A Birthday poem for Daddy...

I haven’t done rhymes in a while
But thoughts of you strikes a chord
I can’t suppress it though I try
Memories, they rush on like a flood
Not again! My heart says to my eyes

I’ll sing you a song from my heart
A chorister I know I never was
My inspiration, my song, you are
You gave me what I’ll never lose
An identity; the faith to go on

One, two, three years; I count up to eighteen
That little boy is now a man
You’d be so proud to see this thing
Though far away, you linger near
This day, long ago you were born
To my best friend, Happy Birthday

No doubt, you find your sleep restful
We hurry not; we shall see you once again
My love for you, it’s so deep
Happy Birthday dad…
To you, my ode

The Colours of Christmas

It’s six days before Christmas today. As a little boy, I used to think that grown-ups don’t get excited about Christmas, especially parents because that (I believed in my childish mind) was the time of the year when they parted with most money from their accounts buying presents for people and stocking the house. Our neighbour, papa Gladys (Not real name) further confirmed my theory because I believed Christmas was his worst time of the year. He beat his children more and quarrelled more with his wife and neighbours during Christmas.

Although everyday was like Christmas in our home, as a child, I remember my sisters and I still looked forward to that special day because Christmas day just felt “different”. This later changed, as Christmas became more of an event in our home unlike before, when it was more of our family lifestyle. It became a one-day “special” event in the year. Ironically, that sort of made it more special because we looked forward to it in more anticipation. Our parents obviously felt the change but we just carried on with life even as we had more gaps to be filled as days passed by. Christmas then became the time of the year when we got our new shoes and clothes for the year. It became the only time when you didn’t have to share meat with your siblings; It became about the only day when we ate in different plates and you could ask for more, more than once.

Looking back, Christmas has evolved quite dramatically in my eyes. I’ve been through a phase when it didn’t really mean much to me anymore. Some of these times, I slept for the whole day without much interest in what becomes of me the next hour. It was just too much to take that it didn’t matter anymore. Afterall, life is not fair. I remember seven years ago, in my final year at the University when I was doing my project. I woke up on Christmas day; it was a cold harmattan Tuesday morning. The previous night had not been any better and all I had to my name was a miserable One naira coin covered in dust on my windowsill. After a traumatic night, with all my roommates gone on holiday, the only thing that came to my mind was the nightmare I had and my father – my father, because it was his birthday and I was still thinking about the poem I was going to write for him in my head.

Hot tears stung and gently flowed through the corners of my eyes – freely. There was no reason to hold back – I was the only one in the room. I felt all alone not because I was the only one in the room and I guess the entire hall of residence - there were probably a handful of others whom I can’t recall ever meeting on the walkway throughout my Christmas “retreat” that year but it was more of a deeper loneliness. No one seemed to know where I was or what was happening to me and I doubt if it bothered any of my kins. Much more, I would have loved to be with them or at least have an idea of how they were spending the day. I ransacked my cupboard and there was not even a grain of garri to start the day. I was lucky in my first year; my first Christmas at the university to have garri and K-K to start my Christmas morning and that took me for the rest of the day. Subsequent years were a lot “better” until this one.

Thank goodness, I still had soap and body lotion and the university water supply was running. I took a bath amidst pungent ammonia fumes – the bathroom cleaners were on holiday; I dressed up, picked my project file and made for my project lab. I had a stock of sugar and zobo leaves (my research materials). I made a hot pot of zobo. The hunger was biting so much I couldn’t wait for the drink to cool before drinking. I sipped the drink, fanning through my tongue and teeth and before I knew it, I had downed a pot of zobo. If you’re wondering how a drink (zobo of all drinks) could quench hunger, then I’d tell you that my life depended on it at that moment. My brain, needed sugar desperately. Somehow, I saw that my fate lay in what I made out of that phase that I was going through. The zobo could only sustain me for a few hours before I became weak again. My body needed nourishment. I needed FOOD. I was starving on Christmas day. The only company I had was the sounds of birds and other strange creatures in the forest that housed my university campus. Fat rats and heavy lizards merried around. You could tell they were in great mood for the season and I could only wish that I’d hear a voice that would say to me “Son of man, take and eat” – like it happened to one of bible heroes.

Later in the evening, an angel visited me - all the way from a town call Fate (pronounced far-tey) in Ilorin. She brought me a flask of very rich Christmas rice with chicken. Although I acted up as if it was “normal”, I knew in my heart that this angel had indeed strengthened a feeble knee. Where the next meal would come from was not enough a thought. I needed to take care of the now and think about the later, later.

That was seven years ago.

December 2004 (three years later), I gave a family 50kg of rice, a gallon of vegetable oil and a live chicken as Christmas gift – they are not even my relatives. Yesterday I began a nearly 1000 miles drive across five different cities to spend time with friends over the Christmas. I can look back and say truly something has happened, I have moved on and the past is nothing but the past. It’s gone and gone forever.

