Nairalanders on this thread,

I send my greetings. Hope we're all staying on top of the work-life balance.

@Opoks
I recall telling the chap that another reason may be that the Nigerian leaders don't really love their country. I would have said that they love their tribes more, but then, how many have even shown that comitment to better the lot of their own folks by restraining themselves from public coffers?

Patriotism is near zero in Nigeria. I don't say it to "yab" my beloved country, but the fact remains that we are a country, but still on the journey to nationhood. The Igbo nation, Yoruba nation, Hausa, etc are all doing well, but the Nigerian nation is yet to find it's feet and her real identity.

This may be another serious factor in determining the cause of the endemic corruption back home. Here in the UK, I have discovered that patriotism is a strong factor in building the foundations of public accountability (a la "God save the Queen!"

Cheers all

@Opoks
True talk, brother. The issue is in the style of leadership (or lack of it) that we've chosen to give to ourselves in Nigeria. Like I said in my post, I considered that scenario, but having the US elections held directly before ours could only impact us positively if our politicians decide that they want the real democracy to hold sway in the first place. One of my silent worries now is that PDP have end up bequeating other African democracies the cunning leagacy of "affirmation" re-branded as a Nigerian-self- styled feature, or some other funny craze.

While this is not my first international travel experience, the US was also not the first highly developed Western country I have been in, Maybe I'll only giving us details of this trip because of the sudden silence on the thread,

But that aside, I have a brief experience to share. Went for a ride with a colleague from the middle east, and he asked me a very interesting question. According to him, with all due respect (cos he had to give us that respect), he had observed that despite our oil, the wealth was not evenly distributed. he then asked me why this was so; before I could say "corruption", he insisted that his own country too had very corrupt leadership, but that things were getting done (such as infracture, etc) So he asked me if I could tell why the case wasn't so in Nigeria.

Here's my response to him: I told the young man that the explanation lay in the fact that whereas politicians in his country had stolen pubic funds but still developed the country, much of the stolen public funds in Nigeria were monies already ear-marked for project, contracts, etc. Our own leaders misappropriate these funds and either use substandard materials for the project, or in several cases don't even do the projects at all ( a la 16 billion dollars power probe revelations!),

How do we see my response, , does any one have better ideas? Opoks, what do you think? this guy was so emphatic that they also had confirmed corruption in his country. He opined afterwards that perhaps the money they have is too big to be all stolen down enough to make the people of their land impoverished, however irresponsible the leadership turned out.

I did let him know anyway, that the average Nigerian does not wait for the govt to come to his rescue, but goes out every morning to fend for himself and find what to "eat"for his family,

Welcome Back, chaps!
Pak, good one. I can see you took the hint the stop by and drop a few lines on the thread. Talk to you later.

@Stan
How work? No complaints, I hope, cos I hear 3rd mainland bridge has been re-opened at last.

@Others

It's actually very interesting and instructive watching the US election campaigns heating up over here. Understandably enough, there seems to be far more passion over the economy than over politics on the streets.

But I'll still add this: I've felt that we lost a good opportunity (as Nigeria) by having our election year come a year before the US election year. I mean, we could have probably had the benefit of their momentum if we held ours immediately after theirs. SInce we modeled our political structure after theirs, perhaps it would reduce the bloodshedding and trivialities in Nigerian politics if we had their example fresh in our memory as we go into ours.

Or what do we think about this, thread?

@Opoks
The part of US I came to, , no. Nearest relatives are 2 hours of flight away. But I'm getting by cooly. The crime rate in this town is not zero, either, as I've been made to understand.

Nigeria certainly has it's faults and shortcomings, but we're a concerned lot. We look out for each other's welfare, even if the "other" is a stranger as it were.

Over here,, not quite,

@ Opoks

Opoks! "nwanne!" We are well able, I guess the thread is only experiencing some dry days. Things will soon pick up. Been getting a bit busy too and that hasn't given one so much time for posting. But I still will deliver on my promise to update the house on the outcomes of my one-on-one interaction with chaps on the streets of America and Europe per their firsthand impression of Nigeria.
I'm sure this mirror experience will prove very helpful to us.

