NIGERIAN POLITICIANS AND THEIR EMPTY WORDS.

I don’t know about you, but it annoys me when Nigerian politicians make their “basic” promises. 

It’s even sadder how very few of them actually deliver on these promises. 

It’s in Nigeria that someone would come and promise that he/she would build roads, provide meals at school and give us standby electricity. 

As if these aren’t things that ought to be there. The things that tax covers? The dividends of democracy. The perks of being a Nigerian. 

Speaking of which, are there any perks that come with being Nigerian? 

I mean besides belonging to a diverse and amazing group of the most beautiful, freshest, and hardworking Africans who make the best jollof, what else is there? 

I guess like the saying goes, “when the expected is unavailable, the available becomes the expected.” 

Which Is probably why average Nigerians will flock over any politician who sweet talks them into believing he’s going to fix the roads and provide electricity. 

I long for the day leaders would actually debate on, make and keep promises that actually matter.

Such as how our education system can be the envy of Africa! How they would make sure there are more made in Nigeria products, how they would change the faces of ur slums, how they’ll get people off the streets, how they would make sure that every Nigerian no matter their status has a shot at a great future, how we would make our country secure again and make our military the pride of west Africa once again. 

Just to mention but a few.

Till then, I’ll just pray one of the Omo niile’s in my area wins an election so the road to my house can be tarred. 

Image source.

ON GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE BANNING STREET HAWKING AND TRADING.

I just read an article in the punch of Wednesday, November 25, 2015, on the Abia state government’s decision to stamp out street trading in the state. 
The governor stated that street trading had become a menace which was no longer tolerated in the world. Adding that it posed problems to traffic flow, environmental decency and safety of these traders as well. 
While this is a good idea, something that is applicable in first world countries, I do not agree with the timing. 
I’ve noticed that most of our leaders focus on trivial matters as opposed to more pressing issues. In the case of Abia state would be, good roads, better transport network, town planning, stable power supply, employment, payment of workers, and revamping of the education system to mention just a few of her woes.
Most of which have a more direct effect on traffic, decency and safety in the state than these citizens who hawk things to put bread on their table! 
The fact that for some of these hawkers, this is their only means of survival, should not be overlooked. 
As the government plans on getting them of the road, I suggest that it provide suitable alternatives so these ones can continue to survive without falling into crime out of desperation. 
A Suitable alternative would include providing subsidized mini-marts in filling stations/car parks so they can sell their wares. That way, they would still have something doing, and the road users can easily find them when their wares are needed. 
Again, the government can sanitize the market places and bring in order and organization into the system. I believe strongly, that if things are put in order in these disorderly market, there would be space for “someone to put leg.” Which would be solving more than one problem.
In order words, there would be more stalls; which the displaced hawkers can rent, parking spaces to make shopping easier, a place where the hawkers can sell their wares as well and the environmental decency the governor is talking about. 
It should be known that Abia is not the only state with this motion and so this suggestions go to other state governments as well. 
I long for the day, leaders would talk less and work more. I long for the day leaders would deal with most pressing issues before dealing with such trivialities. 
Until then, let’s all be safe.

TRIBAL PREJUDICE.

What’s more dangerous than a Yoruba boy who’s fine and knows that he is fine ?

What’s more risky than doing business, with an Igbo man who’s in need of cash? 

What is more scary than seeing a Hausa man, with red eyes, brandishing his dagger?

What is more sucidal and lethal,than breaking up with an Edo girl? 
What is more ostentatious and extravagant, than a Yoruba owambe party? 

What is more hilarious? Than listening to an angry akwa Ibom man talk? 

What is more rare than seeing a warri person, with perfect command of English and immaculate diction? 

And the list could go on and on, on the tribal prejudices we’ve adopted as a nation. 

For they are truly endless, and more are created from time to time. 

Truth is there are many things more dangerous, many things more risky, many things more scary, many actions are more suicidal, there are more ostentatious events, there are many things more hilarious and many things more rare, taken respectively, than all I’ve mentioned above. 

Let’s dump tribal prejudices now! 

There’s no tribe with a monopoly of any negative or positive traits. 

There are only people, individuals, who on their own, decide to do negative or positive things. 

Good people would be good, regardless of tribe or clime. 

Bad people would be bad, regardless of ethnicity or race. 

But even still, there’s some good in every bad person and some bad in every good person. 

*drops mic.,

MFeature image source.

THE GRAND PIANO CALLED NIGERIA.

Source: THE GRAND PIANO CALLED NIGERIA. 

THE GRAND PIANO CALLED NIGERIA.

I heard a story about some young men who were trying to move a grand piano to another room in church for an activity. Now like the name implies, the grand piano is quite big. I think it’s the biggest in the piano/keyboard family. I stand to be corrected.

