For Nigeria, I Reflect!

Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Katsina, Yobe, and now, the untouchable Sokoto. Sentiments apart, these Boko Haram guys ply their trade with uncommon deligence and exquisite dexterity. Just when we thought we were bound to witness one full month without having to read of the horror of Boko Haram in our dallies, due to the Ramadan fast, we were shocked to our bone marrows and forced to forge a rethink. Many felt that Sokoto, being the reverred seat of the sultanate, was always going to be defied ofthe shenenigans and notoriety of Boko Haram, but what do we know. The madness has infiltrated the Caliphate and the chicken has finally come home to roost. Ours is a tale of a nation plagued by it's own children, blighted by it's clueless leaders, bedeviled by the sins of the past, and burdened by the expectations of it's tommorow. It trobules the mind that the menace of Boko Haram has gone on for more than a year, yet, a panacea is not even in the offing, neither is it on the horizon. Is it not foolhardy that these miscreants have remained faceless till now? However, we must not accept our ill-fate. While we can now come to terms with the perilious reality that our nation cannot protect us, we must not imbibe the age-old adage of the dark ages 'Everyman for himself, God for us all. Whoever is slow, may the devil take him'. The signs are definetly not good, but do we sit down and keep crying foul? If this charade must be halted, we have to stand up and take responsibility. If Nigeria must flourish again, then we have to instigate it. The change will surely come, the coast will definately be clear and we shall laugh again. Call me a miserable optimist, but in the Nigeria dream, I keep faith.

Poem: Sweet Captivity!

You caress my soul, and intoxicate my heart. You stole my sense of rationality, and taught me the ways of insanity. You hold me in your spell that I cannot tell. My thoughts are occupied with you, and I pant after you uncontrolably. Your stunning panache that awakens my days. My gaze is fixed upon you. My imaginations pours upon you. Yet, I love this spell, this hypnotizing of some sorts. Tighten the nuts and keep me in your sweet captivity. For in this captivity, I have found authority. My hope wears a new cloak of renewal, my dreams take on a new name called confidence. Your powers render me in tears. Keep me in your spell, for the world outside is hostile, precarious and for what it's worth, a poisoned chalice.

3 Toxic Personalities You Must Avoid!

1. The negativity committee. – You can never fail in life or love; you just produce results. It’s up to you how you interpret those results . Positive thinking is the ability to feel negative when you have to and still maintain enough hope to keep on going. You cannot tailor-make the situations in life, but you can tailor-make the attitudes to fit those situations. You must view your life through a positive lens. Instead of slapping your forehead and asking, “What was I thinking?” you must breathe and ask the more encouraging question, “What was I learning?” 2. The hoarder of pain and loss. –One of the hardest lessons in life is letting go - whether it’s guilt, anger, love or loss. Change is never easy – you fight to hold on, and you fight to let go. But often times letting go is the healthiest path forward. You’ve got to emotionally free yourself from the things that once meant a lot to you, so you can move beyond the past and the pain it brings you. Read You Can Heal Your Life. 3. The jealous competitor. – Don’t be jealous of others. Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Stop comparing your journey with everyone else’s. Your journey is YOUR journey, NOT a competition. You are in competition with one person and one person only – yourself. You are competing to be the best you can be. If you want to measure your progress, compare yourself to who you were yesterday. *MA*

Why Character Matters!

Who we are makes a difference. The way we treat others matters. The decency or indecency that fills our hearts and minds matters. Our values as expressions of what we believe and how we live our lives really does make a difference to our happiness. The traits we’ve developed over time is of no little consequence to how we feel about who we are. When we look in the mirror, it’s often our character (or lack thereof) that speaks the loudest. But not all character traits are created equal, at least not insofaras happiness is concerned. *MARCANDANGEL*

A New Nigeria Is Possible!

