₦airaland Forum

kenosky:
[size=13pt]opoks, skeelo no sabi yarn plenty plenty grammar and analysis like u, alfaprime and kuwena so i guess im just dey siddon look. Meanwhile, i sure say im go post 2day as Arsenal don do wetin no English club don fit do (them hammer Manchester United 3-0 last year if u remember)- beat Milan at San siro, kai!

@brainstorming, i'm glad this thread has been infused with the vigour it once had- i'm saddened though that we can't read from adrianic because he brought an incisive pattern of analysis to the thread but i guess we'll just have to make do with opoks, kuwena, alfa prime and all of them good natured peeps wey dey contribute.

@pak, u self don do like runs away?

@tommyex, pop champagne because u v won your double birthday present. I sabi person wey win over £50 yesterday on Arsenal (lost £20 at the Emirates). No b small thing![/size]

@ everone
i neva comot for this tren, i just den relax dey watch things
@ kenosky
person wey no well no we

uche7869:
[b]What kind of leader will a man who denys his family, God and country, definately not a good or humane one,

I'm happy that I do not know unpatriotic and cpmplainant Nigerians like u kuwena, Nigeria does not need your likes to make it great, we have much better people like myself, ,Opoks,adrianic, tommyex, , etc[color=#990000], A man is measured by his reaction under pressure and his words, NLNG exposeed to the world the kind of empty, ,double faced person u are, If our fore fathers as slaves had not built up America with their sweat and blood, ,where would u have been running to, ?

For u to deny GOD because of NLNG when he gave u a bank job to fall back on makes u an ingrate and according to God's word "only a fool says in his heart that there is no GOd", There are many young Nigerians out there better than u who have no job or anything but they still love and trust God, and trust in him for a better future.

By the way, ,even if u have a 2:2, ,most people applying for graduate studies in The US are entitled to a GTA, so get off your high horse, At least I was also offered one even wih my miserly 3.57 GPA in a highly rated school like the University of Texas at Austin, Wich school u dey go sef, I want to ignore u but evryone here seems to accomodate u so you grow more arrogant and boastful, get a life dude.




"The finest leaders are made and tested in the crucibles of hard, real-time suffering, and no kidding about this. You know it's very difficult for an empty sack to stand upright, right? So, those of us who passed through hell on earth when it seemed we had nothing to offer, can see now that we were not actually empty back then like we thought, but were filled with innate survival instincts, and some of the finest qualities of personality."[/color][/b]

@ALL
HAPPY SUNDAY.AV A BLISSFUL WEEK AHEAD

kenosky:
if u no send mi o
people plenty wey send mi o
i'm not alone
i dey speak my mind
my brother
e no b lie to
say what u want to say
and if i do what u want to do
God in heaven know say i like u
but my brotha u need to change your attitude

@ kenosky
u no well

I forgot to say Good morning to u all
It is a brand new month and a brand new page

@ Kenosky

if u like, make u , i no send u ooooooooooooooo
[size=18pt]NO B SMALL THING O[/size]

AlfaPrime:
@tommyex

Funny enough, this intellectual contest, as you call it, can only do us a world of good. You see, radical revolutionaries always started as idealists who began by envisioning a better world around them. They then took up the gauntlet and stepped out for a change.

@Opokonwa

I say touche to your post. The change in Nigeria starts with us. In fact, with me. Let me recall an experience we had while in school. A lecturer shared with us in class, how a student of his in a senior level to ours once approached him after an exam result was released, complaining that his result was missing. The lecturer was surprised and asked the student how this could have possibly happend, and if he was sure he actually sat for the exam in question. Eventually, under intense interrogation, the boy confessed that he didn't actually write the exam, but had hoped he could con the university don into awarding him a grade. The lecturer then paused and made a profound statement to us in the class: He said something like this: " If as a student, you ask for grades for exam u never wrote, then as a local govt chairman, you will commision roads that you did not build!" The class roared with laughter, while some one impishly chipped in: ", and build bridges where actually, no river exists!

But, I'm sure we get the point here. It starts with me and you. In this regard, I'd say that one reason Nigeria stands out from other corrupt countries right now is that there is both official and general condemnation of the trend. For one, we know that we are corrupt. Though we may disagree about the best way to fight it, we are at least, willing to talk about it, opening ourselves up to the world, and assessing ourselves on our anti-corruption strides.

@Kuwena
You are very correct about the cause of not just Nigeria, but Africa's present state of backwardness: Leadership. But it depends on your definition of leadership. I don't just mean political leadership. I mean a collective and cummulative failure of leadership at the Federal level, State level, local level, family level, and curiously but surely, the INDIVIDUAL level. Do you remember the Biblical quotation that "he who has rule over his spirit is better than he that taketh a city?", because some of us really, can't govern ourselves yet.

I don't mean to sound despondent or preachy of course, because there's actually a lot of hope for us. We may not realise it now, but the truth is that things may never have been this hopeful for us in our history as a nation, NOT because things are good right now (in fact, they're actually in their worst state) but because we NOW KNOW OUR TRUE SORRY STATE AS A NATION, and are desirous of change. Ignorance is the worst killer.

@Kuwena

Please don't think that because of my juicy job, I don't know suffering. Yes, things are reasonably easier for me now, but I have had my fair share of suffering in life, which I'm not in a hurry to forget. From having to trek miles to primary school on an empty stomach, to surviving for days in University on just garri and water, to being abandoned when it mattered most, by trusted and well-to-do relatives who my father had done much for,, name it. And today, when I sit in an airconditioned vehicle going to and from the office, I look out at the sweating, trudging masses struggling for their daily bread, and tell myself silently
"From poverty in Nigeria, none is free,
Until all is free"

Doubt me? Ask an armed robbery or fraud victim.

