₦airaland Forum

Ambivalent

As the old saying goes " If you are handed lemons, make lemonade" If you are handed sugar make..WTF!

Interesting. But how do we reconcile cases of people who openly confess to practicing witchcraft? Or are they merely seeking notice or popularity at the expense of their reputation?

ogokam: Unbelievable! When Timi come become big shot to fly with bigwigs like Yakowa n Azazi in a naval A helicopter. E no fear face? I think that he simply thanked God for journey mercies. These entertainment guys can really form, abeg.

Who the hell is Timi Dakolo? Thrash wannabe? Trying to leverage the misfortune of the great for cheap publicity.

The major challenge is that you are a broke "guy". If you had been a "broke girl" you would have had a thousand offers for trips after your post on nairaland. My advise to you is this:

1. Go to the nearest supermart, get a couple of drinks and pop corn.
2. Renew your DSTV subscription if u haven't.
3. Invite over your neighbouthood reserve beau.
4. Enjoy the ride.

In case this is not feasible, just go to the nearest cinema (Yaba suggested) you will definitely have a ride of your life with just pop corn and a clean ride. Those yaba chicks can throw up some surprises on a low budget!

Navy Commander Daba, the ex-boy who was the pilot of the ill-fated Augusta 105 helicopter that crashed on 15th December, 2012 was newly promoted with his coursemates (46 Regular Course). He was one year ahead of me at the Nigerian Military School Zaria. He was the smallest in stature among his coursemates, but he had a very big heart. This a tribute to him:


1. The death of Commander Muritala Mohammed Daba leaves a huge vacuum in our lives. According to news reports he died on active duty while flying the governor of Kaduna state and the immediate past National Security Adviser in a Nigerian Navy helicopter. We mourn not because we are naive about human mortality, fretful for our turn or impudent of God’s prerogative. It is Gods privilege alone to give life and every officer in the Nigerian Navy, Army or Air Force knew the risks before we bravely signed up. Naturally, the statistics for death are startling. One in every one will die, as none of us will leave this life alive. However, even the heavens applaud the brilliance of a shooting star and Commander Daba did shine. If the situation was reversed Oga would not bother with the circumstances of death like some do. He would smile and say “Allah Yayisah”. Well I am not that charitable. This is the second day since Al-Jazeera broke the news and we are in more shock than the first day. Despite the hurt in our hearts our thoughts and prayers go out to his family especially his beautiful wife and lovely daughter.

2. Every time I am privileged to witness the glory of a military wedding ceremony, my first amazement is the sparkle in the bride’s eye not the glitz of participating in the sword crossing ceremony. It fills me with awe that these amazing women dare to become what late Hajia Maryam Babangida calls the “Officers Wife”. It is incredible that any woman (or man) would accept to marry a man (or woman) who’s very job demands obedience without complaint and loyalty without restraint. Why would anyone want to settle with a military partner who is trained to love Country first, God second and then spouse/family in that order? At all times an officer’s wife waves her husband good bye without any guarantee he will return. Others live a life of sacrifice and loneliness. These superwomen wives often have to deal with long months without their partners because he is on assignment in another state, country or continent. It seems these courageous spouses essentially sign up to serve their nation along with their military spouses. Consequently officers and men are forever grateful to God for friends and family knowing that any moment could be the last. They hold their wives and family with high esteem and Oga Daba was no exception loving his wife and daughter till death.

3. Oga Daba was not just a compassionate father and faithful husband, he was a consummate professional. Since graduating from the Nigerian Defence Academy with a bachelor’s degree he has served his country both ashore and afloat. Commander Daba completed several courses within and outside Nigeria and earned his wings as a member of the elite squad of Nigerian Navy helicopter pilots. During one of his numerous trips to Italy we met up in Amsterdam for an unforgettable 36 hours in 2008. He told me of how he escaped racists in Hungary with “Regular” moves and military alacrity. Rather than save his course allowance as most officers on course would traditionally do, he chose like me to travel and see the world as means to understanding other people’s and cultures. He believed in a border-less world where race, tribe, wealth, nationality and religion could be defining but certainly not definitive. Lots of things happened that fateful day in Amsterdam but two of the actors will never speak and one is now gone.


