The Good Life

The breaking news in Nigeria yesterday has it that three presidential aircrafts have been seized over debts owed by Ogun state to Zhongshan. The seized presidential jets include a Dassault Falcon 7X at Le Bourget airport in Paris, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus 330 at Basel-Mulhouse airport in Switzerland. All of which are currently undergoing maintenance. They were seized after court judgement made in France ordered the seizure. Whilst the Federal government through the National Security Adviser and the office of the Attorney General of the federation are trying to take legal steps towards recovery of these aircrafts we need to consider certain factors related to this debt. Ogun state is mired with lack of roads on the major roads that's supposed to link roads within the state. The state government spent the last 8 years in office with almost nothing to show for it amidst the huge income generated as IGR from the numerous companies located therein. One wonders if Nigerian...

In 2008, China spent over $300million on the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. It was the highest money ever spent on an opening ceremony. What China did with the opening ceremony was to tell a story about the history and heritage of the country going back centuries. Before this time, China was the factory destination of the world. It was known as the go-to place for cheap labour but China wanted to change the narrative and showcase their country as the next generation technology centre of the world. They did this, knowing that the world was watching, some were watching live while some will watch later. The effect was shown later by progressive growth in the economy of China, there was a geometric growth in the number of tourists coming to the country, and industries who moved to invest in China. Few years down the line China has become the top 3 economies in the world. Occassioned by very strategic planning and execution. France was given the same golden opportunity to wr...

We are in the age and time where it is cool to have multiple body piercings and where everyone is free to do with their bodies whatsoever they please. This is very true. Your body is yours and you can do as you please. However, if you ever plan on working in a corporate environment, you should be careful how you take that freedom. When attending an interview, a pair of earrings is enough, you don't need that nose ring or any other ring at all in your face. Keep that your fine and expensive leg chain at home. The least you can do is to appear decent. It is your right to dress the way you want, it is also the right of your employer to choose who they want to represent the face of their company and how they want their staff to appear before their clients. Check your dressing as well, be moderate, be decent. So you won't regret or blame anyone later. Let wisdom lead us all.

It appears like whenever one wants to look at the numerous positives sides of the great country called Nigeria, there will be hydra-headed monstrous factors that will not just dissuade the fellow but will present empirical evidences of the challenges that are militating against the growth of the giant of Africa. Some days back Michel Obi granted an interview and said Nigerians don’t like representing their birth country in sports.  They’d rather represent the countries where they reside and only represent Nigeria when they don’t have any other option. But the country has failed the athletes in providing Nigerians with the barest minimal support.  Factors like crass incompetence, nepotism, tribalism, bribery and corruption and negligence are factors that are perpetuate by individuals - even though one will argue that the government creates a breeding ground for these to happen but it does not help that athletes go through a lot to represent their country. Then after...

Leadership is defined simply as guiding a group of people towards achieving a predetermined goal or vision. Usually, the leader must have seen the goal, the vision and the mission and this serves as a yardstick for measurable steps that will be taken towards achieving the goal. Now, they are good leaders who will break these down to the followers and distribute tasks so every member knows exactly what is expected and there are measurable targets at each milestone of the journey towards achieving the goal.  Then there are dictators, pushers, and politicians who make theit personal interests that of the group and drive the entire group towards achieving the selfish goals of the single individual. Thw outcome is usually disastrous and portends no good for any follower. Unfortunately this is the case with almost every African country.  But rather than address this menace, most people seem to blame other bodies, like the church or any other organised body.  Leaders...

There's a crazy spirit in the air these days that seems to be on an all out war on marriages. Paternity fraud here and there, husband or wife cheating, feeling frustrated or neglected, choosing to stop putting in efforts towards making the marriage work because they're distracted or have chosen to pursue other goals. As I sat listening to a friend cry and unburden about his marriage and his decision to end things, I couldn't help but wonder at the rising number of divorce. There are so many reasons why marriages are crashing  but I'd like to turn my mind to those who have checked out of their marriages mentally, have decided not to make any effort into making things work irrespective of efforts by the spouse and have just chosen to frustrate their partner. For whatever reasons, marriages can break down and no matter the best efforts, one partner happens to no longer want to keep the marriage alive. WHY NOT DIVORCE YOUR PARTNER IF YOURE TIRED AND UNWILLING TO...

Some years back, I was in a church in Abakaliki and there was this exceptional musician in the church, he had a good voice, was a maestro on the keyboard and he could direct the choir but he was not recognised by the leadership of the church - even worst, he was despised. Then there was another young chap who joined the church, he was a musical genius and was not just a good instrumentalist but had a flair for directing the choir and bringing out the best in every member who was ready to learn.  The first chap was despised, the second was honored. Now the first chap even released a single but was not recognized by the church. After a while he left the church as well as the town and moved to Abuja.  As events will unfold, he found himself at the headquarters of a big church, not so long he joined the choir, was given trainings both in Nigeria and in different countries and at present he is a high flier, getting invitations to minister in different churches, living t...

