New Year and New Life, the Transition

New Year Vs New Life

I was thinking this morning.... about expectant preparations for a new season. Yes, a few person expectantly prepare for the next day, many prepare for the next month (with Happy New Month now becoming a common saying), and almost everyone expectantly prepare for the next year. However, I am not sure many expectantly prepare for the next life, like we do for a new year.

I was on my way to the airport last Thursday heading to Lagos in preparation for the New Year holidays, when I got a message on Facebook asking me to check the Facebook page of a friend and former University classmate. Immediately I knew something was wrong. I checked but couldn't find him anymore amongst my friends. I reverted to our common classmate that sent the alert and he dropped the bombshell that our friend had passed on.

How could he have gone so suddenly? Was he sick? Was he in an accident? So many questions flooded my head in my confused state. I later confirmed that he had taken his son for a soccer match and decided to join the son for warm up exercise before the game begins. While they were on it, he fell to the ground and by the time the medic arrived, he was confirmed dead. What a life? There was no expectant preparation.

While I was saddened by the loss of my friend who usually ensured that I enjoyed my stay whenever I was in London, his sudden transition got me thinking. How come tonight, the last day in 2017, millions around the world will gather in churches for a crossover service that will usher in the new year, and billions more will gather around fire works at city centres and television sets for the count down to 2018, yet the most important transition from mortality to immortality is unheralded? In recent years many people close to me had made this transition without any idea of the crossover.

As we wake up tomorrow to a new day, new month and new year, everyone you meet will tell you 'Happy New Year,' but my heart skips a beat when I remember that no one is telling our loved ones that had transited, 'Happy New Life.' Yes the bible teaches that innumerable company of angels and saints are on hand to welcome saint that sleeps, but those of us on this side of the divide have hardly had the opportunity to wish them 'Happy New Life' like we do at the beginning of each year. I also understand that just like wishing someone a happy new year does not translate to the person being happy through the year, so also saying 'Happy New Life' is only but a prayer, believing that the person had done the right thing as a mortal to be happy in immortality.

Therefore, if you have lost a loved one this year 2017 and as we look forward to a new dawn in 2018, I encourage you to use this last day of the year to say a simple prayer for them by typing 'Happy New Life' after their names, before we all get drenched with the 'Happy New Year' rain. So, to Paul Idiaghe, Samson Adegboyega and family, V.O. Grant, Deaconess Omisore and Pastor Dittimi, to you I say 'Happy New Life.'

And to all of you reading my thoughts for today, I say an early 'Happy New Year.'

....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey. 

Burning Cash or Growing Cash?

Cash on fire

I was thinking this morning.... about what I have done with cash this year. It is common In Warri to hear someone tell a spendthrift, 'see how you dey burn cash!' That statement came alive a couple of Sundays back in church when a young lady came forward to give a testimony of how she and her colleagues were in the office during the week and they perceived the smell of something burning. On investigating the source of the smell, she found out the sixteen million naira (N16m) cash placed in her custody was on fire. She concluded by thanking God that only two hundred thousand naira got burnt. Don't ask me what ignited the cash because she didn't say, but the testimony got me thinking. How much cash have I burnt recently?

It occurred to me that when you are blessed with cash, you can either grow or burn the cash. When you invest your genuinely earned money sensibly and help the needy, you are growing cash, but when you misuse or mishandle money, you are burning cash. The year is ending and many cannot account for all the money that had come their way this year. While many had burnt their money on frivolities, a few had literally set theirs on fire by storing large amount of cash at home or in the office. But in any way you look at it, 'poor man no dey burn cash.' You must be rich to spend N10m clubbing in one night or keep N16m cash in a building that is not a bank.

Oh we really burn cash in this nation. Imagine Rochas Okorocha spending scarce cash to build statues in a State where salaries are owed civil servants. He is burning cash. Then, Governor Wike spent about N720m on 16 Land Cruisers for the State's representatives at the National Assembly, when salaries are owed pensioners. He is burning cash. The past government withdrew $2 billion to fight Boko Haram and this government has approved the withdrawal of another $1 billion to fight a Boko Haram that has supposedly been defeated. Remember that $1b of today (converted to naira) is equivalent to $2b of 2014. They are burning cash.

Cash is really on my mind this morning. When you grow crops for cash or profit, it is called cash crop and when a business generates so much cash it is called cash cow. What will the cash you grow for profit be called? Cash cash? As I thought about what we do with cash, I found out that in 2013, actor George Clooney invited 14 of his closest friends that had supported him early in his career, to his house for dinner and gave each one a million dollars cash in designer briefcases. He said he was giving back to them for being there for him. Hmm! I know I have been there for many of you, my friends, please do the needful. Lol....

It is that season when we part with lots of money, but I beg you to spend wisely and not burn cash. There are too many people around that you can help with a little cash rather than burn it all on your lust. Prov 22:9 says, 'Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.'

Happy Sunday.

....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

It's a Season of Happiness

Season of Happiness

I was thinking this morning..... about the happiness of this season. Where I sat reflecting on my plans for the end of the year, my mind was inditing the reason why this season oozes the fragrance of happiness. Could it be because of the fog and harmattan haze we wake up to behold each morning or the almost synchronized sessions of year end appraisals going on in most organizations, giving the feeling of relief from the year long frenzy of tasks? I am suspecting that it is the sights and sounds of Christmas carols and season greetings that is softly dropping the happiness in the air like black soot in Port Harcourt. Whatever the origin of the happiness, it is sure a good feeling.

 

It was this smile I had on my lips when I read the news of Owelle Rochas Okorocha appointing his sister as 'Commissioner for Happiness and Couples' Fulfilment." My smile immediately exploded into laughter. What a joke! While I understand that happiness is a very important feeling, in the serious business of governance, methinks it cannot be a ministry for which you appoint a commissioner. Think about it. How can you measure the success of the Commissioner for Happiness and Couples' Fulfilment? Is it the number of citizens smiling daily or the number of couples blessed with the fruit of the womb that year? Since most couples will feel unfulfilled if they don't have children, will the commissioner be assisting them to make babies?

 

Following widespread criticism, the State has come out to blame printers devil, clarifying that the Ministry is that of 'Happiness and Purpose Fulfilment' and not 'Couples Fulfilment.' Dem try!