Three days ago, like I do every year, I gave colleagues in my office Christmas cards and in each person’s card, I wrote a few words as inspired. They all appreciated the gesture as most of them told me that it was actually the first Christmas card they’d received in the year. Everyone displayed their cards on their desks. A visitor from another department walked in and picked one of the cards on the desk she was visiting. She saw my name at the bottom and looked at me in surprise. What is the matter? “Femi, your handwriting is too neat – for a man!”

I’ve never considered my handwriting to be one of the neatest – though my cousin once teased me a few years ago when I was writing job applications that if applicants’ handwriting was a criterion for being considered for a job, I would get a job before anyone else in the “labour market”. Without being a sexist, Jane did not expect men to have neat handwritings. That was her opinion about men.

I’ve found that in life, our opinions are shaped, among other reasons, by our experience. This in turn drives the way we see and relate with people and sometimes ourselves. In fact, the way we see others is a reflection of the way we see ourselves. I’ve also found that more often than not, as humans we have the tendency to allow people’s opinions shape our lives and our belief. Our beliefs shape our morals; our morals shape our attitudes; our attitude shapes our actions and our actions shapes our destiny.

I remember the story of a young man who had 78 percentile in his SAT exam. He was one of the brightest in his college. But after his first semester at the university, his performance went rock bottom. He had an awful mixture of Ds and Es. The second semester was not any better as his performance got worse. His puzzled tutor then arranged a review session with him in order to find out what the problem was. Going by his SAT result, Tom ought to be among the top 5 in his class as a freshman but he was in the bottom 5 instead. Trying to justify his failure, Tom explained to his tutor that he couldn’t perform better because he only had 78% IQ (Intelligence quotient) while the course he was doing required him to have 85% IQ. Someone had wrongly informed him. He had been told that his SAT result was a measure of his IQ. His confounded tutor then explained to him that his SAT result meant that he had performed better than 78% of the pupils who took the test at the same time as him. The results after this counselling session? Your guess is good as mine. Our friend rose from the bottom to the top where he rightfully belonged.

The moral of this story is that he allowed what he heard to determine his fate – in either situation. Sometimes, it is not just what we hear; the things that we see and pay attention to also influence our destiny. This is why the media is a very powerful tool. Business executives utilise the power of the media to create a social culture and drive the market in the direction they want. Sometimes, the information being presented could not be farther from the real truth behind a product or service. They influence our perception and therefore, our reaction to help them achieve their business goals.

Christmas, I believe is a period to recap the year and more importantly, to celebrate. But can you imagine if we lived everyday as if it was Christmas. Enjoy life, have fun to the max but live today as if it is your last. Make maximum impact and never miss the lessons of yesterday’s mistakes. Above all, remember, you are the master of your own fate, the captain of your own life. If at any point in life, you’re fortunate to be corrected for a mistake you made, take it positively, make the necessary corrections and move on. If you’re being congratulated, take it as a challenge to improve. And if you feel like nothing is happening the way you’d have loved it to happen, look into the big picture and take a gaze into the future. Imagine what would happen if you quit and also what would happen if you carried on. I would rather die trying than die a quitter.

I wish you a Merry Christmas my friends. May the year ahead bring us all good tidings.

Cherio!

HIV?.....Nah!.......Gimme HI's with no V's!

6:10 p.m...

It's a Wednesday and I just returned from work. As usual, I turned on my computer and opened my electronic mail box, eagerly looking out for a particular mail. Then I saw this Facebook notification of a message from a very good friend - D'Gbnoj. D'Gbonj and I have been good friends since our 100L days. I still remember the first time we spoke - it was in the famous LT3 at the University dubbed "better by far" - She was wearing a fanciful wristwatch, I called it wrist-clock. I guess she was surprised, she asked where I'm from.

I've always known D'Gbonj as a doctor and a showbiz enthusiast; you can tell by her nickname (She's on the intern by the way...). Apart from her love for psychiatric medicine and showbiz, I didn't realise her writing prowess until yesterday. When she hit the face of Facebook with yet another inspiring write-up today, I couldn't help asking for her permission to publish her notes in my blog. I would like to share this piece with you all and hopefully the one she wrote on people with disability in the next few days.

"Unlike everyone else that had stepped into the ER that day,he looked really different.Calm,calculated,unaided,distant,yet interested.Accompanied by his mom,probably the only one that still cared.He was only 17,but old enough to communicate with me.I asked for his name and documented it.I asked for his religion and he told me he was both (christian and moslem!)A double dose,i can only just imagine.This was of course a glimpse of what was yet in store.His problem?he was beginning to show symptoms and signs of an ADC(AIDS dementia complex).Just 17,not just HIV, but AIDS.I couldn't help but wonder.It all started when he was 12,had taken ill and was taken to a hospital where he was unfortunately transfused with HIV-infected blood.PLS! don't put the blame on me.And since then,that had been his cross.He had been stable on ARV's(antiretrovirals)then stopped just because he felt like it.But then i encouraged him to use his meds,because i needed that bright young man alive and well too!We have been friends since then.He could have contacted it via any other means;Unprotected sexual intercourse,sharing of infected needles,.........But this was how.We probably have all been exposed in one or more ways.Its December 1st, another world AIDS day.This year's theme is :Leadership.......Stop AIDS,keep the promise!The best you can do is to know your status today.Let's abstain,Lets play safe,Let's show love and support to people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA),Let's educate,Let's reduce the stigma associated with the condition.Let's dedicate our profile picture to the red ribbon(pls copy from my page.i did same from Wobo!)As for me,i'm getting HI'S with no V'S!and m urging you to give and take same.I am repping the day all the way!I am doing all i can to reduce the incidence and the scourge associated with the condition.I will even dress up in red(nah) more like wear my red hand band...wait a minute,where is it?............Hey black boi.......hand back my hand band!"