Many of us on Nairaland have seen the worst side of life in Nigeria, but have not allowed it to turn us against the country. Because the country is simply You and I.

But You know the key to forging ahead? Kuwena, I'll share this key with You in my next post, for our collective benefit. it will help You as You progress to your next level in life. You've got all the trappings of a successful high-flier, but this key is so vital, You need to have it as you progress.

Cheerio!Happy weekend.

To everyone
HAPPY NEW MONTH
I wish u all a blissful and funfilled month

@ Alfa prime
i dey feel u cos u dey make me
go ahead padi mi, i dey for ur side

tommyex:
Ken
no mind them jare,them muscle dey move them,anyway I don't mind you bringin a healthy fight with me,make we flex

Opoks
ehyah! sorry o,my sins may get more,but i hope u ll forgive as God does.

Kuwena
happy birthday/happy good day
i actualy read most of it,but weak eyes 2 show 4 it,nice post/story!

@ tommyex,
how far?how u dey?wetin u think say go happen for sat , sebi na sat we go get match
anyhow
dey pray say we go win becos that Man U no wan gree#
anyhow enjoy

kenosky:
trinity abi wetin u say your name be! which kain lengthy mail b this na? carry your tyme o abi u think say this place na dumping ground? no allow mi for u because i fit make u after u don .

@ kenosky
how u dey?i think saay u go post till mid nyt, u tire so,
make me sef go sleep
@ everyone, enjoy and av a nice nyt rest

AlfaPrime:
I thank you all. When I was a Christian, one of the psalms I loved was Psalm 131. In the first part of that psalm, the songist said: 'Yahweh, I am not proud!' I second him. Indeed, I am not proud.

I have got admission to do a master's in the course I love best, in a standard American school (name of school deliberately withheld), and am being offered a GTA; but what if I package the admission letter, and the I-20, and my transcript, and all what not, and go to the Embassy and they see all these documents, and still deny me a visa? What then? I would still be back to square one. So I know it is not yet uhuru. NLNG has taught me certain things: Do not count your chicks before they are hatched. And I will not do so. I will patiently begin to plan my embassy interview, with my fingers crossed.

The reason I went all emotional and started saying I would give my life for the USA and all what not is simple. I had just received the letter, and I was ecstatic; but now that I have allowed sufficient time to pass, I can reflect. What touched me about Professor Pat's letter was the language she used. For someone that has just been rejected by NLNG, words like: your credentials are very impressive; you will add greatly to our graduate community here; I look forward to seeing you; you are admitted on full graduate standing; welcome to the Graduate school, and all what not, simply made me feel wanted. I had felt rejected in my own country, and the USA seemed to be welcoming me with open arms; an orphan boy like me. How could I not feel love for them?

Anyway, I know it is not yet Uhuru. I know this too well. Let's see how the big one goes, the embassy battle. That is the big one. The real maccoy!





@Kuwena,

You said, "when You were a Christian", may I ask what You are now?

Am also happy for u that u've calmed down and allowed commonsense to prevail after your initial near-hysteric excitement over the admission. It never ceases to make me wonder silently whenever I see people so excited about leaving our country Nigeria for greener pastures abroad. Guys, my prayer for us all is that we come to the point where travelling to the US or anywhere else will be normal and usual, like a pasttime, not a thing to break our heads over. When I got my letter informing me that I had passed the NLNG test, I injured myself with excitement and nearly lost my life, but it taught me sober lessons. When God in his infinite mercy later blessed me with a much more expensive multi-million naira job, I was much calmer, because I had realised by then that His plans for me are much greater than even my greatest hopes and dreams. He's indeed a loving God and a great Father!

ANother thing I must say here, Kuwena, (and to all landers) is that we must have a positive attitude to Nigeria. mark my words, and go confirm them on the net, there is NO CRIME, MISFORTUNE, CORRUPTION OR DISCOMFORT that You see in this country, that does not much more abound in the USA. from violent robbery/crime, rape, car-snatching, , name it! I have seen riots and mob action happening on the streets on US (in this 21st century!) over a hit and run driver, it's just that, the truth remains, the system there works far better than our system here, because nearly everyone behaves themselves and respects the rule of law. So please, we still have a future and a hope here. I work with Americans in my company, and many of them have a deep respect for this country, despite the fact that it's obvious our leaders have shortchanged us. One of them once told me quite frankly, that he thinks the NYSC scheme is one thing that makes Nigeria so great and unique. Imagine!

Finally, remain blessed all. Prepare very well for your Visa interview, Kuwena. You may wish to visit the USIS at Broad Street, Lagos, to acquaint yourself on what is required for a successful interview. I want to believe that it's a credible school that's offering the admission, because, funny enof, there are some American schools whose admission and even scholarship CANNOT get u a scholarship.

Up Landers!!!

na wao. this trend don dey full of people and words. after the 100 page anniversary, different things don dey happen.
@ alfaprime, u try well. anyhow just dey post, we go see how many of them go reach the 200- page

trinitech:
Hi guys.
hope you engineers et'all are having fun, and learning too.

Here's some of my thoughts. Hope you find it interesting; and you can access a lot more interesting content at www.adetayo..com

Prince Harry in Afghanistan! Classic Leadership / MBWA example

Tom Peters, alumnus of the management consulting firm of McKinsey & Company and one of today's best known and highest paid management gurus, first came to prominence in 1982 with his ‘knock-out’ book; In Search of Excellence. This thought-provoking classic provided us with many valuable lessons from America's Best-Run Companies.