 

I am really thinking, assuming we have successfully dealt with tangible issues like roads, housing, finance, health care etc. and wish to move into the intangibles, I believe there are more important portfolios to assign like Commissioner for Joy and Gladness, Commissioner for Patriotism, Commissioner for Love and Commissioner for Freedom from Corruption. And if they really want to care end-to-end, they should also appoint a Commissioner for Burial Ceremonies.

 

Though the outcry against the governor was massive, a cursory review of recent happenings in Imo state seems to justify the move. With multiple buildings collapsing, several incidents of fire and explosions and a botched presentation of the 2018 budget, the people surely will not be in a happy mood this season. Hence, the Commissioner for Happiness to the rescue. Na wa o!

 

But do you know that happiness is a choice and that people are happier in the morning? Also, an evolutionary psychologist at Harvard, Nancy Etcoff, says it is a scientific fact that friends inspire more happiness than family members. Really, Nancy? She gave the order as friends, relatives, spouses and then children. While I won't argue with her, one thing is clear, your friends will inspire more happiness than the Commissioner for Happiness. While hoping that I have inspired happiness in you this morning, I beg you not to wait for a Commissioner for Happiness or anyone else before you choose to be happy because Philippians 4:4 says 'Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.'

 

Happy Sunday.

 

.......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

Snakes, Anti-venom and the Jungle we Live

Running away from Snakes

I was thinking this morning.... about the jungle we live in and snakes. I read the headline in The Guardian Newspaper titled '91 deaths in three weeks from snakebites, and unavailability of anti-snake venom annoy senators.' 'Like seriously? Why are they annoyed? Na today snake don dey bite Nigerians?' These and many other questions flushed through my mind as I read the news article.

 

Yes, I know that there are snakes in Nigeria and I know of one or two persons bitten by snakes while growing up, but have never heard of 91 people dying of snake bite in 21 days. No, not even in the Amazon forest where anaconda is king. It seems while we were busy chasing shadows, wild animals have overtaken our land. Anyone reading that headline outside of Nigeria, will surely conclude that we are living in the jungle. How sad!

 

Maybe we are truly living in a jungle in the midst of wild animals. I suspect there are anacondas, vipers and rattle snakes in this our jungle and it must be these venomous snakes that are scaring Nigerians to death within and outside the shores of the nation. Yes, it must have been snakes that scared those 26 Nigerians girls from their homes to make that perilous journey through the Mediterranean sea to Italy, but unfortunately died in the ship and were buried like savages in a strange land. It must be the fear of snakes at homes.

 

Snakes are creepy and scary animals. It must be the fear of snakes at home that will make able-bodied Nigerians to choose the indignity of being sold as slaves in Libya, rather than stay back and work for a living. They probably said, like a typical Waffarian, 'I rather die.' Imagine my horror watching the CNN investigative report, not Kunta Kinte movie, with a salesman in camouflage gear saying, 'Does anybody need a digger? This is a digger, a big strong man, he'll dig, what am I bid, what am I bid?' Oh it must be the fear of snakes at home that will make them prefer to be in cages in Libya.

 

How can our senators be angry about these venomous reptiles biting Nigerians and be blind to the thousands that have died from economic, political and religious snakebites? As I dwelt on the thought, I realized truly that Nigeria is a huge farm of snakes. If you have seen that movie, 'Snakes on a Plane,' then you will understand the jungle we live in.

 

Truth is there will always be snakes around us, so what we need do is wade them off and have snake anti-venom available. But where is the good governance that will keep the snakes at bay and the social security that will neutralize the poison should we be bitten? Not available in Nigeria. I will therefore not depend on these leaders to protect me from snakes, but will rather hold on to Luke 10:19 that says 'Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

 

May God deliver us from human and real snakes.

 

Happy Sunday.

 

....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

Queen Elizabeth and 70 years of Marriage

The Sanctity of Marriage

I was this morning.... about the sanctity of marriage and the appropriate gifts for celebrating. As I sat in my taxi, I browsed through the news headlines and saw this BBC news that asked, 'what do you give to your partner to celebrate 70 years of marriage?' The very first question that popped in my head was 'No be two of us marry? why should I give my partner a gift?' Feeling a bit ashamed that I am thinking like a typical African, I put my hand in the basket of my thoughts again to try and bring out a fitting gift for a platinum wedding anniversary, but I couldn't help but reflect on the more important question of what is it that keeps a couple together for 70 years in a world where couples divorce because of toothpaste, tomato paste or even peanut butter paste?

This was my thought as Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip marked their platinum wedding anniversary last Monday. The couple got married at Westminster Abbey November 20 1947, and 70 years on, Elizabeth (91) and Philip (96) are not tired of each other. What are they doing that modern day celebrities are missing? I have heard some seniors advise the youths to watch the family they are marrying into. They say if the parents are divorced, then 'e dey the family.' Has divorce become a contagious or hereditary disease? To show the futility of that thinking, do you know that while the marriage of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip has remained strong, three of their four children have seen their unions end in divorce? Most notable is heir Prince Charles's ill-fated union with his late wife Princess Diana. Please don't tell me the children need deliverance.

I am thinking, though my marriage is still a long way from 70 years, what can I learn from this power couple? While Prince William says the secret is them being comfortable in each other presence, others say it is their shared sense of humor (SSOH). The Queen herself says, 'He has, quite simply been my strength and stay all these years,' and Prince Philip says, 'You can take it from me, the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.' Hmm!!!

While everyone in marriage will put forward different qualities that make their marriage work, to me it is a combination of the little things, the God factor, tolerance and the firm knowledge that, come rain or shine we are together, that makes the difference. Hence Romans 8:38 says, 'For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,' shall be able to separate us from the love of God.

My prayer is that as our marriages take one step at a time towards 70 years, any principality that wants to ply it's trade on us will expire this year in Jesus name. Amen.

Happy Sunday.

.....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

Time, Reality and Change of Priority

Changing times and Reality Check

I was thinking this morning...... about time and reality. Where I sat in my living room relaxing, shortly after arriving from a journey yesterday, and expecting no one at that time of the day, the door bell rang. 'Who can that be? Who are you expecting?' I had asked my wife. As we both paused the TV to go downstairs to attend to the visitor, I was wondering how anyone will be at my door without notice.