Credit: Dr. Gbonjubola Babalola (a.k.a D'Gbonj)

The Significance of Obama’s Election to Nigeria (II)

Indeed, no drama, in consonance with Obama’s supplemented theme for his campaign of Change and Hope. One can only best quote Robin Renee Sanders, (black) Ambassador of the US to Nigeria, when in a November 4 press release, she wrote in Abuja that:

QUOTE: Democracy works for the people. A democratic system ensures our governments serve us. Democracy educates our children, cares for our sick, and ensures the common wealth and security of our nations. Democracy works because it gives ordinary citizens control over their government through the power of their vote. As a citizen, casting your vote serves as your voice on issues and policies important to you. American’s democracy reflects our own unique history and traditions, as it does in other democracies around the world. In Nigeria too, democracy should respect the traditions of the Nigerian people, while honoring and reflecting the will of the Nigerian people through free, fair, transparent and orderly elections which allow for the peaceful transition from one elected government to the next. All democracies, however, should rest on key fundamental principles which most notably are freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly.

Well functioning democracies share common characteristics: free and fair elections, respect for the rule of law, open and transparent institutions of government, and effective measures to combat public and private corruption and illicit enrichment by any member of government. Those in the past who have done so should face the rule of law. Strong democracies meet the needs of their people. They invest in their people through education and health care; they ensure economic opportunity for all; and they create an environment of peace and security in which each individual can thrive. UNQUOTE

Enough said.

THE ETHNIC DIMENSION
There are four ethnic groups in America’s social fabric – White, Black, Hispanic/Latino and All Others (which include Asian and Native American populations). According to the Census Bureau, in 2000 (the last census), Whites constitute 69.1%, Blacks 12.1%, Hispanic/Latino 12.5% and All Others 6.3%. The percentage of the White Majority, particularly of the voting electorate, has been decreasing over the years. Obama’s winning coalition therefore had to cut across all ethnic groups, and particularly the young White folks many of who were voting for the first time, and do not have the ethnic inhibitions of their older generation. The Obama-Biden team was so vastly superior to the McCain-Palin team that the United States would have earned global opprobrium if Obama had lost, for it would have been assigned to simple racism.

While at one level, there are as many as 378 ethno-linguistic groupings in Nigeria, there are also four ethnic groupings – Hausa-Fulani (29%) , Yoruba (21%), Igbo (18%), and Ethnic Minorities (32%, comprised of Ijaw, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv, etc ). The absence of an outrightly dominating ethnic group, the sheer size of the so-called ethnic minorities, and the geographical, cultural and religious identifications of the various groups, the lack of political-party ideologies - as well as historical and colonial legacies - clearly complicate Nigeria’s political life more than that of the USA. Nevertheless, the emergence of an ethnic minority such as Obama in a truly federal system such as the United States is a good harbinger for Nigeria and many countries in Africa – such as his own native Kenya where a winning Luo was recently denied the presidency through a stolen election - if the proper lessons can be learnt.

WHAT OBAMA’S ELECTION IS NOT TO NIGERIA AND AFRICA
Finally, Obama as president of the United States of America beginning January 20, 2008, will become arguably the most POWERFUL Black Man ever in the history of the world, as Prof. Ali Mazrui succinctly put it in a recent interview, atop the most powerful country economically and defense-wise. However, he will still just be president of the US, not of Nigeria, not of Africa, and not of the world, and his primary constituency will still be those who voted for him. Nevertheless, while there are members of the Nigerian and African Diaspora who are tax-paying citizens of the US and daily contribute to its ecumene, it will remain incumbent upon us to ensure that American foreign policy towards Africa in trade, aid, immigration and other matters becomes more enlightened and mutually beneficial, and that Obama use his good offices to be a bully pulpit to the political leaders of the continent of his father to stop their rapacious attitudes and tend more to the developmental needs of their people. So it is not yet Uhuru, but we may be closer with the election of Obama.

The Significance of Obama’s Election to Nigeria and its diaspora

INTRODUCTION

On November 4, 2008, a remarkable event occurred in the United States of America: a Kenyan-African-American named Barack Hussein Obama, aged 47, Federal Senator from the State of Illinois, was elected to be the 44th President of the USA in its 56th presidential election since George Washington was first elected in 1789. He is the first African-American so honored, and the second Illinois legislator ever to be elected president [after Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)].

