“My country and me”

“My country and me”

Nigeria, my own country. The question is What has Nigeria given me? This question I ask. Once upon a time, in the ancient town of Abeokuta, there ensued a discussion between a young man and his father. The discussion was centered on how good Nigeria was? The keyword being WAS. I heard the stories of how strong the naira was compared to the British pounds. The days when it was the British pence to naira as opposed to these days of hundreds of naira to the British pounds. I heard of those days when you just walked to Murtala Mohammed Airport without a visa and then boom you are on your way out of the country. I heard of days when students enjoyed scholarships to study in the very high class schools around the world. I heard of those days when working for the government was the dream of every young individual for the sole purpose of giving back to the society. I heard of the days when food was so abundant in the nation. I heard of the days when you could go to bed without worrying about kidnappers, boko haram, armed robbers and all evils.

My heart cry is : Can those days ever return ?

“The National anthem and my questions?”

“The National anthem and my questions?”

The new - "Arise, O Compatriots" (1978–present)

Arise, O compatriots, - Are we asleep or what is the issue?

Nigeria's call obey – What exactly is the call, A call of hatred, peace, poverty or what?

To serve our Fatherland – When you serve, there should be a reward, what exactly is our reward for this service?

With love and strength and faith. – Is it possible to have all these with our environment?

The labour of our heroes past – Did they really labour or was it just a ride?

Shall never be in vain, - a hopeful prayer this is or what do we call it?

To serve with heart and might – Can we really do this when there is so much hatred, bitterness and poverty?

One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity. – Does this exist with the multiple social divides and all?

O God of creation – Must we always call on him?

Direct our noble cause – What is our Noble cause, as in what exactly?

Guide our leader’s right – Are we not tired of this prayer?

Help our youth the truth to know – The truth is very relative so what truth do we have to know?

In love and honesty to grow – Isn’t this just wishful thinking?

And living just and true, Great lofty heights attain – A prayer again?

To build a nation where peace And justice reign. – When would this happen?

I ask those questions even with hope in my heart that someday, the words of this anthem would be actualized. I have spent over two decades already and all I do is HOPE, HOPE and HOPE.

Feel free to share your comments and thoughts. Nigeria, We hail thee

I look forward to that day when all the visions of the composers of our anthems would be a reality. So help us God. 

"Uncertainty"

Deep sighs”!!!! Life sha (Thinking face) 

…. 

I remember the saying “to live is but for a second”. I wake everyday unsure of the next thing life would bring. I encourage myself daily with the quote “If it’s not yet well, then it’s not the end”. The question is how do you know it is well or when the end would be or would the end ever come? This and many questions I as a young man striving for excellence ask myself on a daily basis. If allowed to be a public discussion, am sure questions posed by the world and you would be endless.

As seemingly simple as the topic is, I can confirm to you upon searches and discovery, that we all live in a world filled with uncertainty. Or what else can be the description of a world in which a young man steps out of his house in the morning and never returned home, or the varying number of graduates who are unemployed after spending 4 – 10 years within the confines of a university or is it the number of underemployed (people who work far more than they earn – a category in which a vast majority exist), or the fact that food for tomorrow is not assured.

The question: What is the basis of existence or living when you don’t know tomorrow lingers on the hearts and minds of a teeming population.

I drop my pen with the belief that you have the answer to these questions?

Live everyday like it’s your last and make sure you live a positive impact because no one knows tomorrow or because “tomorrow may never come”.

"Valentine"

Music mode activated (Boy II Men things J J )\

Verse 1

I was lonely,
I needed someone, to see me threw,
I was at the, end of my rope,
I needed someone, to cut me lose
Then an angel, out of the blue,
Gave me the since that I, might make it through
And somehow I survived, with no rhyme or reason,
And now I know I'll make It,
Through the miracle of you

[Chorus]
I know the Color Of Love,
(And It lives in side of you)
I know the color of truth,
(Its in the image of you)
If it comes for the heart, then you know that it’s true,
It will color your soul, like a rainbow
(Like a rainbow)
And the color of love, is in you

As a typical guy, I don’t really know verse 2 so I end up singing the chorus over and over again….. The interesting part of this song is when you put someone’s name in the part that refers to YOU…..

Pause …………..

The month of February has been tagged to be the month of “LOVE” …. It is funny how everything just has one connotation or the other in this world. One particular question I have always asked myself and I still ask myself is: Why single out a day for the show of love?

It would give me great pleasure to find an answer to this. Anyways, 

Valentine’s Day is a day I love to witness even though I have never really experienced the full display personally J J. I guess I always date girls who don’t believe in the show of serenren on a particular day. So by default, I tend to be the giver and not the receiver.  What is Valentine’s Day sef that the hype is always this ghen ghen (action movie soundtrack)? Every time this period comes, I get several people asking me: so what are you doing for Valentine’s Day? I am always tempted to say “To Live past that day of course” but I always soft-pedal and just answer “I don’t know yet”. It’s by the corner once again and I have started getting this question.

