|
otokx (m)
|
You won't believe it; did not feel like working today so I prayed God NEPA to take and HE did. Isn't that a miracle? Well not really. For three days now the entire university campus and its environs have been thrown into darkness courtesy of an issue at the substation. My house is spared the agony of this misfortune courtesy of an inverter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
My mom's poultry and indeed others are facing challenging times. No thanks to the picketing of TOP FEEDS by labor union over poor wages. Being the foremost producer of chicken feed, the birds have reacted to the alternative by reducing their egg production by over 70% and the size is small. This our country does not encourage production at all. The infrastructure is so bad. A friend of mine told me during her last visit to Port Harcourt that such bad roads don't exist in Kaduna. Successive governments in the Niger delta have giving the excuse of rains to neglect the total overhauling of the road network. They keep saying in the dry season but nothing happens.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
Its amazing the drastic increase in the number of private cars in the Port Harcourt. Tried to beat the morning rush hour by leaving the house exactly 7am and still got caught in the hold up right from Rumuigbo By Pass up to Rumuola junction. The weather was bright and sunny. The Obi Wali By Pass Road enabled me to avoid the Rumokoro madness. On my way back from Aba Road the heavens were opened and it was one of the most torrential downpours I had seen in recent times complete with lightning. The East West road is in a very pitiable state but we thank God for Journey mercies. I suspect this rain will usher in the harmattan season. That was about 11 am, its now 3pm and the reports we get is that rival cult gangs are having a battle in the Rumuola area not very far from where our senators are having a retreat.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
The battle for supremacy is on, the rains versus harmattan and thus far the former is winning. The politics at the office is quite interesting, so also the one at church. Have decided to apply zero tolerance to human mischief, some people are very inconsiderate and its time to put a stop. The university campus is getting empty as regular students finish examinations. Went to visit some sick people at the university teaching hospital and it was a very humbling experience. Basic amenities that people take for granted in other countries are simply non - existent here. Can you imagine a teaching hospital without running water?
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
A "man of God" i know somewhere finished his tenure as a chaplain and has refused to vacate his official residence even when there is a new pastor on board. The church is now thinking of getting temporal alternate accommodation for the new chaplain that is married with four children. The former is married with no children and is staying in the 3 bedroom apartment; He no longer even comes to the church services yet the people still look. So many things gone wrong but the people don't mind as long as their God can help them with more money, carry go. That is why society is the worse for it, but there are still a select genuine few.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
The roads in Port Harcourt are so bad and the weather is not helping matters. Went to buy petrol the other day and got cheated by the attendant. Boy was i angry but there was nothing else to do than forget it. The electricity situation is getting better in the university especially as most of the regular students have gone home. My church premises was fumigated this weekend so I did not attend service. Watched a procession of catholics do corpus christi and it was another thing altogether. Different groups of people marching together singing different songs; i think it was crazy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
Politics is everywhere and I did not know it. The electricity in the university and its environs has never been so bad especially on campus. Low current, phase outtages, its like the darkness of hell has descended. Going home this days from the office is not something am looking forward. Its december and indeed a month of decision, a time to take stock of what happened throughout the year and where possible make resolutions. MTN is at its worst and no apologies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
We are in that time of the year when there is a lot of celebration; its funny that both Christians and Muslims have their holidays following each other. My sectional head has been giving some stress of late and I think its high time I took a French leave. Morale is low but am encouraging myself. The girls are not helping matters by being mysteriously absent but its ok. Traffic jam in Port Harcourt is something else, indeed the university is an ivory tower very spacious, quiet, organized and calm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
There must be a relationship between politics and violence. The former Vice Chancellor took up a political appointment as Rivers state INEC chairman some weeks ago and by yesterday, He was kidnapped from his university residence by armed men. This is sequel to the up coming local council elections; what is happening? The way our journalists carried the story was another matter, more false hoods than facts, in any case a N100 million is being demanded as ransom from the state government.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
I like experimenting by mixing up different body creams; by the way i have a dry skin. Been communicating via sms and calls with some 3/4 ladies but its only 1 that replies me constantly; thinking of shunning the rest. That will be included in the new year resolutions. Today is testimony service at church but am in front of the TV listening to Dr. Charles Stanley preaching and then the coral ridge hour. Materialism and Poverty mentality has entered our testimonies. If its not someone going abroad then its buying tear rubber motor. There are testimonies on healing but they are not in the majority so I decide to spare myself the agony and worship with people in the 1st world via satellite TV. Jesus Christ is Lord.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
The harmattan weather officially started in Port Harcourt for me today the 22 December 2007 as the night was quite cold. The sun was not too hot but the wind was quite dry; just right for my laundry. Looking forward to my bicycle rides but before then I have one or two things to tidy up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
