The best day of my life and my experience.
I have been in prison before.
Okay, this is a secret. No one knew this before now.
The year was 2017.
I had already spent almost a year in prison before my sentence was delivered.
Prior to sentencing, prisoners were kept two in a cell and periodically, they were taken blindfolded to be interrogated.
Interrogation isn't a funny experience. You would not like to experience it.The torture was something else. The suspects are tied to a metal chair, nicknamed 'the dungeon' by the inmates. The heater will then be turned on, forcing the suspect to admit to crimes which he didn't even commit.
The warders in charge interrogation are very brutal.On interrogation day,they will still be seen shining their teeth while unleashing their unpropitious acts on the inmates.
Those guys are worse than SARS.
Zero joy.
We weren't permitted to speak while in our cells, so we whispered or communicated with each other by tapping Morse code.
For those who don't know what Morse code means, it is a system for sending messages using combinations of long and short sounds to represent numbers and alphabets.
After l was sentenced was led back to my cell. Immediately began tapping a message in Morse code on the wall to a friend two floors above. He was waiting to hear what sentence l had received.
"Fourteen years," l tapped.
He couldn't believe it's he asks: "fourteen months?"
"No, l answered. "fourteen years".
He still expressed his disbelief.
I had to shout so he could hear me, "fourteen years!"
"Fourteen years!"
"Fourteen years!"
I felt someone tap my shoulder and ask; "fourteen gini?.You will soon be late for the wedding"
Wedding kó?
Dem dey do wedding for prison??
I sprang up. It was my mum who tapped me.
It was a dream.
The best description of my reaction that day is 'from sorrow to joy'.
So l been no really dey prison and wedding dey?
Well, men and brethren finally went to the wedding that day, ate jollof rice, chicken, cake, and washed it down with two bottles of Pepsi.
You can't find all these in prison you know.
Poor Mindset
Hey
I was in the bank a few days ago when l heard someone say;
"Thank God l am poor!"
A full grown man with bear bear thanking God for being poor.
E be things o!
How will someone calm down and decide not to have sense?
Poverty mindset is a belief that life is full of scarcity, that things are hard to get, that money is hard to earn, and that things are impossible without money. It is a process that you consciously sabotage yourself from flowing into the energy of abundance.
Get rid of it.
Its okay to be modest oh, but being modest doesn’t mean you should be looking so unkempt.
On the flip side, If you cannot afford a lifestyle, don't attempt to live it.
How can you be working with a good salary and still won’t dress well?
Dey stingy for yourself say na modesty
When people can't be like you they try to bring you down and condemn what you have.
Those without will sarcastically say money is not everything in life, but is poverty anything?
Money is not everything but money is ' something'.
In the 2007 interview with Mandela conducted by Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed,Mandela stated thus;
“Educate children of the poor, so that they can get out of poverty. Poverty does not breed confidence. Only confident people can bring changes. Poor, uneducated people can also bring change, but it will be hijacked by the educated and the wealthy...give young Nigerians good education. Teach them the value of hard work and sacrifice, and discourage them from crimes which are destroying your image as a good people".
See ehnn...
When poverty is seen as a sign of humility and virtue, no one is safe. The world has lots of work to do as regard sanitizing people of this mentality. Some will even want to emotionally blackmailing you by saying, " it's you today, tomorrow things can turn sour for you".
Nobody knows tomorrow but you shouldn't be comfortable in your 'poverty'.
Please, don't let anyone make you feel comfortable that you're poor, because poverty is a disease you should cure.
Expand your financial knowledge: read books, use the resources within your disposal, invest, spend less than you earn, correct your mindset, and don't be lazy!
An Important Time in African History
It's the November gathering - the root of every evil.
November 136 years ago came with the conference that would later divide Africa - the Berlin Conference of 1884 convened by Otto Von Bismarck who was then the chancellor of the German empire.
The purely economic summit dressed up as rather humanitarian was held to discuss the African problem. But how can you discuss the problem of a person when they are not present? That is, Africa's opinions were not needed/considered even when the conference was supposedly aimed at welfare.
One conference. Thirteen European countries and the US and no African representative and yet, it was for the benefit of Africa?
Fourteen countries armed with power, wealth, rulers, pencils and a map of Africa ready to be dissected.
The scramble for Africa. The beginning of the underdevelopment of Africa, of her exploitation. The beginning of almost everything evil in Africa - loss of lands, of pride and esteem. Enslavement. Natural resources.
For the Europeans, Africa was the part of the world where God paused creation to rest and so, it was the land made to bear the burden of the earth.
It was the part of the world where the Africans do not deserve the land and all of the natural resources she was/is blessed with.
From the little I've come across, I learnt that Africa was doing just fine on her own - her economy, her leadership, her religion, before the European penetration into her land. First guised as a people interested in the betterment of Africa. Expediters sent to Africa to coerce traditional rulers into signing treaties. And soon, they were all over Africa taking up as much portions as they could and growing their economy with our resources.
Although I don't know all of these stories enough yet to write extensively on them, I don't think anything positive came out of the Berlin conference for Africa. And worse, it contributed hugely to the world war 1 (1914-1918).
So yes, the Berlin Conference of 1884 was rather for economic exploitation of Africa than it was humanitarian as it was painted.
The first time I learnt about this was in late Dr Johnson's class and later, I would write drama-poetry on it. Below is an excerpt from my poem;
"We had your Bible. Your promises -
The promises of a better life in Heaven -
For suffering in the physical world.
You demonized our religion - we let you.
Because it had no idea of Heaven.
And all of the lashings meant nothing to us,
For in heaven, the slave would be rewarded.
You called us slaves.
Our hearts still break at the mention of it.
You turned us to slaves and we let you.
After all, the Book said;
Slaves, submit to your Masters, as if to the Lord himself.
You made all of the sufferings, the slavery in the Bible
About us - blacks!
And you said,
Love your enemies as yourself,
Or you will be put to hell.
And we loved you.
