Nigeria and it's political climate - The Blind leading the blind

The Nigerian political climate – The blind leading the blind

Nigeria is a wonderful country, filled with millions of wonderful people. Say what you like about Nigeria and its people, but we are hardworking, resourceful, intelligent and adaptable; blessed with a great wealth of natural and human resources. A fact many say has made us an envy politically and geographically.
But as with many systems and many nations there are shortcomings, blights as it were on the political landscape. The greatest of these blights is the issue of corruption. It has a stranglehold on the nation. It is a cankerworm and it festers, eating into the very fabric of the Nigerian existence.
We’ve had presidents, lawmakers, senators, stand during election periods, making insane promises; swearing to take us to our Canaan. Sadly, that Canaan seems to get further away even after seventeen years of democracy. Who do we blame? The people or the government __ some might argue the people are the government since government is formed from the people. Isn’t that what the most basic definition of democracy is? Government of the people by the people __ let me also add allowed by the people.
I turned on the radio this morning, and one of the breaking news headlines was the rejection of Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by the Senate. The reason for his rejection was his failing an integrity test. The senate said it reached this decision based on a report submitted by the DSS.
The report accused him of corruption and hobnobbing with high profile Nigerians facing corruption charges and also living a high profile lifestyle that his income could not afford. A few of his misdemeanours were living in a forty million rented apartment (Not paid by the commission’s finances but a private individual) and flying first class after repeated warnings from the president not to.
This report brought to mind a similar report several years back, in 2007 to be exact where the then speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole announced to the Nigerian public that the sum of $16 billion dollars had been expended on power between April 1999 and June 2007 with no result. It was the acknowledgement of the worsening power situation that led to the creation of a committee to probe the staggering amount, headed by Godwin Ndudi Elumelu who later opened public hearings.
After the second phase of the hearing took place and submission of findings began, allegations of a N100million bribe was levelled on the committee thus destroying the validity of the process.
These situations though different bear a certain similarity to each other giving me a fear that perhaps all these so called crackdowns on corruption are simply cheap talks which results to nothing more a slap on the wrist with the system returning to a business as usual approach on things.
This begs the question __ how do we have justice and fair play on the economic and political landscape of this nation if the people supposed to be protecting our rights as citizens are the ones abusing them?
In the United Kingdom, David Cameron resigned for his failure with Brexit. He regretted his inability to keep the UK in the Eurozone and for that singular reason found himself unfit to continue as Prime Minister. We have other examples in many countries where leaders, captains of industries resigned their appointments when their names appeared in the infamous Panama Papers.
But not only do our leaders not resign when evidence of their shortcomings come to light. They continue to administer justice in whatever capacity they see fit. Take the charges levelled against the senate president for gross issues of corruption for instance, in-spite of these charges he continues to run the affairs of the senate.
Who is telling the truth? What is the way forward? Where are we going as a nation? These are questions I think every Nigerian and especially the youths have to ask his or herself in the coming years ahead.
Can the continued plundering of our nation’s resources be allowed to continue at the detriment of our starving people? I think not. Is our present president up to the task of turning around the nation’s dire circumstances? I do not know. Many would argue the situation has worsened considerably since he took over.
Be that as it may, I want to take a cue from one of Michael Jackson’s most beloved songs ‘Man in the Mirror’. Change is not an event but a process. And every change no matter how little starts from somewhere. Michael postulated asking the man in the mirror to change his ways. Who do you see when you look in the mirror? If you are like me and you see yourself I’d advise you be the change you want to see. Take the cell, as infinitesimal as it is, a change within it affects the whole body system.
We need a call to shy away from this culture of acquisition, the habit of accepting wrong as right. We need to stand for our rights and most especially the truth. A nation not founded on truth and transparency is headed for a painful fall.
It’s my opinion that America is this great today because their founding fathers founded their nation on Christianity and truth. Though it is necessary to note they have deviated from the tenets their nation was built on but that doesn’t dispute the fact they are one of the greatest nations on the earth.
I believe we can be like that one day if we stop acting like the three blind mice. The blind following the blind __ I long for an economic and political climate where we all see, because seeing is believing and believing the first step to achieving ___ achieving Greatness.

Jumbles and ribbons- of words

They call it serpent's call... Words like some sort of twisted folklore. I see legions treading on the grounds I adore, telling me tall tales of what they think lie in store
For me, a nice homeboy who likes to roar when he is pissed by the nonsense the world has come to love and it burns so much.
I sit in my car... Parked staring as if looking at the great beyond as I wonder about my place in it. People look down and think am finished. I on the other hand chose to believe am just beginning. I am not sure I care what the others are thinking. Its just me... A new horizon, a new beginning... A vision I see where I am always winning.
I pray father in heaven will set the ball rolling and spinning.
Even if I am alone let me be bethroled with my successes. I have learnt enough of life's cruel lessons. Help me to begin the process of living... Lord let their be forgiving. Let me understand my reason for living 