I don't understand all this talk about 3G services by mobile phone providers. The 1G abi is it 2G that they have its something else. Its easier to call MTN lines from CELTEL with a dial. Loading GLO has not been easy since yesterday. As for RELTEL, their service seems to be affected by the Harmattan weather once its dark.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
In the spirit of the vacation mood, I have been watching the Nollywood Movie channel on TrendTV a lot and its been quite interesting. They have captured a lot of the ills of the Nigerian society which must be changed. My new year resolutions indeed seem to be increasing by the day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
Interesting the way money is projected as almost everything. Some of us have to embark on faith project the way things seem. Come and see gals best of friends snatching the opposites boy friend. A lot of girls don't do their home work well easily being deceived. Some of us Christian boys in the name of church too forget there is a time for everything. Am still collating my new year resolutions taking all these into consideration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
It appears I have not thinking highly of myself recently but not any more. Can you imagine the treatment I received at the hands of "one good girl"? I just smiled because actually I am to blame for falling my hand. Anyway as they say the best things in life are free but then the journey continues and I shall get there. The weather this morning is very romantic - "whatever that means" Good bye 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
Its now a habit for churches to declare at every 31st service, the year of this and the year of that. For my church they say 2008 is the year of infallible proofs; 2007 by the way was the year of greater glory. The type of heavy rain that fell on 31st December might be an infallible proof. The bad roads with big gullies that easily turned to rivers are something else. Switched off my phones some minutes before midnight and went to sleep; with bangers making terrible noises throughout the night.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
The worst bank in the University of Port Harcourt is Ecobank at the Choba campus. A visit there will convince you of demonic confusion. Most of the staff seem to be helpless in the face of the massive crowd that patronize them especially the teachers from another local government which collect salary. The other day I went to UBA which is at the Abuja campus and the pregnant woman there was doing dada and didi; oh goodness, gracious me. She was so slow, then when it finally got to my turn she asked me to go and change my withdrawal book that it was out dated. On reaching customer care, they told me that she should use it like that. I asked them to come and tell her which they did. That was the last week of last year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
 |
Arson
« #305 on: January 05, 2008, 10:35 PM » |
|
Was woken up from bed around 2am by a shout from my mother that they were burning her husbands car. On getting outside, the flames were already ascending unto the heavens. There had not been electricity for over 18 hours so everywhere was dark. My car was parked by the burning car so I got in and re parked it then asked my junior brother to bring water. Our neighbors, the university Imam and his wife came out with their buckets and water which we mixed with soap and put out the fire. There was a threat note on the door which revealed the identity of the arsonists as frustrated fake students who are being sent out for falsification of academic entry documents. Now my Dad is the chairman of the certificate verification committee.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
This are trying times for people in the Garden city. We were at church doing choir rehearsals when a security report came that they were shooting at garrison junction so we should break up and go to our various places of abode. It was about 8.30pm or so and there was no need for closing prayers. Last rehearsals again the same thing; had to abandon a song and find our way only this time the men of the Joint Task Force where strategically located in the various junctions by about 8.45pm and it caused terrible traffic hold ups through out the city. In fact the militants have declared a curfew of 8pm and the "bloody civilians" tired of blood are complying. See the legacy Sir,Dr,Knight Peter Odili has bequeathed to us.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
A lot of churches are embarking on prayer and fasting; some 14 days, some 21 days, am still waiting to hear 40 days. The participants try not to have long faces but their silence is quite impressive just like when your very hungry. Things are still getting into place at the office and the harmattan seems to have just started. Fresh students are all over the place trying to check out the place and trust the guys; well positioned for the kill.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
|
Praise God
« #308 on: January 12, 2008, 07:42 PM » |
|
Its been a week since those unknown students burnt my dad's car after trying unsuccessfully to burn his official residence. A lot of prayers have been offered in thanks to the almighty who is our eternal protector. Someone remarked that if B.Sc was offered for sale in Mile 1 Market for N5 million that there will be very few students left in the lecture halls and this is because paper qualification has now become an end in itself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
There was this presentation we went for in the office and it was so boring. In fact the resource people were just not good at talking though they knew the stuff well. Thank God we were connected to the Internet even at the seminar so some of us were chatting and yabbing the participants via yahoo. The hall was well air conditioned so sleep started knocking at some peoples door then someone mess and there was silence as people struggled to arrange their nose to avoid the fumes. Luckily for us the woman i suspected did the stuff started sleeping so we had some reprieve then it was tea break and I had Cake and Bournvita only to go back for a more boring part II. Looking forward to the weekend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
|
Harmattan
« #310 on: January 21, 2008, 05:01 PM » |
|
The harmattan weather actually began for 2007 actually began mid January 2008 with a terrible effect on my health. It was so cold today in Port Harcourt; everyone was happy looking corporate. Lectures officially start today but the school is full of year 1 students doing their medical registration. The roads are being renovated and am getting better every day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