Of course, we are Africans!
Gullible Africans!
The 19th Century came
With the root of every evil - The Berlin Conference!
Where greed was placed over humanity.
Where the words you said condemned slavery
Even though your hearts did not.
The Berlin Conference -
Where you divided us into pieces of cakes and nothings,
Chained our legs and whipped us like donkeys.
Where you called us backwards
And thought of us a group of living things
Beyond the human level.
The Berlin Conference where you came to wage wars
Among the rival colonial powers
And there, you stripped us
Like you stripped your African mistresses
Of the rags that covered their nakedness
Before you devoured them -
And got into the secret places of their souls."
Misunderstanding-True life Story
The phone chimed and he picked it up.
it was a text.
He opened it and it was a message from the network providers.
Somehow, he scrolled down and saw another I replied someone with... "... I love you too"
He turned to me and with the coldest tone a man with the deepest baritone could have, he said,
"Bunchie, what is this?"
I tried to explain... "This was an honest reply I gave to a friend, who, out of a grateful heart for all the help I gave him during a program said, "I love you". Trust me, it was a sincere message."
He dialed the number, put the call on speaker... And on the other side, the friend said..
.. I was about to call you sef, abadie?...
Out here, brother man butted in, What are you doing with her? Who are you?
What I heard was, "that is a good woman, you do not touch her..."
And they went on and on and on...
Can you imagine what happened next?
I know we shouldn't play with "I love you" but who says you can only say it to a spouse and partner?
Should you even check your partner's phone?
Kindness In The Midst of Storms
This morning, I made a commitment to be kind to someone in my physical space today. (I'm reading Olson's The Slight Edge .)
This doesn't mean I'm always unkind. It's just that for today, I decided be deliberate in doing good to one person. At least ONE human being.
I decided on a lone beneficiary because I felt I wouldn't interact with many people today since I work from home. However, because there was some outdoor business to execute, I found myself away from home.
When the opportunities came, my earlier commitment was consigned to oblivion, but I spontaneously sympathized and lent help to at least THREE persons today.
I feel better tonight, basking in the meek pride that comes with selflessness. The overwhelming guilt of ingratitude I had carried about has been lifted because my decision to be intentionally kind has made me more conscious of the abundance of goodness around me.
Today, I have deposited a penny in my Bank of Happiness, firmly believing I can do that tomorrow and next. Hopefully, the interest will compound.
Now, here's why I'm putting this out here. This year has been tough on most of us. But I believe that we can 'heal' better if we make conscious efforts to be kind to others while being aware of the many good things in our own lives.
May the universe be kind to us all.
A Seduction Woman
Her placatory eyes,
Attracts us guys.
Her strawberry lips,
Looks like to say kiss me, Oops !
Here breasts shape,
Gorgeous to grasp.
Her hips were she walks,
It dances, we like.
To see in here pant,
To get in her love nest.
We have one step,
For stimulated lap.
A seduction woman,
On a heart of a man,
She creates sin.
Down The Memory Lane
The memories haunts me every night in my sleep, I'm sure if I had a memory loss, I'll never forget that night I allowed a mere quarrel generation into eon regrets. It's no story I love girls, guess every man is labeled a womanizer but I play down on it because I grew up with my 4 sisters and I have an idea of their tricks.
It wasn't up to two years when we moved into that area, I was a novice and shy person looking for friends when we met by the well on a sunny afternoon, as small as i was I still understood what love meant, I was the lullaby from a mother to a crying child nor was it a father showing his daughter how to tie her shoe lace.
This was different, her face was so smooth and I could guess she just accompanied her friend who came to fetch water from the well, her accent was well polished and I had to adjust to fit into the equation. We exchanged greetings left. Two days after, I met her again at the evening market where she went to buy fufu and was stuck waiting for change.
There was it, my chance and I took it, we become friends, the story of a bolt and nut, a screw that's always hugging a jack, my parents never knew her because they were over protective of their son but hers knew their daughter has a new friend. I finally met her parents on one visits and I got the interview and orientation of my life.
2 years gone, we bonded well and I guess I started picturing the future. Don't laugh at me okay! we all do that when we have that special person in our life yet something was wrong with me, ANGER. Yes, anger issues, the way it tore me apart when the feeling comes, shifting away my morals and unleashing the hell from the cell where I kept home training.
31st October 2006, I visited when her parents traveled, we dined and talked, in the midst of our conversation we had a little heat up that I could have allowed pass but I didn't, instead I allowed ANGER roar, shutting the door behind while using the exit. She pleaded and asked for forgiveness but I was too angry to listen to a mere "I'm sorry, fine you win".
Left her compound back to my house filled with anger yet I covered it up with a smile as I silenced my SAGEM phone, refused to pick her calls and read her messages, in the process I slept off. The next morning was unspeakable, my attention was called to your dead body that would still be breathing if I had open your messages and not allow my pride of always winning consume me.
I lost you NINI, as you fondly call me. I lost you due to my stupidity and it still hurts when I see you in my dreams. Ever since you left EARTH, I have met a lot, even when they're wrong, I still let it slide and it became my weakness that's been used against me severally.
On this day 14 years ago, I left you without knowledge you'll pass on, I say "I'M SORRY ". I sleep with a heavy heart every time , even as I type this I'm struggling to move from the bed because I can feel a ROCK buried in my chest. So I promise you NINI, to be more faithful and loyal to the next woman that comes and be a better man after every broken-ship.