Scattered thoughts

My thoughts are scattered. Why shouldn’t they be? Couldn’t explain the frenetic pace even if I wanted to___ i believe in God. Yeah! Who doesn’t?
I’ve disappointed him. He tracks me. He sees me. Sometimes I wonder what he thinks when he looks at me. The bible says he loves me. I find that hard to believe. There isn’t much to love about me. I am disobedient, I don’t listen and most often I let my emotions and lusts drive me.
He is my Father __ the only one that matters. He gave me this gift __ the only thing I have. I am not so dumb I don’t know without him I am not worth the dirt I walk on.
Its taking so long. My fault __ A result of my not thinking enough. Being bold, different, taking the necessary steps needed. Freedom unhinged in a moment.
I could argue about my circumstances, but that argument rings hollow in my ears. My sisters have rightly told me I should step up and be a man. I was pissed but they are right. Right now, I am not the man, I am just someone trying to be the man.
Mum thinks differently. But what else would she say? Mum’s are nice like that.
The heavens turn a tide crimson, sun’s blazing __ evening is a-coming. Then another night will come calling. Another night of regret and continuous censure, as I beat myself up left, right and centre facing what could be a happily ever after.
The pressure is heavy __ my breaths have never been this steady. I hear the word bebop and rock-steady. I am ready!

Not like him or them

I don't want to be like him.. this is a moment of great introspection. My father had the trappings of a great man. The signs were there. Sadly, he fell short of the mark. I have spent years trying to analyse what went wrong.
I am a man now. People tell me I also have what it takes to be a great individual. But I live with the ever present fear of falling short of the mark. I over think things I guess. Life has a way of screwing with your mind. I hear voices engaged in shouting matches in my mind. "You are going to be like him." "NO!!!! I WON'T!!!"
The last few weeks have been a real test of my strength and resolve to stick and stand by what I want. I have been judged, criticized, referred to as something or someone I do not really like. But I chose not to fight. I chose not to engage in what would have labelled me a child.
I chose to let the criticism bounce off me like water off a ducks back. I don't want to be like him. My dad. I want to be better than him.
I want to be the man God, my parents and siblings would be proud of. I am not searching for approval from anyone. I don't need it. What I do need is to look back over my life and realize I did most things right.
I don't want to be like them. I want to be better than them and have my own kids be proud of who I am and what I achieved 

A man or a boy.....

The hardest truths to hear are the ones you are forced to tell yourself. I ask myself a ton of questions sometimes and these questions don't give glowing commendation of my person.
I ask myself sometimes. Am I a man, a boy or something else...
Well since am almost 37 the most obvious response would be a man. I don't know about other men but a lot about my life shames me.
People say life is like that, that you're embarrassed about what you did or did not achieve, what you reached or did. Not reached, or more importantly what you feel or should not feel
I get angry sometimes, get impatient with people in ways that's hard to describe, some who are unkind would say I lack the required maturity to deal with people as they should be dealt with.
There seems to be no place in this world for someone who tells people the truth. They prefer you lie and cover up the inadequacies that hold them down.
Saying these things make them think I do not consider my own failings and inadequacies.
Little do they know I lie awake many a night hating the pathetic little existence I call my life. I constantly ask myself if my brain was shooting on all cylinders I should be further up the ladder of success than I am now. This is not being self depreciating, I call it being very strict with myself.
Am a man, a boy or something else? I don't know what I am. But I know God knows. I am betting he's up there laughing at my little identity crisis. Am a man or a boy.... I chose man. But that won't sink in until my success is in my hands
This question is one I think all should ask. Maybe then you'll measure how far you have before you breathe your last 

Reminiscing

Its a hot day, pretty hot for a late October Sunday. There is no electricity, no surprise there right?
Feeling restless I left the house and drove to the cybercafe to charge my phone and laptop so I could do some work.
Mum called to say the electricity is back on. Now I debate with myself if I should head back home or remain here.
There is every temptation to remain. I could rush home and the light would go again and I'll be back at one.
Sitting in the café writing this blog post on my phone I start to reminisce, my thoughts drifting to days when life seemed a whole lot simpler.
I remember days sitting around the dinning table with my siblings consuming plates of boiled yam and palm oil. The real treat was when mum bought roasted plantain and we ate it with palm oil
Or during Christmas season, we'll lie awake all night praying for day to come so we could open up our presents.
I remember how happy we were then. We felt nothing could go wrong. As we got older, we became wiser, our great nation went into decline. Some of us got married, while I fell ill and almost died.
Now we are scattered around the globe, each doing our own things.
I walk through these walls, drive round this lil old town and remember all those beautiful memories while facing my great future.
It's good to remember the good past but like every wise man will tell you don't dwell there permanently. I had some fun beautiful times but I guess it's time to make some beautiful more desirable moments that will stand the test of time

Freedom from pain

I feel the darkness, I feel the pressure. Like five ton weights weighing heavy on me. I hear the promises, feel the goodness the words bring. I feel like a king, unhindered, undisturbed with light speed motion. I feel the power, his power not my power ---- his power surging, strengthening carrying me across voids I would most likely be unable to cross.
I hear a voice_____ dark, benign, strangely unpleasant to the hearing. He screams at me. Talks to me. Tries to get me to believe I can never be free. I can never rise, possess my place amongst the stars, silence the fiends who keep asking where is my God.
Then I hear another voice. A soft kind, mercy filled voice. I hear what he says and it's like peace came to me to stay.
I love the way____ his ways. Why?
Because his love has come to stay. Now there shall be no more delay.
Freedom peace has finally come to stay

