Reality

Winning the World Cup: A Shot at National Peace

2010-06-01T04:47:00.001+01:00

As far as I can remember, Nigeria's most joyous and peaceful moment where times when any cadre of Nigeria's national football team achieved a major feat. 1992, 1994, 1996, these where times majorly remembered for good.

This is not to deny the fact that even at these times, there were no existing national crisis, but the soccer feat seemed to suppress all. It's the only time you'll see a Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo man sit together sharing the same expectations, moments of joy and even drinks. For once, they're all thinking Nigerian! Its times like that you'll see a Hausa man celebrate an easterner (e.g. Okocha) and forgetting the existing ethnic rifts existing between them. At times where Nigeria happened to be the victors in these tournaments, there's always a "temporary" increase in national patriotism; it was cool to be identified as a Nigerian! There was always an overwhelming sense of national peace...

Governments Failure

One of the most important times after a major achievement is the morning after. It tests the victor’s ability to build momentum on the already existing achievement to better his life, character and self esteem; "riding on the wings of victory". Unfortunately, our Government has continuously failed in surfing on this turf of national calm, joy and "temporary" patriotism. Just when people are beginning to believe again and build a strong sense of national pride, the morning after always leaves our hopes dampened as we made to face the reality of the failing government. We're awakened by a fresh corruption scandal or news of Governments official malfeasance or dereliction of duty. All these act as a slap on our face as if trying to wake us all up from a fantasy of national well being to a reality of national "un-wellness".

Our shot this time

As the world soccer fiesta draws nigh (9 days), to kick off on African soil, we are faced yet with another opportunity, a shot at a "temporary" wave of national peace and all that accompanies it, another chance to boost patriotism and national pride, another chance to be proud to identify with Nigeria, another opportunity for an Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba man to sit together in merriment and have a drink together, another chance for Nigeria to work!

Now, more than ever before, is a time where I believe that the super eagles have to live up to its creed of being super! Judging from the backdrop of current happenings in the country, happenings that portray a strong indication of hope, a super eagles victory at the mondial will meet Nigeria and hence Nigerians in good fate. It will further add to the already existing momentum of National transformation.

In this much bigger game of national transformation, this shot would be very helpful!

Dangote to Buy 16% of Arsenal

2010-05-23T18:43:00.002+01:00

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote is reportedly planning to enter the race to snap up the 16% stake of Arsenal's fourth largest shareholder Lady Nina Bracwell-Smith. Dangote, one of Africa's richest men, is said to have registered his interest in the shareholding being sold by Bracewell-Smith, according to The Sunday Times.

The move could spark a takeover battle for the Gunners, with other contenders including its two biggest current investors - Stan Kroenke and Alisher Usmanov - who would be forced to launch a full takeover bid for the club if they secured the stake. Mr Dangote is reportedly a passionate football fan and has the wealth to go head-to-head with sports entrepreneur Kroenke and Russian oligarch Usmanov.

The Nigerian industrialist has stood for the role of president of the Nigerian football association and is believed to have donated cash to the Nigerian national football team.

Mr Dangote founded manufacturing empire Dangote Group and was formerly head of the Nigerian stock exchange. He was named as the 261st richest person in the world on the 2009 Forbes rich list, with an estimated fortune of $2.5 billion.

Finance house Blackstone is now thought to have placed him on the shortlist to buy the Arsenal stake, with Lady Bracewell-Smith is said to be seeking £160 million for her stake after putting it on the sale block earlier this year.

UNILAG “resumes”: An unpatriotic act?

2009-08-06T13:26:00.003+01:00

I believe that having come this far in their struggle for what is right; it will only be fair for ASUU to get their demands met. Well this ambition may be jeopardized as factions are abstractly being created among member bodies of the union. Just recently, several students of the University of Lagos received text messages on their mobile phones instructing them to return to the halls of residence (indirectly, to resume). They say that they are to return to complete their exams and then go for vacation till the strike ends.

Now let me give you an analogy of what this sounds like. It's like one embarks on a fast and few hours before he's to break his fast for that day, he says to himself, "let me just have a drink of water, afterall, I'll still be fasting for the rest of the week". They didn't categorically state that they'll be resuming but intending to conduct an examination is more or less resumption to me. If UNILAG pulls through with this, I'm very certain that several other schools will follow suite and the strike will be amputated and the FG will have the last laugh….

To UNILAG, I say, those that endure to the end shall be saved. I don't want to have the feeling that I spent all this time at home and nothing was achieved. Please leave your comments.

Yaradua: What are you thinking?

2009-08-06T12:43:00.002+01:00

Well, I really wonder what our dear President thinks…I know that he's a President and he's meant to have much on his mind but I wonder how much he really has, I question the quality of his thought and plans he has for our dear Nigeria. It has been just a little over two years into his tenure and he says he is still "planning". That makes me wonder what he was doing before he got elected into office. So what really is Mr President thinking about? As harsh as this may sound, he seems rather inept in the discharge of his duties…it's like he's just drifting by and filling a four year gap. If annals were to be written of the works of past President, it'll look something like this:

General Abdusallam Abubakar: Released imprisoned icons (Obasanjo, Diya…), successfully handed over to a civilian administration
Olusegun Obasanjo: Allowed GSM operators in, achieved some debt cancellation, probably deregulation, NAFDAC, EFCC, ICPC e.t.c
Yaradua: …….successfully handed over(hopefully)

I really hope that this will not be the case though. Well I did my own little review of different situations happening around the nation and I'm still trying to evaluate the quality of Mr presidents reactions to them. Maybe I should just leave you to make yours too.

1. Amnesty

Now we're granting pardon and cash (20,000per month and 1500 per day for food) for militants who lay down their arms with the government. The militants, via their spokesman, have demanded for 300 thousand naira for every AK 47 rifle and pack of magazine handed over to the government and also that the FG build a 3 bedroom bungalow for each militant in a location that the militant desires. Now, on the part of the militants, that raises a question, was this fight all for the money or for the collective interest of the south-south people. If no, why are they willing to trade their plight for these self gaining demands? On the part of the government, if compensation is given to the militants, what is the guarantee that in the nearest future the militants won't pick up arms again and demand for more settlements? We're paying to keep them greedy and we're rendering them jobless. 20,000 naira per month just for laying down arms! I guess I better go sign up with MEND and partake of this kind gesture of my government. Well I don't have a full solution for the Niger Delta crisis but I really don't think this is a well thought out plan. I'd rather suggest that the militants lay down their arms for drills in addition to the payments thus making themselves industrially useful to the development of their region. I also suggest that the government meet the initial demand of their plight (infrastructural development of the Niger Delta region and a proportionate allocation of FG revenue to the oil rich region) by laying down an implementable scheme that will executed over a certain period of time.

2. Boko Haram (Western Education is Sin)

On this grounds, I can boldly say that Mr President and President Bush of the US share common ground. About Six months before September 11 attack on world trade centre in the US, Pres. Bush received intelligence report on likely terrorist attacks in the US especially at New York but instead he decided to embark on a vacation and left the intelligence reports to manifest to a major terrorist attack. Nevertheless, our own Mr President decided to raise the stakes, he received 21 security alerts on book haram activities and did NOTHING! Not only him, but also the Borno State Gov was fully aware of their activities and yet prevented security agencies attempt to curb the activities of the boko haram movement. So please tell me, WHAT WAS MR PRESIDENT THINKING? I think he was thinking about Fashola…

3. ASUU

Well, we're willing to pay 65,000 to militants per month and also about 40million naira to senators per month so why can't ASUU be granted their demands for salary increase and also for development of infrastructure in our tertiary institutions. So what really is President Yaradua thinking? He initially claimed not to be aware of the strike (when the strike had entered its second week) and then he went silent on the issue and next, he was off to Brazil. They say that the demands cannot be met. I advice ASUU to go lift up arms….maybe their demands will be met in form of amnesty. Now Mr. President says that these demands can only be met up to 40%. Now I'm thinking, if ASUU didn't embark on this industrial action, would FG have known that they could even afford 40%? Someone isn't thinking about education then…so what is he really thinking about…oh! I know what he's thinking about, he's thinking about Lagos State…….

4. Lagos State

Now I'm puzzled; of all the problems that faces Nigeria Lagos state seems to be Mr Presidents number 1 source of concern. Just before he left for Brazil, despite the crisis looming in the Niger Delta, and the 21 security reports (on terrorist threats) concerning Boko Haram, the only notable statement he gave was to Lagos state governor; threatening him with an ultimatum to revert back to 20 local governments. Ever since he returned from Brazil, the Lagos state issue has been top priority out of Aso Rock. How can a progressive Governor and State be a major worry for Mr President? One will expect the President to fill the media with praises for the Lagos State Governor and use him as a yard stick for other governors yet Mr President scorns at him. On a lighter mood however, Lagos state seems to have brought out an un-usual unseen stricter side of our President. Well I see how Fashola can be a threat….2011 can explain that. So what is Mr President really thinking about? 2011?

Please if you know what Mr President is thinking, let me know oh…..He just seems to be drifting through this tenure. Even Pres. Obasanjo didn't do this bad in his first two years.

Any way if you're an advocate of change like me, let's give President Yaradua something to think about. Let him know that 2011 is impossibility for him and his party PDP except they can sincerely prove themselves. Let's get him thinking on the fact that Nigeria does not be belong to some power drunk men but rather belong to the free spirited and progressive people of the country. Let's get him thinking that he cannot put new wine into old wine skins, that he cannot do things the same way to get a different result! Let's get him thinking that getting Dora out of NAFDAC and Ribadu out of EFCC is not a progressive act.

Let us take to the streets and educate people that WE CAN determine the future of Nigeria come 2011 if only we believe in our abilities and also in change. Let us choose to vote for change without compromise and choose to be the change to be voted for! Together, I know that with God on our side, Nigeria will undisputedly be the most desirable nation to live in come 2025! God bless you and God bless Nigeria.

For more information on how you can be a part of a movement to change the future on Nigeria now by taking action, visit www.thefuturemovement.org/register

Greatness Delivered

2009-07-27T12:21:00.002+01:00

"I sat, with my hands all sweaty and my heart beating in anxiety as I waited for my moment of glory. I couldn't believe it, the President of the United states of America, President Barack Obama was personally going to give me the award in front of a worldwide audience. And then he called my name…."

Like many of us, I want do something great or be known for a great (positive) act that will leave an indelible mark in the sands of time. People like Martin Luther King Jr, Martin Luther, Nelson Mandela, Jesus Christ, Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks are people who come to mind. I will like my name to be known for something….like…Adewunmi Adediji; the man who discovered the cure for AIDS! But I realize that I spend so much time thinking about what that great act will be and I must confess that it is always almost an act in futility…nothing seems so great enough yet.

I've realized that we spend so much of our time thinking and planning to achieve a great act and we then become very ambitious. Subconsciously, we are usually of the opinion that this great act will be an apex and we don't seem to think of what will happen next. If Abraham Lincoln, having finally become president had no plan to execute his governance, what would have being his legacy today? Today, it dawned on me how to achieve that true great act.

On a closer inspection of most of the people who have done such great things, we see that most of them did not plan to do what they did. Their actions were born out of a deep seated system of ideals, values and passion. For many, it was a reaction to an infringement of their value or belief system. For instance, Rosa Parks is greatly known for what she did, which simply was "sitting in a bus". Now, how great does that sound? She didn't lead a riot or a crusade neither did she fight in a war (literally speaking) but rather by her action, she became a veteran in the war against racism….my point? Her action wasn't something that was planned but rather it was spontaneously birth out of her belief in the emancipation of the Negro people of America.

Now I'm not insinuating the fact that we should not plan to achieve a great feat but rather I'm advocating that greater time should be spent in imbibing the core values of greatness within ourselves. Having a great value system will ultimately generate greatness from within you and deliver absolute greatness.

Your lifestyle of greatness will amount into great acts!

Prior to her moment of glory, Rosa Parks had been actively involved in the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP), she served in the capacity of the secretary for a couple of years. Her time there help build in her the values and further boosted the passion she needed to achieve greatness in that which she believed. So then, what do we do:

Achieve greatness daily by building character through self discipline
School yourself adequately and passionately on that which you believe.

Know this, any great act/event would have been preceded by a series of great acts..great acts of self discipline, high moral standards….so, Achieve Greatness everyday!!!

Achieve your tomorrow!

2009-07-23T20:12:00.006+01:00

“it was about 2am and my eyes were heavy, my limbs weak and my arms lacked strength, sleep was beckoning on me; after all the Lord gives His beloved good sleep…but the work left undone was much. Well, I thought….I could do it later…just then, He appeared and looked at me sternly and He said “Get up and do it or else, I’ll die!” He was my tomorrow!”

Well, it didn’t literally happen like that, it was only a figment of my imagination but it really served its purpose. Mid last year, I wrote a letter to myself and I post dated it. I wrote from the future and in the letter, I narrated to myself how successful I had become in all I had done and I also took some lines to explain how those little things I did to improve my character paid out for me eventually. What I did was to create a picture of the kind of person I wanted to become in the nearest future and at the same time spell out my responsibilities to achieve it.

I have realized that our visions are mental videos of who we intend to be or what we intend to do in the nearest future but the thing is that…we’ve got to ACT is out. A friend of mine once said “if you want to know about your past, analyze your present situation, if you want look into your future, analyze your present ACTIONS!”

Our actions breach the gap between our ideas just being ideas and their manifestations and the interesting thing is that ideas grow. The more we manifest them by our actions, the more they expand. Why? You see, the more you realize your ideas/dreams, more room is created for fresh ideas that will either improve on the previous or bring into reality new concepts and forever change the way people think and perceive things. But you must not fail to act, firstly draw up a plan of little things that you will begin to do to achieve the bigger objective. The little things make up the big thing!

Secondly, at one point or the other in the course of your actions, you will realize that you will have to take a major step in which you’re not sure if you’re ready for that kind of a commitment to pursuing that vision. The important thing here is…DO NOT FEAR!!! Critically analyze the odds and simply take a bold step. A road uphill is wearisome, but when you get higher up, you’ll be able to see farther.

Thirdly be consistent. Achieve success daily by meeting set targets. Every so called major success is a culmination of success in the small things. An athlete who wins the pentathlon was probably successful at embarking on his early morning jogs on a daily basis. Consistency is the trademark of any successful brand. Even when you don’t feel like doing it, just do it!!! It will save your future.

Fourthly, don’t “compete” with others. You must realize that you are an original and you have a unique flavour in which others wish to appreciate. In some circumstances, being competitive will lead you to living in some other mans world and I bet you, you can’t be better in his own world! Find your own strengths and major on them!

Lastly, learn to network! Meet people. Often times, 90% of the work in fulfilling your vision will be done by other people other than you. Help other people to find their vision in yours. Accept their strengths in areas where you are weak and learn to harness them to achieve your vision

On times when the task will seem just undoable, find comfort in knowing that with every task you complete, with every page of book you flip over, with every proposal you write, with every candle you burn, you’ve just moved a step closer in fulfilling your vision. If probably you’ve once started and somewhere along the line you lost it…my word to you is simple, MOVE ON! Don’t try to start again, you’ll probably be living in the past again. Pick up from where you stopped. Don’t spend time fixing your eyes on the damage that has been done, rather concentrate on the possibilities of what can be achieved.

The more you don’t work (by taking actions) towards making our visions/ideas come true, the more they dwindle till they eventually fade away. Failure to act is failure to have a future. The world will not celebrate people who intended to do something but rather those who did! Get your ideas out of your mind and into your hands and then change the world!

As an advice, I’d ask you to write a letter to yourself from the future as I did. Let it tell of all the good things you’ve achieved and how you came about them, then keep the letter. Also create in your mind a picture of who you’ll like to be and whenever you’re about to compromise, bear him in mind and try to imagine what He’ll be saying to you.

If Nigeria is to be what we desire, your dream must come true! I am counting on you and so are 140 million other Nigerians.

The changing face of Lagos

2009-07-06T01:48:00.002+01:00

For many of us who have seen Lagos when it was “Lagos” would not have believed that Yaba could ever look like oxford circle in the UK or Oshodi like Paris. I got hold of this video. It was a documentary conducted by CNN (Inside Africa) of some of the developmental plans by the Executive Governor of Lagos State (Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN). I believe it’s worth watching as it also gives hope to those of us who believe and are involved in the development of our dear country.

To zones (Agege et al) that have not fully felt the effect of the F-Factor (Fashola factor), I ask that you be patient…very soon you will testify. Let us keep speaking and breathing change. Then it will materialize.

CHANGE WE MUST

2009-07-06T00:41:00.002+01:00

CHANGE WE MUST

I was out with my dad and our destination was a little village called Isoto somewhere inside Iyana Ipaja. I hope you’re not surprised that there are still villages in Lagos. Those villages earnestly await the fashola factor (F-Factor). We spent a couple of hours there and decided to head back home…but we were to make one stop at Ikeja to pick some supplies. It was there at Ikeja while I was waiting in the vehicle for my dad to return from His purchasing that this story of change began.

Up until this point I haven’t particularly enjoyed the journey, as I was hungry and had my mind on other things but what my eyes saw withdrew me from every other things the present situation. As we (I and my Dad’s driver) sat there in the vehicle we observed two women who apparently were roadside traders, deeply engrossed in a discussion and also treated themselves to bananas. And then it happened, one of them peeled out a banana and threw the pill right onto the middle of the road. To make thing worse, she did it as if she had just tossed it into a bin. I looked with disdain not knowing that the worse were yet to come. Before I could even pass a comment to the driver who was also staring with disbelief, she threw a second peel and then a third peel…..

There, it once again dawned on me that our problem isn’t just bad leadership but it’s bad followership as the follower today will be the leader tomorrow. It just reminds me of where we used to live (Bariga). The locals always made incessant complaints to the local government about a Canal that overflows especially when it rains. Luckily enough, the local government chairman came to inspect the canal on a day it rained and here is what he saw… as the heavy rains poured, the” complainers” who lived on the bank o the canal trooped out and began to dispose their refuse into the flowing canal… bad social character.

Well back to our initial story, having taken enough of this I felt a strong urge to approach her and “educate” her… but I had this restraint. You know that feeling we always have; a feeling that says “what’s your own business? At that, it further dawned on me that it really is my business, what was happening was completely against the vision of Nigeria I have…I had to make the dream a reality. As if we were thinking on the same page, the driver also decided to make a move, we drove forward to the woman and spoke to her. After it all, all she had to say, “sorry oh” then she ordered her son (I think so) to go pick up the peels. I thank God though that she did what was right eventually (maybe because the plate number of our vehicle was Federal Government). The following are what I consider to be valuable lessons from my experience:

What you don’t condemn is what you encourage

Your refusal to stand up for what is just when an unjust act happens in your presence is as good as you been a party to the u just act. Always take the side of what is right. Speak up, because it concerns you.

Take action! Make your dreams become a reality.

What I saw was an act in contrast to my dream. Right there, I had to make the situation conform to what I was seeing, I HAD TO TAKE ACTION! A good number of us have dreams, we must however realize that the world will not celebrate those who have dreams but rather those who take action and produce results. The next thing you must do after you dream is to wake up! Waking up is an action that requires conscious involvement and it provides a platform for the fulfilment of that dreams.

We must stand for the change we desire against all odds, it must diffuse into our actions. Our dreams of the Nigeria we see and believe must build our value systems and also of those around us. We need to bear in mind that even though the event may seem small, inconsequential and irrelevant (just as my experience above), its impact is invaluable especially to the parties involved. Never fail to cease the moment

Relationship

2009-07-03T07:39:00.003+01:00

there is a race to run and i cant run alone
there a garden to till and i cant do it alone
there are kids to have, cant do it without you
there is a fight to fight and i need you by my side
there's a world to conquer and we're made to do it together
there's a kingdom to strengthen and we'll do it together
there's so much love, we're destined to enjoy it together

the time is right,
Because it pleases,
love has been awakened

Development without compromise

2009-06-23T00:09:00.005+01:00

Development without Compromise

Recently, I’ve been musing about Nigeria; I do that a lot but this time was different (as always). I’ve observed that of recent, there has been a great appeal for local contents. Big hit Nigerian songs blare out from radios and at our parties, our movies are fast becoming best sellers both locally and internationally and despite ALL ODDS, things seem to be looking up; the air of the re-branding concept seems to be taking its toll on things generally. I was even at the Silverbird galleria a couple of months ago and I was appalled at the look of things. For me, places like silverbird, Lagos, Calabar are the faces of development of our times and are an evident re-assurance that things will work out.

Nevertheless, there are issues that I believe need to be addressed. Entering silverbird galleria spurred up mixed feelings in my heart. Firstly I was excited at hi-tech facilities available but on the other hand I was deeply pained particularly at the level of moral decay being displayed. It seems that clothes have all of a sudden become a scarce commodity and we have to resign to patching up little pieces to barely cover up our nakedness (you know what I mean). I keep wondering how things became this bad. Honestly, I applaud recent Nigerian music videos, but they’re contents, I do not applaud. It’s fast becoming an undeclared principle that advancement in technology (development) is directly proportionate to a decrease in moral standards. We even now have a (celebrated) strip club in Lagos and voices aren’t being raised against it!

What’s the way out? Well I’ll briefly share some lessons I learnt from the life of Daniel. I believe that these lessons describe a true pattern for development without compromise. Daniel is a guy in captivity in Babylon. He and three of his friends are enrolled in a special Babylonian school where they are taught the ways, morals and the lifestyle of the Babylonians. On graduation, Daniel and his three friends are found to be the best of all students in the school both amongst their fellow kinsmen and event the native Babylonians. Daniel is made to be part of the Kings special advisers and a world problem has arisen.

Lesson 1: Be Bold

Daniel was faced with an unsolvable problem but yet He did not falter/panic at attempting to provide a solution. There is always a way out! Every problem can be solved! It takes boldness born out of faith to believe this.

Lesson 2: Pray

Having assessed the problem, Daniel prayed to God. Essence: there are usually many ways out of a problem but there us the right way out. God always has the right way!

Lesson 3: Be a problem solver

Of lately I’ve imbibed a philosophy which is “see a problem, think a solution”. I believe that tomorrow naturally belongs to those who can solve today’s problems. This explains Daniels rise to prominence. His ability to be solution minded rather than complain like how every other person did. Nigeria need more people like this.

Lesson 4: Give all glory to God

Honouring and appreciating the source of your problem solving source creates more room/ capacity in you to solve more problems. Daniel openly glorified God for the solution and by proxy development.

Lesson 6: Impose core values

After Daniels promotion to Governor, he ensures that His three other friends are made provincial rulers over the townships. Why??? He’s simply ensuring that the core values they stand for remain in the fabric of the society. Hmm….imagine if u became Governor and you make someone as like minded as you become the minister of information or media… you know just what you see and not see on the TV screens. This is the most important; there is no true development without an establishment in core moral/Societal values.

I believe that if we solve problems and hence bring development, we are further given an opportunity to institute core values that will keep the society in check.

2009-05-25T16:14:00.001+01:00

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. 1 Cor 10:13 (MSG)

Of lately, I’ve become more acquainted with the word "issues". It's the word we normally use when we're passing through an experience that is seemingly rather complex. But I have realized however that as long as we live, there will always be issues, things will always happen, things rather beyond our control and it's effect may be even more grievous, leaving us in more pain and confusion. Sometimes these issues may be as a result of our mistakes and the confusion we find ourselves in leave us in an overwhelming state of guilt..... Sometimes we find ourselves in situations that we feel is far beyond us, at other times, we find ourselves in a position where we have to make a decision and the options are already tabled before us and really unpleasing....at such points we ask ourselves...how did I get to this point? To choose becomes impossible and to pray...just can’t utter the words.

So what God's response to all this? YOU CAN HANDLE IT! I'm quickly reminded of one of the greatest leaders of all times. He had just led a revolution and delivered his nation from slavery. He was everyone's hero and the entire populace looked unto him. Some seemed to think that they owed him their life. Sometimes just in the few days of his leadership, an "issue" arose and it occurred to Him that he could not lead the nation to their destination because there was just no way to go about it. On EVERY angle, there was just no way! On realizing this, there entire nation was thrown into a state of panic, the impossibility was just so overwhelming that the people lost every sense of confidence they had in their revolutionary leader (Ex 14: 8-21).

Something interesting occurred here though; Exodus 14: 15-16 records God's response.

"The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to Me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward! Lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the Israelites shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea." (AMP)

Amidst all the panic and uproar and confusion, God commands Moses to part the red sea. God made Moses realize that he had all he needed to handle the matter, he just needed to boldly take action and then God will follow through.

The good news for you is that God has already commanded you to part the red sea! You can handle it because that's how God designed it. If truly you are His child, then trust that he'll never give you more than you can bear, you're experiencing that issue solely because you can handle it. Like Joseph, Job and even Jesus, in each step of their life, overcoming an issue took them to the next level of their life, for Moses, overcoming the red sea took him to lands beyond the red sea and total deliverance from the hand of the Egyptians, never again was he going to doubt the God who he has now so trusted in. I believe so for you also, whatever issue you're facing you is designed to propel you to the next level of your ministry, work...and also to create in you an unflinching trust in God.

You're more than a conqueror, an overcomer in every ramification...So each time you're passing through any "issue", always have this at the back of your mind: "YOU CAN HANDLE IT"

Not Guilty!!

2007-07-01T23:52:00.000+01:00

At last, he owned his own slingshot! the whole idea of his whole family spending easter with grandpa and grandma simply exhilarated him and now with his new slingshot that granpa gave him, easter was definitely going to be the bomb!!

Without much time wasted and with his sling in his hand Josh began to practice all his stealth positions and he quickly became a nuisance to all the crawling animals in granpa's neighbourhood especially the ducks. Just two days after their arrival at grannies', Josh went out to continue his usual practice with his slingshot just before lunch.. as he walked quietly in the yard; there it was, a perfect prey, unsuspecting and in a very volatile position. Josh moved stealthily through the little bushes and without much thinking he let the sling go and hit the duck right on the head! Alas, he had for the first time got his target right. After a little excitment and celebration of his triumphant strike the reality quickly dawned on him that he had just killed a duck, on closer inspection of the dead animal, he realised that it wasn't just a duck but it was grandma's favourite pet duck. Now he knew he was in for it! He quickly scanned the area and with no one in sight, he ran away from the scene.

After lunch, Grandpa made an offer to the whole family to follow him for fishing; grandma was the first to opt out and she also took permission for Dolly (Joshs' sister),they had to wash up the dishes and start preparing the dough for dinner. Dolly, very eager to go quickly announced that Josh had promised to take her place in her kitchen chores. Before Josh could utter a word in protest, She quickly whispered in his ears "remember the duck"; Josh who now was put aback just stared into the eyes of Dolly and she said to him "yeah, I saw it all". Grudgingly, Josh obliged and opted to stay with grandma to do the dishes.

The next morning, mum woke up first and started her usual daily routine, she called on Dolly and started to assign to her all she was to do that day, Dolly in turn paced to Joshs' room and informed him of all her chores and she said to him "trust you can handle it".

After about two weeks of blackmail, Josh became fed up, easter holiday had become "disaster holiday" for him. At this point He concluded in his heart that he was going to tell grandma of what he had done. He summoned up enough courage and approached grandma and told her of what he had done. When he had finished with his confession, Grandma looked at Him and with a warm amile She said "I know, I saw it all from the attic window, I just wanted to know how long you were going to let your Sister use you!"

Many of us find ourselves in this situation. We often doubt the mercies of God and choose rather to live under the burden of the guilt of the things that we have done wrong, By so doing we are giving the devil a chance to rule over us by His persistent blackmail over us. At such points, when we realize that we've messed up our first respone should be to open our heart towards God. Remember that the most important Person to God is YOU. If you buy a pair of shoes for $300.00, what you're simply saying is that the shoe worth more to you than the $300.00. What more God, who gave Jesus just for YOU! Always remember that we live by grace and our righteousness is not a function of your abilities but purely based on the grace. We do
not have a high Priest who does not sympathize with our weaknesses!!

"Oluwa ni Oluso Agutan mi" VS "Oluwa ni oluso, emi ni agutan re"

2007-06-29T01:13:00.000+01:00

To the non-Yoruba speaking folks, I apologize if you this blog might seem to throw you of the rock but I'll do as much as I can to keep you on track. The header of this post are two translations for the first verse of Psalm 23(The Lord is my Shepherd...) . The first translation is culled from the Yoruba translation of the bible. A lot of controversy has existed in times past about these two interpretations but I never took interest in it until the day i finally decide to give it a thought and it was interesting what i found out.
It's interesting the outcome we get when we take closer look at familiar things around us, we more often than not realize that we don't really know much about what we think we've always known too well. On this issue I decided not to attempt to analyze it with a biased mind because for many, the argument was between one of originality and "modernization". I also decided to carry it in my consciousness that the translator was also human and prone to mistakes..well this was my observation.
The first translation which happens to be culled from the "authentic" version of the Yoruba bible simply reads "The Lord is the Shepherd of my sheep", remember, this is my suggestion!! The second translation on the other hand, which happens to be the proposed translation reads "The Lord is the Shepherd, I am his Sheep". So what do you think??
This blog is open for public comments so you're expected to leave your comments by simply clicking the comment link below this post and I'd love it if you could just let me know who you are by typing your name after your comments.
Thanks

Late Welcome!!

2007-06-26T12:38:00.000+01:00

After two posts, i realized that something didn't quite seem right...i guess that i got rather excited about the whole blogging thingy that i forgot to tell you a little about what this blog is all about.
A girl once said to me not to address every situation because i know the truth" , she went on to explain to me the role of wisdom and considering the feeling and opinions of other.. really i found that rather difficult! Well i like it see it as a place where i can express all the burdens the truth places on my heart. There is serious evil under the sun and it seems a lot of peolpe want to remain quiet about it.. well i choose not to. The only weapon to fight darkness is light(truth). The truth must be said at all cost! Jesus paid His life for it so why cant just dedicate this little quota of mine to it. Hello!! and for those of you who think I'm a perfect guy cause of all my writings well i like to say you're wrong but on the other hand i know that I'm on a road heading towards perfection and i must warn you...I'm fast paced!! so watch out

Be sure to visit as often as you can as i'll continue to make it worth the while. not to forget Part II of put some clothes on(my first post) will be out soon. A girlfriend of mine mailed me and asked me when i was going to address the guys too!! let's keep our fingers crossed.

My next series of post'll be slightly different from the first two..they'll be what i'd like to call a breather!!!

Blog On!!!!!

We are tagged!!

2007-06-26T11:15:00.000+01:00

We are tagged!
I once composed a text message which i didnt send to anyone, i usually do this when i get an inspiration. The content of the SMS goes thus: "We carry in us the mind and life of a God which the world cannot conceive and sees as practically impossible".At that period of my life(which was just some weeks ago!) leading up to now i was desperately seeking answers to so many questions that were plauging my heart. i wanted to know why my opinions,ideas my general perception of things always seems strange and "excessive"(especially on dressing amd music). time after time i evaluated myself to know what was really wrong, was the problem with me or was it that i was just meeting the wrong set of people? As i basked in that island of thoughts, i was quickly reminded of the the text i composed and never sent to anyone; it was at that point that it dawned on me that it was actually meant for me!!!

We must understand that the day we made a decision for the cross, we indirectly accepted a tag from the world labelled "abnormal", that we were shot out of our then realities which were limited by the extent of our five senses into a dimension where the world will never be able to imagine talk less of understanding. We were tagged abnormal by the world because anything outside the reach of those basic five senses(the God in our inside) cannot be conceived.

NOw thats a personal experience but today, the story seems to be different. I sometimes find it hard to differentiate between a Christian and non Christian; afterall they're all dressed the same, talk the same, have the same passions(funny),love the same music.....some people ask me "are my supposed to carry a tag saying that i'm a Christian?"..my answer..YES!! you are supposed to be carrying a tag remember!!! look, the world is a very Perverse place and it isnt getting any better, there ought to be a clear dstinction between the people of God(you) and those of the world!! Moses stood and mountain and made a clarion call and asked "Who is on the Lord's side?". a clear distinction was made! I strongly know that we are living in a age and time where that call has to be resounded.

Evalute yourself, pick a person that you know that is not a Christian but is morally sound and try to see wat makes you different from him...let me guess..you speak in tongues and he doesnt!!! ha ha ha, even some demon possessed peolpe speak in other tongues!! you realize that there isnt much difference?? You have to understand that the people of Israel were leaving Egypt(the world) to the promise land, a place where they could not imagine because God had told them that it'll be flowing with milk and honey and that each passing day as they journeyed away from Egypt(the world)thy had to leave behind the cultures and traditions of the Egyptians(the world) and pick up a new ones(the commandments of God). these new laws and customs was what was meant to distinct them from every other people of the world.

There has to be some distinction, the kind of music we listen to,the kind of clothes we wear,the kinds of words we use, the kind of parties we go for, the opinions we share..... when they start asking questions show them your tags, when they invite u for that party do well to show them your tag, when they get groovy with that music and thay invite you to join them, let your tag speak for you.

We are tagged!! we choose not to be normal in their eyes because we are sure that greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world!!
We are tagged and we're proud of it!!!!

PUT SOME CLOTHES ON - part 1

2007-06-23T03:43:00.000+01:00

PUT SOME CLOTHES ON - part 1

I do pray that this write up will touch your life and open your eyes to see as you ought to. This article is not directly to chastise anyone but it is just a call to order to all those involved in this.

It is now very obvious and glaring that in this part of the world (Nigeria), we are losing every consciousness of our basic life values, this is evident by the fast inward flow of western culture into our system; more often than not, these "imported" values have basically "zero" value but instead they are detrimental to the advancement of the lives of the people and the society at large.

The major problem on our part (receiver) is that we do not value ourselves and we basically do not know what we as individuals stand for, talk less we as a society! It is basically due to this lack of information of self that we let other irrelevant and baseless values fill up the vacuum.

The most glaring phenomenon of this "culture" is the mode of dressing of the affected individuals today (majorly the youth). Today, a lot of ladies love to go about half naked in the name of freedom of expression and some others for "convenience" sake. I really wonder what kind of convenience one can have when basically everyone around you has access to see the restricted parts of your body.

When the use of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable. The sorry truth is that a lot of people do not know what they're worth and if you know you dress with sensitive parts of your boy exposed, I'm proud to announce to you that you have no understanding of who you are and what you're worth. Don't you know that the way you're dressed is the way you'll be addressed. We’re quick to pass judgments at those prostitutes that flock our street but I really don't see a difference between you and them; after all you all look the same, some of these prostitutes even dress better than you.

It's because you don't know yourself and have no value for your body that you rather abuse it. A lot of girls think by dressing "nude" it draws attraction to them and the reality is that they draw attraction to themselves but what they're seen as is what they don't know. A guy once said that any "girl" dressed that way is basically saying that she' cheap, available and desperate!

THE GOD FACTOR
Enough of basic moral talk. Let’s take a reality check and ask ourselves this question - if God put cloths on man then who do we think is trying to take the cloths off? You didn't see it that way did you. We've let the devil in have his way in our lives for a long time and we were not even aware of it!! pitiful! Do you not know that the recorded manifestation of the demon possessed man in Luke 8:26 was that he tore his clothes off. This was a man who was under the influence of a legion of demons.. Are u making sense of this at all? Are u seeing the bigger picture? Interestingly, the first sign of his healing was that Jesus clothed Him!
PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!! Don't you know that it's not your body; you can’t do with it as you please. Many of us claim to be Christians; I'll rather advice us to call ourselves a church goers because a real Christian is meant to be CHRISTLIKE in all dimensions of His/Her life. I implore you to PUT SOME CLOTHES ON! Do not forget that God is a jealous God and His glory dwells in you and He doesn't Share His glory with any man, but yet we expose the whole thing and the whole "world" enjoys the view. A typical walk down the road of most Nigerian institutions and it dawns on you that pornography has long left the internet and started to walk on our streets. PUT SOME CLOTHES ON! your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. It's not your body!
In Luke 19: 45 downward after the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. He stepped into the temple (your body) and he chased out all the robbers in the temple. The word robbers used there simply means robbers of temple from Romans 2:22 which is a phrase used to describe people who rob temples but it is defined in Romans 2:22 as people who appropriate to themselves what has been consecrated to God thus robbing and doing sacrilege (Amp). That’s the raw fact. A lot of us are doing with our bodies (temple) as we wish, we're like the temple robbers, you do what you want with your body which is supposed to be consecrated to God. PUT SOME CLOTHES ON! The whole world is looking at you; you've become a laughing stock to even those who you think esteem you high. They're probably flocking around you because you look like one of the people of their perverted and horny fantasies. YES! That’s just what you are. A lot of you think the devil is far from you and you don't even know that He's using and driving you. Pitiful!

It's so pathetic how many of you think today, if you mentioned to people who lived just about 50 yrs ago that in the near future dressing exposed will become a normal phenomenon they'll probably think you're crazy. For some of you that do it because your friends are doing it, i pity you. Statistics have proven it that 63% of rape cases are caused by indecent dressing. You don't need the school authorities to tell you what to wear and what not to, that’s why God gave you brains; oops, I've forgotten that some people are “unconsciously” driven by the devil. PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!! It’s not cool to look naked.