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otokx (m)
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This weekend was wow, the university had her convocation ceremonies and there were parties everywhere. Now there is a difference between convoking and graduating. A lot of them students all over the place were just deceiving themselves as their names were not on the list of people graduating which is on the convocation brochure. Reasons include still owing courses, irregular o level entry requirements, non payment of school fees etc. The rain was so heavy on Saturday morning but by midday the weather was cool and the flexing started. There were like 4 sports in the estate but i settled for 2. The music was loud and the participants were lively. Canned star and jollof rice was the foundation but i took bottled fanta. As the time progressed canned guilder stout took over with canned maltina. Then red label, don simon and henessy. Some people started forming "drunk" - cowards. Some people are funny, they have something in their mind to tell you but keep it till they say they are "drunk". Its was all in all a very exciting day, saw a lot of characters.
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otokx (m)
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Management decided we start coming to early so am at the cybercafe by 7.30am. My Boss who is around on easter break from his course also came in by 7.45am. The operations staff are not around so we wait till its about 8.30am after which i call only for them to say they have been standing on the road since 30 minutes no taxi. There is a petrol scarcity anyway so that can pass. I switch on the generator and the systems and some people buy tickets alas the network is down. The staff come around and meet the situation, what type of country do we live in? When will things stabilize? The cybercafe did not open that day and I had to give the order for the staff to go back home by midday as the providers were not hopeful.
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otokx (m)
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These days the sun shines so brightly in the day time and the rain tries to fall in the night but it just does not succeed. We just have breeze and lightning and then morning breaks with NEPA coming and going during that time. There is still no petrol and the student union insists that the transport fare remains at N20 so the transporters obeying the law of supply have moved their vehicles to routes which have increased fares outside the campus. The result is mass trekking and to think this is the start of examination. I hear petrol at Aba is now N120, Ahoada is N100, Black Market is N300 and some people at my estate are still using their generators all night.
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otokx (m)
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Have decided as much as possible to be offline during the weekends but that will have to probably start from next week. Have some stuff to do at the cybercafe and in spite of the weather i take off to town. The rain that started was like in the days of Noe; its been long since i drove in such. Most of the roads were submerged and a lot of us were operating via faith. The a/c and heater came in handy but it appears i have to change my wiper blades soon. Got to the computer villa to pick up much of the equipment needed for the expansion work. The rain was pouring and the roads were largely empty; did a quick one to eastern garden to pick up some freshly baked snacks. Then stopped by at everyday supermarket at obi wali junction where i got some tooth brushes and crunchy nuts corn flakes. By the time i got back to the cybercafe at UNIPORT it was about 11.30a, work went on and we were finished by about 5.20pm with enough tiredness. Funnily enough the sun is shinning brightly.
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otokx (m)
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This country seems to be getting worse and worse and in Port Harcourt its a never ending fuel scarcity. The people of Ekiti are giving us some real time drama. Woke up one Sunday morning and decided to do some physical exertion by washing the car alas, i have a flat tire. On looking around it appears there is no water in the entire estate except for one tap somewhere and everyone is washing so the lines are filled up. Open my booth to remove the jack then discover my wheel spanner is missing. Have to go borrow from the neighbors and then change the tire, luckily the spare is intact and God gives me the strength to accomplish the task. Noticed one of my smallies walking along the wall; its obvious she is not well. I have always wanted a strong woman in my life, guess is about bidding ones time. It was this same gals that said am always sick sometime last year when my schedule was over bearing. Then i was going to church every other day of the week in the name of choir but now i know the things that make for my peace and prosperity.
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otokx (m)
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Alfa is a popular cyber cafe in uniport and its where i work part time. We have been doing some upgrade recently and its been quite challenging. Now that we have more systems, the UPS some of them are failing. Came out in the morning with two tasks in mind, buy 125 litres of diesel and format and load one system. Luckily there was light so i started loading and then NEPA struck, the UPS went off. I have to buy 2 more UPS, our expenses have been rising and profit stagnant. The link is even misbehaving on top but the boys are cracking jokes so am feeling happy. Need to finish from here and go do laundry.
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otokx (m)
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My mom and sister went for a cousins husband burial at ife over the workers day holiday weekend. They came back with that the force men on the roads were so many. From police to road safety and now JTF. The road safety people that stopped them where 5 in number and asked for all manner of triangles, extinguisher, jack which the driver provided then the impossible. This was a chartered motor which picked the occupants right from their various homes so it was a wonder when the road safety guys asked for the manifest of the car. That was how they packed the car for over 30 minutes releasing them after collecting 1000 naira which if they share equally comes to 200 naira for each road safety personnel.