 

When we eventually let the visitor in, it was my niece in-law. As she greeted me and we gave her a warm welcome, I couldn't help but think of how times have changed. This lady that is today in Law School in Lagos was only about 5 years old when she was our little bride 16 years ago. As I stared into oblivion, it dawned on me that time has made my reality and changed my priority.

 

But wait, if time could make my reality and changed my priority, how come it didn't have the same effect on Mugabe? Robert Gabriel Mugabe was 56 years in 1980 when he became Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. He became President in 1987 at 63 and has been in power since then. Thirty years later and at the age of 93, Mugabe is still fighting for power like he did in 1980. He is imprisoned by his 1980 reality and therefore cannot change his priorities. How sad.

 

If you take your mind back home, you will pick up a number of our politicians imprisoned in their past and still playing the politics they played in the eighties. Oh God, why hasn't time made their realities and changed their priorities? If you think about it deeply, you will realize that the sum of their individual imprisonment in the past has collectively imprisoned us as a nation preventing us from moving into our today. Hmm!!!

 

As you get up to start another day, has time made your reality and changed your priority? I have always said that if you are blessed enough to be alive and strong at 70, you should immediately start reconciling with your God, if you had not done so and dedicate your life to service of God and man till your departure. Seventy to me is the milestone for change of priority because 1 Cor 13:11 says, 'When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.' Time is ticking, things are changing, please move from your past into today.

 

Happy Sunday.

 

.....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

Dino Melaye, National Projects and the Pain of Indigestion

National Projects and the pain of indigestion

I was thinking this morning.....about indigestion. Whenever I think of indigestion (also called Dyspepsia), I imagine how uncomfortable it makes one feel, the heartburn, bloated stomach and pain. However, if you are pregnant or your wife is and suffering from indigestion, then go buy a set of comb because your baby will be very hairy. No, it is not 'fabu,' but true. A John Hopkins University study revealed that higher hormone levels like estrogen (thought to be a cause of indigestion during pregnancy) can contribute to more baby hair. Interesting, isn't it?

 

Okay, I am not pregnant nor suffering from indigestion, but it seems some projects in Nigeria have this condition. How? You may ask. On Thursday 2nd November, Senator Dino Melaye of APC Kogi West called the attention of the Senate to alleged 'monumental fraud' in the Ministry of Power, Works and housing headed by Babatunde Fashola. Mr Melaye alleged that the Ministry squandered $385 million on projects not appropriated in the budget between 2013 and 2016. He had said, 'Mr President, this money was stolen in installments. As I speak to you, sometimes last year again, the Ministry of Power came up with a term they call fast power. This undigested project is supposed to build new generating plants to add power to our grid.'

 

At this point, I was like, 'how can a project be undigested again na?' But I now understand, you know that feeling that burns your heart (like heartburns) when you are watching your favourite programme on TV and there is power cut? yes, it is because the power projects were not digested. This heartburn does not compare to the sharp pain of 'indigestion' that one mother in Port Harcourt felt recently when her pre-term baby placed in an incubator in a government hospital suddenly died because power was cut for about three hours. Oh the pain of undigested power projects.

 

And they are not alone. You turn on the TV or radio to listen to the local news and you hear the presenter announce the death of someone and then shockingly calls him or her 'diseased' instead of 'deceased.' Our graduates no longer know the difference between diseased and deceased. It's a crying shame, and it is because our educational programs are undigested, hence the pain and heartburn.

 

Honestly, I have this feeling that the 2017 national budget was undigested as well because the impact is hardly visible, rather what we hear are stories of State house clinic without drugs. What happened to the budget for the clinic this year? It probably has not been digested.

 

Now that the 2018 budget has been presented before the joint session of the National assembly, I beg of the operators of the economy to please allow the budget and projects to be digested so that we all can enjoy the benefits in 2018. In spite of the indigestion we suffer as a nation, the curse of 2nd Chronicles 21:15 is not our portion in Jesus name.

 

Happy Sunday.

 

.....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

Flamboyance or a Mess?

Flamboyance of Flamingos

I was thinking this morning..... about flamboyance. I bet you did not know that a group of  flamingos is called 'flamboyance,' just like a group of iguanas is called 'a mess.' While I am not interested in the mess caused by some Nigerians, the flamboyance of some became worthy of my thoughts today. Until recently, flamboyance meant showing off particularly in bright colours, but my scope was deepened when I read the article of one Tochukwu Ezukanma talking about what he called our 'pesky, exasperating albatross: tribalism.' He explained how some Nigerians had declared that their tribe was not only going to dominate Nigeria but that they will dominate Africa. He called it 'verbal flamboyance.' Hmm!!!

As I dissected what he called verbal flamboyance, something tells me that it is either this guy lives outside of Nigeria or he has never been to Lagos nor use the public transportation called 'molue.' How could he have called the declaration by someone that his tribe will dominate Nigeria 'verbal flamboyance?' Like the Americans will say, he ain't seen verbal flamboyance until you ride in a molue or danfo in Lagos. With mouth wide open and at the top of their voice, in ten seconds, the bus conductors will reel out all the bus stops between Oshodin and Okokomaiko, shouting 'Oshodin o, Oshodin-Oke o.....' And if you are unfortunate to have an argument with one of them, he would've beaten you to pulp with his mouth, shouting 'ah, ah..' inbetween his threatenings but without raising a finger. Now, that is what I will call verbal flamboyance.

Feeling satisfied that I have done justice to the term, I smiled and wondered if verbal flamboyance is not another term for boasting. Well, it is a known fact that Nigerians love showing off but it seems to be crossing the line of sanity. That was my thought when I saw photos from a wedding somewhere in Western Nigeria where camp gas (gas cylinder with burner) and large 4-wheeled suitcases were given to guests as souvenirs. Believe me, my concern was not that those bulky items were distributed, I was miffed to see these items displayed on top the small tables, occupying every available space at the reception venue. Now, that is 'souveniral flamboyance.' Don't bother checking the dictionary for 'souveniral,' because it is not there. My worry, like a Nairalander had expressed, is that soon they will start giving mattresses and dining tables/chairs as souvenirs.

