The media throughout last week was replete with reports of a strong-faced CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido before our 'honourable' senators defending his statements which purported "embarrassed the National Assembly and Nigerians" (Senator Iyiola Omisore's words, not mine) and refusing to apologise. As much as I am not exactly a fan of the bow-tie, french-suit donning financial czar, I must say that watching him take-on the National Assembly on the effect of their undeserved, humongous remuneration on the Nigerian economy made television a bit more enjoyable for me (and no, I did not watch it on NTA - even though I doubt that they would have wanted to air it in the first instance).
Watching the laughable attempt by the members of the Senate led ignominiously by Senator Iyiola Omisore to force the CBN Governor to recant his position on the National Assembly remuneration and Federal Government overhead, I admit that I was very impressed. Not only did the man display a sound understanding of his position, he also passed across the message that unlike our people in the upper legislative house, he is not a member of 'AGIP' (Any Government in Power), neither is he a career politician who amounts to little relevance outside of office. Watching him put the Senate in their place (despite the efforts of Agangan, the Finance Minister who cowered in the face of the 'lions', and tried to soften the stance of the CBN Governor), I could not help but wish: can't there be more public officials like this? Men and women of character who would stand up and courageously seek to correct some of the anomalies in our system (like our dear Aunty Dora was doing before she succumbed to their overtures and started to pursue issues as mundane as asking Nigerians to stop using the term 'Naija')? Men and women who would not care if they lose their position as a result of their drive to make the improving numbers that the Ministry of Finance and the Budget Office (as well as other places where those contentious economic figures emanate) publish to buttress their claims that the economy is improving is reflective in the state of living of the average Nigerian? Men and women committed to standing against the entrenchment of political 'armed robbers' as members of the executive or legislature at any level in this country? Government in this country has become a white elephant at all levels; our public 'servants' live in rather disgusting opulence made strikingly obvious by the abject poverty and infrastructural decay in the general society, and the immediate constituency they were elected to represent; which is to be expected since they rarely visit once they are sworn in and then start making regular trips to the area when election is imminent to make yet another round of halfhearted promises which will never be fulfilled.
As the next spate of elections draw near, Nigeria is set to birth a new generation of legislators (many of whom will not be new as a huge number of them seek re-election) and I can dare say that the elections have all the trappings of a bloody one. Why, one may be inclined to ask? The reason is simple: the average legislator in the National Assembly earns more than N200million every year. He/she spends four years there and he/she is N800million richer (that is, if they even pay taxes) at the end of their tenure. And this is not taking into consideration what they coup from being members of special committees, et al. This means that the position is one to die for, literally and I don't think Nigerian politicians have come to a state of moral uprightness where the lives mean anything to them if they set their sights on an elective position. We must change this. We can only have meritocracy and technocracy entrenched in this country if elective positions are made less lucrative than they currently are. We can only have the leaders capable of driving the nation forward if we ensure that their motivation is national and human development, rather than huge salaries and pensions. We can only become one of the biggest 20 economies in the world by 2020 if we begin to devote more money towards capital projects such as power, infrastructural renewal, education, revamping of the real sector instead of wasting it on the ostentatious maintenance of the National Assembly.
And while the CBN Governor is at it, please let him also turn his spotlight on the Executive, who are as guilty in this scheme as the Legislature, since it is they who approve these huge, wasteful salaries - especially since they are also beneficiaries of the detrimental scheme. They are responsible for the failure of the 2010 budget implementation, and have only been ,too concerned with withdrawing from the external reserves to fund fancy projects,leaving the economy in a weakened position than they met it.
As the 2011 elections loom large on the horizon, one can only hope that we will have some candidates in the mould of Lamido Sanusi, who would live constantly in remembrance of the fact that "I will not be CBN Governor forever", and would work hard to ensure the resuscitation of this sleeping giant. Until then, we will have to make do with the fact that a Daniel is come to court.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
GEJ's in the building...Is he our way forward
I like President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan...or rather, I mean I 'like' him on Facebook. For the first time, I found a Nigerian leader who tried to talk to Nigerians, or Nigerian youths (and ICT-savvy oldies) and get us to empathize with him - even though he's never really answered some of the questions raised on his fan page. For the first time, I experience a Nigerian leader show appreciation for the prevalent social trend, and taking advantage of it to reach the electorate to whom he owes the privilege of occupying the country's First Residence. And yet again, for the first time, I see a Nigerian leader attempting to engage the electorate cerebrally, exhibiting an understanding of the peculiarity of the Nigerian situation through his posts, and hinting on possible steps his administration is taking to tackle the country's many hydra-headed malaises. And to cap the cake with icing, he has become the first presidential hopeful to declare his intention through the Internet, adopting a personal approach to explain his mission for the Nigerian people.
