₦airaland Forum

nuattitude74: Bros,where u ? I dey wait for the next installment O ! On the issue of perseverence ehn, can you touch on knowing when to quit ? Stick-to-itiveness is good but e fit kill person so, when man suppose know when to bail out of an endeavour ?

I must say that I love that phrase. Where did u get it from?

68 ) Don't let go of money so quickly

Say you need to pay 5,000,0000 naira tution fees for a postgraduate studies overseas. You might be expected to pay a minimum of say 2,000,000 naira before you start. Well, go ahead and pay that bit. However, pause before the rush

Even if you have the entire money, why rush to settle all your bills immediately thereby reducing your liquidity. You could owe to the very last minute, and even request for an extension for the date of payment of the balance. Don't worry my friend, the remaining money 3,000,000 naira siting idly in your bank account no go develop leg run away (except im dey Savanah bank ).

Money left in your bank account can then be leveraged in several none risky ways. For example, in the UK, this could give you access to some good credit facilities; Showing a balance sheet of 3,000,000 naira to a foreign government if you're inviting your boyfriend or brother over should make you look good; Your bank account looking robust could even be helful if 9ja girl wen dey consider u as her boo mistakenly follow u go bank and see balance sheet wen money still dey inside. No give am the money sha, if you do, the aim of witholding the money is defeated.


Witholding/last-minute bill offsets is a very valuable tactics in stretching the value of your resources (leveraging). It's not encouraging us to borrow money and not pay back, neither is it encouraging us to be stingy. It means that when you have bills to pay especially to organised systems (not someone wen trust you), you hold on to your money for as long as it is possible. You could then use this gap period to leverage your money.

Some wicked top bureacrats even use this tactics in witholding civil servants salaries, allowing the monies to cool off in the bank while accruing interest for their greedy selves


Within the legitimate confines, I've heard some folks say they can't do this because if they withold money, dem go chop am.
Well, since u'r so indisciplined u'd better pay upfront then. This strategy na for more disciplined people

@ishilove

This one don go beyond academic interest. me thinks u have a thing for naptu2.

Why una dey like guys like physicsqed amd naptu2, but una no dey go gaga for me?
na so i wowo?

I read this Article, and found bolded quite worrying, and wanted to seek the views of those in the know. Thanks

Author: Ibraheem A.Waziri
Source: http://saharareporters.com

[quote author=Ibraheem A.Waziri]It’s just that ignorance reign in Nigeria or our public intellectuals do not have passion for details and deep philosophical enquiry into the nature and realities of our socio-cultural formation and its history for the best of their opinions. These can be the only open and not so stretched explanations to Chinua Achebe’s blatant, below status and insincere depiction of the Nigerian Civil War of 1967 - 70 in the light of a so called jihadist expansionist goal of Muslims of northern Nigeria. The opinion summary of his latest book, There Was a Country, as he published in the UK Guardian, Tuesday, 2nd 2012, make bold this meaningless assertion:

“But if the diabolical disregard for human life seen during the war was not due to the northern military elite's jihadist or genocidal obsession, then why were there more small arms used on Biafran soil than during the entire second world war? Why were there 100,000 casualties on the much larger Nigerian side compared with more than 2 million – mainly children – Biafrans killed?”

Needless to mention that Achebe is not alone in this kind of portrayal that is typical of recent Igbo ‘intellectuals’ when it comes to discussing the civil war. The task of re-educating them and the crop of their students is therefore necessary if the dream of a greater Nigeria in fair neighborliness is to be realized.

Yes, northern Nigerians are mainly and majorly proud and faithful Muslims with unique culture and a record of close interactions with other world civilizations since time. They have for long known and understood that not everybody must look like them or believe in what they believed in, before peace, social cohesion and fair neighborliness are justifiably established. In fact it can be authoritatively said that northern Nigeria of the 1960s, formed one the most cosmopolitan and accommodating social spaces in the whole world. When the Ghanaian president Kwame Nkrumah wanted to initiate and draft Nigeria’s prime minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and the premier of the northern region Ahmadu Bello into his Pan-Africanism, they clearly told him that they were not racists and believed in the universal nature of truth, justice, fairness and equality of humankind regardless of race or ethnicity and that reflected the way they managed northern Nigeria and the country in general.