RIP NINI, NINI still loves you
Stoic Calm
My teacher taught me how to stay under the sun without getting burn, to endure pains, feel the hurt and never show it, to step on fire as though am standing on a cool ice. He warns me not to act as an expert but a novice because that is the way of continuous study and learning. And I should never be vulnerability member, as his student he advised,
“look here my child, I stand on the sword age bleeding yet I still smile, have been almost stone to death as Stephen but I only see eternal peace where I can rest with no worries nor suffering, I never deeply told a soul my heartache/headache because some will come to see how disastrous I look or bolster me with their story as though there are in my world knowing how it pitches, it’s not bad though, but not scratching the actual place fires the itching and not telling where it itches prevent your weakness being discovered.
so to you as my student even when you are submerge in water, cross your heart and tell HIIM to take your soul to safe heavens, when circumstance hit you hard, stand firm and teach your attitude to keep on, because your thought and mannerism will help you conquer whatever. though alone might be hurting but it makes you BOLD to look the sky and make a move, even when the hot boiling oil of life is pour on you and all your skin peel off, smile take the burns, remember pains make you know you are alive. Friends will always be there to back you up, but never give them your bag of ambitions, situations, and pains, I tell you my child less than a percent care.
remember you are in the world crafted with rocks, fire water and light, if you don’t get stone you get burn or sock but if you stoop the light will guide and dry thee for only the hard-hearted about pain get to the final stage, buckle up and get ready for the blows.
Cry but never pour down the pains, don’t let it week you.
worry with a good conscience that there is tomorrow.
feel depress but never get press down.
But truly sometimes life get f**k-up and cool ice become freezing freezing all of my believe, strength, teachings and brain Still I persist cause I have been born to see, know, hear, learn and even experience pains that it now becomes my room-mate, but thanks to my teacher for his lessons keep my heads up.
He fails not to tell me thing that made me appreciate every imperfections and perfection that I have, like considering the handicap? What if i have no arms, legs, eye or I never breath, what if i was in the hospitals or picking from the gutters? Would i sit here and lose my mind on things that i already have in me, within me and on me? he asked “when last did you thank the maker for the obstacle you face and his sustainability to overcome them?
If your life is hard to cope with, take your soul down the underworld you will hear scream for a chance to achieve little compare to yours, ask the blind how it feels not seeing but you have eye, go to the lame and ask the same, or you walk to the bridge, count the many you will see sleeping on flour and begging yet you have shelter, when you are done you will realize that what you have now is near to enough. Appreciate every mistakes and correction in you live my child. sometimes ethic and desire lead people in to danger.
You are not a sage this vicissitude will knock on your door so………………………….
teach you to control thy self, discipline your mind to governor emotions, as a stoic of virtue by contrast amend thy ways and wills to remain, because after this sun no more except judgement. Always remember only THE STRONG WILLS A SWORD TO FACE THE BATTLE UNDER PAINS AND CONQURE IN GLORY TESTIFYING.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
Being strong might be hard, but it’s the way of superseding problems to reach your peak.
stay calm, be half logical, have the heart of gratitude, don’t judge, don’t run away from obstacle endure them it’s the path of growing positively and strong. As you help lift others up your muscle grow strong please be kind, as my brother would say “lets live the stoicism way”
LET’S MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
My Gloomy Days
My quest, my wish, my intention and my desire to die rather than living a nobody..
This phase is being dedicated to every desperate being on earth.
I fell in a thousands of dream
Like the places water flowing stream
Like the sky the waters cascade from
Then landed without the trumpet horn.
Like the dust wind from sky to dust
I could not stand as I fell back to dust
I could not see through the thick cloud.
As the dust stuck my weak back.
My gaze on the sky in haste
Pleading for the heaven's taste
But the cloud seized it rain
As I kissed the dust in shame.
Ten of eleven, crying and pleading with the heavens
The thunders roar in awe
When the heavens shot it doors
The waters from the cloud drops on earth
As I grow, I began to loose my fate
Sorrow has been my name
When I wander the street in shame.
I always thought the heavens might open again
To send down the waters like rain
The purifier of dirt and stain
So I get back to feet my feet again
All thoughts became fruitless
As the heavens were still lock
I fell down hopeless
When my dreams began to stuck
To be continued..........
Favourite movies I don't get tired of watching.
I will get tired , after two or three times.
Worthy mentions.
1. Breakthrough, Miracles in Heaven, The shack -These movies reminds me of the importance of trusting God. It is easy to say we trust God when everything is going on well, what happens when the bulb is out and there's such thick darkness gripping your heart that you feel death could make more sense? It is important to have patient faith.
2. Beyond the Lights - The name of this movie alone spoke a lot to me. When Noni asked Kaz, "do you see me". My heart froze. How much we want people to see us. The need to love and be loved is a valid human feeling, sunk deep into our core. Sometimes, we are screaming in the middle of the road but people can barely hear us. People just hear the "I'm fine", they don't take a moment to listen to the sadness in the voice, to see the light deem in the eyes. The movie reminded me about why my Pastor always see, "fine people don't have fine problems". Beyond the nice clothes and fine d.p,beyond the blinding lights, not everything is as it seems.
3. The Martian : Humans have the ability to survive adverse situations! We can adapt to situations, really. You just need to be creative. A movie of survival, it taught me the importance of not giving up, of trying and trying over and over.
5. The slumdog millionaire
6. Lion King
7. Like stars on earth
8. Mad max fury
9. Etc, etc. I'm not really good at remembering movie titles
A Kiss To Remember
It was the 31st night of the 5th month through the 1st day of the 6th month in the year I became 13,
this wasn't my 1st time, of course I wasn't a good child as I had danced and suckled on her grace thrice before this time,
her lips ever so gracious,
I had just returned from a traditional marriage, stress knew me but as I beheld her grace, the rest is a story you can tell,
we dined and wined,
watched romcom's together,
the night was filled with bliss until pleasure threw us an angry hiss,
it was midnight and the night's secret whispered its mysteries to us,
lost in lust we were included as the passion between us caused tension due to the perfection our attraction sketched,
I lost sight as in her might she held me tight,
she had her way with me, a bitter sweet moment of torment,
I was gone,
torn apart by my own desires,
she mocked me for weeks as I laid cold,
she kissed me with her venom stained lips ,
the doctor pronounced me dead,
on my way to hell's gate, HIS burning grace wasn't late as HE raised me from the arms of my ancestors,
Death kissed me though I conquered its beauty,
a kiss forever fresh in my heart.
