Sunday 27 August 2017

I was thinking this morning...... about rodents and the enemies within

Rats and Enemies Within

I was thinking this morning...... about rodents and the enemies within. A friend was invited to attend a workshop at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja during the week and two days earlier the news of rodents invading the President's office had broke. He didn't know what to think. What should he wear to such an event to be protected, in the event of a sudden 'rat attack?' Should he wear his safety boots or regular brogues? Should he decide to fast the day of the program, in the event that all the food at the Villa had been contaminated by rodents? Lassa fever is real you know.

He tried to calm himself that all is well, but couldn't. His thoughts drifted to one of the headlines from BBC that says 'Rats chase returning President out of Villa.' At this point, he was becoming angry about how this unnecessary information has brought us so much ridicule and heartache. As he related his experience, I wondered how we got to this point. I recalled the words of the old cartoon, Pogo, that says "We have met the enemy and he is us.' Truly, the enemy of this government are the people running the government. How else can you explain why the SSA did not just tell Nigerians that the President will be working from home without adding the ludicrous excuse that rodents had destroyed the President's office. We have met the enemy and he is us.

Think about it, rodents will usually be most destructive from within the house. You see, there will always be rats but the problem is the rats within and not the rats without. According to my friend, for the over four hours spent at the Banquet hall of the Presidential Villa, not one rat 'waka pass' neither did anyone smell Lassa fever. Why then the unnecessary distraction about rodents in the Villa? I concluded that we have met the enemy and he is us.

I shudder thinking of how true the statement is that we are our enemies. You read reports of corporate espionage and it is usually not by anyone outside but by a staff of the organization selling out his employer. It is the rat within that is the dangerous one. Needless to mention the multiple reports of family members and friends back-stabbing their supposed loved ones. They are the rats within. Truly, we have found the enemy and he is us.

Am I surprised? No way. Psalms 41:9 had said 'Yea, mine familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.'

As I draw the curtain over my thoughts, I found out that rats are extremely social and affectionate animals and enjoy the company of other rats and humans. Yet they will destroy you by being close. How typical! Interestingly, I also discovered that without companionship, rats tend to become lonely and depressed. So  to avoid the destruction, just screen them off.

Happy Sunday.

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











Sunday 20 August 2017

I was thinking this morning....... About World Mosquito Day

World Mosquito Day

I was thinking this morning....... about mosquitoes. Yes, mosquitoes. Not because I was badly bitten  last night by mosquitoes, but because I found out that today 20th August is World Mosquito Day. Why will a day be dedicated to that tiny insect called mosquito when we do not have World Lion Day or World Elephant Day? Truly, I understand World Malaria Day, dedicated to the eradication of malaria, but can't understand World Mosquito Day, which I found out marks the historic discovery by British doctor and Nobel Prize winner Sir Ronald Ross that it is the female Anopheles mosquito that transmit malaria between humans.

I unraveled that the wily mosquito has been stalking mankind for over 210 million years and tragically still kills a child every minute until very recently. 210 million years? Why are they obsessed with man? How did we offend these mosquitoes? As I thought about this, I recalled a funny Facebook post that says 'Women already have 3 to 5 days of losing blood every month. Can't mosquitoes be considerate and focus on men?' Hmm!!! Could that explain why it is only female mosquitoes that is involved in the blood sucking business? Are they making up for the blood their human counterparts lose? It may sound funny, but it is a food for thought.

I was thinking, why is that these mosquitoes make a living by sucking the blood out of humans? If you study this characteristics very well, you will discover that these insects that are universally hated the world over are not alone in this business.

You work so hard to earn your pay. Some sneaky fellow, sometimes living in same house, arranges with some criminals to take the money off you by force. They are 'economic mosquitoes.' You've decided to be more spiritual and get close to God. Some people around you have decided to be a source of temptation to fall you. They are 'spiritual mosquitoes.'

The thing about mosquitoes, whether Anopheles, economic or spiritual, is that they are stubborn, and will stop at nothing until they suck your blood. As we celebrate World Mosquito Day, stand firm against blood suckers as Isaiah 49:26 says, 'And I will feed those that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunk with their own blood, as with sweet wine.'

Happy Sunday.

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

Sunday 13 August 2017

I was thinking this morning...... about Ozubulu Madness and CEOs


Ozubulu Madness

I was thinking this morning ...... about the Ozubulu madness where as a result of a drug-related disagreement, over 11 worshipers were cut down by a gun man while in church one fateful morning. The news of the incident stunned Nigerians and got me thinking. Why does it seem like the virus of madness is becoming an epidemic in Nigeria? It was once Niger Delta militants, then Boko Haram, then Fulani herdsmen and now Ozubulu brothers spilling blood like they do champagne on the head of a Formula One winner. Has every one in Nigeria become a Chief Executive Officer (CEO)?

