The Good Life

Dear Lord, I am very very grateful  This is me coming back with my songs of worship to say thank you You started me up this year on a journey I didn't know how it would end Your divine direction was my compass And when I met bumbs, your hand of comfort was readily available You shielded my loved ones from pains, sorrows, sickness, loss and death You gave me testimonies on testimonies You twarted the enterprise of the wicked And by your goodness, you put a mighty shock on the faces of those who laid in wait to laugh at me So many out there Better qualified More righteous More of everything  But your hands of love chose me to show your mercy It indeed is the last day of the year and as I look back, I've got nothing but gratitude I decided to number my blessings but I lost count cos your blessings are bucket loads of overflow Dear Lord It's the last day of the year and I'm here to say I'm very very very grateful.

Woke up to hear the accusations that Nasboi he sexually assaulted someone, he did this and did that. This guy has been working so hard, the way he promoted and is still promoting his song 'umbrella' is more than enough evidence of his hardworking nature. All the while nobody had anything to say about him, then 'umbrella' became a hit and all the crabs began crawling out from under the rocks. Success isn't a joke. It's one thing to pray for success, to even work for it and all but are you ready to handle it? Asides the glamour and hype, there are so many things surrounding success. When news about you begins to filter, When blogs make you their headline When you can't say a word without somebody somewhere misinterpreting it When you've got to be careful of living your life 24/7 Will you still want the spotlight of success? In as much as you're praying and working for it, be also mentally prepared for what you're working for.

Yeah yeah, it's few days to the year's end Different posts going up,  People showing up and showing off, from one achievement to the other Now you're looking at yourself, wondering what stood out for you this year, your achievement s  and the likes but you seem to be coming short. My dear, take a chill pill Some of those posts are just for social media. Let's even take a moment to assume that all those people  who posted gigantic achievement s were really true,  How about those who lost their health, their wealth, their families or even their lives? Take proper stock of your life by beginning with thanksgiving to God. The year could've gone worst than it was And even if the fact that you're alive is all you've got to thank God for, then celebrate it all the same. 2024 is around the corner  And I trust that it's going to be one of your best years yet.

So, I went online to help ease my mind about this whole festivity thing but I don't even understand again. This December that didn't look like it is the one tensioning somebody with so much pepper. Ah ah ah Weddings up and down Giveaways here and there IJGB (I just got back) proposing left and right  House/wealth display competition How about the secret agents that decided to travel without telling their neighbours? Was it not on instablog we saw them inside gridlock? Family people now decided to enter the equation How many newborns have we recorded so far? How about those posting family pictures up and down? See ehhhhhh, detty December is a real thing. Don't mind these people pretending oh Before I woke up this morning it was the aroma of different mede-mede that saluted my senses. Now it's beginning to look like we that didn't post or snap with uniform or do 1, 2 or 3 are orphaned refugees. I've already issued out the order toy family members. Firs...

Mistakes are part of nature's make up for mankind. It is therefore natural to make mistakes. However, it's unfortunate how much emotions, warnings, guides, parameters and every kind of protective tactics people can put to guide against it. Don't get me wrong. Do I believe in mentorship? Yes Do I believe in guidance? Yes And as with everything around me, I believe in discipline, setting boundaries. However, the bone of contention here is where persons take the protection things too far and in the name of protection, they prevent the person in question from actually living and experiencing life for themselves. It's ok to want to shield your spouse It's ok to set preventive rules for your kids It's ok to give advice to those young or upcoming around you It's very very okay to be on the lookout because you love and care. But in all you do, please don't suffocate those around you Letting a person live his life and gaining experience for themselves...

I was on the bus which was cruising slowly till it got to this stop and these lovely oldies got in, great couple, the way the husband was treating her one would get the feeling that they were madly in love and had been so for a while. Then this young couple got in and continued their gist which must have started before they got in. The young girl was explaining to her male friend about another friend of hers. “ The first time he slept with me, was after a party, we stayed so late and he couldn’t go back to his place so I told him to follow me home. When my mum opened the door and saw him her face flushed with surprise and anger….. but my parents later got to know him as a great guy” The old lady started with a smile which grew into a peal of laughter and she drew her husband closer and whispered stuff into his ears which started a conversation. They went down memory lane about how he met her parents the first day they met. And I was there thinking….. How do we know that the...

