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Literature › Re: The Wet Strand by Lionize(op): 11:18pm On Aug 04, 2016*

***
Tammy works with one of the new generation banks, he is a marketer. He never really knew what marketing was all about before he got the job. He studied Engineering in one of the Nigerian leading universities. He travelled all the way from Jalingo, after a successful aptitude test and first interview, to the bank’s head office in Lagos for the final interview and documentation. It dawned on him, after the Regional manager, whom he had been directed to meet, asked what job function he would like to settle for. Tammy had perceived, from his peers, that operations unit was better. When he responded that he would like to be in operations, the next question that trailed his response left him almost without an answer.

“What if there is a vacancy only in marketing unit?” the manager had asked him. They had asked him who and who he knew in the town and he had begun a roll-call of existing and non-existent ‘rich’ individuals he supposedly knew; he had been taught such for bank interview purposes.

“I’ll take it” Tammy had answered, after a long silence. The manager would have known Tammy was under pressure. Tammy was employed as a marketer thereafter.

It has been seven years since Tammy started work in the bank, he is yet to cultivate any sense of career security. Every now and then he sees his colleagues being relieved of their jobs and would always imagine when his turn would be. He had thought he would secure a better job and resign his banking job, but he has not been successful in that. Initially, when he was still fresh from NYSC and on the banking job, he would apply for most jobs adverts he sees on the internet and newspapers. He was motivated to work towards leaving the bank. But, as time passed on, it gradually dawned on him he was no longer a ‘fresh graduate’ when prospective employers would disqualify him from available jobs by his number of years of experience.

Initially, he was angered by the fact that his disqualification came from his lack of experience. But later, he would be disqualified by the same experience as most employers he sought after needed ‘fresh graduates’. He was somewhat frustrated, even though he stuck to the bank job because of the remuneration. The job gave him no satisfaction.

Tammy arrives his office early enough to meet the morning meeting, where the manager will say the same things he said the previous mornings. Drill them, curse them, encourage and challenge them: anything to make them bring in huge deposits. Each staff presents his or her call memo for review. They would have to gather again in the evening, at the manager’s time, to review their efforts for the day.

Tammy almost listened to an evil small voice within him one day, when the voice advised him to slap his manager. The manager had told him that he looked like his father, who was a failure. Tammy was so hurt that the Manager mentioned his father in his talk, even though he never knew him. When he remembered his salary that would drop into his account on the 27th of the month, he simply swallowed his saliva. He had gone to the Manager later and told him how he had felt. The manager only patted him on the back and told him it was all on the job.

The bank has a polite way of relieving one of his job, one will be ‘advised to resign’. They recently stylishly placed all staff on contract, after paying them off for their previous inputs. Tammy was paid only One Million naira, which he used to secure a piece of land in a remote location. He knows he leaves the bank with little money if he is ‘advised to resign’, and nothing at all if he resigns on his own, or dismissed. But dismissal will only come his way if he is relieved of his job due to any form of fraud.

***

Tammy steps out of the pool car and heads for the marketing hall, where he shares office with eight other marketers. Only two of them are full employees of the bank, the rest are outsourced. The thought of Isioma has been his mental preoccupation since they parted.

“How far?” he says as he waves to a security guard dressed in light-blue Khaki shirt on Black uniform who greeted him at the entrance.

He looks around the banking hall to see if any of his customers is transacting. He greets some familiar faces, shakes hands with other. He goes to the customer service officer (CSO) and drops some filled out account opening forms.

“How’s work” he asks Esther, the customer service supervisor, as he stood, his left arm clutching his tablet PC and other documents, his phones in his left hand and his right hand in his hip pocket. He waits patiently as Esther flips through each form to ensure there is no deferrals or any other irregular or incomplete customer personal information or document. Tammy hates it when his customers’ accounts are returned from the Central Processing Centre (CPC) without being opened because of incomplete documentation. He likes fixing the issues before they are sent out from the branch. He has come back with four packages, he waits for Esther patiently. Experience has taught him that most CSOs dump the packages for review at their convenience, which was out of sync with his work procedures.

He scurries to his desk as soon as Esther gives him a nod. Tammy responds to some customers’ calls for some transaction enquiries. He calls some other customers for deposits. He checks his consolidated Customers’ Account Balance (CABAL), then his key customers’ account balance for inflows. His CABAL is sure going down and he is not happy about it. Philip, his branch manager, has been on his neck since the last Monthly Performance Review (MPR) they attended. The Zonal Head had verbally shredded Philip for allowing Tammy’s CABAL go down. He even called him a weakling for not being on top of his job. Phillip, in turn, has not left Tammy any breathing space since then.

“All these fine boy wey you dey do here and your CABAL dey go down no go work o. You no go drag me down, na only you go go down” Phillip had said to Tammy the morning after the MPR. Tammy knows he has to shore up his CABAL soon or gets an advice for resignation. The job has really become a torn in his flesh. But it is a torn that pushes out milk and honey. He has made business visits to his key customers and pleaded with them to help boost his CABAL. But sincerely, the economy is also biting hard on their businesses. There seems to be little or no hope for him. He has been working on his prospects list, but his success has not added much to his CABAL.

Literature › The Wet Strand by Lionize(op): 10:25pm On Aug 02, 2016*

All rights reserved.
No part of this piece may be reproduced in any form without the author's express permission.
Copyright (c) 2016

Author: Lionize

This is the first work of the author in this form (the tense). Please feel free to criticize constructively, correct in love, and encourage the author.
Enjoy!

THE WET STRAND
*****************
It is a sunny Thursday. Isioma walks out of the bathroom combing her hair with a wide tooth comb. She has overcome the forced phobia of getting water into her hair since she turned natural. She now moves around with a deeper sense of pride. She is relieved that she no longer has to strive to make her hair look like foreign women with relaxer and other chemicals. She is proud of her hair. She is proud to be an African woman.

