Role models and bad influence

Rihanna recently revealed she is sick of having to behave like a role model to kids. She said: “People — especially white people want me to be a role model just because of the life I live.

Do we demand so much from these people to the extent they can’t feel free and be themselves. This is a girl who wants to ‘bare it all’ but for the dads and moms whose little one has chosen her as a model. It is now scary to put the TV on when your children are around. All what we see are adult contents. Immoralities are now seen as a thing of vogue. Marriage of 72days isn’t a big deal anymore. Hopping from one husband to another is a common trend. Lesbianism is so in vogue that we could say the holy books are wrong. These are what our kids are exposed to on TV and in the society at large.

Parenting can be as wide as biology and can be more complicated than we thought. 
Go gurl, and do what you want. I can assure you that my girls won’t see you as a model but will see you as a disturbed lady who is finding it hard to cope with fame and who also needs counselling. 

Sales boy President Jonathan

If Nigeria were a commodity, who among us can place our hard-earned money on it? Patriotism is expected from well-meaning Nigerians and it’s the same thing the President is doing by selling Nigeria as a haven for foreign investors.

Have you ever wondered what perception outsiders have about us, the country and sometimes our leaders? The general insecurity lately due to the activities of Boko-Haram is a signal to show that all isn’t well with our security. The inadequacy and epileptic power supply is also a turn-off for prospective investors. Cheap labour and lackadaisical attitude of relevant regulatory agents should be a plus for investors but the insecurity and power issue guarantees no return on investment.

Nigeria is safe to visit. These are the words of the President. He gave the assurance while exchanging views with the French Ambassador.

Let’s stop speaking until our actions and realities on ground is at par with our words.

Lost Decade

The Euro Zone is in deep crisis and if care is not taken some countries may opt out of it. The Greek Government can’t fund itself anymore thus seeking a bailout. The Prime minister was forced to resign and the trend moved to Italy too where the Mafioso , Berlusconi himself could not wriggle himself out of this one. The IMF chief said these signs may be part of the Lost Decade where there will be low growth and massive unemployment. Quite sure the IMF was part and parcel of economic plans in Europe at the early stage of the forming of Euro Zone.

Sure it is some of the economist in this part of the continent that makes up the IMF and I find it strange when Nigeria accepts the policies of the IMF hook, line and sinker. Nigeria has a peculiar economy with peculiar problems and no IMF initiative or policy will ever lead us out of the so called crises if we truly are in one. The only challenge the country has is corrupt and inept leaders. I don’t see the economic team making any head-way achievement but only in papers which will never amount to improvement of standard of living for its citizenry.

We have had enough of pen and paper talks. Let the people give testimony of improvement in their living standard.

LASTMA, how far?

If my eye no deceive me and na true be the thing I dey hear…. Femi, where you dey na?

Is it true that LASTMA is still arresting traffic offenders? If it’s true,then thumbs up.

Is it true they lure drivers to commit traffic offences? That’s gross.

Do they collect bribes? I know BRF won’t be proud of that.

Do they stiil fine offenders despite the court ruling? Chineke! Haba! Must they be the judge, investigator and prosecutor in their own case?

Someone got involved with them and parted with two thousand naira. Another was involved but sorted herself with forty naira. 

Please Lagosians, use your bargaining power against LASTMA if you can go through the court process. You can pay as low as forty naira.

Silifa, Olaibe, Ken and I may not contest Bayelsa Guber.

Olaibe according to people in the street is just the typical politician who works hand in hand with corruption. He is a well-known prostitute who has slept with the famous “fidifi” and his rivals. How will he (or should I refer to him as her) come back in a short time and want to be the heir? It is very “imposicant”. It is done nowhere in the world (except Nigeria) where a prostitute will come back to be the official wife. So, no way for Olaibe.

Whoever told Ken he can get there? This is more than examining bosom and curves of twenty year olds. Its more than asking ‘why you think you should be the queen’? This is a serious business for serious people. We are not organizing a party or jamboree here. Don’t worry, we’ll call you to handle the victory party. And please, where are you from? You don’t look any inch like us. Because we allowed you do business here and we treated you like our own doesn’t mean we’ll let you taste that juicy position.

Silifa, your campaign looks much like a victory party. You are so certain of repeating this class. We gave you a pass mark for making the state stagnant so why repeat. You dare call my beloved Johnny a lame duck. If I catch your baby face, I will pinch it till you cry. The words on the street are that you threatened to send Boko to Johnny. Just because you know Boko is Johnny’s weakness. Well, between you and Johnny, God dey. I am sure Johnny has nothing to do with your predicament. So, no need sending your fellow Ashewo to go plead on your behalf. They should be concerned with treating their own hepatitis.