Worrying

I worry about the state of the polity. I worry about the people within it. I worry when a daughter tells her father she wants to marry and he decides to throw a big soiree at the grooms expense when he isn't going to contribute a dime to the union.
There are a lot of things in this nation that can make a guy worry. I worry when there is a job interview or aptitude test and the best candidate is the least likely to get selected, Why? Because some political big wig has another candidate who has nothing but mothballs between his or her ears. It's like the entire society is turned upside down and inside out. Its a place where am beginning to believe normal guys like me do not belong. Yeah right! lol
Anyways I could go on and on about the light, go on and on about the economy, then I could deviate and drift to the US Presidential joke or should I say circus. I could climb on a pulpit and wonder (aloud) how does a candidate like Donald Trump get to be one of the front runners in the presidential campaign? Its surreal!
A Facebook friend pointed out that should Hilary win the race, he wouldn't call it a victory for feminists or women at large rather an insult. Why? Because according to him (and am quoting him here) she is running against a man that is more or less a tactless and misogynistic baboon. The real victory would have been her running a man of impeccable character and winning. But beggars can't be choosers right? I guess one has to watch and see how it all plays out.
Personally I worry if a man like Trump gets to be president of the United States. We in Nigeria have enough problems without dealing with potentially world ending events which could be precipitated by a man as volatile and unstable as Trump. But who am I to put too fine a point on it. I guess we at the opposite corner of the world can watch and wait with bated breath and see how it all plays out while worrying every step of the way.   

An excerpt from my zombie apocalypse trilogy titled Holocaust

The machine gun hung heavy, the strap biting into his shoulder. The falling rain was blinding, it fell in sheets. He could barely see. He heard the feral growls ten feet into the undergrowth, a stone throw from where he stood in mud that reached his knees.
He ducked down as he saw the first shadow flit by. If he hadn't been sensitive he might have missed it. It was followed by another and yet another. His heart grew grim. They were hunting him.
He went into a crouch praying with all his heart that the rain and mud would mask his scent. The authorities hadn't quite decided if they reacted to smell.
The one in front paused, the suit he wore was ragged, tattered and strewn with holes. Might have been a banker or something before he was stricken with the Evonso virus.
His red eyes drifted in his direction. He held his breath clutching the submachine gun even tighter. He was low on ammo. He didn't know if he had enough to kill them all. He could hear more running amongst the trees. This didn't look good.
The faint sound of rotor blades drifted their way. Their reaction was instantaneous. They took off heading towards the sound at a fast sprint. The night slowly stilled. And then he was truly alone.
He stepped out of the mud, wiping the water off his face. The rain still fell hard. He looked around trying to get his bearings. He was still some distance from safety.
He took off with a sigh, running as if the hounds of hell were chasing him.

He reached the hill about an hour later. The race through the cave took another fifteen minutes and he was back on his perch looking at the abandoned cluster of buildings. A city that used to be called Lagos.
He removed a tiny pair of binoculars from his right pocket and raised it to his eyes. he saw the helicopter hovering over a tall building, the light from the halogen lamp twirling in long measured sweeps.
It had been ages he'd last seen one. He didn't know any still flew. It looked like a military helicopter. What were they looking for?
As he watched he saw dark shapes leaping from building to building, tearing towards the helicopter. These forms were larger than the infected. His heart started to race. This wasn't good for those in that helicopter.
A hail of tracer bullets burst from the helicopter raining down on the dark forms. It had little effect. The two in front took a long leap smashing into the side door. It crumpled like paper. He could hear the faint screams as it plummeted smashing into the side of a building before it exploded, the mushroom cloud explosion lighting up the darkness.
His heart grew grim. Idiots! What were they searching for? Anyone with an ounce of sense should have known Lagos was off limits whether by land or air.
He turned back into the cave. It was time to prepare something to eat.


Check out my books here
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Why Nigeria doesn't work

I remember when I was younger, the few times I ever pondered on the mystery that is my country. I remember asking myself so many times why things do not work.
I watch a lot of movies, read a few books and never once do I hear it mentioned that countries have problems like light, infrastructure, good road network etc.
My mum visited Australia early last year and she regaled me with stories of good light, running water, paved roads and so on. This is a country that started out as a prison colony. Hearing her stories threw me into deep introspection and I asked the age long question I'd been asking for years. Why don't things here work?
A friend on Facebook narrated his awful experience on the Lagos Ibadan express road. How he spent hours in traffic. As he told his story he made reference to the recently discovered stinker of the former first lady who had over 31million dollars in a domiciliary account. Where does a first lady with no known business get that kind of money?
When we convert that to naira its a hefty sum which would be more than enough to fix the express way making it a joy for commuters. But of course our leaders will not do that.
My dad who is a politician, albeit not a very successful one (this I think is cos he is one of the few honest politicians in the business of politics, which is why he gets nothing when positions come up and gets sidelined more often that not). Well not to digress, he just returned from the governorship primaries holding in Ondo State.
According to him, most candidates spent over a billion naira minimum. I was flabbergasted when I heard. If they could spend that much on a friggin primary how much do they intend to spend on the election itself.
I sank deeper into my depressed thoughts as I pondered on this new bit of information.
And then a light bulb lit up in my head. Now I understood why they entered public office and spent most of their tenure doing little or nothing. If you spent such insane amounts to win an election it's only fair to assume you aren't doing it out of the goodness of your heart. From a business perspective, you'd most certainly want to recoup your investment. So they spend the first couple of years diverting funds and looting to get back their money plus interest before they even begin to try and rule the teeming masses.
They say Nigeria is in a recession. Even so I am not convinced there isn't enough money to go round and better the country if people will use the money judiciously.
Our amiable governor owes six months salary and instead of feeling shamed by it he and his sycophants go on every government controlled radio stations to sing praises to themselves on the sweet seven years of rulership he has done so well.... But he hasnt.
Workers are not paid, infrastructure is on the verge of collapse and people all over the country are starving.
Today, we've had electriciy for one out of twenty four hours. If one person can have $30mil in one account, how many others have just as much? Money that could be ploughed back to fix the ailing economy.
We hear stories of the antigraft agencies recovering stolen loot but no one knows where this recovered money is. Or even where it goes
In the papers yesterday they discovered one former governor had 48 houses traced to him. Forty eight houses!!! A public servant who I don't think had that big of a fortune when he entered office.
I am older now and I see much clearer. I know why Nigeria doesn't work. Because those that are in charge of it don't want it to work. May God help us  