Cheers all!

Just thinking aloud on the state of our beloved Nigeria land as she marks her 48th Independence anniversary. Time again for stock taking, and collective self-realisation.

One thing that has struck me repeatedly in the past few days is the queer paradox that forms our national experience. I've been trying to ascertain again the impressions of the western world about Nigeria, NOT from CNN, Fox or Sky news this time around, but from the man on the street - name it, shop sellers, cab drivers, professionals, etc on the streets of Texas. They all (including those who started by telling me they knew nothing about Nigeria) seem to have two firm views of Nigeria.
1. Very rich country, producing lots of oil, and
2. Filled with lots of people who are still poor despite the abundance of oil wealth.

In fact, the cab driver who drove me for some part of yesterday insisted on waiting till I concluded my shopping, and drove me back to my hotel at no extra cost, asking if it was true that in Nigeria, one is allowed to marry more than one wife. When I conceded to him that under the African tradition/ customs, such was not only allowed but common, he wondered aloud (with some bit of alarm, too) why a man would want more than one wife, distinctly muttering under his breath that one was trouble enough (lol!). There really are people who don't know much about Africa!

Anyway, bottom line is that our country will be what we make of it. As we mark this occasion, let's silently rededicate ourselves to the ideals that will make our children to lift thier heads high in the comity of nations in time to come.

Cheers all.

No Way, Opoks!

I'm still here, no shaking. I'll keep logging in and dropping posts, whether from home after a tiring day's work, or from a B.A. airport lounge enroute to Texas, or, or, or, , (actually, is that where I am now?)

Cheers all!

Opoks,

I grab. Only I had wondered (?) if the silence was due to my previous posting on the ND militants. Cheers!

Why the silence, Chaps?

The ND Question! Whew. I guess it seems "politically correct" now-a-days to blame the govt or the past administrations for the cummulative neglect of the nation's cash cow, I wouldn't disagree, but the militants should ask themselves how much good their rantings has brought the region. In every bad situation, some people just like to cash in on the state of affairs and cause more chaos,

Reminds me of those students who would start a riot on the eve of exams simply because they aren't ready for their papers!

Seriously, many of them (the miscreants) have not shown that there are innately any much better than the politicians themselves. I think this is what we should guard against, Oh, I guess no one wants to criticise them for fear of being kidnapped or so, but truth must be told that we could have made more progress if the govt and the "fighters" come together in an atmosphere of peace and security.

Well! We still thank God for mighty mercies. So, so much to appreciate, especially if we venture to compare our situation with that of others, and realise that our problems are nearly 90% or more, man-made. Govt insincerity, white, bare-faced lying to the Nigerian public, , these all have to be laid aside.

May this thread live long. Regards to all!

Hey Chaps! I just had a "brainwave now", Kenno's dumb moves most likely could imply one thing: [i[b]]"I've run out of ideas of what to say for now". [/b] [/i] I say this cos at least last week we all saw that he could actually speak when stimulated enough. The pix posting did the magic, U recall. In a way, perhaps the alternative to his dumb postings would have been not to post at all for lack of ideas, so bottomline - we should be grateful for the dumb/emoticon postings!


@Pak
Intellectual militancy, as the expression suggests, is much more desirable than the reported "full scale" military action going on currently in the Niger delta mangrove swamps between the militants and the Nig army. I understand it started sometime earlier today, and preliminary reports have it that some kidnapped oil workers currently in MEND's custody were caught in the cross-fire, some sustaining injuries.

Just wonder when this will all end. Nobody wins in such events,, we're all losers. Can we stop the fights and approach the (negotiation) table with grace, please?


Was wondering if the recent creation of the ND ministry is a step in the right direction, Can anyone say for certain?

@Jisi
The place U just described as your place of origin sounds very interesting. If there are no mosquitoes there, and if there is uninterruptible power supply as well as internet access, then why not? It could be the ideal place to visit for the holz U're talking of!

pak:

It seems like a rift is brewing between Kenosky and Jisi.

sounds xciting.

tot Kuwena was the only person capable of giving us some 'action'.


but then jisi, if you yab Kenosky,

how my guy go take reply you, considering the fact that he's DUMB

Well, as for "action", as long as it stops at "intellectual militancy", then we're safe enough


Jisi, what part of Alien country are U from, if so?