In his first book, Peters introduced us to the key concept of MBWA (Management By Wandering Around). MBWA does not mean leaving your responsibilities behind as you stroll through the nearest shopping mall. According to him, to "wander" with customers and vendors and our own people, is to be in touch with the first vibrations of the new. Pretty self explanatory!

To illustrate: in our highly digitised natural gas processing plant, we have sensors that are connected to and closely monitor all plant conditions (pressure, temperature…e.t.c) and give instant feedback to enable instant response in emergencies. (Our plants are multi-billion dollar metals that deserve world-class monitoring and protection)
A key characteristic of effective leadership is its ability to detect changes in the eco-system and execute a seamless transition program that responds appropriately.

The nexus between MBWA and Prince Harry should be quite clear now. What on earth would a Royal and possible heir to the throne (King of England) be doing in war front you might ask (and I asked too!), particularly in a country notorious for insurgency, a drug-based economy and base for international terrorism Harry has spent about 10 weeks there now, and seems to be enjoying the experience of rendering service to his nation.

No pun intended, but you and I would quite agree that this isn’t a frequent occurrence in Nigeria, and by extension Africa (Where so-called leaders live in fortresses, and claim to defend the plight of the poor by ruling from those same palaces).
Harry has often been portrayed as the black sheep of the family, but his recent accomplishments speak volumes. The decision of the Royal family to allow their son to pursue his dreams also deserves applaud.

I believe Leadership largely involves experiencing and possessing the ability to relate to what every other person feels. If I can’t empathize with you, and relate with you on your level, why should I qualify to lead you?

Rick Warren in his classic “purpose driven life” talks about the strategy adopted by Saddleback, His Church. He says people who have had terrible experiences in the past, but overcame them (by God’s help of course!) are commissioned to lead and coordinate ministry arms that reach out to youths and others experiencing the same pain. In essence, the fact that you experienced and overcame a particular challenge puts you in a much better position to rescue those having similar experiences.

It’s not cast in stone that you must be an ex-evil (or have had a terrible experience) to help others, but the truth is adversity fortifies and places one in better stead to help others overcome. (I guess if Christ himself had to shed eternal glory momentarily and endure unimaginable pain to save us, then any serious minded leader must be willing to identify with his constituency)

And one more example: Barack Obama – I’m not exactly a fan, but I believe his life experiences, humble beginnings and past voluntary work have significantly aided his campaign. People are naturally drawn to those they view as having the ability to understand their needs and view points. God help Hillary as the Obama Machine seems to have stockpiles of ammo and WMDs that could keep up with the annihilation.

From a business perspective, David Packard had this to say about MBWA:


Straightforward as it sounds, there are some subtleties and requirements that go with MBWA, if it's done reluctantly or infrequently, it just won't work. It needs to be frequent, friendly, unfocused, and unscheduled—but far from pointless.

Here are some tips on how to practice MBWA:

Include affected employees / team members in goal setting.
Give frequent and meaningful recognition for a job well done.
Interact with employees on an informal basis.
Go to staff's work area. Meet them on their own turf.
Ask for staff's opinions and listen with an open mind.
Share non-confidential information with staff.
Offset demoralizing actions and events by emphasizing what went well
Listen 80% of the time and talk 20%.
MBWA works best when you are genuinely interested in people / employees and in their work and when they see you as being there to listen.

Time to add some credentials to our names folks! Check this out:
Adetayo Bamiduro, MBWA (Pretty cool! or what do you think)

@trinitech,
na wa o,where r for show from?na only God sabi, anyhow welcome and enjoy

kuwena:
Today is a very emotional day for me. Every 28th of February is. On this very day four years ago, I took the most radical decision of my whole life. How did it begin? And so it happens that since after February 28, 2004 I have had to mark that day as a recurring anniversary. I usually go to a fast food joint, or cook myself a meal to mark it. Today I went with a friend to Mr. Bigg's.

On February 28, 2004 I sat on my mattress on the floor of my room in my uncle's house at Owerri. I relived my past, my present and my future, and all I saw was darkness. So I got up, in the insanity of anger and picked my small travel bag; then I walked up to my so-called uncle in the sitting room. I told him: 'I am leaving; I am leaving your house for good.' He looked at me awhile, and then threw his head back and laughed loud and good. Then he said, 'Your father thought he was a disciplined man, that he was discipline itself. Where is he today? Is he not six feet in the grave? And you are going the same way!' I retorted: 'Back to sender.' And with that, I was on my way, out into the world.

Life seemed to be giving me a choice between two alternatives: have a family and be unsuccessful all through life, or forsake your family and thrive. I chose the latter. That fateful day, when I walked out on family, I chose to be successful, even if it meant sacrificing them. And I have not looked back.

When I left, I had nowhere to go to, but somehow, I had to keep running, and that race has now lasted four years. Still I am not tired. In Igbo culture we say, oso ndu anaghi agwu ike (the race of life is not tiring). And I will continue to run, as far as my legs will take me. Away from mediocrity, away from poverty; away from death.

How did I realize I had to run? From the day I set foot to live in that house in 1996, till the day I ran in 2004, life never seemed to go straight; but from the day I ran until now, life has advanced; in these four years, I have graduated, served and begun working. As if everything is starting afresh again, after all the pervasive darkness, of dropping out of both FUTO and the seminary, and all the other frustrations besides. And life is all an adventure now; an intriguing movie. Exciting, terrifying, almost unreal; yet I go on living.

