STANDING WITH ME

I was thinking this morning..... As we ended the year 2024 and entered a new year 2025, many were engaged in both thanksgiving and celebrating in divers ways. While it may have been quiet for some, many made memories they would cherish for a long time.

On the 1st of January 2025, my colleague and friend, IBB, bowed out of active service and invited us to a thanksgiving service to commemorate the auspicious occasion and his birthday. At the close of the service, everyone gathered around to congratulate him on the milestones. With wide smiles, he acknowledged everyone and also took both group and individual photos. He did so to keep a memory of the moment everyone was standing with him.

Also, during the festive period, many took time out to visit Amusement and Nature Parks. At one of the Nature Parks, I observed people relaxing and enjoying the gifts of nature. As they did, they kept their phones busy taking photos of themselves standing with Nature.

Both literally and figuratively, it is easier to stand for extended periods when one is moving forward than when one is in one position. Remember Abiola and June 12? It took just two years of no progress for those shouting, 'On June 12, we stand' to sit down and eventually sleep on June 12. Similarly, 'On your mandate, we stand. On your mandate, we stand,' is still relevant because the owner of the mandate is in power.

There are too many people who do not know what they stand for. They have no principle or ideology they stand for. They are easily swayed like the proverbial reed. They are called fair-weather friends because they only stand with you when things are good. They jump ship and squat if it doesn't favour them.

As we go through 2025, there will be times when we will worry and have doubts about our dreams and expectations. We may even face tumultuous circumstances that will make us afraid. At times like these, we will need friends and family that will stand with us, but las las, all we need is the assurance that God is standing with us. Romans 8:31.

Congratulations and happy retirement, my friend. God is standing with you.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

THE FOOTPRINTS OF LIFE

 

I was thinking this morning.... It was the last day of 2024, and I decided to visit a couple of project sites at work to be sure all was going okay. I was referred to the stand-in engineer, Engr Sanni, at one of the sites since the chief engineer I was familiar with had gone on holiday. I sent for Engr Sanni to see me. When he arrived, I asked him how things were going.

He gave me a brief and assured me all was fine. I pointed out a few observations and turned to leave. 'Sir, you look and sound familiar,' Engr Sanni said and then asked, 'Please, what's your name?' When I told him my name, he smiled and said, 'I said it. You were my teacher many years ago at Bonny National Grammar School (BNGS) during your service year. When I first heard your voice, I suspected it was you. My name is Sanni'

I leaned in to scan his face again. Wow! It was truly Sanni, the boy from the North, whose father was a big trader in Bonny in 1991. The father had employed me to take his son extra mural studies and make sure he passed his WASC. Today, that same Sanni is an engineer.

Thirty-three years ago, I arrived on this island called Bonny, with nothing but dreams and energy to impact lives. I did my all to give the young and impressionable men at BNGS a shot at being successful in life. I hardly thought about what the future holds, but I knew that whatever I did then would speak sometime in the future.

Student Sanni becoming Engr Sanni is one of those stories. Arriving in 2025 is like arriving on a fresh island. Whatever you do today and for the rest of 2025 will leave footprints in the sand of time. The footprints will either be heading in the right direction or the wrong way. Wherever it leads can be traced to you. When those who crossed your path in the past hear your voice in the future, will they celebrate the reunion or avoid you?

Be intentional about what you do this year. The seeds you sow this year will become fruits in the years ahead. What fruit will it be? Ecclesiastes 11:1 - Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy New Year!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

WHEN I REMEMBER 2024

 

I was thinking this morning..... the last Sunday of 2024. Wow! It's already the end of another year, just like that. While reflecting on the past 362 days and how tough the year had been, I couldn't but recall past difficult seasons that were unforgettable in my growing up years. Specific events in the way we adjusted to life in the past had become symbolic landmarks of tough times in my life.

During our growing up years, we ate together as children and did not have the luxury of each child having a piece of meat or fish to himself or herself. We shared, most times, two persons to a piece. I was always paired with my elder brother. One austere fish those days was the Sole fish (which is called 'Ebolibo' in Itsekiri). The fish is fleshy on the top side, with virtually no flesh at the bottom. My smart brother will trick me that to ensure equality, he will eat the top side while I eat the bottom. It was only after he had enjoyed 95% of the fish that I realised that there was nothing left for me. From that personal experience, Ebolibo fish became a symbol of oppression for me. When I remember the Sole fish (Ebolibo), I think of nothing but oppression.