It was this world-view with its values and norms guiding intra and inter-pinning of human relations that saw a northern Nigeria of the 1960s as a home to many Igbos. In modern history the top one percent of the most literate and influential Igbo personalities once lived in northern Nigeria or spoke Hausa, the dominant language in the North. It was here that Major Chukuma Kaduna Nzeogwu’s parents settled and gave birth to him in 1937. He grew up with all opportunities unhindered and got the award of love, justice and trust of the then premier of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello until he finally, easily and safely got access to him, in the night, in his house, in the privacy of his bedroom and killed him in front of his wife with no struggle, no any suspecting guard to check him or even ask him hard questions. It is finished. Brutus killed his Caesar in cold blood of treachery, hatred and breach of trust. Describing a similar situation in the same operation kill, where Major Ifeajuna an Igbo soldier and Major Nzeagwu’s co-kill planner and partner, shot Brigadier Maimalari, Bernard Odogwu, an Igbo Nigerian Diplomat at the times of the events, in his book, No Place to Hide - Crises and Conflicts inside Biafra, clearly put it, “I am particularly shocked at the news that Major Ifeajuna personally shot and killed his mentor, Brigadier Maimalari. My God! That must have been Caesar and Brutus come alive...”

What then could have been the fate of other Igbos in many parts of the North who enjoyed the same love, trust and protection of the other northerners who began to see a new streak of arrogance, condescension in the behavior of the Igbo who were illussioned in the new leadership of General Ironsi to the extent that, as told by our parents, they used to mock the northerners, imitating the cries and squeaks of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa before he died in the hands of Major Ifeajuna. Still Igbo intellectuals engage in this mockery as the Nigerian military historian Max Siollun, recently re-told the story of Nzeogwu’s kill, which clearly portrayed Ahmadu Bello as a coward and a simpleton who hide behind his wife when he saw that Nzeagwu was certain to get him. These provocations and the details of stories such as captured by David Muffett, a British colonial officer who wrote the account of the 1966 coup in a book titled, Let Truth Be Told, outlining the Igbo elite’s detailed plan to take control of not only the political structures but even the social structures of the North by killing all the then northern emirs in the final.

Some including Achebe are still contesting that the kill was not an Igbo carefully planned affair but rather a coup plotted against all Nigerian leaders of then. Yet all Igbos in prominent positions were missed in the fire and it was said the president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe was missed because he was out of the country for a medical checkup. The question is could they have missed Sir Ahmadu Bello or Abubakar Tafawa Balewa if any was on a medical trip or they would have postponed the operations for more appropriate date that would guarantee and ensure an all inclusive kill?

Yet, the pogroms that followed the events and the civil war were unfortunate (more objective details of which were written by Elechi Amadi in Sunset at Biafra). But the characterization of Northerners as Muslim jihadists who were already prepared and ready to stage a ‘holy jihad’ against Igbo, as a reason for the war is very untrue and intellectually insincere. Just because Igbo intellectuals have to find reasons then it doesn’t mean every reason must be dashed out. Just because they need someone to blame doesn’t mean the 21st century image of fundamentalist Islam must be projected backward into the story of Nigeria to justify a perspective.

Besides what religion did the major actors of the war on the federal side professed? General Yakubu Gowon, General Theopilus Danjuma and General Joseph Garba, were Christians. Chief Awolowo, the intellectual architect of the War was a Christian. General Olusegun Obasanjo and General Adekunle were all not Northerners. The prominent name in the commands that is a core Muslim northerner was only General Murtala Muhammed. Even if all the others were Muslims what sense could it have made for the Muslims to have fought the Igbos only to establish the leadership of General Yakubu Gowan who was a Christian, the same and only reason they supposedly could have fought the Igbos? Gowon enjoyed the support of all Muslim northerners as my good friend Alhaji Yakubu Musa, currently a media assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan who is from a devout Muslim family, once mentioned how he was named Yakubu in celebration of Gowon’s visit to Kano on a day that coincided with his birthday.

No. The truth of the matter is Igbo betrayed the trust given to them in the then northern Nigeria by the singular act of betrayal of Nzeagwu on Ahmadu Bello and the subsequent poor management of their relationship with their hosts that bred suspicion of complicity in the plans of the kill and a thought of greater conspiracy.

The way forward is not to employ a wider and more efficient propaganda machinery to score cheap sympathy and sponsor the production of a sensationalist movie in the Holly Wood, Tears of the Sun, starring Bruce Willis and displaying that northern Nigerian Muslim Hausa will attempt to do the same in the present Nigeria and in the recent future and can be stopped only by the Americans.

