DEAR SKIN MATE,

Today is Sunday. Yesterday, the rain and the sun could not agree on which should come first. So, the two, like impatient bus drivers, came down same time. As I write this in an almost empty LT, I'm thinking, was the tiger giving birth (tales from childhood)? Or the rain and sun were just selfish?

Oh, did your read about the choirmaster of the changing church and his visit to China to extend the begging bowl? How's that Saraki's case coming up sef? For so long, too many things have hindered me from writing to you. I finally prevailed, hence this letter. Hope you're good? I'm well.

I heard of your clamour and desire for fame and public attention. You want the Tyler Perry crowd and Bishop Oyedepo's force. This is a good thing. I think Maslow would also agree. But, allow me to show you a note from my most interesting course yet (Arable Crop Production);
"Africa is however not important for wheat production. Since wheat is the only grain with enough gluten content to make a raised loaf of bread, wheat quickly became favoured over other grains". So, here's the question; what value do you bring to the world's table? It is your importance that counts, not your desire. So get your attention-seeking arse to work and give the world a reason to look at you.

It's good for your Zara gown to perfectly fit your athletic body. Yeah, it's okay to be sexy. I've been like the way you so meticulously treat your hair that they look like a makeshift for noodles. I like your Chloè bag too. It adds to your sassiness. I'm impressed. I really love your white timberland and your gold neck chain that glows like that blue flame they use in making michai. I understand this fancy and cozy lifestyle. Yeah, I probably want it too. But is that all? Like seriously, is that all you've got? 

What about the white matter in between your ears? Do you ever clothe it? What do you live for? What do you want to die doing? Have you ever really thought lately? Have you observed that our grudgingly stocked libraries and sagging bookstores are no longer in vogue? Did you take note of the hundreds of drinking parlours and clubs that have quickly become the cot of friends? Do you see how gerontocracy is feeding fat on our green and white cake as we anciently wait for tomorrow? The former prime minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew asserted, "The new divide in the world will be between those that have the knowledge and those without" You simply can't act more than what you know. What do you know? What would you do differently?

You see, you should believe your geography teacher. The sun is the center of the universe, not you. I remember what you ranted to that fella that injured your frail pride, "do you know who I am?" Well, I thought about it after I left you; if you have to remind anybody about who you are, then maybe you are not. Try and go to a place far away from here and also quieter. When you get there, ponder about the celestial beauty of the sun and how it does not sing to us every morning about being the sun...it simply shines. Add to your pondering list, the over 7 billion people on the side of existence and how to effectively serve them. Yeah, you read right...serve them! Or you get another idea?

When we went out that day and you recounted how good you were in bed and the contemporary sex style that you have both learned and invented, I was almost impressed. So, recently I did a micro-research. I wanted to know how the penis, vagina, and their union have helped better humanity. Guess what I found...nothing! On the contrary, it is the power of the brain that has since been shifting mankind not the efficiency of the waist. It will be a shame if the only thing you can do well is what's responsible for the world's regression.

Finally, you can call it a letter within a letter but make sure you give it to that your friend who told me about her many woes.

"Hey Uzodinma,

I'm black. I'm African. So the world will understand when I fail. After all, I have had to struggle for everything, even to talk and breathe. My dad still sees me as an expected mistake. Mummy almost agrees, except that I'm the only girl. 15 years ago, I was 10 years old. But my lesson teacher didn't think I was too young, he had his way one too many times. That's when I first died. I like the university for one thing, the lucrative upgraded prostitution. The earthen pot-bellied old men who come to pick me up from my hostel with their fast cars say I'm pretty and they can have enough of me. And that was the second time I died. Education is a myth for me, it's always going to be in the kitchen. So, damn the certificate! I don't think I count on God's big plan. Or so I thought. Everything has since changed. I found out that my story was not my problem. My perception was. So what's your story? It's your choice how your story turns out. An excuse or a motivation? You choose!

For the first time, I've started living. I'm still healing.

Your friend,
Former victim. "

I really would love to continue but, let me leave you now. I have just been told that some weeds are planning a coup d' etat against my plant. Even as I send this to you, I'll keep a copy for myself. Ensure you write back. 

Happy Sunday skin mate.

Regards.
...

I dedicate this work to Success Daniel NDU whose discussion and friendship gave birth to this work, salute. And also to my roommate, Noah Aghedo for help in trimming some syntactic cancer, thank you!

