Pen and Paper

O robber you came to steal from me

Thinking you would go off with more than enough

Only to realize I had nothing but a pen and paper in the bag I carried

You left angry, leaving me beaten black and blue

But what you did not realize, was that the pen and paper meant a lot more to me than the silver or gold you desired

For they are the instruments I shall use to impact my world

And so many lives around me

Even yours I hope

If our paths ever cross again, which I shall be glad, if they do

I may not be so forgiving as Pope John Paul the 2nd

But I would surely not leave you in the same way you left me.

Job Hunting

Searching the web I was, only for a job

Found one and along went my CV to them

For an interview I was called for

The interview I went

Only to find every one including me having the basic meal ticket (a Bachelors degree)

For that was what it had become

And a dime a dozen they were

No longer hard to find

Thus what differentiated us, was nothing but our skills, composure and exposure.

The job I was given 1 out of 70, leaving the others to keep on plowing the labor market and scavenging for opportunities, like I was, searching the web for another Wanted AD.

Shattered Hopes

The abstractive preamble

The very scenario I had tried to avoid played out before me.

My hopes had been dashed into a thousand pieces. And all over again I had to start gathering the shattered pieces. 

Each piece, regardless of how small was too significant to leave for the wind to blow away.

I was standing on the fragile lid of a very deep well and couldn't afford to make any more mistakes. Because I stood the risk of having to climb from the bottom all over again.

The Story

After the final phase, I had been quiet certain that I had gotten it, only to receive a blow that threw me into a realm of anxiety and confusion.

Try as much as I could, hoping that it was a mistake, but even then, that thought didn't hold.

My mind flashed back to each step of the final phase, trying to figure out where I had got it all wrong,  but as at that time, it had been beyond my understanding.

True, I had to acknowledge the fact that I hadn't performed splendidly, though I had left there quite certain that only a word would set things straight. Unfortunately, the word that came served to confirm the veracity of the blow, which on it's own served to deliver another blow of a greater magnitude.

When I had finally gathered the pieces of my hopes together, I sent a message, hoping that it would change things, which it failed to do. Although the reply I got was a ray of hope shining in the dark corner of where I stood on a long forgotten island.

The abstractive epilogue

At that point my hopes had began fading fast as I grasped for straws, so as not to dwell again in the darkness of depression.

Youthful Aspiration

I used to wish to be the youngest pilot
I used to wish to be the youngest writer
I used to wish I could draw so I could paint the stars like I see them
In all i used to wish to be the youngest star in all that is there is to be
But in time I realize now more than then that I need to be my own self
Making my own impact in every way possible
And doing what I know best.
Which is being myself and standing out for it

The quest for integrity

A man of integrity they described him as,
But who is a man of integrity?
A man pure in heart
A woman true in her intentions
A man true to his word
A woman who stands for what is true and just
In all who is this man or woman of integrity
For here I am willing and able to scout through all the earth,
To embark on the road never gone before,
Where is he or she that I might find them
Is she in the forests of Africa
The skyscrapers of the West
or does he dwell in the planes of Australia
Or concealed even in the desserts of the middle east
Where does he lay that I may find him in his place of comfort
Shower him with gifts he has never before imagined
All in order to see the thinking of a like mind

A man of integrity is indeed hard to find
Thus, we must begin to groom and forge
the hearts of young men and women
before they tread on the path of generations before them

What I would do if I were Goodluck for a day OR What my new year's resolution would be If I were him.

"P.S: Nobody should take this personal or too seriously, because this is just a bunch of words from a guy who dreams and talks too much for his own good (Don't mind him O, he just feels like a wise guy)”

If I were Goodluck,  I would start by mornings by jogging down the road of a highly populated area in a state far away from Abuja or Lagos and 100 meters away from my security team so at blend in with the crowd, hoping that stones don't come flying my way when I am noticed rather shouts of praise.

I would read the newspapers myself while having my million naira breakfast rather than waiting for my numerous advisers read selected cutouts from newspapers that don't paint the true story of what goes on in the country.

I would go on to confer with my overfed and overpaid advisers what I could do or say on Independence Day so that I would achieve my vision of being the most remembered President Nigeria has ever had, rather than renaming an institution because nothing else seems news worthy. 

I would ensure, I zero in on one point (most likely power) that would make me remembered when I achieve it rather than panning across several issues and achieving none.