As is expected, they had a very difficult time moving it. Their pushing, pulling, lifting and groaning was all in vain. The leader of the church branch walked by and saw these young men struggling. He then suggested that they all lifted where they stood. That is they should take their mind off moving the grand piano and just focus on lifting up the part of the grand piano that was where they stood.

I’m sure they might have reacted like the apostles then fishermen who were fishing all night without any success. Anyhow, they tried it and it worked for them! And so gradually and gently, very steadily, they were able to carry the grand piano to the activity hall.

The most populous black nation on earth is a lot like this grand piano. If all the African nations are to be compared to the various keyboards/pianos there are, Nigeria would surely be in the grand piano tier.

Some of you might be thinking, “grand piano ke?” Yes! A grand piano. Maybe faulty, but a grand piano still. A grand piano that’s in need of moving to the hall of greatness. A grand piano that needs able bodied youth, to move it forward.

Just as it is insane and nearly diabolical to ask one person to move a grand piano, so it is to think moving Nigeria forward is the work of government alone. In fact, with the way our government is, a government where we have a lot of people with selfish interest, who have no desire to help the people, we might pend. For a very long time. (I recognize the fact that there are still a few who have vision for the country. But please let’s be honest, those without this vision, greatly outnumber those with it.)

The same way it does not make sense, to ask the aged ones, the oldies, to move a grand piano is the same way it doesn’t make sense for we youth, able bodied ones(people in their 30s are still classified as youth) to abandon the work of moving Nigeria forward for the older ones. See Ehn, most of them are filled with sentiments and unpatriotism and as such leaving it for the old ones is as disastrous as leaving a plane in the hands of a toddler.

Seeing most youth are not eligible to go into politics, how then do we move Nigeria forward? Simple! Lift where you stand! The little you can do in your neighborhood, school,church or workplace do it. When you hear people talking negatively about the country, you put in a good word. Help restore people’s faith in Nigeria. Be a good citizen. Avoid tribal and religious sentiments like you would an Ebola patient. And so on and so forth.

If you just take a little time to think about this, you would see that in your little corner of Nigeria, you can make a difference. You can! We can! Yes we can. Wherever you find yourself do your best. Do it well.
One of my favorite quotes is this “whatever thou art, do well thy part.”

We all have a part to play. We all have a part we can lift. Do this, don’t mind discouragement and those who’d want to bring us down as a country. Do this and I know that as surely as those young men were able to that grand piano, as surely as the sun would rise each day, we would move forward, we would attain our greatest height and we would be well pleased with ourselves.

Thank you for reading.

God bless you and may HE always bless the federal republic of Nigeria.

THE NEED FOR JETTISONING ON THE NIGERIAN SHIP.

In an airplane or sea ship, there are times when the plane or ship is encumbered by its luggage. At such situations, the captain resorts to jettison some items. That is, to throw away encumbering items, luggages and the rest. In a very rare and unique situation a human being was thrown away. I’ll let you guess who. 
In the ship of Nigeria we also need to jettison some items in order to make progress as a country. Most importantly, we citizens have to get rid of tribal sentiment ! 
It pisses me off to hear when people say, “oh my parents said whatever happens I shouldn’t bring home an Igbo man.” This is in the group of the dumbest statements I’ve ever heard in my life. Now , I’m not pissed because I’m Igbo, no, I’m pissed because of the sentiments. I’m equally annoyed when I hear Igbo people say, no I can’t marry a Yoruba man. Tribe should be the least factor in deciding who you’ll spend your eternities with. 

Igbo people would do anything for money, Yoruba love party too much, Hausa people are dirty, Edo people are witches, delta people are militants etc etc. these are some tribal sentiments that have been passed down by generations before us. I think it’s silly to judge an entire tribe by the actions of a particular person. Imagine if there were a black sheep in your family, and now because of that I write your whole family off as bad and lacking in home training. That would be foolish of me.

In every society there are the good and bad ones. Heck, in Jesus’ inner circle there was Judas. 

It doesn’t make sense to bring unnecessary divisions into a country. 

Children now adopt these notions and allow it to block their view. They don’t see the good that other people have to offer. It affects their relationship with their fellow citizens and at times lead to strife. Worse, they in turn pass it down to their children. 

We all need to understand that there are good people and there will be bad people in this world. How about we teach our children that huh? How about we teach our children to appreciate the differences in culture and tradition. Variety they say is the spice of life ! 

If we are to move forward as a country we have to get rid of these sentiments. 

Don’t let sentiments becloud your good judgments. 

How can two work together unless they are one ? How can the various tribes in Nigeria progress unless they be one ? 

I have faith that as a result of the exposure we’ve gotten, our generation would be the generation to put an end to these sentiments. 

Let’s get rid of them. Sentiments are of the Devil. His influence thrives where there is division and strife. 

Let’s teach our children to love and appreciate other tribes and cultures. 