Be still

There is a moment in your life you ask yourself why.... I mean you just look up at the sky almost like you are looking God in the eye and you'd be like why?
There are moments that are hard to define when it's like everyone or everything wants to put a finger in your eye.
There are moments you just lean back, take a deep breath and say hi pips! I am TIRED!
But you know what? Those are the moments that something wonderful could come between the lines and perhaps bring a smile.
I am at such a moment. Where I am hated by those I thought would love and appreciate what I've done, would see me for who I really am. But all I get is misunderstanding and condemnation.
But you know what? I refuse to be put down. I refuse to let the enemy win. I refuse to allow distractions get the better of me.
I am determined to keep my eyes on God and take calming breaths as I march through the storms. His words.... Be still and know I am God.
For you out there who might troubled as you read this, I say to you be still.
For you perhaps bent under the weight of unpaid bills I say be still, for you suffering for love, abused perhaps abandoned and hurt, I tell you to be STILL. God works... And like he has delivered me countless times he'll deliver you too.
Live calm, live peaceful and above all live FREE

Fear

I feel fear.... That might be too strong a word, perhaps anxiety, nervousness might be closer to what I want to describe; but nooooo! It's fear!
Why am I fearful? That emotion usually consumes me when I am trying to undertake something beyond my physical, mental or even financial capacity.
I fear the unknown, the unclarity that lies ahead. As a Christian I feel and look shamefaced. Cos my heavenly Father doesn't expect me to fear. Unfortunately I cannot help it.
To the casual eye I am calm, confident. But that's just a smoke screen. My heart threatens to run away from me.
Why? Because I am attempting to do what millions of men have done for centuries. What is that you might ask? Smiles! Unfortunately I cannot say, at least not here.
In life there is nothing new or uncommon. What was done before will probably be done again and again and even better.
But like every fingerprint every humans situation is unique. There might be some similarities but for the most part each situation experiences some level of variance.
I try to be confident, looking to God and pray he delivers cos if he doesn't my goose is cooked.
To be fair to him he has never disappointed me. Whatever he says he will do he always does. But I guess it's human nature to be afraid. I read somewhere that courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to move on in spite of your fear. So I'll keep taking steps. Not fixing my eyes or my thoughts on those that have failed at what I am trying to do. I chose to see myself succeeding and the good Lord helping me. I don't know what lies in tomorrow. But I know who controls all tomorrow. He is my source, Lord be my watch. Cos without you this cannot be done. 

The Atheist Conundrum

Just heard this afternoon that Brangelina are on the verge of a split. I smile cos I remember what I was doing when the news reached me. I was on Wikipedia, reading about Daniel Radcliffe. The movies he's done, his beliefs etc. Wasn't that much of a shock to realize he is an atheist. Which for those who do not know is when an individual doesn't believe in the existence of a deity. To put it simply to those of us who are Christians, he doesn't believe God exists.
My search then took me to Mark Zuckerberg. According to Wikipedia he's now the fifth richest person on the planet. He also is a sworn atheist though according to him he finds some religions interesting.
I paused at that juncture. I now decided to put my phone down and pray, a question and expecting answers kind of prayer.
I asked HIM why he opened the doors of favor so mightily to those who deny his existence while those that believe and serve him so intimately are sometimes left in obscurity.
Of course I was a bit frightened, he is the Almighty father after all. What right does one as insignificant as myself have to question him. The only solace I could give myself was Peter questioned Jesus at some point, when he did not understand somethings.
When my short prayer was finished I lay back and grew still, waiting for him to speak to me. And then it suddenly occurred to me, maybe he allowed these men to be so richly blessed because they had the right mindset. Mark especially (at least according to what I read about him) he wasn't really searching for wealth, riches or even recognition. He was looking for a way to impact the lives of people.
I surmised that perhaps that is the key. Perhaps that was what God saw that made him elevate him.
I mean think about it. See how many lives he has impacted, two billion active users lives have changed a lot since Facebook came. Many of us probably can't imagine a life without it. I threw this thought out to my friends. One disagreed, he didn't really place much importance in a divine hand being behind it. He believed it was just hardwork and diligence that paid off.
He even went as far as saying having religion may serve as an impediment. I chose to ignore the latter part but instead focused on the former.
Hardwork! Yeah that's very important, but if just working hard brought life changing events why aren't the artisans and manual labourers the richest?
I for one refuse to dismiss the subject of favor. Some men I believe are favored above others. Not because they are better but because of the number of destinies tied to theirs.
How many have come out of poverty through the use of social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. No business worth its salt doesn't have a Facebook page or a Twitter handle. So you see... The keyword here is impact. He chose to impact people's lives and got filthy rich in the process.
As an indie author, without platforms like Facebook, Twitter, blogger and so on, my word and message could not reach the world.
Think whatever you like, but personally I don't see how one man could connect two billion people on hardwork alone. Such results are beyond the normal or ordinary, maybe I am so ready to believe this because of my belief in a God so powerful and mighty he awes and scares the bejesus out of me.
I can only pray he grants me the grace, wisdom and humility to allow myself to be used by him and perhaps change a few lives along the way.
But people like Radcliffe, Zuckerberg and so many others have shown me that God can use anyone to make a difference if said person is willing and has a heart for humanity.
Perhaps you that is reading this is the next big thing. Keep dreaming big and in those dreams see yourself putting smiles on the face of the little guy, impacting our dark world for the better, shine a little light, and watch it burn EXTRA BRIGHT!