By mid day I would most probably order an air strike on several areas in the north to deal with a long standing issue that has caused death and chaos there, rather than continuously offering amnesty. Hopefully, there's correct intelligence not to bomb innocent civilians and the military has the capacity to carry out the air strike effectively.

I would most likely draft a policy and setup a monitoring committee that would ensure that top multinationals invest their taxes into the education sector rather than paying it to the government since it might end up being diverted into private pockets. I create an employee volunteering scheme for employees of the multinationals to volunteer some hours every week to teach in a school.

 By night fall I would create an act (or one of those things that they do) that all governors, ministers, members of both houses of assembly and myself would sleep without light (neither PHCN, renewable energy, inverter nor generator) for two nights every week so as to have a feel of what's goes on  in the country.

Before my night cap, I would introspect to determine if my name's charm has worked as well as its rumored to have. 

Finally, by God's grace I would wake up the morning after suffering from a hangover of too much power and hope that all I have done doesn't get undone in the blink of an eye. 

In truth I know that Goodluck most likely has the most difficult job in the world, thus I cannot begin to imagine or fathom how he spends his God given 24 hours, what I am certain I would attempt to do, would be to retrace my steps to see my progress in the past months compared to leaders that were in a similar situation to see what milestones I have made and what techniques, strategies or ideas remain unthought.

The Wrong Scene

There I sat in the club wandering what in heaven’s name compelled me to club all night, when the only all nighters, I had ever had involved a lot of prayer and praise.
Was it because I was in Lagos, too far from the watchful eyes of my parents, thus giving me leeway to do as I very well pleased, knowing that my brothers wouldn't tell tales, also considering that my sister the one capable of doing so had gone to spend the hols with my parents.
Or was it because I had heard too many tales of the sheer excitement, thrills and fun that people had gotten from a night on the street and I was beginning to feel left out.
But again it could have been that I had been in Lagos for over a year and was frustrated that I had never dedicated a whole night to clubbing, when there were so many clubs around me, yet hadn't done anything about it.
Well whatever it was, out with my friends I went to another friend's birthday P, which was happening all night in a club. After a couple of hours of it all, I just seemed to tire of the whole scene. From the hunger pangs that plagued me, to the pain in my chest, to the dehydration I felt, I was certain that I was at the wrong scene.
I won't end this story by telling you that I walked out of the club that minute headed nothing but straight to my warm bed, which I was supposed to be on in the first place. Rather, I would confess that I chose to wait it all out till day break, and hey I can also truly tell you that I still went ahead to keep on having the so called fun that's associated with clubbing.
Hold it one minute before I end it all, there were probably a few things I chose to omit, one of which involved me being spurned on the dance floor by a lady (not so sure what word to refer to her as, cos I feel that calling someone of the opposite sex, a girl or babe is a tad disrespectful, though lady doesn't cut it either, cos it gives the impression that the person is old) which I had had my eyes on upon entering the club. Anyway as you can imagine I was pained by this, because I had before felt that I was too much the handsome guy without a blemish (you would most likely want to choke me, when you see me for daring to even call myself handsome) for it to happen to me.  And anyway a brother has his ego, wouldn't want to leave you thinking that I chose to leave the club scene, cos of that incident.

What remains undone?

Confused I sat not knowing which way to go
Though I knew my left from my right, and what was good and what wasn't
Then my confusion wasn't caused from not knowing which path to take, thought now it's a bit like that was what it was
Rather it was caused then by my uncertainty on whether to be patient or not.
 Standing on a cross road that didn't lead to either the  good or the evil, but solely to the good on all ends
The problem was what road was most appropriate, and would lead to a greater good
How much longer can I wait for one opportunity to ripe only for the other to get sour
I fear that I may loose both if timely action isn't taken
 I have surrendered everything into Your hands at least I feel that's what I have done
But yet something still feels undone
I am lost in this well of confusion
And don't know how to get out
I feel the water rising by every wave and my cries for help go seemingly unheard
But my faith doesn't dwindle, cos even before it all started I had nothing, yet I trusted in You.
So what choice do I have than to trust in You now, more than ever before.
Knowing that what ever happens, You would remain You,
Ever faithful, ever merciful, ever gracious and ever loving
I surrender myself into your hands, though I still get a conviction that something remains undone by me.