Address The Negative
Maybe Things could be different if you take time to address the negative thoughts.
It might turns out to be a solution to that problem.
Maybe negative thought are the actual positive thought we should act on, and positive thought are the mirage of what we want to believe to be true because we can't handle the undesirable thought.
Do you know?
Negative thoughts are indication that, there is a solution to what borders you?
Its a light that shows you a problem that needs solving.
Technically, negative thought are essential, its generate the positive ones, either it tells you to stop or it tells you to go.
But be mindful of this negative thoughts, some aren't that thinkable.
But take time to think through your negative thought, it might be the solution to that problem.
Happy Without Me
Trying to figure out where love resides previously
All those love that lasted for some hours
All those loves I think I had yesterday
Am still wondering about their location today
The excitement and memories we shared
The poetic words we uttered even without knowing them
The beautiful ladies that left and the ones I left without good-byes
Yesterday we were both happy,
Today we don't want to see our faces
Maybe that's how life was meant to be
I draw my chair and seat thinking loud
" Dem dey Happy so without me?
If we come across again
If we meet on a mall
If our fate ever brings us close
This love go still be as e bin dey?
Will our body still Sparks light ?
Could those early morning smiles still spackles ?
Would some words be left unspoken?
Should the feelings be left to rest in grave ?
Dem still dey Happy without me so?
Maybe giving birth and watching over their children have taken my place
Past can't be toil with so I set my sails and sail my way but still wondering"
Top 10 Soft Skills Every Graduate Should Have.
1. #CREATIVITY https://web.facebook.com/hashtag/creativity?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVoI-1efKPIUeSwxHXdor8QfM1_IruCTbXpihCNx5rdVH-eZsoqYKcm9-S2-Nsjunk3zHXS1eC-ZHd51N0pbbqrmSO-dpboTc0HIkkDWOd9Muutcm5c_kRlHGlyg9w6HrY8J6BTvnySyYcccdo2JVsL&__tn__=*NK-R
Employers are much more interested in what you can offer than what's written in that certificate. If indeed you are a first class degree holder you should be able to defend your certificate by proving how much help you can render to the company through innovations.
2. #Criticalthinking https://web.facebook.com/hashtag/criticalthinking?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVoI-1efKPIUeSwxHXdor8QfM1_IruCTbXpihCNx5rdVH-eZsoqYKcm9-S2-Nsjunk3zHXS1eC-ZHd51N0pbbqrmSO-dpboTc0HIkkDWOd9Muutcm5c_kRlHGlyg9w6HrY8J6BTvnySyYcccdo2JVsL&__tn__=*NK-R
Ok! I hear a lot of people say things like
"I am a rational thinker"
Anyways I got news for you rationality is not what any boss what's from you at this point in time. You don't judge things base what's Happening now. We want to have a team that sees beyond now, a critical thinker.
3. #Leadership https://web.facebook.com/hashtag/leadership?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVoI-1efKPIUeSwxHXdor8QfM1_IruCTbXpihCNx5rdVH-eZsoqYKcm9-S2-Nsjunk3zHXS1eC-ZHd51N0pbbqrmSO-dpboTc0HIkkDWOd9Muutcm5c_kRlHGlyg9w6HrY8J6BTvnySyYcccdo2JVsL&__tn__=*NK-R
Do you have leadership skills and experiences as well as a certificate to prove it? If yes you are on your way in getting that managerial position.
4. #WrittenCommunication https://web.facebook.com/hashtag/writtencommunication?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVoI-1efKPIUeSwxHXdor8QfM1_IruCTbXpihCNx5rdVH-eZsoqYKcm9-S2-Nsjunk3zHXS1eC-ZHd51N0pbbqrmSO-dpboTc0HIkkDWOd9Muutcm5c_kRlHGlyg9w6HrY8J6BTvnySyYcccdo2JVsL&__tn__=*NK-R
What really can we do with an employee with poor writing skills? Should in case you hate essay writing so much I guess you should go take up a few lessons on how to Write essays. You need it for reporting and creating contents for your presentations. By the way don't forget how your CV is very relevant.
5. #Tech Savviness https://web.facebook.com/hashtag/tech?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVoI-1efKPIUeSwxHXdor8QfM1_IruCTbXpihCNx5rdVH-eZsoqYKcm9-S2-Nsjunk3zHXS1eC-ZHd51N0pbbqrmSO-dpboTc0HIkkDWOd9Muutcm5c_kRlHGlyg9w6HrY8J6BTvnySyYcccdo2JVsL&__tn__=*NK-R
Excuse me? Who wants to hire a person who doesn't know how to boot a computer not to mention send emails and strike deals with Clients. It's the 21st century the world has moved from paper works.
6. #CommunicationSkills https://web.facebook.com/hashtag/communicationskills?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVoI-1efKPIUeSwxHXdor8QfM1_IruCTbXpihCNx5rdVH-eZsoqYKcm9-S2-Nsjunk3zHXS1eC-ZHd51N0pbbqrmSO-dpboTc0HIkkDWOd9Muutcm5c_kRlHGlyg9w6HrY8J6BTvnySyYcccdo2JVsL&__tn__=*NK-R
What really would work without good communication skills? People relation is key to the success of any Business or industry even personal success.
7. #LanguageSkill https://web.facebook.com/hashtag/languageskill?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVoI-1efKPIUeSwxHXdor8QfM1_IruCTbXpihCNx5rdVH-eZsoqYKcm9-S2-Nsjunk3zHXS1eC-ZHd51N0pbbqrmSO-dpboTc0HIkkDWOd9Muutcm5c_kRlHGlyg9w6HrY8J6BTvnySyYcccdo2JVsL&__tn__=*NK-R
Like seriously! You don't know how to speak your cultural dialect? I don't think is too late to learn. If you can speak at least two Nigerian dialect very well plus English or you can speak English and another international language you are on your way up.