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otokx (m)
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Off day
« #487 on: May 07, 2009, 05:43 PM » |
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Left the house today and joined the fuel queue in the university campus by 6.45am and even though the attendants were all there it was not till about 8.15am that they started. There was commotion, jerry cans were the other of the day. Even men of the JTF came, cleared the pump, filled their vehicle and left. At about 10.06am i gave my space to someone else and went to the east west road to buy. The stations that had short queues were selling at N100 a litre while the only one that was selling N65 had a long queue so i joined that one. After another 90 minutes i got my car bashed while trying to maneuvre inside. Oh well i got the tank full and proceeded to "Ikoku" to get my car headlight fixed as that was the main casualty. At GRA junction i was held for a traffic offence and had to "settle" the boys. Today is turning out to be quite something else. Got the headlight fixed, changed the wiper and did some other things and started coming back. Hold up along Ikwerre road between UST and AGIP junction, diverted into Ada George Rd and met a worse hold up between Carpenters church and the iwofe intersect so i diverted back into Ikwerre road and managed the hold up between market junction and wimpey junction. The sun was very hot and i got back to the university campus quite tired.
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otokx (m)
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It rained so much yesterday afternoon into the evening and office car park was flooded - no thanks to the shoddy job done there. The rains this time around are almost continuous non stop medium shower then some intermittent heavy downpours with lightning and thunder. Thank God its Friday, we are giving the Christ embassy people internet access backed up by our generator for a fee to interact with their CEO online. There has not been NEPA light since the loss of chelsea to barcelona in the UEFA champions league. A lot of politics in the office and am trying so hard not to get mixed into it but they wont let me be. Am looking out my window at those poor christ embassy fellows trying to fall over themselves in feting one of their pastors. They all seem to be pastor this and pastor that anyway. The guy is in his black Honda Accord with the a/c on at full blast - Life is Good. Our oga did not want to approve their request at first but eventually gave in to their seduction. The rains are pouring and back at home its actually welcome so that we can fetch the water and use it to clean both our bodies and the toilet.
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otokx (m)
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No electricity, no water was summary of the weekend. After the heavy downpour of Friday and Saturday we had a splendid sunshine on Sunday. There was no water to even have a bath so went I to HQ to have a bath and do some laundry. There was no electricity on campus either but at least there was water to even wash the car. Have not been to church in a while and today is not going to be an exception. My mom is not happy about it so tell her will go next Sunday - thankfully its communion service. Same old same old jollof and fried chicken for lunch; back in the estate still the same. Sat down in front and watched the people go by, one of the neighbors wanted his flash drive cleaned of viruses and i charged him $1. Also got a small assignment to update his anti virus software for his laptop at $5. Do not despise small coins o.
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otokx (m)
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2day i use dat your pic do ekwe. Na so d pple dey hala who b dat gal? Naim 1 guy say he is seduce by karata. NEPA sef comfuse bring light. Babe u 2 much.
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otokx (m)
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There is not much to talk about these days, even face book with all the excitement has died down. Petrol scarcity and no electricity are just dulling things. The rains are not helping matter. Office politics is thickening and suddenly am caught in the middle even though am trying to let things be. The university is shutting down academics for the semester break but the year 1 students, remedial and final year project students are very much around so things will still be moving. Trying to read but its not easy still i try.
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otokx (m)
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There is this first republic politician that stole so much money and was killed in the 1st coup. He had one official wife and then he had others. There was this nigerian or so married to a ghana man who had her children. It was said that when this man sets his eyes on a woman he fancies that he goes for her. So he went for this woman and she had a child and after all said and done she came back to her husband and continued "the marriage". Now that child has now married and has children one of which lives around the corner. It may interest you to note that the bulk of this man's wealth which is in a swiss bank has been in dispute in the court since 1966. The "little" is what they have been sharing and that litte gets to this particular girl who lives around the corner. This girl's dad has since died and her mother has never really worked a job no thanks to the shared loot. The girl's house is furnished complete with a generator and her clothes are up to date. They have been stealing since 1966 and are still stealing yet we hope.