Okay, I can understand both verbal and souveniral flamboyance, but struggling to wrap my head around 'gestapoic flamboyance.' 'Kilon je be?' I read of a lady that donned camouflage t-shirt and trousers and was accosted by some soldiers. In a sane society, she will, worst case be warned about the implications and advised to go back home and take them off. But in my Naija, she was not only stripped naked in the public but was made to frog-jump and flogged. Now, that is 'gestapoic flamboyance' or exaggerated show of force. Only last Monday, the federal High Court in Calabar ordered the Nigeria Navy to pay the sum of N75m to a bricklayer for illegally shooting and torturing him for no reason. The navy men were 'gestapoically flamboyant.' Haba naija!!!

Time and space will fail me if am to talk about fashion flamboyance, culinary flamboyance or grammatical flamboyance (when Patrick Obahiagbon speaks and no one understands), but I beg you, whichever way you choose to be flamboyant, do ensure you are causing no harm to people or the environment. If like iguanas, your show off causes harm, then you are a mess, but if it brings joy, then like flamingos, you are flamboyant. But remember Philippians 4:5 says 'Let your moderation be known to all men.'

Happy Sunday.

....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

Sam Omatseye, NNPC Contract Scandal and the Melodious Lie

NNPC Contract Award and Melodious Lie

I was thinking this morning..... about the many types of lie. No, I do not subscribe to lie in any shade and colour, but have seen people dress up 'lie' in different garbs. I am sure you must have heard of 'white lie,' which according to the dictionary is a lie with good intentions.

 

I was wondering why anyone with good intentions should tell a lie. If a lady asked 'how do I look in this dress?' and you tell her she looks good when she doesn't, it is a lie and there is nothing white about the lie. But wait a minute, if there is white lie, is there black lie? According to the Urban Dictionary, when a black person gets blamed for a white person's crime, it is called 'black lie.' Na wa for oyibo people, always giving the black man the short end of the stick. Never in our favour.

 

But why should I be spending my time thinking about lie? I never thought to do so until I read an article written by Sam Omatseye, Chairman Editorial Board of The Nation Newspaper. He had said concerning the alleged $25b contracts award at NNPC and Buhari's response, 'As far as this column is concerned, unless Buhari reviews and annuls the contracts, his war on corruption is melodious lie, an exercise in hypocritical grandstanding.'

 

While I am not interested in the politics of the assertion, the use of 'melodious lie' got me thinking. If a lie can be melodious, then a lie can be many things. Think about it. When a young man approaches a lady he has just met for the first time, telling her all the stories young men tell including how she is the sugar in his tea. Like we say in Warri, as as how na? It is a 'lovely lie.'

 

Imagine 'I go die,' the comedian, telling his audience that they were so poor back then that his dad will take out the clock battery when they are going to bed just to extend the battery life. His audience will laugh because it is a 'funny lie.'

 

As I dug deeper, I recalled the incident in Port-Harcourt months ago where a Uniport student killed his 8 years old niece and harvested her body parts before he was caught. His initial response was that he never meant to kill her. But how can you extract somebody's vital organs without first killing the person? That was a 'bloody lie.'

 

It is common to see a plus-sized lady making so much effort to lose weight. She eats vegetables in the morning and pounded yam in the evening. Two weeks later, she tells you she has lost weight, when in actual fact she has added. It is a 'fat lie.'

 

Melodious lie, white lie, funny lie, bloody lie or fat lie, the one common denominator is that it is a lie. The NIV translation of the Bible in John 8:44 speaking about the devil says, 'when he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.' That means the devil tells 'native lies.' Though our leaders and politicians have perfected the art of telling native, diplomatic, executive and legislative lies, please do not join them to normalize this anomaly. Let your no be no and your yes be yes.

 

Happy Sunday.

 

.....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

I was thinking this morning.....About Confident Error of Judgement

The Zuma Statue

I was thinking this morning... As I followed the major news item this week of Governor Rochas Anayo Okorocha of Imo state, unveiling a 25m statue of South African president Jacob Zuma, when workers have not been paid salaries for months, I shook my head in disappointment. I was wondering how a man that is suffering from integrity-deficiency in his home country could be so deified by a man that should be an apostle of good governance. As I read the words of a South African that said 'Instead of a statue, Nigeria can keep the real thing,' I concluded that we have again made a confident error of judgement.

Yes, a confident error of judgement it must be, as I remembered a gist of a man those days standing at the newspaper shop to buy his favourite newspaper. The newspaper agent had noticed his loyalty over time and on this day asked him, 'why do you like reading our newspaper?' The man thought for a while and replied calmly in pidgin English, 'Ehn, the thing plenty,' he hesitated and then added 'and e soft.' Hmm!!! While the newspaper agent thought they had the best news stories, little did he know that the man's motivation for buying the newspaper was not to read but to use as toilet paper. Oh, it was a confident error of judgement on the part of the agent.

Have you been confidently wrong before? Think about it. I know of many friends that supported many elected officials in the past and present governments including many of their appointees. When stories broke about some of the atrocities committed, with one scandal following another, they defended them at first, but later dropped their heads in shame from overwhelming evidence. Some of the people that many judged to be above board had 'fallen our hands.' Most of us were confidently wrong in our judgement. We have realized that the purpose of their getting into government was not to serve but for filthy lucre.

 

Just when I thought this was a curse on politicians, I read the news of the Kwara state Commissioner of Police, Lawan Ado, redeploying policemen at Adewole Police Division in Ilorin over allegations that some of the officers have been selling suspects detained at the station to ritual killers for N80,000 per person. Oh God, what has become of man? While many will see the police station as a safe place to hide away from the rampaging ritual killer, this story will make many think again. It is a confident error of judgement.

 

Sometimes when we think we know someone very well and can confidently predict their actions and motive, that's when we get burnt. I have realized that if we can't say we know ourselves that well, then it will be a confident error of judgement to assume we know others, particularly politicians. No wonder Jeremiah 17:5 says, 'Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departed from the Lord.'

 

Happy Sunday.

