are always on the lookout for better, richer, sweeter and exceptional. And that is as it should be for God in His infinite wisdom created man to go after perfection and that is why we grow, we upgrade, we keep on developing to acquire or attain a certain quality in standards. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vE6WJHXxigbu8WxCNsb-OZST5m3xf1If10a7RU78HmHxIhGCEVHNpfYf10kn69fspBbxamPnCzhWoUU3e8wlRcrI9snNV2HFWMOhhTPrFwk-3OfJBJH2fFJBTKccEgLjl13Ki11nqKc/s1600/quote-the-quality-of-a-person-s-life-is-in-direct-proportion-to-their-commitment-to-excellence-vince-lombardi-114117.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vE6WJHXxigbu8WxCNsb-OZST5m3xf1If10a7RU78HmHxIhGCEVHNpfYf10kn69fspBbxamPnCzhWoUU3e8wlRcrI9snNV2HFWMOhhTPrFwk-3OfJBJH2fFJBTKccEgLjl13Ki11nqKc/s320/quote-the-quality-of-a-person-s-life-is-in-direct-proportion-to-their-commitment-to-excellence-vince-lombardi-114117.jpeg" /></a></div>A simple definition of quality to me is: conformance to requirements. (Crosby 1979) Going further, quality can be a perceived degree or grade of excellence or expectations with minimum defaults or deficiencies that are acceptable to the recipient. Since there are varying degrees of qualities to different people, in no particular order, these are a few of the many bases on which the quality of an individual is judged in our society: <br />
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1) Social status or employment position (Pedigree, Son or daughter of whom, fame, Occupation, type of business, financial wealth, etc) <br />
2) Personality or Character traits (kindness, honesty, generosity, integrity, consistency, hardworking, etc) <br />
3) Accomplishment or attainment including (fame, wealth, academic degrees, Olympic Athletes, International Football players, renowned singer/musician/actor etc) <br />
4) Physical Form or Structure (height, skin colours, shape, age, etc) <br />
5) Charisma (charming, engaging, seductive, confidence, baritone voice, dress style, intellect, poise, swag, comportment, flow, fascinating, etc) <br />
6) Faith/Beliefs (Being spiritually inclined, religious, fanatic, tolerance, liberal, Atheist, etc) <br />
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VETTING THAT OPTION <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSRnlXMK-XEjhINpXii-NP5udbVQ7RiHhtNfdkPmoQSd5b5QY51BcKRCTOmlG81iMHyzQGXp6T9iYrupd3pxvrOrOZ_TBxy9xVxH6fZRRv-E59aJHIqZjUrVthRFT3eLLf4cCsH_-Xjw/s1600/InvitationChecklist.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSRnlXMK-XEjhINpXii-NP5udbVQ7RiHhtNfdkPmoQSd5b5QY51BcKRCTOmlG81iMHyzQGXp6T9iYrupd3pxvrOrOZ_TBxy9xVxH6fZRRv-E59aJHIqZjUrVthRFT3eLLf4cCsH_-Xjw/s320/InvitationChecklist.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
Identifying your own definition of quality is crucial if you want to make great choices in life. There is absolutely no shame in writing down your list of requirements. Setting up parameters to guide one in making quality choices is imperative for successful living. What is a deal breaker for you when you are vetting your options? What are the must-have-attributes you cannot do without? What is the one attribute that must not make that list? Do your own home work, have your own guidelines before you make that choice. With time you may amend that list with a few additions or subtractions, but always create your list of preferred/not-preferred attributes when deciding on life-changing choices. Nothing can be set on stone unless it is the Ten Commandments! So be flexible with that list when it comes to certain adjustable areas. <br />
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With individual preferences, comes relativity. What is acceptable to you may be unacceptable to me. You may prefer intellect over beauty. Another would prefer wealth over form. Still, another would prioritize faith over anything else. On a scale of one to ten of likes and dislikes, some people would gladly settle for 3, 5 or 6 qualities while others would aim between 7 to 10 or even higher. And everyone may go home happy. The choice is yours. Your quality will certainly define your choices. You may make tradeoffs along the way but you can never compromise the top three essentials on your expectations without which all other things could be disastrous to your overall well being. <br />
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If I was a car dealer and you came to me and said you want a quality car, I will first have to ask you what your definition of quality is in order to understand your need. Do you want a factory fitted AC? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5T2QOQAEeAlUU_xQuk3Q6DcdRSgGkbxg75cv0iSfCcuuSzVu4LyDhngMdmhz6trEMxuAzlSeV3-w-qZk-cfGnX7IohQt7-kl_72JHuCJ5knL5K5aHyvtN_hz0OTLsNxAmekPgaqLuXY/s1600/Used-Car.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5T2QOQAEeAlUU_xQuk3Q6DcdRSgGkbxg75cv0iSfCcuuSzVu4LyDhngMdmhz6trEMxuAzlSeV3-w-qZk-cfGnX7IohQt7-kl_72JHuCJ5knL5K5aHyvtN_hz0OTLsNxAmekPgaqLuXY/s320/Used-Car.png" /></a></div>Would you prefer a car that starts with a key or a button, would you want a car that comes with a TV and a wine bar? Do you want a car with a turbo engine etc. You may say yes and go ahead and add that a car that consumes fuel is no problem to you if it has certain vital features. Same with quality food. You cannot tell someone like Nky Iweka that you want Edikang Ekong without expecting her to put in shrimps, prawns, dry fish, stockfish, snails, periwinkles, goat meat, you name it except you specifically told her to exempt an item or two. The car dealer will expect you to know that a quality car is pricey and cost money while Nky will expect you to know that soup wey sweet na money kill am. <br />
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On the other hand, if all you had ever known was a canoe or bicycle, you may settle for any car you can afford. Yet, another may hold on until he can acquire a certain kind of car. He may sacrifice immediate gratification to own just any car for the long haul of owning a functional, classy and beautiful car in the foreseeable future. Your quality is that trait {vision} that defines your life-changing-choices, based on who you want to be tomorrow and not who you are now. <br />
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It is so easy to mistake the lack {or abundance} of money for quality. Wrong! <br />
<br />
I may not have money now but I know how to make money and soon enough I will have money. Another person may have money now but do not know how to invest money and soon enough, he will have none. <br />
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I have seen people I know {yours truly included} make decisive mistakes because they thought they could sacrifice a fundamental part of who they were for what they thought was quality. You cannot sacrifice certain fundamental requirements of your own definition of quality except it is for a greater purpose much greater than the sacrifice itself. I believe human beings were made to strive for improvement in every area of our lives. We cannot afford to be satisfied with the way we are and so we advance in technology, self-improvement, family values, national values, societal values, spiritual values, professional values, and relationship values…we graduate from one level in life to the other with the goal of going upwards and never downwards. The status-quo eventually becomes boring and we must spice it up, change, alter, diversify but we cannot be stagnated in one area forever or we die. WE WERE ALL BORN TO DEVELOP. Only GOD is unchangeable. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbgHu2ZAzphhT0SZcyeeiUoDytq9LwDjy8AYrGELyEPC2n6bie_VH97TaaHHWAchOATqtB8rcB7UaW3XkDg_VpElmww5vh6ZV2Z5rXgFJYcK8HVz6ZyOlj-Thw-0z8jXtMsyg_q3S2D0/s1600/51dRDI9X7fL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbgHu2ZAzphhT0SZcyeeiUoDytq9LwDjy8AYrGELyEPC2n6bie_VH97TaaHHWAchOATqtB8rcB7UaW3XkDg_VpElmww5vh6ZV2Z5rXgFJYcK8HVz6ZyOlj-Thw-0z8jXtMsyg_q3S2D0/s320/51dRDI9X7fL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
I believe quality is an ongoing process of improvement towards a certain goal, however developing the ability to identify the ever-changing needs of our future transformations to fulfil our aspirations will help us make great satisfying choices. <br />
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I hope you enjoyed this piece. I look forward to catching up with you via my handle: @signetseal and yes, would like to read your comments too. Have a great week. :-)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-3440593511312961652014-02-17T10:40:00.000+01:002014-02-17T10:40:50.396+01:00Nigeria and its 6-3-3-4 Educational System. By Sammy Omotese<b>‘The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.’</b> <i>Martin Luther King</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYstcSFciHW9JQ5k17iWu7tF6DVv0o5pUtcIw3BzZJlW8PKChiGpM1A1vpF_3NxqxDFWZ-pjZni3yN8F2dtslFGwOJKDF1kDUW3MvZjbKrfd0SGdphTjGd4qA0RqybJJiHoSISwHUmi0E/s1600/Nigeria's+education.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYstcSFciHW9JQ5k17iWu7tF6DVv0o5pUtcIw3BzZJlW8PKChiGpM1A1vpF_3NxqxDFWZ-pjZni3yN8F2dtslFGwOJKDF1kDUW3MvZjbKrfd0SGdphTjGd4qA0RqybJJiHoSISwHUmi0E/s640/Nigeria's+education.jpg" /></a></div>It has constantly been said that: ‘education is the bedrock of any meaningful society’. This has been proven to be an accurate assertion based on the developmental strides many of the civilised nations have experienced; due to their rapt concentration on the most important aspect of human improvement. <br />
Knowing the value of education, industrialised countries have mandated the earliest forms of learning for all and sundry. The basic acts of literacy and numeracy accounts for the monumental strides they have experienced over the last five centuries. One cannot place enough value on the usefulness of education in any given clime. The key factor is being able to continuously develop the mind and prepare ones mental state for easy assimilation of ideas and ideals and the character to put to practice what has been learnt. <br />
Over the years, different countries have adopted approaches to national development through a regimented educational system that will project their overall goal. In Nigeria, we have experienced different forms of educational systems since we attained our independence. One of the systems that readily come to mind is the existing system put in place by Prof. Babatunde Fafunwa, Minister for Education during the General Ibrahim Badamusi Babangida’s regime. He came up with the 6-3-3-4 educational system. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7fmFAnRyk7ISk5HJ8iR3OaT3mgaMBL7Hs7kJ_en8LoMb8Q7PZp7t2CCmKCRrIR-PPMXxPs-JMC6aHSOx4IVn9TbheYSZ4m8BvQ7QldV6bORFtpMXDWfFVCFU2muLgAu8ve3OI5weNlI/s1600/6334edu-system.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7fmFAnRyk7ISk5HJ8iR3OaT3mgaMBL7Hs7kJ_en8LoMb8Q7PZp7t2CCmKCRrIR-PPMXxPs-JMC6aHSOx4IVn9TbheYSZ4m8BvQ7QldV6bORFtpMXDWfFVCFU2muLgAu8ve3OI5weNlI/s640/6334edu-system.jpg" /></a></div>Laudable as the programme itself is, we were not fully prepared for it. We did not put a lot of factors into consideration. However, 24 years on, we still have not been able to correct the anomaly that has crippled what could have been one of the best educational policies in Nigeria since our national independence. <br />
According to the system, children are supposed to start primary school at age six. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQETwVBWz7QGIc1ws0-bpIpZWgSzLZIzmdEjTLx4AI6CKL8SDbz_FM4u3Q9XqrdrbrH9TILG9z5-96MS9ynvs1NrYAIwC2S1mzIkruWubo3vcxI99486PENc8LDVzut51eaXBjJJCvK3k/s1600/Kids+education.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQETwVBWz7QGIc1ws0-bpIpZWgSzLZIzmdEjTLx4AI6CKL8SDbz_FM4u3Q9XqrdrbrH9TILG9z5-96MS9ynvs1NrYAIwC2S1mzIkruWubo3vcxI99486PENc8LDVzut51eaXBjJJCvK3k/s640/Kids+education.jpg" /></a></div>They are taken through elementary subjects for the next six years after which they will take an examination to ascertain their preparedness for the challenges of the junior secondary school. They have a dossier kept on them for the six years and ideally be passed on to the secondary school for continuity. On completion of the first three successful years at the junior secondary, the grades they make will determine what path they will follow. For example, if you excelled in science based subjects such as Integrated Science, Mathematics, Agricultural Science and English Language at a minimum credit level, you will be posted to a Science Class from Senior Secondary School (SSS) 1. Where you are expected to study Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Further Mathematics, Mathematics, English Language, Geography, Government and Agricultural Science till you take the senior West Africa Examination Certificate (WAEC). <br />
Others are placed in ‘Commercial Class’- where they are taught: English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Commerce, Economics and Accounting. Whereas the ‘Art Class’ are taught: English Language, Mathematics, Biology, English Literature, Yoruba/Igbo/Hausa Language, Christian Religious Knowledge(CRK)/ Islam Religious Knowledge(IRK) and Government. They learn these subjects for three years and are made to sit for the senior secondary examination (SSCE). Successful candidates are encouraged to sit for either the Polytechnic qualifying examination or the University qualifying examination. Ideally, they are to spend a minimum of four years at the university and five years at the polytechnic. <br />
Those who have showed flair for technical subjects are sent after the first three years at the junior secondary school (JSS) to a Technical School (Specialized Schools where technical subjects such as: Building and Construction, Mechanical Engineering, Wood Work/Carpentry, Sewing, Weaving, Crafts etc are taught). The idea being to ‘catch them young’ and mentor them to become leaders in the construction industry, furniture and steel industries, etc. Only a few of these specialised schools were fully functional as at the time they introduced the educational scheme in 1990. The preceding educational syllabus was watered down to make way for the additional one year. A few questions still need to be answered:<br />
1. Would it not have been better if we had tried out the proposed system in one or two states for a minimum of six years to see how effective it would be when it is fully implemented country wide?<br />
2. Would it not have been advisable to conduct a survey to project the number of students across the country that would be leaving year after year to determine how many slots each university can accommodate?<br />
3. What effort was made to ensure that there would be enough university places for the resulting candidates from the 6-3-3-4 educational system?<br />
4. What arrangements were put in place to create specialized schools (technical schools) in time where those that have the flair for technical subjects would be tutored and mentored? <br />
5. What arrangements were put in place for the students to gain industrial experience?<br />
6. What arrangements were put in place for the continuous training of the teachers to enable them carry out their roles effectively?<br />
7. What was the rationale behind subverting the existing educational policy prior to 1990 without first getting all the needed structure/infrastructure in place to foster the change that was being ‘created’?<br />
8. What is the reason for keeping the dossier of the child’s first nine years (the first six years at the primary school and the first three years at the secondary school) if not to clearly align them with areas of their interest?<br />
9. What structure is in place to cater for children with exceptional learning abilities (geniuses)? <br />
10. After twenty four (24) years since the programme has been in place, have we reconsidered the way the policy has fared and perhaps made an effort to right some of the anomalies?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtj9Aj_LyTk7jqAXR3v-GRm5gpMjaumv2ZNzyt-TkdBGqoyloI2svTK34_XH1JWbjJo835CreaH8pEZ18PHfvvHKUJydrNT2NAC1ntq7SVvVlmGTpB9N_VoIly-TVPyMgND1ACfwU3mc8/s1600/sch+building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtj9Aj_LyTk7jqAXR3v-GRm5gpMjaumv2ZNzyt-TkdBGqoyloI2svTK34_XH1JWbjJo835CreaH8pEZ18PHfvvHKUJydrNT2NAC1ntq7SVvVlmGTpB9N_VoIly-TVPyMgND1ACfwU3mc8/s400/sch+building.jpg" /></a></div>In addition to these questions, which have not even been considered because the system has never been reviewed to ascertain its successes or failings, the system has bred another anomaly. Over the years, contrary to the original aims of the 6-3-3-4 system, it has become almost a ‘normal situation’ for a child to stay at home for upwards of six (6) years after completing his/her secondary education while waiting to pass the Joint Matriculation Examination (JAMB). Students pay over five thousand naira to write this exam and the few that score over 200 at the exam are made to pay yet again for internal examination before they can be admitted to study at the university/polytechnic. <br />
My question would be: ‘what is the essence of JAMB when each university would end up conducting their own entrance examination anyway?’ <br />
Is it right for those that have the misfortune of not scoring over two hundred (200) to stay at home for upwards of four (4) years doing nothing? What do you reckon they would be doing at home for that period of time? Therein lies the genesis of one of the menace in our society. The menace of ‘area boys/girls’. <br />
On the other hand, it becomes daunting for a child that has finished his/her secondary education six years after to cope with the challenges of another academic life. Six years is such a long time to stay away from school; if you asked me. The pupil finally gets admitted and he spends another four years (let’s disregard the incessant strike actions that sometimes add one or two extra years to the four years they are to spend in school) plus the one year compulsory youth service programme. <br />