This was a keenly-fought contest against white Senator John McCain from Arizona, war hero with a military family pedigree. Needing only 270 Electoral Votes to clinch the position, the result was a big national mandate for Obama: 64,975,682 million popular votes (or 53%) and 364 Electoral Votes for Obama to 57,118,380 million (46%) popular votes and 174 Electoral Votes for McCain. The Democratic candidate Obama won the highest votes EVER recorded by ANY president of the United States, winning in states like Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana, Colorado and Nevada that were considered too Republican for a generation now to attempt a win. He competed well in many other states even where he lost the popular vote, winning almost every demographic imaginable. To this writer, a Nigerian immigrant with five children all born in the United State, who has lived in the United States continuously since December 1978, who has now witnessed the last eight US presidential contests, who voted in last four of them, who actively participated in some little way in this year’s contest, and teaches in a historically black college (Howard University) right in the heart of the nation’s capital where one almost sees the Capitol and the White House on a daily basis, the outcome is of immense socio-cultural and political implications, both to Nigerian/African immigrants as well as to Nigeria/Africa.

OUR CHILDREN CAN ASPIRE WITHOUT NAME AMPUTATION OR ABANDONMENT...

Raised by his white mother and grandparents, and for a time living with an Asian step-father, Barack’s life trajectory is a remarkable one. His Black father may not have been with him all his life, but he (Obama Junior) knew where his father was from (Kenya), even his ethnic group (Luo) and visited with his extended family in Kenya. Yet he was American enough to love his country of birth, participate fully as a citizen and now attain its presidency WITHOUT changing his name to fit the majority White-Anglo-Saxon orthodoxy. Although he went by “Barry” for a while, a cultural epiphany made him to change back to his original “Barack” (for “thunder” in Hebrew but “blessed one” in Arabic/Swahili) – not “That One” as he recently joked in backhand reference to .

Obama joked throughout his campaign that whoever gave him his names obviously never thought that he should aspire to become the president of the United States of America. But we can all look at him now, and tell our children born in the US that provided you live a clean life, go to the best schools that you possibly can, do the best in school that you possibly can, even possibly become a mere community organizer somewhere before beginning your political career ANYWHERE in the United States – and along the way possibly marry a beautiful or handsome African(-America) spouse and loving partner - you too can become a legislator (state or federal), a governor of a state – or the President of the United States of America, WITHOUT amputating your family-given first and/or last name out of recognition.

OUR COUNTRY CAN LEARN (ONCE AGAIN) FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS OF FREE, FAIR AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS…

Participatory democracy is a desideratum for any country that wishes to develop socially and politically, and free, fair and periodic elections are a grund-norm for such a democracy. Although the United States unilaterally declared its Independence from Great Britain in July 1776, it did not become an operational (con)federal government with a ratified Constitution until March/April 1789, whereupon it elected its first president in George Washington who took office on April 30, 1789.

There have been periodic four-year terms for the presidents ever since each begun with an election - exactly fifty-six of them including Barak Obama’s. Ever since, no military coups, nothing…..unlike Nigeria where we have had more than dozen successful and failed coup attempts since Independence in 1960. One sincerely hopes that one has seen the last of military coups in Nigeria – the last successful one against an elected government was against President Shehu Shagari by Mohammed Buhari in December 1983, and the last successful one against a military regime was against Buhari himself by Ibrahim Babangida in August 1985. [Abacha’s coup of sorts of November 1993 was against a transition civilian government of Shonekan following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election.] In Obama’s election, no election-related violence, nothing…in eighteen months of a tough primary contest within each of the two main parties (Democrats and Republicans), and about four months of the general contest between Obama and McCain, to the best of the knowledge of this author, no one was knifed or gunned to death specifically over the campaign. Even the hint of an assassination attempt against Obama by a deranged pair of Neo-Nazis was quickly squelched.

In Obama’s election, no rigging, nothing…..For the first time, as many as thirty-four states out of the fifty and the District of Columbia in the US permitted early voting (distinct from absentee voting) in this year’s presidential election, with 31.7 million people out of the total of 124 million people that voted. There were fifteen candidates by the way, not just Obama and McCain. The various states had various closing times since America has different time zones, with each STATE secretary being in charge of their elections – no central INEC, no Maurice Iwu. By 10 pm EST, on November 4 election day proper, the election had been called by the TV networks; within an hour, Senator John McCain had conceded and sent his congratulatory message; soon after Senator Barack Obama had given his victory speech; and to cap it off, President Bush also sent his congratulatory message and pledge to ensure a smooth transition between now and Inauguration Day January 20, 2009.

To be continued...

Author: Mobolaji E. Aluko, PhD

Money!

Money you are a bat
The pilot of all good and bad
To love you is evil, to hate you penury
Sure, man cannot avoid you
I pity him whom you drive
He who has no grip on you
His wife sure is another man’s
On his chicks, let him sign a waiver
Let him learn in society
To maintain the golden rule of silence
Because no good idea can ever
From a poverty-soaked mouth emanate
Let him not at all worry
His peers who for this bird called money
Have found a cage will unbiased decide
What daily of him becomes
And as far as he can gather enough strength
To cheerfully hail, “baba o!”
Why, the crumbs is sure.