The way forward is to always tell the truth, accept faults, take responsibilities for errors and constantly preach the gospel of keeping trust, commitments and fair neighborliness. Let’s make the younger generation and the entire world know that we are one in Nigeria and the top one percent of Igbo most informed political and public intellectuals lived in the North or even spoke Hausa. This ranging from Chinua Achebe himself, Cyprian Ekwensi, Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeagwu, General Emeka Ojukwu or Dr. Nmandi Azikwe. Cyprian Ekwensi even copied and translated the literary work of my uncle; John Tafida Umaru titled, Jiki Magayi, from Hausa to English, titled it, African Night Entertainment, and dubbed it his own without acknowledgement, adding to his literary stock, achievement and fame. The world must know the good contribution their living in the North and speaking its language brought into their skills and perspectives, that, which won them the accolades they so celebrate and rejoice in, today. A fact which they and their friends always want to hide![/quote]http://saharareporters.com/article/northern-nigerian-muslims-and-nigerian-civil-war-between-achebe-and-other-igbo-intellectuals

...

67) Roadblock?

In my post #64 b, I made mention that your being the best in a field is however dependent on the 'weakness' of others compared to your strength. This is despite how good you are. This fact drives some to thrive to be better than others, or actually undermine others. It's even a business strategy used by corporations either way. For example, Apple is suing Samsung silly just to slow them down, not really foo the money.

Its like say a husband makes up his mind to earn more than his wife. He could do any or both of these two:
1) Aspire to outearn his wife no matter how much she earns
2) Ensure that his wife's ambitions are twarthed so that she does not earn more than him.

The first brings about healthy competition, while the second... umh I hear say na im some regions of the country dey practice. Na hear I hear o. This is the case that is being made against Apple, i.e that their acions/suits are anti-competitive

I guess you've also seen this practiced by coleagues in your workplace, by your neighbours and your 'friends', that boy wen let u spy am for exam to one extent, then after that im come shift seat . You might even be the guilty party. Yes you

Na so im be

66)Exploring Gaps

A friend from India told me a story that I thought to share with you. It's about an Indian businessman who wanted to import Nike and Addidas shoes in large consignments into India for sale (he says it was also used to act a Hindi movie). He was aware that the duties/tax on these category of items was about 150% of the value. The shoes were also well priced in India. So this is what he did.

From Europe, he told the manufacturers to unpair the shoes and put them into different containers (i.e all left parts in one container and the right parts in another container). The left container was then shipped to India, and the right to China.

In India, the 'container' for the left pairs of shoes was left uncleared for a long time, and no one (not even corrupt officials) were interested in such a useless container. So the relevant government body had to dispose of it through an auction. The indian business man was the only one in the auction, and he bargained for this worthless consignment for a give away price. They gave it to him

He then went ahead to bring in the other pair of shoes from China, and paired them up. With this cunning strategy he made a princely profit for himself.

65) Concentric cirles

Following from post 64, u see that u can be determined and focussed on getting a skill set like physics knowledge, and you're almost 100% sure of acheiving this within a practical time as long as you take the right steps. However, after getting such skill, it doesn't neccesarily translate to your getting a job or success in business. This is the case even if you sing 'beautiful' music. This is simply because this aspect is dependent on other humans and their 'interaction' with you. You might then need to build some soft and human management skills that can make folks buy into you, or you might just be fortunate being at the right place at the right time despite the competition.

I suggest that 'a' way we can minimize the fallout from such a situation is to approach business/career as you would some concentric circles. So you could mentally make a list of skills that you would like to have. Make another list of skills that you think employers or a particular employer would like. Make yet another list of skills that might be useful in your personal life. You could then focus your immediate attention on gaining skills that are common to all categories and acheive them first


-For me, speed typing is a skill that falls in all categories mentioned above. Employers would like that I can type fast, plus my typing fast is used in my personal life in Nairaland

-Excel/ spreadsheet skills is also something that fits into fullfilling my employers needs, my business cashflows needs and planning my personal budget

Sad

In some other threads were the Allu 4 of Uniport were murdered in cold blood, the tide is against the Allu mob that did it. In this thread, the tide is against the victims that were murdered

Pro Aluu 4 thread reasoning:
-the murdered boys were fine boys
-the boys were from middle class homes
-Where are pictures showing the items that were stolen?
-Where are pictures showing the guns that were used?
-Where is the proof that the boys stole something
-If the 4 boys were cultists so what?
-Who gave the Allu mob the right to extract jungle justice?
-Aluu village must be visited with repriesals and also jungle justice

Pro Abuja mob reasoning
-The murdered men look like thieves
-They are apparently no gooders
-They deserve jungle justice