As for me, I haven’t accumulated enough wealth and I haven’t changed my name to Forklift. I am also not ready to lie I schooled in Chicago. If I am ready with just these three weapons, you will see two fingers in the air.

Who is the real liar?

May be this should be called a confirmed rumour because none of the parties involved have come out to deny it. Journalists covering the Economic Summit in the French Resort of Cannes overheard President Sarkozy blasting the Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu as a “liar” during a chat with the United States President Obama. President Obama’s response did little to deny that Israeli Prime Minister is a liar but also confirmed it.

Though the offices of both Presidents have not denied these but this says a lot about the character of the Israeli Prime Minister. It is either; he is truly a liar or the two Presidents talking about him are liars; or the media is lying. Since the President’s offices are not commenting on the issue, maybe indirectly they are telling the Israeli Prime Minister to stop lying. So happy, the French and Americans have learnt how to keep mum from the Israelis.

If I can reach out to Boko Haram

It’s a thing of delight when the citizenry wake up to the fact that the government is performing below par. I am happy we are getting more conscious of the activities of our government and people nowadays are ready to vote out un-performing public office holders.

Aggrieved individuals or groups take to different methods to show their dissatisfaction at government’s neglect. The approach which Boko Haram as well as MEND has been using calls for concern. Whichever way they see the injustice being meted at them, they shouldn’t forget that the ordinary man on the street isn’t their enemy. The man next door isn’t the cause of their plights. The Imam or Pastor across isn’t the one guilty of the oppression.

We all have a common enemy in the political elites and the capitalist that shape and decide the harsh economic policies. The ordinary Igbo street trader has nothing to do with irregularities in electioneering process. The Yoruba Vulcanizer has nothing to do with the increment in fuel pump price.

It’s time we recognize our enemy and stop the killing of one another. It’s time we move together to wrestle power from the insensitive corrupt leaders. This is the time to stop the killing of innocent people and direct our anger towards our true enemy.

Dream

How big your dream is will determine how great your accomplishment in life will be. Those who limit themselves to little dreams or aspirations seldom accomplish anything at all. Always have dreams that are bigger than your resources.

Do not be bothered about your present state; if you dare to dream big, only God can stop you from achieving it, if it is not in consonance with His plan for your destiny. Don’t limit yourself to what people call you, if you can choose to dream big, you will soon prove your critics wrong. You must not belittle yourself by the consideration of others. It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you.


When a man's dream is big enough to contain his mind, such person will appear to possess superhuman power for well-defined products.Our dreams differ and can never be same. What is yours? 


By Guest Blogger HOLLAH 

Public figures and scandals.

It takes just a little time for political figures vying for positions to have their name in murky waters. This is story of the Republican Presidential hopeful, Hernan Cain who is been accused by three women of sexually harassing them while heading the United States National Restaurant Association in the ‘90s.

It is not strange for someone to always come out with stories from the past to taint the image of politicians, if they really had any. But when three different people come out with the same type of accusation it is interesting. In Nigeria, the accusers after sometime may go back on their words or maybe after receiving financial inducement or death threats.

Nigerians will say ’there is no smoke without fire’ and I agree. Ironically, Cain says the accusations are having positive impact on campaign donations. Maybe it’s a sort of motivation for him, I know not. But I am sure, this will leave a scar which will dent his political career.

When does life start? (Who is a person?)

The voters of Mississippi came out to decide what amounts to a person. They rejected the call to legalise a fertilized egg to be regarded as a person. If they had voted in the other direction and accepted a fertilized egg as a person, it would have almost totally put an end to abortion in the state and also questioned the use of some birth control methods.

Life starts at about when the sperm is released and travels to meet the egg or when it fertilizes the egg. If life starts at this point, then the embryo can be regarded as a person. In my opinion, the people actually voted in order to keep abortion legal. To some extent, I want to go with their stance because I look at the incidence of rape and incest. What happens to a fertilized egg conceived during rape or incest?

Many will rather not talk about this issue while some other people’s position is influenced to justify their actions or decisions at some point in their life. Could the use of condoms and diaphragms be regarded as abortion or putting an end to a life? Could the use of some birth controls methods be regarded as abortion?

In my opinion, life starts around the time the egg is fertilized. This is merely my opinion and not a medical or scientific fact.

Lifeline to Tevez

Tevez was suspended for two weeks by Manchester city for failure to warm up against Bayern Munich. Roberto Mancini at that time said Tevez was finished at the club. But the boss as the magnanimous and compassionate and has said he will forgive Tevez if he apologises.

Tevez as well as Mancini is known to have a strong attitude and also head-strong. 

Looking at how this will play out.