(c)Femi Olatunji 2004

Note: Use of this work without permission from the original owner is a violation of copyright law

Yes YOU Can!

Success they say has many kinsmen. I daresay success is a relative word and apart from mere identifying with the electoral success of America's 44th president, the first African American to be nominated for President by a major U.S. political party, the first black occupier of the white house, I would like to dwell more on a very important issue which most black boys may be missing out. There's a leaf that needs to be borrowed from this man of history (I hope the leaf goes round. Lol!) I was just wondering if african boys and progressives saw the qualities, values and success nuggets which this great man has exuded - the result of which has re-written the history of America and world politics. I wonder if the brightest of prophets in Nyanza provice in far away Nyang'oma Kogelo ever dreamt that such a phenomenon could come out of their loins. I guess they never saw or imagined this star lingered in their sky.

Riding on my line of thought above, I refuse to subscribe to the sentiment of most people of colour who wanted Obama as America's president on the basis of his skin colour. Just like most people around the world, I was discussing and analysing Mr Obama's electoral success with a dear friend earlier today and as is characteristic of him, he made a comment which I think should be a food for thought for every young black guy (and anyone who aspires to achieve greatness in any area in life). The UK government statistics indicates that black boys are more ill-behaved and violent compared to their white counterparts in the UK. And that is because they lack role models.

According to my friend this afternoon, "...apart from the campaign strategies and politicking behind obama's victory as president-elect of the United States, the important lesson to learn from this experience is that this young man could only contemplate the highly exalted office because he discovered himself and (my own addition) did not limit his vision..." He got so much support from the people because he was clear about his vision and he communicated it very clearly to Americans and the whole world. Mr Obama had obvious limitations and more than enough reasons to stop him from even contemplating a senatorial seat in his Illinois not to talk os the US number one seat and arguably most difficult office in the world. But his ability to see beyond these barriers was what I believe, fuelled his passion, enthusiasm and resilience in the last 21 months and this same spirit I have no doubt, is able to see him through the most challenging experience of his life which he is about to embark on in the next 77 days.

To put Obama's clarity of vision in undertaking this mission in perspective, please read the transcript of his "Victory speech" delivered on Wednesday 05 November 2005, 05:24 GMT below;

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer. It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference. It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled – Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day. It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America. I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead. I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation's next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure. To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics – you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done. But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to – it belongs to you. I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington – it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.

I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime – two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you – we as a people will get there. There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years – block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand. What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek – it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers – in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House – a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends…though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn – I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world – our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down – we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security – we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope. For that is the true genius of America – that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow. This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing – Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old. She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons – because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America – the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can. At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can. When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can. When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can. She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can. A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves – if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made? This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can.

Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.

Nuggets for financial wisdom (II)

4. There are more fools among buyers than sellers: This old French proverb is based on a simple imbalance of knowledge. The trading of money and goods may seem simple, but the seller of the goods usually knows pretty much all there is to know about the object or asset he is parting with. The buyer usually knows less.

Anyone who's ever sold a car or house (or a with-profits endowment policy for that matter) knows it's relatively easy to conceal a fault from the average buyer. But money, at least outside hyperinflationary economies like Zimbabwe, is of a known and certain worth.

Of course, there are exceptions. Those who sell profitable shares too soon, only to see the price race away, can certainly be called foolish. Yet there are probably fewer of them than those who bought a share just before a profit warning.

5. The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago...the second best time is now: A twig or sapling never looks very impressive in its first year or two and neither do most investments or savings accounts. However, look at a tree after 20 years and it's already impressive. If you don't plant your acorns now, you're never going to get that mighty oak.

6. Hollow vessels make the greatest sound: The contrarian investor will recognise this one. It brings to mind the much hyped revolutionary products that fail to turn a profit, the fanfared stock market debuts that turn to disaster, and the companies with sky-high price earnings ratios which are never off the news pages, but never make a dime. Which, then, are the real investment success stories? The unsung and often unloved companies in dull businesses.

Take a classic case: Associated British Ports was privatised on Valentine's Day 1983. Margaret Thatcher thought it a strike-ridden industrial backwater compared to supposedly exciting companies like British Airways. So ABP was almost given away. Yet by the time ABP was taken over in 2006, it had returned (with dividends reinvested) more than £100 for every £1 invested by buyers.

BA, by contrast, has returned about £3 for every one over a similar period - and that's without mentioning the Terminal 5 luggage disaster.

7. A rising tide buoys all boats: In strong stock markets even bad shares rise, while in weak ones, even the best may weaken. In short, you can't tell the good from the bad when the market is in an extreme mood. As legendary investor Warren Buffett said: "Price is what you pay, value is what you get."

8. If no-one ever took risks, Michelangelo would have painted the Sistine floor: Neil Simon's witticism has many applications. However, the Byzantine complexity and risk structure of the credit markets look unlikely to have anything like the longevity of the renaissance masterpiece. So, don't look around 100 years from now for any monuments to the banking creativity we've seen in the last year or two.