Isioma struggled for years. She struggled with her self-esteem. She was meant to believe, while growing up, that the only way to go was to keep her hair like others- relaxed. She came to believe that anything else short of that was ‘old school’, or ‘Anuty youngie’. She looked at any female without relaxed hair as such, save for those of school age. But as time passed, it dawned on Isioma that this was simply an imitation that caused her more harm than good.

At one time, she left too much relaxer on her hair for too long a time, and she turned bald after the ordeal. It was most traumatizing for her as she struggled to repair her burned scalp while covering her head with a scarf permanently. Some people who knew her assumed her new dress code was as a result of a new found faith. Some would even ask, but she did nothing but smile and wave at them. She prayed earnestly for her hair to regrow so it would answer for itself.

Her phone rings while she applies SheaTome on her hair, with gentle strokes that give away how much she cherishes it, like a pampered child. She picks the call.

“Hello” she says.

The call is from her friend Nike, who tells her of a new product on afrihap.com. Isioma turns on the computer on the desk immediately. She types ‘www.afrihap.com’ in the address bar of a web browser after the computer boots. She smiles while browsing through, occasionally dabbing the tips of her hair with a yellow hand towel. She glances at the clock hemmed into a wooden artwork on the table. She is almost running late for her date. She places an order for the new product and shuts down the computer.

Isioma starts racing against time as she dresses up on a pink buttoned top on black knee-length skirt. She wears a light make-up, arranges her personal female effects in her bag, steps into a black pair of high heeled shoes and takes a looks at herself on the huge mirror clipped to the door. She is satisfied with what she sees. She spritz her hair with the new perfumed formula she learnt how to prepare from Winnie’s show on tv . She lets the hair fly as she rounds the edges with an elastic turban she had purchased on afrihap.

Isioma navigates her way through some bad roads, shunting off roads inundated with heavy traffic she could. She arrives the appointed venue soon after the appointed time.

Isioma steps into the restaurant with her left hand curved to keep her bag in place. She removes the sunglasses to have a clearer view of the environment. Tammy stands up from a chair at one end of the large eatery and his form caught her attention. She walks towards him, carefully choosing her steps. She radiates the confidence of a fulfilled woman. This, she was told by one of the men who came for her hand in marriage the previous year, attracted him to her – the air of self-confidence she stirs around her.

“Hello” Tammy says, extending his right hand towards her as she draws very close, he has stood up since he saw her.

“Hi” she returns, with a smile that defines a lady not bothered by a thousand gold chariots around that do not belong to her.

“You look sweet” Tammy said, almost giving away the intimidation he feels inside. He comports himself.

“Thanks” she says as he guides her to a seat. He pulls the seat backwards and adjusts it for her to ease in in comfort.

“So how has your day been?”

“Not so bad. You know how my job is. My team will pick me up later. I still have a customer to meet at Rumuosi before I head back to the office. How have you been enjoying your leave?”

“Very well. Getting tired of staying at home already. Still have three long weeks of rest”

“I envy you.” He says, looking straight into her eyes. He imagines having her as his wife. “What will you take?” Tammy holds the menu with his left hand, pointing at it with his right index finger.

Isioma peruses the menu.

“I like your hair” Tammy says as he adjusts in his chair. He shifts his eyes to her hair when she looks up from the menu. He doesn’t want their eyes to lock. She smiles.

“Thank you. I’ll like an ice cream and a fiesta.” She pauses and looks at Tammy as if she requires an approval before she proceeds. Tammy gives quick nods with eyes wider, suggesting he expects more from her.

“And a bottle of water” she says and relaxes on her chair.

Her value was shooting higher before Tammy. He has experience with ladies when it comes to outings. But here he is with a working class lady, who doesn’t care about depleting his financial resources. He beckons on the waiter, who is lurking around already.

“Get me rice and stew with peppered chicken while you get her ice cream and…” he turns to Isioma with an outstretched arm.

“fiesta!” Isioma finishes off. “And a bottle of water”. She chuckles.

“I’m sorry I didn’t remember that name. I’ll get to know what it is”. He smiles.

She lets out a laugh. “You mean you’ve never eaten fiesta?”

“No” He says, shaking his head slowly.

“I would have thought you should have seen it all”

“not for fiestas”

They both laugh.

“So tell me, who was the guy with you the day we met?” He asked, with a this-is-time-for-business deportment.

“My Pastor”

“Your Pastor?” He asks, evidently surprised.

“Sure. If he was a fiancé, I wouldn’t have given you my contact, not in his presence at least”

“I see” He says, nodding his head slowly, thoughtfully.

“It was my birthday and I had made him promise to take me out” Isioma says, in an attempt to dispel every negative thought he holds.

They are interrupted by the waiter, who carefully lays the foods on the table, placing each item where they are needed.

They chat while eating. They spend about 30minutes more after their meal, discussing their jobs.

“when will your colleagues come for you” Isioma asks.

“They are on their way already, Tayo just sent me a text”

“I should be on my way now. I have to be in church for Bible study in about 3 hours’ time. I have some chores to handle before then”

Tammy was enamored by her sense of purpose.

“it’s ok. I’ll call you on phone”

He stands up and waits for her. She picks up her bag with her right hand, holding her sun shade in her left hand.

“Thanks for the meal”

“It’s nothing”

“Take care”

“Ok”

She walks out of the place without looking back. He realizes he is still standing and moping at her after the security man closes the door behind her. He sits down, still looking at her through the tinted glass windows. She walks to a 2012 Highlander and drives off.

Tammy smiles to himself as he daydreams about Isioma being his girlfriend. He likes her, but he is afraid she may turn his proposal down. They need to know each other better. He has not told her anything, but from the little discussion they had, she wouldn’t be an easy nut to crack.
Tammy is still lost in thought when his phone rings. It is Tayo.
“How far”
“We are outside”
Tammy waves at the waiter who served them. The waiter is at a corner eyeing him. He pays the bill and walks out.

Business › Re: CBN Unoficially Devalues Naira by Lionize(op): 1:11pm On Mar 08, 2016

divineappo:
The problem of d naira is not a rocket science. Its very simple. Buhari should immediately sack emefiele. He is a thief and a fraud. If u sack him, the revelations about his evil operations @CBN will shock nigerians.

