Rest, do you?

Its quite amazing peoples notion of resting. Different views exist with different people as to when to rest. I don’t  have the luxury at my disposal now to expound on it but i just want to share my experience of last week.

I have been feeling malaria symptoms for a while but kept postponing its treatment simply because i was caught up with my  work. Eventually, i  saw a pharmacist, and complained and requested for a medication that won’t knock me out. Now i happen to get knocked out whenever i take anti malaria drugs so i was quite particular about what i wanted. But talk of postponing the day of reckoning! Took the medication quite alright, no side effects whatsoever (or so i thought). But, instead of getting better, i went worse! Lost weight within two days! And feeling at the worse end i could think of! So i took a break, went home to meet my folks, away from the busy bustle of office and Lagos. Went to put my head somewhere to recuperate. The results? Amazing! Didn’t take any extra medication, no doctor, nothing just a sweet blessed long deserved rest|!

Its amazing how we take our health for granted during our most productive years. When you look into our dailies, topping the list of obituaries are young men and women and you wonder whats happening. According to United Nations Statistics for average years of 2005-2010; Nigeria ranks 130th in position in life expectancy with overall life expectancy at birth at 46.9%. Males were 46.4% while females 47.3% which is 30% below world average!

All we think of is to make money, to make a breakthrough all at the expense of our health. I sometimes wonder, if people hold eternity in perspective at all. I reflect on the fact that, if after making all the money at the expense of your health, family, friends etc what would you be thinking on your deathbed? What would cross your mind, when the cold hands of death gradually inch up snuffing life out of you.

When i see obituaries and i check the age, its always between the age of 40 to 60 at most, and due to one illness or the other. And i wonder (as i always do) so short?!

People, its high time we take  our health seriously, that we rest when we need to and  prioritize  our activities appropriately. Life is short, but we can blaze a trail and make maximum lasting impact  if we live by the right principles and take responsibility for our actions.

Lust or Love?

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Yesterday was a very revealing day to me. It told me something about human emotions especially when it comes to matters of the heart.When the wisest man that ever lived said one of the things that defy explanation to him was the way of a man with a maid, he must have forgotten that its a two way equation; the way of the maid with the man as well!

Actually am baffled with the assumptions People usually have about relationships. Especially when a young man and a woman are seeing each other often. The next thing that will be playing on their minds is, “Maybe he will ask me out” “Am sure that girl is falling for me” etc. Well that is not what i want to dwell on, but on the thin line in between love and lust.

I met this young Lady about 4 years ago in School, a next door neighbor. We see regularly, chat together and keep each other company occasionally. Just a very regular relationship in such a school environment or so i thought. Well, Unfortunately she had to leave school to do her undergraduate outside the country and we lost touch until mid last year when i met her online. We just chatted briefly, said she was married with kids and that was the end or so i thought. Yesterday, i met her online again exchanged pleasantries and then she dropped the bombshell that had me thinking till now.
She said till now, she has not found anybody like me, that didn’t really get me. What got me was that, she claimed to have loved me then, but that i rejected her! And she held that in her mind all these years! And i can remember vividly the last night i was with her;a night where passion almost enveloped us but for God’s mercy. And i left town the next day to avoid getting entangled and she travelled that week as well. And not for once did it ever occur to me that i want to date her or go out with her in anyway whatsoever. And she herself never raised or suggested it in any form either subtle or flagrant.

And last night i was thinking, where is the line of demarcation between lust and love? Or perhaps, is this lust or love in operation? We got chatting for quite a while and she later called me. But one thing i was able to decipher out of our conversation was an underlying lust masked as love. (Maybe my assumptions). But it was so strong. I could feel its pulsating power at work even across the distance between us, across the time that has separated us all these years, its potency,at its peak, like a pot of boiling water. Its heat searing and scotching like a volcanic lava consuming anything that dares stand in its way. And i asked myself again, is this lust or love?

Am not trying to be a Saint and i will never attempt to be one. Its just a pity when People look at me like a saint or assume am as innocent as a baby.But babies are not innocent when you get privy of the atrocities they commit has well when sucking their Mother’s breast. But i like to be real with myself. Especially when it comes to matters of the heart, i like telling myself the home truth to avoid getting unnecessarily mired in a quagmire.

But, i wonder why people will equate lust with love or why people tend to think along that line. Probably, the lines are so blurred into one another that a clear cut distinction can’t be made but i don’t want to believe that is the case. I believe its about our value system. What we hold dear and cherish. Its about us as individuals, what we see in ourselves that no other can see in us. Our fundamental identity and understanding about ourselves, not tied to another person. Even though, emotions can blunt out all logic and reasoning, i believe it can be mastered well enough for us not to be overwhelmed at critical moments in our lives.

