ggirl4real:
I've never lacked money to the extent of doing something "worse"...

But I used to steal from my parents those days shaa....

Butty you! You should be grateful to God. Someone voted and said they had to wash a septic tank aka Suck away for money. May God help us!

Hello readers! Welcome to another GUEST POST WEEKEND here on A Loco Viva Voce. Today’s Guest Post is an article written by OJEKUNLE Alex Aderemi.

Remmy is a freelance writer, environmentalist and a social media freak. He has contributed opinions, articles and journalistic works to The Nation Newspapers, Nigerian Tribune and online media platforms. He was among the Batch C Corps Members 2015 that recently passed out ‎of NYSC scheme and served with the Nigerian Television Authority, Akure. He is @RemmyAlex on Twitter.

Are you a writer? Or do you know a writer? Email your write-ups to guestpost@alocovivavoce.com for a chance to have your work published on GUEST POST WEEKEND!

Read Remmy’s article after the cut and enjoy!


Hajj Disaster: Things We’ve Learnt

I jolted out my reverie as I remember the lost souls of last month’s gory stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia, the destination of millions of Muslim faithful who travel every year from different parts of the world to observe the Holy pilgrimage. The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage designated as one of the five pillars of Islam. All Muslims who are physically able are expected to perform the hajj at least once in their lives, according to doctrine. In excess of 2 million pilgrims from more than 170 nations descended upon Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj.

In the last two weeks, the Holy land witnessed disasters; the first being the collapse of a crane at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, killing 109 people and the second is the recent stampede at Mina on 24th September, 2015 where several persons were feared dead and at least 800 people were injured. The stampede occurred as pilgrims in Mina, east of Mecca, were on their way to perform the “stoning of the devil” ritual at a place called Jamarat.

In a twist of development, Saudi has been blamed for allowing the devil to stone the pilgrims instead just as the international community awaits Saudi Authority to take culpability and responsibility for the calamity. The official Saudi statements that the pilgrims’ failure to heed to crowd-control regulations contributed to the tragedy has apparently shown that Saudi Arabia is blaming the victims in a cowardly bid to evade accountability and accept responsibility. An outpouring of grief for the dead and indignation against Saudi Arabia’s leadership has been sweeping across the world over the death of over 700 pilgrims even though the Saudi government claimed that more than 100,000 security personnel and 25,000 health workers were assigned to the event. In Nigeria, Africa and elsewhere, the calamity raised anew questions about whether the oil-rich kingdom has adequate infrastructure and safeguards to handle an event that is considered the world’s largest yearly gathering of humanity.

Organizing the Hajj is a massive logistical challenge and the international community is bothered on why Saudi was unable to frustrate the incident from happening. International relation’s experts argue that aside from its religious significance, the hajj is also a major generator of income, reportedly second only to oil revenues for Saudi Arabia. So why couldn’t Saudi spend more money to provide adequate measure to protect lives and properties during this feast? Well, if the nation’s authorities are not particularly selfish and greedy, the country should better devise and deplore means of monitoring activities and individuals.

Surveillances should be put in place as this will ensure some sort of security in and around Mina for the entire Hajj process. It’s high time the Saudi authority did the needful to avert the re-occurrence of this ugly situation.

Click on the link below to continue reading the article

http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/10/17/hajj-disaster-things-weve-learnt/

Hello guys, it’s Feature Friday! Every Friday I would be sharing a real life experience and situation of a reader who needs my opinion. If you have a situation that you need my opinion on, email me on featurefriday@alocovivavoce.com.

Read the situation and my opinion after the cut. The names have been changed to protect the identity of the person being featured. Enjoy!


Hello OUR,

My name is Alondra and I need your advice. About a year ago, I met a guy here in Nigeria. He lives abroad but we met during one of his long vacations and we hit it off almost immediately then started dating shortly after. Few months into dating, I got pregnant. Although he wanted me to keep the pregnancy, he wasn’t really bent on getting married just yet.

My mother on the other hand would not hear of it. She insisted that we should not welcome the idea of having a child outside wedlock. After a little bit of pressure from our parents, he finally went ahead and did the introduction to my family members stating that he was the one responsible for the pregnancy and has intentions to marry me in the near future.

This introduction finally put the mind of my mum to rest since we were on the right track leading to marriage.

My “fiancé” in the making, went back to work in his country of base while I remained here in Nigeria, PREGNANT!