You sure he's not working for his employer?

Christianity Etc › Household Enemies by Lionize(op): 1:00pm On Mar 08, 2016

A young man, after graduating with First Class honours from a Nigerian university, went in search of job after his compulsory one year Youth service.

He had dropped many applications without getting an invite. And after some while, he was invited for one. It was a relief to him as he believed God has finally picked his call, he was sure. It was a multinational company.

When he arrived for the recruitment exercise, he scaled through till the orals, he never envisaged anything worse than that. He had dusted other applicants in the written tests.

When the young man faced the interview panel, his records before the team spoke for him. When he was asked questions, his eloquence knowledge-base was unrivalled and the panel started fell in love with him already.

After a short while, a cockroach sneaked out of his jacket. The panel was a little uneasy about that, especially one woman amongst them, but they shoved it off and the cockroach was killed. The interview continued.

After some while again, when his positive impression on the panel was beginning to hold them spell-bound, another cockroach jumped out from his body. The woman was visibly shaken.

The second cockroach was killed and they continued. But by then, it was obvious the interview was more-or-less an interaction devoid of purpose, even though they all still pretended to maintain course.

After another while, when they were about settling into their chat and negotiate pay, because the team was convinced the young chap was the man for the job, a third cockroach jumped out, this time, flying to a wall facing the panel.

At this time, the woman had had it, she couldn’t keep up anymore.

“We are sorry but we have to end this interview now. We’ll get back to you later” she said as she was obviously in a hurry to leave the room. She picked up her file and left. The young man saw it in the faces of the others that the woman was the decision-maker in the panel, he knew it was over.

That was the last time he got an invite for interview until he got his deliverance, after a long time. His step-mother was the enemy within.

I pray that every monitoring gadgets used by those who would not want you to move higher than where you are should report their activities back to them. May every ditch dug for you be filled up by whomsoever dug it. In Jesus name. Amen!

http://www.obitteleo..com.ng/2016/03/household-enemies.html

Politics › Re: Onwuliri Son's Marriage Saga - In Defence Of Former Minister's Daughter In Law C by Lionize: 10:16am On Mar 01, 2016

See the husband's version.

Fracas between Chukwuemeka Osmond Elihe Onwuliri, second son of the late Prof. Celestine Onwuliri and Christina Onwuliri, nee Amaefule, is taking a turn for the worse with the Chukwuemeka approaching an Abuja High Court asking that the almost five years marriage be dissolved.

Onwuliri, through his counsel, Maxwell Opara, is seeking the dissolution on grounds of intolerable behavior and that the wife failed irretrievably in carrying out her matrimonial duties. He asked the court to grant him custody of their two children (Sophia Adaku and Stephanie Chinomso).

The petition was filed on February 10, under the Matrimonial Causes Act and other relevant Rules of the FCT High Court Rules.

A copy of the petition made available to journalists in Abuja listed 10 grounds upon which Chukwuemeka is asking the court to bring the marriage to an end, including but not limited to threat to his life and that of their children, smashing of the late Prof. Onwuliri’s building in Owerri, smashing of vehicle windscreen, damage to several personal and house hold property and making the petitioner to spend over N450,000 in acquiring admissions and booking courses abroad which the respondent (Christina) failed to utilize, among several allegations.

It not however, certain if the respondent had received or reacted to the writ, but in claims she earlier made before the matter became a subject matter for the court, Christina claimed she had been in hell in her four and half years marriage culminating to February 3rd, when hell was let loose and the family of her husband pushed her out to the streets.

Although she had insisted that her husband pushed her out of their home allegedly on the influence of his mother, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, we could not establish the nexus to the claim as there was no tangible evidence to support that.

According to her, “they conspired and took away my two daughters, Sophia and Stephanie; three and two years of age respectively and pushed me to the street after we arrived Nigeria from Canada the previous day”.

She also claimed that her husband had made life unbearable for her in Canada before they returned to the country, an allegation her husband has vehemently denied.

Based on what he told The AUTHORITY on Sunday and the writ he filed at the Abuja High Court, Christina had been threatening to kill him and the children, but on the fateful day of February 3rd, “she went berserk, smashing everything on sight in my father’s building without provocation, making it seem as if the Boko Haram boys visited the place.

Said Emeka: The problem is that when I got married to her, I didn’t know she had mental and psychological problems, but I am sure her parents knew about all these and hid it from me. Even though I am not supposed to say all these, it was because you asked and told me what she said that I decided to summarise what I have been passing through in her hands.

“All those things she narrated to you happened in my father’s house in Owerri in the presence of everybody. Even the Priest who conducted our wedding (names witheld) and several other people witnessed it. If you look at the house, it looks like where Boko Haram visited; if they tell you it was just one person that did that damage to the building, you will not believe it, but it was this girl. It was very forceful, very vehement damage to the building. All the people that saw what she did swore that I am lucky to still be alive with my children in the hands of this girl: visitors and other people were in shock”.

However, the embattled Christina who hails from Umuhu, Okwuato Community in Aboh Mbaise LGA, Imo State on her part claimed, she was shocked and dumbfounded at what her husband from Amuzi, in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA did to her without recourse to their coming from the same clan. She alleged that though her travails in the ex-minister’s family began soon after her wedding, it aggravated with time before the climax on February 3rd, claiming it was because she had not given birth to a baby boy.

Her story: “On 3rd February this year, in the presence of some guests (names withheld), I noticed that my husband picked up a bag and was leaving the house without prior information to me. When I approached my husband to know where he was going to, to my greatest surprise my husband pushed me violently away from him and started to beat me and pushed me into a room and locked me up. While in the room helpless, I saw my husband and the others taking my children away without my consent.