8. #Adaptability https://web.facebook.com/hashtag/adaptability?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVoI-1efKPIUeSwxHXdor8QfM1_IruCTbXpihCNx5rdVH-eZsoqYKcm9-S2-Nsjunk3zHXS1eC-ZHd51N0pbbqrmSO-dpboTc0HIkkDWOd9Muutcm5c_kRlHGlyg9w6HrY8J6BTvnySyYcccdo2JVsL&__tn__=*NK-R
Now tell me who wouldn't want to hire this kind of a person. A person who quickly adapt to changes and not get sick because of new policies you are hired already.
9. **#WorkEthic**: who would be hiring a person who always like to be told what to do. You resume work early and you produce results not excuses. https://web.facebook.com/hashtag/workethic?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVoI-1efKPIUeSwxHXdor8QfM1_IruCTbXpihCNx5rdVH-eZsoqYKcm9-S2-Nsjunk3zHXS1eC-ZHd51N0pbbqrmSO-dpboTc0HIkkDWOd9Muutcm5c_kRlHGlyg9w6HrY8J6BTvnySyYcccdo2JVsL&__tn__=*NK-R
10. #Teamwork: some persons are that little yeast that spoils the whole though. You would be ruining the company if you can't be a good team player. https://web.facebook.com/hashtag/teamwork?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVoI-1efKPIUeSwxHXdor8QfM1_IruCTbXpihCNx5rdVH-eZsoqYKcm9-S2-Nsjunk3zHXS1eC-ZHd51N0pbbqrmSO-dpboTc0HIkkDWOd9Muutcm5c_kRlHGlyg9w6HrY8J6BTvnySyYcccdo2JVsL&__tn__=*NK-R
Romantic Love Story
Here comes the lady I offered to help at GTBank the other day while she was at the counter expressing her frustration. What happened?
She had come to Ikorodu for a project and needed to withdraw some funds for the project. Unfortunately or should I say fortunately, the branch she had walked into did not run slip transactions so she was stuck because she wasn't with her ATM.
There I was, in the banking hall caught up by her sense of confidence. The way she approached the bank official and pleaded got my attention.
The official told her not to worry, and advised that she speak to the gentleman on the queue beside her and ask if he could help.
Guess who that was?
Me!!!
She walked up to me and politely asked if I could help her out. When I asked what the challenge was, she explained her "predicament" to me.
Being the good Samaritan that I am, I asked her to transfer the money she had planned to withdraw to me so I could use my ATM to withdraw over the counter. She did and I was of help.
I asked if she had heard about New breed and she was shocked. She told me that she had in fact, heard about the church, seen our bill board and that she had a strong stirring in her heart to worship there.
While she was speaking, I reached out for our church invite card and placed it in her hands. She asked if the Church was rich in the word and ablaze in spirit, I told her to come check it out herself.
We exchanged numbers and off she went.
Later that evening, she sent me a message expressing how surprised she was to have found that I was the Shepherd of Newbreed. She promised to pay us a visit and I chuckled.
Long story made short, she came to church, enjoyed the service and got hooked to Newbreed. And that was how the good work began .
Eventually, she joined the protocol ministry and would always come back to ask questions based on my teachings in church. Her consistent hunger for the word and level of commitment - how she would always go the extra mile to make things happen in the church was inspiring to watch, even for me.
As time went on, I discovered that she was not just passionate about the word but also about humanity - children especially.
I saw her give her time, resources and energy to help make life better for others and this rare heart of service endeared her to me even more.
We became friends over time and as I began to unravel the mystery that is Lisa, beyond her service to the ministry and humanity… I discovered her wit and humors, her warmth, her firmness and then I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this beautiful soul.
Cries Under Bravery
Extreme mental cruelty, that existed under my final days, disappointed by laws and felt humiliated by rank
Betrayed by close partners
Abandoned by tight friends.
Subjected to illegal court with legal jurisdictional powers yet endured with dignity
Scourged, severally beaten, dropped deep strip like laceration in appreciable cries
Impaled in with maximum thorns of pains yet endured for you to smile
If you see a soldier, respect the uniform.
Python dance
Crocodile dance
Lion dance
All inflicted by laws
We obey orders and can't disobey them.
We felt your pains too but can't disobey the lion above
Just understand that we sleep with animals while you sleep at home
We stay awake just for you to sleep
Risk life for your safety.
Die for you to live
Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldiers who died protecting you
We fight not because we hate what is in the front but because we love you at the back so Next time you see a soldier, hug us for we are mortals too.
Where You Stand
A Must Read
Ai- Artificial intelligence as it is called a state where Robotics strive and our jobs is loss to machines. Which can do better than and yield an excellent result so that every company owner can have accuracy, efficiency, productivity, save time and above all make profit.
If you were a CEO wouldn't you invest in such a thing? Now the issue is not the question of investing in AI as it is common sense for every business inclined person to do so. The big question is would you still be relevant 5 years to come?
According to research 30% of people who are working today are likely to be unemployed in 2025. As far as am concern we are so done with 2019. Therefore 5 years from now is not so far.
Right now somewhere in New Zealand Robots now function as teachers to kids even though they are not supposed to be involved in jobs that deals with emotions and empathy.
you wouldn't blame any manager for not employing you because you are not computer literate in the 21st century. Countries that are not technologically inclined may be disadvantage as more money is likely to come in through AI rather than oil.
If you don't do e-commerce, e-learning and every other e you know of you're limited. A good example is the fact that dry-cleaning may not exist in some years to come as we have a machine that wash, dry and iron your clothes in few minutes already.
The world is changing, where do you stand five years from now? You don't want to graduate five years from now and discover "School na scam" as though you never pass through school.
Now that you know your inability to see and plan would be your only disadvantage.
Prudence
We pulled over at a bakery to get some bread. We picked more than we wanted because the bread was still very hot! Fresh from the oven! On getting to the cashier, we realized we picked more than the cash available so I felt bad. We can't withdraw or use POS as I wasn't with my wallet so I settled with the idea of returning the bread.