Six months went by and it was time for me to travel abroad (a different country from his) to have my baby. After my baby was born, we stayed a few months then went over to the country where he resides to visit him so he can get a chance to see his newborn son.

(Please note that this time when my son and I went to visit him is the first time we both were not only living together but also staying in the same place for a long period of time).

It was during that visit that reality more or less hit me.

As time went on while we were living together, I realized that he not only had a really bad temper but he would get upset over the slightest thing and I had to brace myself for a few days before I speak to him or even ask him for a favor or for finances for our son.

This behavior was the exact opposite of the sweet and loving man I fell in love with back in Nigeria while we were dating.

His temper is so bad that there was one time he got very upset over pretty much nothing and locked my son and I out of his house on the streets. I had to go to a friend’s house to spend the night so my son doesn’t get exposed to the cold.

After that incident, it dawn on me that not only was he a BEAST but also completely inhumane and callous. As a result, I decided it would be better to live as a single mum than to endure another second of his torture and ill treatment.

That was until I returned back to Nigeria and heard the cries and pleas he had been raining down on my people even before my arrival. He says he is sorry and wants to go ahead with the marriage plans if I would have him.

The question now is WHAT DO I DO? My gut is telling me to walk away but then I’m currently unemployed and with a brand new baby. How do I take care of him and me too? But then my so called “fiancé” treats me so badly and frankly I’m only considering going back simply because of our son.

Please advise on what I should do. Walk away or go ahead with the marriage? I need your help!

Click on the link below to read my reply

http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/10/16/my-husband-locked-my-son-i-out-of-the-house-help/

Hello readers, welcome to another Poll Tuesday on A Loco Viva Voce. Last week, I asked “what is the worst thing you’ve ever done for money?” And the winner goes to “Wash a Septic Tank”.

Whomever you are that really had to wash a septic tank for money, I am really sorry you had to endure that but it’s much better than stealing so God bless your hustle.

However, majority of people have lied for money (26%), some sold their property and borrowed (16%), some people slept with a man or woman, begged and stole (11%) while others worked miniature jobs (5%).

Today’s poll is for those of us that believe we know how to recite the National Anthem. Basically, all you have to do is choose the correct answer for the three phrases of the National Anthem given in the options. I’m sure most of us know how to recite the National Anthem but how many of us actually know the correct lyrics?

PS: Don’t cheat off the Internet :-P

Happy voting!

Click on the link below to choose the correct anthem phrase

http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/10/13/poll-tuesday-choose-the-correct-anthem-phrase/

Aizenosa:
Pls don't get it wrong, the church has always had a stand against the listed crimes above, the pope asked that priest grant absolution to these set of people because once you know you are not in a state of grace you cannot partake in the Eucharist which is the high point of the mass.

Also if u still go ahead and you have not be absorbed of your sins and you receive the Eucharist, u receive condemnation.

So on such grounds these people are like left out in mass. Hence, the pope asks that these people be brought back into communion with Christ and he asks priest to absorb them of their sins.

I agree with you that they should be absorbed of their sins so they can partake in the eucharist but my point is that there shouldn't be that segregation in the first place so I'm glad he sorted that out and with time, I'm sure he will sort out the rest

Sometime last month on Linda Ikeji’s blog, I read a post saying that His Holiness Pope Francis grants Catholic priests the right to “forgive” women who have had abortions. Read the post here.

Before I proceed with today’s post, let me just say how naive and uninformed we Nigerians can be. As a blogger, how can you not research the accurate information before posting it for millions of people to see?

Fellow Catholics would have obviously caught this error in the post headline while non-Catholic’s will definitely misconstrue the headline for exactly what it says which is totally against what the Catholic church represents.

Just for clarification for non-Catholics, Reverend Fathers or Priests of the Catholic church DO NOT “forgive” sin. They merely ABSOLVE you of your sin meaning they set or declare (someone) free from blame, guilt, or responsibility by giving absolution and penance for (a sin).

Please do not be misinformed and do not get the wrong idea of the Catholic church. Only God can forgive sin. Catholic priests HAVE NEVER and WILL NEVER be able “forgive” sin.

Today’s post does not entirely reprimand our Nigerian bloggers but rather it discusses some of the irregularity, incongruity and somewhat absurdity of the Catholic doctrine. I am a die hard, dedicated Catholic but even I sometimes question the doctrine the Catholic church teaches.

I am going to touch on the few mentioned in today’s topic one after the other.