“My husband and his cohorts confiscated all my academic documents such as WAEC certificate, first school leaving certificate, IELTs, Canadian version of my degree certificate, my degree certificate and secondary school transcript. All my travel documents; Ukrainian passport, Nigerian passport, Canadian permanent residential card, Canadian landing documents, my children’s American passports, my children’s permanent resident cards, my children’s Nigerian passport, my children’s Canadian landing documents, my children’s birth and baptismal certificate, my personal belongings such as clothes, shoes, jewellery, mobile phone, laptop and iPad”.

However, narrating his own side of the bitter experiences from his wife, Emeka told The AUTHORITY on Sunday: “You won’t believe that this person that told you all these things (Christina) had drawn a knife at me; this is a woman that has thrown a heavy statue of Infant Jesus at me and it broke; this is a woman, I was driving on the highway at top speed, because she got angry about something, she got aggressive, struggled and swerved the steering on the highway in Canada, we almost all died; this is a woman that has held a knife on my daughters’ neck.

“I never and could never have kidnapped my own Children. Sophia Onwuliri and Stephanie Onwuliri are my children and due to the violent and harmful actions taken by their mum, Christina, who vehemently broke windows, electronics, fans, mirrors, and other household property in their presence on the morning of 3rd February 2016 in my Father’s house in Owerri, I had no option but to remove the traumatized children from the scene by noon, took them to lunch and returned in the evening only to be told Christina had left.

“I then notified Imo State Social welfare that I have taken custody of my children. I also reported the vandalism and threat to our lives from Christina to the police. Lastly, her Father, Mr. Christian Amaefule stated to the elders on 4th February 2016 and I quote "I have taken my daughter, Emeka take your Children". The issue of Abduction/kidnapping is therefore false and should not arise.

“Even while we were in Canada, there was a day she prepared acid to pour on me, with bleach, hot water, etc. I called the Canadian police and it took them several minutes to finally agree to enter the house because they were scared she would pour it on them. They entered the house and saw the hot water boiling, the bleach beside it and they called her out and she confessed.

“In addition, it was observed by the Onwuliri’s who attended the meeting, that her Father, Mr. Christian Amaefule, had hired thugs to be present at the location of the meeting to possibly kidnap and harm me. I hereby bring this to the Commissioner’s attention and hereby request that: The police restrain Christina Onwuliri, her Father, Mr. Christian Amaefule and his hired thugs from harassing, threating and attacking me, my children or any members of the entire Onwuliri family as they threatened in front of the elders after the first meeting”.

http://www.authorityngr.com/2016/02/I-want-our-marriage-dissolved--Prof--Onwuliri-s-son-/

Politics › Re: Onwuliri Son's Marriage Saga - In Defence Of Former Minister's Daughter In Law C by Lionize: 10:14am On Mar 01, 2016

Is it Emeka that studied in UNN that was with Schlum sometime? Why didn't you post his picture too?

Business › Re: How Much Did You Exchange The Dollar For Today? by Lionize: 12:01pm On Feb 23, 2016*

adonbilivit:
is it cash. I don't do tranfers

Yes, cash. I have some cash in PH too.

Business › CBN Unoficially Devalues Naira by Lionize(op): 8:45am On Feb 18, 2016

There has been so much noise about devaluation of naira. One time, a headline made mention of ‘murdering’ the naira. But all that seems to be a hoax.

Today CBN bans Nigerians from withdrawing or depositing cash into their own domiciliary account, the next the ban is lifted. Today you can use your Naira-denominated cards abroad, the next you can’t, even the following day, you wake up to see that a little window has been opened on it whereby you can only make some certain limited transactions.

It seems CBN churns out all these policies per time just to witch-hunt some set of people and enrich others, only to reverse it when they have achieved their immediate aim. From what I have observed, CBN has meted out untold hardship on some hardworking Nigerians.

CBN de-listed BDC and is making moves to import a BDC to take over the business.

I’ll really need someone to elucidate more on the reason CBN refused to devalue Nigeria, and yet banks continue to run parallel foreign currency markets. Are the banks now no longer under the reins of CBN?

How can CBN say official exchange rate is N198/199 per $, and the commercial banks boldly display on their info boards in their banking halls “we buy 196, we sell 199”, and yet when you make any transaction through them, you buy at as much as N283/$?

The most heart-rending matter on ground is that moneygram has joined the train of parallel fx marketers in Nigeria. Moneygram sold about N202/$ last Friday (12/02/16), but by Monday (15/02/16), they joined the ‘Mallams’ around GRA to sell N250/$. What is happening?

I think CBN should just come out plain and tell us what they are doing. You can’t announce N198/$ and allow banks and other financial institutions to sell same for between N250 and N350. They should announce official devaluation already, it’s been devalued.
Please feel free to drop your comment

http://www.obitteleo..com.ng/2016/02/cbn-unoficially-devalues-naira.html

Politics › North Korean New Weapn Vs T.B Joshua's N.k's "Arrow" by Lionize(op): 10:59am On Jan 06, 2016

When I came across this news, what came to my mind was a purported prophecy from T.B Joshua this year.

“To North Korea:
*Pray for the president of North Korea, I am seeing an arrow from there and it will affect the world. There are weapons there that the world doesn't know yet, if they throw that arrow, there'll be confusion in the world”
http://www.betatinz.com/2016/01/prophecy-for-2016-by-prophet-tb-joshua.html

Could he be referring to this?

Seoul (AFP) - North Korea said Wednesday it had carried out a "successful" hydrogen bomb test, a claim that -- if true -- massively raises the stakes over the hermit state's banned nuclear programme.
International condemnation was swift with neighbours South Korea and Japan decrying a gross violation of UN Security Council resolutions, while the White House said it was still studying the precise nature of the apparent test and vowed to "respond appropriately".
"The republic's first hydrogen bomb test has been successfully performed at 10:00 am (0330 GMT)," North Korean state television announced.
"With the perfect success of our historic H-bomb, we have joined the rank of advanced nuclear states," it said, adding that the test was of a miniaturised device.
A hydrogen, or thermonuclear bomb, uses fusion in a chain reaction that results in a far more powerful explosion than the fission blast generated by uranium or plutonium alone.
Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un suggested Pyongyang had already developed a hydrogen bomb.
The claim was questioned by international experts and there was continued scepticism over Wednesday's test announcement.