THE NEW NOISE

When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful - Malala Yousafzi

Back in the overpopulated primary 5B class where there were no shining louvres, whiteboards, and magic markers, Auntie Ruth will meticulously mark our hurriedly written class work and ask us to take down the homework (for our own good, else the rod).

We would eagerly await the closing bell at 1:45pm, but as is always the case, the clock becomes mischievously slow. So, we took to the only trade we knew...producing noise!

A reprimanding song by our class teacher will always immediately follow,

'You talk too much(2*)
Is this a marketplace?'

...and we would reply,
'No!'

Afterwards, the class goes cold.

That was many years ago and it was how I then understood noise.
However, as with many other things, my understanding of noise has also grown.

Not too long a night ago in my faculty's beautiful garden(it's NAAS garden baby), I was hanging out with a bunch of friends. Some of them were stepping on the seats instead of sitting. Somehow, I went dumb about it. Then out of nowhere, a concerned young man (whom I later discovered was in year 2) politely asked my year 3 friends that they sit properly. And they did! I quickly called him and commended his resolve. That day, by playing dumb, I made a noise! 

And that's how I've come to know and understand that silence and conformity are THE NEW NOISE. And stopping this noise is not easy as a different and courageous voice is required.

The most convenient thing to do is just keep quiet and blend. After all, others will talk. That's the one thing we do well; allow others to do the talking! It is shameful that the world has gone mute while you're still around.
Never in man's existence have so many voices been needed than now.

Please, understand that talking here means your actions and words

When you murmur and whine but don't proffer solutions, you are making a noise!
If you are afraid of stepping out and blessing the world with your dream, you are making a noise!
Anytime you fail to rebuke any form of evil or lazily conform to mediocrity, you are making a noise!
When you scorn instead of giving hope, you are making a noise!
Whenever you jump on the bandwagon and say "abeg eeh! nor be me start am", you are making a noise!

Simply put, anytime you don't do the right thing, you are making a noise! My pretty friend, Jocelyn (hbd jare), reminded me of when she would always say 'Be the voice, not an echo"

That day in Montgomery, Rosa Park, by mere sitting spoke so loudly that the civil right movement was born.
In those years in Calcutta, Mother Teresa by mere loving so soundly voiced so strongly that even history had to give her room to be an example.

I don't know what you think of yourself,  but more than ever, our world needs your talk!

...

This piece is dedicated to my friend, Davidson Obilor Nwaonu (Securus Generalis), his respect for his fellows and accountability to his world speak volumes. Respect bro!

SHORTCHANGED!

You deserve very little credit for being what you are and remember, the people who come to you irritated, bigoted, unreasoning, deserve very little discredit for being who they are. Feel sorry for the poor devils. Pity them. Sympathize with them. Say to yourself: 'there, but for the grace of God, go I'. -Dale Carnegie

If you've lived more than a day on earth, you would probably agree with my roommate, Felix when he says, "the world is not a beautiful place". Maybe you've seen some beauty, maybe you had some respite or maybe not. But how do you view the world?

Here, on the unattended flyover of hall 3, with the obligated wind rushing against my fine chest, the view is almost tranquil. The sun is fighting his way up already. I can see a guy vigorously brushing his teeth that an unsolicited concerned has gripped me. Another colourful dressed fella is so carefully feeling the comfy texture of his afro hairstyle as he ceaselessly runs his comb through. And if you could look, you'd also see that everyone is so busy with starting the day. They seem 'OK'...or not.

No doubt, we've all received our own personal share of life's blows. To rephrase one of the laws from George Orwell's Animal Farm, "All blows are equal, but some are more equal than others". 

Sometime ago, I read of  a toddler who was abandoned at the foot of the home for special people with a letter that read "...he's such a sweet little boy BUT, he's an imbecile. Please, help us..." The only thing that child did wrong was to be born.

In the densely packed streets of our metropolitan cities are increasingly growing number of beggars, most of whom are children. Sadly enough, when they were born, the only craft they were taught was BEGGING! My friend, NDU Daniel Success captured it better in the last two stanzas of his empathic poem,

"Where did I go wrong?
I have groomed a lying tongue

Or maybe
Just maybe
It's cos my mother
Turned me to a beggar"

*smh*

Last week, in a hostel that's not too from here, three girls were raped in their rooms. I wonder what detached comments we will submit this time, since they were not scantily dressed but jejely studying or 'jacking' as it's known here. They dare not say it out...we can't know them...for then, the stigma shall be worse that the act itself. A part if their person has been ripped. Silence and their hate for men is the only 'how' they now know. We don't care, not when she ain't our sis or bae.