Nuggets for financial wisdom

Keen observers of the international scenes in the world of finance would agree with me that these are not the best of times (if all we see, experience and hear in the news are anything to go by). Despite frantic efforts by leaders of leading economic nations to re-instate public confidence in the governments and hitherto dying financial institutions, the public seems more skeptic about government assurances now than ever. These are the days when you see stakeholders sweating in winter as they listened to the news and read their balance sheets. Even if you did not care about what happens in China in the past, you care so much now because it’s a global malady and nobody seems to be immune from it.

The news sometimes may have been exaggerated but the fact is that the main truths are real. In the midst of this financial crisis, I think one needs to learn some financial wisdom at least to keep afloat if you can’t swim. I find this article quite useful and I believe it would inspire you as well. It was written by Nick Louth on 02 April 2008.

There's plenty of folk wisdom knocking around about money, debt and savings. A lot of the advice is hundreds of years old, but is none the worse for that. After all, those sayings that have survived must have some kernel of truth.

Common sense though, is a commodity in short-supply right now, with a global banking industry that has tied itself in knots by loading up on complex securities, secured on the flimsy mortgage payment promises of America's worst credit risks.
Perhaps, then, we should turn to our forebears and some of history's greats for a little more insight into what really we should be doing with our money.

1. Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves:
You can't fault this one. The surprising thing is how quickly those savings add up, once you invest them. Just 10p a day, the cost of one text message, is worth £36.50 a year, even without any interest. Invested over the course of a lifetime, that 10p a day would be worth nearly £32,000 by the age of 60, based on typical stock market returns.

2. Neither a borrower nor a lender be; for loan oft loses both itself and friend and borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry:
In Shakespeare's time they knew as much about the problems of debt as we do today, but this phrase, given to Polonius in Hamlet is more nuanced. The obligations created by lending strain relationships in both directions, disrupting the equality of friendship.

The American radio firm Clear Channel Communications must know exactly what Shakespeare was saying. It went to court in Texas this week and won a ruling that the banks which had committed to funding its $19 billion buyout cannot now withdraw the funds just because the wider debt market is shaky. Presumably there won't be too many friendly handshakes now between the firm and its reluctant lenders.

3. A stitch in time saves nine: For cutting stock market losses, this is the perfect piece of wisdom. Act quickly and decisively when your investment is looking threadbare. Don't wait until the whole thing starts to fall apart.

To be continued...

HOW TO DEAL WITH BEREAVEMENT - CONCLUSION

MOVING ON
Moving on may be a bit difficult. Sometimes it seems impossible but with God (if you believe in Him), there’s actually no such word as impossible. The easiest way to get yourself moving on is when you build up your faith and have it at the back of your mind that there is no temptation that has befallen you that is not common to man. Also, remember God’s word at all times that all things work together for our good because we love God. Remember God as the father of all comfort. Always ask the Holy Spirit, the comforter to help you when memories of the deceased makes you feel low.

Get yourself active. Occupy yourself at home, school, church or work. Always count your blessings. Try to see the ways God has turned that experience into an advantage for you. Never feel disadvantaged because the support you once had is now gone. Take responsibility for your life and learn from people. Realise that it is important for you to move on because your own destiny lies in your hands and not in the hands of your parents! They can only offer guidance but you have to make it happen whether or not they offer this guidance...

HOW TO DEAL WITH BEREAVEMENT (II)

TAKE IT HEAD-ON, DEAL WITH IT!

There is no hard and fast rule on how to deal with bereavement. But based on experience, having been through it myself, I can make a few suggestions which individuals can adapt to their situation.

Contrary to general opinion, when the father dies in a family, the girls are the most vulnerable but the boys require most attention. It sounds silly and self-contradictory but I know what I’m talking about. They have the responsibility to keep the family together as a major family disintegration becomes imminent.

1. Boys in particular like playing “the man” when for example; the father of the house passes away. They try not to cry, maybe they have always lived with the (false) notion that men don’t cry or that it is unmanly to cry. So, boys bottle up. This is not healthy. Grief is like pressure. When you increase the pressure in a corked bottle, naturally, the pressure will seek a way of escape. Unfortunately, there is a limit to which the system can take this pressure. So, at some point, if the cork is not taken off, the bottle will naturally yield to pressure and burst. All the bottled tension therefore explodes in the form of anger, outrage, vengeance, depression e.t.c. This can be catastrophic. Therefore, please try not to postpone your mourning! It is not abnormal to cry to release tension when someone you love dies. Let the tears flow if they have to. It helps you carry on with life more easily. Take it or leave it, the dead is dead and no amount of emotions, anger or guilt will ever bring them back. We can only rest in the hope that we shall see them again when all the dead in Christ shall rise again and in God’s kingdom where we shall all reign with Him for eternity.