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otokx (m)
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Off Day
« #493 on: May 21, 2009, 01:07 PM » |
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There are some days you wake up feeling so irritated yet not knowing why. The office these days is so political one has to thread softly. All attempts are reading today where unsuccessful so i spent most of my time in wikipedia looking up the "kingdom of heaven" The university campus was largely deserted today and am wondering if its as a result of the academic staff strike or the semester break. Petrol is still scarce and so also is NEPA. Fela said that the poor man dey cry while the rich man dey mess. The stock exchange seems to be improving so am trying to sharpen my skills there. The weather is quite undecided but i hope the rain delays because my clothes are outside on the line.
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otokx (m)
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My dad says our village people are so docile. The story goes that one Yoruba man who specializes in hawking medicine that can cure all kinds of ailment visits the village from time to time staying for like 2 weeks each time. One of the villagers bought one medicine from him that was described as a black powder for the purpose of deworming. That old man purged and died shortly after not many days. Just last week, a healthy young man decided to deworm himself and that was how he bought the black powder. Luckily for him he was rushed to the hospital before he could give up the ghost and was revived and is recovering. If it were some other niger delta villages, that trader should have joined his fore fathers long time ago. Was actually watching a documentary on Aljazeera about the dumping of toxic waste in Abidjan. We then proceeded to discuss the indiscriminate use of herbicides by some farmers who are unaware of the implications on the crops produced.
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otokx (m)
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Why do I?
« #495 on: May 24, 2009, 10:09 PM » |
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Why do i what say i would not? Now hold it before your mind goes off in another direction. The other day she was like we are just friends and nothing more. Men i was like where is that coming from and she gave 3 reasons of which the most painful - my dad does not like your dad. Its been up to 3 weeks now and we have not spoken; after all we are just friends so i did not bother calling even though i knew i should have. Looking back now she might be right you know. While i was considering these things something happened in the estate and i may be wrong. I normally go to visit this gal and she has some other guys too who come around but this particular weekend none of us went there. Turns out her boyfriend was around and it was when he left that it appears she started hailing me. I have decided not to go to her room again though i wonder how long that decision we last. Time has a way of doing things so also do some friends and boy do i give em the benefit of doubt.
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otokx (m)
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My sister had a party the other day and it so happened that only girls were in attendance. One of her friends then asked me to come around, perhaps i might meet "her". Now am learning to be a bit more tolerant than before but than should not lead to being passive. Someone asked what i can't stand n a lady who should be my wife and the first thing that came to my mind is that she should not be an addict of Nigerian movies. Then i was introduced to the notion of body odour and mouth odour. That had not really crossed my mind before. It was then i realized that i had not got all my requirements in other. The sun has been over shinning these days, wonder what is happening with the rains.
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otokx (m)
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The big day is finally come and i decide that history will be obliged today. All week long MAN U fans will not let us rest on how their team is going to obliterate Barcelona FC. They claim the EPL is much better than the LA LIGA and that their coach is a SIR. I got home early and prepared to watch the match alone; my inverter was fully ready but NEPA it appeared wanted to watch the match too and that day the entire area had light continuously for good 18 hours. The game started and it appeared there was going to be a massacre but in the end we now know what transpired. It was a disgusting show of shame by the "red devils" in the eternal city. Come to think of it how did the devils think they will be allowed to operate in a holy environment? Indeed its not by power and might - that's what i learnt from the whole ordeal. Manchester United were simply outclassed on that fateful night.
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otokx (m)
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It’s been a marvelous weekend; hakuna matata is really possible. Actually planned to read but did not succeed due to an august visitor so I decided to just relax. Took a long walk to see a wise man with a colleague. This rainy season is having one of the most beautiful sunshine. Am looking beyond what I see and it’s like the fewer the better; guess am learning to appreciate a lot of things. The rice and fish sure tasted good. This country will go a long way with constant electricity. Keeping the main thing the main thing is not always easy but one always has to keep at it with the help of the spirit which was released at Pentecost. I did not know that the Lion King movie had a sequel and it’s actually nice. Port Harcourt is quite a humid town and am fighting mold on my leather settee. English they say it’s the official language of the internet and American English is taking over as the dialect of choice.
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otokx (m)
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Its very important in life that one is focused; turning neither to the left or the right. We are experience some low patronage at the cybercafe due to the uncertainty brought about by the ASUU strike. NEPA is trying a little but we still have to burn diesel at least 5 hours daily. Operations are however moving smoothly as things seem to be taking shape. Have you tried calling MTN customer care lately? It takes a lot of time to connect and even at that you are put on perpetual hold. For more than 24 hours the other day there was no service in the university and environs. There is indeed a way that seems right unto a man but the end thereof is destruction. The office was kinda crazy and all my colleagues just disappeared into thin air, almost lost my nerve but in the end all is well.