 

.....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

I was thinking this morning..... about Nigeria Wedding Colours

Nigerian Wedding Colours

I was thinking this morning.... about colours and how it has evolved in Nigeria. If you think you are familiar with colour types, pick up Nigerian wedding invites and test yourself. A colleague invited me to his daughter's wedding and as I read the invite, I saw 'Colour of the Day; Aqua/Fayrouz Green.' 'Which one be Aqua/Fayrouz Green again na?' I had quipped. As I soliloquized, I recalled watching a Nigeria movie, 'Dance to my beat,' recently where the colour for the wedding was 'Champagne gold.' Trust me, when I heard 'champagne gold,' I struggled to picture what it will look like.

 

The way we are going in Nigeria, we will soon establish our own colour scheme. Haba naija!!! Until my adult life, I never knew that there were other colours aside from the basic primary and secondary colours we were taught in school. Since I started receiving wedding invitations, I now know that we have tertiary and now Nigeria colours.

 

But wait a minute, why have we chosen to depict our colours with food and drink instead of using the actual names? Could it be sheer laziness to find out what the shade of colour is called or our proclivity for 'owambe' or 'igbadun?' 'Think Party, Think Food and drinks!' Is the colour description meant to give an indication of what to expect at the event? Maybe. When the colour is Aqua/Fayrouz green, expect lots of water, Fayrouz and other soda drinks, but when it is champagne gold, you know what to expect.

 

I found out that the colour my friend called Fayrouz green could either be Lime, Pear, Chartreuse or even Parakeet and what they call champagne gold could either be Blonde, Daffodil or even Dandelion. If you think about it deeply, you will not blame Nigerians for being creative. Imagine reading the colour of the day in an invite to be 'Chartreuse or Parakeet,' how on earth will one know that it is a shade of green?

 

Yes it is creative associating the colour to something everyone is familiar with, my only grouse with our choice of description is that some are too elitist. For example, how can a typical waffi man know what champagne gold looks like when he has never drank champagne before? Instead of saying 'champagne gold,' why don't they say 'Chinchin gold?' They can also use 'Alomo Bitters red,' 'Dogonyaro green,' 'Indomie cream,' 'Coca Cola black' and so on.

 

Another challenge I have with our brand of colour scheme creation is that it feeds the 'aso-ebi agenda.' All I can say is that it is well.

 

In closing my colourful thought, I am pleading with event planners to minimize the description of colours with food and drinks because it masks the essence of the occasion. For example, the message of Isaiah 1:18 is repentance and salvation, now imagine a Nigerian invite reading, 'Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord; though your sins are like Alomo bitters red, they shall be as white as rice; though they are red like Valentino wine, they shall become white like fresh pounded yam.' Be careful with your illustrations. May God help us to manage our 'igbadun mentality.'

 

Happy Sunday.

 

.....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

I was thinking this morning..... about Youths and Elders

Youths and Elders

I was thinking this morning......on my way back from work the other day, I turned on the radio to listen to the major news where I get information on the local environment. What I heard got me very confused. The presenter had read out a statement which he credited to 'the Youth wing of the Rivers Elders Forum.' For some seconds I tried to make sense of what 'Youth wing of Elders Forum' really meant. Does it mean these guys are the youngest of the elders or there are youths that are elders?' In my search for understanding, I recalled watching on TV some time back, the visit of youths from the south-south of Nigeria to the then Acting President, Yemi Osibanjo. Watching these so-called youths stand with Osibanjo for group photograph made Osibanjo look like a teenager. I asked myself at the time, if these were youths or elders. Now I know better, they were the 'Youth wing of the Elders Forum.'

 

As I continued to scratch my head in confusion, I recalled a true story a doctor friend, now retired, told me. He had mentioned that some years ago, an expat arrived the organization to resume as a staff supposedly under 60 years, though his looks said otherwise. Like we do in Nigeria, he decided to give him a warm welcome with a vigorous handshake. To his chagrin, the man's hand dislocated from the shoulder. At this point the expat confessed to being in his late seventies. Hmm!!! He must be a member of the youth wing of the elders forum.

 

You know, I have always wondered when that common saying in Nigeria, 'the youths are the leaders of tomorrow' will come to pass. Little did I know that it is already being fulfilled. I found out that the average age of the current Federal ministers is 55 years, with the youngest, Abubakar Malami and Kemi Adeosun being 50 years and Audu Ogbeh, the oldest being 70 years. Hmm!!! Look at the current Senate. Of the 109 seats, there is no senator below 40 years of age. Dino Melaye is the youngest at 42 years and Shaaba Lafiagi the oldest at 76 years. What is clear is that with 83 of the senators (76%) aged between 50 and 70 years, don't make the mistake of thinking the majority of our leaders are elder statesmen. No! No!! No!!! They are simply members of the youth wing of the elders forum.

 

I am not sure what the motivation is for an elder to lay claim to being a youth or whether there is a demographic called youths, but whatever it is, something ain't right, like the Americans will say. Joel 2:28 says, 'And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.' But the way it is in Nigeria, it is the old men dreaming dreams and seeing visions, while the young men are either sleeping and snoring or helping the old men achieve their dreams. Youths, wake up and be truly youths.

 

Happy Sunday.

 

.......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

 

I was thinking this morning ...... about Independence Day

Independence Day

I was thinking this morning..... about Independence Day. I woke up this morning with smiles recalling how as students in the early eighties we looked forward to Independence Day. How with freshly washed and ironed uniforms, we all troop to the Warri Township Stadium for the Independence Day match past. Oh, we took every step with great expectation of a glorious future for our nation. Today, 57 years after we were granted independence, we are still grappling with potty training issues. At a time when only last Monday, Dubai launched the world's first self-flying taxi, we cannot even boast of a decent taxi on a decent road, instead our own pacesetter state was donating 1000 power generators to the Nigerian Police. Oh God, where did we get it wrong?

 

As I sat by the edge of the bed lost in thought, my mind drifted to my 57 years old colleague getting ready for retirement. With his children out of university, he was ready to step aside, confident of facing what lies post-retirement. But why is Nigeria still a baby at 57?

 

Could it be because of bad leaders? Yes. Could it also be because we are docile followers? Yes. As I hung on to that line of thought, I recalled the Ugandan Hon. Fred Mukasa Mbidde of Democratic Party, who in deference to his party position had told the press, 'I have consistently stated that I will not kowtow in their poohoo.' Even as I smiled at his statement, knowing fully well that 'the guy dey learn work where our very own Patrick Obahiagbon is,' I realized how apt a point he has made. We the followers have not only been docile, we have been kowtowing in the poohoo of our past and present political leaders.