Jisi, Keekwanu?

@Pak
Just like you, I was at school and the news shocked me alright. But I must add then that the full import of what had just happened didn't dawn on me immediately. You know, my greatest "problems" merely centred around maintaining or improving on my GP at every opportunity! Things are markedly different now, however.

@Thread

Must say welcome to all who have returned. Pak, that was a great move to post the pix. Am only hoping that Hurricane Ike (sounds Igbo, too!) won't destroy all the wonderful sights am hoping to see in Houston b4 I get there in some days' time! Or even disrupt my plans entirely,

Nigerians, we are blessed.

Wow! Great pictures. But am still at a loss over the authenticity of the poster , I mean, did Jisi send these to Pak or is this a case of identity "borrowing"?

@Jisi

You must be Edo, rite?

@Pak

Are U the one posting the wedding pix or is it Jisi?

Or better still, did Jisi "steal" your post name, or is she borrowing your profile?

@Opoks

You've got a point there, though.

JISIDAISY:



@Jill
Bed bugs Chei! Thank God for NLNG!

@All
What are "bed bugs" in this context? Must say I'm a bit lost on that,

Congrats Jill!!! (though I'm not sure I remember U so well). don't just touch base once and run off, though. Keep making yourself felt on the thread,

@Jisi

Later this month

Must commend your command of the King James grammar, really. That's a good one. Keep it up. Perhaps U may want to respond in your next post in NIV English! Cheers

And, thread, wonder what we think of the President (Yar'Adua's) health controversy? Any explanations or views?

@Jisi
Welcome back to Nigeria. Accept our sympathies for your inability to link up with KuKu in US. Well,at least we're all witnesses of how hard U tried to coax him out of his shell.

Thread awaits the wedding px

Splendid day ahead,all!

Good evening All.
It's clear that we've somehow each been waiting for someone to break the ice on the thread. Come on, this thread is too fine to die such a death, not with the various issues to be tackled and discussed piling up by the day.

@Stan
Well, only Opoks commended the pix. And shortly afterwards, the thread seems to take a deathly stillness. I can only hope U've read between the lines from the silent "posts" that followed that post of yours. Those who'e interested in such pics wouldn't come looking for them on WWNLNG. Let's maintain the class over here, please.

@Jisi
Houston, Texas, (in response to your last question). And I'm sure U'll be gone by the time I get there in the next few weeks. How was the wedding? We wouldn't have minded a few pics, of course. At least, people don't wed in bikinis!

@Opoks
U should know better than anyone here that this thread has seen such dull stretches in the past. We're rebounding now. How's work. Still enjoying your spare times?

@Rest of Thread
Here's wishing everyone around a glorious week ahead. Kuwena, work harder on your manuscripts, but also take time to get close to God. For sure, now that the euphoria of ariving in US has worn off, U're fast realising that God's own Country is not much different from Good old "Naija", as far as the basic elements of human nature are concerned.

Cheers all!

Sure good to see some life come on the thread again anyway. Good day all!

@Stan
Actually visit the thread practically on daily basis, just that well, sometimes I don't post. It doesn't take Kuwe to make me post at all, because even when he left on self-sabbatical the other time, the posts kept rolling in.


@Jisi
Congrats on your shopping spree! Pity You would have certainly returned to Nigeria by next month when I'll hit that town. Else I could have been hoping to benefit from some of the shopping gifts. All the same, I sure hope the heat reduces significantly by then, ad beware of the storms of Texas, too! Happy married life to big sis. Be sure to learn a thing or two from  her with regards to marriage o, because we want to hear of yours as soon as You end your trip, Kuku responding or not!

