THE FETUS IS INNOCENT

 

I was thinking this morning..... Last week, a 24 years old pregnant Florida woman, charged with murdering mom-of-three in an Uber ride says she should be released from jail because her fetus is innocent. Natalia Harrell was six weeks pregnant when she was arrested in July and charged with shooting dead Gladys Borcela. She argued that by putting her in jail, they are also jailing her innocent unborn child. She had said 'My fetus is innocent.'

As I stood in the queue yesterday, waiting for my turn to vote, I recognised that whatever decision we took, was not just going to affect us the adults older than 18 years of age but also millions of Nigerians who couldn't vote because they are below 18 years of age. We are like parents carrying the young and unborn in our wombs.

Those that sold their votes or knowingly made a bad choice based on ethnic or other selfish reasons are not just potentially putting themselves in jail for 4 years, they will also be putting their innocent young children. Synonymous with jailing the fetus while in the womb.

As the results start trickling in, I really do hope that we have made the right choice of who will steer the ship of this nation for the next 4 years. Truly, our wrong decisions should not affect our unborn children. The fetus is innocent. I take solace in the words of Ezekiel 18:20 'The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity'.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

STANDING IN MY HEART

 

I was thinking this morning.... A few Sundays ago, I was sitting at the Ministers corner in Church in a figure four crossed leg position. This is a position I have been used to all my life because it serves as a flat surface for my writing note and Bible. I was doing my thing when a minister in front turned around, smiled at me and tapped my crossed leg, telling me to drop it.

I smiled and reluctantly dropped my leg but as I did so, I recalled the story of the little boy that went with the mum to church. For some reason, the little boy kept standing up when everyone was seated. When the boy stands up, the mum will pull him to sit. This happened a number of times until the mother could take it no more. At which point, she threatened him with serious beating if he stood up one more time. At this point, the little boy sat down smiling.

A worshipper sitting close by and observing the drama wondered why the little boy was smiling after being threatened, and decided to find out. The little boy whispered in response, 'My mother doesn't know that even though I am sitting down physically, in my mind, I am standing up.' Defiance, you will say.

Physical posture may give an indication but heart posture matters the most. The truth is that, there are many who may be sitting and eating with you on the same table, but in their heart they are actually standing and fighting against you. They smile with you but in their heart, they celebrate at your misfortune. These people honor you with their lips, but their hearts are far from you (Matthew15:8).

Never fret over such persons because God will not give you as prey to their teeth. Just be true to yourself. Don't be like that little boy that was sitting physically but standing in his heart. Let your physical posture match your heart posture, otherwise, you are a pretender.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

OYIBO NIGERIA

 

I was thinking this morning...... While growing up in Warri, there were many things we became used to as native to the locality. Occasionally, we came across species or variety that are DIFFERENT FROM.... no, not Bala blu, but from the local ones and we simply prefixed the name with 'oyibo' which means white man but could also be translated to mean foreign.

That was what played in my head as I drove into Warri days ago and saw a variety of coconut (Cocos nucifera) tree different from the variety that grew every where. The tree of this variety had fruits that were softer on the inside and we called this variety of coconut, 'Oyibo coconut'.

If you grew up in the village anywhere in the south of Nigeria, then rabbit hunting would've been your game. The rabbit we knew were like giant rats but with longer tail. Suddenly, someone brought a white animal in a cage and told us it was rabbit. 'How can that be?' We wondered. Not in a position to argue, we called the white animal 'Oyibo rabbit.'

The list continues. We were used to Cabin biscuit and when we eventually tasted cookies or shortbread biscuit, we called it 'Oyibo biscuit.' Our waste bins were infested with rotten foods with nothing to scavenge for. And when some kids found broken toys and comic books in the waste bins in GRAs, they called the bins 'oyibo dirty.'

As I mused, I remembered this song from my childhood days 'Oh my home, o my home; when shall I see my home; when shall I see my native land; I will never forget my home!'

Oh God, when will our native land Nigeria become 'Oyibo Nigeria' where there is constant electricity, potable water, good roads and security? I never knew a day will come when Nigerians will queue at ATMs for Naira.

While I am not a believer of 'everything oyibo is good,' but with regards to the basic amenities of life, we have a chance to have an 'oyibo Nigeria' if only we make the right choice in the coming elections.

John 1:46 - Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Please, don't be a Nathanael. We have a chance to make Nigeria like the oyibo land people are japa'ing to today. Go out and vote wisely. Nigeria can be better than what it is today. Oyibo Nigeria is possible.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

THE CAR PUSHER

 

I was thinking this morning..... On my way to Warri two days ago, I observed two okadas (motorbikes) ahead along the expressway, riding very closely behind a black SUV. Immediately, my safety instinct kicked in, as I imagined how they can easily crash into the vehicle should the driver step on his brakes.

However, as I got closer, what I saw surprised me. The two okada riders each had one of their legs on the right and left back side of the SUV. They were not tailgating the car, rather, they were pushing the vehicle on. Warri!!! I have seen okada push okada and even okada push keke (tricycle) but not okada push an SUV.

In Nigeria, what okada cannot do does not exist. In addition to being the rescue means of transport when traffic 'tie wrapper,' we have seen Okada being used to transport almost anything including a large cow.

Nigeria is at a major intersection with very reckless drivers behind the wheels. We are stuck and can't move forward. Some will even say that the engine running Nigeria has knocked and the vehicle should be scrapped. My experience last weekend gave me hope about Nigeria. If two small motorbikes can push a dead SUV down the road, then we can join hands to make Nigeria work. You can either jump out of the car (japa) or like the two okada riders, help push Nigeria forward.

The very first decision God made on your behalf is that you should be born a Nigerian. Jumping ship and denying Nigeria is you saying God made a mistake.

Yes, it could be frustrating seeing the Nigerians you are fighting for, support the rotten candidates of the lot. Like a friend said, it is like setting yourself on fire to light a path for a blind man.

We must not give up on Nigeria. Jeremiah 33:7 says 'I will restore the fortunes of Nigeria and will rebuild them as they were at first. Be like the okada riders that is helping push the vehicle down the road. Join hands to make Nigeria great. Vote wisely to restore Nigeria.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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