 

I know from college that 'kowtow' means to bow down in adoration, and recently found out that 'poohoo' means useless cries of pain made when one is pooing. Think about it, we know the politicians are looting us dry. Looting the money meant for education, health care, power and even our pension. We shout and wail on social media, but when the next thief is discovered to belong to our political party or tribe, we excuse it. We let it go. For the rest of us, these same people return in different garbs shouting on top their voice how they have become politically born-again and now want to better our lives. We vote them in again. Ah, we are kowtowing in their poohoo.

 

Step it down one level. You see parents support their kids to beat the school laws by smuggling contraband into the hostels. Some even go further to support malpractice in schools, because the noise all around them is how the end justifies the means. More and more parents are failing their children because we are no longer the moral and spiritual beacons we are expected to be. Oh, a broken family is a broken nation. We all are kowtowing in their poohoo.

 

As we look forward to another 12 months when we will return to celebrate Nigeria at 58, I beg you, do not kowtow in the poohoo of those that are dragging us down. We must return the ancient landmarks. The scripture says in Hosea 14:1, 'Nigeria, come back! Return to your God! You're down but you're not out.'

 

Happy Independence.

 

....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

I was thinking this morning.....About Aggressive Defensive Move

Aggressive Defensive Move

I was thinking this morning..... about how aggressive we have become as a people. It was another Monday morning when I set out for the airport very early and so much time to spare, or so I thought. But the driver of the taxi I took had other plans. His aggression on the road made me wonder why was not a Formula One driver. Though his aggression seems to be measured and safe, his impatience at the tollgate and quick maneuvering between cars dropped the question in my lips, 'what is driving this guy?' or putting it in Warri slang 'wetin dey work this guy?'

 

When I arrived at the airport, checked in and sat at the waiting lounge, I opened my online News page and read an article about last weekend's Formula One race in Singapore and how Sebastian Vettel lost the race to Lewis Hamilton. The writer had asked, 'How much will Sebastian Vettel come to regret the aggressive defensive move that contributed to the collision that took him out of the Singaporean Grand Prix?'

 

The statement made me reflect on the 'aggressive defensive moves' we make all too often and the regret that follows. It is okay to defend yourself but when your defense becomes too aggressive, you become the aggressor. In defending ourselves we must know that discretion is the better part of valor.

 

Think of David Luiz of Chelsea last weekend, who was being bullied by an Arsenal player. In defending himself, he became too aggressive, came at Sead Kolasinac viciously and was shown a straight red card. Too bad! He had become the aggressor. Discretion is the better part of valor.

 

'Aggressive defensive move,' is this an inbuilt character trait or did we learn it from the environment? Oh I see the link. We have been hurting the environment and destroying everything natural. In response, nature became aggressive and lashed at men with Hurricane Harvey, Irma and Maria. The impact is devastating. Aggressive defensive move will always leave regrets.

 

You are married but feel marginalized by your in-laws and therefore you want to defend yourself. If you are too aggressive and decide to threaten your husband with divorce and starvation, don't be surprised if they launch 'Operation Mama Carol must go!' Hmm!!! Discretion is the better part of valor.

 

Oh, how important it is to exercise caution, because Prov 19:11 says 'A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.'

 

Happy Sunday.

 

.....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

 

I was thinking this morning........... about Stress

Stress

I was thinking this morning ..... about stress. I started last week on a high, with an early Monday morning boat ride out of town for an inspection. No breakfast or even time to think of one. When we were done by lunchtime, I was out of time and was going to miss my boat ride back. So I skipped lunch and headed straight to the jetty. By whiskers, I was able to get into the boat just before it set off. I took my seat at the last row, took a deep breath and with eyes shut, I thought about how stressful life can be and then I remembered this gist that made me smile.

It was about an okada man that worked till 2am. On getting home, he decided to take a bath. He suddenly ran out naked shouting ghost! ghost!! ghost!!! Narrating his ordeal, he said he has poured water on his head several times but it's not touching his head. Neighbours rushed out only to discover he didn't remove his helmet before having his bath. Hmm!!! I giggled and for the first time I agreed with the words of Richard Carlson that 'Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness.'

As I gave the words of Richard Carlson some more thought, it occurred to me that like the okada man, stress may be responsible for the flashes of insanity we are seeing around the world. Think about it, after a traumatic 2016/2017 season, Arsenal FC fans were hoping for some joy early this season. Guess what? After narrowly winning their opening match, they lost to Stoke City and were stunned by Liverpool. While everyone expected Arsene to strengthen the team while the transfer window remained open, he shocked everyone and sold Ox to Liverpool and brought in 'Nobodinho.' Like the okada man, he is expecting water to touch his head while he has his helmet on. Oh it must be stress that is responsible for the insanity flash.

Trust me, it has to be stress that is causing these flashes of insanity. Imagine the news of three passengers on board Air Peace flight from Lagos to Abuja being arrested and charged to court for pointing out and demanding an explanation as to why the emergency exits on the plane were blocked with seats. Instead of FAAN and NCAA grounding the aircraft and arresting the personnel that cleared the aircraft, they arrested the passengers that complained for being unruly. Yes, it must be stress that is responsible for this insanity flash.

It must be financial stress that will make a man pummel his wife simply because she asked him for money. Oh it must be 'spiritual stress' that will make a Professor kill his SAN younger brother in Ibadan because they had a dispute over their father's property. Both men only recently returned back to Nigeria after sojourning abroad. Please don't ask me what 'spiritual stress' is.

As you go out today and observe or read about these flashes of insanity, many may not be as a result of home trouble, they may just be from stress. Whatever, it is you are going through, just RELAX, God is in control.

Have a very happy and RESTFUL Sunday.