If my arithmetic is correct, the child would have spent twenty three (23) of his/her life getting ready for work. If you add six (6) to that, you will arrive at twenty nine (29). Unfortunately, he/she becomes too old for employment in Nigeria. Most employers specify that you must not be older than twenty five (25). Little reason why most people claim to start primary school at age three (3)!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO477vQUUawKMVI_0A5uKg75Y64258kPzjdtKHmQhscP22bzV0eowZvQd0gcbDIp_3p_E23P2YofkEVqVId9VnqXIpnhiR1knpeK2klEWeFFk66dW4-qU1e_QX4PyM0lSDrlBiX2825q0/s1600/educationCap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO477vQUUawKMVI_0A5uKg75Y64258kPzjdtKHmQhscP22bzV0eowZvQd0gcbDIp_3p_E23P2YofkEVqVId9VnqXIpnhiR1knpeK2klEWeFFk66dW4-qU1e_QX4PyM0lSDrlBiX2825q0/s640/educationCap.jpg" /></a></div>Moving forward, I think we need to re-address this 6-3-3-4 system and promptly ensure that we do the following:<br />
• Train and retrain teachers at all levels<br />
• If we must follow the 6-3-3-4 pattern, then it must be a continuous journey without breaks in-between<br />
• JAMB should be cancelled totally<br />
• There should be no age discrimination when you are applying for a job<br />
• Technical schools should be built in all the states of the federation and their certificates accepted <br />
The 6-3-3-4 system like most of the policies we have witnessed in Nigeria has failed because we placed the cart before the horse. To avoid a reoccurrence of the sad state of the last twenty four years in the education sector, immediate steps should be taken to correct the above listed anomalies. If we wish to be great, we have to restructure our schools to meet with the challenges of the 21st century.<br />
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Sammy Omotese is a UK-based Nigerian who produces compelling events in support of talents, businesses and communities. He can be reached on his twitter handle: @sammyomotese or follow his writings on his blog:http://sammyomotese.blogspot.co.uk/<br />
Would love to hear from you; try not to dash off without dropping your comments. :)<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-49037132246522502712014-01-16T20:36:00.003+01:002014-01-16T20:36:32.861+01:00My Thoughts on Gays & Nigeria's Anti-Gay Bill - A Christian Perspective<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31MI7bzU4S8cEVMk7grK7ncKOf-YsLTbLlbPUd1TvjoEKhOBYl8hpQyMeo-ddOKoJ1_1SOkk13MtuVUkKLEcHuB-Hnzy0NcgebFRUihyphenhyphenfPXs816gVnxUQO9URKXjHkMPdUfsA7UCSL8E/s1600/Im+sorry+gays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31MI7bzU4S8cEVMk7grK7ncKOf-YsLTbLlbPUd1TvjoEKhOBYl8hpQyMeo-ddOKoJ1_1SOkk13MtuVUkKLEcHuB-Hnzy0NcgebFRUihyphenhyphenfPXs816gVnxUQO9URKXjHkMPdUfsA7UCSL8E/s640/Im+sorry+gays.jpg" /></a></div>I must confess, since this anti-gay bill was signed into law, I have been most delighted. For many months now, I have concentrated much of my arguments on the wrongs of homosexuality strictly from a somewhat rigid stance based on my faith & spiritual perspectives. I have been besieged by so many comments, some unsavoury & some downright rude. I have read & re-read several articles written about why the Nigerian anti-gay law should or should not have been allowed. Mentally, I am simply exhausted from listening and reading varied opinions on this matter though very necessary & to think the debate is just getting started. <br />
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Spiritually, there are no gray areas for me, I know where I stand on this gay matter & I do not support homosexuality. Intellectually though – and this is the tricky part - when you’re dealing with matters of the intellect, you’re dealing with logic and an organized & structured pattern of reasoning – this is where I must confess that I have had sleepless nights, literally. But after my own soul searching, much research & prayers, I must choose to do what I think I should do, even when it is most inconvenient. I have tried to live my life as frankly as I can & for me, these are my deductions.<br />
For me to have my own peace of mind, I had to ask myself several questions.<br />
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<b>Q1:</b> Is homosexuality wrong?<br />
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<b>Ans:</b> Yes<br />
.<br />
<b>Q2:</b> Why?<br />
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<b>Ans:</b> Simply because my Christian faith tells me so.<br />
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<b>Q3:</b> Where is it written in the bible?<br />
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<b>Ans:</b> Leviticus 18:22; 20:13 “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination! Romans 1:26-28; Jude1:7; 1Kings14:24; 2Corinthians6:9-11; 1Timothy1:10. I can go on and on.<br />
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<b>Q4:</b> So based on the ways of the Lord Jesus, the author & finisher of the Christian faith [Hebrew12:2], what would Jesus have done if He had met a gay woman by the Samaritan Well? What would Jesus have done if a gay man or woman had been brought to him [like the adulterous woman] so that they could be stoned to death?<br />
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<b>Ans:</b> I doubt that He would have condemned her. Surely, He would have condemned the sin but not the individual. He would have had quite an interesting conversation with her by the Well, chatted her up and through His Charismatic manner of persuasive engagement, & godly compassion, He would have touched & transformed her life.<br />
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<b>Q5:</b> With this kind of reasoning, would you still support the criminalization of the sin of homosexuality as you put it & as defined by the Nigerian anti-gay bill.<br />
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<b>Ans:</b> No I will not.<br />
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<b>Q6: Why</b><br />
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<b>Ans:</b> While I do not support gay marriages or homosexual practices, I believe a person should not be condemned as a criminal because of his or her sexual preferences. Though homosexuality is against my faith and culture, I cannot impose my culture or faith on another person for the simple but obvious reason that faith, beliefs, & cultures differ. What may be repugnant to me may be acceptable to another person. I also believe that doing so is an infringement on the human rights of another.<br />
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<b>Q7: Is the Nigerian anti-gay bill therefore wrong?</b><br />
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<b>Ans:</b> Well, if the Nigerian anti-gay bill criminalizes homosexuality, it is wrong because it infringes on the rights of gay individuals by taking away the freedom of their rights to associate & practice their acts as gay citizens in Nigeria. <br />
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Let us be sensible here. There are no verifiable damages occurring from the practice of homosexuality amongst two consenting adults to a third party. While some Christians may argue and rightly too that there are spiritual & other unforeseeable far-reaching effects of allowing gay practices in Nigeria, I can also add that the same spiritual & far –reaching effect hold sway for the sin of adultery, murder, & polygamy amongst others. Sin is sin. There is no favoured sin in the sight of God over another. It’s like saying all sins can disqualify you from heaven but some sins are more grievously disqualifying than others. Wouldn’t that be hypocritical to say the least? The same bible preaches: Love thy neighbour as thy self. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwOz3R4PZx2TYUTwfZkU3txHH4F44LAmLPj9JjYG4GoOCRIYtyzanF8Jyf2TVJSqc02m40ULbYteWl0yrLvpe3EkimQl8RW5SXgQMRo2MtLIEv6BgxcWg1bjIA-JfZ6sU9Pm0GFz-aEQ/s1600/LovethyGayNeigbor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwOz3R4PZx2TYUTwfZkU3txHH4F44LAmLPj9JjYG4GoOCRIYtyzanF8Jyf2TVJSqc02m40ULbYteWl0yrLvpe3EkimQl8RW5SXgQMRo2MtLIEv6BgxcWg1bjIA-JfZ6sU9Pm0GFz-aEQ/s640/LovethyGayNeigbor.jpg" /></a></div>If your neighbour happens to be gay, will you still love him or her? <br />
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Still, I believe that Nigeria as a sovereign state has the right to decide amongst its own people what is acceptable as her national values and what is not. I had hoped that a proper referendum & national debate about homosexuality be put forward to Nigerian citizens before enacting a law based on the people’s wishes. But that didn’t happen instead a law has been enacted that has given the Nigerian police an arbitrary right to throw people into jail unceremoniously without the slightest compunction. I foresee serious future consequences if we all keep quiet about this. Tomorrow, it might be something else and therein lies the error of the anti-gay bill.<br />
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However, when a majority is against a certain way of life, it doesn’t help the case of the minority to begin to insult, abuse, & denigrate the majority. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsH7BkG8ixIK08QDq97D8gcDkLu8igJwZSFCLKXBpr1v3zx5iJmh3O0xr67JypUb6bevfGYB_aJ7JbMmJr5waGAUSYCvlyBmJERc3z1Y-71u8ZNKE5_j4Mhjuva_qiTtuM2jpec4b60k/s1600/Yes+I+am+ChristtoGays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsH7BkG8ixIK08QDq97D8gcDkLu8igJwZSFCLKXBpr1v3zx5iJmh3O0xr67JypUb6bevfGYB_aJ7JbMmJr5waGAUSYCvlyBmJERc3z1Y-71u8ZNKE5_j4Mhjuva_qiTtuM2jpec4b60k/s640/Yes+I+am+ChristtoGays.jpg" /></a></div>Rather, it is in the interest of the minority to think of a better way to explain & appeal to the reasoning of the majority. Blocking or censoring people from your social-media handles or pages whether it be twitter or face book will not help your case. Imposing, say, economic sanctions upon Nigeria will only aggravate Nigerians and make them more adamant & determined to crush or wipe out the term ‘homosexuality’ from the country. The path towards gay-tolerance in Nigeria will not come with blackmailing or being intellectually arrogant either. What a people do not understand, they will never never accept. However, as a Christian woman, my standard is the Lord Jesus Christ not my Pastors or Bishops. What would Jesus have done today if He had been invited for dinner by a gay couple? What would Jesus have done in the midst of so much outrage & discrimination against gay people? I strongly believe, He wouldn’t have condemned them. He would have allowed His love to shine through & not His self-righteousness as we are wont to do. Surely, He would have had a parable or two to tell about how we treat gay people. Eventually, He would have told them to sin no more but He would not have asked for their heads.<br />
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Where is our Christian compassion for those Christ died for?<br />
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In conclusion, I am not afraid to condemn the act of homosexuality like I would condemn adultery or rape or corruption. It is my prerogative to choose whether to associate with a homosexual or not based on 1Corinthians 15:33. But it is not my Christian duty to condemn the homosexual person. I do not support the persecution or harassment of homosexuals. While I believe homosexuality is an irreverent way of life to our traditional marriage values & customs, I also believe the rights of the homosexuals should be protected in a democratic nation.<br />
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Not so fast guys. Please don't hurry away. I would like to hear from you so please & please, let me know you visited my blog by dropping your comments. Many thanks & God bless you! We can talk some more on my twit handle: @signetseal<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-11584871635553271222014-01-13T16:50:00.000+01:002014-01-15T22:51:45.351+01:00WHO IS A FASHION CRIMINAL?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFBUdPUXR7FZFbjq5-fj_WhqiPVKeygCcZHIh5TtnDjxeRRZYj37zsDp6Fa5leu4fvA1hJJV_IloAyjR0tR5vauD6wkGORrJZZp7_96YhF8HZH5T16ffu0rwyImZtVhKkRyywPXZHhzE/s1600/naija+fash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFBUdPUXR7FZFbjq5-fj_WhqiPVKeygCcZHIh5TtnDjxeRRZYj37zsDp6Fa5leu4fvA1hJJV_IloAyjR0tR5vauD6wkGORrJZZp7_96YhF8HZH5T16ffu0rwyImZtVhKkRyywPXZHhzE/s640/naija+fash.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Fashion, style, vogue – who defines it?<br />
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Only recently I read an article berating Beyoncé for going all out to look like a blond when she should be black & perhaps afro. It was a great article according to my standard because it raised up some really salient points. And it got me thinking, at what point can I be judged to have committed a fashion crime. Am I a fashion criminal? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SJWIZLqztIlGZ4Y-KVbifLnp1Lo82JbaqEIXNswjOmAuTaWDhmpXVRQWShPxQ-dmaymDkhVye6WHtSnIhRxVLJ-JykaQ3lr5O214CJO11Gatj-AF8lnbgdjwUSl64qyS3rQ0mjDUhX8/s1600/Fash+crim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SJWIZLqztIlGZ4Y-KVbifLnp1Lo82JbaqEIXNswjOmAuTaWDhmpXVRQWShPxQ-dmaymDkhVye6WHtSnIhRxVLJ-JykaQ3lr5O214CJO11Gatj-AF8lnbgdjwUSl64qyS3rQ0mjDUhX8/s640/Fash+crim.jpg" /></a></div>Say, I pick up two fashion magazines: one is an international magazine, the other is a local magazine, I tend to believe every fashion style from the international mag because it is international. My believability is therefore dependent on ‘the-bigger-the-better-the-truer.’ I’m watching fashion Police & Joan Rivers & her crew are – defining to the point of hilarity – what fashion ought to be. I do not understand nor question her fashion opinions because she is Joan Rivers – the-know-it-all-fashion-guru. My believability is dependent on the opinions of a TV celebrity. I wake up & standing before my Mirror, my self-portrait doesn’t feel so good any more. My mind wants to see what the magazines I’ve read & what the TV celebrities in the fashion world calls fashion. So I become dis-satisfied with what I am for what I am not & before you know, I’m at the hair dressers buying & fixing what I have accepted as fashion according to Beyoncé or Joan Rivers. Come on! I think we are now confusing fashion, vogue & style for beauty and that it isn’t. I think because we aint confident of who we are & how we look, we become gullible to every trend thrown at us by every famous face or celebrity. If every individual were to define fashion based on what is suitable to their natural looks, the fashion business would be out of business. If Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, etc had decided to wear Afro & nothing else, I believe even their Caucasian fans would be buying afro-wigs because they want to look like Beyonce. Unfortunately, our black celebrities aint comfortable in their own skins or with their own beauty, I think they have accepted a white definition from Hollywood or the high streets of world Fashion on what beauty should be & we see nothing absolutely wrong with it because we want to make more money and in so doing, lose our natural allure & integrity. That is why acrylics sell, why eye brows are carved, why dresses go way shorter & wigs sell even more. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBxevkNRbqYsN7ZN7uaJYOvcgse-uAXgfHEX0lllkdw84t8vqkEDhcI4gnOBYTMGZaM0t0biZIyYpP2S1R8Yqb2GoQjZKl4m9ABQYQhKcpIx5qCeX9VbXcenC7OP0h2gRvDBoqp6UHZQ/s1600/Sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBxevkNRbqYsN7ZN7uaJYOvcgse-uAXgfHEX0lllkdw84t8vqkEDhcI4gnOBYTMGZaM0t0biZIyYpP2S1R8Yqb2GoQjZKl4m9ABQYQhKcpIx5qCeX9VbXcenC7OP0h2gRvDBoqp6UHZQ/s400/Sketch.jpg" /></a></div><br />
For what it's worth, why should I base my hard-earned budget on the opinions of other people's fashion sense? Does that make me a fashion criminal? If perhaps I wear an orange scarf with a lilac blouse on a red MC Hammer's kind of baggy trousers, I'm I now condemned to a fashion criminal? O dear! Should I dig my natural afro or should I mix it up with a pink wig or perhaps I should just damn the consequences and give myself a Mohawk cut tinted with a golden hue that shouts - crazy? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7HtkAFOilObfArlmPfQh-3IVr2Er3Ppl5dHzdHkgG1aguQgPb8Sv7OSLvViTeyvGGR3l9f4ZwIGwx2E7pugmjoFm737L9fA0Jw-q7VBvikvZXkSJ9HY2zeDu9Cuh0d-YN5TVeG6KdM0/s1600/black-mohawk-hairstyles-for-men-366x550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7HtkAFOilObfArlmPfQh-3IVr2Er3Ppl5dHzdHkgG1aguQgPb8Sv7OSLvViTeyvGGR3l9f4ZwIGwx2E7pugmjoFm737L9fA0Jw-q7VBvikvZXkSJ9HY2zeDu9Cuh0d-YN5TVeG6KdM0/s400/black-mohawk-hairstyles-for-men-366x550.jpg" /></a></div>Go figure. I think fashion is whatever suits me and whatever I like and not just because Ms G or Mr P says its ok. Still, I have seen several fashion ideas & styles that are just lovely and just because I aint brave enough to wear this afro hair-do <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhzQbayk2vS_3cH1RVYJM6jrjBN9slwhD78E8TPJwXoXeAKWp1MIrSI1VDWlm1YjOF3hQJPP40_mTwJpR-G6owdw5V1SD72Sq4qR1MciXIbQxlYCbf5lmobvc-Mtg_6Nt642sJBbqz34/s1600/women-afro-hairstyles-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhzQbayk2vS_3cH1RVYJM6jrjBN9slwhD78E8TPJwXoXeAKWp1MIrSI1VDWlm1YjOF3hQJPP40_mTwJpR-G6owdw5V1SD72Sq4qR1MciXIbQxlYCbf5lmobvc-Mtg_6Nt642sJBbqz34/s320/women-afro-hairstyles-18.jpg" /></a></div>doesn't make me judge the person who does. Like my younger sister would say, there are only certain people that can carry-off certain looks. I agree. However I think we are all fashion criminals one way or another because what might be great fashion to Miss Daisy might be appalling to me or someone else - different strokes for different folks guys. Let's just conclude this piece amicably, any fashion that is a 360-turn-around from your natural self & does not flatter or better your natural image aint fashion in my opinion but <br />
then I aint Joan Rivers, I am simply me, the unknown & to cut a very long story short, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. :) <br />
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NB<br />