4. Yet to live in the hearts and minds of those whose life you have impacted is never to die. As officers and men all over the world keep a stiff upper lip and grieve in silence, I will end with three lessons I learned from Commander Daba and for which he would be forever missed.


Lesson one. You do not need to be wealthy to be generous.

I am not certain how rich he was on Saturday 13 December 2012 when he piloted the Navy Augusta helicopter from Bayelsa to Port Harcourt but I do know that in 2002, I was so broke that I could not afford to fuel my Honda Accord. This was a time when a one week delay in salary payment or “NG” could wreck a new officer’s budget and a two week delay meant disaster. In between pay checks I asked Mac Olowu to “raise” me. He was in the same broke-boat but took me to Oga Daba who himself did not have. Within minutes Oga Daba took me in his car to another officer’s house in Arakan Barracks, borrowed from the officer without disclosing my identity, lent to me and never accepted the money back. I still do not know the officer he met but anyone that knew Oga will not be surprised that he could go to such lengths for a junior officer.

Lesson Two. Respect is best earned not demanded.

The first thing that struck you on meeting him is his cheerful, humble and honest personality. This became most evident during the Junior Staff College course 59/2005 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College. In true “onward together” fashion, he gracefully took “yabs” (petty jokes/ amusing insults) from my course mates who were the most junior on the course and sometimes returned “yabs” of his own. His initial pilot training meant that he had to attend this course with his juniors. Yet you could not tell how senior he was, because he would laugh, motivate and teach fellow syndicate members in an affable manner that endeared him to everyone but never diminished him. At no time did any of us his juniors “try” him. We just trusted him to help, advice and understand because he always did.
Lesson Three. True friendship has no boundaries. Think outside the box.

Oga Daba was my superior but more importantly he was a friend. In too many instances and in so many ways he was there. After several stints abroad I have painfully discovered how easy it is to lose track of friends, colleagues and most surprising of all course mates for many reasons. Yet the last time I spoke to Oga Daba was the same day he departed this world. I was on my way from Lebanon where I presented a research paper at the IEEE ACTEA 2012 conference. We discussed how pleasant my trip to Lebanon was, marriage conundrums (for me) and the significance of my research. In typical Daba style, he started the conversation at 8:38 PM Friday Lebanon time (GMT+2) and sent his last message 12:32 AM Saturday (see the blackberry screen shot).

http://www.facebook.com/notes/stephan-nonsoezeoke/in-memory-of-commander-murtala-mohammed-daba/10151583229814552

Add Gulder Azazi and Shandy Sokoma. One Senator even bears the Name Heineken! Anyway please step out this evening to nearest neighbouhood bar and ask for a bottle of Legend. I must confess that nothing comes in more handy than Legend before a bout of bedmatics. Its the real deal and the secret of some informed few!

What about these Ijaw names: Katastrophe Ayakazi, Mayhem Lokpobiri, Chameleon Duke and ofcourse Pandemonium Okobosi

In all these no one remembers the life of the Pilots and the crew. RIP Cmdr MM Daba and Liuet Sowole. U were great guys. Will miss u dearly.

crisycent: Afta this naeto c guy was beaten at a show in Benin city, he's finally found someone he can tear his clothes......woman wrapper.......

I must tell you this. Nat C is one hell of an arrogant crap ass. Met him a couple of times. I remember sitting at a table next to his @ a dinner sometime ago. I recall him blaming the problems of Nigeria on "Poor People". In fact he said he hated poor people and that most of them are jealous witches. Every one on his table laughed and he felt good about it. Wow !

missbond007: He turned 77 yesterday. Now I know what Genevieve will look like when she is old.

http://.com/2012/12/picture-of-genevieve-nnaji-and-her.html

So what's the new price of bread?

