HEARTLESS

 

I was thinking this morning.... about how heartless we have become as a people. Like many Nigerians, I watched the short clip of Nigeria Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi giving a speech during the funeral of the late Chief of Army Staff and 10 other military officers, and didn't know what to think. The Minister while reading from a script, said 'the President wish to express his great displeasure ..... and heartless felt condolences to all the bereaved families.' While many saw the statement as a shocking grammatical blunder, I disagreed and said 'oga, no mind them. I believe you.'

I believed him because on Monday, the news headline was 'Over 100 killed in Benue as militia gangs sack four Council Wards in Katsina-Ala LGA' but no word from the government. Then on Tuesday yet another tragedy with the headlines 'Suspected herdsmen attack Jos, kill 19 persons.' Again no comment. But when on Wednesday, there was an unfortunate boat mishap between Niger and Kebbi states, the government spokesman surfaced saying 'The president offered his heartfelt condolences to the families of those affected by this tragedy.' Like seriously? Surely, it must be a heartless felt condolence.

My worry is not so much as the failure of the government, but how Nigerians are becoming heartless. Last Sunday a Nigerian soldier had flagged down a car at Eleme Junction in Port Harcourt and begged him for a lift to Ikot Abasi. On their way he shot the driver dead and stole his car. Abasi mbok! Days later, a young man at Oleh, Delta state was arrested for killing his twin brother for ritual purposes. What's going on? What have we become?

Now that both men have been arrested, I am sure they will beg for forgiveness and say to the relatives of the deceased 'Please accept my condolence, yes my heartless felt condolence.'

We must have genuine sympathy, brotherly love and a tender heart (1st Peter 3:8). It is only then we can express our heartfelt condolences rather than a heartless felt condolence.

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

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

FREE YOUR MIND

 

I was thinking this morning.... while listening to the radio on my way to work last Wednesday, there was a sports report quoting the coach of the Nigeria Basktetball team saying 'You don't prove yourself on paper, you have the court to do that.' For a split second, I got confused if the statement was about sport or the law.

If the court is the place where law cases are heard and decided, what will the basketballers be doing there? Then like a double swinging door, similar to that you find in 'ogoro or tombo bar' in Warri, my mind swung in the opposite direction and I realised that the court is also where they play the game of tennis and basketball.

As I stepped out of the car, carrying my briefcase, I thought, the dictionary says a 'Brief' is the instructions to a barrister while a 'Case' is statement of the facts in a trial, esp. the argument of one side. Why then is a 'Briefcase' not a legal instruction that is a statement of facts? At this point, I advise myself saying 'Wemo, free your mind.'

Because you are a lawyer does not mean when you hear the words 'court', 'brief' and 'case', you think only of law. Free your mind. Those words including 'sentence', 'bar' and 'bench' means different things at different times. Likewise, that you were trained or grew up having one perspective does not mean there are no other perspectives. Free your mind. If only we can allow our mind to swing on a hinge, then we will see things from another perspective and accommodate other opinions and positions.

It is on this basis that I say to the AG of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, 'free your mind and you will realise that open grazing is not the same as spare parts business.' Luke 24:45 says 'Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.' May God open our minds to know the truth in all situations.

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

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

ANYTHING FOR THE KIDS

 

I was thinking this morning..... about our kids and what the future holds for them in Nigeria. Watching the 1988 American romantic comedy film 'Coming to America' starring Eddie Murphy, back in those days, one scene like many others stuck in my subconscious till date. It was a discussion between Lisa McDowell and Darryl Jenks, the guy with the greasy hair who was competing with Akeem to win the love of Lisa. Lisa had said to Darryl 'The other day at the rally, somebody stuffed a large amount of cash into one of the collection boxes. You wouldn't happen to know who that was, would you?' Darryl hesitated and muttered 'Well I..' Before he could finish, Lisa cut in excitedly and said 'I thought it was you.' Darryl quickly stole the glory and responded smiling 'You know me, anything for the kids.' Cut!

Back to present day. I was at home last Tuesday morning when my door bell rang. When my wife opened the door, it was a young girl of about 11 years. She told us she had ran away from home somewhere in our Estate because she was being maltreated by her madam, who brought her to Lagos a couple of weeks ago and pleaded with us to take her back to her father in Benin city. Though I later found out that sections of her story were lies, I felt really sorry for her and wondered how as a people we have allowed children to be so abused and dehumanised. I was still on this when I read the news of Yoruba actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, facing a five-count charge of alleged rape and sexual assault on a minor. Na wa o! What can we do to protect children from molestation? There must be something. Abeg, anything for the kids.

Iniubong (Hiny) Umoren, the young job seeker, brutally murdered in her prime in Uyo was someone's child, yet the society watched as savage serial killer, Uduak Akpan lived amongst us like a normal human being. There are strong suspicions that he may be an agent for ritualists or part of a crime ring that specialises in human organ trade. Whichever it was, how did we get here? Who will protect the children of Nigeria? You may be asking, 'what can I do?' Really, I don't know, all I can say is, anything for the kids.