And I must commend the man for appreciating his brand...songs, posters, etc hinting on his political ambitions have trumped up the 'good luck' angle, letting Nigerians know that if good luck attends the man (and the evidence is there to see), then it'll spill over to everything that he is involved in - even if someone has to encounter some form of misfortune in order for it to happen. Either way, he has shown that he has a good sense of branding, or that he has the good sense of surrounding himself with people who do. And just when you think he's lily-livered, he displays a massive show of strength and political will. Remember his cabinet reshuffle soon after his confirmation as substantive President, and his most recent firing of all service chiefs. You have to hand it to the man - he knows where and who he is.
This then leaves me wondering: "have we found him, or do we wait for another?" Has the 'Joshua' that Pastor Tunde Bakare once preached to be the solutions to Nigeria's seemingly perpetual 'developing' status finally arrived? Do we have an honest reason to believe again that we can rightly reclaim all the titles that we once rightly (and now undeservedly) boast of, a la, 'giant of Africa', etc? Should we, taking cognizance of his precedents, raise our expectation and change our perception of Nigeria's leaders? Unfortunately, I'm afraid not, and here's why.
First, he is a product of the PDP, a party that has the unenviable record of producing the worst kinds of leaders across all levels of government. In over 10 years of running this country, we have very few things to cheer about in our national life that has been occasioned by the PDP. Instead, we have had two of the worst possible elections in this country, both of which had successfully ensured the continuity of an unpopular government; we have witnessed a brazen disregard and blatant abuse of the rule of law by government and its functionaries, even to the extent that military juntas look law-abiding; we have been made to bear the brunt of the failures of several committees, commission, reports, all of which have gulped billions of dollars but have not provided a solution to the power problem; infrastructural decay continues and the list could go on and on. It is hard to envisage that the solution to these problems will come from the same system that entrenched them in the first place. Even though GEJ has tried to show that he follows a different ideological direction, it will be absolute difficult, if not downright impossible for him to thrive when his bedfellows include a certain former head of state/president who sought to twist the constitution to perpetuate himself in government which was just one incident in a long list of instances where he attempted (successfully, if I might add) to rape the laws of the land.
Secondly, what we have witnessed from this Niger-Delta man is all talk, little action; excellent plans/roadmaps, zero execution. He sometimes cuts the figure of one overwhelmed by the immensity of the task which, according to him, was "foisted on him by providence", hence the fear that we may yet witness the snail speed that attended government business during the era of his immediate predecessor and late boss, Umaru Yar'Adua.
Needless to say, I support the fact that he is running, because he represents the best possible chance of ending Northern supremacy over our politics, despite the zoning threat of the North and the now-declared intentions of ex-Heads of state, Buhari and Babangida. But whether he can lead us forward as a nation, time alone will tell - even though many Nigerians have long lost their patience and have resigned to fate.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
The Police is not my friend
I guess I can tell myself, "welcome back". To all who had been waiting for another post, and probably got tired of expecting, I tender an unreserved apology. The hiatus was caused by a combination of factors including writer's block, the pressures of work, a bout of the dreaded typhoid/malaria, an armed robbery attack, and...uhm, woman trouble. But you know how life doesn't wait for you to be ready before it gets you up and running again...and that's why the page is back.
I had occasion to visit a police station recently (the reason for my visit is talk for another post), and I saw the blasphemous poster plastered with big letters saying: "The Police is Your Friend". I burst into laughter. Then I got really pissed. I spent some part of the break period reading the newspapers, and everyday, I read stories of precious lives cut short either by police brutality, or police stupidity, or a mixture of both. I read of preventable road accidents, of unsolved murders, of unwarranted arrests, etc, and I cannot help but wonder, who the hell came up with that phrase, "the Police is your friend"? My mind tells me that the person is obviously not Nigerian, or even if he was, obviously lived in an era long ago when the Nigerian Police was efficient (which would have been long before I was born, because they have yet to solve the Dele Giwa murder, and that's almost as old as I am); otherwise, he would have said otherwise. And if it was a PR spin campaign commissioned by the Police, then they just wasted millions of Naira because of all the forces operating in this country, the Police is the least trusted and most hated. Point to note, I wanted to, on completion of my National Youth Service, join the Nigerian Police Force, but my mother said that if I did, she'd disown me...can you beat that? And who can blame her? Records and reports show that the Nigerian Police have probably killed more people than armed robbers have; they have concerned themselves more with blame-throwing rather than solve crimes; they have been more serious about changing their uniforms rather than changing their approach to the protection of lives and properties; they are quicker to mount road blocks and practice extortion than rescuing kidnap victims - but they are quick to apportion all the glory to themselves, even when the families of the victim pays to get their loved ones back (who can blame the either? If I had the option of paying ransom to rescue my wife from kidnappers or waiting for the police to act, that's a no-brainer for me - I'll pay!).
Please do not misunderstand me. The Force is not all bad. Maybe there are some good eggs among them, I cannot say. But I do not believe the police (sorry, the Nigerian police) is my friend.