And don’t go asking me ‘what if I don’t like my natural image or my natural image does not flatter me, then perhaps you need to see a certified shrink!<br />
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Once again, don't hurry off that quickly. I would love to read your comments, please drop a line. And you can also follow at my handle: @signetseal. :)<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-69182627942800208812013-10-13T15:24:00.000+01:002013-10-13T15:24:04.659+01:00WHEN THE MIDNIGHT OIL RUNS DRY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYbli1loPN2WXapcKGRO-vjYZS6dxVv7tboqeh-tO3paV5sJuf2y1g8Yk7tMXo91S3yBrNioooUAEC_yJx3BQ5IN5AGphgMsMQ1gSZHbFb3F4mCdidO0_9n1V7_aONWpQ16uVDQrbrdM/s1600/10virgins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYbli1loPN2WXapcKGRO-vjYZS6dxVv7tboqeh-tO3paV5sJuf2y1g8Yk7tMXo91S3yBrNioooUAEC_yJx3BQ5IN5AGphgMsMQ1gSZHbFb3F4mCdidO0_9n1V7_aONWpQ16uVDQrbrdM/s640/10virgins.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The thing about reflecting on the scriptures is that it can make you go gaga when you catch a revelation or rhema from a passage. I was reading my #LA130 daily portion of Matthew 25:1-13 when it struck me. The groom was delayed and the foolish virgins lost out because they had no extra oil at the midnight of their lives. It wasn’t that the foolish virgins weren’t good virgins; it wasn’t that they were impatient either; they were called foolish because they chose not to be prepared for the long haul, the winter or the dark night. They just didn’t have foresight in the event of any eventualities to their plans.<br />
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Now understand that people don’t usually use lamps in the day time. People usually use lamps when day has turned to night and the darkness surrounds them – that is when lamps or candles are usually flicked on. So it goes without saying that, if you’re waiting for an important guest, you should be prepared to receive this VIP at any time the VIP turns up bearing in mind that he may or may not turn up according to the appointed time planned. Well, the foolish virgins had a short time plan. What they didn’t envisage was a long time plan and because of this oversight, at midnight, their oil ran out just when they needed it most – chei!<br />
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What do you do when your oil runs out?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsYnBmy8K-QMBXlZuAEnl7juVpjtqcFkaSzWaz1WqfuuIrZD_4RtFvDFGIAjD6XF9xGnHpbVPmc31bji8qgbJFGkQoEzWztjZ-8DgkmXrL3n_kCbFold_xb3gQNfPy0ZBj4wY_UxewOs/s1600/burninglight.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsYnBmy8K-QMBXlZuAEnl7juVpjtqcFkaSzWaz1WqfuuIrZD_4RtFvDFGIAjD6XF9xGnHpbVPmc31bji8qgbJFGkQoEzWztjZ-8DgkmXrL3n_kCbFold_xb3gQNfPy0ZBj4wY_UxewOs/s640/burninglight.png" /></a></div><br />
Understand that oil is meant to beautify and smooth skin or enrich the texture of food or grease the smoothness of an object into operating smoothly. Oil is meant to stop things from becoming rusty or make things run smoothly. Oil, when used on the face puts a glow on your facial skin. Oil takes away the dryness or brittleness of life so to say. That is why we have petroleum oil for our cars with its by-products like Vaseline oiling our lips. That is why we have coconut oil for our skins; we have kerosene oil for our stoves and all kinds of oil for all kinds of purposes. For the virgins, the oil was meant for the oiling of their lamps to give them light to brighten & dispel the darkness of their surroundings and perhaps to illuminate their faces and make them recognisable to the groom.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOGUNrn0yLM8UV59FbTOwgY58GfEcU-UXrUSwMZjoal374azSK6xBp3djxdGt985M-iupYh-79m7muH7v48p-ma4yjCb2I09SWStyPi12_fpnx78ewwwJhv8HGu8xH04V6jRDwaCf5_Y/s1600/still_waiting_by_lostlook_by_dreamland_club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOGUNrn0yLM8UV59FbTOwgY58GfEcU-UXrUSwMZjoal374azSK6xBp3djxdGt985M-iupYh-79m7muH7v48p-ma4yjCb2I09SWStyPi12_fpnx78ewwwJhv8HGu8xH04V6jRDwaCf5_Y/s640/still_waiting_by_lostlook_by_dreamland_club.jpg" /></a></div>Now verse 5 of Matthew 25 tells me the groom was delayed. Remember the word – delayed. What do you do when your groom is delayed? Not that he jilted you, he was merely delayed; not that he didn’t want you, he was merely delayed; not that the wedding wasn’t going to hold nor that the marriage wouldn’t take place – he’s still gonna show up but he’s been merely delayed; he’s still gonna marry you but he was delayed – what are you gonna do about it eh?<br />
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Delay! Are you like me and don’t like that word at all. Never liked it then, don’t like it now. Some likely scenarios: your airport flight was delayed from 8:15am to 5:15pm, it happens. Your tailor delayed in finishing that dress you needed for a very important occasion, it happens. What about the long queues at the bank just when you need to rush in and out and then you’re told the bank computer crashed, please hold on. Or when the ever fiery preacher just keeps on yapping and refuses to round up the message in time and your godly etiquette wouldn’t permit you to just up and quit the service? Lest I forget natural blessings like when it’s raining cats and dogs or hailing an avalanche of snow at your doorsteps and right before your very eyes, the clock is ticking away and there’s nothing you can do about it as your plans just simply falls away because man or nature interfered – it is very frustrating.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4n4bpidJsA5bF1I4GN8F-6M-x4L-H8oaTjsOJH8NtuBZfiPbf2DPNSIrUcurDkZJ44rkUAXN4YA5u59s4bKP5AYD91Sj5MJcs9f_R5lYN73DTuZLw8fuft5y3-04F9Z_Yn4gl_sAs5Ds/s1600/alonewaiting.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4n4bpidJsA5bF1I4GN8F-6M-x4L-H8oaTjsOJH8NtuBZfiPbf2DPNSIrUcurDkZJ44rkUAXN4YA5u59s4bKP5AYD91Sj5MJcs9f_R5lYN73DTuZLw8fuft5y3-04F9Z_Yn4gl_sAs5Ds/s400/alonewaiting.png" /></a></div><br />
What are you going to do when your groom has been delayed and your oil is running dry? Natural reactions are beginning to set in: anxiety, panic, fear, disappointments, depression – these creepy feelings are keeping you company and making you feel even much worse. I tell you, it can be scary and frustrating. But I’ve got good news for you – I’m here to tell you that your groom is still coming! Though he delays, wait for it since it will certainly come and not be late. (Habakkuk 2:2-3). Ok but he should have been here by my 10am or 12noon or 2pm, sorry he got delayed and hasn’t shown up – na wao – this groom aint coming no more. That is a lie from the devil. Your groom is coming!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYdGz2jMFjoGwR6x6qGx_dksPbvt2hru-TFuWFlS2_k7LqiiabV8xb_yjytcRUAts7CKYfrqkcG4oucugRRA2Om-TzZzNknHGPZSkIPnDb99zcwmc03wmFwaMSZIpX_l3h1kblyiJ3q8/s1600/ChristInvitation.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYdGz2jMFjoGwR6x6qGx_dksPbvt2hru-TFuWFlS2_k7LqiiabV8xb_yjytcRUAts7CKYfrqkcG4oucugRRA2Om-TzZzNknHGPZSkIPnDb99zcwmc03wmFwaMSZIpX_l3h1kblyiJ3q8/s640/ChristInvitation.png" /></a></div><br />
Now I may be using the groom analogy but it goes beyond the marriage context. Your groom might be that long awaited child, that job or employment you searching for; that visa or admission letter that isn’t forthcoming; that contract that is way over due or that your competitor sort of snatched under your nose; that sickness that you’ve been battling since way-back-when; that promotion, ambition, dream, troubled marital home, family etc – whatever that delayed groom represents in your life, I am here to announce to you, your groom (your testimony, your breakthrough, the promise) will surely come at the appointed time. If it hasn’t come, then it isn’t the appointed time.<br />
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If you feel your bottle of oil is running dry, go buy another bottle of oil. Stock up and don’t let your (oil) run dry. It wasn’t the groom’s delay that locked the foolish virgins out of the banquet feast nor was it the beautiful lamps or the wise virgins, it was the oil – the lack of oil that they allowed to run dry that locked them out. Initially they had the oil, the purity, the grace & the joy, the love & the kindness, the presence of the Holy-Spirit but gradually, when the midnight of their lives approached, they grew weary of waiting and since time dragged on, they soon lost hope and they stopped caring. They allowed the vicissitudes of life, societal pressures etc to weigh them down. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsrsEz8zn-DCkGrLXb_YankQJA_MiRNBRXQIFbm1BRP-L46Lew5EdBA6tGLdR-QDqSmJJ5X5YCsjFO4MMhy9Cdiun4XtcZZgGj9LeRNhaLXAlavMa05kDh0LVOVPWUyLbPtxszOZgPQU/s1600/12midnigthclock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsrsEz8zn-DCkGrLXb_YankQJA_MiRNBRXQIFbm1BRP-L46Lew5EdBA6tGLdR-QDqSmJJ5X5YCsjFO4MMhy9Cdiun4XtcZZgGj9LeRNhaLXAlavMa05kDh0LVOVPWUyLbPtxszOZgPQU/s320/12midnigthclock.jpg" /></a></div>And finally, their faith grew thin. They allowed the physical to dictate the spiritual and finally they lost. This message is for those who feel they have lost their oil – you can get it back. Stop dwelling on stuff you cannot control like the time the groom would show up, the time Nigeria would be great, the time the child, admission, award or job, appointment or money would come because it would eventually come when you least expect. Go get your extra oil. Start with your little corner – your home, your neighbourhood, your village, your city, your face book page, your twitter lane, your blog –those are the places or things you can control and leave the controller of time and output to do the rest. They all became drowsy and fell asleep. Yes, those moments will surely come but when you wake up and you will because you aint dead yet, then go take a shower, a bath, a soak even and freshen up with extra oil!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVChSX7XMaR-BMTooflpNf_Cgt2M6THWe4Cy6CYs3sYKTz4TQCv54BtekTwQNyCDDgewO6E-3E1mZqGlxG7LChfi0aXn51lFAErXD5tiwvFm1SyHo3WyvGwv56kvvWDoFXPmpVqGe4qZM/s1600/oilbottles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVChSX7XMaR-BMTooflpNf_Cgt2M6THWe4Cy6CYs3sYKTz4TQCv54BtekTwQNyCDDgewO6E-3E1mZqGlxG7LChfi0aXn51lFAErXD5tiwvFm1SyHo3WyvGwv56kvvWDoFXPmpVqGe4qZM/s640/oilbottles.jpg" /></a></div> <br />
Hope you enjoyed this piece. Please don’t hurry off. I would love to read your comments so please drop them. As always the handle is: @signetsealAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-34977984013205321402013-10-10T13:12:00.002+01:002013-10-10T13:12:55.594+01:00FIRST BLESS & LOVE NIGERIA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxLSKhfFZEzD-1MtodkYgLoCeULBtVN2BOUOjkf0vWHxlXw3Xq04oNXoQy50zwVBfSeoAv6gQEmMA1llhSAd9SWoHgKuHsATX-0H9NlpTaCySOgBj4FDtd_AkufMAsZYOUVBVxWW1uKk/s1600/God-bless-Nigeria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxLSKhfFZEzD-1MtodkYgLoCeULBtVN2BOUOjkf0vWHxlXw3Xq04oNXoQy50zwVBfSeoAv6gQEmMA1llhSAd9SWoHgKuHsATX-0H9NlpTaCySOgBj4FDtd_AkufMAsZYOUVBVxWW1uKk/s640/God-bless-Nigeria.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>The day I started blessing Nigeria, Nigeria started blessing me.</b><br />
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I love this country. For long my love for Nigeria had fluctuated between hot & cold but when I decided that I'm just gonna love this country, whether or whethant (excuse my Nigerian English) things began to look beautiful.<br />
I've read the so called miracles of other nations' economies but their miracles didn't happen over-night. Hard work, discipline, vision & love for country did it for them. If success is happening for other countries, it is simply because they worked hard for it. We must pay the price for a better Nigeria. There's no short cut to a successful & developed Nigeria. Nation building is nothing but excruciating team work -we can’t have it no other way.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJyQA1tQnvGxkaJHHcItbwLP77EsI_oeyyL1-Pa6rIfvQHLGrt2LJqHyv-V5gMeP6ZlGPhc5Z7RN2pusIz05V1MalHyTo66BZMeAq56P8s4Rj2L3vsmKultAiN_2ByW2r0rijS4VBIN4/s1600/i-love-nigeria-concept-road-sign-isolated-on-white-background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJyQA1tQnvGxkaJHHcItbwLP77EsI_oeyyL1-Pa6rIfvQHLGrt2LJqHyv-V5gMeP6ZlGPhc5Z7RN2pusIz05V1MalHyTo66BZMeAq56P8s4Rj2L3vsmKultAiN_2ByW2r0rijS4VBIN4/s400/i-love-nigeria-concept-road-sign-isolated-on-white-background.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Nigeria became a battered country because fellow Nigerians beat her blue & black, not robots. Try loving her and you'll be amazed at how she can love in return. Be patient with Nigeria. Give her that TLC (tender loving care) treatment that you so love to be given & see whether she won’t reciprocate :) You gotta love the land for the land to love you back - it’s a reciprocal relationship -it’s exactly what you sow for Nigeria that you get in return. If you hate Nigeria, Nigeria is gonna frustrate you & hate you back in return. Nothing good is gonna happen until you change your attitude towards her. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwh-KnYxgXJorKSlOjTLisH9JnblcIYjmiqsQGpFoWpxgWR0mnLY8isDj3yhRmeKe1J0QjzMbrPHi1Y7QP9R8JBvfMAO0opF_eylavGyTVbndPZfyP_sQ6lIhta_z3s2GW9m0uCP7rz1Y/s1600/Iamnigeria-+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwh-KnYxgXJorKSlOjTLisH9JnblcIYjmiqsQGpFoWpxgWR0mnLY8isDj3yhRmeKe1J0QjzMbrPHi1Y7QP9R8JBvfMAO0opF_eylavGyTVbndPZfyP_sQ6lIhta_z3s2GW9m0uCP7rz1Y/s320/Iamnigeria-+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div>Many foreigners, despite all our so called problems, are still trouping into Nigeria to make money - the same Nigeria you & I live & come from. If you cannot see anything good in this country, honestly, if you can leave just leave because what you cannot see, you cannot get.<br />
You see, Nigeria the land has never been the problem. She's been nothing but a lady. It’s the people guys - the people make up Nigeria - it’s in the way we treat her - she is like a tired & beaten woman who has woken up to the realization that she can be better. Every day I see her get better because you & I woke up to bless and not use & abuse her. You have to begin to have dogged faith in calling those things which do not exist in Nigeria as though they did & it will surely come to be. Have a great new attitude towards Nigeria and may God bless you all. Cheers and have a great day guys. :)<br />
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Feel free to follow me on twitter guys. The handle is: @signetseal<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-82703673510522276562013-10-01T18:34:00.000+01:002013-10-01T19:00:18.278+01:00Good Ole Mr & Mrs Critic<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRih1dM4vvX3qWIEty1LY9DRS1UwcOkhkyXnTEwEdcY6W9YHIUc3p9jgJp9a7c2-kHDRHYLEzcAjOJVGKx120Jm3_P_w5M10lyULxKTT0vtnvBiRI-8kcwTNMo-VWJYvTl_gwXTKr7JU/s1600/Green+nature-1080p-80-1366x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRih1dM4vvX3qWIEty1LY9DRS1UwcOkhkyXnTEwEdcY6W9YHIUc3p9jgJp9a7c2-kHDRHYLEzcAjOJVGKx120Jm3_P_w5M10lyULxKTT0vtnvBiRI-8kcwTNMo-VWJYvTl_gwXTKr7JU/s400/Green+nature-1080p-80-1366x768.jpg" /></a></div>Some people have a knack for teaching or preaching. Some for writing, sports, cooking whilst some just love criticizing – the good ole Mr & Mrs Critic - I tell you, these negative critics just can’t seem to have enough. I’ve got nothing against constructive criticisms ok, but criticism for the fun of criticism – well that aint right you know. Take for instance, a girl walks into a bank wearing an above the ankle short skirt and almost trips on 5 inches high-heeled shoes, if you’re sitting beside Mrs Critic, she’s definitely going to make a sarcastic comment, preceded perhaps with a hiss, “why is she wearing such high heels to the bank?” and complete it with a disdainful 180 roll of her eyes.<br />
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What about in church. I was invited to an Anglican service and to my utter amazement, while a man was testifying about how God saved him from an accident or so, one of the girls sitting behind me said “see his eyes like frog eyes, how can he see well with it.” I couldn’t help myself, I whipped my head around so fast that I suffered a cricked neck for some days, and I eyed her and shushed her up too for good measure. She didn’t stop though. She stopped briefly only to continue with a roll-on commentary about every aspect of the church service – some mothers do have them!<br />
In church again. One of the female choir members, who happened to be the lead vocalist for that particular choir ministration, was belting out a beautiful worship song and erm, apparently, the pitch sort of went out of wack, ok, it was kind of funny, (and I smiled inside of me) you know but definitely not the kind of goof that you mouth out in the congregation but Mrs Critic, who was sitting beside me would not let it go. To my chagrin, she turned to me and said with a conspiratorial wink, “No be by force say some people must join choir na. If she no get voice, sanitation department dey na.” Choi! Well, I also whispered to her, to give the lady a chance to perfect her God-given-vocals, to which Mrs Critic gave me a smooth unbroken 360 roll of the eyes that seemed to say “wetin this one dey talk na.”<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OlTo7Uy37m8WgF9eXEalbB8K10HLqYXcVBBBEZJ0x-DHk4TABiWJWbC_gHNuuXywevVqFjSyH7Md0bp9Gifi_mT2gn5J-l02TQX_tm1BFtLa12po9ufiOGSVCWeAFFbemJ8Ozhu0mfM/s1600/say-something-positive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OlTo7Uy37m8WgF9eXEalbB8K10HLqYXcVBBBEZJ0x-DHk4TABiWJWbC_gHNuuXywevVqFjSyH7Md0bp9Gifi_mT2gn5J-l02TQX_tm1BFtLa12po9ufiOGSVCWeAFFbemJ8Ozhu0mfM/s640/say-something-positive.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Enter October 1st 2013, I’ve been reading through lots and lots of comments about Nigeria. I tell you, you gotta give it to Nigerians, we are one articulate people and we can win a war on twitville hands down! Some comments were downright hilarious & deserved the ‘LWKMD’ responses they got. Some were quite optimistic & hopeful - I really loved when my friend Jenny remarked that “I celebrate Nigeria, I recognise that we are very far from where we ought to be, but I choose to celebrate Nigeria today, at least we have not yet broken up into many different parts…” Still, Frank Edwards tweeted “Am a proud owner of a green passport.” Not bad from Nigerian hopefuls.<br />