As we prepare to celebrate yet another World Children's Day on May 27 (11 days from today) with the theme 'Investing in our future means investing in our children,' we need to deeply reflect on how we can invest in our children. Is it by sending them to expensive schools or by spending quality family time with them? Maybe, it means to invest in them morally and spiritually. In Warri, we will say 'all join.' But as for me with apologies to Darryl, I will say 'you know me, anything for the kids.' My prayer is that God will contend with those who contend with us and save our children (Isaiah 49:25b). I am pleading, invest in the future of your kids. Yes, anything for the kids.

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

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

OUR DANCING IGNORANCE

 

I was thinking this morning... I recently recalled one experience from my childhood days in Warri. During the long holidays when there was no vacation to go to and no toys to play with, the boys in adjoining 'yards' come together to seek out ways to have fun and raise funds. One way we did this then was to dance 'Ulaga.' Ulaga is a masquerade of sort where a kid is covered waist down with raffia and others play drum made from cut-out Bounvita tin and rubber. They dance for adults who in turn appreciate them with money which was then used to buy football. Different Ulaga groups move from one street to another impressing potential customers. The highlight of any Ulaga outing is when they cross path with another Ulaga. Rather than say hi and move along, it usually results in a dance challenge. That challenge is kicked off with the song 'Ulaga kilede mo, o de mo. Eyibo eh, e de mo. Ulaga want to challenge. E de mo.' Then the drum kicks in 'kpem gbu, kpem gbu, kpemgbem gbu, kpem gbu...' Both Ulagas dance facing each other while their supporters drum and cheer. The best dancer carries the day and holds the bragging right till they meet gain.

As I smiled, I imagined how naive and foolish we sometimes were. What is the origin of Ulaga? The song we sang, what language was it? What did it mean? I had absolutely no idea, but just joined other boys to play. Thank God we did not die in our ignorance. Many times we've done things in the past, that years later we look back and wonder like Steve Urkel in the American comedy, 'Family Matters' of the 1990s, saying 'Did I do that?'.

Ignorance, they say is bliss, but it can also be destructive if we revel in it. When I consider the insecurity in Nigeria and how many are feeding and supporting the violence, I conclude that it is nothing but motivated ignorance or ignorance on steroids. We must challenge ourselves to come out of ignorance to save our lives and country. Acts 17:30 'Truly, the times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.' Ignorance or pretending to be ignorant is killing our nation. We must repent.

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

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

LIFE IS ECONOMICS

 

I was thinking this morning.... about life again. It's no longer news that India that was producing Covid vaccine for the world and making huge profits has become the epicentre of Covid-19 with thousands dying daily. That's a big loss. Back home, Nigeria that we all thought was making progress against Boko Haram early in the life of this administration has become the playground of terrorists placing the nation next only to Afghanistan and Yemen. The killings in the north, south, east and west is simply mind numbing. It seems there is a battle between evil and good for the soul of Nigeria. As I considered it deeply I remembered a saying I heard recently that 'Life is economics - A natural system of profit and loss.'

I still had this thought in my head when I returned home last Monday to read about the sudden death of the vice chairman of our Estate Association. It was a shocking and painful loss because he was part of the association's meeting two days earlier and even gave the closing remarks. He was a man of peace and a bridge builder. We appreciated his volunteering to serve as great gain for the estate and were still celebrating him when he died. What a loss! As I reflected on this, I shook my head and agreed with the saying that 'Life is economics - A natural system of profit and loss.'

'Is life really economics?' In my sojourn on earth to date, I have enjoyed seasons of profits but have also had a fair share of losses. I did School certificate exams and my results were seized for a season while others were released. I wanted to study Medicine, but fell short and ended up with Microbiology. On graduation, I applied to and did multiple interviews with multinational organisations but no luck. I ended up as a contract staff for 10 years. Many other losses came but the profits defined my life. Truly, 'Life is economics - A natural system of profit and loss.'

Yes, we lose some and gain some. The losses humble us and teach us a lesson or two about life. Losses may also be God's way of keeping us on the right path. However, our prayer is that we do not experience an irreversible loss or a loss that swallows up the gains and defines the rest of our life. Yes, life is natural system of profit and loss, but sometimes you have to lose one thing to gain something better. Even death sometimes could be gainful. Philippians 1:21 says 'For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' Let the profits define your life and not the losses.

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday. Adieu Pastor Bolaji. 

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

WHAT MANNER OF CELEBRATION?