In the Abuja victim case,
-no one is calling for repreisal attack against the mob
-Few are condeming jungle justice
-few if any are asking for photo evidence of the items stolen

You can do a google search for each person on this thread that is in support or against the Abuja jungle justice to see the consistency of their views as compared to that of the aluu 4 murders. Simply type the: username, nairaland and aluu on google. For example:

esere826 nairaland aluu


Such an unequal world, so sad. I weep more for those who are trapped in an elitist mentality and allow it to becloud their sense of judgement -giving stones to the poor as bread. This is also how those politicians we condemn are biased against us. O that the sun would hide its face and also weep with me

Place holder

traditional man and wife growth as per 64b; Controlling versus predicting; relationship example of controlling outcomes; book examples of animate vs inanimate; too much reflection as a show stopper; just do it; connect back to web thinking; principles of compound interest/quick but small wins; business vs career, another mans business; career groth; soft skills; proxemics; body language; powerd differential; mumbai shoes; actors

.....em, em,, make i go sleep,

64) Lets think a little bit

Did you notice from my last 2 threads that when I wrote about determination and focus as it pertains to some inanimate issues such as skills acquisition, i almost sounded 100% positive on the outcomes we would acheive? However, when the write-up shifted to issues that involve other humans, the possibilities of failure became evident?

We can comfortably postulate that has the object of our action becomes more animate the greater the uncertainty of the outcome. Take care to note this.

**I'm thinking of how i can deliver this important bit to us effectively and efficiently. O.k., lets try this:**

Some things/acheivements are dependent soley on you, while some others will depend on a relationship involving you and others.

a-You can be determined to have excellent (>90 percentile) knowledge in a field of science and actually acheive this
b-Your being the best in that field is however depenent on the 'weakness' of others compared to your strength
c-Your being able to sell a product in that field is also dependent on 'your' capability in relationship to the buyers, competitors, producers, e.t.c

63) FOCUS (2nd edition)

You really don't need to accept this, but I believe that focus and determination are the principle tools that are explored during fasting. I mean why would God be interested in me being hungry in order to please him. Just doesn't make sense to me.

I have found that if I have a task that burns in me, I am less interested in eating, sleeping, shaving, or grooming myself. I just put my all into it, and watch things shift into place as I focus on them. If im no gree shift, I might just go ahead and knock them into place.

Determination and focus even if slightly dormant quickens one to smell 'oppurtunities' or directions. So you want to write a book someday, and a certain Ajenlekoko just tok small thing about book, everybody they laugh for table, but u no gree laugh. Instead you dey drink your beer dey eye am

Determination and focus is so powerful that it could also get you in trouble if not properly handled. It could get a mature girl used and dumped on the cheap, simply because she smells husband material in a guy. It could get you to loose or be defrauded of your money because you want to be as rich as Bill Gates before you are thirty.

However, its an excellent vehicle if driven with caution. Even if it messes you up, don't worry. Its better to be silly and loose thousands of naira while young, than millions of naira and assets when old. The lessons would be more than worth it if we are wise.

62) FOCUS

I talked about things that you acheive with determination. A cool tool to use side by side with determination is focus. Focus is a way to to ensure that your energy is not disipated, instead it is concentrated on one or few things. When you do this, u tend to acheive things quicker and surely (based on my experience).

For some of us, there is a strong likelihood that we first start with a task, then run off chasing a new task never finishing the first one. If you'r guilty say: "Aye".
**aye** )

Focus gets rid of distractions, saves and channels your energy, and allows you to drill into the task/goal at hand successfully.

This example might not be too appropriate here, but it should help us in thinking in the required direction. Madona the Musician is a lady that is analysed in strategy. U can check this two links for more reading on the subject
http://www.utdallas.edu/~rxr092000/internal_analysis.pdf
http://www.scribd.com/doc/49835295/madonna).

She has a way of changing/evolving with time. Analysis of her shows that she gets into relationships that are aligned with her destination, and kicks out those that are not through her divorces. So if she wants to get into movies, she flirts and marries a producer, hangs out with movie people etc

-A pastor that wants to be a tele envangelist only needs to be determined and focussed soley on this task, and he would be everywhere before you can say jack.

-If you can't swim, and you want to become a swimmer. All you need is to eat, wake and sleep swimming. Don't bother about doing other things. You'll soon become a swimmer.

-For years, I was a hunt and peck keyboard user. It was becoming embarrasing, so I was determined to put an end to this. In one week of ensuring that the only task I did was learn speed typing (using a tool I found in the internet) I had become fairly good.