While seated on this beautiful Christmas morning, I am looking out the window and looking at the serenity of the day, the cars passing by, and the quietness of the day. For some, it is a time of serenity and spending time alone; for others, it is spending time with family and for some, it is going out to parties. However you are spending your day, Merry Christmas. Take time amidst the schedule of the day and think about how the year went. 2023 was a trying time for some people and was a year of bliss for some. What are the mistakes you made this year that should not be repeated in 2024? What are the choices you need to make today that will help you and improve the quality of your life next year? The choices you make today will determine how you will look at 2024 by this time next year. In all, whatever you choose, choose peace, choose life, choose to live. What are the things you need to do to get the opportunities you missed this year? Who are the people who are toxic to y...

Is this Christmas christmasing or should I mind my business? I recall how it used to be when we were kids, our parents used to buy our Christmas clothes between August and October, and as usual, it would be oversized because they expected us to wear it till the next Christmas. We used to grow into our clothes literally. Then the bangers The Christmas bonfires The visiting and the visitors. Exchange of food. I recall when my mum would give me a basket full of plates to take to one of her friends, and it used to be a competition of who cooked first to give to the other person. Then our house will be filled with different plates of rice and stew having different aromas and tastes. Then I became an adult and then a parent and the sweet things of Christmas began to happen at my own expense and Christmas stopped christmassing because for every item I have to calculate the cost. Truly, like they say, it’s always sweeter when the bill is not on you. In all, let us understand that t...

The cycle of abuse by parents is one prevalent culture that is still far from being over. A parent tortures his kids psychological, suppress their ability to voice out, or air their opinions. They know their kids are dependent on them so, they use that as a weapon to manipulate their lives. How about the ones that go about using emotional blackmail on their children to get them into doing what they as parents want. Many years down the line, you have children who resent their parents,  Children who have no relationship whatsoever with their parents And those who have, their relationship ends in the place of morality where they just fulfill the duty to care for their parents Some children completely severe ties with their parents. We haven't even scratched the surface of the several kinds of damages  these abuse result in. You find adults spending most part of their adult life trying to rebuild and reform. We agree that children ought to be trained, disciplined and m...

Today got me finally exhausted.  Please I want to understand what in the December is going on here? 25th December is the time the world has chosen to celebrate the birth of Christ, hence the term 'christmas'. Does this not automatically mean that Christmas is Jesus birthday?  But no oh, people have carried the matter on their head. Have you been to the market lately? It's like a circus!!! People are buying things and stocking up their homes like the world is about to end, Traders are barely sleeping at home because they want to make the most of the season. I had an appointment to make my hair today but my people to my utmost surprise, the hairstylist said i was the 13th person booked for that day. You can imagine my surprise Every salon around had people in the overflow, all struggling to make their hair. Should we talk about the mad rush for Christmas clothes? Tailors this period have become semi-gods oh. You do anyhow, tailor will not see your clothes. So you ...

I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I watched the video of ' The Aluu four'. Nothing could have prepared me for it. I live haunted by it and many years later I still cringe and cry when I get flashbacks. Four promising and handsome men lost their lives to a one sided story which turned out to be a lie. Without asking the boys their side of the story, the community tortured and burnt them to death. How about a man who was caught on camera pouring water on a woman to make her get off his property. The video went viral, people were calling for his head, without hearing his side. He was arrested, his business page massively reported and in the end he was forced to shutdown his business and the family source of livelihood for many many years. Back story: He ran an art gallery, where wealthy and influencial people loved to visit. The woman in question was a serious drug addict and picked his business as the perfect place to beg for money  He would curse ...

' Madam, you're carrying a baby girl' the young lady said What? Did I just hear well? I quickly beckoned on hubby to come join me to listen to the lady as she spoke again. The backstory was that I was an 8 months pregnant and very hungry woman at the time who didn't know what she wanted to eat. I had hubby driving round town in search of food until i spotted this funny looking bukka by the roadside and stopped there. My people the minute I got to the food stand, the lady serving said 'Madam, you're having a baby girl and her name is Chizaramekpere' . The accuracy of what the lady said was quite shocking cos we weren't expecting that. We prayed for a baby girl and had gone ahead to name her Chizaramekpere, so imagine our shock, encouragement and excitement. Well, today's our daughter's birthday and on that premise I'd love to tell you that God hears you when you pray and he speaks as well. So if you're in a situation where you ...