Despite the daunting odds and herculean task of nation building that hangs over us like a cloud, the quest for a Nigeria of our dreams is definitely feasible. Depending on what you choose to see, our country has been going through a 'darkening' period, that not only astounds the mind, but also indicates that it can't get worse. The pathetic tale of insecurity, corruption and avarice in our shore is one that does not require a rehash. From the shenenigans of the Lawal/Otedola fiasco, to the endless scourge of Boko Haram, one can see that the chicken is certainly coming home to roast. Perhaps, it won't be clutching on straws to suggest that the end ofour 'gory tales' is near. Though despondency thrives in the land, we must find a new resolve to salvage our future. Like Ngugi Thiong'O once wrote, 'Weep not, child'. It is time to dream again. It will be apt to state here that engaging in ceaseless destructive criticisms and folding our arms in reluctantcy, will not in any slightest manner, alter our fate for the better. We speak so much of the evil cabal that have held our counry to ransom for decades, yet, all we do is speak indeed. This is not an advocacy for a revolution in the mould of the Arab spring. Rather,it is time to tell ourselves the 'home truth'. Many of us have simply not been sincere enough to the Nigerian dream. The recent election in Edo state (though not entirely without blemish), lends credence to the fact that a relatively free and fair election is possible in Nigeria. This is contrary to the maxim propounded by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, when he opined that 'Even Jesus cannot conduct a free and fair election in Nigeria'. The evil cabal is a piecemeal, compared to the over 150 million Nigerians. It beggars belief how they have held us in their spell for so long. The time to wrestle back Nigeria beyond lip-service, is now!

NYSC: In Search Of A New Identity

Established on 22nd May, 1973 by the military regime of Yakubu Gowon, the NYSC scheme has since been trailed with controversies and intense debate, that has at times, threatened it's existence. For some, the scheme has outlined it's uses, and it is a sheer waste of both public funds and twelve months. Some others contend that with the recent spate of insecurity in some parts of the country, the scheme puts the lives of many teeming youths in jeopardy. Depending on who youchoose to believe, every sides to the arguement is not without an iota of reason. However, devoid of sentiments, primordial considerations and ethnic positions, the NYSC scheme is one that should be protected and preserved with every ounce of courage that we could muster. The scheme does not require an overhauling. Instead, it demands a cleansing of some sorts, a remaking of it's goal and deployment of measures to enhance it's efficiency. Some people would never had left theirstate of residence if it were not for the programme. Moreover, how do we appreciate other people's culture, language, norms and vaules, if all we know about them is based on hearsays and fictitious notions? At a time when the ties of unity that binds us as a people is losing it's grip, the NYSC scheme stands as one of the outstanding panacea to salvage the situation and avoid the impending discord. It does not require a strech of the imagination to see that the NYSC scheme brings people of diverse background together, promote national integration and enhancesocietal development. Yet, having said all that, it will be the peak of foolhardiness to turn a blind eye to the incessant dangers that corps members are exposed to in some parts of the country. Without mincing words, this tide should be nipped in the bud. Unless the state can guarantee maximum security for corps members, it will be an abberation to deploy them to those regions. Perhaps, it is sacrosanct to state here that the purging required by the NYSC scheme, begins with the cleansing of it's battered image.

NYSC: In Search Of A New Identity

Established on 22nd May, 1973 by the military regime of Yakubu Gowon, the NYSC scheme has since been trailed with controversies and intense debate, that has at times, threatened it's existence. For some, the scheme has outlined it's uses, and it is a sheer waste of both public funds and twelve months. Some others contend that with the recent spate of insecurity in some parts of the country, the scheme puts the lives of many teeming youths in jeopardy. Depending on who youchoose to believe, every sides to the arguement is not without an iota of reason. However, devoid of sentiments, primordial considerations and ethnic positions, the NYSC scheme is one that should be protected and preserved with every ounce of courage that we could muster. The scheme does not require an overhauling. Instead, it demands a cleansing of some sorts, a remaking of it's goal and deployment of measures to enhance it's efficiency. Some people would never had left theirstate of residence if it were not for the programme. Moreover, how do we appreciate other people's culture, language, norms and vaules, if all we know about them is based on hearsays and fictitious notions? At a time when the ties of unity that binds us as a people is losing it's grip, the NYSC scheme stands as one of the outstanding panacea to salvage the situation and avoid the impending discord. It does not require a strech of the imagination to see that the NYSC scheme brings people of diverse background together, promote national integration and enhancesocietal development. Yet, having said all that, it will be the peak of foolhardiness to turn a blind eye to the incessant dangers that corps members are exposed to in some parts of the country. Without mincing words, this tide should be nipped in the bud. Unless the state can guarantee maximum security for corps members, it will be an abberation to deploy them to those regions. Perhaps, it is sacrosanct to state here that the purging required by the NYSC scheme, begins with the cleansing of it's battered image.