Of what essence is governance?

Education, health care, power supply, food, and security. These are just a few of what the government is supposed to provide for its people. The Nigerian people have lost faith in governments’ ability to provide these basic things for its survival and are not complaining nor do we need these things from them. Not minding the fact that we pay tax directly and indirectly; some companies grumble due to multiple taxes. We still go ahead to provide for ourselves what ought to be provided for us with the tax we pay.

A nation that is supposed to be developing is unconsciously taking steps backward. Every household has an electricity generating set because we have no power supply. No one waits for pipe-borne water again as wells or bore-hole is in every compound. We still have to pay the policeman on the street for a job not done with a 50 naira note despite the fact that we also pay them with the tax we pay. We don’t expect security from them thus we set up a vigilante group. No more street lights, we settle for halogen lamps and flood lights bought by residents to light our streets at night. The ghetto do not expect bridges after decades and decades of promises so they take fate in their own hands and build scary looking wooden bridges. Who now waits for government to fill pot-holes on the road as the boys in the area can fill it with broken blocks or a wealthy man can tar it. The street does not believe in the judicial system and will rather set ablaze the suspected thief, murderer or witch.

The only thing the government has succeeded in providing at an over-bloated price will be made more expensive again. Looking at all these holistically, what’s the essence of governance? Do we really need one?

Barcelona’s free-flowing style and the EPL

Almost everyone loves to watch Barcelona play. It’s magical when Iniesta and Xavi hold on to possession and throw beautifully accurate passes. It’s a wonder to behold. Almost all top flight teams want to play this kind of football. This is the benchmark Sir Alex Ferguson set for himself. This is what Arsene Wenger has been trying to achieve for fifteen years and it is also what Andre Villas-Boas wants to introduce into the once rugged Chelsea.

For years to come I don’t see any team getting this style of play to perfection even Real Madrid. Barcelona will be the king in this area and anyone who plays that kind of attacking football against them will be humiliated.

The EPL top teams have tried this style and we have seen how crazy it can get when the top teams meet. Though, it is interesting to see lot of goals and goal opportunities. The only team that seem to be a little safe is Manchester City due to its almost uncrack-able defence. The other English team can’t claim to have a better defence than Manchester City. This doesn’t mean Manchester City wont be spanked my Barcelona.

The only style which I see besting Barcelona is the old, rugged, rough and defensive style being played by Inter Milan and Chelsea under Jose Mourinho. There is no way you can be better than the master at his game

Strange case of Baba Suwe

Everything is strange from the time of his arrest till now. The popular comedians arrest drew lots of attention.  For him not to have excreted the much awaited ‘shit’ for this long is odd. The court injunction permitting NDLEA to keep him for 15 more days is a curious one. For him not to have passed out the drugs at the second and third excretion is even more curious.

The most strange of all was the court’s ruling granting him bail in the sum of N500,000 with the condition that the bail will take effect immediately after the 15 days a court earlier ordered for his detention. After all, the fifteen days expires on the said 4^th of November so why the bail when the man is supposed to walk home free at that date. Strange things only happen to strange people governed by strange people in a strange country.

Consulting-The Board Room Experience

Recently, I was at the Board Room of one of Nigeria’s leading retail Bank having a session with the members of the Executive Management (EMs) of the Bank. Of course, the MD and his subordinates were present at the session or else, why would I be there lounging in the aristocratic built room with ceramic and glass plated table? The chairs were so comfy to sit on -it was custom-made for my bum. And yes! I was served tea. Though, I would have preferred coffee with lots of cream and sweeteners.

Anyways, (donning my reality cap); rubbing shoulders with the members of EMs of organizations – having chit-chat with them might count as a no big-deal to you. To me, it is a ‘biggie’ (catch phrase used by my team lead). If you have been fortunate to work in an organization where you join at the lowest cadre and have to walk and talk your way up to the EMs cadre, you’ll appreciate this feeling.

Going into the Board Room as a very junior staff in one of the country’s leading institutional and now a leading commercial and retail Bank is like walking into the lion’s den. As far as I know, as a junior staff, there is only one reason that can bring you to the Board Room: A report to your Group Head. Mind you, you don’t even get to enter the Board Room lest you turn the focal point of attention and shredding. Yes shredding! Reprimanding! Only that reprimanding is an under-statement. No matter what, the report must get to your Group Head by any other means asides from entering. The other reason which we gag ourselves with that can take you to the Board Room is: ‘to serve tea’.

Nowadays, even if the session didn’t go as planned at the Board Room, it still feels so good to be served tea rather than to serve tea. Makes me thinking…

...Digital Jewels is the place to work at.

By: eeNDee (A guest blogger at Truth_Hurts)