The climax of the suffering under the oppression of my extended family was an event that took place on 15th November, 2003; the Rat episode; it is written in Ninety Negro Numbers, and an excerpt copied directly from the manuscript is afforded below:



It was ten at night when the fiend came home that day. As usual, I was still studying on the verandah. He called me to lock the gates. We all went to bed. Suddenly, I awoke. There was a rat on my chest! I was horrified. At once, it jumped off and tried to get out through the window; it was locked. Then the mouse tried the side door; it was stuffed underneath with paper. Then it stayed still, unable to escape. I stared at it, and then opened the main door and spoke, ‘Leave.’

As if the rat perfectly understood English, it walked straight out the door, neither swerving left nor right. I felt enough was enough. This juju manipulation had to stop. I began to pray. I prayed long and hard, from twelve midnight to broad daylight morning. At the final amen, I opened the curtains and the sun greeted me. I stepped out of my room and grabbed a bucket to go wash my so-called uncle’s car. Usually, every morning, I would wash his car, sweep the verandah and finally rake the compound. This morning, however, after washing the car, I was going to drop the bucket when the fiend, Ambrose Chukwuma Nze, confronted me. He asked what I had been doing all through the night. I told him about the rat, and that I had been praying, and he at once declared I wanted to kill him! I asked him if he was the rat. He said for me to keep shut, that I was wicked, and that he was going to tell everybody that I wanted to kill him, an ungrateful fellow I was.
‘So you want to kill me,’ he sniffed.
I said nothing.
‘You told me that I would die, my children would cry; you would be laughing and burying me.’
‘Really? When?’
‘Shut up! Ungrateful boy, you also said that the Nze family would fall, and only you would stand.’
‘Me?’
‘Keep quiet, O keep quiet you wicked boy! So you want to kill me, because I killed your father?’ And he turned his face away.

Was this a revelation or something? Had this beast actually killed Patrick Azunna Nze, his immediate elder brother? He continued to mutter, and I to stare at him. Jesus, what was happening?

Reader, pray never to experience what I did after that day. He began carrying his double-barreled gun about whenever I was in the house. He refused me to wash his car, to sweep the verandah or to rake the grounds. Once when I tried to take the rake from him, he shuddered and shifted. ‘Leave me-o! Leave me!’

And the nightmares? The poisonings – O my God! I probably died seven times over, but then a cat has nine lives, and my yahoo avatar is the bespectacled feline. I bear a charmed life. Odieshi! If you buy my soon-to-be-published autobiographical novel, you will get the details. It is a long, long, very long and intriguing story, my whole life.


This, you must know, is my favorite number. I am not a musician myself, but I have long converted it to a song, to be played on the drums, with the samba dance. The rhythm is so obvious that any fool can make a song of the piece, and a lively one at that.

After making the poem a spirited song, the next is to get drummers and shekere players, who should play with gusto. Then, the making of the mimers: Get a middle aged, black man to play Ambrose, and also a set of dancers, maybe twelve or so, all dressed in traditional African dance attire. The drummers and the shekere players (and if you can mange wind instruments too, get flutists) are all positioned at a corner of the stage, playing and producing veritable beat. Then enter the lad who hops onto the stage and begins to dance. O dear, how do I describe the particular dance I have in mind? He pushes out his chest at the words ‘with rat on my chest’ and sucks it in again; then he kicks his feet, and mimes a prayer session in dance (do you get the picture?), and then he moves three or four paces back, grabs a bucket, tosses it up and flings it aside; then his dance steps become more regular, mostly shoulder and hip movements consonating with the music of the instruments. At the point after the first two stanzas, when he begins to question the fiend who, all this while has stood still, head bowed and arms folded across his chest,

Am I to kill you to make meat for soup
Am I to kill you to use as kpomo?

he turns to face the middle aged man, who jerks in turn to face the lad. At once, the other dancers fall in behind the boy, dancing synchronously, hands pushed out at the fiend in accusatory stance, bodies moving expertly to the beat. They advance one or two paces, and the fiend shifts back in fear. After the word, kpomo, the dancers step off the stage expertly and neatly, and the fiend points at the lad who is now facing him still dancing defiantly, even if now alone:

He pointed at me and grit his brown teeth
He began to say all what I had not.

The man’s mouth does move, but of course it is the lad who is singing. After the next set of lines,

That he would soon die, his children would cry
The Nze’s would fall and I alone stand,

has been mimed and sung, the dancers come again and fall in behind the lad, stretching their hands towards the fiend, singing and dancing to the beat:

Am I a dreamer, saying this and that
Am I a dreamer that you hear me foul?

And after the word, ‘foul,’ they hop off stage again. This becomes the repeated procedure: the lad and the man mime the activity in each set of two stanzas, the lad singing and dancing, the man on the defensive; and at every refrain, the dancing group hops onto the stage to join the lad in challenging his enemy with rhetorical questions. The drums and other musical instruments play on; dancing endures with singing till the end. Curtains.


You Want to Kill Me

With rat on my chest
I had to pray hard
I pleaded with God
From midnight till dawn

I grabbed a bucket
To rub down his car
But this man intoned
You want to kill me

Am I to kill you
To make meat for soup
Am I to kill you
To use as kpomo?

He pointed at me
And grit his brown teeth
He began to say
All what I had not

That he would soon die
His children would cry
The Nzes would fall
And I alone stand

Am I a dreamer
Saying this and that
Am I a dreamer
That you hear me foul?

He said to keep shut
That I was wicked
He'd tell the whole world
I needed him dead

He fetched his dane gun
To keep at his side
That when I was near
He'd ward off the threat

Am I an uze
To keep me a gun
Am I an uze
The type you shoot at?