We survived long spells of lack in those days. If my parents were to feed all seven of us, then they must be creative. It was the creativity that resulted in the dish we called Benco.' Benco is a combination of leftover rice and beans, cooked with palm oil without protein. Benco was a common meal in our home in tough times. To date, when I remember Benco, I remember what poverty tastes like.

Oh, Alakpa! Jokingly called 'Alas' by my mum. Alakpa is a soup of light stew with a little okro. It originated from a deep lack when all else had failed to raise the money to cook fresh soup. When water is added to the leftover stew and mixed with cooked okro, Alakpa is born. My siblings and I hated this meal, but unless we wanted to go to bed hungry, we had to eat it. In the words of my brother, Alakpa is a very painful meal. I remember Alakpa in a painful way.

When you look back at 2024, what do you remember? Pain or joy? Whichever way 2024 has turned out for you, just know that this too shall turn to you for a testimony (Luke 21:13). For me I align with the words of the 1992 song of Shirley Ceaser titled 'I remember mama.' Despite the highs and lows, the successes and disappointments, I remember 2024 in a happy way.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy last Sunday of 2024!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

DEM NO BUY FOR ME

 

I was thinking this morning..... It's that season of the year to take a much desired rest and enjoy the fruits of the seeds we've been sowing since January. Different people enjoy their fruits in diverse ways. While those with means go on family vacation or as a mimimum, solocation, others struggling to make ends meet, are forced to enjoy staycation.

For us in Warri of those days, Christmas season was not only an opportunity to acquire new clothes and shoes, but also a time to eat rice and chicken. Not having new clothes and a pair of shoes for Christmas was the worst feeling any child could have.

On a particular Christmas after I became a teenager, a group of children stopped by our compound at Ogboru during their Christmas pilgrimage journey from house to house. After greeting us Happy Christmas, they looked up to us like the lame man at the Beautiful Gate looked to Peter and John for alms. We noticed one of the children had no shoes on. He was the only one without shoes. Thinking that he probably had lost his shoes after eating too much rice, we asked him where his shoes were. In response to our question, with his head bowed and in a soft and depressed tone, he said, 'Dem no buy for me.'

The answer of that innocent little boy has been living rent-free in my head for over 40 years. He had desired to have a pair of shoes like his friends, but his parents couldn't afford it. Nevertheless, not having a pair of shoes could not stop the little boy from joining his friends on the pilgrimage. He made up his mind to despise the shame of not having shoes like his friends. He decided that shoes or no shoes, he would enjoy his Christmas.

'Dem no buy for me,' has become my poignant reminder yearly that there are many children out there whose parents can't afford to get the very basic things required to have a memorable Christmas. Christmas is a time to share. Share your material blessings and share love. Share smiles, hugs, and nice words. If you do not have enough for your family, do not despair. Enjoy this Christmas like that little boy without shoes. Be joyful. Proverbs 17:22.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Merry Christmas!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

IT'S CONFUSING ME

 

I was thinking this morning.... On Tuesday, a number of Nigerian mainstream media reported how the Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, struggled to pronounce N605 billion figure while presenting the 2025 budget before the Edo House of Assembly. Punch Newspaper had penned the governor's gaffe, “The Edo State 2025 Appropriation Bill of 6 billion… 650… 605 billion… 76 thou… 76 million… “Let me take it again. 506 billion… 605 billion… sorry… 776 billion… sorry, it’s confusing me.”

As I watched the video, I could not fathom which part of the figures was so difficult to call out, the billions or the millions? How can a governor who struggles to understand figures be able to understand an audit report of how the money will be spent. Truly, it's confusing me.

Days later, we saw Uduak Udo, an aide to Senator Godswill Akpabio congratulating Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state over the passing of the governor's wife. The man lost his wife, and you are congratulating him. Was he really congratulating the governor, or did he mean to say condolence or commiserate? Abeg, it's confusing me.

That same week, Naira started appreciating and gained over N250 in 3 days. Many financial analysts attributed the gains to the launch of the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS) by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and concluded that better days are ahead. Before I could even raise N1500 to buy one dollar, naira had crashed to a worse state than before the gains. What kind of financial system do we have in Nigeria? Why is the Naira so weak, like over ripe dodo? Abeg, it's confusing me.