Matthew(not real name) is a final year student in his early 20s. He's a straight A student.. He didn't play with sand. He didn't learn how to ride bicycle or motorcycle. He never played football or boju boju. He didn't have playmates. His peers called him soft. He is the only child and was always locked inside for protection. His cousins were his only friends. His parents so love him that they unknowingly stole the most crucial part of his growth - his CHILDHOOD! He'll be graduating this year, BUT he can't start or substain a simple conversation. He can't relate with the opposite sex. He's afraid of the future. He' trying so hard to get back his childhood. Everyone thinks he's annoying, so, anger towards the world is his resolve.

Damilara is the kind of girl whose beauty made a lasting impression. Yeah....she is damn fine. BUT she attended a public school where those that spoke simple English where termed 'forming'. So pidgin and a haggard grammar was all she was left with. She was shocked by the reality of University, everyone or almost everyone spoke the Queen's english. She has now turned to a quiet soul. Her esteem is battered. She no longer feels beautiful. Reclusion is now her only defence. She is still trying to recover.

In their song, T. Tribett, J. Moss and K. Franklin sang, "It could have been me". None might relate to you. Yours might be better or worse.  Anytime you want to wear that cloak of judgement, remember that it could have been you. It's still our duty to help our brothers and sisters. There's a story behind every act. Do you care to know? The late Stephen R. Covey put it this way, "seek first to understand and then be understood". 

What if you knew that the guy with HIV didn't not forget to use condom, but was born with it! 

What if you knew that your pregnant course mate was raped!

What if you knew that the reason he's carrying over so much courses is because his papers were missing!

What if he's not selfish, but just broke

What if...

To everyone who has been shortchanged in one way or the other, I pray you healing. Yes, we can all heal. None of our heart wounds has got diabetes...some are just deeper than others. LET GO and LET GOD heal thee. I hope you know that you are not alone! Reach out to someone, Don't let that scar go to waste!

THE VALLEY OF BROKEN DREAMS

Never again shall a single story be told  as though it's the only one.
- JOHN BERGER

I read recently that the average Nigerian child will want to be a doctor, accountant, lawyer, nurse, banker or engineer. One website refers to them as the most marketable courses. At first, I saw nothing wrong with this simple statement. In fact, I almost clapped. It was after I thought deep that I saw the lacuna it has made in our nation's health.

It started in primary school when the teacher will state, "If you want a Dr., Engr., Barr., Pharm., to come before your name, you better be serious. Or else, you will end up a farmer". Now, this was repeated for several years that it became impossible for pupils to see farming as anything but poverty and want. When any child was asked what they wanted to be when they grow up, it was normal to not hear them say police, teacher, chef, nutritionist, soil scientist, farmer, musician, soldier, artist.

This continued in secondary school as it was not rare to see hear blunderbuss teachers slaying statements like , "Udoh, you should be a doctor; BECAUSE you are very good in biology". "Amarama, maths comes easy for you, you should be an engineer". "Usman, I've seen the way you deal with numbers, you should fill in for accounting". God help you if the only course you are good at is agricultural science! Your portion of scorn Will be out of this world. We let our children graduate from 12 years of schooling with a faulty concept of career and value.

You still Wonder why almost all our young people are angry and irritable? Why there's halfhearted approach to public service? It's simple...broken dreams. The doctor really wanted to do business. The engineer seriously had the dream of becoming a research farmer. The agriculturist's mind was fixed on medicine.

Our society is crawling with young souls who either did not get what they wanted or got what they thought they wanted but later found out their heart beats for another.

What if those pupils our classrooms were told to study hard to become honourable doctors, engineers, lawyers and FARMERS? (agriculturists)?

What if Udoh was told that he needs good knowledge of biology to become a doctor or an ANIMAL SCIENTIST?

What if Amarama was taught that maths needed in Engineering and AGRICULTURE?

What if Usman was told that he needed his finesse be an accountant or an AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST?

I hope the Education minister and school owners read this. Employ trained and compassionate counsellors in our primary and secondary schools.  It is sickening to note that public tertiary institution have such a department as GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING but it's missing in public primary and secondary schools. So, I'm left to wonder, who needs the milk more? The forming child or the formed adult?

Mummies, daddies, guardians and teachers, teach our children that there are over 570 courses approved by NUC that can be studied in our institutions. Also, add that they can read anyone and still succeed!

And to all victims of broken dreams...heal and help posterity with your scar.