Click on the link below to continue reading

http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/10/12/abortion-birth-control-sin-of-the-holy-spirit-the-catholic-church-anomalies/

Hi there! Have you cast your vote for yesterday’s poll that asks “WHAT IS THE WORST THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE FOR MONEY”? Click the link to vote http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/10/06/poll-tuesday-what-is-the-worst-thing-you-have-ever-done-for-money/

Now on Monday, I told you I was going to share another one of my unconventional tips for mothers and parents out there. Well today is the day I share and it is about “getting rid of colic in babies” (local style).

I recently shared it with my friend and her mum who battled with colic after she had her first child so now that she just had her second, she sought my advice on how to get rid of it. And I thought why don’t I also share this method with my lovely readers?

So here goes:


This post is for all those parents out there who are unable to get enough rest due to something called “COLIC” that affects babies from birth up until six months when it completely vanishes. Basically, as a result of “colic”, the baby for unknown reasons keeps crying for more than three hours in a day, EVERY DAY. Unlucky parents experience this crying at night.

Like my mother-in-law describes it, she says it is caused by the opening in the navel where the umbilical cord was attached from. That opening according to her takes a long time to heal and even though it closes on the outside after a few days after birth, it takes longer to completely heal on the inside.

So (still according to her), it is that healing process that makes the baby very uncomfortable and makes them cry unceasingly even after you have fed, changed and napped them. They still can’t seem to stop crying.

She says it gives them the same feeling of having menstrual cramps and you already know how menstrual pain can be uncomfortable in women now imagine in a little baby.

Some of you must have tried all the “gripe water” they sell in the market just to get your baby to stop crying as a result of colic but still to no avail. Today’s method is a definite remedy to all of that and as you pretty much have already guessed the source of my unconventional/local style solution to colic is MY MOTHER-IN-LAW.

Yeah! All thanks to her, I only know the theoretical aspect of Colic as I actually never experienced it with my child.

So for your information, her method doesn’t only get rid of colic, it has been proven several times to PREVENT it as well.

Once again, this method has been tested and tried SEVERAL TIMES. So feel free to use it but I advise first timers should have an older woman present to administer it like your mum or anyone with more experience in handling babies. It’s not compulsory but precautionary.

Now, I am sure most mothers are familiar with the act of pressing the navel (utobolo) with hot water. When I say “pressing” I do not mean the utobolo itself but rather the “surroundings of the utobolo”.

Usually, when bathing the baby, you use a wash cloth to press the surroundings of the utobolo in order to relieve the baby of gas, cramps and what have you.

Well this method tackles colic from that aspect as well and here’s what you do.

Firstly, here are the ingredients needed:

Alligator Pepper

UDA seeds (the spice used to make pepper soup)

The baby’s navel that fell few days after being born (utobolo)

A small piece of cloth (like the pieces of a wrapper)

New Lantern or Charcoal

Don’t worry guys; we’re not making soup lol

Now the second step is to mix the ingredients.

Click on the link to continue reading the post

http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/10/07/how-to-get-rid-of-colic-in-babies-local-style/

Hello readers, welcome to another Poll Tuesday on A Loco Viva Voce. On last week’s poll, I asked you what was the least amount you’ve given to a beggar and judging from the results, we need to try to be more generous. 56% gives twenty naira and 22% gives ten naira or less and also fifty naira. Let’s try our best to give more to society especially to those who are in dire need.

Today’s poll however, has less to do with giving and more to do with receiving. The question is “WHAT IS THE WORST THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE FOR MONEY”?

Last week, I wrote a post about Runs and prostitution and how desperate times call for desperate measures. So let’s be honest guys (both male and female). During those trying times when you were down to your very last with no hope of getting it from anywhere or anyone. What did you have to do to survive?

For some of us, it’s probably our BIG SECRET and there’s no need to worry, casting your vote doesn’t reveal your secret. So feel free to pick more than one option from the lot and even enter an answer that isn’t amongst the options in the box provided next to “Other”.

Happy voting!

Click on the link to pick your answer

http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/10/06/poll-tuesday-what-is-the-worst-thing-you-have-ever-done-for-money/

SirWere:
Is money involved? Smh

Kai! Nigerians!!! Money is not everything oh

ThePeacemaker:

Arise 'o' compatriot
Niqeria's call obey
To serve our fathers land
With love and strength and faith
The labour of our hero's past shall never be in vain.............Ehhmmmmmmm
I don forget ahm jae

Lol. It's not as easy as it seems abi?