- Scepticism over H-bomb -
"The seismic data that's been received indicates that the explosion is probably significantly below what one would expect from an H-bomb test," said Australian nuclear policy and arms control specialist Crispin Rovere.
"So initially it seems to be that they've successfully conducted a nuclear test but unsuccessfully completed the second-stage hydrogen explosion," Rovere said.
Bruce Bennett, a senior defence analyst with the Rand Corporation, was equally unconvinced.
"This weapon was probably the size of the US Hiroshima bomb but this was not a hydrogen bomb," Bennett told the BBC.
"The bang they should have gotten would have been 10 times greater than what they got," he added.
The test, which came just two days before Kim Jong-Un's birthday, was initially detected by international seismology centres as a 5.1-magnitude tremor next to the North's main Punggye-ri nuclear test site in the northeast of the country.
Most experts had assumed Pyongyang was years from developing a thermonuclear bomb, while assessments were divided on how far it had gone in mastering the technology to miniaturise a warhead so that it fits on a ballistic missile.
Whether an H-bomb or not, it was North Korea's fourth nuclear test and marked a striking act of defiance that flew in the face of enemies and allies alike who have warned Pyongyang it would pay a steep price for moving forward with its nuclear weapons programme.

- Challenge to UN, Obama -
The three previous tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013 triggered waves of UN sanctions. Their failure to prevent a fourth detonation will place the Security Council under intense pressure to take more drastic action this time around.
It throws down a particular challenge to US President Barack Obama, who, during a visit to South Korea in 2014, lashed North Korea as a "pariah state" and vowed sanctions with "more bite" if Pyongyang went ahead with another test.
White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said he could not confirm the H-bomb claim, but promised the US would "respond appropriately to any and all North Korean provocations".
South Korea "strongly condemned" the test and warned Pyongyang that it would be made to "pay the price" for ignoring international opinion.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called it a "serious threat" to Japan and a "grave challenge" to nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

- China key player -
The response of China, North Korea's economic and diplomatic patron, will be key. Beijing has restrained US-led allies from stronger action against Pyongyang in the past, but has shown increasing frustration with its refusal to suspend testing.
But China's leverage over Pyongyang is mitigated, analysts say, by its overriding fear of a North Korean collapse and the prospect of a reunified, US-allied Korea directly on its border.
China has been pushing for a resumption of six-party, aid-for-disarmament talks on North Korea, insisting that engagement with Pyongyang is the only way forward.
The six-party process, involving the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia, has been in limbo since 2007 and Pyongyang's decision to move ahead with a fourth test has almost certainly hammered the final nail in its coffin.
After its last nuclear test in 2013, the North restarted a plutonium reactor that it had shut down at its Yongbyon complex in 2007 under an aid-for-disarmament accord.
The Yongbyon reactor is capable of producing six kilograms (13 pounds) of plutonium a year -- enough for one nuclear bomb.
Pyongyang is currently believed to have enough plutonium for as many as six bombs, after using part of its stock for at least two of its three atomic tests to date.
It is still unclear whether the 2013 test used plutonium or uranium as its fissile material.

http://www.obitteleo..com.ng/2016/01/north-korean-new-weapon.html

Christianity Etc › Re: Six Reasons Why Youths Port From Their Parents' Churches by Lionize(op): 8:59am On Dec 14, 2015

tommysparks:
the rosary is not a compulsory prayer but a personal prayer, the church only instituted it during the crusades when the soldiers who were outnumbered 1:20 by the Islamic turks prayed the rosary before going to battle and they were victorious and the victory was attributed to the intercession of their prayers to God by the blessed virgin Mary.

But are you aware that many catholics do not know this? For some, without rosary you are not a good catholic.

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Travel › Re: Reasons Nigerians Travel Abroad To Study. by Lionize(op): 8:11pm On Dec 13, 2015

BOKO52:
studing and working

I guess it's pretty tough doing that in Naija.

Christianity Etc › Re: Six Reasons Why Youths Port From Their Parents' Churches by Lionize(op): 8:04pm On Dec 13, 2015

PastorAji:
As a former Catholic, My conscience was questioning the authenticity of the rosary and the sacrament of penance. When I couldn't find the right answer, I had to leave

I know a lot of people in the same shoe with you. But I have ever heard a Rev. Fr preach that rosary is not compulsory. This may surprise you, it did surprise me.

Christianity Etc › Re: Six Reasons Why Youths Port From Their Parents' Churches by Lionize(op): 8:00pm On Dec 13, 2015

Bollinger:
Which kain useless verb be port again?

Be more civil my dear, the world is advancing and new words formed everyday, just open your mind to learn, and politely.
Port is a slang to denote what it means here, ask NCC about it for further explanation.

Investment › Re: Books Every Investor Should Read by Lionize: 8:57pm On Dec 08, 2015

The book club thing is a nice idea. I stay in PH and interested.

Travel › Re: Reasons Nigerians Travel Abroad To Study. by Lionize(op): 5:08pm On Dec 08, 2015

BOKO52:
ur right bro, i will be leaving 9ja very soon

Which is your reason for traveling?

Travel › Re: Reasons Nigerians Travel Abroad To Study. by Lionize(op): 10:05pm On Dec 07, 2015

Cholls:
My brother that number 6 is the reason.

Lol. You think it's all?

Travel › Reasons Nigerians Travel Abroad To Study. by Lionize(op): 8:21pm On Dec 07, 2015

Nigerians have had reasons to travel out of the country to study, either for their B. Sc, M.Sc or PhD. You may think they all do so for the same reason, far be that from the truth.

Below are some of the reasons I have observed some Nigerians travel out of the country to study.

1)Their choice course is not offered by any university locally
I don’t know if this still happens, but it is true that some Nigerians who travelled abroad for studies in time past did so because they insist on studying a particular course not offered in any Nigerian University. In the past, such courses as aeronautic and bioresources engineering were not in our brochures.