It has become a reign of madness in the Nigerian market.  Also a reign of serious health pandemic about to break out. ITS THE ERA OF THE FAKE PRODUCTS OHHH it's a pity that our markets are now highly highly highly saturated with the fakes and we've all of been buying and downloading into our system. Now isn't it so obvious the miracle or better still, the unforgettable works of Akunyili Dora, the late NAFDAC Madam. Singlehandedly fought fake drugs to it's bearest minimum, and took on business owners to certify and register their products and if found satisfactory, would be issued NAFDAC number. Today, we're crying because upon her death till date, no one has been able to fill that shoe. Imagine the rate at which Nigerians have been consuming questionable substances into their bodies Imagine the long term effect of these substances to the body! Finally, remember that the good heads and those with the resources are leaving Nigeria in their drones. The majo...

Even as a little baby, she would wake up crying if she found herself sandwiched between her Dad and I. As she grew older shed jump in bed with us but would always I sist on sleeping by the edge of the bed. Of course, that's not a good thing for any parent to allow, so most times after so much crying, we'd let our daughter lie on the edge and once she's fast asleep, we'd move her in-between us. Have you ever had a kicker or roller sleep in bed with you?  Our daughter is the Queen and this is also one of the reasons we didn't subscribe to her sleeping at the edge of the bed. She's laying on one position, next thing you'd find her upside down with her legs on your face or stomach. One of those nights she woke up to find herself in between us, as usual she began kicking and throwing tantrum, and for peace sake we let her sleep on the edge. Next thing you know I'm jumping up from sleep because Madam rolled off the bed and fell with a thud. Next th...

I remember years back, a woman left our church cos me, who had barely become a teenager, wore a gown with a trouser my uncle gifted me from his trip to Mecca. Another left because I wear heels. One said I was too western,  My brothers have been condemned for loving to look fashionable, good and smart. We've heard people say too many things to and about us just for being the preacher's kids. Whatever the narrative, they don't need verification and if it were a personal experience, one or two twists here and there won't be bad, it would even add spice. What can you do about it? Absolutely nothing! We have learnt to hold our peace even when we have a million things to say  To pretend not to hear what's been said about us Not to retaliate Not to engage anyone in any hopeless debate Even in defending ourselves, we're still judged. Clergymen, their spouses and kids are constantly been dragged and put on a crazy pedestal to be judged. Peoplee acting as thou...

DECEMBER IS NOT A DEADLINE TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL The year is coming to an end and Christmas is by the corner,  and there are many shows, many Christmas carols, and many love feasts. Even ajo groups are ending the year with plenty of meetings that feature plenty orishirishi, plenty to eat and drink. Usually, everyone is in a festive mood. Then some are thinking about the Benz they didn’t buy, the land they have not acquired, and the goals they set out earlier this year that they have not met. Unfortunately, most of these thoughts lead to depression, or more sinister plans. I am here to be your voice of reason and tell you that it is not the end of the world and December is not a deadline to achieve your goal. I set my next year's targets around October/November of the previous year. The idea is that from December I would have started the baby steps that will culminate in achieving these goals and targets. Realize that the small steps will eventually lead to the giant and ...

Kids!!! Kids, kids, kids would be kids right? Have you encountered kids and the pretty crazy things they can say? Kids who would say some words and you'd be left gobsmacked. I wonder how mu kids managed to catch the Christmas fever but for the longest time now, they've been asking me for so many things for Christmas. Shoe, cap, clothes, glasses, wristwatch... It's just been from one thing to the other. Today, we did a quick stop at a supermarket and they immediately began pointing at things they wanted. Of course, that wasn't why we stopped over, plus I wasn't going to indulge them this time. After our stuffs had been checked and counted, my beloved son said 'Mummy, so you don't want to buy me ... ok, I know it's because you don't have money na. It's only my Daddy that has money. Don't finish his money oh'. I wanted if I should pinch him or just ... I was flabbergasted. I ended up giving him some chocolate and bombastic side e...

One morning a neighbour and his wife almost brought the heavens down. We couldn't seem to get through to either the man or his wife as they kept throwing unprintable words at each other. It was indeed a sorry sight, seeing them hurling insults at each other while their under 4 year old kids watched in tears. Finally, we got to the crux of the matter: he husband won't stop gambling or rather betting!!! Of course neighbours intervened and peace was restored but his case became so evident that he surely has become a betting addict. I've seen this man trekk long distances, sometimes he's out with his son of a year plus in his arm just to go bet. Recently he sold his only car, ended up in the same betting. Yesterday the news of a guy who committed suicide, was everywhere. He spent 2.5million naira on betting but lost, a large chunk of the money wasn't his, so he decided the solution was to end his life, so he took sniper. This betting is a terrible spirit in ...