Today makes for the Day 2 of the #Endbadgovernment protest going on in Nigeria. It's with great dismay that I've watched several videos making rounds of the police opening fire at protesters with either live ammunitions, teargas or  water spray or a combination of all of these. This strategy has never worked and I doubt if it will ever work. Intimidation, suppression or any other method of brute force has never worked. It didn't yield any result in the era of successive military rulers and has no place in a democracy of the 21st century. The global best practices has always been for the government to provide police as security. But in most African countries the reverse has always been the case. The police is charged with an order to shoot at protesters even when the demands of the protest will favour the police, isn't this a travesty? In the next phase the government will employ the services of hoodlums who will be told to maim, kill and destroy properties o...

ONYEKA ONWENU DEAD? I woke up to the shocking news. Just yesterday, she was on this side of the divide, very much alive and was doing what she loved best; singing. How could anyone have known that was gonna be her last performance as she slumped shortly after and died. Oh Onyeka! A woman of class and poise  Graced, beautiful and blessed with an ageless voice. Her songs had something meaningful to say. She sang for love, She sang for the unity of Nigeria She sang for peace Always smiling Full of life and hoped for a better Nigeria No matter how many times death comes knocking, no one can get used to it. So here we are with mixed feelings and tears giving our salute to a wonderful hero who not only made Nigeria proud but was a source of joy in our homes. FAREWELL TO A WORTHY NIGERIAN! WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!

Yesterday, it was government selling a bag of rice for #40,000 and then we saw the places were rice was being distributed freely, even on the highway. The current market price of rice is 80k plus, the government has never bothered about that but in 24 hours, we saw them do crazy things. Where did they keep this rice they're sharing all these while? There's been massive deployment of politicians, influencers, leader and all sorts to try to stop the masses from engaging in the forthcoming protests. Today it was thugs walking the market place and streets threatening people not engage in the protest. How about the people that we've seen protesting against the forthcoming protest? Days ago it was the President's daughter that was issuing a warning to people not to engage in the protest. Meanwhile the President has not bother to say a single word to address the people or the on going economic situation of the country but the government has employed a million and o...

Helllllloooooo My Dear, Easy easy Take a deep breath and quit crucifying yourself None of us came into the world holding manual on how we should live out our lives that is why there's room for mistakes. There's no human on planet earth that hasn't made a mistake at something There's no perfect human either So why do you keep recounting that incident? Why won't you let go of the erroneous decision you made in the past? Why have you let that event haunt you over and over so much so that it's hanging over your head like a banner and determining how you e been living your life? Life is full of mystery Learn from your mistake, forgive yourself and avoid a repeat. Sometimes, destiny might be designed that the circumstances that looks like a mistake will become the source of your lifting. Do not bury your head in the sand over an error There's no time to keep throwing yourself a pity party Dust yourself and move on Greater things await you!

Dispute in marriage is something no couple wants to discuss how much more get into. In a way,I think it kinda favours women and my case study from homes with loving relationship. Remember the phrase 'Happy wife, happy life?'🤣🤣🤣 This is very much true cos no man wants to funny dramas women put up. First things first, the men don't even understand the subtle signs we women drop here and there. Then if by some miracle they do, they won't even know how to begin to deal with the situation because typically, we say Leave me when we want to be held Don't talk to me when we're re actually wishing in our heart they won't stop trying to beg, pet and try to talk to us Ok, you can do what you want, when we're inwardly screaming no. So the men have simply found a blanket rule for survival which is, for the sake of peace and to ease stress, 'the wife is always right'. This is quite funny and doesn't make any sense to the logical guy out ther...

To whom much is given... Somewhere, somehow, along your life's journey, somebody showed you grace, someone helped you stand Someone was your voice when you couldn't speak Someone stood as your biggest cheerleader Someone held the touch for you Someone gave up their slot for you Someone smuggled you in Someone stuck out their neck for you Someone deprived themselves of something for you Someone stood as your voice of reason or voice of encouragement Someone helped you fight your demons A few years later... Now you're standing and your mantra is ' If I didn't have it easy, no one will' You've become a big stumbling block Instead of showing people the door, you have become the wedge at the door Why should A, B or C have that? Do they know how I suffered while coming up? Since I went through hell and high waters I'll make others experience same, if not worse You have become the gate keeper Everyone must appease you or else. Well, I'm here to ...