Signing out now. Kenosky, please keep the posts coming. practice makes perfect, even for those who are (re-)learning how to speak!
Cheers all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENNOSKY!!! And welcom back to the land of the talking. WOnders shall never cease on this thread, anyway. And I hpe this post doesnt vanish like the previous one I sent did. By the next time I checked it wasn't there, and there was no time to resend it. Well, perhaps the server fluctuated after I clicked send, and well, who knows, it may have "injected some life" into the thread, had it sailed through.

Anyway! Wishing us all the very best of the rest of the week. Ken, Congrats again. What are we celebrating today> How old?

@Stan

Funny. Funny.

@Thread
Good to see some life injected into the thread, after some days of visiting here wthout seeing a thing, and not being able to post, either. Wishing us all a fruitful weekend ahead!

Days rolling by now and no posts? Wow! I strongly suspect this must be due to work pressures, does it point towards the questions I raised recently on this thread, to which many are even yet to respond? I appreciate those who responded to the issue, and sure we all got things to learn. Wishing us the very best of the week.

Or wait a minute, could it be the Lagosians here are still struggling to get thru traffick right now, courtesy of the partial closure of TMB?

Hi Chaps. Happy week ahead!

kuwena:

Let's talk about humility awhile. The bible describes Moses as 'the humblest of men'. I want to be humble as well. Indeed, I tell myself that I have started on my way to becoming a very humble man. And why am I humble? I am humble because I know that all I have and am are God's gift.

The Songist said in the 131st psalm, 'Yahweh, I am not proud.' I say the same thing, too. I say it when my supervisors say things like, 'Waow, you're awesome!' 'Do you know you impress me?' 'My God, you're great!' Here in America, even if you mess, poo, poo; they will say, 'Awesome; my, how great!' Na wa for these people-o!

Anyway, I will keep a level head. I will never get proud. I want to be like Moses. I want people to say, 'Kuwena is the humblest of men.' And I want them to mean it, too.

Funny Kuwena. "let's talk about humility", he says only to go ahead and talk about Kuwena,

Humility is a most admired quality in anyone, but especially so in leaders and very successful people. However, one funny thing about both huimlity and pride is that they are there for others to notice in you, not you to appraise yourself. For instance, a man who cknowledges his pride is probably not as proud as he may think;and as for the one who announces his own humility, well, your guess is as good as mine.

@Thread
Workers on the thread, pls, we stil await contributions to the matter of knowing where to draw the line in terms of time spent at work and the work-life balance.

Cheers all!

@Izi
Word! U really give us food for thought.

@Kuwena
Absolutely right: One's got to choose, and to make that choice early enough in life and career, too. In fact, fast,

@jisi
How's life? Can see U're online. Cheers!

@Kennosky
Wow. YOur expressions are getting really merrier, or at least cherrier. Me thinks that's a good sign. U'll soon be chirping away like before, dont worry.

@Thread.
Work this week has really been something else! Coming back past 11pm is quite an experience. It's actually got me thinking. Where does one draw the line between work and personal life? Is there a limit to the self-sacrifice that gives rise to long hours at work, staring at computer screens and running calculations or making decisions, rushing to beat deadlines, etc. we know it all, am sure,, it's a familiar feel. Big question is, how does this all match up with the need to "have a life of your own"?

I recall now those days when I was still in school, and I'd hear young working class graduates complain about how their plush jobs took up so much of their time that there was neither time again nor energy left to enjoy their jumbo pay, and I thought, "hey, U must be kidding! Give me the job first!" NOw I think perhaps I better understand what they meant. One went as far as analysing why there are very bright flourescent lights in banking halls (he was a banker then). According to him, it was so that the staff wouldn't know when time was flying past, and just keep on working till late into the nite, since morning and night would be practically the same due to the constant lighting of the place.

Personally, I think it's really ungrateful for anyone who wrote series of applications and attended several tests and interviews to turn around and start complaining of stress at work, especially as he must have nodded vigorously when asked during the interview about ability to work well under stress. Chaps on the thread, what do we think? (as though it's not work that has largely contributed to the lull on the thread in recent times!) Where is this line to be drawn? How does a worker still eke out a "life" for herself? And while we're at it, what of those who spend long hours at work, simply because they just love their work?

Sincere comments and personal experiences as well as lessons learned will be appreciated. Cheers all!