I had occasion to visit a police station recently (the reason for my visit is talk for another post), and I saw the blasphemous poster plastered with big letters saying: "The Police is Your Friend". I burst into laughter. Then I got really pissed. I spent some part of the break period reading the newspapers, and everyday, I read stories of precious lives cut short either by police brutality, or police stupidity, or a mixture of both. I read of preventable road accidents, of unsolved murders, of unwarranted arrests, etc, and I cannot help but wonder, who the hell came up with that phrase, "the Police is your friend"? My mind tells me that the person is obviously not Nigerian, or even if he was, obviously lived in an era long ago when the Nigerian Police was efficient (which would have been long before I was born, because they have yet to solve the Dele Giwa murder, and that's almost as old as I am); otherwise, he would have said otherwise. And if it was a PR spin campaign commissioned by the Police, then they just wasted millions of Naira because of all the forces operating in this country, the Police is the least trusted and most hated. Point to note, I wanted to, on completion of my National Youth Service, join the Nigerian Police Force, but my mother said that if I did, she'd disown me...can you beat that? And who can blame her? Records and reports show that the Nigerian Police have probably killed more people than armed robbers have; they have concerned themselves more with blame-throwing rather than solve crimes; they have been more serious about changing their uniforms rather than changing their approach to the protection of lives and properties; they are quicker to mount road blocks and practice extortion than rescuing kidnap victims - but they are quick to apportion all the glory to themselves, even when the families of the victim pays to get their loved ones back (who can blame the either? If I had the option of paying ransom to rescue my wife from kidnappers or waiting for the police to act, that's a no-brainer for me - I'll pay!).
Please do not misunderstand me. The Force is not all bad. Maybe there are some good eggs among them, I cannot say. But I do not believe the police (sorry, the Nigerian police) is my friend.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Please Ignore IBB! Nigerian Media Stop Killing Nigeria
As I sat to write (well, actually, type) this piece, I am torn; and for two reasons. One, my intentions for this blog is to stay apolitical. Not because I am not interested in the subject (which Nigerian isn’t, whether they admit it or not) but because I didn’t want this to be a platform for the expression of my politics. Second, because I am trained to be a media practitioner. Coming out and taking a position against your own is not routine stuff, but then, it needs to be done…so here goes.
The Nigerian media may have been celebrated for its vibrancy in its over 150 years of active service in the country, but on many occasions, I’m afraid to say, the media just plain sucks! I guess that sometimes being free and fair is misconstrued to mean being a nuisance, and in review, that is exactly what the Nigerian media has been at times. Unfortunately, they chose very crucial times in this country’s existence to constitute a nuisance.
You might want to ask: why in the world you I say something of this nature? Have I forgotten that the media was one of the reasons why the Nigerian nationalists were able to achieve independence for Nigeria? Do I know that the media is one of the pillars that helped achieve the return of democracy in the country after more than 2 decades of despotic military rule? Don’t I know…have I forgotten? Blah blah blah! I know, and I have not forgotten, but my point is, the media in this country has committed some sins so monumental that have inadvertently shaped the unfortunate political history that we have now. Maybe it’s not entirely their fault, but the sad thing is, they are doing it again. And here’s how.
Long before Bernstein and co. rattled the world with the discoveries of corruption in the US government in the Watergate scandal, forcing President Nixon to resign from office, much has been said of the power of the media to influence the polity and enforce change and reformation. Much however, has also been experienced of the media’s ability to channel public action into dastardly purposes – the Holocaust is a horrid point to note. All these go to show that if employed according to the noble and altruistic purposes to which it was intended, can achieve the greatest good – or the worst possible imagined evil if the reverse is the case. This ability, also understood, as its agenda setting function, is perhaps the most important role that the media is expected to play in the preservation of democracy, and while the Nigerian media have done well in this department, they also have a huge chunk of the blame for the state of democracy in the country today.
June 12, for Nigerians, is more than just a date. It has come to represent the struggle for the soul of the country, the efforts and sacrifices made by a number of Nigerians to entrench democracy into the country’s political mindset. It brings quick memories to mind of the one stellar period in Nigeria when something actually worked! But it also brings up memories of gore and deaths caused by the many riots and panic-caused road accidents that rocked the country in the coming months – panic that was, in part, a fault of the over-exuberance of the media, who for want of a more sensational title to dub the period, named it the Third Republic (which never was), and worsened the matter by qualifying it – the failed (botched, truncated, etc take your pick) Third Republic. By so doing, they termed as a failure the best (though short-lived) thing that ever happened to the fight for democracy in this country, and now, they use every chance they get to cry foul because of the activities of the unscrupulous elements in the system who have benefited from the ‘failed state’ that they unwittingly created. That was 17 years ago.