What has a CEO got to do with this again? Some might be thinking. The trend of mass murder in Nigeria reminded me of an article I read in Time Magazine a while back that x-rayed the profession with the most psychopaths. According to the article, CEO is the profession with the most psychopaths followed by Lawyer and Media, while Care aid, Nurse and Therapist have the least. Now you understand where I am coming from.

Psychopath ke? Yes, psychopath, translated 'kolomental' in Warri, doesn't just mean someone who cuts you up with a chainsaw or kills 11 people in a church. Psychopath is a personality disorder that has been variously described as characterized by shallow emotions (in particular reduced fear), stress tolerance, lacking empathy, coldheartedness, lacking guilt, egocentricity, superficial character, manipulativeness, irresponsibility, impulsivity and anti-social behaviors such as such parasitic lifestyle and criminality.

Don't ask me if the conclusion by Time Magazine study that CEOs are the most psychopaths is 100% correct. For me, juxtaposing their findings and the recent events in Nigeria led me to the conclusion that most Nigerians are either CEOs. Lawyers or Media men or women and are capable of meting out the 'Ozubulu Treatment' at the slightest provocation.

Yes it is obvious that all the mass killings and kidnap cases in Nigeria point definitely to psychopathic behavior, but I am more worried about the less obvious cases. A truck broke down and blocked a major highway and for weeks it caused a traffic gridlock. Everyone stays in the traffic for hours and complains about how the next person has taken no action. You can see the lack of empathy, coldheartedness and irresponsibility in the behavior of the commercial bus drivers. These are signs of psychopathy and it may not be long before an angry driver gives the 'Ozubulu Treatment.'

We are supposed to be in a democracy where freedom of speech and association is guaranteed. A group of Nigerians with suspicious intentions are on the streets saying to the President 'Return or Resign.' The Police shot teargas at them and attacked them. No tolerance for dissenting voice, no empathy and are very impulsive, which are symptoms of a psychopath. They may not be far from
giving the protesters the 'Ozubulu Treatment.'

I know most people will either want to be CEO, Lawyer or Media man, but I beg you to encourage as many as you can influence to go into the Care industry (nursing, therapist etc) so we can have less psychopaths. As a minimum, you do not have to be a nurse to show compassion because Col 3:12 says 'Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.' We need loads of these vistues in Nigeria.

Happy Sunday.

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











Sunday 6 August 2017

I was thinking this morning ..... about blindness to irony


Blindness to Irony

I was thinking this morning ..... on my way back from work during the week, I turned on the radio and heard the news of how two men pretending to be blind beggars were arrested by security agents at Imo State University. While I was wondering why anyone will pretend to be blind when thousands of blind men and women are beseeching heaven for a miracle, I recalled a recent article by Pius Adesanmi titled 'APC: The Obstinate Journey to Shame via London.

In that piece, he had said 'If blindness to irony stopped within the ranks of APC's leadership, if it was limited to Governors, Senators, Reps, and other political figures within her ranks, I wouldn't be so worried. It would be their funeral. My worry lies in how the leadership of APC has democratized blindness to irony, especially among their followers so effectively. If irony hits you like a Dangote truck and you are unable to recognize it as a citizen, you wear that condition of ignorance like a badge of honour.'

When I read that sentence about democratization of blindness to irony, there was celebration in my cerebral hemisphere, with the immediate effect of throwing me into deep thought. 'Am I blind to irony? I asked introspectively. I thought it was only PDP that had confirmed symptoms of 'blindness to irony?' Think about it, how come our political leaders cannot uphold the true tenets of democracy, but can effectively democratize blindness to irony? We must be under a spell!

But how is this so? You do not drink alcohol nor subscribe to your friends drinking, yet you took up a job with Nigerian Breweries Limited. It is an irony. If you do not see anything wrong with your position, then you are suffering from 'blindness to irony,' but if by virtue of your position as a manager, you have influenced everyone around you to be so inclined, then you have democratized blindness to irony. Hmm!!!

You might be saying 'wetin concern Ogoni man with NEPA light?' Just be patient with me. You say you are watching your weight and decided to eat veggies in the morning, take fresh juice in the afternoon and in the evening, the heap of pounded yam and egusi soup you demolish will be a challenge for 4 regular men to handle. It is an irony. I have no problem if you are hiding to do this, but if you do this openly then you are blind to irony. It's okay if it ends there, but if you have managed to convince your spouse and children to engage in this deception, then you have democratized blindness to irony.

Interestingly, blindness to irony did not start today because Matthew 23:16 says 'woe to you, blind guides, who says, 'if anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' To me, it doesn't matter if you are pretending to be blind or you are actually blind to irony, there is nothing honourable about being blind, except of course you are blind to sin. 

Happy Sunday.

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