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otokx (m)
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When people especially the ladies say "How was your night?" am kinda wonder. If she is single I'd reply it could have been better with you in bed but if married i just smile. Now whats the point of that question first thing in the morning. The other one i find amusing is when people say come and eat? They don't really mean it and say it out of courtesy or something. Just discovered that a lot of Christians are docile; content to use the words of Talib Kweli sending their prayers to the cloud. We should be fighting against all injustice in our domain especially with those that consign us. I don't believe in rocking the boat; there is no joy in that. Its either 0 or 1, so dropping the bomb is the only option when it comes to responsible and positive change.
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otokx (m)
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I have learned not to react when angry to the causative factor or perceived stimulus but it ain't easy. Was at the office early today alas the key could not be found. Later found out that my colleague left the key for an the IT student to lock the place but the guy not knowing where the key should be kept gave it to my supervisor. Now my supervisor works late into the evenings so he does not come as early. I decided to stay at the server room and went there to switch on the equipment but noticed that the internal circuit breaker had been activated probably due to electricity coming and going frequently. The tools to work on this issue is still with the same supervisor so i decided to join in the gist. He finally comes in and we get the whole thing started but then it appears there is either a hardware failure of some sort or our providers are having a bad day. A call to the Network Operating Centre indicates its probably a hardware failure - what a day?
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otokx (m)
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There is a saying that time will tell the true situation of things. Looking back now at 2009, June 12 is of very little significance. The pastor will say that a carnal mind won't understand the things of the spirit but that seems a bit contradictory and self serving. Just heard that my former choir leader has relocated to South Africa; now she was my chief tormentor and i nick named her my "God mother". One of her parents i hear was an Egyptian but she has stayed all of her life in Nigeria. Though she was fair skinned am not too sure she could be mistaken for an expatriate; in any case its claimed that having received threats of being kidnapped she decided to move. I wanted to ask what about her trust in God but then there is no need for that. Today the preacher said that she commands demonic noises coming out of the forest and they stop. Its quiet funny because that forest is just a controlled plantation where bees and birds leave. Its quite clear she is deluded. What a pity to those of us "forced" to sit down and hear such rubbish. If there is any occultic power in Nigeria then it must be manifest in the ignorance and greed of the populace.
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otokx (m)
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There was a bank robbery on the campus the other day, how the armed bandits got near the area is quite instructive, the timing was about 5.30pm on a Friday evening. Now the bankers who were supposed to be the only ones in the building since they close to their clientele by 2pm heard the cacophony of gunshots and decided to lock themselves inside. They had been told that their doors were bulletproof and unbreakable but the sound was unmistakably confusing. Now what is even more wonderful was the immediate arrival of a combined team of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in their numbers. It appears 2 robbers were shot dead in the ensuing melee while the rest took to their heels and then the drama began. The people inside unsure of who was outside refused to open the door and the JTF proceeded to shoot their way inside and arrest everyone from the manager to the cleaner taking them all to their Borikiri jail where the bargaining started. The JTF guys asked the manager to give them N1.6 million and then all of them can go back home. This is the country that we live in and the manager refused. They are kept there till Monday morning wherein the bank HQ sends some people who bail the manager leaving the others to their fate. My guy was one of the bank staff and he was in there with other hardened criminals. His parents rallied around and got N60, 000 for his release. Now the shocker, by the time he got to work the bank had already filled all their positions with staff from other branches while the branch staff languishes in jail. Some students who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time where also carried away and have to find some money, the university authorities refusing to be drawn into the manner. |
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otokx (m)
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Was watching Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes the other day who was talking about a drug awareness project which He is doing for MTV. What struck me was the comment of his getting only 35 minutes of sleep due to the heavy schedule of work. The other day an MBA classmate of mine asked me the 12 - 3 question and it made so much sense. I have decided to task myself even more and make better use of my time, though the 12midnight to 3 may not be a viable option especially with the power situation but then lets see as things go.