@Jisi
I recall U were once challenged on the very low number years guarantee U offered on some of your wonderful sisters, Till now, U're yet to reply respond to those concerns raised by honorable members of the thread. Or have they all been taken now?

@All

For a good while now, no serious issues have been addressed on this thread, perhaps due to the interloping personality matters and clashes we have all somewhat allowed to thrive. Yet we know that there are progressive issues awaiting intelligent discourse. Hopefully, I shall be raising one of such later this weekend. It will sure be great to hear some of the great minds on this thread come alive again with their useful and insightful contributions. Surely! Nigeria is blessed to have these ones.

Hi ya all!
Warmest greetings to everyone on the thread. Kenny, welcome back to Nigeria. I know U'll speak up when U feel ready, but I can't help chuckling at the thought of your latest theatrics. I mean, there's simply no end to the scenarios that keep poppin up on this thread. Guess that's what makes it what it is.

Cheers all.Happy weekend. Enjoy a well-deserved rest, too.

@Jisi
I'm not yet married, how much less a grand father!

JISIDAISY:

Yeah Happy Independence Day Kuku, I'm certain you wore the red, white and blue colors yesterday.

Guys, I am pretty sure I sent a post 2days ago, but somehow it didnt get here. or did i fall asleep? or was it a dream? yes it most definately was a dream-----and i too saw princess ugonna telling me to sent a post. She was truely beautifull , she also asked that i say hi to Aniffy, hello to Kenosky, 'ssup to stannesi, aw far to Opoks and how body to Alfa.

Opoks, Princess ugonna says you should stop teasing her post-future spouse. She say she is mighty angry with you!

Its all about the princess now abi?

well guys, i was out all through today, now i'm kindda tayad. Man (woman too) must sha rest. Cheers all, miss ya.

Oh before i forget, KuKu, princess ugonna asked me to tell you to shut the hell up!

Ha - ha - ha!!!
Jisi again!

Just needed this kind of funny post to ease off after  a hectic day at work! Perhaps your own "Princess Ugonna" is another expression for common sense? or intuition perhaps?


@Pak

Get your point, I guess the conditional "IF" was so far off from the suggestion of becoming a Christian again, that I concluded it was a settled matter. Well, Kuwena knows best what he wants to do.


@Thread
Anyway, considering that Kuwena has more than appologised profusely for that post of his, I think we could let this matter rest. And just a word of advice, Kuwena. I wonder, hope you're not replacing your personal diary/journal with this WWNLNG thread? Cos the way U vaccillate and oscillate on issues here sometimes gives the impression of one who's thinking aloud. I advise you not to always quickly rush to pour out on this thread, matters that you're still mulling over in your mind. If you're in need of advice, fine; that's a diffrent case. U could simply say so and I'm sure peeps will respond. But if you're just musing, I suggest U get  handle on your thoughts first.

Well, whatever else, one thing U can't take away from Kuwena is that, for him, appology comes easy and almost spontaneously. And that, in my humble estimation, is a strong indication, if not the hallmark, of true greatness.

Cheers all.

Kuwena

Congrats on your noble decision to return to Jesus.

Welcome back Home.

Welcome.

@Opoks
Quite an illuminating post, Going down memory lane, WWNLNG has really come a long way. Really dont blame Seun for relocating the thread, cos it's strictly no longer a job-seeking one. Well, looking ahead into the next one year, can say it's obvious that some more new posters will come onboard, some present ones may also leave the stage, (or change thier pen names, who knows!) But one think I can be almost sure of is that the thread will survive. Maybe the next 100 pages will also see some posters walking down the aisle, who knows? Opoks! Perhaps U'll lead the way?

@Pak
I can understand ur awaiting Annify's comment, I am, too.

@Others
Gotta log off, chaps; must do some intensive reading now that am away from work on training, Stay blessed all. As we enter this 2nd half of the year 2008, I pray earnestly that we'll receive grace to surpass our greatest imaginations in terms of achievements, and end the year fulfilled. Regardless of how the year may have gone so far, Am highly expectant that the rest of the year is the best of the year,

Cheers all!