<br />
But some comments were downright nasty, I shuddered. Some people even threatened to un-friend anyone who as much as mention any good about Nigeria while others bluntly told him to go ahead and do so. Some were obviously angry and rightly so about the not so great conditions in Nigeria. Some rained down curses on her while others went ahead to bless her with beautiful words of blessings. <br />
I love opinionated people anyway, nothing wrong with that. Why take the 5th amendment, when you can jolly well exercise your freedom of speech. As someone once put it, it is not the freedom of speech that is in question in Nigeria, it is the freedom after speech. Hmmm – I can hear the threat and fear and almost a word of caution there. <br />
Let me conclude by saying that free speech is a good thing. Positive speech is even better but words spoken to correct, to build, to heal and to impact is damn better! I shall end this with one of the tweets I loved from @damilolaonline: “Be the change you want to see. EMBODY THE VALUES you desire to see in Nigerian leaders and citizens. Happy independence fellows – Nigeria is 53, Huha! :) <br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-54769725154044465062013-09-10T22:23:00.000+01:002013-09-11T09:50:27.850+01:00Things I Love About Tarok People & Culture.<a href="http://thesealuponmyheart.blogspot.com"></a><br />
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I am a tarok woman by birth. Both my parents are tarok. And though I was born and raised in Lagos for the first 17 years of my life, my parents tried very hard to inculcate tarok values in me in faraway Lagos. So I can proudly say that I speak tarok even though not as fluently as I would have loved to or like some of my tarok peers. I can also proudly say that I go by a tarok name which is a good thing because my features aren’t so tarok-ly pronounced and several people have mistaken me for a southern lady - that is until they hear my name.<br />
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As a tarok woman, my ethnicity places me squarely from Langtang and geo-politically from the Middle-belt or North-central region of Nigeria. That makes the Hausa language, alongside the English language, the lingua-franca of my state, Plateau state even though I speak laughable Hausa. Ok. Enough introductions. <br />
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When my parents relocated to Jos, I began to meet & know relatives I had hitherto not met. I began to understand some tarok ways & traits even better. I also came face to face with the twist & turns of the tarok traditions - some I loved while some scared me shitless.<br />
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I love the way the tarok woman is brought up on hygiene. The tarok woman is brought up to be clean, neat & tidy. It is expected of a tarok woman to be well domesticated – should know how to cook well, clean well, farm well & generally, take good care of the home – you know, in the typical African manner. My parents taught me all these – yes including farming – I hate farming! This physical exercise, I believe is too exerting for women or perhaps, if I may add, modern women.<br />
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I love that tarok women can cook very well ranging from delicacies I love like tuwo, amwam (amora), rice with zogele, soups like agbantar, ground-nut soup & izhin, karkashi, okra, etc. My mom taught me how to cook these too. I love that tarok women are taught to dress properly & decently covered. Mother taught me this too. I love that tarok women can compose and sing beautiful native songs. Mother taught me this too.<br />
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I like the way we are taught to respect our elders. I like the way we are taught to receive & welcome strangers. In truth, if you forget anything, you rarely forget the hospitality shown to you by a tarok family. I still believe that two of the strongest & striking qualities of the tarok people, are their generosity and hospitality to strangers & visitors. <br />
The tarok people are a firm advocate of the saying: “first impression matters.” The tarok man would rather starve with his family than let a stranger go hungry. And I mean that literally. If you doubt that, just pay a visit to a tarok home.<br />
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I love the communal spirit of the tarok people especially the support they give during bereavement, or loss. The tarok man would rally around to provide comfort to a grieving family. The women would cook & visit; the men would give financial support & also visit. What about during weddings? If a tarok man/woman loves you, he/she would cross rivers just to be present at your wedding. I believe that when it comes to support, the tarok people have a strong support system.<br />
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For the sake of peace & neighbourliness, the tarok person can over-look numerous offences just to keep the peace until when comprehensively provoked. You have a tribe that can be quite enduring. Of course, you cannot talk about Christianity/religion & leave out the tarok people. Tarok Christians are passionate about their God & Sundays. Tarok traditional worshippers are passionate about their gods & Orims. I love this tarok passion.<br />
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O how I love the passion of the tarok man or woman. Their passion for anything gives them focus, makes them committed & give them the strength to achieve. I love the way the men are taught to aggressively defend their families & communities. Your typical tarok man, can die for his people – no kidding. They are fiercely loyal & protective & would courageously take up arms, if need be, to defend what they love. Perhaps, that is why many of them are found in military professions. These and many more are some of the things I love about my tarok people & nation.<br />
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But it seems, these days and naturally too, a new breed and generation of the tarok people are rising up and have risen, who do not understand certain aspects, ways & traditions of the tarok nation. These breed of new generation tarok youths are questioning certain age-long traditions that seem unappealing and discriminatory to tarok women and the fair notions of justice & equity in tarok land.<br />
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For instance, the issue of certain tarok traditional policies that relate to our customs and how it affects good governance amongst tarok people and in tarok land. We can all agree that “governance is a people to people movement. It is a vibrant interaction between people, between structures, processes that support the exercise of legitimate authority in provision of sound leadership, direction, oversight, and control of an entity in order to ensure that its intention and purpose is achieved, and that there is proper accounting for the conduct of its affairs, the use of its resources, and the results of its actions.”<br />
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While bad governance is not responsive to the changing needs of the people, good governance, according to Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General “is perhaps the single most important factor in eradicating poverty and promoting development.”<br />
Research clearly shows that good governance has certain major qualities. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive, and follows the rule of law. In other words, good governance amongst the tarok people should be responsive to the present and future needs of the tarok people and nation and should exercise prudence in policy-setting and decision-making, in which the best interests of all stakeholders are taken into account. You would all agree with me that the tarok women are major stakeholders in tarok community. It is therefore acceptable wisdom that for the good development of both the land and people, women are treated fairly and equitably.<br />
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From the discussions I have held with several tarok women, my mom inclusive, two crucial issues stand out like open sores about the way & manner a tarok woman is contemptibly abused when it comes to asset possession in the land.<br />
1) The issue of Not giving land to women in tarok land.<br />
2) The issue of Not including women in a representative & equitable manner during inheritance distribution.<br />
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I have been told several times by my mom, uncles, brothers and relatives that it is anti-tarok to give women land or inheritance in tarok land. One would think that the rules dropped from heaven and fell slap-dash on the tarok nation. Why? Because women were regarded in those days, as inferior to men and it was even considered a waste of time sending them to school.<br />
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Now come let us reason together as reasonable people. In the past, ancient traditions/superstitions frowned upon twin-births but with education & enlightenment came understanding & thankfully, the killing of twins was abolished. In the past, people were buried alive alongside a dead king but with education & enlightenment, this practice was abolished. Again, the practice of slavery was abolished because rational & moral thinking people opposed it. People were stoned to death in the past for committing adultery, but from a Christian perspective, Jesus changed all that with His message of love and forgiveness.<br />
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There are so many barbaric & detestable practices that we have condemned and dropped because with education & enlightenment and perhaps civilisation, it has become anomalous to our society. <br />
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Today, we have very many educated & enlightened tarok men & women. Isn’t then, time to change these discriminatory customs of land & property against our women? <br />
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Why? You may ask. It is simple logic. Today’s tarok women, many of whom are educated are also contributing significantly to the overall development of the family, the community & the nation. We have women ranging from Ambassador (Prof) Mary Lar, Professor Lami Lombin, Dr Patricia Lar, Dr Mafwil, to Hon. Beni Lar making impact in their respective endeavours. We have female tarok doctors, surgeons, lawyers, engineers, writers, lecturers, architects, business women, bankers, politicians, military personnel, etc in diverse professions of life contributing their own quota to development anywhere & everywhere in this nation and the world.<br />
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Believe it or not, this issue of land & inheritance is affecting & grieving our women & has short-changed many a tarok woman. On the other hand, our women investors are going outside tarok land to acquire land & properties in order to protect themselves. I have friends who are building in Lagos, Abuja, Jos, etc because as one of them puts it, “at least, the land is in my name.” Another tarok woman by marriage said hissing, “if I build in my husband’s village, tomorrow now, in the event of the slightest quarrel or death, my husband's people or brothers will come and claim that I should give them back their land.” Still another tarok woman was deprived of a property she bought in her father’s name because of her female gender. A close friend once told me of how her uncle took ownership of her father’s house because her mom bore only female children and because tarok indigenous laws do not make provision for land ownership privileges for our female folks. This is simply appalling!<br />
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Some have been driven out of homes they built or invested in merely for the simple fact that they were barren, single or had only female children. Women should not be discriminated against merely because they are barren, single or bear only female children. Being a woman is not a crime. And this practice is not in the interest of equity & good governance. We cannot talk about good governance in tarok land without addressing certain grievous issues concerning how we treat our women. We cannot talk about good governance without addressing vexing issues about tarok customs that discriminate our women. Isn’t it about time we do away with customs that excludes women from owning lands and sharing inheritance in the land?<br />
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What am I saying? I am saying that today, tarok women are effectively holding decision making roles in the society and performing at these roles commendably. This means our women are not inferior to the men. This write-up is not putting forward a case of equality nor dragging equality status with our men. No, even though that is debatable. I will be the first to accept that the man is the Cock-Rooster and therefore free to do his cock-a-doodle-doo which makes him the head of the family – based on my religious beliefs and still subject to meeting certain conditions.<br />
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However, I cannot accept that tarok women cannot be equitably represented in the distribution of land & inheritance in tarok kingdom & amongst tarok families. It is highly repugnant to absent women from land ownership/inheritance. It is anti-tarok to be discriminatory.<br />
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I am therefore appealing to our sage, educated, enlightened & compassionate tarok people, influencers, elders etc to reconsider & change the laws of the land that do not favour the tarok woman.<br />
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I hope this article would re-open robust & engaging discussions about the issues affecting not only the tarok woman but also, other perennially pressing issues about governance and leadership principles in tarok community. I shall conclude with this tarok proverb: “Aya pu una atak abu ucar te iwab iram kat do.” Meaning, only if you give a woman a farm land, would she then be able to farm.<br />
My name is Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi and I am proud to be a tarok woman.<br />
@signetseal<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-16749122372761320352013-08-29T16:15:00.002+01:002013-08-29T16:15:39.863+01:00Is Nigeria An Enduring Enigma? <a href="http://thesealuponmyheart.blogspot.com"></a><br />
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The Follet philosophy states that “any enduring society, any continuously productive industrial organization, must be grounded upon a recognition of the motivating desires of the individual of the group.” Enter the enigma called Nigeria.<br />
An enigma is defined as a person, thing or situation that is mysterious and difficult to understand, something that mystifies or puzzles. So walk with me here my fellow Nigerians. Let us find out if Nigeria is indeed something of an enigma.<br />
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We all know that Nigeria gained her independence on October 1st 1960. We also know that this country called Nigeria (thanks or no thanks to Lord Lugard) was amalgamated in 1914. So whether you look at Nigeria from the year 1960 or the year 1914, it goes that Nigeria will be [going by the hype by the government & the media alike] celebrating 100 years come 2014. Ok. Now that we’ve established the age of Nigeria which is either going on 53 or 99 years old this year & 54 or 100 years next year, we all agree that judging by any standard, we have an adult in our hands. We have an adult country still standing as one federal entity.<br />
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It is purely common sense to expect that an under aged child will still be dependent on her parents for certain necessities of life. The parents are of course, obligated to provide, pending on their income, a certain manner of life that the child grows up to be accustomed to. But on the other hand, when the child having grown to adulthood, asserts her independence, she is no more fully dependant on her parents for every aspect of her growth. The parents have done their fundamental duty of training the child to become independent, eventually. Perhaps, over the course of growing up, a wise child would continually come back to the parents for guidance & good counsel. But the whole purpose of growing up would be to eventually become useful to self, family, the community at large and to develop upon the already existing structure or to create an even better structure in the process for those after you.<br />
<br />
Nigeria at 53 or 99 is an adult nation. We may say that the era of the civil war, the military regimes and coup de tats, were all the usual floundering motions of Nigeria becoming an independent and strong nation. We may say that the social & economic issues we faced when we were a country of 24 years & above through WAI (War Against Indiscipline), SAP (Structural Adjustment Programme), MAMSER (Mass Mobilization for Self Reliance, Social Justice & Economic Recovery), the vision 2010 agenda etc, were all failed programmes because then we lacked the right structure, resources of knowledge, & man-power to deliver, perhaps. <br />
<br />