My wife whispered that she will be back that she thinks she has some spare change in her bag. She hurried to the car, did some digging and returned smiling.
When she said change I was expecting 100 0r 200 but Madame returned with 500 naira. Truth is, I had personally ransacked her bag earlier in search of change when we wanted going out to buy bread. Honestly I found nothing but the way 500 naira appeared from that bag, it marveled the guardian angels on duty.
I smiled but kept the questions to myself. As we journeyed home, I couldn't help but ask, where she got the money from and when. This is the same woman that has been telling me she doesn't have light change. I realized she had saved some of it from the funds I had her use for domestic expenses months back.
My wife reminds me a lot of my mother! There is no money, There is no money but you'll be shocked at what she will pull out during an emergency. Today I appreciate women, my mother and Wife inclusive for their steadfastness and Prudence.
Personally when I say it is finished, like Jesus on the cross it is finished but a woman plans way ahead to sustain her home. She can never be completely dry! Its either she has weighed your need and it doesn't add up or she doesn't want to give you. At this point, Tears won't save you!
Fear women ooo
.
Yesterday, my wife took my debit card and went out. A short while after, I got an alert. Well, I'm used to it. O ti mọ mi lara. When she got back, I told her about the alert I got. She just shrugged. I'm a palliative.
So we got to the Owambe this afternoon. I was dancing on my seat jejely. My wife asked me to stand and dance. I wanted to ask questions but I know the First Law of Marriage, "Thou shall not question thy wife". So I stood up and danced to the music.
My wife joined me too. Suddenly, she opened her purse and dashed me money. I quickly did 'komole'. Raised one leg and did a spin. She dashed me more money. "This woman is now born-again o", I thought. Dashing me money like this. "There must be a catch somewhere", I thought to myself. Nevertheless, I danced the more. I took some steps I've not taken in a long time and wriggled my waist. I hugged her after the dance and appreciated her generosity. It's not every time that the looted gets an opportunity to loot in return.
When we sat down, my wife whispered to me. "Recall I used your debit card last night? That was the money I withdrew". She said it with a smirk on her face.
I looked at her, shaking my head. Owo Abu la fi se Abu l'alejo.
Fear women ooo.
Story of Me
If your parent bought goodies when you were sick please come lets protest. We must end this.
In our bloodline every one had had sour throat, if you grew up as a child and you haven't been sour throat positive, oh, a recheck have to be done.
From my childhood to early teen sour throat was my daily bread. If I got diagnose and treated this month, in the next month sour throat will whisper ''you have no better friend than me.''
Well, I came to tam with my friend(sour throat ) thinking that it is the bet to get me to eat chicken and drink thick tea every month but, unfortunately the pains never let me swallow anything.
I had hard time of responding to medications exception that I needed to be overdose which was never a good option. The only option was to break it out by my dad .
(He would put a stick in my mouth to separate my teeth so I won't bit him which I always wanted to. Then, he will apply salt on his finger and dive into my throat to pull out the diagnosis which came out as a thick blub drawl blood ) damn was it painful?
When ever as a child I had sour throat I will pretend like I am having a stomach ache. But, did it work? my dad is a headache that tells you, you have malaria even before you do. Me and dad became TOM AND JERRY.
Mummy will buy milk and chocolate in cans, kill chicken the day my sour throat will be broken . After the preparation I would be given the largest part of the chicken and the most thickest tea. But, the wounds in my throat was a stymie to devour the goodies so, my sibling always stood beside me to carry my share and I would cry.
The only thing I could swallow was a tasteless pap and water. before I got well all the delicious was gone .
After some weeks the wound healed and I went to my mother happily.
ME: Eka, I am okay now will you kill another chicken?
MOTHER: No, there is food in the house.
ME: Eka, I don't want to eat that one, I want my chicken I didn't eat.
MOTHER: Oh, sorry, you were sick and couldn't swallow.
ME: but I am okay now, the sour throat is all gone
MOTHER: Ke-bie(with a stain voice) there is garri and soup on the counter go and eat so the wounds will heal properly. .
What! what! Did she say?
Okay
Plans activated
Operation take back your chicken
You know what happened?
Next month the sour throat came, mummy killed chicken again.
You know what I did?
I took all the milk and chocolate, hid it.
Divided the chicken, store it in the fridge and placed label "Respect your hands".
I Volunteered to go and buy the spices then added #20 to each items I wrote.
I added plenty pepper leave and maggie in the pot after eating and some hours later, behold a queue at the toilet door .
Well, the suspected me but did you see me do it?
They wanted to play games, then lets play.
How Social Etiquette is Lacking in Our Society
I was with a group of friends the other day and we had such great conversations. We talked about how social etiquette is lacking in our society and the urgent need for people to learn how to behave properly in social gatherings and on social media.
It is true that a large percentage of the teeming world population spend their time on social media. These days, two people could sit next to each other and not even share a glance as they could be engrossed in their phones, liking and commenting on posts of people they have never met and may never meet.
We talked about how important it is to ask people if they are available for a chat before you drop a series of Hys in their inbox and then get angry if they are not available to reply or they see it and don't reply.
A long time ago, a mentor told me something that has stayed with me and has helped me a lot over the years. He said, "always give excuses for people, give them the benefit of doubt, not be too quick to judge". If we can show a little bit of kindness and consideration to people, it would go a long way to preserve relationships. You don't have to conclude that the person has seen your messages and doesn't want to reply you. The person could be battling with a life threatening ailment and having a conversation with a stranger could be the last thing on his or her mind.
So, the next time you are tempted to get angry at your friend who hasn't called you for a week, pick up the phone and call her, let her know you're thinking about her. Most times, we are angry at people for not being there for us, but if only we could know the truth. They might be going through such a turbulent time in their life and the only thing they are thinking about is how to survive the next moment. Before you tell a person, "so, you've thrown me away", asked yourself if you have cared enough.
