THE BIRTH OF MANY QUESTIONS......STOP!

Another bombing today in Borno....29 people killed. 29 precious lives gone.

The little girls abducted by this sect haven't been found.

More death stories....the village attacks, students killed at nights, sporadic shooting at daylight in the markets.....and more bombings again. It doesn't stop.

Or will it?

What is Boko Haram? Are they political machines, anti-religion sects or non-Nigerians?

What's their deal?

Who is backing them up or are they just an independent sect?

Where do they hide? Somewhere up north or out of Naija?

Why is their attack localised? Will it spread out in the future?

Who is to blame for their consistent attack- the Federal Government, Local Government or the Devil?

Why are there many solutions, many 'e-warriors' (as one friend puts it) proffering help and none seems to be implemented? 

Should we bomb the north like what was done in Bayelsa or Should we take the amnesty route like we did to end the MEND saga?

Why aren't we like the Ukrainians....protesting this masked evil? Why aren't there placards on Nigerian streets?

How can we prevent this from happening tomorrow?

Should we beg them? Does begging a 'mad man' help?

What is it like to live in Borno or Yobe or Kano or.......? :(

Are you afraid?

..............

Tolu shared this poem with me....

"When they bombed Eagle square,

We remained silent;

We were not politicians.

When they came for the police headquarters

and the military barracks,

We remained silent;

We were not policemen nor soldiers.

When they bombed the streets in Borno state

and turned the North-east into a battle zone,

We remained silent;

We were not Northerners

When they came for the defenseless market

women and burnt churches,

We did not speak out;

We were not traders and it wasn't our church

branch.

When they came for school children in their

beds, 

We remained silent; 

We didn't have kids in any of those schools.

We said let them kill themselves, its in their

own lands.

I hope they don't come for us,

Because then,there would be no one left to

speak out or any country left to speak out

for."

...................

When I read it, I asked Him, what we can do, and He said 'That's a million dollar question, cos every solution I think about leads to more questions', and I guess he's right.

................

This is heartbreaking!

I trust God to help us with this ache eventually...

Till then, maybe being an e-warrior can help. Atleast, it helps us empathize with our families up north.... :(

KEEP SPEAKING OUT. THIS HAS TO STOP!!!!

Source: Dailypost

Meanie 'Sandy'

Hello :)
How are you doing? 

Did you watch the news yesterday? I was glued to CNN throughout the night (Still suffering from the repercussion of insufficient sleep at work), and was mighty scared for my family and friends in Maryland. Hurricane sandy was mean. And the reporters? I thought they were brave and 'foolish' at the same time, you know, staying back to video and report what was going on (and wondering if their family didn't need them). 

One of the brave reporters I spoke about....I'm not living there, not even close, but watching the TV last night made it so real...(Like this is not a clip from the movie '2012)

Throughout the night, I thought of how real this is (Like, it's not a scene from a movie). I thought of homes and properties that will be lost, praying that no one would loose their lives or sanity. I prayed that the storm won't be as bad as people made it out to be and then I slept off. 
This morning, I continued with the 'sandy' saga on CNN (why is it called sandy?), and boy, lots were lost. Properties, lives, electrical power, etc. I thought about the fire outbreak and couldn't imagine my beloved Newyork city looking like that (I've always wanted to visit this city that never sleeps...)..... 

And I thought of Naija. Even though we didn't tag any name to the recent flooding, the effects reeling from it, is still 'super scary'. It's like a bad dream. Imagine waking up to loosing everything you have and everything you've worked for.  For some, all they had left was their night wear and cell phone. 

All of this makes me wonder about life's vanity and about what really matters in life...What matters most to you?

I guess we have no one to turn to but God. Like Mayor Langford says 'When Mother Nature sends her wrath your way, we're at her mercy, and so all we can do is stay prayerful and do the best that we can.'

On the bright side, I'm glad that like all other storms in our 

lives (whether it's the failing economy, or bad health or any 

heart  breaking issues), meanie sandy will eventually pass 

away. 

Storms don't last forever.

Enuff said....

Here are some pictures from the 'sandy' wahala:

Image Source: guardian.co.uk (aftermath of sandy in haiti)

Image source: washingtonpost.com

Image source: csmonitor.com

Image source: feministing.com

Image source: huffingtonpost.com

Image source: nydailynews.com

For more pictures, check here

:( 

Was wondering, could 'meanie sandy' be a by-product of an 'emotional earth'? Just thinking out loud.....

Enjoy the rest of your day....Please be safe!!!!!!