.......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

I was thinking this morning ........ about Shame

SHAME

I was thinking this morning....... about shame and Jonathan Swift, who said 'I never wonder to see men wicked but often wonder to see them not ashamed.' I was literally dragged by the ear to this thought after I read an article in the Vanguard newspaper written by one Ugoji Egbujo about how in the face of massive accusations made by one Senator Missau against the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Force, Nigerians had remained unconcerned. He had written, 'Where on earth does a law enforcement agent accused of corruption begin an investigation into his accuser's past even before the dust raised by his accuser's allegation has settled? Only in Nigeria.' To me the article, though intriguing, could have been neatly laid to rest in my subconscious, but then I read the concluding sentence where he asked, 'Shame, why have you departed?' Hmm!!! A million bulbs were switched on in my head by that statement.

It really got me thinking about how shame had departed from our shores to a land far away. The other day that I visited Abuja, I was admiring how well planned the city is, with well groomed walkways. Suddenly, the apple juice in my mouth had changed to Alomo bitters, when I observed an FRSC officer deployed to this picturesque neighborhood, stand by the road, zip down and started to pee without giving a hoot about who was driving or walking by. Oh shame, why have you departed?

As I bowed my head in humility, I recalled the news item midweek of the marital infidelity of a certain Ghanaian TV personality and media sensation Afia Schwarzenegger to her husband, South African based Ghanaian businessman and professional instrumentalist Lawrence Abrokwa. Instead of her to hide her face in shame, she went on Instagram and wrote 'I am single.....ready to date your father.' It is heart breaking how people caught in infidelity these days easily brush it off like a dry dust on a brown shirt. Oh shame, why have you departed?

In my dejection, my mind flashed back to the news of the possible take over of Arik Air by Ethiopian Airline. I understand that poor management of anything Nigerian or owned by a Nigerian is pervasive, but can't understand why if we must handover, it will be to Ethiopia. Haba Jamaha!!! Are we so bad as a people that we want to shamelessly hand over our institutions to Ethiopia to help us manage? Oh shame, why have you departed?

I believe it is time to go bring back 'shame,' not because 'shame' by itself is good, but it helps to buffet the deviants and drive them towards dignity. 'Shame,' please return so that Nigerians can behave. But as for you that is upright, my word for you is 'Fear not, for you will not be put to shame' (Isaiah 54:4).

Happy Sunday.

.....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

I was thinking this morning..... about Menopause and Niger Delta Oil

Flowing like Niger Delta Oil

I was thinking this morning..... about menopause and Niger Delta oil. I know someone might be thinking, 'this man sef, so you have nothing else to think about but this?' Trust me, I didn't wake up to think about menopause until last Sunday when a young lady gave a testimony in church. She was thanking God that after three years of ceased menstrual flow, through the power of God, her menstrual flow returned. According to her, 'when it returned, it was flowing like Niger delta oil.' Everyone laughed at the analogy but it got me thinking about the misery that follows menopause when a lady is yet to have children.

Menopause is an interesting phenomenon. If a lady is unfortunate not to have had  her children before the onset of menopause, it is assumed she has lost all. This is biological menopause. As I reflected on this condition, it occurred to me that the Niger delta region is approaching her menopause when the oil will cease to flow. This condition will be called Hydrocarbon menopause. Unfortunately, the region is yet to bear the children that will care for her at old age.

I was thinking this morning...... about rodents and the enemies within

Rats and Enemies Within

I was thinking this morning...... about rodents and the enemies within. A friend was invited to attend a workshop at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja during the week and two days earlier the news of rodents invading the President's office had broke. He didn't know what to think. What should he wear to such an event to be protected, in the event of a sudden 'rat attack?' Should he wear his safety boots or regular brogues? Should he decide to fast the day of the program, in the event that all the food at the Villa had been contaminated by rodents? Lassa fever is real you know.

He tried to calm himself that all is well, but couldn't. His thoughts drifted to one of the headlines from BBC that says 'Rats chase returning President out of Villa.' At this point, he was becoming angry about how this unnecessary information has brought us so much ridicule and heartache. As he related his experience, I wondered how we got to this point. I recalled the words of the old cartoon, Pogo, that says "We have met the enemy and he is us.' Truly, the enemy of this government are the people running the government. How else can you explain why the SSA did not just tell Nigerians that the President will be working from home without adding the ludicrous excuse that rodents had destroyed the President's office. We have met the enemy and he is us.

Think about it, rodents will usually be most destructive from within the house. You see, there will always be rats but the problem is the rats within and not the rats without. According to my friend, for the over four hours spent at the Banquet hall of the Presidential Villa, not one rat 'waka pass' neither did anyone smell Lassa fever. Why then the unnecessary distraction about rodents in the Villa? I concluded that we have met the enemy and he is us.

I shudder thinking of how true the statement is that we are our enemies. You read reports of corporate espionage and it is usually not by anyone outside but by a staff of the organization selling out his employer. It is the rat within that is the dangerous one. Needless to mention the multiple reports of family members and friends back-stabbing their supposed loved ones. They are the rats within. Truly, we have found the enemy and he is us.

Am I surprised? No way. Psalms 41:9 had said 'Yea, mine familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.'

As I draw the curtain over my thoughts, I found out that rats are extremely social and affectionate animals and enjoy the company of other rats and humans. Yet they will destroy you by being close. How typical! Interestingly, I also discovered that without companionship, rats tend to become lonely and depressed. So  to avoid the destruction, just screen them off.

Happy Sunday.

.......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

I was thinking this morning....... About World Mosquito Day

World Mosquito Day

I was thinking this morning....... about mosquitoes. Yes, mosquitoes. Not because I was badly bitten  last night by mosquitoes, but because I found out that today 20th August is World Mosquito Day. Why will a day be dedicated to that tiny insect called mosquito when we do not have World Lion Day or World Elephant Day? Truly, I understand World Malaria Day, dedicated to the eradication of malaria, but can't understand World Mosquito Day, which I found out marks the historic discovery by British doctor and Nobel Prize winner Sir Ronald Ross that it is the female Anopheles mosquito that transmit malaria between humans.

I unraveled that the wily mosquito has been stalking mankind for over 210 million years and tragically still kills a child every minute until very recently. 210 million years? Why are they obsessed with man? How did we offend these mosquitoes? As I thought about this, I recalled a funny Facebook post that says 'Women already have 3 to 5 days of losing blood every month. Can't mosquitoes be considerate and focus on men?' Hmm!!! Could that explain why it is only female mosquitoes that is involved in the blood sucking business? Are they making up for the blood their human counterparts lose? It may sound funny, but it is a food for thought.