We are living in a woke generation. We are at perilous times. These days, we are quick to cut people out of our lives. There's been so much talk about protecting your space, not allowing negative energy in, cutting off people who don't want and need you etc. While all these is recommended, because really, you need to be in sane relationship to survive. Any relationship that destroys your self esteem, your peace and opportunity to grow is not worth it.
Just before you throw away the baby with the bath water, before you cut off that friend, you need to go through a lot of retrospection. Don't, just because it's a popular trend on social media to de-clutter your space, you make rash decisions and lose good friendships that has stood the test of time.
Sometimes, we need to be there for people for as long as it would take for them to realise that we really are for them and with them. Let me explain. Most persons have a hard time believing that they are loved, this might be as a result of horrible childhood experiences, it might be they things they've had to go through in life, the lemons life deals at us. This is quite a difficult thing to do and you can't be that person for everyone you meet. There are persons that just tug your heart in a very special way and you feel you should have faith in them as much as it is within your capacity to whilst still maintaining your self love and not do it to the detriment of your mental health.
We are in a woke generation but there are old time values we should never lose. I am not in any way encouraging staying in toxic relationships. I am saying that there is need to put in more efforts in our relationship. Commitment is one value that is getting extinct in our days. You, my dear reader should decide to be among those who would still reach out to love people deeper and more earnestly. Some relationships die when they should not have, probably because one person is too lazy to put in the work needed to make it work. The grass is not greener in the other side. It's is greener where you watered it. The relationship you are envying on social media and cooing couple goals, is not that beautiful because the two parties are relaxed and carefree.
This is the way I see it: if both parties bring their best game to the table, without trying to measure whose best is the best, they would end up complimenting each other in the most beautiful way possible.
So, basically, I'm saying, put in the work needed to make your relationship work. It's not sci-fi. It won't happen by magic. It would take deliberate efforts and commitment.
Stay Woke.
Closer by the Day
Yesterday, I felt much more closer to my mom. I was thinking in my head, "this woman is my mother".
Like she wasn't before.
She shared the story of an event that happened recently with me about a man who raped a little girl of five. Someone also shared the story with her and she said she asked what was being done about that and the reply was that the people in the family are saying it's a family issue and they are arranging for a family meeting to discuss the issue and what should be done.
My mom was saying that the man should be arrested and that if the family are really concerned about their family image, they should take the meeting to the police station. Nonsense and family meeting.
That act is not a sacrilege against the family alone, it's always against the society. When it comes to issues like this, no one should be accused of meddling with family business. You're a nuisance to the society. If you can do it to one, you can do it to another and our children ought to feel safe tin the society and not be considered as tools for your sexual gratification.
Everyone in the society should speak out and condemn violence against women, men and children.
We have a collective role and responsibility to hold members of the society to a level of decorum and sense.
One Word. One Wish
The day I am ready to make the switch to Photography officially, it is over.
As a teenager and young adult, the quality and depth of photo and video documentary that I saw on NatGeoWild kept me awake at night. It made me dream. I had actually forgotten those dreams until I started taking pictures of nature with my phone. I was always saddened that there was no Nigerian representation of nature in those documentaries. I saw the wealth of our environment and the beauty of the wild around me, but I never understood why it wasn’t explored and showcased.
I look around me today and my heart beats for joy when I see the young people taking this dream of mine and making it tangible with the tools in their hands. It is so beautiful to see these things. Two nights ago, I stumbled across a group called The Magsman and I was screaming for joy. Their videos are excellent and the way they unfold places in Nigeria that you already know is just amazing. I stayed awake to go through all of their timelines on various social media platforms and I have no regret burning my night to their passion.
I have a friend; such an amazing lifestyle photographer and he is excellent. I am planning another photo exhibition with him. The journey of his photography is just amazing and he brings pure joy my way.
Daily, it gives me great joy and satisfaction to discover a link between Law, my love for nature, my passion for the environment and the gift of art that runs in my blood. It is beautiful I tell you. I don’t want to shoot people. I want to focus my eyes and lenses on nature; flowers, oceans, skies, trees, plants, insects, snakes, raindrop, everything green and brown that you can see around you. These things keep me alive and high. Life is beautiful dear friends.
I am here with a request. Since we are asked to speak the things I want, this is me speaking mine into existence. I want a Google Pixel Phone. I have dreamt of this phone and its photography abilities and the thoughts of what it can do get me excited. I would also love to be a Samsung ambassador. I would be such a worthy ambassador. The things I would create with any of the above tools are only left to the imagination. Keep the blue Mercedes for now, this is my one wish. God keeping me alive, you will see entries of my work on NatGeoWild and if they are making yanga, I will create my own nature platform and do wonders.
I think I have got it all out here. Oh another wish; to marry a photographer.
Matrimonial Home, Not Husband's House
I just remembered how my parents back then usually stress how I will thrown out of my husband's house if I continue doing this and that... That notion has always pissed me off!
Lets look at it this way...
Sun and rain are two different and Opposing phenomena
But their individual and distinct services are needed to nurture a plant.
One is not superior to the other in the affairs of plant growth, the sun doesn't own the plant and the rain is considered a disposable attachment neither does the rain own the plant for the sun to be considered a disposable attachment.
They simply work in harmony to see to the success of the plant's growth. Mind you, if any of them decide to back out, the damage will be on the plant not directly on the other partner.
Let marriage be the plant, husband and wife play their distinct roles to nurture it.
Back to my topic: you make a wife seem like a disposable attachment and you push ownership of marriage to the husband by referring to their official physical place of cohabitation as **'husband's house'.**
How? Why? What for? As awkward as wife's house sounds, that's the same way husband's house sounds to me.
He's the head of the marriage. Does that make him the owner of the marriage? God is the owner of marriage.
Neither husband nor wife owns the home, their meeting point is in matrimony so it is MATRIMONIAL HOME.
He paid for the house... And so what? That's his own mutually allotted duty for the matrimony to stand.