 

I was thinking this morning..... about celebration. Yesterday, I was at the 50th birthday celebration of a friend and wife of a colleague. We all gathered to welcome her to the 5th Floor with pump and pageantry. Where I sat admiring the aso-ebi ladies and gentlemen, I remembered my early years in Warri when we celebrated birthdays, sorry, 'bydays.' The celebration was on a different level. While I was too young to remember my first birthday groove, I can remember a thing or two of my 10th in 1980 with the aid of that black and white 'pishure.' There was no cake, just a big bowl of rice with bottled Coca-Cola and Fanta standing guard on both sides. We gather behind the table and a click of the pinhole camera signals the beginning of wackies. Chai! Dat na celebration.

Three days earlier, I saw myself attending the 5th Year Remembrance Thanksgiving Service of my late uncle. Yes, it was a sombre mood through the service, but immediately after, we gathered to wine and dine. The beautifully decorated venue and dressed guests was not because we are happy he died but because he lived a good life that blessed so many. As I dug into the local delta delicacy, owo and starch and washed it down with sparkling grape juice, I nodded my head and said, this too is celebration.

On my way to the birthday celebration, there were others going for a different celebration, this time the joining in holy matrimony. Having waited so long for a life partner, when 'he that eventually findeth' goes all out to splash cash as much as they do colours, dancing azonto across the hall, please do not beef him. That too na celebration.

There are other celebrations like graduation, ordination, house warming etc., but one celebration that is strange and Nicodemously being introduced to society is 'Divorce Celebration.' Imagine my shock when I saw the invite put out by the Ghanaian couple identified as Nana Sekyere and Evelyne Korateng inviting people to celebrate with them following their divorce. When I thought that was foreign, last weekend photos emerged of a Nigerian lady, Dr Ikea Bello who threw a mini party to celebrate her divorce with a customized cake after parting ways with her husband. In the pictures, the latest divorcee in town is seen rocking a red dress. She also got herself a customized cake with the inscriptions, “I do, I did, I’m done. Divorced at last.”

While some will shout abomination, a deep thinker reflecting on how abuse and violence are rocking many marriages with some not getting out alive, they will grace such occasions, lift up their glasses to a toast and say 'this too na celebration.' Irrespective of what you are celebrating, enjoy, but keep in mind the words of Revelation 19:9 that says 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' For that shall be the mother of all celebration.

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

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

WAHALA ON PARADE

 

I was thinking this morning.... about Nigeria and our home grown problems which we refer to as wahala. Like every nation of the world, Nigeria faces challenges that are unique to us, similar to our uniquely Nigerian slangs. One of such slangs that has gained ascendancy in the last few months is the 'wahala be like...' slang

The last two weeks has been a mentally difficult period for Nigerians. Why So? The Yorubas will say 'wahala o ti poju.' After a relatively peaceful Easter celebrations, we woke up on Monday 5th April with the news of gunmen attacking a prison facility and police command centre in the city of Owerri, Imo state, destroying part of the prison walls with explosives and freeing 1,844 inmates. How quickly things turn from good to bad. As I wondered, I recalled the first of the 'wahala be like..' slang that says 'wahala be like noodles, two minutes e don ready.'

I was still praying for peace in Nigeria, when on Tuesday 6th April, Nigerian activist, Aisha Yesufu was reported to have said that she is okay and ready to seek visas to visit Kano, Lagos, and Enugu States. This was in response to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s comment that should Nigeria break up, one would need a visa to come to Kano. Yes, most of us are fed up with the state of affairs in Nigeria, but not enough to fuel the break up agenda because 'wahala be like Uganda, e de easy to enter but difficult to comot.'

With wahala everywhere, the IGP has his plate full. On the 7th of April, he was in Imo state trying to find a solution to the frequent attacks on police stations, when he was sacked. I can imagine his shock thinking 'but my 3 months tenure extension is not over.' Yea right, but such is life because 'wahala be like bicycle, e no hard to start but difficult to stop.'

With high unemployment rates, inflation and ongoing insecurity, the wahala rain continued to pour. The last thing Nigeria needed was a strike. But that was exactly what happened on Thursday 8th April as the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) went on strike to protest poor working conditions and pay. The jaw-jawing was on when members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike. As the Minister was asking 'what's going on here? I responded 'wahala be like okro soup....e dey draw.'

Surely, that must be all the wahala we can have in a single week. So I thought until I listened to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, raising the alarm over Nigeria’s financial trouble and how the Federal government had to print about N60 billion to augment allocation shared to states in March. I shouted in disbelief 'what's going on in this country? I was still shouting when the March 2021 inflation rate was released to have risen to 18.17% and food inflation jumped to 22.95%, the highest in 4 years. How can the government just print money like campaign flyers and not expect Inflation?' Chai! I was about to say 'wahala dey o' but instead I said 'wahala be like naira, it is never in short supply to politicians.

Wahala here, wahala there, wahala everywhere. It doesn't matter how the wahala be, you will come out better because Psalms 34:19 says 'Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.'

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

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