Read a lady's story on Instagram today that reaffirm the advice of always keeping your good news on a low and if possible, to yourself and yourself alone and if you must tell, do so not when it's about to happen but when it's way past. The story goes that she just got married and as a newly wed, applied for visa to join her husband in the UK. Luck was on her side, and she got it. Good news right? And you suppose everyone should be happy right? So she went around telling family and friends with so much joy and excitement. One day, she returned home to find her passport/visa in her sitting room, shredded into bits and pieces. A bitter soul had gained access into her house while she went shopping for her relocation and did her dirty. It took her almost two years to be granted visa again. My family got this beautiful big deal that would involve us doing some form of relocation and also it opened doors for increased net worth. I've had this friend for years who I...

In as much as December is a month where prices of things naturally skyrocket, it's also one month I look forward to cos the so many jollification. No wonder it's tagged detty December. You see, there's this daily contribution or better termed as 'ajo' to the Nigerian people, that Mum introduced me to and I'm telling you it's a life saverrrrrr!!! Everyday you make contributions of negligible sums to be shared at the end of the year. Some share back the cash, while some add up all the money gotten from the different people involved to buy foodstuffs and share. This has become a serious hack for me, such that by the time December arrives, I'm not really bothered about the price of things in the market. This year, I didn't only do for the foodstuffs, but for the cash as well and I can tell you for free, this has saved me from December headache. However this doesn't mean one should join any contribution platform oh. With the wave blowing a...

Look at that useless man, he couldn't even build a simple house for his parents before they died Hahaha, she's 30+ and unmarried? It's definitely her evil behaviour You mean that lady? She finished her womb as a single girl, aborting up and down. How can she have a child? Don't mind them, they claim to know it all and now the business has folded. Once people see someone struggling or failing, they seem to know why and they seem to possess the solutions to everything. Why sit and use your mouth to cutdown and rearrange the lives and business of people? If everyone claiming to know it all possess such super knowledge, then there'd be no evil, no mistakes, no flaws, no wrong. Take a minute to think before you speak about anything and anyone Jesus said 'He who's without sin should cast the first stone' Before you throw that stone,take a minute to give thought to what you what to say. You never why people do what they do so do not be quick to judg...

You see, until today, i never understood it when I used to hear or see Pastors too invested and some times not in support of some relationships amongst their church workers. Here we were on stage after spending the better part of yesterday rehearsing. Fortunately and unfortunately for us, Pastor requested that the choir sing Ebenezer by Nathaniel Bassey before he preached. My dear people, like you all know, there's been some kinda wave of song destruction sweeping through wherever people choose to do this song and this is when Pastor decided to fall in love with the song. He even handpicked Sister Precious to lead the song. So, time for special ministration by the choir, We all anticipated a wonderful delivery and then Sister Precious opened her mouth and chanted 'Ebenezer ehhh' That was the last thing we all heard Some mics were making those shrill piercing sounds, others were completely mute so while some singers struggled to tone down their voices, others wer...

Remember when people taunted Jesus ' He saved others; himself he cannot save'   while he hung on the cross dying for their sins? Eheeeennnnnn! I'm throwing that line at you now My Dearly Beloveth ' Physician save thyself'! Last month you sent all your earnings to the village because you heard one of your uncle's fell  from palm tree. The other time, it was Mama Destiny that didn't have school fees. Here you are this morning, holding the quit notice from your landlord  ' Physician save thyself'! Jennifer told you she hadn't read much two days to the exam, batted her eyelids and you carried your notebook and gave to her. You were yet to pay your fees, Grace said she was expecting some money, you carried part of the school fees you gathered and gave to her now you're running helter scatter You say you were helping friends but I say  ' Physician save thyself'! I'm sorry I might be confronting something in you but you need ...

Somebody will ask now if I'm their real mother. Hubby would always say I'm moved to buy things because I've taken a fancy to them and once I do, other factors become inconsequential. I'm not one given to frivolous or spontaneous buying, neither can I be cajoled or pressured to buy what I don't want to but when I love something, I'd always find a way. This however has its down side especially when it comes to shopping for my kids. Are there other parents who have a hard time getting the right sizes of clothes or shoes for their kids? I think I officially should be crowned the chief of them all. Hubby on the other hand just needs to look at an item to know it would if it would fit or not. I've had to buy and return severally because the item was over or under size. I therefore dare not go shopping without hubby or without the intended recipient. Few weeks ago, hubby and I went shopping for him and then I stumbled upon this very cool and classy shoe...