Zoom into 2010, and they are at it again. And at the head of the tirade is the same villain who gave the impetus for the turmoil of 1993, and although they think that they are doing a service to the nation by reporting and condemning his purported bid to run for the post of the nation’s head honcho come 2011, the truth of the matter is that at the end of the day, they are helping the bid. They are giving him cheap publicity, setting the agenda inadvertently in his favour and he is riding on it. Whether the report is negative (they seem to forget that bad news is good news) or positive, the truth still remains that they give the man a chance at staying in the eyes and minds of Nigerians, which if I may say, is an anomaly, an aberration, an abomination.
Please, let’s stop writing about him. Stop granting him interviews. Stop attending his press conferences, book launches, political events, etc. Please, just ignore him. An Old English saying goes: What we ignore disappears. We do not need his likes on our political landscape. Ignore him and he’ll disappear.
Solo FG
The Nigerian media may have been celebrated for its vibrancy in its over 150 years of active service in the country, but on many occasions, I’m afraid to say, the media just plain sucks! I guess that sometimes being free and fair is misconstrued to mean being a nuisance, and in review, that is exactly what the Nigerian media has been at times. Unfortunately, they chose very crucial times in this country’s existence to constitute a nuisance.
You might want to ask: why in the world you I say something of this nature? Have I forgotten that the media was one of the reasons why the Nigerian nationalists were able to achieve independence for Nigeria? Do I know that the media is one of the pillars that helped achieve the return of democracy in the country after more than 2 decades of despotic military rule? Don’t I know…have I forgotten? Blah blah blah! I know, and I have not forgotten, but my point is, the media in this country has committed some sins so monumental that have inadvertently shaped the unfortunate political history that we have now. Maybe it’s not entirely their fault, but the sad thing is, they are doing it again. And here’s how.
Long before Bernstein and co. rattled the world with the discoveries of corruption in the US government in the Watergate scandal, forcing President Nixon to resign from office, much has been said of the power of the media to influence the polity and enforce change and reformation. Much however, has also been experienced of the media’s ability to channel public action into dastardly purposes – the Holocaust is a horrid point to note. All these go to show that if employed according to the noble and altruistic purposes to which it was intended, can achieve the greatest good – or the worst possible imagined evil if the reverse is the case. This ability, also understood, as its agenda setting function, is perhaps the most important role that the media is expected to play in the preservation of democracy, and while the Nigerian media have done well in this department, they also have a huge chunk of the blame for the state of democracy in the country today.
June 12, for Nigerians, is more than just a date. It has come to represent the struggle for the soul of the country, the efforts and sacrifices made by a number of Nigerians to entrench democracy into the country’s political mindset. It brings quick memories to mind of the one stellar period in Nigeria when something actually worked! But it also brings up memories of gore and deaths caused by the many riots and panic-caused road accidents that rocked the country in the coming months – panic that was, in part, a fault of the over-exuberance of the media, who for want of a more sensational title to dub the period, named it the Third Republic (which never was), and worsened the matter by qualifying it – the failed (botched, truncated, etc take your pick) Third Republic. By so doing, they termed as a failure the best (though short-lived) thing that ever happened to the fight for democracy in this country, and now, they use every chance they get to cry foul because of the activities of the unscrupulous elements in the system who have benefited from the ‘failed state’ that they unwittingly created. That was 17 years ago.
Zoom into 2010, and they are at it again. And at the head of the tirade is the same villain who gave the impetus for the turmoil of 1993, and although they think that they are doing a service to the nation by reporting and condemning his purported bid to run for the post of the nation’s head honcho come 2011, the truth of the matter is that at the end of the day, they are helping the bid. They are giving him cheap publicity, setting the agenda inadvertently in his favour and he is riding on it. Whether the report is negative (they seem to forget that bad news is good news) or positive, the truth still remains that they give the man a chance at staying in the eyes and minds of Nigerians, which if I may say, is an anomaly, an aberration, an abomination.
Please, let’s stop writing about him. Stop granting him interviews. Stop attending his press conferences, book launches, political events, etc. Please, just ignore him. An Old English saying goes: What we ignore disappears. We do not need his likes on our political landscape. Ignore him and he’ll disappear.
Solo FG
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
How we can (or can’t) win the World Cup
Come June 12 in Ellis Park, Jo’burg, Nigeria will re-open her World Cup account which was temporarily suspended after we failed to qualify for the 2006 spectacle, no thanks to Austin Okocha, Joseph Yobo and Christian Chukwu. This event is special for two reasons: the first being the significance of THAT day – June 12 – in the annals of Nigeria’s political history; and the second being the fact that we play the same team that we played first when we last featured at the Mundial in the Far East in 2002 – Argentina. Another interesting fact is that we have a chance to revert the dent that that 1-0 loss put on our World Cup record: prior to that match, Nigeria had not lost a first match in the World Cup, beating Bulgaria 3-0 in our debut in 1994 and then coming from behind to beat Spain 3-2 in France four years later.