LOL

Click on the link to watch the video

http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/10/04/adorable-little-girl-is-scared-of-her-shadow/

Hello beautiful people. Hope you had a fantastic weekend. Initially for today’s post, I was going to give another one of my “unconventional expos” for mothers and parents but then I came across something very interesting on NTA last night while watching the news and I thought to share it with you guys. Stay tuned on Wednesday for my expo

On the network news last night, there was a segment where a reporter was giving a rundown of Nigeria’s National Symbols. She started off with the National Flag then proceeded to the Coat of Arms. It was when she started to speak of the most “popular” of all the National symbols of Nigeria, the National Anthem that she finally got my full attention.


Out of over 10 people interviewed for that report, only one of them could sing the National Anthem correctly.

Initially, while watching it, a hysterical laughter erupted in my living room but then it got me thinking “HOW MANY OF US (NIGERIANS) CAN ACTUALLY RECITE THE NATIONAL ANTHEM?”

And I mean “word for word” not “hum” the National Anthem.

Before I began to criticize, I took a second to make sure that I’m not as ignorant as the 10 people being embarrassingly interviewed on national/international television. And as pleasing as it made me, I am able to completely recite not only the 1st and 2nd Stanza of the National Anthem but also the former National Anthem that was used from independence in 1960 until 1978 – (all thanks to Kunle Afolayan’s October 1st movie). That scene where Miss Tawa was teaching the pupils how to recite Nigeria’s “new” National Anthem caught my attention and personally, I much prefer the tune of the old anthem to the new one. But then what do I know, I’m just a blogger

Back to the topic at hand…

While the report was going on, and people kept failing wholly, the reporter stated that the inability of people to recite the National Anthem correctly is due to a “lacuna in the Nigerian educational sector”.

Do I agree with that reporter, ABSOLUTELY!

A few days ago, I came across an article by a fellow blogger (The Naija Teacher) titled “If I were President of my country”. The author, if President would have a “one point” agenda focusing singularly on education. The author believes that changing the educational system in the country would decrease migration, improve the issue of electricity, water, bad roads, infrastructure, and health system, create job opportunities and consequently reduce poverty and thus corruption.

Now this leaves me wondering.

Click on the link to continue reading

http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/10/05/can-you-recite-the-national-anthem/

Hello people, welcome to another Poll Tuesday on A Loco Viva Voce. After last week’s Poll where I asked you what you thought is the ideal spacing for kids? 47% said two years, 41% said more than two years and 12% said one year.

So there we have it guys, majority has the vote!

Today’s poll is about the post on philanthropy and the question is “WHAT IS THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE EVER GIVEN TO A BEGGAR?”

Answer truthfully guys! After all, no one is watching :-P

Click the link to vote. Happy voting!

http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/09/29/what-is-the-smallest-amount-you-have-given-to-a-beggar/

Ok guys, today’s post is really a topic of concern in our society today. As we know, everyone is on social media and if you are bored and pretty much just want to keep tabs on that ex of yours or the girl next door, all you need do is go to his or her Instagram or Snap Chat page and you can pretty much enter into the world of that person.

You would get to see how the person has lived every single day ever since their account was created. From their outfits and the designer’s name (sometimes price tag), to the places they’ve visited, the food they ate, the car they drive and the whole nine yards. As a matter of fact, you will get an INCLUSIVE insight into that person’s daily routine.

And I ask you guys, IS IT NECESSARY TO FLAUNT YOUR LIFE ON SOCIAL MEDIA?


Let me go ahead and say that I absolutely DO NOT have a problem with social media, I actually believe it is a very creative and useful invention. What I have a problem with is the way people are pretty much “abusing” it.

Oh I’m jetting off to Dubai, Instagram. Just bought a new perfume, Twitter. Just made Banga soup, Facebook. Le Boo proposed, Snap Chat. I mean what is the deal?

Whatever happened to PRIVACY?

How exactly does putting up every single picture and video of you add value to your life? Or like some people would say, “Change the price of garri in the market”?

Let’s not forget about the ones that play “love” on social media by posting pictures and videos of their “boyfriends” and “husbands” with ridiculous captions and hashtags. Oh we’re in love! Look at our pictures #boooflife #togetherforever #woulddiewithoutyou. As the saying goes, ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD.