(xtian perspective: "I can do all things in Christ Jesus who strengthens me". Truely, I strongly belive that with this tools together (determination and focus), you can do practically anything. Make I no too tok make im no be like say I dey mad. I mean anything, even waking up the dead. o.k naw, dey there)

styca: like am doing today..
thanks esere826 for this post.

U sure are

AjanleKoko: Guy.
You suppose write book. I'm not known to gush, but this thread has a lot of potential.

Do you want to write a book? I can wing it oh.

Thanks o

I am actually thinking of doing that, guess what was holding me back?:
My brand (name)

I don;t enjoy being restricted to one entity (including one woman ), so my fear has been writting say a business book, then permeanently being associated/branded as a business writer only. Imagine Oyedepo writing a fictional book on romance. That would sound silly right?

So I've been trying to think around the brand issue. My latest thinking goes like this:
Say my name is Esere 826 Ajanlekoko. I could write/brand different categories using:

Soft Business books: Esere Ajenlekoko
Romance books: E. 8. Ajenlekoko
Christian books: Esere 8. Ajenlekoko
Strategy books: Esere 826 Ajenlekoko
Academic business books: 826 Ajenlekoko
project management: Ajenlekoko E. 8.

** what do u think about this? makes any sense?**

But u know what? Immediately i saw u question, I thought to myself: "what the *#$$. I could as well write first, then think about naming convention and brand later"

Thanks for your confidence in me sha. I'll buy you a beer when I meet you and we're discussing writting over some nicely roasted and tasty chicken wings

61) Determination

Yep, you guessed right its a synonym for perseverance. But since I've kind of maligned the word perseverance, I'll use the word determination this time in a positive light. Im be like how no body they answer Judas, but people dey answer Jude.

In terms of acquiring skills, determination is an excellent tool. It is said that if you practice a new habit consistently for 30 days, it becomes a part of you.
With such practiced determination you can gain new skills and attributes that could take you places. All you need is to push hard for the first 30 days and Voila!! it becomes a part of you.

I can't remember the exact statistics, but I think its something like if you practice something everyday for a year, you'll become an expert in it.
So, you want to learn french, create you calendar, stick to it, learn and practice french for one year with determination, and you might soon find yourself working in Total

You want to loose weight or have nice physical features, do your excercises, push past the 1st one month to make it a habit, and by the end of the year you could have almost any shape that you desire.

You want to be book smart in a topic. Buy or borrow books on that topic, struggle for the first 30 days with it, it soon becaomes a habit, by the end of the year, you can boldy talk crap on that topic and no one can challenge you

Even if you feel that your calling is to be popular in NairaLand. Spend the first 30 days writing consistently in one category in NL. By the end of the year, you would be famous for being smart or being stupid in NL

Ishilove: He is a guy

Just like you

How are you sure that I am a guy?

BABE IN CHRIST

When I got to school with my new boldness, I started to do some small preaching in school
Also did some small preaching in the bus

I dey waka back from church one day, na im I see Jehova witness they preach to some people
** I had heard that Jehova witness no believe in hell, so that means na devil dem be was our conclusion. Dem wan convert people to their religion so that dem go go hell abi**
I was filled with righteous indignation, na im I approach them
Busy body me, I asked what they were discussing
Then set on the task of rubbishing their claims before the potential convert

I was quick to bring up the issue of hell,
They asked questions about Adam and others in the bible, if they would therefore be in hell?
Me I no get answer, but I did a good job of beating around the bush
Afterall, the scripture had said that when we are before the councill, we would be given utterances by the spirit

In conclusion, I told my own small council that if there was no hell, I would drop my bible
**This stupid statement haunted me later for many years, thank God it did**

SPEAKING IN TONGUES EXPERIENCE

After my conversion experience, I wasn't sure of exactly what to do, but I went to church regularly anyways
Sermon was boring, but well, I was now born again, and couldn't admit it

Some weeks after being born again, my church had a revival
An envangelist was invited to my very orthodox church
My pastor was one of those renegade orthodox pastors when dey use style like pentecostals, but are kind of trapped in the othordox circle
Nna men, see pentecostalism meeting orthodoxy

Na im the envangelist talk about speaking in tongues, and how we need to receive it.
I was a babe in christ, so anything wen pastor talk I would gladly do
Na im we start to pray
I can never forget that day
I dey pray, actually repeating things over and over again, wanting to get this new experience
suddenly .............gbam!!
I couldnt understand what I was saying anymore, but was loving it
Tongue start to dey roll out, it was like I was on fire inside
** I actually love my own speaking in tongues its so smooth, im be like fonne**
O boy see boldness wen come over me