New manager, Lar Lagerback (or Lager beer, lagger back, etc) replaced dour-faced Amodu – who unsurprisingly made the team play a dour brand of football – after the latter failed? at the African Nations Cup in January, and has since pleased and annoyed Nigerians with his approach to the task of ensuring a good outing in South Africa. Personally, I do not envy the man. Despite his experience with the Swedish national side, he comes to a football-crazy country, where coming second in a football tournament is the same as losing in the group stage (don’t let the “bronze that is as good as gold” slogan fool you), a country that is perhaps more passionate about her football than her politics, and at a time where there is too much pressure to shine as the ‘Giant of Africa’ in the first ever Africa-hosted FIFA World Cup.
I am a Nigerian (obvious, sey?), and that makes me many things, negative and positive. However, for the purpose of this post, I am one of the 140 (official; unofficial, 200) million coaches/technical adviser/manager – whatever! – of the Super Eagles, who are currently in South Africa hoping to do the nation proud. And as I watched the warm-up games against Colombia (0-0) and North Korea (3-1), Colombia especially, I felt a strong surge of hope. Lagerback has tried rather successfully to inject some form of attacking ingenuity in the midfield, something that has been lacking in the team since the glory days of Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha (even though his current successor, Haruna Lukman, still has A LOT to learn). However, one cannot ascertain how well the team will do at the Mundial based on these friendlies. If anything, our experience in 2002 (where the Onigbinde-tinkered team won all their pre-World Cup friendlies bar one, and yet failed to win a single match at the main event) is enough lesson.
In my self-assigned role as technical adviser, I wish to state that the Super Eagles can do well in South Africa, even though the term is relative. But to achieve this, here are some things we must (and mustn’t do)
1. Lose/Draw against Argentina
A lot of speculation has gone into this match. Many see it as an attempt for the Super Eagles to revenge the 1-0 defeat inflicted on them by the Albieceste, but frankly, I think going far in this tournament rests on a loss or draw against Maradona’s wards. And here’s why. If we win, we’ll close the roads in reckless celebrations, our media will laud the boys to the high heavens, the adulations and appellations will get into their heads and it will swell, and next thing, they will be on the first flight back to Abuja because South Korea and Greece will not care a hoot the fact that you beat Argentina. But if they lose or draw, our unforgiving press will on the quick to draw blood, the boys will stay on their toes and we may just stand an outside chance of progressing. If you do not agree, remember Italy in 1994 and Denmark in 1998.
2. Forget about the 4-4-2; 4-3-3 is the way
Watching the friendly matches, especially against Colombia and North Korea, I get the feeling that the Swede tinkerman in charge of our boys favours the 4-4-2. This may explain why he chose to drop the younger Utaka in favour of the older (despite the fact that Peter scored more goals than any other West African playing in Europe this season, with the exception of Didier Drogba and Mamadou Niang). But if Nigeria hopes to do better than we did in 2002, Lagerback should just forget about it. Why? The tradition 4-4-2 is in a decline phase, as players who make it a viable option are fast disappearing. Gone (or almost gone) are the days when pacy wingers hugged the touchline, leaving bewildered defenders in their wake and delivered pinpoint crosses into the area. These days, the game is won and lost in the centre of the park. So, dear Mr. Lagerback, 4-3-3 is the way to go. Containing the game in the midfield and orchestrating attacks from the assisted by three forwards is the best way to stay sharp and efficient in defence and attack
3. Don’t play Aiyegbeni or Martins as the point man in a 4-3-3; use John Utaka instead
Even though he is Nigeria’s second all-time highest goal scorer bested only by the legendary Rashidi Yekini, Yakubu Aiyegbeni has not convinced Nigerians of his ability, me inclusive. One might want to argue that he has not been proficient of late due to the lack of service but then, gone are the days when strikers sat in the penalty area and waited for the ball to get to them. Martins comes after ‘The Yak’ on our all-time goalscoring charts, but even though he is a hardworker – which Yakubu is not – his height does not make him a good option for centre forward. My choice: John Utaka. I guess his inclusion in the team would have been to provide width but we tend to forget that this man’s best on-field performance for club and country have been in games where he played the centre. He works as hard as Martins, is nearly as fast, not as burly as Aiyegbeni but makes up for that with his incredible stamina, is more skillful than the Martins or Aiyegbeni, and can shoot with both feet. We also tend to forget that this man has scored three hat-tricks in one season (at Rennes); neither Martins nor Yakubu can lay claim to that.
4. Don’t play Yobo and Shittu together in the heart of defence
Yobo and Shittu. One word fittingly describes both players – unfit. Both of these men have not played for clubs since January (Shittu’s romance with the bench actually lasted all season!) and as such, as short of match practice, something that two friendly games will not give them. Instead, the unknown pairing of Adeleye and Afolabi should be tested, especially in the games against Argentina and South Korea. These teams play pacy football and a Yobo/Shittu combination will only spell doom.