State of Squalor

Sincere 9gerian: This unsubstantiated SUPER STORY should be read side by side with the fact that Henry Orkah is KNOWN gun runner and leader of criminal gangs in the Niger delta. Before GEJ became president, Henry Orkah was initially arrested and imprisoned by Yar Adua due to his links with criminal activities in the Niger delta. He was later released by the same Yar Adua during the amnesty programme, after he wrote an under-taking not to return to criminality. After the demise of Yar Adua and with GEJ now in charge, Henry Orkah rejected amnesty and went on a mission to embarrass GEJ. Even till date, Henry Orkah does not believe in amnesty. Therefore, only fools will take SILLY STORIES of someone with such criminal record seriously. Unfortunately, there are many fools in Nig

Point of Correction! The Person in Question is Not HENRY OKAH. It is CHARLES OKAH, a brother to HENRY.

95 percent of Nigerian girls are always broke. They are always on the receiving end. The meagre 5 percent that have are broke at heart. I think it has to do with cultural conditioning. Vipers will definitely beget vipers. They are just chips off their old mamas.

Behold the dryest joke I ever stumbled upon!

Prostitute: I give the best "Blow" Job in town.
Akpos: U be boko haram?

Karen Igho looks like a character from "The Simpsons"

[quote author=$tunna]hahahahahahahaha!!!! foolish nigerians here we go again i just saw a better picture of him on the dirty whine video and i was right...the poor dude is not at all a white man and some nigerians have no problem embarrassing themselves at all when they open their mouths to speak his is an middle eastern man...please dont let people hear you call him a "full white man"

In sweden, he would be hated more than me and would be called dark hair nigga!!

clueless people will celebrate anyone or anything that is different from their own!! mstcheeew[/quote]Now one question. Will your reaction or opinion have been different if he was a" full white" man?

So when is the movie coming out?

I once heard a mistaken statement that Don Jazzy was his father.

Na Christmas. Merry WhiskMass and a Crappy ...New...

jhydebaba: There was this food vendor I love visiting because I pay any amount and some times I don't pay at all. This is how things is done there, u order for food say 400 naira, after eating when u are going u go to the cashier, she asks you how much food u have eaten, u tell her 120 naira, she collects it without query.
I found out that not only my humble self knew about this strategy, virtually all my friends play this game, even if u decided to walk away making them believe u have paid immediately u collected food, no qualms.
We got to stop when someone hinted us that they were actually using us for juju/jazz.


Really it was a sweet experience.

YOU ARE DIGGING THY GRAVE WITH THY TEETH. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME.

ogoebube: Finally , he passes , jst knew he would be the next....RIP

HOW COME U KNEW? ARE YOU THE REAPER? PLS GIVE ME A CALL. I HAVE A HIT LIST FOR U. THANKS IN ADVANCE

WHAT BLOODY JUJU? ITS ALL ABOUT THE RECIPE! JUJU IS A TERM COINED BY SOME SMALL BRAINED ANCESTORS TO EXPLAIN PHENOMENA BEYOND THEIR UNDERSTANDING. THEY WERE SO SO LAZY TO ENGAGE IN CRITICAL REASONING. PERIOD

THE REAPER HAS HARVESTED SOME GREAT MINDS THIS YEAR

IBU FOR PRESIDENT !

Nothing Wong with FB. It's a cultural revolution small minded folks are yet to grasp and come to terms with. M

Pictures Please. One Inventory Update in Hell

Looks more like a Christmas Firework to me

More Matyrs Like These Wanted in Kabul. Interested Sistas Apply Within

Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis Larvatus). GBAM!

Baba Says "Aaahh" In the Typical Yarabawa Way.

If your father told you about the love child. Then the will is validated. Remember the love child came up as a "surprise" to Bianca.
Whatever the case you have done yourself in with your dumb comment. See, Bianca is a smart azz. Sorry smart bootie.