I chose to go online and find out about the day. Below are some of the shocking and interesting revelations about the day:

·         It is the 2^nd most celebrated day in the world and its second to New Year’s Day.

·         The day was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

·         By the 15th century, it had evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards 

·         Valentine's Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid.

It is so important that it was referred to in the modern cliché Valentine's Day poem found in the collection of English nursery rhymes Gammer Gurton's Garland (1784):

The rose is red, the violet's blue,
The honey's sweet, and so are you.
Thou art my love and I am thine;
I drew thee to my Valentine:
The lot was cast and then I drew,
And Fortune said it shou’d be you

There are multiple views for and against it. Some see it as very important, some see it as a religious event so no noise about it, some see it as an avenue to make money, some see it as a chance to show off your man or woman, and some see it as entertainment.

The way you see it doesn’t really matter because it is a celebration that is loud and is here to stay. All you can do is to choose what to do with the day and how you deal with the environment.

As for me, I celebrate it when I can, but most of all, I love to enjoy the redness of the environment.

How would you spend it? Share with me and others lets enjoy the season.

Enjoy……

"Story Story"

Story Story 

On this faithful Sunday after a very uplifting message from Pastor Sam and a beautiful rendition from the choir termed the Best choir in Africa, I was eager to return home and just relax while I await the omnibus of “tinsel” and the other matches for the day. This is my typical Sunday routine (boring routine I am sure you are saying in your mind, but that’s what I do on most Sundays).  J J …..

Pause……..

I just realized I was trying to introduce this write-up and then went on and on to talk about my Sunday … Back to the introduction, After service I stepped out and behold for the first time in a while I tried to return to my carnal nature whilst in church (I have a church nature don’t mind me). I am sure you are wondering what my carnal nature is or probably you have started to put one or two things together. ….( Over kaku kills so watch it)

Let’s zoom into my carnal nature and my church nature.  Pondering on which description to start with, a song that has two or more versions came to mind. Let me try it out:

Version 1 (the Nigerian version)

Mini, mini, mani, mo,

Father has a donkey,

Donkey die, father cry

Mini, mini, mani, mo,

I am sure you are singing, laughing or probably wondering what’s up with this guy. Moving on, let me sing the version I am used to.

  

Version 2 (the original oyinbo (White man) version)

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,

Catch a tiger by the toe.

If he hollers, let him go,

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe

Don’t get it twisted am “British like that” “init” (yinmu squared) … Haba, this particular rhyme has a lot of variety, so I would just stop at this two….. J J J

Back to my story ……… Decision made …J

My carnal nature is when I allow the other brain (uhmmmm another topic for another day), to take control. For the sharp guys am sure u can relate immediately. Anyways, if you are a guy like me who is seriously trying to stay normal and focused, you would understand how difficult it is to stay focused in a church like my church. You look right, you see a gorgeous lady well-endowed in the right proportions and you immediately take your eyes away to the left but lo and behold, the left isn’t any better as you see another lady who probably is not as gorgeous but with clothes that says to the second brain “Don’t you want to see more”. J J J

Just as you are trying to knock that off, as a sure boy just coming out from church (self-hype) and all inspired to live right, you then bump into a chic you once *lips are sealed with. Damn difficult to stay focused and this informed the need for me to develop a second church nature.

When I am in the world, it is excusable to keep this carnal nature but once I have gone to church, I better try my best to stay focused and religious.  I go through a lot of mind training/ preparation before the final decision to go to church. The main one is to make sure I convince myself of the need to go to church and stay focused. Upon arrival in church, my routine is to go straight to the front seats/rows, settle down; prepare my mind for a quality service. Once service is over, I immediately try to navigate to the car park and set out for my house. Now that’s my second nature (the Godly focused right living, heaven seeking one).

Don’t crucify me just yet, search through yourself and I am sure you probably have more than me.

Pause ……………..

Back to the after service gist which I started earlier before all the digressions, I ran into a close friend of mine who reminded me of the fact that it has been a long time I last wrote anything.  She said and I quote “Is it because you are in love or what?”  I was elated at the discovery of another fan but this feeling lasted for a short while. I felt I had let her and some others down (in my tiny church mind) …… My response was very short and probably out of a sudden realization of the fact that she had an element of truth in what she said. …It is the second month already and I haven’t written anything. I instantly had a rush of blood and wanted to immediately get back to writing………

Sorry to burst your bubble, there is no gist for now ………. Just an introductory speech in the form of a story. J J (Now running for my life).

For those that read this blog last year, those that called to talk about it, those that were upset that I also have joined the bandwagon, and all others that don’t fall into any of the above groups  I say “THANK YOU” , “ DALU”, “ NAGODE” , “E SE ADUPE” , “DANKIE” “MUCHAS GRACIAS”, “MERCI” etc. ……

Welcome to 2013 …… It promises to be more interactive and interesting ….

Watch this space J J