5. Play Kanu as an impact substitute
For those who think the 34-year old gangly striker has lost it, you are wrong. I still rate Kanu as one of the most intelligent men to play the round leather game and what he has lost in years, he has gained in an all-round understanding of the game. Starting him will rid us of his juice when we really need him, so bring him on as a substitute (I don’t think he has a problem with that). By then, the opposition will be tried and he can create more opportunities.
If the above are adhered to, I believe we will exceed honest and realistic expectations at this Mundial. I can’t say more.
Solo FG
Monday, June 7, 2010
Me and the 10 Commandments: A scorecard
I went to church yesterday (Sunday). For some of us, that’s pretty routine stuff (it was my routine for a long time – until recently) but for me, it was a major step…in the right direction. And for all you unholy minds out there, it was not for the purpose you are thinking (marriageable ladies, job opportunities, etc); it was just for the original intended purpose of church going – worshipping God. As expected, I was greeted with smiles, and hugs, and handshakes, and many “how and where have you been”? The Word was spirit-lifting; I jumped, and shouted and halleluyahed as loud as I could. I felt good, until the Pastor began to preach. Which made me feel even better, until he said that only a personal relationship with God can guarantee the many benefits that he had spoken about (my major reason for feeling good). Deep soul-searching was prompted (going to church after a rather long hiatus, and then hearing a sermon there kinda does that to you – except of course your heart is hardened…lol) and this piece was inspired.
I looked at my life in the last year and thought to give an honest assessment on the level of my relationship with God, mainly from the viewpoint of how much I have been able to adhere to the tenets of Mosaic Law, which is the benchmark for measuring morality and right conduct before God and man. Yeah, yeah, I can hear people saying that only Jesus can save. I know that, perhaps a lot more than I let on, and my attempt at relationship building with Him is work-in-progress; I really am working on it. But in this article, I attempt a soul-search (and I recommend same for you reading) to know the extent to which I have broken these tenets of divinely-acceptable behaviour towards God and man.
So please enjoy (or endure) my scorecard. I hope it inspires you to do your personal investigation and help you to adopt the right behaviour towards God and your fellow man. Maybe, just maybe, we can then find the right mix for the social re-orientation that our country in the light of the ongoing ‘re-branding’ (only God knows how they think to achieve it based on the psyche of the current populace) exercise really needs.
Note: The Commandments are quoted from Exodus 20 and are italicized.
I am the Lord your God, Who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before or besides Me.
Scorecard: 4
Analysis: Technically, I have not broken this commandment. I still swear my allegiance to the One God, and I recognize none other. However, having God and serving Him are two different issues altogether, and while I have done as expected in the having part, the serving part has suffered quite considerably.
Way Forward: Well, like I said, I’m W-I-P
You shall not make yourself any graven image [to worship it] or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; You shall not bow down yourself to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, But showing mercy and steadfast love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Scorecard: 4
Analysis: Another tricky but clear one. We don’t live in the era where customs and traditional lore hold strong sway so no, I don’t have any images carved out somewhere in my closet that I go to kneel to and mumble incoherently in the name of incantation and worship. But then, the idea is that if you got anything that takes more of your time than God does, then that your idol. On that note, I have failed rather woefully (don’t mind the four, it’s the lowest grade…lol), cos I’ve got my laptop and the many series I’m addicted to, work and the long hours, girlfriend(s) and thei(he)r issues, and the list goes on. Hell, yesterday was my first time in church in a while, so yeah, on this point, I need plenty of help.
Way Forward: I can’t honestly say I’ll give up everything for God; don’t think I have the grace to do that. But I’m trying to ensure that God has my time, as much as possible.
You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
Scorecard: Another 4
Analysis: Another poor result. Really? Well, this one’s a no-brainer. I practically fail at this one EVERYDAY. I tried, but bad habits die hard. Even though my strategy at the moment is to expunge the Lord from my swear vocabulary, I still find myself saying “God!” or “Christ!” when I hit my foot on something or things are screwing up unlike I planned. Lord, I’m sorry and I need help here.
Way Forward: Vocab discipline. It’s hard but I’m getting there
[Earnestly] remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (withdrawn from common employment and dedicated to God). Six days you shall labor and do all your work, But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, your daughter, your manservant, your maidservant, your domestic animals, or the sojourner within your gates.
Scorecard: 5
Analysis: An infinitesimal improvement. Well, I guess Sabbath in its original context of not working at all don’t apply no more (I’m just thinking of how many people would pray to actually have it in place again – seeing as they now work from Monday to Monday…it sucks, I know), so I try on this count. But as they say, “Oyibo no dey pay money for try”, so yet again, I perform below par. Okay, so no Sabbath. No stay put in your house and do nada. But the instruction is so that we can go serve God in His temple, or church, or whatever applies, and on that note…yeah, another F grade.