I woke up feeling very funny with slight wheezing; but went to work all the same. The office was very annoying and my unit head was not making things any easy. By Midday I was having a bad asthma attack and had to call it a day. Got back home and took my medication, changed my clothes and decided against all odds to meet up some deadlines in various parts of the metropolis. Looking back now, I should never have done that but I felt it was now or never. Needless to say with all the holdup and traffic jam my breathing kept deteriorating till I was at the point of the near collapse. Ended up being carried into a nearby pharmacy for first aid which was not too helpful but at least they got me home afterwards still with breathing difficulty.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
Which suicide is not a mental case? How do you explain the use of some female lunatics as suicide bombers in Iraq? The world is surely coming to an end. Looking back now at some of my actions, I must confess that some of my actions also amounted to mental suicide. This is a year of opportunities, am under pressure like sakorzy to declare my "one and only". My health is still stabilizing and am finding it very difficult to keep to the rules of staying indoors and resting. My veins still hurt but I know they are getting healed by the almighty.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
Those boys from Nigeria sure know how to arrange a great disappointment. First I placed a bet with a friend that Nigeria will loose and we agreed 1000, then she said that we should predict the scores and take it to 2000, to which I replied 0 - 1. Match started and Nigeria scored via penalty then Ghana equalized and first half ended. A red card in the 2nd half seemed to be a guarantee that Nigeria will carry the day but alas not only did they play so badly, Ghana scored a goal 7 mins to the end making spectators of their opponents right there on the field.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
|
Flashback
« #314 on: February 08, 2008, 04:34 PM » |
|
My neighbor in the Intensive Care Unit of the Uniport Teaching Hospital was a Semi - unconscious police man who had bullets lodged in his skull by the militant attack of January 1. This man had been recently transfered to Port Harcourt and as usual the police high command did not provide any accomodation plans. This married man kept his wife in the village that he could not afford to rent a place for her and then moved in with a fellow police woman who later got pregnant for him. Now he is on the bed with drips awaiting surgery, His brothers all come around and the wife who was languishing in the villa while the police woman was enjoying the "20 - 20 naira" is the one now taking good care of him. The family members I hear are on the side of the pregnant, police woman who i hear is not at all near to this one. This is a sign of society depreciation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
Valentine day is now being celebrated by churches under various disguises and its really interesting. Here in the University, the redeemed church has an annual suya night in which the delicacy is meant to be freely shared after a show like service. This year a singles program is being done in 2 other churches downtown; one of which is going to be aired on TV. Heard that all reference to valentine in Saudi Arabia is outlawed and that by a fatwa. Anyway I think its a commercial creation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
I remembered waking up but still am in bed and its all so cold. Its sunday but am not going to church; need some quiet atmosphere to do some computer maintenance. Was able to achieve quite a bit. By afternoon our neighbor the catholic priest was back from mass and his faithful members kept bringing him gifts of food items. Pastors and priests in Nigeria are really enjoying if this scenario is repeated across the country. The harmattan breeze is strong outside.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
Am so weird I ended up spending a holiday in the Intensive Care Unit of some hospital. It was a total bed rest complete with oxygen supplement for about 6 days in an air conditioned and sometimes stinking place. The drugs were quite fattening and the nurses stories were quite educative. Was sorry for all the pretty house officers I met there; they are really confined but I guess they are earning their money. Came out of that place a changed person and my associates claimed and indeed i was fairer and fatter. My beards though overgrown did not itch because of the controlled temperature. This money hustling life is terrible, we all need a break far away from here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
This past week was spent mainly on the road for two reasons one of which includes the cybercafe. maintenance that is scheduled every last week of December was not done last year. The technical manager who was also doubling as the operations manager kept giving one excuse or the other and now in February our network has started misbehaving so I had to do a makeshift corrective maintenance. Everywhere is dusty and the indiscriminate bush burning is not making things any better. Flights to Port Harcourt are indeed down south; all canceled because of the Harmattan haze. Driving round town with the a/c is my only option as I can't afford to be sick, it was then I saw a Man driving a Hummer Jeep without a/c as he windows were all wound down. Incredible isn't it?
|
|
|
|
|
|
otokx (m)
|
Woke up this morning and did not feel like going to church, did everything i could possibly do at home even cleaning my car and then had my bath. Decided not to drive to church and took transport because I wanted my peace; don't want some girl to disturb me after church. Got there as the sermon was about to start and really it was boring, the entire service was just another thing and but for the pastor's friend who came and gave some insight, it would have been wasted time. Could not wait to get home immediately afterward; did not talk to anybody as I entered the Taxi back home. Had a headache by the time I got home stopping briefly at the cybercafe, wanted to get some rest then decided to eat. On my way from the kitchen to the dinning room I ran into the cupboard and all my lunch was all on the floor; immediately my headache was gone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
![Nairaland [Nigerian Forum] Home](http://www.nairaland.com/Themes/default/images/english/home.gif)
Author