We have had so many failed developmental visions, policies & programmes for poverty reduction in this nation. We have articulated so many great political manifestoes that have failed in this country & are still failing. We are great at formulating policies but terrible at policy implementation because of the lack of political will for the enforcement of such policies. We have deeply embedded issues of corruption in leadership & governance in every layer of government and non-government activities. We may even tell ourselves that what we failed to correct in our economic policies, governance, politics & leadership back in 1960, through to 1980, we will correct in 1990 and what we failed to learn in 1990 we hope to have learned in the year 2000, and up until 2013 we are still giving ourselves excuses for our dismal failure in developing this country called Nigeria.<br />
<br />
Nigeria has been overtaken in development by other African countries like Ghana, Senegal, Zambia etc. and other developing nations like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Venezuela have left us behind. It’s like we have tried so many great ideas and we just keep on failing – something is very wrong. Something is very wrong with a citizenry that would not hold their leaders accountable. When there is no good governance & there is no access to quality education, when the money being given is not commensurate with the development being done, when there is so much money and so little impact to show for it, then the people have a right to ask those they have elected – why? The people have a right to know how much was given and what exactly it was used for. The legitimacy of the government is based on the consent given by the people to govern them. The Government was elected into government because the people put them there. Therefore, it is the responsibilities of the citizenry of Nigeria to monitor the activities of their political leaders in order to ensure that their performance is proportionate to their mandate to govern.<br />
<br />
Now let us go back to our introductory Follet philosophy which states that “any enduring society (oya, cut out the part that says, “any organization…blablabla and continue with the part that says “must be grounded upon a recognition…”) You will end up with my refined version of Follet’s philosophy to fit the congruent nature of the conundrum called Nigeria. This would make it:<br />
“any enduring society like Nigeria must be grounded upon a recognition of the motivating desires of the individual of the group.”<br />
I have chosen to refer to Nigeria as an enduring society because Nigeria is a society that is enduring hardship for all the wrong reasons. We are by no means even a “continuously productive industrial” nation. Rather we have become a “continuously consuming under-developing” nation. So even though we are above 50, still, we are underdeveloped in almost every sector of our nation’s economy. Now when I refer to a society like Nigeria as enduring, I am saying that Nigerians have the ability to continue to suffer & tolerate all the painful & difficult hardships that they have been compelled to undergo by the same leaders they entrusted with their votes because Nigerians accept every bullshit that is thrown at them without complaining or demanding accountability from the people they elected. Gbam!<br />
For example:<br />
1) Nigerians have the ability to continue to elect the wrong leaders for the wrong reasons of ethnicity, tribe & religion<br />
2) Nigerians have the ability to tolerate the daily killings of Nigerian citizens in different parts of Nigeria & the world without demanding for drastic action to put a stop to it.<br />
3) Nigerians have the ability to allow their National assembly members to keep collecting outrageous salaries that run into trillions of Naira for doing work that rarely impacts the people at the grass root level and at the expense of the Nigerian populace.<br />
4) Nigerians have the ability to endure the imposition of unfair taxes ranging from increment in bank transactional rates to transportation to visa fees to telecommunication services and on every area of our lives without doing anything about it as a people.<br />
5) Nigerians have the enduring ability to continually give bribes over services that is their rights as citizens to get.<br />
6) Nigerians have the enduring ability not to question or require accountability for how much money is received & spent by their governors, Local government chairmen/care-takers, presidents or leaders. <br />
7) Nigerians have the enduring ability not to question why our once valued unity schools or tertiary institutions are plagued with inferior teaching infrastructure & poor quality teaching standards or the poor remuneration of our teaching staff which has led to non-stop Asuu strikes.<br />
8) Nigerians have the enduring ability not to question why basic health amenities cannot be provided for pregnant women or children or students or its citizenry. (I read somewhere in the papers that in a medical facility in Kwali, pregnant women are required to produce certain gallons or basins of water before they can give birth – isn’t that outrageous enough for us!) I can go on and on.<br />
<br />
Let me make this very clear. For as long as we find it tolerable & satisfactory for electricity not to be constant, water not to be available, Asuu to always be on strike, Legislators to be growing fat on outrageous salaries etc then we are saying to our leaders that they are doing well. That complacent attitude of ours that make us not to protest or clamour for constructive change in such a way that we are taken very seriously by our leaders, make of us a complacent nation!<br />
Our so called enduring ability is making us keep quiet when our leaders slap us on the face; it is making us keep quiet when we see or give a bribe; it is making us keep quiet when our pastors or so called men of God are doing something wrong; it is making us keep quiet when those ‘oga-at-the-tops’ are asking us to cover a wrongful deed in the name of misplaced loyalty.<br />
We choose to be quiet, why? Because if you talk in church, the church will call you rebellious in the name of “touch-not-my-anointed-and-do-my-prophet-no-harm.’ Why? Because if you speak out in your secular job or career or profession or government against something wrong, you will be in big trouble with your ‘oga-at-the-top’ or the government may just pin something on you. So in and out of season, in church and outside church, at work and outside work, Nigerians are oppressed and suppressed into keeping quiet because the penalty for speaking out, protesting or participating in rallies may be too steep sometimes.<br />
We have become a people so used to suffering that even when someone is just doing the job he was paid to do, we feel compelled to tip him.<br />
<br />
I understand. I too I am Nigerian. But my fellow Nigerians, we cannot continue to stay silent. My fellow Nigerians, while we stay silent, the world is passing us by; while we stay silent, the giant of Africa is diminishing; while we stay silent, the world is wondering what has happened to the great men & women of Nigeria who seem to do so well both inside & outside this country.<br />
<br />
When you’re as involved in social media as I sometimes tend to be, you get to hear the ceaseless voices of youths clamouring for change via the 140 maximum tweet medium. Only recently, I read a tweet from a concerned Nigerian who said “I sincerely think we got independence too early” But I guess that is water under the bridge now. The question is, what have we done with the independence we have? Is Nigeria better now than it was in 1960 & 1980 & 1990? <br />
<br />
Recently the blogger Omojuwa said “Nigeria needs a competent, impatient president, who is allergic to bullshit and is extremely mad at the system.” I concur. Like Ike Amadi would say, please, ‘do something!’ Let’s not leave Oby Ezekwesili standing alone asking for a debate that is so necessary. Let’s not leave the likes of Fela Durotaye & Leke Alder standing alone in fighting to encourage & better the lot of Nigerians. Let’s not leave Omojuwa, Ken Henshaw, Canary, Elnathan etc, and all the twitter activists alone clamoring for change. Or Pa Ikhide who never stops using his brilliant sense of sarcasm to draw the attention of Nigerians to the troubling issues in our land.<br />
<br />
Like you & I, we have many people in this country seeking for a new Nigeria, a new direction & a better way to demand good governance. It is time to rise up & be counted for good in this country. The time for keeping silent is over. Now is the time for the good people of Nigeria to ‘do something’ right. Let us join hands and demystify this enigma called Nigeria.<br />
<br />
Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi<br />
@signetseal<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-62380019231003040482013-06-26T16:25:00.001+01:002013-06-26T16:34:42.648+01:00A Letter From Persia - Thou Peacock Among Queens<br />
Hello.<br />
<br />
My name is Vashti. Some of you may still remember me. Some of you might have heard of me. Some, of course, have never heard my name. That’s ok. Do I blame you? No. You see, it was entirely my fault…<br />
<br />
A very long time ago, you may find this hard to believe, but I used to be the queen of Persia. My last name was Ahaseurus. I was called queen Vashti and I was wife to the greatest King of my time. My husband was the great King Ahaseurus, King of all Persia & Medes.<br />
I was renowned for my beauty and celebrated for my position as the queen of Persia. If you doubt me, then by all means, look me up in the book of Esther chapter 1 verse 11. The royal poets described the pulchritude of my person as thus: <br />
<br />
Queen Vashti, of the alabaster skin… her pearly eyes overwhelms the hearts of mortal men<br />
Our queen Vashti of wit and poise, ten thousand songs can’t sing your tale<br />
<br />
Another poet described me as:<br />
<br />
O behold the Queen Vashti<br />
O behold the one endowed with the beauty of a goddess<br />
<br />
But my favourite was:<br />
<br />
“thou art the irreplaceable Queen Vashti; a peacock among queens. The stars bowed to your star for your destiny outshone the fairest of them all.”<br />
Whoa! How I loved that poem. I loved that poem so much that I named the fountain in my garden: ‘the Peacock of Fountains.’<br />
<br />
The Poets of my time, all tried to out-do themselves with complimentary and many times, obsequious descriptions of me. Every day I got scrolls of poetry written just for me by the best of poets all trying to win my attention and O how I loved the jostle by ardent admirers striving to get their poetry to be read to me. It was all fun and an enjoyable part of being the queen of Persia.<br />
<br />
I was also highly intelligent, and as queen, it goes without saying that I controlled all the women affairs of my day. I remember how I used to hold court, sometimes in the west wing of my quarters, and many times in the majestic splendour of my garden famed for its rich variety of exotic flowers brought to me from all parts of the world. I can still see the fountain of peacock I commanded to be constructed for me right at the centre of my garden. It was constructed by the best skilled workmen of my days and no expense was spared in its construction. It was the poetic phrase ‘a peacock among queens’ that got me to build a fountain that was beautiful enough to pander to my ego and pride. The fountain was surrounded by statues of peacocks overlaid with pure gold and the peacock tail was overlaid with nothing but the best of precious stones. At night, the falling water from the fountain made the peacocks glitter like stars and in the day, the sun set-off the dazzling colors of the gem stones. Instead of stones, I had algum wood for my walk-ways and had bronze pillars made. Golden exotic flowers were placed on top of these pillars and statues of supple but athletic young men and nude young women were casted beside the pillars bowing down to a monument of myself in the middle of the Peacock fountain.<br />
<br />
Because my husband the King had fleet of ships that went to places like Ophir to bring back rich cargoes of gold and precious stones, I was always decked in gold and gems of the best quality. You needed to have seen me – from my head, to my neck, I had gold & diamond beads stringed around my head and clasped about my neck. I wore the finest gem stones like rubies and I never used silver as my jewellery because it was so much in abundance in my Kingdom, it was considered as nothing in my days. I had music played to me from all kinds of musical instrument while I laid supinely on my ivory-casted chaise lounge. Musical sounds from the lyre, the harp, the ocarina and all kinds of musical instruments ushered my presence in and out of my gardens. My jewel adorned feet walked only on petals thrown by slave girls before my path as I walked. Exotic nude dancers covered only by scanty leaves, were brought to dance before me daily.<br />
<br />
And I knew how to make an entrance too for when I did, all eyes stopped on me and all activities paled into insignificance; people always tried to drink in my beauty for I rarely stepped out for ordinary public functions only the most special of functions got me to unveil my beauty.<br />
Was it conceit or was it arrogance? Call it what you please, I had it all. My king would do anything I asked and he gave in to my whims and impulses all the time for I was his beloveth queen and he refused me nothing! <br />
<br />
Until I committed the unpardonable sin… <br />
<br />
I had waited six months for King Ahaseurus to send for me during the one hundred and eighty day feast he had organized for all the kingdom of Persia. He didn’t. I waited all through the last day of the second feast and still he didn’t. Not until the very late hours of the last day of the feast did he send his distasteful eunuchs to come get me. I was so furious and piqued that I – the great, the beautiful, the legendary queen Vashti - was going to be showed off to his drunken officials like an expensive acquisition of the King. But I was even more upset that after all my wait for one hundred and eighty days, he only chose to summon me before the local citizens of Sushan on the 7th day of the 2nd feast. He dared to send for me on a day I also was entertaining the women of Shushan so of course when the summons came, rather late, I was making merry with the women and had had too much to drink. In my tipsy state of mind, when the summons of my King came, I arrogantly refused to obey and I said no! I dared him and said no!<br />
<br />
Now you have to understand who King Ahaseurus was to understand the gravity of my offence. He was commander in chief, ruler, and King over one hundred and twenty seven provinces from India to Ethiopia that made up the whole Persia and Media Empire. He was the most powerful King in the world at the time above all and sundry and no one had ever defied him and lived to tell the story. So when he decided to hold a one hundred and eighty day feast to display his majestic grandeur, wealth and might, it was no ordinary year. It was six lavish months of socio-cultural festivities and display of the Persian might and the best that King Ahaseurus had to offer in every area of human endeavour – only the best of the best in activities such as sporting, artistry, dancing, poetry, culinary, beauty, you name it activities were offered. The who-in-who of all Persia and Media were there to behold a display never before seen in their life-time! It therefore went without saying that on a day of his choosing, King Ahaseurus would want to display his regal queen who was famed both far and wide for her legendary beauty and majestic fascination.<br />
<br />
And I said No!<br />
<br />
I dared to say no to my husband; I dared to say no to my Lord; I dared to say no to my King; I dared to say no to the King of Persia and Media; I dared to say no to the commander in chief of the whole 187 provinces from India to Ethiopia and with all my perceived intelligence, I chose the wrong time to say no – before all the great people who held the King in great esteem and whose opinions mattered to the king! <br />
<br />
By saying no, I disrespected my husband and King before the whole world. By saying no, I humiliated the great King Ahaseurus, the conqueror and vanquisher of the great kingdoms and nations that made up the Empire of Persia and Media and before the very people he reigned over. What was I thinking! Was it the wine that said no? Was it my bruised pride that said no? Was it my arrogance or conceit that said no? Was it my exulted position that said no? Or was it the heady flowery compliments, and the grand picture of myself as a goddess standing in the peacock fountain that made me say no? I think it was all of the above.<br />
<br />
I forgot my place – just for an imaginary moment. Maybe that moment was the gradual amalgamation of many conceited moments peaked into one decisive moment. Whatever it was, I lost my head and with one grave mistake, one word, one moment, one day, I fell from grace to grass.<br />
<br />
After what I did, I heard the King was livid. I heard rumours and whispers from my serving ladies and even the king’s eunuchs that my matter was considered a serious violation of royal etiquette and was being deliberated upon by the royal council of the King’s advisers. I didn’t take it seriously. I laughed it off and told my maidens that the King had more important and pressing matters of the Kingdom than wasting time over a mere domestic matter between the King and Queen. And that he would cool down after a while. After all, what was a little tiff between the King and Queen – so I thought. I didn’t give it a second thought. I was the beautiful Queen Vashti after all. Where would the King find another beautiful Vashti like me! O was I proud. I even strolled to my Peacock of Fountain and made one of my ladies read to me one of my most favoured poems describing the uniqueness and rareness of who I was while I fanned myself with one of my petti-fans:<br />
<br />
“thou art the irreplaceable Queen Vashti; a peacock among queens. The stars bowed to your star for your destiny outshone the fairest of them all.”<br />
<br />