Thanks a billion for reading :)

IN AN UNCUT WORLD: A Picture Story

One of my favourite cities in the world is Calgary.  I love it not because my best friend lives there (and I get to disturb him a lot any time I visit), but because it is Clean. I was looking at an awesome website, where they listed out a  list of the world cleanest cities. Places like Adelaide (Australia), Honolulu (Hawaii), Kobe (Japan), Wellington (New Zealand), Minneapolis (USA), Freiburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), etc made the top ten list and looked like something created from the mind of a ‘Pablo Picasso-like’ personality.

These cities are clean. They are beautiful. The whole environment has this surreal feeling but the truth is, whether we chose to believe it or not, they are as real as they come (My best friend can testify to that)...

I’m a freak for a clean environment. Living in a dirty environment is a total nightmare. And if given the opportunity, I would change the whole world and paint a picture of green grass and happy beings all over the world. I would also take on the job of a full time environmental police, try to be a female 'Al Gore'. Who wouldn't?? 

However, I wonder if the cities mentioned above have slum-like places; the places hidden behind the facade of green grass and world class architectural facilities. The places also called the ‘Ghetto’ where the struggle for survival is norm for everyone. The places where ‘social’ child abuse is important and children fend for their families. The down town place where sand, rock, and dirt pave the road, and seem forgotten by the government. The place where the ‘happiest people’ live in a blissful abandonment not bothered by the state of their environment. The backyard. 

I wonder if these places have been edited so that they can look perfect and welcoming to an average tourists...I wonder what their 'Uncut state' is like...

Yesterday, I sat in the bus with a man talking to himself. I was scared and distracted myself by looking at some pictures I took of the ‘Backyard environment’ I’m talking about (Out and about in Lasgidi)...

I wish something can be done about our environment...

Presenting my 'uncut world' Collection...

Another beautiful day in Lag

Stucked in traffic, taking pictures and trying to figure out how the road side sellers do what they do? Do they make money from what they do? Do they save? Do they ever get off the streets? You can buy anything you want in Lagos especially when our traffic 'tie wrapper'...~Sighs~ Even little kids join in the hustle, selling on the highway, traffic or no traffic, at their own risk, fending for their life :(

Struggle to the front of the road. Sighs

Told you. You can buy anything you want :(

Whew, traffic clears and its a race and struggle with the Okada riders...It's not the safest mean of transport but they ride like they own the road....In a Lagos traffic though, they are your sure bet to getting home early...

Standing at the busstop, and grateful that the crowd had thinned ...

My favourite means of transport, The BRT, they have their own lane and all but nowadays, it's like the regular 'Molue' bus (My Opinion)...People are packed like Sardins in the bus and for some, the mini stair and doors are bad...

The downside of life...Pegs as hair clips :(   

Movies and wires :(

A beautiful working mom who is doing all she can for her kids. Sometimes, I wonder if she wanted more for her life....The struggling guy who came to town for a better life, I wonder if he's found peace yet...
I'm grateful they allowed me take their pictures..The guy behind even posed for me....

'Rocks, papers, dirts, pave my street', He said 

'We even had to use a rock to hold an electrical pole from falling', He continued

A typical road side shop...Man must survive...

One of the few 'good' houses in down town lagos...

Yeah, I know, my ‘Utopia’ mind is at it again, wishing the world a blissful perfection.

Sometimes, when I take sad pictures like these, a lot of questions bug me; I wonder what went wrong in their lives. Is it fate that they end up like this? I heard someone say that the demarcation between the rich and poor is here to stay. Nothing can be done.  I don't agree with that statement, still, I wish it weren't so...

Is a cleaner environment, affordable 'good' housing and better standard of living too much to ask for?

Just ranting...

Share your thoughts on these please.....

Thanks for reading...Hugs!!!! 

WASTED TALENT

Hi everyone,

My cousin came over yesterday and we were talking about the Olympics and how team Nigeria is faring. Unfortunately, it’s not that impressive (We are yet to win a medal...)

Well, we started talking about all the talents that are yet to be harvested in this great country...Read the list below:

1. Every day at Mushin Bus stop, you see our ‘Agbero’s’ fighting....In my opinion, they can be trained to win a medal in the boxing competition. Talent wasted.

2. When you are on 3^rd mainland bridge, you can see the Makoko people: Fishing or Canoeing. Even children as little as 5 years old can handle the canoe, why don’t we recruit them and train them to reach for greatness. Another wasted talent going unnoticed.

3. Under your bridge, (I’m sure you know the ones I’m talking about), you see all those boys playing football; they are a miracle to be harvested. Why are they still playing football under the bridge? Why don’t we give them the chance to impress us on a proper pitch? What are we waiting for?