That way, we’ll be making out country a better and stronger one. 

Remember divided we fall, United we stand. 

And every one loves United. 

Up United ! 

S/o to my boy Luke Shaw by the way, here’s wishing you a speedy recovery. 
God bless you and God bless Nigeria. 

HELPING NIGERIA HELP US!

These days a lot of people have relationship goals. A fewer number of people have parenting goals. But only an alarming few have national goals. In fact, if there were to be a circle of those who had national goals, when compared with those who had other goals, that circle would be a period! (some drake Stuvvs, yknow wham saying! Hala!)

Late David O. McKay, one time president of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said: “no amount of success in the world, can compensate for failure at home.” In this case, “home” refers to our country Nigeria. Let me say this, if thanks to your hardwork and dedication, with a topping of God’s grace you become a success but do not use your power, influence and financial buoyancy to bless the lives of others, more specifically to better the country, you have failed! 

No one wants to be a failure. No one should fail. So as you set goals for your life, your relationship and your role as a parent, please set goals for your country as well. 

Late President John F Kennedy of the United States said,”ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” He adviced his fellow citizens to not ask what America of all places could do for them but what they could do for America! Is it any wonder they are where they are today? 

See, my fellow Nigerians, it’s high time we stopped asking for what Nigeria can do for us, rather ask what we can do for Nigeria. Because to be very honest, if you want the government to really solve your problems, ha, you might have to chill till I’m president. And that’s not for another three decades! 

We Nigerians are an awesome set of people. I see it only demeaning that we keep waiting on government for our daily bread (metaphor for development etc). When they are not God. One of my all time favorite jokes, is the one where there was crises in Heaven as a result of the Nigerians who were able to forge their self into heaven. So our Daddy calls Lucifer to come and get his people. But lucifer has a lot on his plate and can’t take the call. He later calls to apologize saying that he couldn’t take the call as a result of the crises Nigerians were causing over there. Believe it or not, they had found a way to install air conditioners and quench the heat in hell!!

Like you can’t just keep us – Nigerians- down. 

I would like all who read this, to decide how they want to positively affect the country. Nothing is too big and nothing is too small. All join. If everyone could decide to make a positive impact on the country our situation would change before you know it! Things would get better. We would practice true democracy and we would be able to sack all those who feel our fate is in their hands. 

Fellow Nigerians, your fate is in your hands! 

God bless you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

OUR GENERATION CAN GIVE RISE TO A NEW NIGERIA.

Every day I see things that make me feel bad about this country. Things that make me realize what untapped potential this country has and that make me pray for good governance. 

Just this afternoon at the hospital I was opportune to take part in a discussion with two young doctors. They were talking about how being a medical practitioner here in Nigeria is not satisfying at all. They are paid scraps , are not given the respect they deserve, and are not given adequate support from the government especially in the area of research. They mentioned how Nigerian doctors abroad were treated with respect and were made comfortable by their host governments. 

As a result, one of them gave instances of his friends who had made the switch to greener pastures who told him they had no intention whatsoever of returning. He himself just had a couple exams to write and would soon be making his own trip. 

The other one had already made the move and was just visiting Nigeria. 

I couldn’t help but feel disappointed while listening to this young men. It’s obvious they were after what they felt was in their best interest and what they felt would give them the best return for their investment. They failed to remember, however, that they were only reducing the already meager supply of competent medical practitioners in the country. They failed to remember that in the long run they are bettering another man’s country and worsening theirs. 

Nigerians no doubt are bright fellows and always excel in the fields they venture into. In the entertainment industry (now talking about vine and Instagram) Nigerians such as Sam Okafor, Kingpaul and Chief Obi are making waves. In medicine, our doctors are part of the teams that carry out life saving surgeries. Just recently, a 19 year old Nigerian graduated from his university with first class degree in economics (the youngest and the first person to make First Class in Economics the university has had) . I was told today by one of the doctors about a student In a Chinese university who solved a math problem his professors have been having problem with for ages. 

I can go on and on about how great we Nigerians are. If you don’t believe me ask google and you’ll see. 

But no matter how great we are, if we keep running off to greener pastures and forget our homeland is just going to lie bare and waste, no one would change it for us. We are the change we seek. Before the government can make any great change we the people have to first change our mentality. We need to stop seeing running abroad as a solution to our problems. 

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you shouldn’t school abroad or utilize opportunities that come your way as a result of your hard work. What I’m saying is that all these should be done with the general aim of coming back to use the experience and lessons we’ve learnt to better our society. 

Our generation has received a country in a terrible state from past generations. The state in which we pass it on to the next generation is in our hands. I’ll like to use this opportunity to challenge all Nigerians reading this to change your mentality towards the country for the better, I challenge you to decide for yourself how you’ll bring about a new Nigeria. Remember all change begins with you. 
God bless you and God bless Nigeria.