To all agriculturist, projections implies that by 2050 Nigeria population will rise to be over 500million. They will need food!

The future is green...I hope you can see!

...
This piece is the brainchild of a chat I had with Marvellous Osaji following the publication of my last post. This one is dedicated to you. Thank you for your suggestion dear.
...

WHAT ONLY DAVID KNEW

This harmattan is not honest at all. I thought it said it had left for good?
Well, that"s a matter for another day.

...
A man walked up to a concert pianist after hearing him play and said, "I'd give anything to play like you!". The pianist replied, "No, you wouldn't. Would you give 12hours a day to practice? Would you deny every other area of your life to excel at piano?"

Today, I reread one of my choicest Bible story; David vs Goliath. I should say that this story first came alive to me in those carefully coloured pages of My Book of Bible Story and later, in Sunday school. The story both won my naive mind and also satisfied my childish quest for a hero. It always tripped me to picture a tinkele (small) David shooting a smooth stone into the gigantic head of a 9ft Goliath.

While I have no doubt that this story need not be retold, allow me to show you something.

See this...

"Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them..."
                                -1samuel 17:35

You see that? Even David had a Curriculum Vitae(CV). He made it clear to Saul that this was not going to be the first time he will defeating an intruder, he had done it twice before! Now, while everyone saw an oversabi boy trying to kill himself, David knew that the skill he had gotten from past practices would to come to use here!

I humbly disagree with anyone who thinks David got lucky. He earned his skills by practice.

I read one time that success is when opportunity greets preparation. No doubt, opportunity will knock soon, but will you be ready?  I'm still waiting to see, hear or read about a soul who succeeded by mistake.

The easiest way to get good at anything is practice. I know of no shortcut. It is not too late to start preparing for the future you've dreamt endlessly about. See ehn, stop all those 'it-is-too-late' song and start again today. You can choose to be anything and excel. Just practice enough. TDJakes remarked, "It is not so much about where you are going to as it is about what you are willing to give up to get there".

Do you want to be smarter? Brush up on your grammar? Write better? Read more? Talk less? Be friendly? What do you want? The solution is simple, continuous practice!  As the concert pianist replied, "can you...?"

 

As one of Nigeria's music mogul irritably said, "If it's the __________ you want, come and get it!" (You fill it).

...

THE ANIMAL SCHOOL

If you judge a fish by its ability to climb trees, it will live

 all its life thinking it's stupid - Albert Einstein

I'm sure growing up, you must have read that fascinating story; The Animal School by George H. Reavis. Well, If you have, biko, join me and reread. And if you've not, oya allow me to introduce it to you.

Let us read...

"Once upon a time the animals decided they must do something heroic to meet the problems of a "new world," so they organized a school.

They adopted an activity curriculum consisting of running, climbing, swimming, and flying. To make it easier to administer the curriculum, ALL the animals took ALL subjects.

The duck was excellent in swimming -- in fact, better than his instructor; but he made only passing grades in flying and was very poor in running. Since he was slow in running, he had to stay after school and also drop swimming in order to practice running. This was kept up until his web feet were badly worn, so then he was only average in swimming. But average was acceptable in school, so nobody worried about that except the duck.

The rabbit started at the top of the class in running, but he had a nervous breakdown because of so much make-up work in swimming.

The squirrel was excellent in climbing until he developed frustration in the flying class, where his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of the treetop down. He also developed "Charlie horses" from over-exertion and then got a "C" in climbing and a "D" in running.

The eagle was a problem child and was disciplined severely. In the climbing class he beat all others to the top of the tree, but insisted on using his own way to get there.

At the end of the year an abnormal eel that could swim exceedingly well and also could run, climb, and fly a little had the highest average and was named valedictorian.

The prairie dogs stayed out of school and fought the tax levy because the administration would not add digging and burrowing to the curriculum. They apprenticed their child to a badger and later joined the ground hogs and the gophers in order to start a successful private school"

In a planet where it is almost impossible to be you, a sin to be different, and a norm to conform; there's a foremost CALL for everyone to better our earth and ourselves by nurturing our uniqueness!

TOMORROW WILL COME.

Wait oh, did you watch the President's media chat yesterday? Don't tell me you missed it , we go talk am later.

...

"You don't consult the oracle 'on credit'" - Bini adage

As I write this, the excruciating hold of harmattan has loosen its grip. A good number of bulls are continually led to the slaughter. Kids in every nook are loudly blabbing about how surreal they'd look tomorrow. Many people are already declaring of how greater and better next year must turn out. Others are so busy writing unending list of resolutions as it has become aged tradition.