He quarreled with me
And sent me demons
Concoctions and spells
Witches and devils

He called a dibah
To poison my food
He fashioned a charm
To secure my death

Do you want my corpse
For sniffing the ooze
Do you want my corpse
For drinking the blood?

I had to escape
I couldn't stay on
He was determined
To ensure my doom

I packed up my bag
And made for the road
I would change my name
To Munachukwu

Is kinship by force
When you want me dead
Is kinship by force
With God on my side?

I was a free man
Now so for three years
I left them for good
Never to return

I did suffer much
I wept and I pained
I did everything
To eke out a life

Am I not to live
In my own country
Am I not to live
In my fatherland?

But I didn't lose
See how much I've grown
My chest fends the wind
O stay back, I say!

Assurance increased
I face the wild west
Ready for all things
Because I'm a man

Am I not Negroid
The eye of the sun
Am I not Negroid
The hope of the world?

(Cf Ninety Negro Numbers, pages 67-72)

I wish myself a happy fourth year anniversary of liberation. Amen.

@ kwena
[size=48pt]hapi birthday[/size], bros
wish u many years to com
slp tyt

enjoy

opokonwa:
I don't need to rap or argue like a rapper.
We at home all knew the schools he went to, the hype at home b/f he left and how he left.

Rather than going through an Encyclopedea to prove a point, get the moral of the story.
A Great man is as Great as the number of people his life touched (particularly the less privileged) and not by how much he achieved for himself alone.

@ opoks
takia, i gotta go

hi guys, hope u r all fine?just breezeed in to say hello
av a blissfl day ahead and a wonderful weekend,
as for me , i av already planned mine
takia#

@ bobbyan
where u for dey, wen we dey celebrate our 100 page anniversary, u com land today dey lament like d book of LAMENTATIONS.
Anyway, there wasnt much so no fear, but i assure u wen we get to 200, it will plenty sayo for here, plenty IRAWO and moon
anyhiow, hope u r fine, and it is nice to see the m back on ur profile
safe man or woman or ladman
cheers

opokonwa:
You don't get it, do you?
Dr Philip Emeagwali wouldn't need to spend a dime to uplift the plight of either his town or country people.
He wouldn't need to spend a dime of his money to grant scholarships to budding brains in Mathematics (his field b/f Computing) or any other course.
The American government would have done this much (in his name) for someone who gave them so much advancement in the areas computing, Oil drilling, Mathematics, Engineering, etc and has over 20 patents to his name.

Speaking about his getting to America, he did not just fly to get there.
He benefitted from a missionary scholarship in the days when missionary shools were running things in this country.
So it wasn't like his father's money got him there.
So why not replicate the same scholarship scheme to many other brains who needed to be challenged to excel?
And perhaps, brand it your name??

Why not get the other peeps to America the same way he was transported there?
Why not extend the bridge that got him to America? And get equally talented Nigerians out there?
Is it too much to ask? Too much of a legacy for either his town or for the entire Nigeria?
Nigerians are just damn too self-centered The jews and the caucasians you readily admire (and worship) would readily do it for their race.
But in Africa, when one man succeeds, he is so satisfied that he and his immediate nuclear family has conquered hunger that he thinks of no one else.
I guess it is worse with Ibos.

Was there any record of either Kenya, South Africa, Congo, Djibouti or Sudan ever assisting Barrack Obama in life b/f he went there to supply relief materials, aids and messages of hope for those African communities?
Must one give because he was given to??
People should please learn to think beyond their present needs

One only needs to have a large heart, a giving spirit and a selfless attitude before one can assume other people's challenges as equally important as thiers.
If one doesn't have it, no matter how great your achievement in life is, it stays inside your parlour.




There is no fuss. You announced that you got admission and we all put it our sincere words.

@ Opoks
the great man, i always dey feel ur vibes. infact if u no dey paste for this trend at least once a day, i go with u
u r really great, just keep insprign people, and we'll meet at the top one day
saafe

tommyex:
Yee!
SEE MY UNCLE OO,so u dey count my sins abi?ok oo,I jus had 2 yab u der jare.hope u cool?

Skeelo
my man,imagine 1 of my homies dey say make we sacrifice UCL for league?i beg oo,pray 4 us.I am hoping 4 d best as my bday gift!

Pak
Hiiiiiiii

@ tommyex,
nothing dey happen, them dem say nothing dey pam for ARSENAL where we dey, no wan
we dey ontop, and we no go fall
feel u my guy
safe

pak:
Solemn Thoughts

Why am I writing this post?
I really can't say for sure but I can make some guesses.
First, the renewed vigour on the thread might have sparked off some interest again in me.
then I have just finished reading Kuwena's pain.doc article (to his brother chima).
but thirdly and most importantly, the last bit of info I got from NTA Network news at 9
just brought out that solemn, deeply introspective side of me.

Listening to Lara George's melancholic classic 'Ijoba Orun' in the background and being so alone
I feel some things just have to come out.

Anyway the news I heard was the sudden death of Brig. Gen. Solomon Giwa-Amu,
Obasanjo's ex-ADC and the Director of the Directorate of Army public relations.
Most of us might not know him and I don't know him much either but I had one chance encounter
with him earlier in the year.

Not to bore you with stories, I met him after a presentation we (my comp & IBPLC) made at the
army headquarters Abuja on the 4th January, 5 days away from my Bday.

He was a very amiable man,charming and unusually intelligent for a soldier (my impressions)
I remember him singling me out after the chat and asking if I had his business card (I was quite
taking aback). I told him no. So he reached out and gave me one (I still have the card in my bag right now,
and that was the first thing I went for after the news of his demise).