On that fateful day, the King’s eunuchs marched purposefully into my gardens with an unreadable expression while one of them held up a scroll and began reading the King’s edict out to me – was it Bigtha or Biztha, I can’t remember – as he read the edict, my heart stopped for a moment and I knew that my reign as queen Vashti was over! Just like that! They gave me the copy of the edict when they finished reading and turned and walked away. I read it again and again and again and it had the royal assent of my husband the King on it.<br />
<br />
I dared to take my King and husband for granted. I allowed pride and vanity to gain the upper hand over me. I got carried away by the ceaseless flattery of adoration. I got carried away with my external beauty and forgot that beauty begins from the inside. I forgot my place as the queen was beside my husband. I was stripped of my royal status and banished to another part of the palace never again to stand before the great King Ahaseurus. I became ex-queen Vashti. Oooo to have been a queen of an empire as great as the Persian empire and then to become an ex-queen overnight was the most horrible and most painful humiliation ever to happen to any queen. It wasn’t that my King had died. It wasn’t that my King was slain or even deposed. There was no palace coup then I could have blamed it on a coup. I brought this upon myself. Better if I had never been queen; better if I had even been demoted to a royal concubine then I could have still seen my King and maybe work my way back but I was stripped, banished, exiled and relegated to a hidden obscured part of the palace, never to stand in the presence of my King ever again! All because I was proud and vain and foolish and my senses took leave of me for an instant!<br />
<br />
Sob sob sob.<br />
<br />
At the end, the King never found another Queen Vashti, no. He didn’t want another Vashti. Instead the King found a newer and better Queen Esther. People say, she was the fairest of them all. The King even named a holiday after her called ‘the Feast of Esther.’ King Ahaseurus found a better and finer replacement for the Peacock of the Fountain – he found – Hadassah the slave girl, orphan turned queen. And the Peacock, yes, I, the Peacock of the Fountain was never seen again! <br />
<br />
Now mothers use my name to tell stories to their daughters about the consequences of a disrespectful wife. Vashti is now synonymous with everything bad-mannered. They sing with my name saying:<br />
<br />
Beautiful Vashti<br />
Vashti was a queen<br />
Vashti was the Peacock queen<br />
But Vashti had no sense<br />
And Vashti tumbled down<br />
Came Esther with a smile<br />
And God was on her side<br />
Esther was the beauty queen<br />
Esther had a lot of sense<br />
Queen Esther won his heart <br />
<br />
Alas the irreplaceable Queen Vashti was replaced by a slave girl and diminished by the legend of Queen Esther – I hear she played a key role in the deliverance of her people called the Jews of Perisa!<br />
<br />
Signed<br />
Regrettably from<br />
Ex-queen Vashti Ahaseurus<br />
<br />
NB<br />
If you ever read this letter, may you learn from my mistake that pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Learn and don’t make the mistakes I once made.<br />
<br />
@signetseal.<br />
Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-70374858468624850362013-05-27T15:29:00.000+01:002013-05-27T15:29:32.352+01:00Never Back Down From An Elijah-istic Challenge With The Devil – Never!Never Back Down From An Elijah-istic Challenge With The Devil – Never!<br />
<br />
There is no time I have read 1Kings chapter 18:20-46 (Elijah versus the prophets of Baal) that my spirit has not been ignited with the fear, fire and awesome might of the almighty God. The same goes for 1 Samuel chapter 17:26-58 (David & Goliath) and Daniel chapter 3:8-30 (Shadrach Meshach & Abednego versus King Nebuchadnezzar) and Daniel 6:1-28 (Daniel in the Lion’s Den)<br />
A very long time ago, a man called Elijah threw a simple challenge, a test, or call it an examination if you like, but the venue was on Mount Carmel. He said:<br />
<br />
“…call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” 1Kings 18:24<br />
<br />
Everyone agreed and at the end of that challenge, the real God manifested in honour of His name and prophet and the false gods were disgraced and so were his so called prophets. Answer: The God who brought down fire won! But what makes the challenge exciting, was the telling of it and all the ensuing drama that led to the challenge and the historic victory on Mount Carmel. The battle was between one man who had just one God against 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah who had the whole earthly might of the King and queen of Israel and yet the one man and His one God toppled the multitudes of gods and his multitudes of prophets. Doesn’t that tell you something? That the God of Elijah is not a God of the crowd nor is He swayed by popular opinions. Romans chapter 8 verse 31 states clearly:<br />
“…if God is for us, who can be against us?”<br />
<br />
As far as God who is called Yahweh is behind your actions, supporting and encouraging you, then you’ve got nothing to fear. But before God would put His lot with you and stake His integrity and power on you, it is you who have to show Him that you are totally surrendered to His will and His ways and that come what may, you are committed to being in this relationship with God for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do you part only to reunite in heaven. God who is not a respecter of persons do not bow to the fickle-minded wishes of men of clay who have no regard for His Holiness. He has absolute authority over all His created things and therefore He cannot share His glory with a mortal man. Impossible! Hell will freeze over before God does that. Therefore when He desires to deal with man, He seeks out one who is faithful and available; He seeks out one who will not be swayed by materialistic tendencies; He seeks out one who will not be carried away with the mundane affairs of man, king or country. He expects absolute worship and total obeisance. That was the character and attitude of Elijah the Tishbite.<br />
<br />
All the adventures from Moses in the wilderness, to David, Elijah and Daniel, clearly tell me one thing: as long as we are on this earth, there will always be battles between the forces of good and evil. The fight is always between good and evil, between light and darkness and there are no gray areas. That fight may come to you in different forms these days. It may come to you when you challenge a status quo that is corrupt; it may come to you when you try to bring down an evil cabal; it may come to you when you choose not to participate in an act of injustice; it may come to you when you question those in authority and ask for accountability and transparency; it may come to you when you choose to disagree with a decision based on your faith, values or principle; it may come to you at the worst of times and the best of times, but when it comes, it comes. And the<br />
onus lies on you to prove your mettle.<br />
<br />
There is a deciding factor that makes God & the whole of heaven to stand at attention when something is going down on earth. It is what we have always known as the X-factor ingredient in a star. It is your heart, your statement and your commensurate actions which equates to your attitude towards the things of God! Until faith is released on earth, God cannot be pleased and therefore heaven will not be moved.<br />
“Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question. If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even If He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” Daniel 3:16-18<br />
The above declaration can only come from men who have died to self and are completely yielded to the will of God. That is the kind of commitment that God requires from His children. An ‘If I perish, I perish’ attitude, when push comes to shove and complete dependency on His ability to deliver us from our battles. He doesn’t beg for your service rather He demands wholesome worship and devotion. Anything less than 100% in commitment, is below His standard. With Him, there is no democracy or egalitarian society; because He Himself said, the poor will always be with us – that is a fact of life. He is the only exception to whom absolute power do not corrupt absolutely because in Him, there is no sin or corruption.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I read somewhere online where a statement was ascribed to the governor of my state: Governor Jonah Jang and I actually burst out laughing. He said and I quote: “God is a democrat, does not support rigging but if you rig and succeed, that means God approves of it.” That is one of the most untrue and absurd statement ever to come out of the mouth of a Christian about God. The God of the Christian faith is not a democrat. In fact, based on the historical precedents of the bible, He is an autocrat (for lack of a better word) and He does as He pleases. The world may not like that about the God I serve but their opinion is not important to Him. The clay can never question the work of the Potter. My God is an absolute King whose authority is unquestionable. If it is the same bible Gov Jonah Jang & I are reading, then surely, one of us is definitely wrong!<br />
<br />
We have a currency that works for us – it is called faith. God expects us to so believe in Him and His awesome might that we can wager or risk putting all our eggs in one basket simply because He holds the basket. Finito! You have to so trust God that even if He doesn’t come through for you, you will just keep on trusting with a dogged resilient that is unwavering! Hebrews 11:6 says: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”<br />
<br />
What then are the X-factor characteristics of a God pleaser, God mover and a God-<br />
winner?<br />
You must be born again! (John 3:3) Simple but true. Acknowledge and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour for God will not even acknowledge you as His child if you don’t acknowledge Him as your God and maker which translates to Him being your father too. And you would have to abide by his heavenly commandments.<br />
By faith is everything done in Christendom. What that means is that, though we can’t physically see this God or touch Him, we know that He is the all powerful, all knowing and ever present God. That is a powerful conviction to have about the God you serve. What that means is that, if you first believe that this God Yahweh is the Omnipotent, Omniscience and Omnipresent, your matter is as good as solved. If you first believe that indeed there is no other god greater than He is on this earth or heaven above or underneath the earth, then no devil or agent of the devil or children of the devil, no one ever, can bring a challenge against your God and win. Only those who know their God and their rights as children of God can even dare to use those inalienable rights in the first place.<br />
<br />
For as long as you don’t know your rights, you can never take any step towards asking for it or claiming it in the first place. And there will be people who have a lot to gain by this grave ignorance of yours. For example, your privileged benefits like rights to good health, rights to divine protection, rights to prosperity, rights to long life, rights to being the head and never the tail, rights to dominion over all the works of darkness, rights to living like the son or daughter of the King – all these royal but divine privileges will all be taken away from you because you don’t even know that they exist in your name. But supposing you were to wake up from your ignorant slumber and realize that, ‘wow, I have been slacking and suffering for nothing, enough is enough - I am getting back what belongs to me; I am taking back all that the devil has stolen from me; I am stepping into my rightful inheritance as a child of the King’ – I tell you, people will notice. People will notice because suddenly, your voice will change and take up a note of diffident but assured authority; your walk will have a swagger that is not boastful but assuredly confident; your smile will be brilliant like that of the ‘maclean-confident’ advert; your poise & demeanour will be better than the President of the U.S and most certainly, superior to the King of Wales. Ladies and gentlemen, I tell you, there is something about having resolute trust and dogged faith in God, that makes Him by pass others, simply to make a great and outstanding example of your faith and consequent actions. What this means is that, you cannot have faith by mere pronouncements – it must be backed up with actions, an attitude and a heart that is ready to die for what it believes.<br />
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I am happy and thankful to God that I come from a country that supposedly have their fair share of churches, non-stop Christian activities and programmes (ranging from fire-falling preachers & their programs to meek-preaching pastors and their church activities) everywhere you go in Nigeria, you are bound to meet both comfortable and persecuted Christians. And I can assure you, as we say in Nigeria, we no dey carry last when it comes to religious talk and activities. We are definitely ranked amongst the top three religious people in the world! Whoa! Aint that something! Yet we are mostly engrossed in being Christians who merely talk the talk, talk the walk but not walk the talks. You will find the best brains of Christians workers in the best paid organisations but when we have problems to do with our country Nigeria, we choose to hide behind fasting and prayers only.<br />
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Elijah lived a life of prayer. What that means is that, prayer to Elijah was not defined by being on His knees alone. No. While he walked, he talked with God. God spoke to Him everywhere He went. God was with Him in and out of office, in and out of church buildings, in the cave, on the road, in the air, everywhere he went, His God went with Him. Every talk he spoke, His God backed Him up. Every action he took, His God supported Him a 100%.<br />
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Why? His faith in God was resolute. He was the oracle of God on earth. His actions supported both his thought, and his spoken words. He did not have a form of godliness denied of its power. No, no no. He had godliness and the commensurate power that godliness attracts. And that is why he never could back down from a challenge with the devil. In fact to put it in a better way, he took the fight to the camp of the devil - he went looking for the devil to throw him a challenge. And we know the outcome of that historic battle. That is what I call absolute Faith! I believe that God is still looking down on earth, still searching for a man or woman – a little Samuel or David - who will give Him a challenge worth His time & glory.<br />
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The question now is: Are you the one? Will He still find faith like Elijah’s on the earth? Are you up for the challenge? Are you up for the most exhilarating adventure of your life with God?<br />
Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi<br />
@signetseal.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-2792285059990285732013-05-22T12:50:00.003+01:002013-08-20T17:05:11.101+01:00WILL YOU DIE FOR NIGERIA? I NO GO DIE FOR NAIJA!A CHAT WITH NIGERIANS: WILL YOU DIE FOR NIGERIA? <br />
By Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi; @signetseal<br />
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Since time immemorial, people have been known to die for all kinds of causes – some religious, political, personal, emotional, social, economical etc. As far as I know, only Jesus died for the world and by the world, I mean for all the human beings in the world and not for the terrain. Martin Luther King died for his belief in his cause to stop racial discrimination against black Americans; Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison as the cost for South African freedom from white oppressive rule; some starve themselves to death and others like the more extreme suicide bombers - who do not like to die alone - blow themselves to shred (the most unpalatable form of death) because they too feel they have a cause worth dying for. Some go willingly to their deaths, others go unwillingly, and nevertheless, they sacrifice something of significant worth to them and their society.<br />
Recently, I was involved in a very heated argument about whether we Nigerians could die for Nigeria or not, and at the end of the day, many concluded that there was nothing in Nigeria actually worth dying for. Everyone had an opinion about what they could die for and why. I told everyone to offer examples of what they could die for and why. Some of the reasons included:<br />
I love my kids therefore I can die for them<br />
I love my mom very much, I can die for her<br />
My father spent his life building our farm, if anyone tries to take it away from me, I swear, I go kill am!<br />
I am a die-hard catholic by birth, if anyone touches my religion, I am ready to fight o.<br />
My husband no dey play with me, if anyone go near am, na trouble be that<br />
My wife, my brother<br />
My job, my business, my livelihood<br />
My chilled larger beer ( a joker chipped in and we all laughed)<br />
My Blackberry o (said a pretty girl beside me busy chatting away on her bb)<br />
And before you know it, the list grew longer as everyone began to feel comfortable and to chip in different likes and loves of things or persons they could die for.<br />