When I was still very small, I saw an interesting phrase on one provision store. It read, "NO CREDIT TODAY, COME TOMORROW". I was not surprise when i was passing the next day, the frail board still hanging with the words boldly written. I remember thinking to myself and smiling at the realization that there will always be tomorrow.

 Each new year flies out almost as quickly as they come. And I soon learnt that Life too does not sell 'on credit'. It is also boldly holding in its hands a sign, "NO CREDIT TODAY, COME TOMORROW". 

How many times have you gone to life hoping to get something for free only to be disappointed at it's refusal?

At the beginning of every new year, we meet life with so much energy only to beg it to give us something 'on credit'. Life will always simply says, "NO CREDIT TODAY, COME TOMORROW". So, some of us quickly take a chair and sleep, waiting for the following year, so we can go back to life again EMPTY...to beg! We literally pause our lives, waiting only for next year before we play the routine. Are you not bored and tired already? Whatever prize you seek in life has a price! Are you willing to pay it?

You can't buy from life 'on credit'!

Anytime you seek for change in the name of resolutions, you must pay in the currency of discipline. If you want a degree, you'll have to pay the price of study and tuition. You want a blissful marital life life? Pay the steep price of fidelity and unconditional care. Do you crave fulfilment? Then you need to pay with purpose.

The list is endless...the grammar is plain...the plea is clear; don't ask for life what you don't want to pay for!

The next you go to life's store, don't beg it to sell on credit. Ask "how much?"

So, if you haven't seen the sign yet, go now and get a legal tender to bargain with! If life has already put you out, I guess you now know what it takes?

And to those waiting for tomorrow to see if it will change;

 Life has vowed that there will be "NO CREDIT TODAY, COME TOMORROW". 

...

This piece is dedicated to Gloria, Pst Chris, Auntie Rosie, Achu, Sochi, Asem, Debbie, Yochabel, Aufuray, marvellous and other December babies around the world. We rock!

A LITTLE CRAZINESS, AND MORE.

Blessed are the crazy ones, for they force us to see the world differently! - unknown

You know those sweet counsel you get when you are leaving home for the higher institution for the first time? It usually goes like, "pls oh my child, don't forget where you are from oh, be quiet, be normal, don't look for trouble, only study and get d grades, stay away from boys/girls, be very religious so those gangs won't approach you, make good friends, don't show yourself, etc". Did you get one of those?

The counsel was cool, but it wasn't complete!

Maybe that's why even though we go to school, we don't get much education!

We were not told to dream with our eyes opened. We were not told that dissatisfaction with the status quo budded progress. We were never advised to take life by the throat until it vomited result. We were not warned that being average and accepting mediocrity have no place in the world. Maybe they should have added that the world is an adventurous place and 'sit-down-look' is a bore.

Have  you ever thought  of a better way to do that business? Do you wanna leave school with solutions or with only a degree? Are you sending CV or a proposal around? Are you thinking or breeding complaints?

See, the world has not always been like this! some folks were crazy enough to demand for a move forward. Do you wanna accept the erroneous notion that life is there and you’re just gonna live in it? Or you are gonna embrace it, change it, improve it, make your mark upon it?

In this life, you either go forward or backward! Stagnation is a myth. What we call stagnation is actually uniform backwardness. The world is too in motion to remain in one place.

Did you ever see that piece for the Apple company commercial? Well, here it is;

"Here's to the crazy ones.
The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers.
The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently.
They're not fond of rules and they have no respect for the status quo.
You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you cant do is ignore them.
Because they change things.
They push the human race forward.
And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

"are you crazy?" is not so insulting afterall, because yes!...I'm crazy!

Martin Luther King jnr. was crazy enough to demand the death of segregation. Mother Teresa was crazy enough to dedicate her life to caring for the same people that society rejected. Mahatma Gandhi was crazy enough to fight the British with peace and nonviolence. Bill Gates was  crazy enough to change forever the way office work would be done. You are crazy enough to...? It's up to you!

At first they will call  you foolish, crazy, a misfit, unteachable...but later they will start to call you a genius, innovator, different!

So, to those kids who were called oversabi when they asked too many questions; to those girls who because they wanted more were called stubborn; to those fellas who were told it's unrealistic, because they dreamt differently....hold on and keep on, for it's your crazy kinds that have always given the world a new way to see!

Happy Birthday YESHUA!
Merry Christmas to the crazy ones!