I was enjoying the fire within, plus my new improved accent, but the prayer session had to end
As I walked back home in the night,
I felt like knocking and banging on the gates and telling them about Jesus
** In hindsight, thank God I didn't do that o**
I also felt like screaming in the streets
U see, thats why the apostles where described as being drunk on the day of pentecost
I got home and continued experimenting with my new language. It was such fun

**God help me to throw away my laptop. I bind NairaLand from my life in Jesus name .**

CONVERSION EXPERIENCE

Welcome new christian to the body of christ
We popularly call your conversion experience: being "Born Again"
You've been promised the world. Ok.
Well there are somethings u were not told, and will find out for yourselves with time

We all have different experiences of how this conversion happened. I'll share mine. Others can share theirs

For me, I was lonely without my family nearby and in Secodary school
I picked a tract on the road, and in it, I was told that I would go to hell if I don't repent. There was actually a picture of folks being roasted
I had picked such tracts before, but this one hook me well well especially as I had thrice had a dream of the judgement. The scene was set against the small varendah of my room. the dreams were scary.

I be aje, so I no like pain at all. I no even like sun, the thing almost fit melt me
So the thoughts of my precious skin roasting for eternity was really scarry

I almost kneel down for road oo
Na im I run go house quick, quick forgeting the chick I wanted to toast
I prayed as was instructed in the tract
Immediately, I felt a peace, like weights had been lifted off me.
No voices saying you've been accepted, but that was good enough


To be extra sure, I was quite early in going to church that sunday, and in the alter call, I gave my life to christ again
In the evening service which I also attended with the zeal of a new convert, I gave my Life again. I no one hear story. The pastor must have noticed me, or maybe na holyspirit tell am. The pastor then said that once we don born again, that is it. No need to come out again. So I felt more confident

naptu2: My pleasure. I'll try and get updates for you.

I have a memory of sitting in the Greg's dinning hall while a music group rehearsed (I was a tiny tot then). I've asked my elders about that memory. Some say it was Ofege, while others say that it could not have been Ofege because they were way before my time.

Wow!!!!! This guy, who is u?

@naptu2
Thanks dude for the ofege thing.

Any update on them, what they are doing now etc?

Guys and gals

This jungle justice act was definitely terrible.
But please lets ask ourselves some questions so we we dont come back here seasonally to discuss matters that should be tackled from its root

In the killing targeted at Boko haram that some southerners seem to be happy about. Have you asked why ALL the BH members are not arrested and brought to court?
have you cried and written so much when innocent people have been caught in the line of fire??
Have you said anything like the BH member is a new one with no blood on his hands yet?
When the northerners cry out, the southerners hush them. All because the southerners are more litterate with better access to news media

So we only emphatise and cry out when we see people that share similarities with us being on the receiving end?
This is the typical behaviour of the political class who only rise up when their kind is threathened

Common guys, let this be a lesson to all of us that we watch out for every other person in Nigeria despite class or tribe, lest such evil malady befalls those close to us

yuzedo: 1. Funny how EVERYONE condemning the actions of the villagers are baying for their blood. NOBODY is preaching forgiveness for them even though hours ago they were vociferously advocating forgiveness for the boys regardless of their crimes. Double standards I say.

2. Another question that begs an answer is this "if they weren't from 'decent homes', and if they weren't handsome young men, if they were urchins and thug-looking street rats, would you feel the exact same sympathy you do these boys?"

3. Somebody said somewhere that they were just "innocent cultists" and I laughed.. What an oxymoron! What an ignorant paradox. There are no "innocent" cultists, simple.

Please take a look at these pictures before we start https://www.nairaland.com/1047540/poetic-justice-ghadafis-murder-us

-It would be sad if the boys were not guilty of what they were accused of and yet met such a fate
-If they were guilty, it's sad that people can take other people's lives (both the villagers and the boys)
-its equally sad that some Nairalanders are advocating jungle justice on the villagers. Where does this all stop

-If these boys were cultists, then it comes with its risks (cultism is not meant to be only fun)
-even Cynthia's dad aknowledged the silliness of his daughters actions that led to her death. How much more if these boys were toying with violent crimes
-We feel so much pity for the boys because we feel they are ajes abi? So ajes are not permitted to be killed, but can be 'innocent cultists'
-Kpakos like the villagers can be wasted and r.aped abi? But kpakos are not permitted to kill ajes abi?
-When Danna plane crashed, the news was only about the big men on board, no attention was given to the poor who died when the plane fell from the skies
-If that same plane had crashed in VI, the story would have been different abi?