I was thinking, why is that these mosquitoes make a living by sucking the blood out of humans? If you study this characteristics very well, you will discover that these insects that are universally hated the world over are not alone in this business.

You work so hard to earn your pay. Some sneaky fellow, sometimes living in same house, arranges with some criminals to take the money off you by force. They are 'economic mosquitoes.' You've decided to be more spiritual and get close to God. Some people around you have decided to be a source of temptation to fall you. They are 'spiritual mosquitoes.'

The thing about mosquitoes, whether Anopheles, economic or spiritual, is that they are stubborn, and will stop at nothing until they suck your blood. As we celebrate World Mosquito Day, stand firm against blood suckers as Isaiah 49:26 says, 'And I will feed those that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunk with their own blood, as with sweet wine.'

Happy Sunday.

.....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

I was thinking this morning...... about Ozubulu Madness and CEOs

Ozubulu Madness

I was thinking this morning ...... about the Ozubulu madness where as a result of a drug-related disagreement, over 11 worshipers were cut down by a gun man while in church one fateful morning. The news of the incident stunned Nigerians and got me thinking. Why does it seem like the virus of madness is becoming an epidemic in Nigeria? It was once Niger Delta militants, then Boko Haram, then Fulani herdsmen and now Ozubulu brothers spilling blood like they do champagne on the head of a Formula One winner. Has every one in Nigeria become a Chief Executive Officer (CEO)?

What has a CEO got to do with this again? Some might be thinking. The trend of mass murder in Nigeria reminded me of an article I read in Time Magazine a while back that x-rayed the profession with the most psychopaths. According to the article, CEO is the profession with the most psychopaths followed by Lawyer and Media, while Care aid, Nurse and Therapist have the least. Now you understand where I am coming from.

Psychopath ke? Yes, psychopath, translated 'kolomental' in Warri, doesn't just mean someone who cuts you up with a chainsaw or kills 11 people in a church. Psychopath is a personality disorder that has been variously described as characterized by shallow emotions (in particular reduced fear), stress tolerance, lacking empathy, coldheartedness, lacking guilt, egocentricity, superficial character, manipulativeness, irresponsibility, impulsivity and anti-social behaviors such as such parasitic lifestyle and criminality.

Don't ask me if the conclusion by Time Magazine study that CEOs are the most psychopaths is 100% correct. For me, juxtaposing their findings and the recent events in Nigeria led me to the conclusion that most Nigerians are either CEOs. Lawyers or Media men or women and are capable of meting out the 'Ozubulu Treatment' at the slightest provocation.

Yes it is obvious that all the mass killings and kidnap cases in Nigeria point definitely to psychopathic behavior, but I am more worried about the less obvious cases. A truck broke down and blocked a major highway and for weeks it caused a traffic gridlock. Everyone stays in the traffic for hours and complains about how the next person has taken no action. You can see the lack of empathy, coldheartedness and irresponsibility in the behavior of the commercial bus drivers. These are signs of psychopathy and it may not be long before an angry driver gives the 'Ozubulu Treatment.'

We are supposed to be in a democracy where freedom of speech and association is guaranteed. A group of Nigerians with suspicious intentions are on the streets saying to the President 'Return or Resign.' The Police shot teargas at them and attacked them. No tolerance for dissenting voice, no empathy and are very impulsive, which are symptoms of a psychopath. They may not be far from

giving the protesters the 'Ozubulu Treatment.'

I know most people will either want to be CEO, Lawyer or Media man, but I beg you to encourage as many as you can influence to go into the Care industry (nursing, therapist etc) so we can have less psychopaths. As a minimum, you do not have to be a nurse to show compassion because Col 3:12 says 'Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.' We need loads of these vistues in Nigeria.

Happy Sunday.

........Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

I was thinking this morning ..... about blindness to irony

Blindness to Irony

I was thinking this morning ..... on my way back from work during the week, I turned on the radio and heard the news of how two men pretending to be blind beggars were arrested by security agents at Imo State University. While I was wondering why anyone will pretend to be blind when thousands of blind men and women are beseeching heaven for a miracle, I recalled a recent article by Pius Adesanmi titled 'APC: The Obstinate Journey to Shame via London.

In that piece, he had said 'If blindness to irony stopped within the ranks of APC's leadership, if it was limited to Governors, Senators, Reps, and other political figures within her ranks, I wouldn't be so worried. It would be their funeral. My worry lies in how the leadership of APC has democratized blindness to irony, especially among their followers so effectively. If irony hits you like a Dangote truck and you are unable to recognize it as a citizen, you wear that condition of ignorance like a badge of honour.'

When I read that sentence about democratization of blindness to irony, there was celebration in my cerebral hemisphere, with the immediate effect of throwing me into deep thought. 'Am I blind to irony? I asked introspectively. I thought it was only PDP that had confirmed symptoms of 'blindness to irony?' Think about it, how come our political leaders cannot uphold the true tenets of democracy, but can effectively democratize blindness to irony? We must be under a spell!

But how is this so? You do not drink alcohol nor subscribe to your friends drinking, yet you took up a job with Nigerian Breweries Limited. It is an irony. If you do not see anything wrong with your position, then you are suffering from 'blindness to irony,' but if by virtue of your position as a manager, you have influenced everyone around you to be so inclined, then you have democratized blindness to irony. Hmm!!!

You might be saying 'wetin concern Ogoni man with NEPA light?' Just be patient with me. You say you are watching your weight and decided to eat veggies in the morning, take fresh juice in the afternoon and in the evening, the heap of pounded yam and egusi soup you demolish will be a challenge for 4 regular men to handle. It is an irony. I have no problem if you are hiding to do this, but if you do this openly then you are blind to irony. It's okay if it ends there, but if you have managed to convince your spouse and children to engage in this deception, then you have democratized blindness to irony.

Interestingly, blindness to irony did not start today because Matthew 23:16 says 'woe to you, blind guides, who says, 'if anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' To me, it doesn't matter if you are pretending to be blind or you are actually blind to irony, there is nothing honourable about being blind, except of course you are blind to sin. 

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.