Yes it may be a thin line, but thin enough to differentiate between life and death.

PINK ACCOUNT

Recently, Bank Phb launched the Pink Account for women. And I find it quite interesting and curious!

But I have a question, why women and not men? It sounds to me to be a feminine issue here. Why the entire hullabaloo on women saving, having an account, etc?! I personally find it amusing and at the same time disquieting. Access Bank also has an account call GEM for women only, and a finance house also had an account, a mutual funds for women. And am wondering, what’s the problem?! To BankPHB, Pink Account is more than a product. It is a special platform for Women Banking, the platform that shall carry many future initiatives from BankPHB, on special banking services for women to enable them to live and enjoy a good life.

The benefit that was stated by Bank PHB includes;

1. Financing for baby care products. This will afford the expectant mother, the opportunity to acquire all the necessary and top quality baby products from MotherCare.  These items include baby cot, sterilizing equipment, car seat, etc. This package is from N24, 000 monthly (for 12 months) and there are three packages available for her to choose from.
2. Financing to enable the woman acquire kitchen appliances like deep freezer, micro wave oven, gas cooker, washing machine, etc  or have a total kitchen makeover with top class kitchen cabinets designed to her taste. This package is from N14, 000 monthly (for 12 months) and there is an option of choosing a total kitchen makeover or selecting the appliances.
3. Jewelry Financing: Every woman knows good quality jewelry last forever and can be passed on from generation to generation. Our jewelry package will enable the modern woman acquire valuable jewelry that will dazzle like gold, diamonds and gemstones. The woman can pick whatever jewelry she wants from our partner stores with a minimum value of N150,000 and pay back over a period of 12 months.
4. Discount on Fashion and Beauty items: Each Pink account holder will enjoy instant discount (up to 20%) from our Partner stores for fashion and beauty items like clothes, shoes, beauty products and accessories to enhance her appearance.
5. Pink Card and Cheque Book: Each account holder will also get a Pink Discount card and Cheque books.

Now, all these benefits are fantastic and mouth watering I must say! But I am not been chauvinistic here, but I can’t help wondering, has all the accounts in the different banks till date being for men only? Or banks are now targeting gender based accounts? It’s a question that I need some answers to please.

In as much as it’s a good thing, but I think the banks are treading on an unfair ground. Come to think of it, if it had been the other way round, won’t we be hearing the shout of marginalization! Women Empowerment! Victimization! ETC! Looking at the benefits stated here, it’s clear who the target is even amongst the women, the upwardly mobile corporate woman! Where is the Market woman? Where is the young average woman who this does not ideally appeal too? The young woman, trying to earn a living?

I think, there are some gray areas that need to be looked at, and the need to downplay the feminist tone about the accounts. Women empowerment is good, but let’s not take it too far.

Old Testament; A Fairy Tale?

It seems the world would never get tired of trying to dismiss God from the realities of life. It amazes me the extent people go to discredit the scriptures and to ascertain that they are mere objects on the face of the earh with no destination and future what so ever. Anway, People are entitled to their opinions, that’s why i an sharing this on my blog today.Lets sit down and read!

But why?

It’s with anger and shock that I read the newspaper account of how police shot and killed a young promising man at a checkpoint in Agbor,at the Ika Local Government Area of Delta state. Not only that, that medical personnel refused to attend to him for about 5 hours till he gave up the ghost! What country is this!

Its a Season of Change!

I have followed with interest, the recent event that happened between Miss Uzoma Okere and Rear Admiral Harry Arogundade and his boys. And i must say i am really impressed the way the incident has been handled by the media, government, civil groups and everybody. Kudos!

In as much as people are tooting that its because of the daughter of who she is, ( She is the daughter of the Sergeant at Arms in the national Assembly) that she is receiving attention, i beg to disagree. She is capable enough to create a storm in a tea cup! I believe she will receive justice and this silly anomaly of men in uniform will be curtailed to the barest minimum. Just read, that the Rear Admiral and his goons have been summoned to Abuja by the Defence Headquarters over the incident. I believe he won’t  go unpunished.

Governor Adams Oshiomole was yesterday sworn into office as the Governor of Edo State after a year plus of Legal tussle to claim his mandate. Its an hard earned victory for him and the people of Edo State. And a  final signal to PDP that the era of installation has been done with. People are now waking up to the consciousness of what the law can do. Especially if you are on the right.

Its a new season indeed for our political  parties and our consciousness as well. A change in our perception of do or die politics to every one is a winner politics.

Also, i must commend the Lagos State government for banning the use of sirens in Lagos. I must say its a welcome development. Its high time the wailers on our streets be sent packing! And for sanity to return to our roads.