Imagine a five year old kid asking the father to be given a car to drive. No matter how wealthy that father is, he'd never grant such request. This is how God also deals with us. There are things or times we've prayed, prayed and prayed some more but it seems there's no answer to our requests and sometimes we even get angry at God but truth is, we never know what an alternative response will become to us. It's a fundamental truth that no loving father will withhold any good thing from a child he loves. So when we pray and it's all silent, it might even be a reason for Thanksgiving. I've seen people who the car they just bought led to their death A friend of my family who has been praying for the blessing of a child for over 5 years finally got her answer. She delivered a healthy and beautiful boy, by the third day, she slumped and died. That job, that promotion, and other things you're seeking for, even trying to be in good terms with some person...

Iyaloja of Edo State? I saw a disturbing clip where the Edo state market leader was complaining that Tinubu"s daughter who is the Iyaloja of Lagos Markets - basically the leader of Lagos markets wants to impose a new leader in Edo state. One would think there is an end to greed, thuggery or the need to be in control. After doing her business in Lagos for as long as her father was the governor and continuing afterwards, just as her father emerged as the president she now wants to wield her powers on all the markets in Nigeria. Beyond the economic sabotage this will be for the country, because she will begin to dictate the process of commodities and as we know, they would be at cut-throat prices so she can have a percentage in all the sales but then there is also proxe Control. What next would it be?  it's not like Lagos markets have been the best or like they do not leave so much to be desired. But then again... what do I even know?

To Protest or not to Protest?  The Nigerian youths have declared a Protest from 1st August and have stated their demands.  But is this the time for Protest?  Let us keep some things in perspective,  there is no Protest which was planned like this that has ever been successful.  In 2012, when the GEJ government made the fatal mistake of removing subsidy on 1st January when people were still in festive mood he ignited a fire that eventually burnt him down, and the Protest was rapid and was a response to the government action.  As recent as 2020, the End SARS Protest was organic, borne out of frustration.  If this Protest had happened immediately the election result was declared, or immediately subsidy was removed, or even when there was scarcity of Naira it would have been a different ball game. But to this writer, there is no remote cause for a Protest which is why the government will do all it can to resist it.  There are clear signs t...

Mike Ejeagha, a seasonal Nigerian Igbo song writer and singer has been in the business for years and years. He was known for the stories he told through his songs and we'll, like most old song writers he seemed to have faded into the background for our generation. Recently a young Nigerian skit maker decided to use one of Mike's song to do a dance in a funny skit. It became a hit and the highest viewed of all of the skits he had made and for Mike, it became an announcement to his song(s). Several persons began using the song to make videos of their own dance and it has since become a viral hit with so many popular faces hopping on it. A win win for both skit maker and songwriter. And all of a sudden, people have been trooping to pay homage to the songwriter who is now  we'll striken in age. With the love shown and tears shed every time anyone visits, you can tell Mike never believed he'd become an internet sensation or that his work would be this widely noti...

Take it easy  Take it easy I repeat! Woke up today Went through the usual daily routine and everything is going the way you usually go but you're not so super pumped and jumping? Take it easy It's not everyday one wakes up hyper Give yourself some credit for the things you do Things you've achieved Goals you've set and begun crossing off already  Even the superheroes in movies had times they took a break Do what you can No matter how little, it's something  Smile Smile Smile You're alive and well You have the opportunity to make something beautiful out of today Even when you can't see the rainbow, Smile, you're blessed to be alive!

I'm sure we've all lost count on the number of times we've heard abouting limiting how we speak a d rightfully so, for countless reasons. A friend's mum was kidnapped after he took to social media to celebrate her and announce her recent wins. Thankfully, she was released alive after ransom was paid but trust me, the experience was indeed traumatizing. A girl cost her father her job cos she got all to excited about his new job and the accompanying benefits that she took to posting every detail of it online in the name of content. Similarly, many have lost opportunities because they overheard some conversations along the corridors of power and without waiting for confirmation, took to announcing it only for the rug to be pulled under them. A hen doesn't go about parading her eggs before they hatch. She hides the, sits on them, until they hatch and not all eggs hatch. So just imagine if she already number her chicks before they hatched? Silence is really g...

Remember the saying     ' A problem shared is half solved' It's a true one. We had newly relocated to a foreign and distant country, and trying to find a bearing. We needed direction to buy stuffs from clothings, food to house stuffs, We needed direction on how and where things were done Offices to visit, Registrations on all. Guess how we got them done?  Hubby and I spoke with people who were there before us and asked questions. This didn't only save us money, it saved us time and helped us not to repeat the many mistakes others had made cos we just gleaned from their experiences. Many people move around today who need directions. Directions in life, career, marriage, in some decision making and how to even overcome some challenges or get projects done. They stay mute and walk around with chips on their shoulder and a frown on their faces. Share! Find a capable hand or mind to talk to. What if the man sitting next to you has a solution to your problem? Or h...