2. Do not force yourself to hold back your emotions. If you feel like crying, please do. If on the other hand, you do not feel like it, do not force yourself to cry even at the graveside. Not shedding those tears does not mean you do not feel the pain and shedding a whole lake of tears does not mean you care so much about the person. Understand your emotions and stay in charge.

3. Your mind will be filled with questions when someone you love dies. Know that there are no easy answers and in fact, you may never get any apart from the fact that God knows best and He makes all things work together for our good (including the death of a loved one!)

4. Know that you don’t deal with grief; you cope with it because the fact remains that memories of the deceased will always remain with us no matter how much we try to push it aside. Therefore, it becomes important for us to learn how to cope with these memories. A practical way would be to talk to people who have been through similar experience and also to seek help in the word of God. The bible calls the Holy Spirit our Comforter, it calls God “the father of all comfort”

5. Realise that there is nothing wrong with you if you do not “get over it” immediately (probably) like your siblings or other people going through the same situation. Our strengths and weaknesses are different. While making efforts to get over it, take your time to get over it. My suggestion here is that you try not to make yourself an object of pity. But know that you will get over it and you don’t have to rush this process. The pain will be there no matter how emotionally unattached you were to the deceased. Feeling bad that you are still grieving six months after the death of say a parent will only increase your stress level.

6. Spend time in quiet reflections. This does not mean withdrawing from people. But you can do this by reflecting on the good memories you share with the deceased. Distract yourself from brooding over their death by taking time to exercise while you reflect on the positive influence they’ve had on your life and how that has placed you at a vantage position to carry on after they’re gone. You can lift yourself out of depression by listening to inspirational music and reading and absorbing the word of God, knowing that there is no temptation that has befallen you which is not common to man.

7. Sometimes, it may help if we are ready for the death of someone we love especially the elderly. This is far from wishing them dead but accepting the reality that every creature has a lifespan and we all have to die someday. Preparing ourselves for the day when they would pass away does not mean that we still will not feel the loss when God calls them to glory, but it can ameliorate the effect.

8. Be aware of your own physical condition. Your family needs you. Your mental, emotional and physical well being is very important to them. Being aware of this will help you to handle your emotions better when you are bereaved. The last thing you want to do is spend days alone without eating or taking out anger on everyone around you. Your family is already traumatised just as you and I’m sure you don’t want to add to their sorrows by having them running helter-skelter seeking medical help for you. That would be too much for them you’d agree.

9. Never forget that every creature dies and only God is eternal. However, when we die, we have hope that we all shall rise again someday and live to die no more.

10. Let your faith in God work for you at this time. Faith that the deceased is in heaven (if they died a Christian). If however, you feel otherwise about them, it is a time for sober reflections for you as an individual and an opportunity for you to re-evaluate your life and allow God to comfort you.

11. It is very important for you to concentrate on how you can positively make an impact in your family after the demise of such a person especially if it is your parent. How can you help fill the gap they might have left? Think about how you can support your other parent and perhaps your sibling(s). Think about how you can encourage and inspire them.

12. Never be shy or afraid to ask for help if you need any!!! The most dangerous thing in situations such as this is for you not to realise you need help when you need it and it is even more dangerous when you know you need help and somehow, you do not ask for it. Do not think your mum would not understand if it was your dad who passed away and vice versa. Open up to them and let them know how you feel.

13. Be positive! Stay determined and never let your dreams die with the dead.

To be continued...

HOW TO DEAL WITH BEREAVEMENT (I)- TRIBUTE TO OLAYINKA BABASANYA CRAIG

Berevavement can be a challenging experience, especially if we were very close to the deceased before their demise. The experience can only be explained by the person going through as our experiences are unique and our emotional strengths are not equal. The effects of bereavement also differ depending on the individual and circumstances surrounding the occurrence.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOSE A LOVED ONE?

To some people, it is a high relief when someone you love dies. It sounds strange to hear that you claim to love someone and you feel a sense of relief when they die. I’ll explain. If for instance, you love someone so dearly and they fell so ill that the pain and agony they’re going through while receiving treatment or care is too much, it may actually be a good thing for the Lord to grant them rest and peace through death (Example, Job asked God to take his life). As much as we do not wish them dead, it may actually be a good thing for the Lord to deliver them from the bondage of Satan by calling them home. This does not mean the Lord cannot deliver them from whatever afflictions they are going through (For me to live is Christ and to die is gain).

For some people, they feel like their world has ended when they lose a loved one. For example when a wife loses her husband or vice versa. In some instances it may by a child who loses a parent that feels this way. It may well be so because such a person had been the one we have always known to cater for us and meet all our needs. They have always been there for us through thick and thin we have unconsciously “built our world on them” The thought of “how do I start?” or “where do I go from here?” makes us feel there is no hope for us without them.

In today’s world where many Christians are very much aware of the vices of the devil, it is not uncommon for some Christians to think they are under the attack of the devil when they lose a loved one. They feel like God has deserted them. Afterall, every good and perfect gift is from above. In fact, they dwell on bible quotations such as “God does not tempt any man with evil”

Losing a loved one to some folks make them feel like God has deserted them either because of their own sins or the sins of the loved one who passed away.