For further understanding... Think of the roles of pepper and salt in a typical calabar Edikanikong soup.
The Country I Live In! A Shame To The World
We seek for our rights, They kill us instead!
Leaders of tomorrow, Fired and eliminated!
We protest in peace, They react with war!
Singing peace and unity, living in a warzone!
The blood they she'd, cries for vindication!
They refuse to listen, they pay deaf ears!
Old lunatics, full of greed!
Hardship upon hardship, their gift to us!
Their only concern, their pockets and family!
Bloodshed! A normal to them!
They soil their hands, and poison our hearts!
Siblings are crying, parents are wailing!
A shame they are, Leaders they think!
Blood will speak, Blood will cry!
I stand with peace, I stand with peace
Even Laziness Requires Consistency
This one is hilarious right? A consistent lazy person
As funny as it may sound, it's true. To be fully lazy and unproductive, you need to be consistent my people.
So when people say " I'm so lazy, I don't think I can keep up with being consistent" I tell them that even being lazy requires your consistency.
In my words, if you're not consistent with anything you're not it.
I know I slacked early this month and I didn't share the book club flier and reviews on this space, sincerely I don't know how I forgot to do that, although the flier and reviews were shared on WhatsApp.
My book club members are sincerely the best, though there's a bit of stress following up more than 30 people.
I'm just glad the book club is birthing transforming testimonies
Last week we read " 101 things they won't teach you in business school "and this book in particular was
It didn't just deal on business, it cut across life too.
For this week, my people nominated Literature and we'll be reading "ALL THE PRETTY HORSES" by McCarthy.
Reading transforms, trust me on that.
You won't even know the transformation it does till you begin to read.
In a nutshell, reading moves from one level of learning to another, either from an unconscious incompetence or a conscious competence.
I do personal coaching as well in case you're shy of belonging to a group.
Good news: we've clocked 6months (30weeks)already and we'll be sharing the list of life transforming books we've read by next month.
Watching From A Distance
Steadfast and unmoved I stood
Unsure of my world
I watched
Those who fell to the ground
And those who threw themselves to the ground
Those who gave thanks to God
And those who murmured in skepticism
Those who sang in deep sorrow
And those who listened in sober reflection
Those who were too full to speak
And those who lamented in depth
Those who ran about in confusion
And those who sat as though without hope
Being at a distance I continued to watch.
Cure For The Lukewarm
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man _ PROVERBS 24:33-34
Lukewarmness in our Kingdom (Zion) is very deceptive, cunning and destroying.
Lukewarmness creeps into One's life through procrastination, I will do it tomorrow, and tomorrow comes and the statements points to another tomorrow until nothing is done, then frustration and regrets set in.
But, I have goodnews for you today, that the Lord will help you and set you free, if you are willing to obey this simple guide He is giving you today.
The cure for lukewarmness is more passion, more zeal, more work and a "do it now" attitude.
What did the Lord asked you to do that you've not done?
What is that favour that you're awaiting to do for a friend?
What is that beautiful thing we were supposed to do that we've not done? We know all of them.
The solution is, do it now.
Do it now!
Do it now!
Now is the time to cure lukewarmness, now is the time.
The Lord bless you for reading through!
Be favored!
The Missing Piece (Intensity)
As an addict, I suffered just like the way you're suffering.
I would promise myself that I will never do it again.
Times I got so cross and told God, that if I should do it again, He should kill me!
Mind you I was a Christian, lover of God, but something was at work in me I couldn't explain!
I would unwilling be surfing the internet with shaking hands, I would terrible and yet still look. I could feel my spirit fighting n fighting but always defeated!
I would retreat and cry, fast and pray but immediately after, I would hear the same voice, feel the same pull and the retreat would be defeated!
I kept the laws and regulations, ate the Torah of rules and even had an accountability partner, which I would tell of my misbehavior after the very act!
I stayed away from social media(newsfeed and videos) but after keeping all this rules, I still fell.
Then I found the missing piece!
I mean the rules are helpful, accountability partners, excellent! yet it isn't enough!
What is missing is INTENSITY, you come to such an energy level in prayers and your chase after God, that the doors open by this act in your soul become shut!
Here you die to some things without even noticing. This quantum power comes through in continue prayers!
They said long prayers doesn't matter. It does! At least I know it kills the man. The man dies to appetites!
You will lose taste for a lot of things! For time always seem not to be enough!
At this point, it means you have gained intensity, and every increase in intensity wars against the flesh!
Just so you know, a man that prays, doesn't have a word of his own(I mean his word are likely to change).
When he says, let me sleep over it, be sure you're on a balance. God might just say contrary!
Why did you start your business?
In 2013, I received a call from my Dad that changed my life forever
He told me that his goods had been seized by Customs and that he had could no longer pay back the money he had borrowed from the Bank.
At first, I didn't understand the full import of what he meant---we were a financially comfortable family and my father was going to pull through this in no time.
So I thought.
I was wrong.
Before long, my dad told my sister and I that he could no longer pay tuition for both of us. Hence, one person would have to drop out of school
However, I strongly opposed this idea and insisted that my sister and I would stay and continue our university education together.
The die was cast; Endiong and I were officially on our own.
In no time, my sister and I moved from "Ajebo" status to serious "Ajepako"
Everything turned upside down for us financially. If the Lord had not brought good friends and people our way, we would have eventually dropped out of school as schooling in Nigeria was more expensive than we had thought it was.
Fast forward to 2016 after my graduation from the University of Uyo, I asked the Lord to help me remember how hard the struggle was for us and for Him to use me to help others who were facing a similar problem.
This is how Gracelanding Motors And Transport Services (GMTs) was born
My company is delivering an inclusive tricycle driving service where indigent university undergraduates are employed as drivers in order for them to earn money to pay for tuition and other incidental fees
This is why I am in Umuahia doing what I do.
So, any day you ever enter a GMT tricycle, remember this:
You are helping the person sitting in front of you to begin and complete their university education.
Remember this.
@Greatness96