-Since when did cuteness or ugliness of face make someone guilty or innocent of a crime?
-With such thinking, ugly people would be in trouble, will get no jobs and be crucified easilly
-Rich dads?? I laugh. A rich mans son that I know was paraded on TV years ago. Himself and his gang raided a hospital and r.aped a nurse in broad daylight. Yep, he was set free as his dad was a general

-I've seen enlightened university students beat a fellow student cultist to pulp for daring to shoot at someone in class. He was practically stripped and almost killed I had to do a lot of begging for him
- Have you not heard of cultists burying other cultist alive. Ask and you'll be told when and where it happened
-Have you not heard of cultists invading hostels and raping girls enmasse. Sometimes sparking cult wars
- O new cultist. ok, u never heard of some civilian behind fired at in his room at night from the window by new cultist. the next morning it was the civilians girlfriend that lay dead.

-The boys where killed in the streets, US ambassador to libya was killed in the streets, Ghadaffi was killed in the streets. They were all warriors sworn to their causes. Very sad deaths

In conclusion, no matter how sentimental we feel, one man's life is not worth more than the next. Kpakos and Ajes are all equal before God even if we are biased in favour of ajes May the dead Rest in Peace, and may the victims of attrocities be comforted

@naptu2

any stories/pictures on st gregory boys (I think they were called ofege)? My dad loved dancing to their music

great job naptu2

60) Perseverance and the witnesses: My xtian view point (You can skip this as you might find it heavilly subjective)

Everybody dey call God, so make i do my own .

One of my favourite passage in the bible is Hebrews 11 to 12. I have a corrupted way of quoting it but which does me just fine. In the verses The apostle talks about faith and people that had faith in times of old, and what they acheived. He finally rounds up by ramming something like this into my head:

"So how can you fail seeing that you are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses?"

With my unique intepretation, I look at my witnesses, starting with Abraham. The man was giving a goal which he held on to, and kept nacking sarah with faith unto old age. Meanwhile, he was more than happy to take on a young babe on the side until Sarah kicked her out. He also had a son just in case, plus if he had sacrificed Isaac, Ismael for remain.

Or is it David, who was going to be king fvkd up many times even to old age, nacking anyone in his path. Eating pastors bread (or is it tithe )e.tc name them, and my witnesses all have plenty flaws. I've not made as much mistakes as many of my witnesses and yet they acheived their goals.

Umhhh, so perseverance on my innermost God given goal is tough alright, but exciting and enjoyable. I also have the chance to do loads of fun stuff while working my way towards it and connecting the dots. Dropping off unneccesary bagagages that don't fit; learning from my experiences and pressing some nice sexy bumbums on the way. Me and my witnesses give ourselves regular winks Cos we know that by faith (the rope we hold in our hands) we will surely step unto that place on the top of our mountain

59) My Mental Picture for Acheiving My Goals (plus some xtian humour... u can skip this)

In one of those cool evenings years ago, I took a stroll with my friend down the street. This guy had the naughty habit of borrowing money from me and using it to pay his tithes and offerings. He would never give me my money back. The silly thing was that the money he took from me was what I would want to use to pay my own tithes and offerings, but thinking that he was in greater need, I would give it to him. That's deviating, but I hope he stumbles on this and reads it. Silly boy. In short I suppose mention im name ...craze man


The boy is one of those 'fiery' xtians. U know, those type that when they talk, u would think they are about to cause a miracle to happen. We were going to part ways soon because clearly our religious and pyschological personalities were incompatible. In one of our last discussions trying to unravel our personalities and approach to our goals, we used a mountain as an example.

He was of the view that to get to the top of the mountain, he would pray then clamber up the mountain with determination no matter what, fight against challenges, do some bravao things because he his a spiritual warrior

I said my approach would be to ensure that there is a strong rope firmly placed on the top of the mountain, and in my hands. Once this is acheived, all I need to do is keep holding on to the rope while inching up. The path won't be an issue to me. I am not interested in the fights and challenges. Even as I said this, I swear my paradigm shifted almost immediately.....

Na when I reach house na im wetin I tok dawn on me. Maybe the tithe wen that craze boy pay with my money know say na me get am

NNa men, I can't explain it o. But e be like say that mental picture dey work wonders. Im dey help me for flexibility well well while still being within my goals reach

nuattitude74: Bros,where u ? I dey wait for the next installment O ! On the issue of perseverence ehn, can you touch on knowing when to quit ? Stick-to-itiveness is good but e fit kill person so, when man suppose know when to bail out of an endeavour ?