Indeed yes we can!

What’s Wrong Been a Virgin?

I had an interesting discussion with a neighbor friend yesterday, and it bordered on sex and women. He has this believe that every lady wants a man who will be having sex with her on a regular basis and that no lady can remain a virgin till marriage.

It’s quite a weird thinking, skewered i must say. Of course i told him his argument was baseless and lacks merit but he believes he is right. That tells me something about the mindset some people actually carry around when it comes to sex and relationship. Some believe they can’t be in a relationship and not have active sex with their partner. While others differ on it. Some don’t even need to be in a relationship before they have sex with anybody they fancy just like that my friend.

What Does the Obama Victory Translate to for Africans?

Barack Obama is now the President – Elect of the United States. As I said in my earlier postings, it’s a victory for the peoples of the world and not the United States alone. But, there is a pertinent issue that comes to the fore with this victory. And a particular question leapt into my mind while thinking of it. And this is the question; what does the victory translate to for the African Continent?

The President of our nation, Alhaji Umar Yar’Adua congratulated the President Elect and said, “ I look forward to even more bilateral relations between Nigeria and the US and more productive partnership between Africa and the US in the quest for a more stable, secure, just and equitable world”. The President of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe said, “African continent would look forward to a fruitful relationship with the US as part of the gains of the Obama Presidency. Africa today stands proud of your achievements, can only but look forward to a fruitful working relationship”

So what point am I trying to make,

• · How do the African people understand this?
• · Does it mean more liberal entrance into the US?
• · Does it mean more consideration of African issues on the International scene?
• · More aid? More funds?
• · Does it mean the Kenyan people become Africa Leaders?
• · Does it mean his family automatically qualifies as regular visitors to the White House?

Starting from his family in Kenya, they organized a press conference in their village on Wednesday, am sure to let the world know he is their blood. But we must not forget that they are his Step Sisters and Brothers and his Grandma. Do they have a robust relationship together? Have they ever attempted to reach out to him or him to them?

Will human trafficking stop with a black man in the white house? Will the US borders be more open to foreigners’ pouring in like water torrents? Especially blacks? Even, if possible, does that not translate to racism of some sort?

Kenya declared a public holiday for Obama; does that mean every year public holiday will be declared? Kenya is just recovering from a terrible nightmare of political upheaval, so does it mean a saner society? Or does it make them, the number one country in Africa?

The questions will keep pouring out and the answers………………

But the truth is, we should expect the best actually from the US for it’s a new era in world history. But we need to address ourselves and define what we want as a continent. Moreorless charting a new course for ourselves forgetting the past experience we have had and looking forward to a glorious future for the African Continent.

WE SHALL BE GIANTS!!

Its know longer news that Barack Obama won the US Presidential Elections on Tuesday, 4th of November. It was a victory unprecedented in the history of the world. What makes it so? Is it because he is black? or What? The answer is simply this;

Its a new dawn in our history, the change in the hearts and minds of people all over the world, the freedom to be and do anything we desire, backed up by hope to dream and the determination to
go all the way to achieve our dreams and desires has been rekindled with this victory.

This victory of Barack Obama at the election is not for the Democratic Party alone nor for the United States of America. Its a victory for the “Peoples” of the whole world, Blacks, Asians, Latinos, Arabs etc. People with a dream, with a vision, a desire to be who they trully want to be. The renowned hip hop artist, Puff Daddy while been interview by CNN when the results where announced said “…. i can now tell my son to be the President of the United States.” Its not a dream far away, its the realisation of its possibility with the emergence of Barack Obama, an African – American of first generation, a Kenyan, as the President – elect of the United States.

It reminds me of the words of the great Sage, the best educationist Nigeria has ever had, the Late Dr. Tai Solarin, he said;

We can become whatever we choose to be;

No Kings, no Lords, no knaves can say us nay,

For we believe that man, is a potential Doctor, or Lawyer

or Crook or Dwarf or Giant,

Whichever he sets his mind to be,

We shall be Giants,

And therefore  we shall work,

And work,and work, and work,

Even if we must work,

Work our fingers to the bone,

So may it be!

So folks! Yes we can! We can be all we want to be in life! Its all about the Vision, the Courage and the Tenacity to be who we want to be. So i say congratulations to you all, for the dawn of a new era!

Its Time!

Yeah its time! Time to wake up from lethargy and start writing my thoughts down.

Time to take responsibility for my actions and inactions.

Time to take the step of decision that acts as a catalyst to greater things that is to come.

Time to create a change, a lifetime change.

Its all about the courage, the tenacity and the vision.

Its time indeed!