Way Forward: I have decided to imbibe the habit of being in church every chance I can get. Last Sunday was a start, and the momentum’s rising.
Regard (treat with honor, due obedience, and courtesy) your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land the Lord your God gives you.
Scorecard: 6.5
Analysis: First time, I get a grade above 4. Clap for me! My parents I love and respect. I do not necessarily agree with them all the time, but I respect them. They only have a vague idea of the man I am now because I respect them too much to let them into my current lifestyle. And I try to support them as much as I can even though my limited salary (and the other consumers in line for the meager cash) do not permit me to do so to my heart’s delight. But with their shortcomings, and trust me, the list is loooong, I will not trade them for anything. God bless you Reverend Sunday Okon and Mrs. Affiong Nseabasi Tommy. I love you.
You shall not commit murder.
Scorecard: 8
Analysis: Well, what more can I say? Blood scares me, I have been in only two fights in my life (the first with my immediate younger brother, and the second with a pseudo-bully in JS 3), and I look like I could never hurt a fly. My only weapon? My mouth. So, no. I have not killed anybody; physically at least. On using my mouth to kill, well, I think I have also fared well on that count. I may have said hurtful things to people, but my words have never reached life-threatening proportions, thank God. So on this point, I’m good. But not so much the next one.
You shall not commit adultery.
Scorecard: 4
Analysis: Well, I guess on this point, I can afford some level of cold comfort by saying that it is the easiest transgression that a full-blooded man can fall victim to, but then, I digress. I have not committed adultery, and personally, I do not intend to. Fornication is my poison. Not good too, but safer than its equally ignoble other brother (or sister, depending on how you choose to see it). How safer? Not in terms of STIs or HIV or anything; those are by the way. My major concern is that while fornication only ensures punishment from God, adultery pitches the offender against two dangers: God, and a God-assisted, emotionally-bruised, and really pissed-off husband! And trust me, God’s gonna help him catch the offender – and I certainly don’t want that.
Way Forward: I’ll get married, as soon as I can afford it!
You shall not steal.
Scorecard: 5.5
Analysis: Okay, I admit. Another major Achilles heel a while back. For us all though (quickly forgotten how many times you helped yourself to some of the allures in Mummy’s pot or Daddy’s pocket?). But I try. I guess the fear of getting caught and a turn-around of fortunes have kinda killed that habit. But I still swindle conductors out of transport fares (it’s retribution – they or their kind have taken my change too before), and all those other small cases of petty theft.
Way Forward: I’m trying to go cold turkey. Will tell you when.
You shall not witness falsely against your neighbor.
Scorecard: 6.5
Analysis: I’m not a saint, but I’ve tried to ensure that my statements about others have been truthful and factual, at least to the tune of 85%. Okay, I’ve said a few lies about people here and there (not necessarily proud of it) but I have not been accused of perjury, at least not yet, not ever.
Way Forward: Continue as I have been doing; know my facts about others before I say it
You shall not covet your neighbor's house, your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.
Scorecard: 7.5
Analysis: I’m ambitious, not covetous. When I see success, I’m inspired to emulate it, not steal it. True, sometimes, I go green with envy but I try to catch myself. I still steal glances at people’s girlfriends (note that I did not say wives, but girlfriends), or cars, or houses, but then, a brother can dream, right?
In all, I cannot be said to have fared badly, though I’ve not put in a stellar performance either. However, as I have always said, I am a living and breathing Work-In-Progress, and I’m in great need of God’s help – as are you.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
This Love Business
Hi all.
Sorry for the long break. Not that I had written anything since that brief introduction so long back that I can hardly remember when, but there is a reason (scratch that and replace with excuse...lol). Hunt for a new job after the romance with the former one turned sour was the major reason, coupled with the drought that sort of dried my creative juices. Trust me, that is one of the major occupational hazards this side of the Western Hemisphere. Those said, it feels great to be back.
I was searching for motivation to start writing again. Nigeria's many problems were an option, but in my opinion, other bloggers already were having a field day tackling it from different angles (not that they ever have any chance in hell of covering all the angles of this beloved country's myriad of headaches) so, I tried to look for options. My life had not been exactly exciting, so writing about the boring routine of starting the day by 4am and ending it at 1.30am would probably bore y'all to sleep - as it would me, so that too was struck out. Then it happened.
Returning home from work is something I look forward to. Call me lazy, but then, I'm Nigerian and as the Yoruba saying goes - "Owo ni a nwa, a o wa ise" (meaning, we are not looking for work; rather, it's money we are after). So, I had every cause to be happy on this Thursday, only for me to get home and meet some of my beer buddies sitting in a group outside the 'agbole' I call home. Usually, that happens when there is a problem, or there's a match to be watched, or there are some bottles to be felled. So, first thing I asked was "wetin dey?". They looked up at me first with straight, sad faces and the chills envelop me. My face gives my feelings away, and they all burst into loud laughter, bar one. So I asked him, "wetin dey". And his response birthed this piece.