2)They Think Education Standard in Nigeria is Below Their Par

These set of people seek 'quality education' and they believe they can only get it in such schools as the Oxfords and the Ivy Leagues. Note that this group of people must be ‘bucksed up’ to have such dream if they intend sponsoring themselves.

3) Scholarships

There are numerous scholarships students take advantage of, most of which study destinations are outside the shores of Nigeria. Some sponsors specify locations eg: FG through PTDF, NDDCand other channels : UK, Oil companies: UK, Europe and USA. This also lends credence to 1 & 2 above because it means both the FG and Oil companies believe these courses are not properly taught locally, since these scholarships are usually for selected courses, and mostly Oil-related, hardly Agriculture-related.

4) They Think It'll Increase Their Chances of Getting Hired

Someone was advising another person recently and he said "gone are the days when going to UK to study gives you instant employment. These days, after your study, you remain jobless. So, better hold on to this job you have and find a way to do your masters here". Obviously, the potential M.Sc student had told him his reason for trying to save huge sum of money for his masters after resigning from his current job.

Such people should also note that in the olden days, while you are still an undergraduate here, a job is waiting for you in companies like Michelin, Costain, PWD, Nigerian government, etc. Those days when students are well fed by the FG in our Universities.

5) They Couldn't Pass Jamb

Yes, some people go abroad to study because they couldn't pass their JAMB exam. These set of people do not dream of studying in Oxford and the Ivy Leagues, you know the direction of their dreams.

The Private universities have also come to play a receiving role for this set of people, making JAMB not the impediment it used to be, just attempt it. But, those in this category must be living above average at least, it is not for paupers. Chai! JAMB is wicked, but Nigeria cannot be stopped.

6)They Just Want to Belong

Some people want to go abroad just because they want to belong to the group of people who studied abroad. Kids be like, "Femi is in UK now, he was my classmate and he wasn't doing any better, even his parents were no richer than mine. I must go abroad too." Na so the kid will not let everyone rest until he wastes a good part or all his life trying to travel, or he'll travel soon after Femi did.

7) They Are Running Away from Their Past

I know some may dispute this, but it's true. Even locally, some people run from one university to the other just to blank their past in the former. Same happens when the person needs to start on a clean slate outside the borders of his country, or just to cool off a while, that is if his sponsors have the means. I know you know some in this category.

Hustling.

Some people 'studying' abroad are not actually there to study. Some would use the initial country they land as a transit location. Some would even remain there but doing a different business, even though they have valid documents as students. Go to Malaysia and see what I'm talking about. Most of them are drug peddlers, ‘birds’ as they are called.

You are free to add other reasons why some people travel abroad to ‘study’.

http://www.obitteleo..com.ng/2015/12/reasons-nigerians-travel-abroad-to-study.html?m=1

2 Likes

Christianity Etc › Re: Six Reasons Why Youths Port From Their Parents' Churches by Lionize(op): 7:50am On Dec 01, 2015

kristen12:
Yes I have.

Questions about doctrines especially.

You know you have to support your position with the Bible.

Christianity Etc › Re: Post Your 'Front Page-Worthy' TOPICS And LINKS Here by Lionize: 8:27pm On Nov 30, 2015

www.nairaland.com/2771921/six-reasons-why-youths-port

Six Reasons Why Youths Port From Their Parents' Churches

We need to hear from some of these people.

Christianity Etc › Re: Six Reasons Why Youths Port From Their Parents' Churches by Lionize(op): 7:20pm On Nov 30, 2015

kristen12:
Had to leave my parents church because I have sooo many questions and they cannot answer it. Nobody questions the authority there else, you'll be tagged rebellious.

I attend my new church for spiritual fulfillment.

Have you ever engaged your leaders on some of those issues? Could you share some of such questions?

3 Likes 1 Share

Christianity Etc › Re: Six Reasons Why Youths Port From Their Parents' Churches by Lionize(op): 7:19pm On Nov 30, 2015

viclawz:
Very true

Am guilty of number 4

Hahahahaha. I bet many are.

Christianity Etc › Re: Six Reasons Why Youths Port From Their Parents' Churches by Lionize(op): 7:18pm On Nov 30, 2015

Blizzy9ja:
A lot of pastors don't try to find out what young people are listening, they dont pay attention to how they dress, whats going on in the world around them and dat make them lacking in content

The church needs to evolve without bringing in worldliness.

I would appreciate a specific instance as to the listening part and what the pastor should do. For the dressing, the pastor would preach against indecency, hence the young people would run where they are allowed to "come as they are".

3 Likes

Christianity Etc › Re: Six Reasons Why Youths Port From Their Parents' Churches by Lionize(op): 6:15pm On Nov 30, 2015

Blizzy9ja:
Some churches today are disconnected from the present generation that why they cannot reach them

The problem with many churches and pastors is that they are disconnected from this generation, they don't speak their language, they don't even understand what appeals to this generation and that's why they cannot reach them - Pastor Lanre Ogunseye, HOTRphc

You may be right. But could you mention some of those areas where these 'disconnections' occur?

5 Likes

Christianity Etc › Six Reasons Why Youths Port From Their Parents' Churches by Lionize(op): 1:46pm On Nov 30, 2015*

Although it is One's fundamental right to choose to worship any being he/she desires, we know in this part of the world, one is actually subjected, or cajoled to worship the same God One's parents worship.

It is better to cajole or coerce One than meting out the capital punishment. It is very bad and wicked of those who go as far as killing their own who Port place/object of worship.

My question is: If you actually know you are heading to heaven and unbelievers/infidels are on their way to hell, why would you kill the unbeliever/infidel for not worshipping what you worship? You intend sending him/her to hell quicker than he/she wanted? Funny.

Oftentimes you see young people leave the churches where their parents worship to other churches; many for different reasons.