4. How about in swimming? We say Michael Phelps is good, but I bet you the Niger Delta guys are better. They live, breathe and eat water. Why weren’t we represented in the swimming competition?

5. Aha!!!One of my favourite sporting competitions is the Athletics. You see all those guys on Adeniji that sell gala, I’m sure they can beat the new world record that Usain Bolt set in the Olympic. Those guys can run but what do we do? Allow them to keep selling gala and viju milk and look for talent in the wrong places.

6. Even you guys that are always lifting weight everytime to get '6 packs' (I know all of you, so don't make start mentioning names), why aren't you guys not representing us in 'weight lifting'? Abi, your 'shakara' na for girls only?

7. Our strong 'Meruwa' (The hausa guys that sell water) are also strong. Honestly, I wish I had their enduring skills. Why aren't they trained for a better sport?

All of these are my opinions (Don't mean to hurt anyone). Opportunities abound everywhere. We don't need outside talents to help us. A little money and lots of internal talents can get us far.

We are blessed in Naija, if only, we would stop wasting potential talents...

May God help us jare.

Thanks for reading this and hopefully, the NOC will listen to my advice and stop wasting the talents of potential heroes. (Just saying)

Hugs!!! J

HARVEST WITH SOYINKA

Its a HARVESTwithSOYINKA........@ TerraKulture , every Sunday in July by 3pm & 6pm

I love Prof. Soyinka's play...My favourite book written by him is the 'Lion and the Jewel'...

Tickets : N3500
For Inquiries, Please call 08037177106 or 08034448812,

See you there. Hugs!!!

MIDNIGHT BLACKOUT

Hi dear,

How's your day so far? for some strange reason, I feel like I'm outer space...hmm...

Anyway, I'm so glad it's Friday. Aren't you?

So, if you are in Lagos this weekend...Paw Studios (Remember them from the post Oh! how dearly I detest thee) is organizing a stage play called 'MIDNIGHT BLACKOUT'.

I've been to one of their plays and trust me, this is going to be INTERESTING!!! If you want a good laugh, you have to be there...

Check the picture/bill above for more details...

Oh, and if you are classical music freak like me, the Music Society of Nigeria is organizing an orchestra concert...Watch this space for more info...

Have to run...

Warm regards and see you at the play...

Thanks a lot for reading :) 

Rubiewe

Hola everyone,
How was your day? Hope it was as funny as mine? (Lol)...
So, if you are in Lagos on the 27th or 29th of this month, you might be interested in Rubiewe (An African adaptation of beauty and the beast)...Please check the bill for more info.


I'm sure you would love the play...


Hugs...

1,000 brides-to-be

'He should be tall. Kind, of course. And generous, especially when it comes to buying all those little trinkets that a woman desires' - Altine Abdullahi.

Yip, it's happening in Northern Nigeria where 1,000 women have put their faith in the Kano state government to provide them with husbands...


The religious authority in the Muslim-dominated state, the Hisbah Board, has embarked on a massive husband hunt for divorcees and widows. The first 100 women, including Abdullahi, are to be wed in coming weeks.

Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/05/06/2511230/nigeria-state-seeks-husbands-for.html#storylink=cpy

In my opinion, it's crazy...


1. Why marry someone you don't know??? (I guess they have their reason)


2. In a region where there are bombings every other day, why are we concerned with this instead of our security??? (Like my friend said, people have the right to be happy...Can't fault them for that)...


Oh well, I guess I will never understand this stuff...


What do you think???


Click here to read more of this crazy news:1,000 Brides to be


Loving me some Big Brother Africa right now...

Have a pleasant week...


Hugs...

Thanks for reading...

AJAI (the boy slave)

If you are wondering what to do this weekend, You can try out the stage play at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos on the 24-29th of April @ 6 pm, Sunday April 29th @ 3pm.

The play is called AJAI (the boy slave)- It's the story of Samuel Ajai Crowther...Really inspirational...

Oh and it's star packed too (It features Kate henshaw, O.C. Ukeje and Carol King). If you are in Naija, please be there.

There will be an exhibiton as well.

Ticket Price: Students N 3000 | Adults N 5000 | VIP N 15000

Ticket Locations: You can get your tickets at the following locations;

• The Green Park, 16 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
• Terra Kulture, Plot 1376, Tiamiyu Savage, off Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos
• The Life House, 33 Sinari Daranijo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos

There will be an exhibition as well.

You are coming right???

Hugs...
Mwahhh...