I saw the future

I saw the FUTURE! Yes __ I did. This isn't some scifi post apocalyptic vision, but the real future. The future my heavenly father showed me. I saw myself blessed beyond belief, living life, living the dream. Married to a queen with a little prince and princess standing beside me.
I saw another, this part was more like a dream, but a dream that you know is real. I saw the third, a princess from my loins destined to be the greatest the world has ever seen. In this vision I had achieved, I wasn't there yet but it was a very good start I believe.
I saw myself standing with my glorious family to snap a portrait while I wrote a long letter of exaltation to the King of kings! For how far he had taken me. I knew in my heart that what I saw is real.
He showed me just now as I sat in this cafe updating my PC. I write this post as a testament to that vision and I pray he will refer my mind back to it when the day comes to be. I know now that God is all there is to be. To be loved by him is a privilege I am not sure is deserved by one such as me.
The only thing I can ask now is release your grace upon me and take me from this present into that future with all speed. Release that grace to follow you to the end of my days, release the grace for me to right my ways. Release the grace for me to stay with you and in you and you in me.
Release the grace for me to be all I can be. The grace to love you even half as much as you love me.
I saw the future father ___ the great future you showed me.
I saw you __ I saw them __ and it was better than how I ever pictured it to be. For now only the queen is with me ___ I eagerly await the prince and the princesses and all is complete.
I saw you father and I saw them and it was a ALL AND MORE than I imagined it to be. I saw the future and its right in front of me 

God and Man

God and Man ___ or dare I say man and God. A convulated and complicated relationship if ever there was one. Not on God's side __ God is simple and straight to the point. With him there is no variance. He hasn't changed for thousands of years so it's highly unlikely he'll change now.
The problem always begins with man. We never seem to be able to keep to the terms of the agreement.
Its simple really __ do this and I'll do this __ you don't do this and you'll suffer this. But do we listen? Na!
I am one of the greatest non listeners. I will say something for him though __ he is the greatest. Super cool, super strong and above all super HOLY. The bible calls him the thrice holy God whose eyes are too pure to behold iniquity.
I ask myself sometimes how does a deeply flawed man measure up to that? I don't even want to imagine what our fate would have been if he didn't send Jesus Christ. And even with Jesus its highly debatable most of us will enter the paradise called heaven.
All we can do is pray right __ Once when I sat down and started listing the things the Bible counts as sin I almost lost my faith. With that long list I surmised it would be impossible for anyone to make heaven. But someone opened me up to a nugget of wisdom which states our lives are hid in Christ. That doesn't mean God condones sin, it just means that when we do fall into sin and we truly repent and ask forgiveness he is merciful enough to forgive us.
God is wonderful. Humans are undeserving of his love and mercy. I ask myself sometimes why he loves us. We are a deeply flawed species, evil for the most part and seemingly incapable of obeying even the most simple of directives.
But I guess that's why he is God right? And that's why he is extremely worthy to be praised. Thank you Lord for saving me, and release grace upon me and anyone else who wishes to do better by you. Thank you Lord.
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Pegged as a continent

