₦airaland Forum

e moment I eventually sat up in my grammar was when I turned ten and had to go to a Unity school, where all the girls formed, ‘I started speaking English from the womb.’ Any gaffe could earn you an everlasting nickname.

Once upon a time, I could not speak English. I was two, three or there about. My father propounded this argument that it was better to teach children the local dialect from the cradle and in school, they learn the lingua franca. Of course my parents are well schooled but I happen to have one of those culture-conscious and abiding gentlemen for a father. This idea augured ill with my English-Literature graduate mom as she watched her tots prattling away in Igbo. Even though in the late eighties and early nineties when my elder sister and I were born respectively, the argument made sense and was practiced by many homes in the east.

But the tune of the dance changed when I was four and my kid brother was born. A new commandment was issued: DON’T SPEAK IN THIS HOUSE AGAIN. I guess my mother feared that we would end up not having enough armor in our arsenal of English words. That was my third year in kindergarten and the only English I knew were the ones just enough for me to get by; enough not to get into trouble in class, enough to answer questions correctly (this is a ball, this is a chair, etc etc) and enough to pass my tests. But my deepest expressions could only be conveyed in Igbo.

So to say that the new commandment at home came in handy for us would be such a huge lie. Sometimes simply out of rebellion, we took to signing after she must have denied us a request ( ‘I wouldn’t do it for you till you say it in English’) and after we must have tried and tried till the speech hung in our throat like an over-stressed Blackberry. Sometimes to make it easier, we spoke Engli-Igbo. Check out this conversation between Mom and I;

Mom: How was school today?

I: Fine. Mommy, my nwa-class, Miracle, broke my pencil.

Mom: It is not nwa-class. It is called ‘Classmate’.

The moment I eventually sat up in my grammar was when I turned ten and had to go to a Unity school, where all the girls formed, ‘I started speaking English from the womb.’ Any gaffe could earn you an everlasting nickname. But in my efforts, I never neglected my Igbo. My WAEC result, though riddled with C’s and only two B’s, of the two A’s I made, one was in Igbo.

Well, I could say I turned out well in the English-speaking world, (I am a writer now), yet I deeply cherish learning to speak Igbo from the cradle and I have this strong feeling that it added depth to my imagination and this happens to be it an invaluable gift if you are a writer. What more, I can brag in my resume that I am bilingual or (permit me to joke) even multilingual if I include the smatterings of elementary French we were taught at school: Bonjour, Bonsoir, Bon chance, Ca va….J’t aime!

The desire to write this came upon me when at the salon, the other day, I met a cute little boy who spoke highly-concentrated Igbo. In this 2013, believe me, this is a rare and beautiful thing to behold. To the Ghanaian hair-stylist who does not understand Igbo, he spoke correct English. But to his playmates, he spoke Igbo.

He just reminded me of my little self, several years ago

A living dog is better than a dead lion....... olamides ybnl album is as good as ceo if u doubt go get a copy

Which insect killer is your favourite in Nigeria. Raid, Mobil, mortein

gister2: Spellz
Sarz
Masterkraft
Shizzi
Jsleek
Don jazzy
jessejagz
tee y miz
flip tyce
Cobhams

e Kelly no de ur list

Whenever the price of premium motor spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol, is to be increased, the people in charge will readily point in the direction of other oil producing countries that pay more for the commodity than we do. But do they ever show us example of leaders that don't live flamboyantly and extravagantly on state resources like they do? Our public officials should be burying their heads in shame!President of Uruguay, José Mujica is a living proof of humility in service – a beacon of hope that indeed, leadership is still all about service to the people not self. President José Mujica is getting world wide recognition and respect for donating 90 percent (not slashing '25%') of his earnings to charitable causes.He has earned what most people would call an enviable reputation as the "poorest," or the "most generous," president in the world. His nickname, "el presidente mas pobre" translates to "poorest president".The President said in a recent interview that the only big item he owns is his Volkswagen Beetle car, valued at $1,945 dollars (about N308,283) . He earns a salary of $12,500 a month (N1,981,250), but only keeps $1,250(N198,125) for himself, donating the rest to charity.He lives in a farmhouse which is under his wife's name, Lucía Topolansky, a Senator, who also donates part of her salary.The 77 year-old who has been Uruguay's president since March 1, 2010 told El Mundo, "I DO FINE WITH THAT AMOUNT; I HAVE TO DO FINE BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY URUGUAYANS WHO LIVE WITH MUCH LESS."I just had to cut-in to lay emphasis on that last line! How many Nigerian leaders can say and do so truthfully without dipping their hands into the public till when no one is watching? Food for thought! Continue reading…It was also reported that under his stewardship, Uruguay has become known for low levels of corruption. The South American country ranks as the second least corrupt country in Latin America in Transparency International's global corruption index.Yahoo News reported that the President has no bank accounts, no debts, and he enjoys the companionship of his dog, Manuela. When his term is over, the President hopes to rest even more peacefully in his farmhouse, along with his wife and his inseparable dog.The Last time I checked, a former president retired to a farm of chickens that rake in millions/month...