I am not saying that porting church is bad or sinful, after all, if you are not being spiritually fulfilled where you are, you seek fulfillment elsewhere. But, most of this young people leave because of ulterior reasons. Here are some of those as I have observed:

[b1. Spiritual Fulfillment:[/b]

Some people leave their family churches because they are not spiritually fulfilled where they are. Some feel they don't receive the word of God as they should and so they port to where they feel God would speak to them more clearly.

2. Miracles:

For those that do not know they can make miracles happen themselves, they port to a church where it happens if it doesn’t where he/she worships, not minding if the miracles are real or fake, if they have to pay stiff prices or not. From the search for husband, wealth, to the search for babies. Name them. You all know what I’m talking about here, so help me site some examples please.

3. Social reasons:

Many young people, or even some adults after attaining some social status, see their parents’ churches as ‘Old School”, and thus want to move to where their likes are, where it’s “happening”. For instance, guys who want to perm their hair would not remain in an Anglican, Catholic or Deeper Life church; you know where they would gravitate to.

4. Cover-up:

Many young people actually leave their original churches because they want to have the liberty to live in sin while inside the church. Yes, I just wrote that. Since their parent’s presence in the same church wouldn’t give them that chance, they seek where they can hide and do what they want. We know some guys go to church just because they want to woo a lady.

But the question is: must you go to church?

Remember, Galatians 6.7 says “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap.”

5. Marriage:

This mostly applies to ladies. When some ladies, after looking around their church and concluding that there are no eligible man that suits their taste, they seek where they would have options. I know a lady who was doing well and was in a church that forbids their members from marrying from outside the church. O Boy, when time kept moving only in clockwise direction without a pause, she ported. The rest was history.

6 Material Benefits:

I once went visiting and spent some few days with some boys in Kaduna, somewhere around a place called “Television”. I was surprised when one of the boys came back from church one Sunday with raw rice and other food ingredients. He said it was so in that church once in a while, and that had attracted him to the church. This was a boy who smoked wee-wee like he wouldn’t have Oxygen to live on without it.

There are many other reasons, but let me not bore you further for now.

Advise: If you want to serve God, serve Him in Spirit and in Truth (see John 4.23-24)

Parents should still ensure they put in eye in the affairs of their kids irrespective of where they worship. It is your responsibility to bring up your child in the way the child should go.

Shalom!

http://www.obitteleo..com.ng/2015/11/church-porting.html

38 Likes 3 Shares

Business › Re: Why Is Mentorship Hard To Get In Nigeria? by Lionize: 8:25am On Nov 28, 2015

Nigerians be like "so you want me to leak my secrets to you?". grin

Politics › Re: Aye And Nay-Saying Senators by Lionize(op): 11:53am On Oct 30, 2015

Mynd44:
Actually, they can vote electronically but that's only if any senator raises an objection to the voice vote. They can also have a manual vote count which is done by the clerk of the house.

As to what you witnessed...everyone already agreed to the "aye" as the vote is probably a standard thing but some senator like to troll once a while.

It's likely they do what they do to save time, manual counting may not do the magic.

Education › How To Know Your Bvn Dial *565*0# by Lionize(op): 11:21am On Oct 30, 2015

Have you ever found yourself searching through your phone to extract your Bank Verification Number for any reason? Or angry you had to stress yourself any bit to get this.

Unless you have not registered to get your Bank Verification Number, in which case I advise you go do so today, or at least go empty your account before 4pm today.

Some banks would let you update your BVN online if you have the number, some others don't have any platform for that.

Whichever way, to get your BVN on the go, simply dial *565*0# anytime. Ensure you do so with your registered phone number, that is, the number with which you receive transaction alerts.

Cheers!

http://www.obitteleo..com.ng/#!http://obitteleo..com/2015/10/how-to-know-your-bvn-dial-5650.html

Politics › Aye And Nay-Saying Senators by Lionize(op): 10:57am On Oct 30, 2015

For me, the decision of the Senate when they vote on an issue during their plenaries solely lies on the Senate President.

Once I watched the president asked:
“Those in support say Aye”.

Some said “aye”.
“Those against say nay” he prompted again.

More Congressmen chorused “naaaay!”.

“The ayes have it” he concluded with the gavel.

And then I thought, “there should be a better way of doing things than shoving deceit down the throats of the citizenry”.

Then I thought of an electronic panel with two buttons, AYE and NAY, installed on every seat in the hallowed chamber. The display board large enough to be conspicuous to everyone.

Once the president calls for a vote, the result should determine his pronouncement.

Transparency should be our watchword if we mean to serve those who voted us in.

What do you think?

http://www.obitteleo..com.ng/#!http://obitteleo..com/2015/10/aye-and-nay-saying-congressmen.html

Travel › Late Arrival Of Luggages On International Flights by Lionize(op): 11:18am On Oct 16, 2015

Have you ever imagined a case where you are on an international flight and you arrive without your bag that contains vital documents you need to defend a proposal the next day, or where a life is dependent on its content? This is not a case of Lagos to Port Harcourt trip where you could wait for the next flight if the day is still young.

Let me not bore you much.

A trip from USA to PH, with a stop at Paris and another brief stop at Abuja, was long enough to require some consolation, with peace of mind at least. But after a long wait at PH international airport, it was announced that some passengers’ baggages did not arrive.

All affected passengers registered their cases and leaflets were distributed with luggage slips attached to the leaflet. They apologized and asked us to come two days after. They sent an email same night, stating that the bags were currently being transported to the arrival airport (PHC Int’l Airport), with apologies and a promise to contact us on the address to deliver the bags.

Two days later, I called them. The lady held me on and confirmed later that the name I called was not in the list of bags that had arrived; said they’ll contact me when the bags arrive.

The following day (14/10/15), they sent an email and stated “…The delivery company will contact you directly to make an appointment about the final delivery…”

The next day, I got a call from them to inform me to come pick my bags at the airport. I told the lady I would come the next day and it would be later in the day as I would have to go after work. She agreed and said she’ll inform those on duty.

Yesterday (15/10/15), I sent a mail to the address that sent me a mail “Hello,
I was asked to come pick it up at the airport chich is about 2hrs drive. This is just not ok.” but got no response, even till now.