My friend had travelled to Port-Harcourt to see his lady. And his relationship with this one clearly baffled us all, and here's why. Since Gbenga (that's my friend's name) started dating some 12 years back, he has never stayed with one girl at the time. When I asked him why, he told me: "Guy, the best way to stay on top and safe from the wahala that comes with this venture, is to play the game without your heart. Keep your heart out of it". Funny though, with this Port-Harcourt girl, he did not take his own advice and so his heart was shattered when he travelled all the way to PH City to find his woman in the embrace of another. Who? Your guess is as good as mine - an expatriate oil worker.
Long and short, my friend has insisted that that has done it for him. He is no longer interested in love, and thinks the term is overrated. Looking from his position, I couldn't agree more. As a newbie in the 'employed' cadre, my eyes have been opened by various personal experiences with the opposite sex. I have seen them in all their glory - and inglory, and I am influenced to agree with a friend, who posted on her Facebook profile that "love is a matter of chance; marriage, a matter of choice and divorce a matter of course". Most of the ladies I had made overtures to as a student (who turned me down) are asking for my number, and so on and I am forced to think: do they think I don't know what's going on?
Personally, I don't subscribe to love. Don't get me wrong, I have a girlfriend who I care a great deal about. She's sweet and all, but my head is what is in this relationship. My heart, no way! It's way too fragile, easily influenced and manipulated and thus, a weakness. Relationships, for me, are determined by who holds the aces, and only your head can make conscious, rational decisions which can help you ensure that the relationship survives tempestuous times - something your heart can almost never do.
Solo FG
Sorry for the long break. Not that I had written anything since that brief introduction so long back that I can hardly remember when, but there is a reason (scratch that and replace with excuse...lol). Hunt for a new job after the romance with the former one turned sour was the major reason, coupled with the drought that sort of dried my creative juices. Trust me, that is one of the major occupational hazards this side of the Western Hemisphere. Those said, it feels great to be back.
I was searching for motivation to start writing again. Nigeria's many problems were an option, but in my opinion, other bloggers already were having a field day tackling it from different angles (not that they ever have any chance in hell of covering all the angles of this beloved country's myriad of headaches) so, I tried to look for options. My life had not been exactly exciting, so writing about the boring routine of starting the day by 4am and ending it at 1.30am would probably bore y'all to sleep - as it would me, so that too was struck out. Then it happened.
Returning home from work is something I look forward to. Call me lazy, but then, I'm Nigerian and as the Yoruba saying goes - "Owo ni a nwa, a o wa ise" (meaning, we are not looking for work; rather, it's money we are after). So, I had every cause to be happy on this Thursday, only for me to get home and meet some of my beer buddies sitting in a group outside the 'agbole' I call home. Usually, that happens when there is a problem, or there's a match to be watched, or there are some bottles to be felled. So, first thing I asked was "wetin dey?". They looked up at me first with straight, sad faces and the chills envelop me. My face gives my feelings away, and they all burst into loud laughter, bar one. So I asked him, "wetin dey". And his response birthed this piece.
My friend had travelled to Port-Harcourt to see his lady. And his relationship with this one clearly baffled us all, and here's why. Since Gbenga (that's my friend's name) started dating some 12 years back, he has never stayed with one girl at the time. When I asked him why, he told me: "Guy, the best way to stay on top and safe from the wahala that comes with this venture, is to play the game without your heart. Keep your heart out of it". Funny though, with this Port-Harcourt girl, he did not take his own advice and so his heart was shattered when he travelled all the way to PH City to find his woman in the embrace of another. Who? Your guess is as good as mine - an expatriate oil worker.
Long and short, my friend has insisted that that has done it for him. He is no longer interested in love, and thinks the term is overrated. Looking from his position, I couldn't agree more. As a newbie in the 'employed' cadre, my eyes have been opened by various personal experiences with the opposite sex. I have seen them in all their glory - and inglory, and I am influenced to agree with a friend, who posted on her Facebook profile that "love is a matter of chance; marriage, a matter of choice and divorce a matter of course". Most of the ladies I had made overtures to as a student (who turned me down) are asking for my number, and so on and I am forced to think: do they think I don't know what's going on?
Personally, I don't subscribe to love. Don't get me wrong, I have a girlfriend who I care a great deal about. She's sweet and all, but my head is what is in this relationship. My heart, no way! It's way too fragile, easily influenced and manipulated and thus, a weakness. Relationships, for me, are determined by who holds the aces, and only your head can make conscious, rational decisions which can help you ensure that the relationship survives tempestuous times - something your heart can almost never do.
Solo FG
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