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otokx (m)
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Spent the evening hanging out with some cool gals, watching a VCD titled AY2 "Lagos Explosion" It was a show held in honor of AY who is a popular comedian here in Nigeria. Most of the comedians thanked him for leading the way. The gals kept giggling, shouting and were sure having fun. Tried as i could the whole thing did not just excite me and but for one comedian who portrayed a stammering NYSC teacher the rest were simply lame. In fact all of them tried to speak Warri English and wore corporate suits. Fun means different things to different people, one other lady had tried to convince me to go with her to the movies and though it almost worked, common sense prevailed in the end. Am not a movie freak so what will i be doing in the cinema? Long, short - i can't be someone else.
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otokx (m)
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P for pothole, P for police and the two conspire and combine to cause hold up in Port Harcourt where most of the roads are under construction - more like a cesspool of mud over an extended area. More light is being thrown into the attempted bank robbery on campus. They say the robbers were 3 of which 1 was shot dead, 1 escaped and 1 injured. Now the injured started confessing, implicating the bank manager and one of the cashiers which leads one to say that in Nigeria things don't just happen. There must be insider information regarding most crime even kidnapping in which case its done by relatives mostly extended family members. This days going to church is one sure way to get kidnapped especially evening services in the metropolis. Heard of a man who wife and daughter were kidnapped. The ex - shell worker had to sell his only house in Port Harcourt to get money to pay for the ransom after which he relocated to his country home in Benin. The lesson learned though is that one should as much as possible hide his wealth and keep things quiet. The man was holidaying in Europe when they called him that his wife and daughter were kidnapped right as they were driving into their house from church.
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otokx (m)
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Went to the arik terminal in the NAF base dubbed garden city termingal to pick one of my directors who was coming in from ABUJA. A sign at the gate read overnight parking of cars is not allowed. Any car parked overnight will attract a fee of N100000 per night. The road which connects the various terminals which include Virgin Nigeria, Aero, Caverton and a few military areas is just too bad. My director said that Kano is even worse than Port Harcourt in terms of electricity supply. The cyber cafe is very busy and my schedule has been very heavy. Just had some cake on the move and i feel like throwing up. Today is my "toys" birthday but she is in far away Ekiti; a bridesmaid to her friend. Not heard from "smallie" in a while, guess am getting more focused. They are my friends though and that i'd not deny.
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otokx (m)
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Rains
« #508 on: June 30, 2009, 12:45 PM » |
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The weather here is funny, we are supposed to be in the rainy season anyway. Its the 2nd busy time of the year here at the cybercafe and there are people everywhere. There is a crowd every where in the commercial campus and then there is this small gate. Everyone trying to get in and out at the same time, lot of pushing and shoving. Handsets are falling into the water causing people to start putting their hands into that dirty muddy water mixed with urine and other impurities. My shoes were soaked and even my jeans too; some shouting in the area. There is a way of man that seems right but indeed a soft answer turns away strife.
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otokx (m)
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A lot of churches here in Nigeria have special programs in that week that the months of June and July meet. They say its the middle of the year and so prayers are needed. Now me thinks that is an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear. My parents church have a morning and evening prayer session of 1 hour; members are encouraged to attend one of them. My former church used to have an evening session of 1 hour prayer but when the turnout was low they changed it to 1 hour of praise and dance.
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otokx (m)
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I have been hearing so many funny stuff of late. Beauty they say is in the eyes of the beholder. The other day i heard somewhere that truth like beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and immediately my spirit told me something was wrong. That is how it starts, small, small and then then like an organism it starts growing. A goat is a goat whether in Nigeria, Ghana, Botswana or Morocco; it cannot in the eyes of the beholder become a sheep. Port Harcourt has been really wet and cold of late with a lot of people coming down with one illness or the other. Like play, like play i found myself becoming listless for some days then quite cold with some throat irritation. Sleeping at night became a problem and then my nose started running. This was fast becoming another thing and just then asthma too wanted to add to the commotion then i said enough is enough in the name of Jesus. The symptoms still stayed a bit but i decided not to take the usual antibiotics medication. Drank a lot of fluid and hot cups of milo, rested well and went out of my way to eat the normal which is unusual for me and well am getting much better.
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otokx (m)
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This are perilious tmes in our country Nigeria, what started like play is fast becoming a virus. All the unions in the public universities are on indefinite strike, the public media organizations joined in briefly, the post offices too are shut. The federal health institutions have joined in the indefinite arrangement and now the umbrella body of medical doctors nationwide are gearing to join in. Our president does not seem to be bothered and went for the G8 meeting of which he has nothing to contribute. Even the Chinese president left the G8 meeting to go sort out his local problems but our leaders are without understanding.
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