I was shocked to the marrows and was once again made to wonder the futility,vanity and fickleness of this
life. It makes you wonder, why are things always so uncertain? we are here today and gone tommorow.
what could have killed a man, who survived the shells and bombs of Sarajevo and other war zones,
at such a young age.

What really matters, what endures at the end of the day? After all the running around and 'achievements',
where does everything end up. The man who got 10 Phd's, the man who became the president of his country,
the one who got richer than everybody, the one who was the best man at this and the first to do that,
does it really matter, do all these matter once we are cold and down, six feet under. Is the richest man any
better than the poorest begger at the point of death.

One enduring memory is the day I paid a condolence visit to the family of probably the greatest person
I have met closely in person - Kola Fasanya.
Kola was already a lecturer at 24/25 and at 25 he was regarded as one of the most
brilliant lecturers in the whole school and was already handling a faculty wide course.
but at 26, Kola was gone, gone to be seen no more, the only son of his parents.
He was snatched by the cruel hands of death.

We stood there as his personal effects was being burned by his junior sister in their backyard
(A yoruba tradition) and I saw his results going up in flames. 4 point this and 4 point that.
The vanity of it all dawned on me, what mattered were not his 4 points but the lives he touched.
Three years down the line we had a group project in my dept and had to present a binded written
report. At the end of the day, more than half of the groups dedicated their project works to Kola
Fasanya, not because he was the only person that had died in the school or because he was
extremely brilliant but because of the way he poured out his life into others. I wonder if he knew he had
so little time.

What really matters, to borrow the words of Oponkowa
'is about leaving a good mark, leaving a good impression, about leaving people and places better than you met them'.

What you call achievements today what makes your heart beat like crazy now, what you place so much esteem
on right now will fade away the minute this 'borrowed' life is over.

Life is a vapour, our wordly pursuits are as worthless as air, they will vanish as soon as we think we have gotten
them (that is if we ever get them in the first place). I don't have to beg but I will, Please touch a life,
reach out and hold someones hand, make a face happy,
improve someone's life, those are the only true achievements we can make in this life
and most importantly LIVE FOR GOD.

'Aiye loja, Orun ni ile' (The world is not our home, its a market place, heaven is).
The cars, the houses, the blings and what have you, make no meaning in the final
analysis.
Just remember we are pilgrims passing through this phase of our existence for a brief period.
we will all one day, whether our lives are long or short, be called to give account of what we have made of our journeys

N.B.
@Kuwena
Just went through your mail to your brother and I must confess you have a rare gift. Do you write fiction?
I mean stories not poems. I think you got talent there.
I don't know if you could send me your email.
there are some things I would like to say to you that I believe are better
passed across confidentially and not on the pages of the thread.
but I'll respect your wishes though.
mine is oluwaponlek@yahoo.com

@ pak
u try well well, i b think say na kwena and opoks sabi write, but wen i try read ur epistle about four times before i sleep. infact u r great
really feel u, i no go lie
safe man

UgoSmart:
What's up my people.

Kenosky/Skylo,

Una try well well well yab me and My Blues.

Don worry, na me find una trouble.

But wait o! Una sabi say Una go still come Bridge. I Will make sure I Eduado (sorry braddle) you that night after giving you the stripper treatment.

Just dey sure say Tremor go catch catch only your flats that day.

We don dust ourself so te we dey use blow feedback and f**k verbal communication dey lamp and terry our coach.

nothing they happen.

@ ugo
make i first start wit u, thank God say u know say na u first find trouble, cos na jeje we dey before u blow trumpet
anyway, u b my guy,
how u dey, i hope say u no wen ur flat
anyhow
enjoy

kuwena:
For those that are still Catholics, you may say a rosary for me. Thanks in advance. Bye.

@ kwena, everyone will pray for u
@ all, Good mornig, i hope we all had a splendid nyt, i guess mine was fine
just peeped in to say hello to u guys
safe

kuwena:
I thank you all. When I was a Christian, one of the psalm I loved was Psalm 131. In the first part of that psalm, the songist said: 'Yahweh, I am not proud!' I second him. Indeed, I am not proud.

I have got admission to do a master's in the course I love best, in a standard American school (name of school deliberately withheld), and am being offered a GTA; but what if I package the admission letter, and the I-20, and my transcript, and all what not, and go to the Embassy and they see all these documents, and still deny me a visa? What then? I would still be back to square one. So I know it is not yet uhuru. NLNG has taught me certain things: Do not count your chicks before they are hatched. And I will not do so. I will patiently begin to plan my embassy interview, with my fingers crossed.

The reason I went all emotional and started saying I would give my life for the USA and all what not is simple. I had just received the letter, and I was ecstatic; but now that I have allowed sufficient time to pass, I can reflect. What touched me about Professor Pat's letter was the language she used. For someone that has just been rejected by NLNG, words like: your credentials are very impressive; you will add greatly to our graduate community here; I look forward to seeing you; you are admitted on full graduate standing; welcome to the Graduate school, and all what not, simply made me feel wanted. I had felt rejected in my own country, and the USA seemed to be welcoming me with open arms; an orphan boy like me. How could I not feel love for them?

Anyway, I know it is not yet Uhuru. I know this too well. Let's see how the big one goes, the embassy battle. That is the big one. The real maccoy!

i was loggin out wen ur mail came in,
u r a don, good nyt

guess av had a fulfilled day today, av to go now
for the great men,
[size=28pt]kwena the great
opoks the wise man
kenosky, the poet
kenosym, the don
tommyex, my man
debosky de bong,
pak, the don
andyz[/size]
and all that i av not written ur names,
u r all great

thanks for ur mails and advice today, they have been inspiring and challenging
Good nyte

Kenosym:
[size=20pt]CONGRATS BIG BROS, KUWENA[/size].