At the end, I concluded that, while we all had our different priorities, even for the most mundane of things, people were ready to die for it simply because they loved it. Love was the re-occurring decimal when they chose what they could die for. That brought us back to the topic that started the whole discussion – Nigeria. So I asked them, “oya back to Nigeria, will you die for Naija?” There was a resounding “No!” Some shook their heads vigorously, others added “for wetin na?” Another “wetin Naija do for me wey I go die for am?” Still one Yoruba woman said “Emi ke?” hissed and with her palms raised up in the air as if to stop me, said “abeggi!” Well, I wasn’t surprised by their responses but all the same, I asked “if you can die for your Mom or your kids or even your Blackberry phone that is temporary or for something as transient as your glass of cold lager beer after a hard day’s work (pointing to the guy who had said so), why can’t you die for something as important as your country Nigeria?” Everybody began to talk all at once “I love my children” “I love my mom, if not for her I won’t be here today” “I love my BB” (said the pretty young girl) and then she added with a shake of her head, “hmm, I no fit go without my bb for even an hour.” The forty-ish looking farmer said, “our farm feeds the whole family and even more, why won’t I love it?” and then continued, “even if it doesn’t do anything, it has been in the family for years, it is our pride and we love it – nothing can make us sell it!” Someone chipped in “Iya! Die for Naija ke?” more hisses everywhere. Before long, an elderly gentleman made the ubiquitous comparison between the systems in America versus Nigeria. I reminded the elderly gentleman that America was once upon a time an ungovernable colony, unruly and disorganized but with time they had gotten better. He reminded me that we were no longer in the past and that once upon a time the whole world was also unruly and ungovernable but that with time, great nations have changed for the better and that other developing nations were putting their act together except Nigeria. He pointed out that soon we would be celebrating 100 years as a nation and that a time of 100 years was enough for any nation to get better but that Nigeria has only gotten worse while other nations got better. He concluded rather dismally, that he didn’t see Nigeria getting any better any time soon. And everyone seemed to agree enthusiastically with him. However, a youthful & energetic voice chirped in: “Me, I believe in this Nigeria sha. It is the only country I have and I am going to fight for it to be like America one day!” It was a powerful statement made in the midst of a crowd of dissenters and it struck a chord in me. Some cynics in the crowd rolled their eyes and moved on. Others hissed and said somewhat sarcastically, “good for you, fight on!” However, the elderly gentleman walked to the youthful girl that made the statement, patted her on the shoulder and added a sage statement, almost like an after-thought, “My dear young girl, my generation has let this country down. May be the baton rest on your generation to do something different; I am tired of fighting but you, you can still fight for Nigeria. I may not see the change in my life time but you or your children may see the change you are fighting for.” He continued, wisely, “young girl, it is not a bad thing to fight for the change you seek, fight my daughter but do not fight alone. Alone you cannot win this fight but with other fighters you stand a chance of winning. You may lose many battles, you may win some but eventually, if you do not give up, I tell you, you will win the war one day!”<br />
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And on this note, I dare say, stand and fight for your dream of a better Nigeria. It is possible. I join hands with that youthful voice of optimism, encouraged and supported by other veteran fighters, WE CAN fight for a worthy cause to make Nigeria a better country and Nigerians a better people and perhaps die trying! I leave you with this poem:<br />
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YES WE CAN!<br />
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We can, We will, We must<br />
So goes our song or is it a prayer<br />
We think, We dream, We hope<br />
So goes our thoughts or are We some dreamers<br />
There is no secret<br />
If there was We would have had it.<br />
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Our will is strong, our heart is fixed<br />
We’ve got the strength, We know We can<br />
We’ve got faith, you cannot beat<br />
We’ll take our chances, try and fly<br />
There is no portion<br />
If there was We must have drank it.<br />
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Speak your thoughts and say your fill<br />
Speak not your thoughts, don’t say a thing<br />
We hear your silence, feel your looks<br />
We won’t be bothered, We know We can<br />
There is no limit<br />
If there was We sure would break it.<br />
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We’ve made our choice, don’t keep us back<br />
The die is cast, can’t keep us back<br />
We’re moving on, counted the cost<br />
It’s steep, it’s high, We can attain<br />
There is no option<br />
If there was We must have shelved it.<br />
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Clap your hands and ring the bell<br />
Stamp your feet and swing the punch<br />
Come what may, We do not care<br />
This adventure dare not miss<br />
There is no doubting<br />
If there was We would dismiss it.<br />
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By Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi<br />
@signetseal<br />
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A Poem dedicated to all Nigerians world-wide who believe in the fighting power of the people: together we believe We Can truly achieve great things for Nigeria.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-2058999855564329612013-04-05T09:41:00.000+01:002013-04-05T09:41:16.365+01:00Hexavian Business LessonsLessons<div>
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Jay-z and Kanye West charged $6M (about a billion Naira) to perform for a few minutes at a party in Dubai, for the 16 year old daughter of multi-billionaire Sheikh Mansour, in 2011. #The Law of Value. In Business, once you've created a brand, it creates goodwill, and then value, then wealth. What are you creating?</div>
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#The Law of BrandingCASE STUDY 2, The Hexavian law of Innovation and the law of Generosity Hypo bleach knocked out Jik bleach from the Nigerian market by making cheaper units in sachet and then giving out a few thousands of it for free! Hexavia as a company, has given out over 20000 e-copy of its first book (no cost on prints), the Hexavian Laws of Business. Drake was the first artist to ever be nominated for 2 Grammy Awards without an album even being released! Wow. All he had was free mix-tapes.</div>
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#The Law of Innovation and Generosity- </div>
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In business, when you're good enough, dare giving out the first fruits of your talent for free! Once the market can test it and it is good, they'd begin to pay! CASE STUDY 3 The Law of Networking and People(Find and network with your kind)</div>
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Busta Rhymes, Jay-z & B.I.G attended the same High School. Wole Soyinka and Fela used to live together overseas. Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, years later the two biggest religions and wealthiest tribes (Jews and Arabs) can be traced back to the two. Socrates was once a tutor to Aristotle who taught another guy that became Alexander The Great. These became the 3 greatest philosophers of 3 generations. The roots of success and greatness would always be linked. People around you now (good or bad) is a clue of where you can end up. Find your kinds. </div>
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#The Law of Networking and People.Culled from the book, #HexavianLawsofBusiness, @UwaomaEizu. Success can be taught. We are Hexavia! </div>
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www.hexavia.netTrainings. Branding. Business Plans. Strategy. Websites. Project Management. PINS 293030EF, 25AED290.</div>
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08035202891,08022129684</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-27022153976809202682013-03-29T15:03:00.000+01:002013-03-29T15:03:32.631+01:00What Good Friday means to Me!<div>
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I am part of a twitter online bible study called #la187. We are committed to finishing the Old Testament in 187 days by reading five chapters daily.</div>
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Between yesterday the 19th of March and today the 20th we have covered Exodus chapter 23 through to chapter 30. From Genesis through to Exodus chapter 23, it has been for me, one interesting story or the other about the early creation of the world down to the lives of the Patriarchs of the bible, leading to the astonishing miracles that brought them out of Egypt and into the start of Israel’s 40 years wilderness journey to the promised land. To be candid, if you are like me, compared to the previous chapters, I have found the last seven chapters quite tedious and unexciting. Like our modern constitution, God set aside 40 days and 40 nights to give the biblical Moses the comprehensive constitution, if you like, of the nation Israel. It consisted of a longwinded litany of divine prescriptions of worship on one hand and divine descriptions of worship paraphernalia on the other hand; of how certain holy matters and ceremonies are to be handled. Trust me, if you were like me, you would find it painfully boring and would want to rush through the passage as fast as your mind can read.</div>
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But then it hit me that it was no coincidence that the #la187 group plan is covering the chapters of the Old Testament atonement proceedings right at the period we are celebrating what we call ‘Good Friday’ in Christendom. I have been a Christian all my life but not until I was reading these few cumbersome verses did it finally hit me about the true meaning of Easter and the in-depth meaning of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.</div>
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For the purpose of this discussion, let me try and sketch, hopefully without boring you out, just a few of the somewhat rigid patterns that God gave Israel about their daily to yearly worship of His divine person.</div>
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THE OLD COVENANT (THE OLD TESTAMENT) WHAT DOES IT MEAN?</div>
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First they had what you would call a covenant ceremony with strict ordinances on how to sacrifice burnt offerings and sacrifice bulls as fellowship offerings. Then came separate instructions for building the Lord’s tabernacle which consisted of gold, silver, bronze, not just any wood but a certain type of wood called acacia wood, ram skins dyed red, manatee skins (don’t even know what that means), and all kinds of gemstone species. In fact I counted up to twelve different types of gemstones and gave up (you’re talking carnelian, topaz, emerald, turquoise, sapphire, diamond, jacinth, agate, amethyst, beryl, onyx, and jasper) please if you know anymore just send to me at my twitter handle because I am somehow fascinated by gemstones. I haven’t even begun to mention the type of sacred incense(s) that were used with strict adherence to a particular formula for making it and with the threat of expulsion from the land of Israel if anyone else other than the priesthood were to use it for any function other than at the meeting place of the tabernacle of God! Whew! I think the most difficult for me was trying to understand all the measurement plans that went into the building of the tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, the mercy seat, where which cherubim would face, and how they would face themselves over and above the mercy seat. There was a measurement and carpentry design for the craftwork of each of the items that would be used for any offering down to the utensils. There was a special specification for the priestly garments like the ephod, the turban, the breastplate, the sashes, the waistband, etc</div>
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Don’t forget that for every sacrifice, animal blood would either be sprinkled on the Israeli people or on Aaron the priest and his children. That meant they always smelt of animal blood not just on their clothes but also on their bodies. And we all know that the smell of blood, no matter how holy, wouldn’t be a pleasant experience. Not forgetting that certain animals were deemed holy or unholy to God and certain lambs had to be offered when they were two years old! Are you beginning to understand the almost impossible task of being holy as an Israelite of the Old Testament? Hope I haven’t bored you yet because you’ve still got to hold on till I’m finished with explaining some of the activities of what Israel had to do for their atonement. But what was even more exasperating is that, in spite of all the work and effort, time and sacrifices and psychological preparedness for the activities of atonement, it had to be repeated year in and year out because the blood of sheep, goats, bulls, doves etc were simply not good enough to offer a one off offering of a lifetime. It was a continuous but tedious process year in year out. The fire within the ark could never go out all through the year and everyday a two year old lamb must be offered. You could almost hear me chuckle here because I wondered whether a diary was always in hand to write down the births of all the lambs so as to determine if they were old enough or too old for a sacrifice. And yet each sin you committed had its commensurate sacrifice of atonement that is if you were not stoned to death or God did not strike you down for mistakenly touching the ark.</div>
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Now that I have succeeded in giving you just merely a brief description of the rigid rules that was the norm during the old testament periodic times, are you beginning to understand what Easter means, not just to me alone but practicing Christians all over the world. Enter the New Testament and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross. God realized that it was necessary to have a plan B in place for the atonement of the sins of humans – there was need for a human sacrifice that could speak better than the blood of sheep and goats and that had to be done just once! The question now was: Who was worthy and holy enough to undertake such an auspicious eternal plan for man’s deliverance. Only one person was and His name is JESUS! He was the only begotten son of God who agreed that in order to put an end to all these ritualistic WORKS of men, something had to be done. Jesus, a divine son, came down from heaven, lived for 33 years and was sacrificed on the cross of calvary at Golgotha. </div>
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THE NEW COVENANT (THE NEW TESTAMENT) WHAT DOES IT MEAN?</div>
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In Leviticus 17:11 it is said “for the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” </div>
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That single sacrifice that was preceded by betrayal by his own Jewish people and inhuman torture in the hands of the roman soldiers, was the sacrifice deemed acceptable by God. “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me…this cup is the new covenant in My Blood which is shed for you” (Luke 22:19-20 – introducing the taking of the Holy Communion). His body was the bread that replaced the physical bread of the altar and his blood was the price that paid all my sinful debts. For without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins so the blood of Jesus was shed that I and You, might be redeemed from the works of the law into the abundant, extravagance grace of our LORD Jesus Christ. What that means is that Jesus offered himself as the permanent offering for our sins and that makes him our high priest that stands before God (like Aaron of the old Testament) to make propitiation by His Blood for our sins. (Romans 3:25) Jesus broke down the middle wall separating us from the Holy father above having abolished the law of commandments contained in ordinances, thus creating peace and reconciling us with God. Christ has effectively redeemed us from the curse of the law!</div>
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Easter reminds me of the price Jesus paid on the cross in order for me to have access to the father – me who was once referred to as ‘a gentile’ now have a new identity in Christ. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17) I am so proud of my identity as a Christ-like follower of God (a Christian) and I am thankful for the opportunities that being part of the new covenant gives me. Of course I do sin from time to time, as long as I am still in this body but I don’t have to go looking for a two year old lamb and then go through a long procedure to make atonement for my sins. No! Now, since I have direct access to the Holy Father – God Almighty – through Jesus, I speak directly to God wherever I am from my heart and He forgives me instantly. Just like that – I am forgiven. No wahala; no big and longwinded protocol – just the Blood, the Word and the name of Jesus – it is a three-in-one package – an indescribable gift! Halleluyah!</div>
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Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi</div>
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@signetseal</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-20872117872287087772013-03-20T18:45:00.001+01:002013-03-20T18:45:23.881+01:00THE HEXAVIAN LAW OF PURPOSETHE HEXAVIAN LAW OF PURPOSE<br />
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Imagine if Tuface was a professor, a Pat Utomi, a singer or perhaps an Adeboye as a footballer while Kanu became a Pastor. Would they have added the kind of values they have done in their lives and that of others?<br />