The prices of things were on an upward turn long before now. One could never determine the price of anything in the market anymore because it was a rise without regulation. You could buy a tin of milk today for #500 and by the very next day, the same tin of milk would be selling for #1500. One never goes to market with a list anymore There's no point going for market survey because the prices would flip before you even get home. How about those bidding for a job? The solution was adding the extra 100k to your initial budget so you won't be stranded. All these were months ago Right people, onwa December eru go! Went to the market today a chicken that was sold for 4-5k is now 9k ohhhhh I stood there, mouth agape , wondering what the price of things would be, come 20th December up until first week of January. My people as e be so, na only God go deliver person oh! Finally, e be like we go rugged am oh!

They've started oh They have started!!! As is customary, I make my daughter's hair. I decided to get some packs of attachment to make something that would last awhile so here I am at the shop selling hair products and my people I met them. Have you met those group of ladies who know how to use the the weirdest kinda colours on their hairs? From yellow to red, purple, green It's almost like a rainbow party on their heads Be it braids or wigs; they're always representing. These days we've even got them dying their hair in different funny colours. It's already a merry season I'm sure that's why the ladies have begun the hustle. They were just buying different colours and so many packs. Was funny to watch. Well in this season of colours, I'd be recommending there'd be no need for traffic lights as we already have all the lights walking the street! 🤣🤣🤣

I grew up in the average kind of home setting. My parents did their best in ensuring we grew well, protected and provided for. Our house was also always filled; there was always some cousin, uncle, aunty or some member staying with us so it was always a place of drama and craziness. Then off I went to higher institution. I believe you've got some form of idea of what it's like leaving the nest. Suddenly I found myself in a place of chaos and growth: alone, I had to start making tough decisions for myself and taking tough steps. It looked surreal until days turned into weeks and weeks became months. I did my best, to make my parents proud To toughen it out whenever I had challenges. But you know, even one's got to have some backing. So, whenever I felt overwhelmed, pressured, stressed, or exhausted and drowning, I simply traveled back home. I didn't necessarily have to say anything to anyone. I just came home, feel the love and warmth, recharge myself and wit...

I've come back here again oh It's another Sunday and guess what? This time it wasn't just service as usual in my church, it was 'Thanksgiving service' !!! We were asked to dress in our various cultural attire to spice up the service. I took the assignment personally and who better to call than the one and only Nwuye Arch-Bishop, My beloveth mother, the chief specialist if tying wrapper and gele. One phone call had my Mum digging deep into her box 'This one is George This one is Hollandaise This kirikiri star is the original hollandaise oh, it's not Hi Target This one is......' On and on she went while I begged God that she'd just arrive at one choice for me. We bless God that after so many testing, we agreed on one. Sunday morning, I was 'wrapped up' in glory, with my gold blouse, correct head gear, beads to spice it up and of course my must have hand fan. I gorgeously climbed the stage and was lost in the heat of the praises. How...

' Honey, we ought to start shopping and decorating for Christmas' hubby said. The Igbo wife material/ mathematician in me didn't even let the poor man finish speaking when I began asking, no no, more like interrogating him 'Baby, what's your budget?' 'What kind of decorations would you love to have set up?' 'What's your theme?' 'We don't have to go all out?' theinute hubby said this line, I smiled in savings as I could already envisage how much I'd be cutting down from all the improvising I'd be making. After much debating, I was able to convince hubby that I could take on the job of our Christmas decorations and he needn't worry his pretty head about anything. My Instagram and YouTube pages were filled with DIY videos. I downloaded some more the night before, so I walked into the store like some seasoned professor, began shopping and packing, paid and the real music began. I was still on the first leg of d...

In the post I wrote few days back, I said there's something in the air about this year's Christmas. Everyone and everywhere has caught the 'ember fever'. I really don't know why, but it seems people just want to celebrate the harsh realities away, or they're just being thankful they made it this far. I've gotten not less than five invites for some kinda get together/ end of the year party celebrations. As we speak, I'm actually sitted in of of such party. The year has been riddled with lots of waves of hardship and loss which looks like it's not ending for the masses but the resilience of Nigerians is one that truly ought to be studied. In light of the spirit of cheer in the air, don't be left out. Look around and you'd find that you e also got something that kept you kicking without giving in this year or any time soon. Celebrate yourself; you alone know the battles you've fought, the scars  you got and the victories won Cele...