I BELIEVE AFTER ALL YOU WILL BE HAPPY AND FULFILLED AND COME TO APPRECIATE GOD FOR ALL HE HAD THOUGHT OUT FOR YOU. AND JUST LIKE OPOKS HAS CONFESSED HE HAS LEARNED A LOT FROM THIS THREAD, AND SO HAS EVERYONE ONE OF US, YOU WILL ONE DAY LOOK BACK HERE AND SAY THAT YOU'VE BEEN TOUCHED AND HAD NEVER BEEN SAME.

@ kenosym
bros, i hope say u dey well. almost forgetting a greatman like u.
enjoy

andyz:
@Opoks,

Your a great man, I see you going beyond your imaginations, I see your dreams becoming a reality sooner than you expect, just keep doing your thing and keep being you.

Hope to see you soon man.

@ALL

Remember ", NOTHING JUST HAPPENS"

@ andyz
bros u try weel, where u from show come from. anyway thanks for comin back home
takia

tommyex:
Bros
my mind dey run when i rem the match next week,I opened a thread in sports sha,na prayer we need.

100page mark
Oh lawdy
I am so pissed i missed d party,anyhow i am part of the house jare
She we don close now abi?

Thought can u say HI??

@ tommyex, i no vex with u say u no dey celebrate wit us for our 100 page, the only thing wey i go advice u b say, make u dey try dey post well, becos as u see this thing, we go soon reach 200, make u no talk say u forget again
anyhow, i feel u, one luv, ARSENAL

debosky:
@ kuwena

congrats on getting the position, you deserve it after all the stress.

They aren't really begging - its just their way of saying they want you to join their program, the GTA is basic once you meet some minimum requirements. Every school needs GTA's and they can't really say if you'll be good at it or not, but they are taking a small gamble on you.

All the same, I'm sure you put together a pretty impressive application and it would be the school's pride to have you as a student.

To the others like Kenosky. . .where in the Uk is your training going on?

@ debosky, Bros, na wao. anyhow thanks for celebratin wit us, but for where una dey before, u sure say no b de same deboskey de jon, , debon, we y i know
bros, enjoy dey go, cos nothin dey happen,
cheers

opokonwa:
I wanted to add that but waited for someone else to say it.
I don't always want to take the lead these dayz, at least not on the thread.

But in my own words, if and when your VISA pulls through and you finally land in the USA, do not forget Naija!.
Yeah we gave you the Good (your education and present well being), the Bad and the Ugly.
It seems you only remember the Bad and the Ugly.
You know, we remember what we choose to remember and attach emotions to what we choose to attach emotions.
Simply a subjective exercise of the mind.

You know, I happen to come from the same town as your idol, Philip Emeagwali.
Apart from having his roots from there (my town), Philip has never done anything good or given anything back to his roots.
Nobody is looking for his dollars 'cause we are very educated and rich in my town (one of the reasons that it is a town now and not a village).
In fact, you can't get a single richest or most educated individual in my town.

All I expected from him was to leave a good legacy; maybe an Emeagwali Scholarship for the best Science student , an Emeagwali endowment for eduation, an Emeagwali prize for Physics, Chemistry or even Computers.
It wouldn't have cost him much. In fact, with his Goodwill with the American Government over the years, it wouldn't have cost him a dime.
It might even produce more future Emeagwalis that might shake the world and do better than he did, in various disciplines.
But he didn't. He left no legacy. Just a lost soul Popular abroad but having no legacy at home.
No plan or efforts at giving back to one's society.
Not even his father's home in my town is a significant structure.

Barrack Obama did better.
Born abroad of a Kenyan father and a white mother, he has unabashadely identified with his Kenyan roots even though he knew he was gunning for a position as high and sensitive as the US Presidency, with all its rascist appeal.
Two men, different approach to their roots and the idea of giving back to their society.

I appreciate individuals who have come back, even if only for a short stint to contribute their quota to their roots; the Okonjo Iwealas, Charles Soludo, Oby Ezekwesili, Afam Edozien, Pat Utomi, Malam Nasir El-Rufai are well known, to mention but a few.
The present Head of my town is a 1st class graduate of Chemistry. Spent almost all his working years in SHELL, retired, then recalled from retirement to head SHELL foreign office in the UK.
Yet, after a while, he voluntarily resigned, an accomplished man, he desired to lead his own people.
He came back home, contested the title with equally well-educated and accomplished peeps (1st class peeps included), won and now leads his people.
These guys may not be as famous as Emeagwali (because they didn't discover any super computer) but can hold their heads anywhere in the world.

The point I am trying to make is, never become a lost soul like your idol Emeagwali. Even if you decide to trade in your citizenship for American citizenship, rather toe the Obama part and contribute your little quota to your roots

Even Joseph in the Bible did better.
He could have allowed his roots to starve, who treated him very badly.
But he chose to bring them to Goshen (the most fertile part of then Egypt), forgave their ill-treatment of him and it was counted for him as righteousness.
Remember that Egypt was the 'USA' of those dayz! Where the rest of the world came to buy food. The then cradle of power and civilization! How often history repeats itself!

Your brothers were the core of my first and last fight with you.
I second Kenosky by saying, 'please do not forget your brothers'.
Neither forget your roots.
But you can forget Opoks!
This is all I have for you.
Peace.