Lord of the Rings

The suposedly long awaited leader

 Before the elections he was painted as the best candidate, even looking back now I still think he was, though he seems to have changed or was it that we didn't know who he truly was before?
The face we thought we knew is now hidden in darkness. The one we trusted to be our Moses, that would lead us out of the poverty and ridicule we faced internationally, seems to have turned into a thorn at our side.
The prophecies seemed right,  and even the times and seasons seemed to welcome him in. When issues began to crop up we looked to him to take decisive action, only for indecision to meet us.
The one that told us that he was neither a lion or a Nebuchadnezzar has shown is that he is no lamb either. The year has just began and we can only hope that it would get better.Though the words of his mouths seemed confusing we would still hope for a better year ahead, cos even we passed through the darkness of the night to enter a new year, thus, this can only mean that things are gonna are get better.

The highest level of distraction.

You know those times in churches during the prayer sessions when they tell you to rise and pray for yourself, cos you are the only one that knows where the pain is or where your back is scratching you. Well, I guess I could relate it to the Nigerian situation. As much as we blame the government for the economic or security issues facing us, we tend to waste our time this cos our aches and pains aren't theirs.
   Even the so called mediators that are expected to keep the president in check can't help us cos we also have issues with them. Issues ranging from the amount of money spent on each of them per year to the fact that their positions are more like part time jobs, that they only go to when it pleases them.
Many a time have we complained about the decisions that they make but no matter the number of times we complain, nothing get done, thus still leaving us in the same state of dissatisfaction.
   In 2011, when the house of senate passed the gay rights bill,  I was and still am totally with them on it because between me and you I don't understand what gays enjoy and I seriously doubt if I could tolerate gays either. I also don't find fault in the them wanting to give a prison sentence of 20 years to whoever is found guilty. Where I do find fault  is them not giving the same sentence to politicians found guilty of electoral malpractice or misappropriation of funds.
Well who am I to expect that they would prepare and hand over the noose that the hangman would likely use on them, rather they decided to bring Nigeria under unnecessary international attention. It appeared that while they were passing the bill they did not take into cognizance the international human rights charter that Nigeria is a part. And of which gay rights is also a part of.
   Am quite certain that if they had passed that prison term to politicians, the Nigerian people who voted them into office would have held them in high esteem, looking upon their tenure as the set of people that dared to do what others couldn't.
 I decided to relate this issue with what I had seen in a movie a long time back. The basic lesson I want to derive from the movie is that the dictator in the movie in order to divert the attention of his subjects on the level of poverty that existed in the society which originated from his ineffectiveness and corruption, thus he chose to sponsor a sporting game of death that the people loved, thereby giving the dictator leeway to carry on as he pleased. In order to ensure that they were in a continued state of frenzy, he went all the way to capture slaves that had tremendous fighting potential, going ahead to promise the slaves freedom if they could survive several bouts of the death matches. To me this movie could be equated to that of the senators, who approve bills that would serve as a diversion from them having to approve bills that need to be passed into law.
   My initial thought was to relate this with the sponsorship of football in Nigeria and how at a point it was used to divert attention from the ridiculous levels of looting that's going on, because of how Football serves as a major unifying factor in Nigeria. But owing to the lackluster performance of the super eagles in present times that strategy can't work anymore. Presently, they really don't care whether you are distracted or not, they just keep on looting even while our eyes are wide open, it doesn't really matter anymore, because even if you do to come close to exposing them, then hey thumbs up to you bro, cos you might either get a shit load of money or an appointment that would shut you up or you would find yourself six inches in dirt.

Responce to the Obvious

Heres a typical conversation I have with people I consider as 'ponters of the obvious' of which I am boastfully a part of;

Stranger: Hi
ME: Hello
Stranger: Damn you are so tall, do you play basketball?
ME: (me being me would simply laugh and point to a couple of people that are taller than me, my brother for instance) but If I had the guts I have now writing this from the comfort of my couch, I would most likely go like this;
Of course I know I am tall I don't need you tell me I am, when I can obviously see the middle of your head (most times I actually can). Or do you take me for a scare crow, that has nothing but straw in its head, even if you did want to take me for one, our similarities would include me being able to stand in a field and prevent the birds from poaching just as the scare crow, the differentiating factor being that I can actually run after the brave crows that still dare to land.
As to whether I play basketball, whoever made the complex theory that Tallness = Basketball, most likely had same flare for the obvious like you.