Precisely at 6.44pm (15/10/15), I called to inform them I was on my way and still at Waterlines. The agent told me to 'keep coming'.

A demonic traffic jam held me at Igwuruta roundabout and I finally arrived the airport a little before 10pm. The announcement of the arrival of an AIRFRANCE flight greeted me. I called them at exactly 9.50pm and was told to come to the arrival.

I called again at 9.54pm to notify him I was at the arrival lounge and waited for him to receive “just arrived” passengers.

When he came, I saw a tall not-friendly-looking fellow pulling my bags behind him. The following convo ensured:

AIRFRANCE: Is that your time correct? (he saw a display on the screen of one of my phones)

Me: Oh no, it’s 9.56pm

AIRFRANCE: You’ve stressed me o!

Me: Really? Buh..buh

AIRFRANCE: But it’s AIRFRANCE that stressed you

Me: Buh you guys wrote here that you stay till ten ( I pointed at the leaflet (attached pic)).

AIRFRANCE: You could have come by ten another day and you would definitely come back another day.

He greeted a passenger that just arrived:

AIRFRANCE: Welcome Sir. You are looking good Sir. One minute sir, I have… I’ll attend to you specially. Welcome sir.

He turned and continued attending to me. After identifications and signing off.

AIRFRANCE: Why I didn’t tell you about the time something is that I know we would be coming late

Me: Ok.

Me: I-I actually… I would have been here since but we had a very heavy traffic jam at Igwuruta or so.

Me: Buh you guys are… The mail they sent, you are supposed to deliver these things to the address

He looked at me with some faint disdain and

AIRFRANCE: I’m not hearing you sir.

Me: Nigerian politics?

AIRFRANCE: Nigerian politics and we don’t move bags…

***

I was actually thinking: if one had traveled to the village (which is about 4hrs away), one would have traveled the same distance to come and pick the bag because of the Airline’s incompetence?

Or if one had stayed in a hotel waiting for the bags’ arrival, one would have spent a minimum of 4 nights. At whose expense?

Or if one had missed a vital appointment or lost a contract or a life because of this avoidable mistake. What would be AIRFRANCE’s game?

If they will not learn how to prevent this kind of issue, then they need to reconsider their contract terms.

With all the security checks and systems, electronic advancements and all what not, this kind of mistake should be a thing of the past, no matter how many flights are connected.

Is it only in Nigeria that passengers are made to suffer like this or does it happen like that all over the world?

You pay lots of money (above 400k) on flight ticket and then pass through troubles and extra expenses to get your bags.

I am waiting for a good time they’ll repeat this and I’ll have fun filing a suit against them.

Please share your experience if you have ever encountered such and what happened to your items inside thereafter, intact?

http://www.obitteleo..com.ng/#!http://obitteleo..com/2015/10/late-arrival-of-luggages-on.html

Family › Mama's Perfume by Lionize(op): 12:17pm On Oct 12, 2015*

And now, memories becloud my sense of presence. As the scent of the perfume filtered into my respiratory system, it evoked my world of the 90s into my consciousness- 1991 to be precise. I can still remember the season we were in- The Harmattan, my best.
As a teenager, I sneaked into my mother’s bedroom in the village. She had gone to the market and so I had the liberty of doing some rummaging for a while. I found what I was looking for, an oval-shaped bottle with a slightly yellowish liquid inside, or was it a colourless liquid in a translucent bottle.
Puff! Puff!! I sprayed the content into my underarms. The smell was strong. I donned a red short and a fur monkey jacket, equipped with my specially carved stick that was a signature to me, I stepped out in a pair of slippers from different parents, both in colour and thickness.
It didn’t matter that I did not wear the perfume to any party or special event where I had to ‘dress to kill’, but it distinguished me from my peers, none of them could afford such luxury. From afar, the harmattan wind announced my presence. I felt good and big, it was Mama’s perfume.
In 2012, while rushing to work one morning, the scent of the same perfume caressed my nostrils. I couldn’t place exactly who wore it as many ladies breezed past me. I wouldn’t have gone sniffing around to hound down the ‘wearer’ either in order not to attract the wrath of passersby. I felt nothing but euphoria.
Later in 2014, Ibifuro, my colleague, smelt the same way to work one morning. As soon as she stepped in, I asked:
“The perfume you wear, the bottle is small and somehow rotund?”
“Yes Sir” she replied.
“What is the name please?”
“Happiness”
Bingo!
I didn’t need any other description as the scent did the entire job.
March 2015, Mama came visiting. I ordered for a bottle of “Happiness Perfume” from a store around Education Bus stop, Mile 1. When I got home, I presented it to Mama. She appreciated the gift, but not with any special attachment.
I probed her a bit and to my disappointment, Mama did not remember anything about the perfume. She used perfumes randomly then, but I think she used “happiness” a little more than others. I told her how I used to steal her perfume in those days and it cracked her up.
This morning, Mama woke up in my house. When I went to say “good morning’ in her room, I saw a bottle of happiness in her bag on the table. This time, I didn’t need to steal it, I asked. She smile and nodded.
Puff! Puff!! I directed the nozzle at my underarms once more and went into my room.
When I was set to leave, my suit in hand, I went in once more and asked. Mama smiled once again.
Puff! Puff!! I directed the nozzle on the shoulders of the jacket and off I went to work. All through the drive to the office, the feeling and thought was homewards.
Even right now in the office, I am living my life in the 90s, harmattan keeping my skin very dry, with a thin film of Vaseline over my lips, swiping the slippers under my feet on dry leaves.
I’ll buy a bottle of ‘happiness’ and keep for myself after Mama leaves so I could take a puff off it once in a while. It would forever remind me of Mama.

I love my Mama.

http://www.obitteleo..com.ng/

Politics › Re: How I Handled My Phcn Wahala by Lionize(op): 2:47pm On Oct 09, 2015

Afam4eva, OAM4J, please push up for people to learn

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