@ Opoks, anytine i read ur mail, i really dont know wat to say, am always short of words, u r a don, sorri a master
indeed, u r dettined to b great
I really miss u
No dey u scope dey run for this trend, if u no post at least once a day, i will
cheersssss, man

@ KWENA
Bros, i rejoice wit u wit my whole heart. it is a well deserved honour
wish u d best in life
@ ALl
GGOD things dont come easy, u have to try cos,
[size=18pt] it's better u try than not to try at all[/size]

Kenosym:
No get much time, but no bi only me wey no go answer present 4 this 100 page mark, when them wey no remember the road to this thread don dey mis road find themsef here now; mijd, Robbie lex, mohid; dey answer present. Even runsway no run again.

Thumbs up kid brother, that's a great achievenment, just make a wish and you already have it.

But amiss joy, I'm crying for the great miss that will follow

But I know say that whatever that happens, I'll definitely say;

the great men of our time, though they come and go,

their print on the sand of time never can be mop,

they fight and live a mark,

whereby they are remembered,

generation past will come by and say yes,

these are really great men of there time,

and they will be encouraged to do more,

having a mark to look unto,

and a target to surpass.

Let them say,

that i live in there time,

and walk in their mist,

the great men of our time,

they days of Opoks baba,

the crazy kenosky, and Pgm the craziest

Kuwena the alkapone, skeelo the great,

Aniffy the gentless, he that runsaway to live to post,

drianny the defence minister, ,

definitely time will fail me to call you all one by one

pak, sweetjoy, bobbyan, wandel, mohid, johnsonlaw,

You all are great and great inspiration to your generation

And as many that will view this thread,

will definitely concur that you are great.

'cause you print on the sand cannever be mop.

Man , i read ur post and i really trip for u, no fear, this trend is still going to its 200 page and when it gets there, there will be great
[size=28pt]CELEBRATION[/size]

opokonwa:
@kenosym

I had to take a 2nd look at your ode above.
So touching.
Reminds me of the past, the characters, the anticipation, fights, lyrical and writing displays,
the triumphs, disappointments, the ugly, the emotional, the letters,
the friendships, 'enemies', lunch meetings, quick meetings, hang-outs, etc

Also reminds me of the friendships that have extended from here, visitations and dates still ahead,
near affairs and break-ups,

So much saga, so many characters, we made history.
We made history not by reaching page 100 but by the assembling and mixing of so many characters,
the display of so many characters which shows that despite the ugly impression painted by yankees and their chronies in Naija, Naija still has a bright future in the quality of characters that just one thread showed.

I am proud of everyone here!

Above all, I learnt my mistakes; I made mistakes on and off thread and I'm correcting them even now.
Which reflects why I do not speak so much.
I think, I reflect, I act.
I only say it when it must be said _{(thanks Thought for that line )}

But damn! It was most entertaining!
I promise never to be this crazy again!

Reflecting on the triumphs and post-NLNG achievements.
It has been so much and still ongoing. I can begin to reveal Opoks! again 'cause I have gone beyond that.
I don mature.

A former regular (R) on this thread sent me an sms last night. The 'R' had just won the PTDF scholarship to study in his Masters choice school in the UK.
I was so happy. And this was a personality that we felt might commit suicide b/c of NLNG losses.
I stayed in touch with him, often calling him to keep his spirit up and encourage him.

Another I know in a certain town is doing so well that mere mentioning details of his post-NLNG success will reveal his identity.

I am proud of you all.
I am proud of this party.
I am proud of the experience I had on this thread.
I am proud about associating with you all and acquainting myself with the few I did.

But most importantly, it is the lessons learnt, the mistakes I made and corrected and how better a humanbeing I have become that I owe this thread for.

Improvement is a life-time exercise.
But the earlier you master yourself, master who you are, correct your mistakes, the sharper and more prepared for success you become.
Success becomes a roller-coaster, 'cause success can't escape you anyway.

I will not always be around. Life is not about being around the same person or same people all the time.
It is about leaving a good mark, leaving a good impression, abou leaving people and places better than you met them.

VAYA CON DIOS!
(GO WITH GOD!)

@ Opoks
na wa o, i trip for this epistle, anyhow mohid , it is gooood to have enuf people back on the trend
Am sori been busy these days, but i will always try to mail at least once a day
thanks

I almost forgot to talk about yest, UGO GOD don catch u, I told u BLUES or wetin dey come call una, CHELSEA , una no well. Thank God say una show una self, imagine for final
anyhow, e dey be like that
safe

skeelo:

na wa o,
opoks, mijd, mohid, where una for show from
anyway, thanks for celebrating with us
bye

kenosky:
[size=14pt]mijd, mohid, opoks, kuwena n all oda fellaz on the centennial page, i doff my hat , i had plans to retire but yesterday THE SKY WUZNT BLUE and guess what THE BLUES screamed BLUE MURDER! , kai, demj no c wetin happen to Eduardo, abeg UGOSMARTIES or whatever, this post is for u.

For picking on Arsene and his boyz, Tottenham (also London) has turned your skies from BLUE to GREY!!!! , maybe now u go find somewhere siddon and lick your wounds [/size]

this trend is becoming more interesting, let's see how it goesssssss
[size=18pt]seeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyaaaaaa[/size[/color][color=#990000]]

na wa o,
opoks, mijd, mohid, where una for show from
anyway, thanks for celebrating with us
bye

[size=38pt]HALLELUYAH, THE STORM IS OVER[/size]
I wish you could see the smile and laughter on kenosky's face, the smile pass wetin i fit describe,
no blame am, since this page don reach 92, na im the guy don take am serious pass government job, no b small thing, i celebrate with u kenosky
As for all nairalanders,
this calls for
[size=48pt]CELEBRATION[/size]