Sorry, I didnt see your post earlier. If i did, I probably would have incorporated this into my thinking within that context.
As regards quiting, there are many suggestions that people give which are all valid depending on the circumstance: Some out of the box suggestions that people give are:

-Don't quit
-Ensure you have an exit strategy
-Always have plan B all the way to plan Z
-Make sure you do not exceed your manageable loss
-cut your losses
-Make sure you don't get into debt etc

I dont know you and your circumstance, but I know me and mine. So let's be carefull here cos our minds are softer than we think. One of those strategy books, I think its by Tsun Tsu (Art of war)talks about loosing small battles but winning the war. I would first be sure about my end goal. I'll critique it thoroughly to be sure it can withstand the storms of life. That goal, I cannot quit even at the pain of death. It can be modified with time and new realities. Any other sub goal is dispensable at the right time and the right oppurtunity. Like Tarzan's rope, they all swing me towards my desired destination.

Following from this, I'll scratch on my concept of goal orientation

58 ) Choosing your race carefully

Chuks a single male of 26 in Nigeria got into business after finishing school. Oppurtunities came for him to take great jobs on a platter of gold, but he shrugged it off. You must persevere, be an employer of labour he was told by the motivators, and this he did plus paying his tithes and sacrificial offerings. He soon noticed that beautiful girls of his 'class' that naturally liked him where not willing to commit to him. They were more interested in the guys that were already working in Shell and Mobil or some other folks that were firmly established in business. He couldn't settle for a kpako girl, and the aje girls wouldn't settle for him (they felt that is future was too risky to waste their beauty and grace on)

Now he is in his early 40's and has finally become slightly comfortable in his business. His mates that didn't get into business are firmly established in Top companies as the big boys, with their fine wives and fine aje kids from way back.

Now beautiful aje girls in their 20's and those left behind in the 30's age bracket are going gaga for him. He feels a sense of distrust for all of them. Calls them b**tches and gold diggers. Compared to his mates, he lost a lot in those years, soaked garrri tire; his girlfriends always being snatched by boys in Shell dem; no designer clothes etc. After going through all these, he his not much better financially that his peers

Talking with me, I went away with the feeling that what he ever really wanted was to be idependent, and to mary a pretty classy girl he was not more that 4 years older than. He felt that having his own business will grant him independence and such a girl. Umhh.. I am independent (which I love), I am a career contractor, and businessman, I don suffer well well, but I've never been in such state of want. Did he need to go through all this stress? (maybe in the next 30 years, we will know for sure)

Is this what he really wanted? My point of view is that perseverance should be a tool, and not a master in our lives, and so should all those laws of wealth that we are fed with. Once in a while, I love stepping back to examine if what I am doing can be done better. Is there a better and easier way?

Please feel free to critique me on this. I just might be yanning crap

57) Conclusions on Perseverance

Perseverance is an excellent attribute, but don't get into the trap of a rat race where you get blinded to other oppurtunities beckoning at the sidelines. Remember that the race is not actually the goal. The goal, is the goal. So don't get pushed into a race just because dem tell u say na so.

When channelling all my efforts, I try to ensure that perseverance is wrapped around that tiny unshakeable rock which I am actually willing to give my all for. With this I am really flexible in moving towards my desired end, while also ensuring that I enjoy the beauty of life. I'll round this up with someones story (the story has been twisted so that I dont get slapped).

56) Managing Perseverance

Wow!! You can see how potentially powerful or destructive perseverance can be to your life and those of others.
When this first hit me years ago, I screamed... wow!!!!

The koko behind the koko is what do you want? what are you really willing to sacrifice/ give your life for? What won't you regret? what makes you happy?
Try to identify this before setting out unto real perseverance journeys or giving advice on the topic to others. This might involve questioning, and questioning the answers, all to the last bit that can withstand further probing and still make sense.

The yam seller when questioned, might tell you that what she really wants is a successful business. It does not really need to be yam business. Her definition of success could further be probed, and it might be something as simple as where she can make enough money to trevel out on a vacation once in a year.

Imagine this woman now getting stuck in a perseverance journey in 'yam business' fuelled by motivational teaching/preaching with God thrown into the mix. It's sad to me.

I'm saying this because I've seen it happen to people (it probably even happened to me )

The yam woman, when she properly understands herself can start off with yam business and "persevere in her true goal of having an income that can send her on vacation once a year". This means she could quickly aspire and become the market women leader if that acheives her purpose and from there become a commisioner in the state etc