Interesting transfer news are out claiming that Barcelona are willing to sell David Villa next month for £16 million.The Daily Mail reported that Gunners officials have been told it will take €20million to land Spain’s record goalscorer.Arsene Wenger would prefer a short-term loan for the former Valencia star, who is also a target for Chelsea, but is willing to offer a permanent move if the price is right.However, the fee quoted by Barca is likely to be deemed too much by Arsenal because of Villa’s age.Despite the fact he is a peripheral figure for Barcelona, the Spanish giants are not desperate to sell Villa next month.

In my opinion, these are my top ten producers right now

1. Don Jazzy

2. Tee Y mix

3. E Kelly

4. Sarz

5. Jay Sleek

6. Flip tyce

7. Cobhams

8. Samklef

9. Jesse Jags

10. Selebobo

Name your top ten

Rochas don dey Bleep up

ents

Senator Chris Anyanwu yesterday accused Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha of ordering his security detail to attack her convoy and beat up her security men.

Wednesday’s convoy clash was the height of the personality clash between the two public officials both of whom were elected on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

But Okorocha’s spokesman Ebere Uzoukwa denied the claims by the senator.

He said the senator breached protocol by using a siren, which has been banned in the state.

“The senator’s vehicle suddenly rammed into the governor’s convoy close to the staff car, cutting off the lead security vehicle after overtaking dangerously and in a very suspicious manner,” Uzoukwa said.
But, Senator Anyanwu recounts the incident in Owerri, the Imo State capital. She described the governor’s security men’s action as “frightening” and “brutish”, adding that she had been threatened in the past at several occasions in the state.

Giving a graphic detail of the clash between her convoy and the governor’s security men, Senator Anyanwu said: “My day started around 9.30am when I visited the governor at the Government House on Tuesday to exchange pleasantries and he asked if I had adequate security and I said “yes” after which I left for my home town, Mbaise.”

“When we got to Azara Egbelu, we heard siren coming behind us and when it grew louder, we parked (our vehicles) to allow the convoy way to pass. But, surprisingly, the approaching convoy which comprised of truck loads of armed and stern looking men double crossed us and pulled out two of my drivers dragging them into the bush where they were mercilessly beaten and left with broken skull and bruises.

“When I could not bear it any more, I rushed out of my car barefooted and started shouting: “I am Senator Chris Anynawu please don’t kill my driver, but one of the armed men charged at me and threatened to shoot me for running into the governor’s convoy. All these while, the Governor was seated in his car with the glass wound down and I heard him shout at his security men to disarm my orderlies”.

Mrs. Anywanwu described the Governor’s action as “a misplaced show of power. The power of the state is so enormous and you don’t need to intimidate, harass or kill your people to assert your powers as a governor.

“I am tired of all these abuses and harassment in this state. It is not only in Imo State that they have female legislators. If they could do this to me, what will happen to the ordinary people, this has to stop”.

The governor’s spokesman insisted that Senator Anyanwu breached security, adding that her outburst of anger could have resulted in a heavy casualty if not for the discipline of the governor’s security men who displayed a high sense of decency, professionalism and maturity.

“Surprisingly, Senator Anyanwu, who no doubt knew the convoy was that of the governor of Imo State, alighted from her car and ordered her Naval security personnel to open fire. The Senator slapped both the governor’s Aide Camp and Chief Detail. She also rained abuses on the governor,” Uzoukwa said.

Sources in the state said there had been no love lost between the governor and the senator because of the perceived interest of the senator in contesting for governor.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/okorocha-ordered-attack-on-my-convoy-says-senator/

Interior pls....... exterior ain't bad. Email to chukky9091@gmail.com

Na wa o. These guys gotta change o