Isn’t there anyone else worried about the evolution of social media? I mean ever since Snap Chat was invented, all I can think of is the day someone would put up videos of their intimate moments whilst indulging in the act (if they haven’t already). At the rate we’re going, that day is not far off.

Let me give you one particular instance that annoyed me to my bones; Tiwa Savage and TeeBilz’s first wedding anniversary.

For those of you that didn’t catch a glimpse of their Instagram post on their first wedding anniversary, click the link to feed your eyes with the pictures and to read the picture caption and the rest of the post.

http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/09/28/is-it-necessary-to-flaunt-your-life-on-social-media/

Congratulations to JACQUELINE who is the Giveaway Friday winner!!!!!!

With the most comments on alocovivavoce.com, Jacqueline has emerged the winner of Giveaway Friday for the month of September 2015. Congratulations Jacqueline!

As a special prize, Jacqueline gets one of the following:

A 2000 (two thousand) naira recharge card of any network of your choice.

Or

A promotion of anything of your choice on alocovivavoce.com. Whether a product, service, idea or writeup, just let me know whatever you choose to promote and I would be at your service.

So once again, congratulations Jacqueline for being the top commenter for September 2015.

Finally, I would like to show appreciation to the other top commenters:

Lydia,

Ibiela,

Emmanuella/Mama Naeto (thenaijateacher.com),

Deze,

Vivien,

Tumi,

Stephanie,

Coco,

Naija Carrot (naijacarrot.),

Eddie,

Kike,

and all other readers who have commented on alocovivavoce.com. I really do appreciate you for making out time to read and comment on my posts. I look forward to more posts and also more Giveaway Fridays here on alocovivavoce.com.

Congratulations once more to Jacqueline and remember the next Giveaway Friday will be on the last Friday of October 2015.

PS: Words are an expression of opinion; WRITING is SPEAKING!

-OUR

Hello beautiful people, have you cast your vote for yesterday’s poll? The question is “what is the ideal spacing for kids”? Click the link to vote on how long you think parents should wait before having more kids http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/09/22/poll-tuesday-what-is-the-ideal-spacing-for-kids/

This entire week’s post is based on conversations I had or conversations I heard of and today’s post is courtesy of Cool FM Radio.

On the radio sometime recently, the topic of discussion was “the act of giving” and how people should learn to be more humane and give back to their community. Which I believe is a very touching and interesting topic because I do feel that people do not really give back to the community like they should.

Well it was an interesting topic and shortly became a VERY INTERESTING topic after the presenter uttered what I would refer to as a BOMB. And it is that “bomb” that led to me writing today’s post.

Click the link to continue reading

http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/09/23/philanthropy-the-atruistic-act-of-giving/

To be honest, it is only right you consider the different factors that affect your life directly before choosing to have more kids. That's the point of spacing. You may want only 1 year in between but then you lose your job. Will you still go shead because you want to get over with child bearing? Actually, most Nigerian parents would with the mindset of God will provide.

Hello guys, Welcome to the very first Poll here on A Loco Viva Voce.

After last week’s series about birth control and all of that, i decided to take a poll to find out the right spacing one is supposed to have in between their kids. That is if they choose to have more than one of course.

While giving your answer, be sure to put in mind certain factors that come in play such as money, age and the society you live in.

Click the link to vote. Happy voting!

http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/09/22/poll-tuesday-what-is-the-ideal-spacing-for-kids/

Today’s post is more or less as a result of a conversation I had with a friend of mine. For as long as I’ve known her, she has never EVER dated an older guy. Ok not ever but it’s an 8 to 2 ratio. So I constantly tease her about her being cougar and liking younger guys.

During our conversation, she was of the opinion that she doesn’t necessarily like younger guys but because she is very accommodating, she is able to “blend in” with whichever comes her way. And that was the moment my theory was born – “your subconscious simply acts as a result of your personal preference”.

I responded to her saying “she subconsciously attracts younger guys because that is what she really likes deep down”

Like I said, this conversation prompted me to write a post but I would also love to hear what you think about the said topic. So click the link below to read my thoughts and opinion and feel free to share yours afterwards.

Click the link to continue reading

http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/09/21/the-law-of-attraction-within-or-out-of-our-control/

tunmidon:
La click la bend

Meaning?

Lol

Click the link to watch the video

http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/09/20/this-is-what-happens-when-you-dont-pay-attention-in-physics-class/