I love writing... If I was to list my many weaknesses on a scale of preference then writing would most definitely top the list.
But now that I think about it, that's not entirely accurate. Let me explain... I don't write just because I love doing it.. I write because am compelled to. Stories, ideas start to explode inside me and the pressure won't let up until I release it by putting pen to paper or finger to keyboard as the case might be.
I've written quite a few books as a result not counting tons of poems, articles and such. Honing my art and becoming better at what I do is a hunger that consumes me.
That being said I feel saddened sometimes by the way the world perceives African literature. We are put into a slot kind of.... In my opinion.
It seems to me that what most publishers and organizations that support African writing expect from us are stories centered on political unrest, human trafficking, civil war and the likes. They are not likely to take a Nigerian writing science fiction seriously. Which I think is wrong and a big mistake... There are many beautiful stories out there just waiting to be told... But if a writer cannot find a good platform to tell said stories what becomes of him. Nine times out of ten he gives up and decides to face reality.. A wise man once said that the graveyard is the richest place on earth. Where all manner of treasures and talents are buried with people who didn't or couldn't reach their full potential.
Any of these writing competitions don't just judge the strength of your writing or prose, they have other determining factors like societal relevance et al.
I miss the days when a guy would just go out and write a real good story and still profit from it. Sadly those days seem to be at an end. Now you are forced to write to follow trends not write what your heart is telling you to because you want to survive and make ends meet.
I pray God will help and strenghten African literature. And writers in every genre be given an equal chance to sit at the world's literally table without being pegged or forced into a niche, because it is what the world expects us to write about. Thank you

You can check out my books here

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B00FB3J1Y2_B00FB3J1Y2_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Ifedayo+Adigwe+Akintomide&sort=relevance&ie=UTF8&qid=1469154213
http://www.amazon.com/Ifedayo-Adigwe-Akintomide/e/B00FB3J1Y2 

The blame equation - Jonathan effect

I believe one of humanity's greatest failings is the ability to condemn and judge others. One thing I have noticed about most people is they always feel they can do things better than the one who actually did it.
That's why I pay little mind to the sport commentators who analyze games during and after the matches. Except if the person is a former sports man or woman seasoned in that sport I find what opinions he or she puts forward of little value.
A wise man once said don't judge me until you walk a mile in my shoes. Where am I going with this?
In my country people have taken to condemning the past president calling him all manner of unprintable names, the most polite being that he is clueless.
That may be the truth. A lot of bad stuff happened under his watch which shouldn't have but I want all Nigerians to ask ourselves a sincere question... Would we do better if we were in his shoes?
Do you know what it means to head a country of at least 150 million people where sixty percent of them are corrupt.
I remember when the present administration was about to be sworn in, people were excited. They said they voted for change. Now a year later that change appears to have made things worse for all Nigerians.
Fuel prices have gone through the roof, most of the state governor's are not paying workers salaries. In ondo for instance workers haven't been paid for six months.
But under the administration of the supposedly clueless person petrol was 87 naira a litre as opposed to 145naira a litre which is what we have now.
The argument for that is that they had to remove the fuel subsidy because it wasn't sustainable. All manner of excuses have been put into play but it cannot hide one unmistakable fact, things are worse now than they were before.
It's amusing to see people condemn the past administration. Forgetting that he is the first Nigerian president we've had in a while who willingly relinquished power so peace could reign.
Instead of condemning him why not commend him for the few good things he did? It's not like you would do any better if you were in his shoes. If the Nigerian boat was that easy to captain why haven't we reached our promised land yet?
Instead of spending precious time laying the blame game, why don't we join hands and help pull the nation out of the quagmire it is presently.
I like what Michael Jackson said in his song Man in the mirror. Quit complaining and be the change you so richly desire by first starting with yourself. At least sixty percent of our population has a penchant for corruption. Why don't we all focus on fixing our shortcomings and in so doing change our troubled nation. Whining and complaining never solved anything. It's doing that changes.
You WANT CHANGE? Then be the change you want to see. When next that person comes to offer a bribe say no.
When next you are pressured to lie be determined to tell the truth. When we begin to do this and more our change will come. Thanks 

The thing about pain

I know a bit about pain. Am being modest, I know a lot about pain. Whether it's the physical pain which came a lot in my earlier years or the emotional one. That didn't come until much later.
We live in a world that is ruled by pain and unpleasantness. A world where even the most basic form of dignity comes at a steep cost, which is fighting life for every good thing you want from it.
Growing up it was more of fighting to stay alive. My body was troubled by a sickness that brought the most awful of pains upon me.
There were days I actually prayed for death, if it would only bring peace and an escape from the pain. But death never came. He had other plans for me.
The long and short of it is I survived. He sustained me.
If you are out there going through any sort of pain of hard sentence... Believe me when I say he can fix what's ailing you
 Who you may ask is this miracle worker. His name is God and his loving partner is Jesus.
If you haven't then invite them into your life and he will make everything that concerns you to be perfected.
Invite him as I did and be free of all pain .. The same way he did to me... I know he will do for you. As unfaithful as I am he still blesses and increases me.
To God be the glory

P.S if you feel the need to commit your life to Christ say this prayer after me
Lord Jesus, I come to you today, I know am a SINNER and Jesus Christ died on the cross for me. Wash me clean with your blood, fill me with your precious goodness. Thank you Lord for saving me
 Now I know am born again. Jesus is Lord. Thank you for reading. God bless 