What I don't understand is that in the midst of strangulating economic situations, Nigerians still found time to catch cruise about Okpebholo and Uduak. I used to agree with the Warri proverb that says, 'Na person wey never see problem dey use English pray.' Now I know it doesn't apply to Nigerians of today. Despite the overwhelming challenges, they are still praying in King's English. How so? Me I no know because it's confusing me.

Thank God for 1 Cor 14:33 that says “For God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.” May confusion not happen to us.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

THE 23RD PSALM OF WEYMEY

I was thinking this morning....  It was the year 2001, and I already knew that the Lord was my shepherd. I was sure lying in green pastures because He had seen me through school and gave me a job. The only want I had at the time was for a good wife. It felt like the right time. Though I was just over 30 years old, I sure looked like 23.

The Lord kept leading me by many calm waters but not to the deep 'dambadamba,' the pond in Warri, where boys gather to exhibit their truancy. Rather, He led me by the still waters of the swimming pool of Shell Club Ogunu, Warri, where I had my first shot at giving my psalms to a damsel that had caught my attention. Though I can't exactly remember what I said to the damsel, I know it read like Psalms 23.

The wooing process was initially rocky, making me feel like I was walking through the valley of the shadow of death. I made up my mind not to fear any bouncing. After all, like we say in Warri, 'all die, na die.' With God by my side, conforted by his blessings, I forged on. After months of follow-up and toasting, she finally said yes, putting springs on my feet like that of Michael Jordan wearing jersey No 23.

By December of that year, the wedding day finally came. The Lord had prepared a large table before us in the presence of our detractors and naysayers. As the pastor joined us in holy matrimony and anointed our heads with oil, I heard these words, 'According to this time, it shall be said of me, what hath God wrought?' As I mused on those words, I found out they were from Numbers 23:23.

Since that day, by the help of Baba God, our cup has been running over with goodness and mercy following us. Some have said that our favours and blessings have been nothing but classic ojoro, but we know it is God at work. It's 23 years today since we said, 'I do', and it's all unfolded like the Jim Carrey movie titled 'The Number 23.'

In God's presence, our love will forever hover. And we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Through joys and tears, our joys have forever been paired. From sunrise to sunset, our hearts beat as one. So many years of love and laughter shared. Yes, a good number of years and that number is 23.

Celebrating 23 years, and many more.

Happy 23rd Anniversary to us!

God's got our back.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

I NO GO GREE, I NO GO GREE

I was thinking this morning.... It was a cool Saturday morning a few weeks ago. I had been approached by a leader in the organisation I belonged to discuss how to handle the issue of the return of a member to the group after resigning a couple of years ago. What started as a quiet conversation soon got intensed due to our diametrically opposed viewpoints. The room's tranquil atmosphere was disrupted by the heated discussion between myself and this leader. Our voices, usually filled with warmth and compassion, were now laced with conviction and concern.

"We can’t simply welcome him back with open arms," he emphasized, his brow furrowed. I immediately countered, "But we preach forgiveness. If he has genuinely repented, we must extend grace and restore his privileges." The leader's expression remained stern. "Privileges are earned, not handed out like candy," he said. At this point, my voice rose. "E kill person? What exactly is the problem?" I pushed back in frustration.

As the debate raged on, I realised it had shifted from a conversation to an argument. Neither of us was ready to shift our grounds. It seemed we were in a competition to win the argument even as we exchanged determined glances.

At this point, I recalled the words I read in the book 'How To Become A People Magnet.' It says that when you argue to win, you lose your opponent's sympathy. No one really wins an argument. Someone also said recently that communicating is one thing, but your tone while communicating is everything. With that realisation, I pulled back and ended the conversation.

Life should be simple. I no go gree, I no go gree, na im dey tear shirt. My young wife's favourite proverb also comes to mind. She will always say, 'Na person wey argue with King, na im dey kneel down for long.' Time has taught me to avoid engaging in trivial or unnecessary conflicts. Your strength surpasses such trivial battles. True victory isn't just about winning fights and arguments. Winning a fight does not define your worth; you are genuinely valuable. Know this and know peace. Remember Romans 12:18.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey