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ANUOLUWAPO
This I wrote since the 23rd of February
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I just read with grave annoyance, the caption "US, UK mediate in Obasanjo, Atiku feud". What the &&^%*?! Why on Earth would those ones mediate in anything?! What makes it their business?
Seriously though, why wouldnt it be their business? The vice president , ex-president, INEC dude, EFCC guy and all the other "well meaning" politicians deem it fit to justify themselves before the "international community" (mainly the US and UK) rather than the Nigerian people, whom they (supposedly) serve. If these charlatans could see beyond their noses, they would discover that they have perfected the art of shamelessness, hence washing, not just their dirty linen, but their dirty, torn, overused teru in public.
Mr. Obasanjo reminds me so much about a story I heard in primary school , whose import did not really sink in until after my first year in university. It is titled "the emperor's new clothes". A simple story, really, about an emperor, so conceited, foolhardy and stubborn that he believed he could do no wrong. A fraudster played a fast one on him by selling him a set of clothes that were so pure that they could only be viewed by "holy" people. Thus, whoever couldnt see the clothes, was in effect, "unholy".
Anyway, the dictator, surrounded by sychophants, carefully put on the "clothes" (lest it tore) and rode round his kigdom, declaring himself the purest of the lot. Now, everybody had been forewarned, so they all kept "oooh-ing and aaa-ing" and commending the emperor's new clothes. Until one little boy screamed "But the emperor is naked"! That was when it suddenly dawned on him how much of a fool, he -the emperor- had been. For a little boy is considered pure and innocent.
After that story, I believe we can put 2 and 2 together and we will know who represents what character in present day Nigeria.
I mean, the list is endless.... So many things .... So many frustrations.... So many questions.... I mean, why would Charles Soludo use the Vice preseident's presidential jet, while Atiku boards a chartered flight?
Why would the ex-president utter statements like "no P-frigging-DP, no Nigeria"? And ah, the famous "The 2007 (s)elections are do or die for myself and the PDP"?
Why does this administration belive that what they have not achieved in 8 solid years, they can achieve in 2020, like the ex-president keeps saying?
What the heck is our business with the 2014 commonwealth games hosting, on which we will doubtless spend billions of naira that we cannot afford,? Even if we want to host, why construct an entire, new games village, when the COJA ones lie fallow?
Why on earth did we take the present $25m world bank load? I mean loan?
Why the heck would the rather-un good looking- british high commissioner to Nigeria state expressly at a forum that everything happening in nigeria is as a result of bad governance? What makes it his business? (The guy actually got a standing ovation for it!) Try that in Venezuela, and you become a persona-non-grata, before you are done with your sentence. If in doubt, go ask William Brownfield.
Why would the US issue a warning on fresh Niger-Delta attacks? Duh???? SOmething more intelligent, if you please!
Why did the technical committee from "advanced democracies" come to Nigeria to partner with INEC on the 2007 (s)elections? I dont see Mr. Iwu on any of those so-called gaffs.... not even to Benin republic.
Why, oh why..... this one, I can never ever know the reason, but how on earth did Ahmadu Ali get a national honor???!!! That one in particular infuriates me! I mean, then my pet snake should get one too!
What has been done about Okija? Why did the "cameras in the chambers" issue, as stated by the senate die down?
Why is Yomi no longer a page 3 contributor to saturday punch?!
What are the African leaders going to do about the US' decision to set up a PENTAgon base in Africa? Smile and feel priviledged, no doubt.
What is the deal with Ban Ki-Moon.... the guy is so eager to please its god-fathers! Anyway, it is rather unfortunate that Professor Gambari - with all due respect - formerly the under-secretary to the UN in the department of political affairs, lost to an american -Lynn Pascoe.... unfortunate, but expected. Dont ask me why!
Why on earth would I not vote for Jimi Agabaje????!!! Koro - bitter in yoruba (looks, talks and acts like a thug); Fashola - abeg, fashy the guy! Looks clueless!
Why, in the 27th century, do I have to inhale carbon monoxide everyday, as emmitted by my power generator? Why do I see people carrying jerry cans looking for water, fuel and kunu?! In the 27th century?!
This statement by Etubom Bassey Ekpo Bassey on the recent fuel scarcity puts it succintly... Said he " when the military made Obasanjo our president in 1999, nobody dreamt that petrol could sell for N30 per litre. Now petrol sells for N140 per litre. This is one of the reasons why Obasanjo’s economic reforms must be sustained by the administration so that Nigeria may effectively become the property of less than 100 people and the rest of us their loyal tenants whose support for the system shall be secured by a brutal police force".
No explanations demanded, and none presented, for the fuel scarcity.
It is well.
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| February 23, 2007 | 4:02 AM |
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Origin Of Mentoring
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My mentor came in a few weeks ago and as usual, I was priviledged to drink from the ocean of his emmense wisdom. I had always believed the art of mentoring was overated until I met this man. An astute businessman, with an intense desire for education and information, a professional to the core, who is well versed in the art of balance and prioritising, one of the most intelligent minds I have ever come accross, a passionate and thorough individual that just simply amazes me! And he caps all of this with a reverence for God.... oh my, he has my attention 966%!
He is one person that PERPETUALLY challenges me and meeting him got me thinking and I decided to go in search of the origin of mentoring. After going through a lot of history journals, presentations and articles, I found one short essay that I really liked. Please read and enjoy.
Mentoring is the process by which a more experienced person imparts advice, support, insight, and knowledge to a less experienced person. A mentor provides guidance in the form of teaching and support and helps the mentee achieve his or her goals; encourages and motivates the mentee, assists the mentee with career and professional development; serves as a sounding board; and links the mentee to others who can enhance the mentee's growth and development
Here are four stories presented as the true origin of the term mentor or mentoring:
1. In Homer's Odyssey, Mentor is a trusted friend to whom Ulysses leaves the care of his household when he departs for the Trojan War (a ten-year battle). The goddess Athena assumes the form of Mentor and cares for Ulysses son, Telemachus, until the war's conclusion. Some variations of this story state that she actually accompanies Telemachus on his journey to search for his father at the end of the war. Some variations describe Mentor as a man.
2. In 1698 Françcis Fénelon was appointed by King Louis XIV as a tutor to the king's grandson, the Duke of Burgundy. He provided instruction to his pupil through his didactic epic, Le Adventures de Télémaque (1699), the most popular book written in the 18th century. Fénelon uses the term "sage counselor" to describe his main character, the goddess Minerva who appears as Mentor. The book is clearly an imitation of Homer's The Odyssey, and the lessons expounded in the book by Mentor are both more educational than Homer's Mentor and directed towards guiding his pupil in how to become a peaceful and wise monarch. The political views that Fénelon put in the mouth of Mentor, however, offended the king's position on these same issues. As a result Fénelon was forced to leave the employment of the king for less challenging activities.
3. In ancient Africa, prior to the time of the Greek and Roman invasions, when a child was born, each village shared the responsibility for raising and educating the child into the customs and traditions associated with that village. While the child had contact with every member of the village, there was always one older child (not a family member) who would be assigned the responsibility to ask questions and listen carefully to the younger child. In Swahili (one of the oldest languages on our planet), this questioning person was called, "Habari gani menta" which, in English, means, the person who asks "What's happening?"
4. La Grotte de Niaux is a prehistoric cave located high in the Pyrenees in southern France. After walking through the silent and womb-like stillness, a visitor emerges into a large, domed space filled with ceiling paintings, estimated to have been created somewhere between 12,000 and 9,000 BC. While most of the paintings depict horses and bison, there is one theme that is repeated in many places. This painting shows a group of men taking children to what at that time was considered the edge or end of their physical world. The men exhort the children to be brave and expand their reach beyond the borders of the present world. Some believe that the origin of the term "mentor" comes from what has been loosely translated in these ancient depictions as "men" taking children on a "tour."
/Nu.
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| February 19, 2007 | 4:02 AM |
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On the BRT lane.
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Well well.... so we eventually put our paint-brush where our mouth is, and created the BRT lanes.... Hmmmm...... nice, huh? Or plain annoying?!
Why on earth would a country that uses the left hand drive car system, allot bus lanes on the suppossedly fastest lanes?
Oh... I know.... I know..... me, aunty, me.... me...... me.....! Pls call me!!!
O..k, Anu, tell me... "Well, the thing is - the commissioner for transport and the LASTMA chief recently went to the UK for an "owanbe" and discovered some white lines on the roads,...... and when they asked what the lines were for, some bored motorist simply yawned "for the buses", and true to our "follow follow" nature, they came back and hey presto, the lines appeared and have definitely come to stay!
50,000 per offender.
Well, we the non-bus drivers/illegal BRT lane users had better be careful cos the bus stops just might be shifted to the left side of the highways now... so as soon as you hear "o wa o!", just get ready to slam your brakes! Now, it is either we expect more people to run accross the express lanes, or we expect the buses to make swift, hold-up-causing manuavers from the extreme left to the extreme right lanes.
Prior to now, the congestion on Lagos roads was simply horrendous! Sometimes, motorist form up to 7 lanes on a 3-lane road.... all in a bid to beat traffic. Now, we all have to contend with 1 1/2 lane(s) less. If the government would not provide better road networks, better road structures and alternative transport options, then the yellow line on the road thingy will be a gross inconvenience.
Either way, the 50,000/offender vultures win.
By the way, thank God LASTMA guys werent supplied with guns o.... they would have killed more motorists in 2 years than the police have done since the 1914 amalgamation.
Anyway, so no more "turboing" for me on the 3rd mainland bridge. Oh man, I'm so accustomed to making a single trip - ceteris paribus - in 4 minutes 15 seconds. :-( Now it'll be a lot slower.
Miss me.
/Nunu.
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| February 15, 2007 | 3:02 AM |
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Stupid Nigerian Adverts
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I went shopping a couple of weeks ago with a friend - my mom - and while trying to buy a blender, I saw a gas cooker, really beautiful and all that and I was about asking for it to be moved to the check out counter, when I saw the name of the manufacturer - Ignis - and I just screamed, "dont even touch it"! Now, why would I do that, you might ask? I dont care if they make the best goddam electronics in the world, but a company that relies on infidelity to make a sale, is in my oipnion, very shallow!
What the fish does "a smart wife's first affair" mean?! So after the first one with Ignis, I am entitled to more - as long as Ignis is the first one?! With stupid billboards all over town encouraging women to cheat on their husbands with a regridgerator or the one with the washing machine pulling a woman's already short skirt (that one was creepy) and so many stupid things they insinuate, you can be rest assured i am not buying an Ignis product for as long as I live and neither will I allow anyone I know buy it, unless they change their sales tactics.
Shish!
I might as well mention a few of the adverts that reall vex me, while I'm on the topic.
Bukky Wright and that annoying Harpic advert?! Everything was really cool and almost believable until she seats down in the lady's house and she shoves a container of harpic in her face, while asking if any part of her house gives her any problem..... duh?! The lady should have said she had tooth ache and allowed Bukky to test "the power of harpic" on her mouth then, abi no be so?! Why didnt Bukky hide the bottle and ask the question and we would have been pleasantly surprised if after the woman said she had issues with her but.... I beg your pardon, her toilet, Bukky brings out the bottle and the hogbladash continued.
Julius-the-eccelectic Agwu...... That your Hollandia advert get as he be. " So tell me now hallofyuu (all of you)...." "...it's got kalzium... (calcium) ..... I cant even remember all the mistakes-with-attitude wey the guy make.... How much did they pay you, really?! That advert is really stupid. Although the chic is hot :P ..... Was that the incentive?! And Jide Kososko.... I love Chivita, but I hate that advert!
Skye bank.... skye bank... skye bank...... una dey sing o! I hope say the song dey bring in dividends sha, because he be like say instead make una train una staff for proper customer service, na accapella una dey do. Remember say Charles Soludo can ask for a bigger capital base again soon o..... This una sing sing,.... hope say he dey bring in money sha...
Ambi Pur encorages young women to only date older men with Ambi Pur in their cars.....
5555...... Thank goodness the entire album waxed to make us buy vicks lemon plus has been edited and we are saved from having to waste our time watching (well, pretty girls) performing a double clay (as opposed to a double platinum) single, just to get us to buy vicks.... which i stopped buying by the way.... I settled for baba blue... I'll tell you why.
I can so identify with the wierd looking guy in the blue outfit that the advert makes so much sense, and the ingrained humor is so typically Nigerian that it scores so much points with me....
Bank PHB has the best concepts I have come accross in a long long time... well, second only to Jimi Agbaje's "runnning for governor ads".... and it shows people are thinking.... For that and other reasons, I have decided UBA with their dead-man-talking-ads is out and bank PHB, here I come!
The CBN bit about the lady with the sick child who went to see a doctor and brought out money from her bra was really funny and nice and I have heard one or two people I know, who would ordinarily not give a hoot about where money comes from, correct others as per handling the naira with care.... So the ad worked.... well kind of :-)
The Dettol cool and Dettol Pure ads are equally nice.
Ah, Ariel gold too!
Viva Bournvita! My 19 months old cousin walks up to his mom and says he wants bournvita and she says "No". A simple " but every child deserves bournvita" made her scurry to the kitchen to prepare a full bottle of Bournvita for him! Now, that is a lovely adavert!
The list of the "good guys" is endless - the old MAMSER adverts... 7up's Fido Dido.... Nasco Adverts.... among others....
Ok, gotto get back to work... next will be my thoughts on the Obasanjo, Atiku, EFCC, INEC, Ala-Akala,National Awards, Baba Modinat, imbroglio..
Miss me.
/Nunu.
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| February 13, 2007 | 4:02 AM |
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Wetin We Go Do?
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There was a time when Dr. Tim La Haye's book - Why you act the way you do - was the next best thing after toast bread. Well, I am having a re-think. I believe until he writes a rejoinder - Why Nigerians act the way they do - I will not be satisfied.
I was stuck in traffic for a really long time yesterday and I was very upset. For in my head, I kept asking myself all the productive things I would have been doing if I wasnt in the vehicle at that point in time. After three excruciating hours of snail speed, we eventually sailed through, only to meet another traffic 50 meters in front!
Every time I got to the hold up point however, I observed a similar causative factor responsible for the traffic - Trucks parking indecriminately on bridges.
I am not a structural engineer, so I stand to be corrected, but I believe most lagosians are in very grave danger by virtue of the conditions of our bridges. Why do trucks and tankers park on bridges, unchecked?! It simply doesnt make sense to me. Aside from the fact that they cause serious accidents, they also make it possible for thieves to attck innocent motorists and use the trucks as shields from anyone who wants to go after them.
Our bridges go for years without maintanance, drivers of broken down vehicles burn tryes on them all night to ward off blind motorists from certain death, we have turned the means of temporary transit to permanent bustops - as evident in Oshodi, Obalende, Apapa, Ijora - and it just makes my heart bleed.
:-(
If and when something happens, we just find a way round it, like ants marching in a straight line. When the national theater bridge collapsed, for example, we found a way round, by going through costain. Now, I have heard the third mainland brigde rumbles from time to time..... when it does decide to collapse, I can only hope it is the convoy carrying the present president and the minister of works and everybody that ought to answer to this crap, that is on the bridge at the time. I pray the innocent peopleinvolved can swim. The others can explain to their maker why they were lax in their responsibilities.
I am so sad, I dont even make sense to myself, so I'll stop writing .... for now, anyway.
/Nunu.
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| February 13, 2007 | 2:02 AM |
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