A dance with the dark

They take us for fools. Yeah hell of a way to begin but I am just so angry.
Let me tell you a little story. It's a story centered on an incompetent company which used to be owned by an even more incompetent government.
It has been known by many names. It used to go by NEPA which means National Electric Power Authority. That is humorous by the way because it was never an authority on anything least of all power. That being said it now goes by the name Phcn which means the Power Holding  Company. This name is more apt since they rarely provide electricity for more than four hours a day and that is on the best day. So it's fair to assume they are simply living up to their name.
Today we've had almost four hours light between the morning and afternoon alone. This fact brings suspicion. It's unlike them. I can only surmise that since they've given more light this week it means they are about to bring the electricity bill which I should add will most certainly be inflated and bloated. There is no way on God's green earth we can run up the bills they present to us based on my above analysis.
In civilized countries we'd have boards and unions to protect us from this sort of extortion which is nothing short of criminal. But why should I complain about the extortion of private companies when our government officials have made it their singular duty to keep extorting and cheating us.
The phone bills and Internet access we pay for has some of the highest charges in the world. The telecommunication companies would argue that the lack of constant electricity makes them run their businesses totally on generators. The extra cost this runs up is transferred down to who else? We consumers.
The situation in this nation is one that defies any logical situation. The present administration was an extremely harsh critic of the former. They gave us a long list of how quickly they would effect a change if they were elected. Now more than one year later things are much worse. The economy is in a harsh recession, 27 States out of 36 aren't paying salaries. This is not cos the money is not there but people are stealing it.
My biggest grouse however is with the electricity. Two to four hours out of twenty four is inhuman. Anyone who doesn't have a generator has resigned himself and his family to an eternity of darkness. The day your generator starts acting up is the day you know you're in a heapload of trouble.
I want you to give a shout out to a nation that has failed it's citizens in every conceivable way. Though some may argue that the nation is its citizens so we have failed ourselves. May God deliver us, but while we wait for God we should also keep it in mind that God helps those who help themselves. Nuff said 

Judge and Juror

Judge not.. Lest ye be judged. Strong words... It's hardly surprising. The Bible is a treasure throve of strong words.
That scripture and those words have been reveberating in my head for the last ten minutes or so. I can't help remembering how many people and situations I did judge consciously and unconsciously.
A wise man once said, don't judge me until you've walked a mile in my shoes. It's easy to draw conclusions about someone or something without considering it might be wiser to hold off until you know the full story.
I am older now... An adult.... I remember how right and wrong, good or bad, was so easy to spot... I drew lines in the sand with a lot of preconceived notions of how the world and the life around me should be. I realize now those lines aren't so clearly defined.
I have come to realize that people and situations I judged in the past should have been looked at through the lens of empathy. If I tried to see things from their point of view maybe I would have had a clearer understanding why they behaved and took the decisions they did.
Don't get me wrong.. No one has an excuse for wrong doing. The yorubas have a saying that nkan ti o da ko da. Ko loruko meji which means whats bad is bad. It doesn't have two names.
Life is journey of choices. And it's the choices we make that determine how well or how bad our life turns out.
And the only way I feel we can make the right choice is by praying to the one who created choice to release grace upon us to always go the right way. And when he does release that grace look at those who make wrong choices with empathy and not derision or a pontificating and holier than thou attitude.
You could try praying for them instead of judging them. Try understanding them instead of abandoing them. Think about it... If God abandoned us.. Even though he probably has good cause to do so, where would we be?
Road kill probably for the devil and his minions. Judge not lest ye be judged.
When next you have an opportunity to condemn a person.. Why not pause and try and see things from that person's point of view? And if you can't and all else fails you could pray.
I remember when Eminem released the song cleaning out my closet. He literally hung his mother out to dry. But am willing to bet now that he is a parent he sees things differently and realizes it wasn't that easy for his mum to raise him and his siblings. Which is why I believe he recanted and sang another song apologizing and hailing her.
Judge not ... Least ye be judged. Life is never clear cut. Think on these words... Thank you.
Jesus is Lord 

Double love

I love my mum. She is one of the closest people to me. She has always been on hand to encourage, support and offer advice and wisdom nuggets every now and then.
What am most grateful for is her support for my writing career. Never did she tell me it wasn't worth it. However with the encouragements and all that she did offer warnings too.
One of such warnings she drilled into my head day in and day out was the danger of double love.
What's that you might ask? Well I'll tell you. It's pining and going after someone else other than the person you are with.
Mum is a very strong woman. She endured what would have broken most women and dare I say even men. She gave her all to raise me and my five other siblings.
She spent extra time on my brothers and I. Reiterating that a man doesn't mistreat a woman, any woman, especially his wife.
A man doesn't make it a habit to keep stringing several women along. It ain't kosher.
She always said she would respect my choice in a mate as long as I realize I wasn't gonna be hitting it anywhere else for as long as I was ALIVE.
But what mum could not adequately prepare me for was how hard it was gonna be. How gals would throw themselves at you especially when you are at your weakest.
I come from a society where a woman's unfaithfulness is treated with extreme prejudice but a man's unfaithfulness is rewarded with a pat on the back and probably a beer if you are the drinking sort.
But I guess most of her teaching sunk in.. I am not able to let go the way some of my other friends do but that doesn't make me a saint either.
I am not married yet but I have someone I want to be with till the day I die. When I was single there was no double love temptation hanging around the place. Now that am close to being hitched it's everywhere.
Thank you mum for your prayers and teaching. I am not like the others completely. Hopefully what you instilled will keep me on the straight and narrow inspite of the tempting. And with God helping, the sky they say is the limit. Thank you for seeing and warning. And I thank God I was listening 