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Pause! Before you complain, about struggling, ask yourself if what you are doing is what you were created to do. Don't spend your whole life climbing RIGHTly a ladder on a WRONG wall. Find where you are 10/10 in, everyone has one.<br />
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Well, I've scribbled down three guidelines to finding your gift and what you were created to do as a means of making a living out of it. It is as follows...<br />
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Law 1, Purpose #hexavianlawsofbusiness<br />
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Look within you, your past experiences, think and find.<br />
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1. That thing you love to do passionately and also very easily that it feels effortless to you but hard for others to do. (I bet you a Jay-z can effortlessly make music hits by mere free-styling while it remains a mystery to someone else), a Chinua Achebe can tell stories even in his sleep, perhaps a Fashola would have done well, even as the head of a ward in Jail. There's something also that you can do that well and effortlessly. It's that thing you love to do passionately and also very easily that it feels effortless to you but hard for others to do.<br />
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2. That thing that you get annoyed or irritated when someone else doesn’t do it well, knowing and being sure that you can always do it better.<br />
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3. Then that thing that you’d do even if you’re not paid, you’d still love to do it.<br />
(I bet you that a Messi would still love to play football even without being paid, for years the duo of P-square did free shows and even paid show organizers to be on stage, this is love and passion).<br />
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You can watch a full clip of this concept in my live interview on NTA national network TV a few years ago (and I was 23 then). It’s on youtube.<br />
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Good afternoon<br />
Fadoju Babajide for Hexavia<br />
© We are Hexavia!<br />
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Business Plan. Strategy. Branding. Website. Training. Projects.<br />
Visit www.hexavia.net<br />
BBPIN 293030EF 269FDFCD<br />
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08022129684, 08035202891Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-8663266551059361062013-03-17T14:40:00.001+01:002013-08-20T16:59:12.243+01:00Welldone To Those Who Choose To Laugh At the 'Oga-At-The-Top' SyndromeLet me first start by saying that I have watched the ‘Oga at the top’ clip and it is quite hilarious. And then, let me advice those who have not watched the clip to go and watch it. But in case you still haven’t watched it, I shall give you a very brief summary.<br />
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Mr Shem Obafaiye, the Lagos state commandant of the civil defence corps was a guest on channels TV Sunrise daily a few days ago and was asked a simple question by the male presenter of the segment: “what is the website of NSCDC?” He didn’t know. He tried to bluff his way out of it by mentioning that his Oga at the top had not given him permission to say it. His exact words were ‘the website of NSCDC, I cannot categorically tell you one now. The one that we are going to make use of is going to remain known by my ‘Oga at the top.’ After several convincing attempts by the obviously amused Channels Presenters, Mr Shem was persuaded to give up the website address and he finally said ‘It is www.nscdc’ he pauses and mutters and said ‘Yes so’ and then coughs and adds ‘that’s all.’ It was embarrassingly obvious that Mr Shem didn’t know and was merely giving excuses to cover-up his ignorance on national TV. Instead of him to confess that he didn’t know or couldn’t remember which would have caused him lesser embarrassment, he feigned excuses which exposed his complete ignorance and incompetency! Since then, the clip has gone viral on every social network from BB to twitter to face book to YouTube! Cheeky Nigerians have even gone ahead to produce musical clips from it (there are even different styles of a very hilarious ‘my oga at the top’ musical remix - some on guitar etc - about his goof on YouTube), beautiful T-shirts imprinted with the words ‘my oga at the top’ etc.<br />
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Recently I read an article pleading with Nigerians to stop ridiculing Mr Shem because the writer felt that Nigerians had gone too far in making a mockery of a man’s mistake etc. Some writers like Segun Adekoye even went as far as wearing the cap of self judgement and calling Nigerians who joined in the laughter ‘shame on you all.” Because in his own righteous opinion, he believed that Nigerians are exhibiting the ‘#Aluu 4’ mentality. I beg to differ. Not only do I want this mockery to go on but I wish someone would put it on a billboard, print face-caps, and produce mugs and souvenirs with it – because to me, it is quite a brilliant attempt at satire. This is my own opinion only and many may not agree with me. But those with a great sense of humour in seeing the ridiculous in the ridicule – of using laughter to bring to light a serious national issue in a country besieged by all forms of incompetency from the top of governance to the ground level will see this as an opportunity to let off steam by laughing. And for that laughter I say to you all – Well-done! Why?<br />
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Yearly the Transparency International (a global coalition against corruption) scores countries based on how corrupt their public sectors are perceived to be. This is meant to force the government of these nations to take notice and act to stem the corruption tide in their countries. The CPI (corruption perception index) places Nigeria in the 135th position out of 176 countries surveyed. Nigeria is also listed among the world’s most corrupt places to do business. Where does Nigeria stand in good governance? While Nigeria holds a good position in the AU because our foreign policy strongly promotes democratic unity in Africa and we are actively involved in peace-keeping missions in Africa, Nigeria has no remarkable records of good governance in its domestic front. Nigeria is a sorry example of bad governance in the African continent. Corruption is endemic in the public sector. Our leaders have appropriated government properties and benefits for their own selfish gains. Basic infrastructural amenities like health, education and fuel are either outrageously expensive or barely inaccessible to ordinary Nigerians. Nigerians are kidnapped and killed daily by criminal and terrorist groups and poverty is widespread in the midst of plenty. Government appointment is based mostly on the culture of mediocrity and not meritocracy - based on a ‘who you know’ mentality, godfatherism or nepotism.<br />
(Please read: Time for good governance in Africa–Transformation of the continent: http://africaw.com/forum/f17/time)<br />
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Recent events in the nation especially the Alamieseigha’s pardon has caused outrage in Nigeria. According to Punch news, ‘Jonathan has taken the culture of corruption to horrific levels.’ BBC describes it as an “irresponsible decision.” Nigerians and the world are questioning the quality of leadership that gives pardon to a criminal still wanted for financial fraud outside Nigeria. It is distasteful coming from an insensitive President who doesn’t give a damn about what Nigerians feel.<br />
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Enter Mr Shem Obafeiye and his goof. In view of what Nigerians have come to know and understand about their leaders and public sector ‘I-don’t-care’ mentality, is it any wonder why Shem’s blunder is used as the ridicule scapegoat for many an incompetent ‘oga at the top’ syndrome? For anyone to suggest that Nigerians are being unfair to Mr Shem may be due to religious, moral and official hypocrisy. The ridicule of Mr Shem Obafeiye will never be able to capture the daily frustrations of Nigerians. It is only a tip of the iceberg of the realities in play in Nigeria. Non-Nigerians and foreigners wonder how Nigerians put up with the deplorable living conditions that we are subjected to yearly. How do Nigerians put up with the constant mistreatment, abuse, neglect and oppression by our leaders?<br />
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Mr Shem goofed; he made a mistake, agreed. Mr Shem also happens to be the civil defence corps commandant of a whole Lagos state, agreed. Mr Shem is a senior management staff of the civil defence corps, agreed. That means as a ‘big oga’ in his own right, he may have been provided with the perks of office like a PA, an SA, a driver, etc. What that means is that, when a serious news station like Channels TV invites you to be a guest on their sunrise daily segment, you should know that you are not appearing on ‘nite of a thousand laughs.’ You also know that you are not appearing on any of the comedy shows hosted by AY or any of our comedians. You are coming for serious discussions that concern your organisations which happen to be the NSCDC. A competent commandant who wants to be taken seriously by the millions of Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike who may be watching this segment should have prepared himself adequately for the likely questions that may be asked. His PA/SA or whatever assistance the government has provided him as a civil defence ‘oga’ would be on hand to help him with any information he would need for the interview. Now even if he didn’t have these assistants, it is expected that he would have prepared for the interview, read-up or brush-up on stuff about his organisation that he might have forgotten. But no, Mr Shem didn’t even do that. He did what many Nigerian ‘ogas’ do – walk into an interview unprepared. Mr Shem’s ignorant action was perceived by a vastly educated and IT-compliant audience as highly disregarding of Nigerians. In a rapidly changing Nigeria where information technology is now at the tips of one’s fingers via the internet, social networks, smart phones, etc Mr Shem’s ignorance for a person of his managerial level in government, came across on that fateful day as a highly incompetent ‘oga’ who chose to take Nigerians for granted. And Nigerians reciprocated by making a full-blown spectacle of him.<br />
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I would advice those who cannot understand why Nigerians are laughing to look beyond Mr Shem Obafeiye’s goof. Look beyond the t-shirts and the slogans and then you may begin to come to terms about why Nigerians are laughing. If something terrible happens to me say, I lost a million dollars and rather than cry and whine, I choose to laugh then I may be seen as either hysterical or brave. If my house and all its contents get razed to the ground and I choose to bear it with equanimity by laughing, then my neighbours may regard me as either hysterical or brave. However, how can you beat a child and tell him not to cry? Ok the child now decides to laugh and yet again, you are angry because he is laughing. He cries, you complain. He laughs, you complain. What then do you want him to do? You want to lock him up completely in spite of all the horrible things you’ve done to him and still deprive him of the simple pleasure of laughing? You must be crazy and perhaps evil.<br />
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IF I WERE SHEM OBAFEIYE: now supposing I was Shem Obafeiye, I would ask for another interview session with Channels TV. Of course, this time around, I would come well prepared to apologise to Nigerians and may be explain that human that I was, I didn’t know the answer then but I know it now. I would apologise and then laugh at myself to take the bite off me. I would choose to turn a goof of mine into a money making venture after all God has a way of turning our mistakes into testimonies. I would then go to C.A.C/copy right agency and get a patent on the phrase ‘Oga-at-the-top.’ I would use it to create an idea, a very strong conceptual idea about a certain kind of leadership quality. Design car stickers from it and turn it into a humorous money-making venture. Mistakes are bound to happen due to our imperfect human nature itself. It is how we choose to turn those mistakes into good use that makes us better human beings. Our ridicule is not just geared at Shem but it is geared towards every form of abuse and incompetent management that Nigerians are subjected to; it is geared towards a syndrome that is responsible for the disdainful way we are treated by our leaders.<br />
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Nigeria’s ridicule of Shem sends a strong message to all Nigerian leaders not to take people for granted because if given the opportunity, they too will be mercilessly ridiculed. The power of laughter in the form of ridicule that Nigerians are exhibiting is a warning to our so called leaders to do their homework first before coming on national TV. Since our leaders won’t listen to the people neither will the people stop ridiculing them. If we don’t make an example of bad governance and incompetent leaders then how can we hope to speak-up against the bad tide of bad governance in the country? Laughter is the salve that keeps us from going mad in this country called Nigeria. You could say it is the opium of suffering Nigerians where religion has failed woefully. If our laughter and ridicule is powerful enough to create change in our public sector and perhaps our government and leadership positions all over Nigeria, then wouldn’t you say the laughter is achieving what incessant complaints, writings, pleadings, pain & misery is not achieving? If our laughter is powerful enough to reach up to the ‘ogas at the top’ and curb this malignant spread of incompetency, reduce bad governance and bring about progressive change, then what are we waiting for? We ought to keep laughing! This culture of dominance and fear created by ‘ogas-at-the-top’ has got to stop! May be this Shem episode has shown Nigerians another way to let off steam. Those who don’t like the laughter can choose to frown and cry – I choose to laugh! And LOL too!<br />
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By Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi<br />
@signetseal<br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917817361215662277.post-45615884203554092562013-03-13T11:18:00.003+01:002013-03-13T11:18:39.916+01:00
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>DOES ALAMIEYESEIGHA DESERVE A PRESIDENTIAL PARDON?</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">President Goodluck Jonathan grants presidential pardon to
former governor of Bayelsa state – Alamieyeseigha who was impeached and then
convicted for corruption. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What does this mean? Well, in general, a pardon is the act of
forgiving a crime. A pardon nullifies punishments or other legal consequences
of a crime. However, a presidential pardon does not expunge a crime or remedy
the past act. Even if a criminal is pardoned, though, this doesn't mean the
criminal is now considered to be innocent of the crime. A pardon just means you
don't have to submit to the rest of your punishment. Pardoned criminals still
have a crime on their records. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Does the Nigerian constitution give the President the right
to pardon a crime committed by a former governor of Bayelsa state against both
the state and the nation? Yes. Wasn’t the crime of financial fraud committed by
Alamieyeseigha against both the state of Bayelsa and Nigeria? Yes. Isnt the man
Alamieyeseigha wanted outside the shores of Nigeria – Britain to be precise –
for charges of money laundering? Yes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Under section 175 of the constitution, a state pardon is
granted by the president after consultation with the Council of State.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="page-indicator" style="margin: 1em 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It says: "(1) The
President may -(a) grant any person concerned with or convicted of any offence
created by an Act of the National Assembly a pardon, either free or subject to
lawful conditions; (b) grant to any person a respite, either for an indefinite
or for a specified period, of the execution of any punishment imposed on that
person for such an offence; (c) substitute a less severe form of punishment for
any punishment imposed on that person for such an offence; or (d) remit the
whole or any part of any punishment imposed on that person for such an offence
or of any penalty or forfeiture otherwise due to the State on account of such
an offence. "(2) the powers of the President under subsection (1) of this
section shall be exercised by him after consultation with the Council of
State."</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What was the criterion for giving Alamieyeseigha a presidential
pardon?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Alamieyeseigha was the governor of Bayelsa State with
Jonathan as his deputy from 1999 to 2005. He was impeached, later convicted for
corruption and with this state pardon, he’s now free of the constitutional ban
from holding public office in the future.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well President GEJ has used his discretionary powers with
tribalism and total disregard to the mood of Nigerians in the fight against
corruption. This sends a clear signal to Nigerians and the international
community that President GEJ is not serious about fighting corruption? You
wonder why Nigeria is far from developed? What a sham!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15821030903964963266noreply@blogger.com0