IS THERE ANY LEFT?

"It's funny how sometimes, the people you'd take a bullet for are the ones behind the trigger." - Unknown

After what seemed like an endless buzz at the forestry arboretum, individual and cliques quickly devised methods to ease tension. I saw firsthand how discomfort could magically bud the display of talents. One group resolved to singing, a good number subscribed to taking sporadic selfies. Others were gossiping and chatting. Some, as usual went AWOL!

Now, there was this group of girls that totally monopolised my attention. They were playing the childhood game, who thief my needle?

Let me try and explain it to those who managed to skip this game on their journey from childhood.

It went like this:

(Everybody chorused),

Who thief my needle,
Danger!
My father's needle,
Danger!

I put am for table

Danger

They come and steal it

Danger!

Oji bole,
Danger!
Highway rubber,
Danger!
Kele
suke lele(3*)
Danger!

There are two groups in this game. At every sound of danger, one person from each side fell backwards with reckless abandon believing that the team mates would catch her and spring her back up. And they did! Mhen, it was fun!

It is this simple display of trust that always fascinated me about the game.

The principle of the game is simple; Trust people and be trustworthy!

Now, Imagine for a moment what harmony there will be if we apply the principle of this simple game to our lives!

Betrayal is treacherous!

Julius Caesar knew such treachery. Among the conspirators who assassinated the Roman leader on March 15, 44BC was Marcus Junius Brutus. Caesar not only trusted Brutus, he had favoured him as a son. According to Roman historians, Caesar first resisted the onslaught of the assassins. But when he saw Brutus among them with his dagger drawn, Caesar ceased to struggle and, pulling the top part of his robe over his face, asked the famous question, "You too, Brutus?" 

Greed, jealousy and unholy ambition have caused families and friends to become unnecessary enemies. Nations and organizations have failed because they underestimated trust.

Now in our country, you can't trust leaders with votes; market women with prices; spouses with vows; lecturers with grades; students with exams, the list goes on and on.

Do we stop trusting? No! Life would be boring without it. Only be careful who you trust and be trustworthy! The finest way to cure our world of mistrust is to give trust.

...because I believe that with you and me, there is still enough trust left in our world.

pulished in THE BEAUTIFUL FEET MAGAZINE, 2016 edition.

TO REMAIN OR TO BE?

As I write this in an over populated classroom in one Nigeria's most prestigious university, I can see hundreds of faces laden with diverse expression. Many hearts asking, "how long must we continue?"
To those uncertain faces and troubled hearts, I write...

Until a few months ago, I used to mix up these two words, worrying and thinking. How many times have you seen people so enmeshed in thought  and eyes like they've just witnessed Armageddon. And you said to yourself, "Mhen that guy can think!" If w x-ray their hearts, we would say "oh my! That guy can worry sha".

Now, anybody that can at least still afford oxygen can worry. It is easy and almost require 'no sweat'. Worry talks like this, "kai, wetin person go come do nah!" "Hmm, maybe Nah so e suppose be sha". See, all of those touchy statements do not solve any problem!

My friend, Sweet Mokogwu said about worry, "it is to exaggerate what's on ones head  more towards the negative". Bottom line, Worrying is unproductive!

Now, thinking is different! It's creative, tasking, solution oriented. This simple definition by English caught my attention, "To communicate to oneself in one's mind, to try to find a solution to a problem. Success Daniel NDU defined thinking this way, "it is a process  of creation by means of engaging the mind". There's the difference!

Here's a funny statement I often heard while growing up, "The witch flew passed the house last night, the child died this morning. What killed the child?

Now, for years, it was believed that the witch killed the child.

Until the white men came!

Their own children died mysteriously too! But they didn't give credit to the witch. They researched and thought and discovered that it was malaria. So, they brought mosquito nets and insecticides, and the children stopped dying. I still Wonder what happened to the witch!

Laziness to think happened to us, not witchcraft!

This our perpetual paralysis in thinking has quickly led to a decorated bank of ignorance. Ignorance is worst than a legion of demons. What you don't know will hurt you! But, how will you know if you don't think and search? In almost every nook and cranny of Nigeria, everybody seem to know our problems. Yet, nobody is thinking out the working solutions. Problems grow so fat because we won't task our minds.

The truth - We can either blame our enemies or banish ignorance. You choose!

You've worried about those problems for so long, have they changed? Henceforth, deliberately set out to think out solutions.

So to those uncertain faces and troubled hearts... We shall continue like this until we think ourselves out!