A failed state

I am living in a failed state. That's a horrible thing to say about your country but unfortunately in Nigeria's case it so happen to be the truth.
I know the Nigerians that read this will probably go all self righteous and start crucifying me, saying all manner of unprintable things but before you do let me ask you what your definition of a failed state is.
Is it a place where the system appears broken? Where nothing good seems to work?
Is it a nation where criminals are allowed to roam free and even administer justice and legislation in the nation's capital?
Is it a place where 27 out of 36 States are not paying workers salaries? One of the governor's even had four billion naira of state funds in his private account
Is it a nation that electricity is only on about 2hours or so out of 24? If I wanted to categorize what living in this country is for the average man I'd say it's a step away from hell on earth.
If I could run from this nation I would and I have it relatively better than most.
I smile when I consider the fact that David Cameron resigned cos of brexit and Roy Hodgeson cos the English team lost in the Euro 2016.
My country's Senate President is being accused of multiple counts of corruption and he sits in the Senate still administering justice.
I hate to say this --- but we are probably the laughing stock of the international community. I won't even mention the sexual misdemeanors of some of our house of Representatives in merry ol US.
This wanton looting and gross mismanagement of the nation's resources can't continue.
We've all heard of the Arab spring... If things don't change I forsee a situation where the streets will run red with blood.
I am not a prophet of doom, I am simply a man reading the terrain. Anyone reading this if you are a lover of peace please pray for my country. This injustice cannot be allowed to continue

Independence day underwhelms

'Independence Day 2' Underwhelms With $41.6M; 'Finding Dory' Sprints to $73.2M

The Hollywood Reporter

June 26, 2016

By Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter

Roland Emmerich’s Independence Day: Resurgence failed to ignite the biggest fireworks at the North American office, where it came in behind expectations with an estimated $41.6 million from 4,068 theaters.

While that’s hardly a disastrous start, the long-awaited sequel to the 1996 blockbuster will need to do sizable business overseas to land in the black for Fox and Emmerich. So far, the tentpole seems to be getting its wish, debuting to $102 million from 57 foreign markets, including China, for a global debut of $143.6 million (specific territory breakdowns weren’t immediately available).

The popcorn tentpole was no match for holdover Finding Dory, which continued to wow in its second weekend, paddling to an estimated $73.2 million from 4,305 theaters. The animated sequel has now earned $286.6 million domestically and $397 million globally. And if Sunday’s estimate holds, Dory will boast the biggest second weekend for an animated film, beating Shrek 2 ($72.2 million), not accounting for inflation. Final numbers will be released Monday.

Independence Day 2 placed No. 2 behind Dory in North America, while topping the foreign chart.

Emmerich’s film sports a hefty net budget of $165 million and was made without Will Smith, who opted to sit out the sequel. The first film, released 20 years ago over the Fourth of July holiday, broke records on its way to temporarily becoming one of the top-grossing films of all time with $817.4 million worldwide, not adjusted for inflation.

Related: Cannes Lions: Will Smith Says Hollywood “Smoke and Mirrors” Marketing “Is Over”

As in real life, ID4 is set two decades after the events in Independence Day (including the spectacular destruction of the White House and other iconic landmarks), and sees the same menacing aliens once again wreaking havoc.

Smith might be absent but a number of other stars appearing in the original film reprised their roles, including Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Judd Hirsch and Sela Ward. Newcomers include Liam Hemsworth, who plays a hot-shot military pilot whose parents died in the first alien attack and who is now dating the former first daughter (Maika Monroe), and Jessie Usher, who plays the stepson of Smith’s character, now deceased.

Elsewhere, Sony’s shark thriller The Shallows was the only new film to beat expectations, biting off an estimated $16.7 million from 2,962 theaters for a fourth-place finish behindDory, ID4 and holdover Central Intelligence, which just declined 48 percent in its second weekend to $18.4 million for a 10-day domestic total of $69.3 million for New Line and Universal.

The Shallows, starring Blake Lively as a surfer in a fight-to-the-death battle with a great white shark, cost a modest $17 million to make and is a needed win for Sony. The big question now is how well the movie holds up; Sony believes it has transformed into a classic summer thriller, but horror-thrillers tend to drop fast.

Jaume Collet-Serra, known for such action films as Non-Stop and Unknown, directed The Shallows. In an unexpected twist, it was the best-reviewed new film of the weekend with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 75 percent. Shallows earned a B+ CinemaScore from audiences.

Related: ‘Ghostbusters’ Tracking for $40M-$50M U.S. Debut

The outcome was grim for the two other new nationwide offerings. STX Entertainment’s Civil War drama Free State of Jones opened to a dismal $7.8 million from 2,815 locations, McConaughey’s worst showing in years. Directed by Gary Ross, Free State of Jones is no doubt being hurt by generally poor reviews; it’s current score on Rotten Tomatoes is 40 percent.

The movie’s net budget is $50 million. STX insiders note the company’s financial risk on the film is minimized thanks to a number of partners, including IM Global, which is handling the movie internationally.

Free State of Jones tells the real-life story of Newt Knight, a defiant Southern farmer and Confederate medic who led an uprising and later married a former slave. Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Keri Russell and Mahershala Ali also star in the film, which played best in Mississippi, where the story is set.

Nicolas Winding Refn’s Neon Demon, a twisted take on the modeling industry, is D.O.A. at the box office, opening to an estimated $606,594 from 783 locations. The movie’s theater average is $783.

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