To some, they feel indifferent. This is yet another paradox. A child who has been estranged from a parent because of a broken home may well feel indifferent towards the demise of a parent whom he/she has had no “intimate” relationship for (probably) most of their lives. However, no matter what, we still cannot quantify the love of a parent for a child and the love a child has for a parent even when we feel the absence of it in our emotions.

Losing a loved one, for some people, brings home their own mortality and so brings to bear many, if not all, of one's moral and spiritual beliefs. That is why people react differently to the death of a loved one.

No matter what it means to each individual, bereavement is unfortunately a trial we all have to face and deal with in life someday and one’s prayer can only be that it should not catch up when we are at our point of lowest strength because it can be emotionally, physically and even financially sapping.

IMPLICATIONS OF BEREAVEMENT
Emotional: The emotional implication of losing a loved one can be quite daunting and this should not be taken lightly especially if the bereaved was very close to the deceased. People can be emotionally broken and bankrupt when they lost a loved one. If they do not get the necessary help, it may very easily lead to depression and in some cases, without the depressed even knowing they’re suffering from depression! This can be very dangerous. This is common among spouses and “favourite” children. This is simply because we are created in the image of God, we as humans are designed to be emotional and it is difficult to sever the emotional attachment between two people once they get emotionally attached. A very simple example is a couple who break up. Even after they break up, statistics reveal that these people still hold each other very close to their hearts. It can be a bit challenging if such a broken relationship was their first. As children, our first love ever is our parents. So, losing any of them can have challenging emotional implications on us.

Some people just feel a sense of void in their lives. The reality of a “forever” lost relationship is too real for them to cope with and they look for a replacement in almost anything. This can be dangerous if not properly dealt with
The sense of loss of a confidant, a friend, a role model, a “provider”, a defender, a guide, may make us an emotional wreck if we do not deal with the loss with guidance from God.

Financial: The reality of death of one of the parents in the family is that the income for that family is reduced. It can be worse if the deceased parent or spouse as the case may be, earned the larger percentage of the family income before their demise. It can be very difficult for the family to cope after their death.

Apart from giving us love and guidance, our parents have always been there to care for us and meet our financial needs. Losing them can in some cases pose a big challenge to us in that respect especially in the African setting. We have seen and heard stories about how extended family members strip a family of all their assets when the father dies. Apart from making life hard for the family of the deceased financially, it can create additional emotional and psychological pain for the bereaved wife and children.

With a reduced or terminated income for the family, this may mean that you may not be able to afford to live in that big house anymore. You may not be able to drive those cars anymore. You have always enjoyed shopping every weekend and you could do it because there was a parent that provided the funds. Their demise may put a stop to this. Those holiday trips may never happen again. Worst of it all, you may have to STOP your education because of the death of a parent. This is the biggest nightmare of any child who loses a parent or both parents.

Psychological: The thought that we may never see our loved ones again, the thought that those moments of laughter and togetherness are forever gone and also the fact that our source of emotional and financial support is gone affect us psychologically. The feel of pain and sense of loss distorts our psychological balance when we lose a loved one. Sometimes we even feel guilty for their demise especially when we impose responsibility on ourselves for their death.

The death of a loved one can also affect us psychologically when we realise how difficult life is going to become in the coming months and probably years. The extent to which the death of a loved one affects us psychologically depends on many factors. For example, first children, especially boys awake to the reality of their position in the family when the father passes away. It can be worse if it happened when we least expect it and are therefore not prepared for the responsibility that life suddenly imposes on us. This can lead to anger and sometimes recklessness. Sometimes, we become overzealous in trying to carry the load which may be too heavy for our shoulders and this can have serious implications in the family and even on us as individuals.

Spiritual: The bible makes us realise the role of the mother in a home as a helper to the father. This implies that the father is not all-sufficient in his role as the head of the family. Hence, the death of the father can leave a void in the family. Also, the bible makes us to realise the priestly role of a father in a home. Hence, the passing away of one of our parents can create and void in the priesthood of the home. Unless the family braces up and rise to this challenge, the devil may capitalise on this crack to penetrate the family.

Physical: Our parents not only meet our spiritual, emotional and financial needs, they strive to ensure that we grow up to be a complete individual by also attending to our physical needs. For those who lose a parent when they are very young, this may be a big challenge. When they attain a certain age (puberty), every child needs a parent who will offer guidance to be able to cope with the sudden changes that begin to happen in their bodies. The absence of the father by reason of death may make it a difficult experience for a boy and his mother when going through this stage. It can be more challenging for the mother because she may not understand the divers things a male child is going through especially if the loss of the father has caused the buy to withdraw and build a wall around himself. Although girls are a bit softer, they may not be comfortable to discuss puberty and associated changes with their father like they would their mother no matter how close they are to the father. These have serious implications as such children may seek to find help elsewhere and frankly, their first point of call would be friends who themselves know little or nothing about the subject matter. The result of this kind of advice from peers has most often than not, been wrong guidance with tales of how friends have misled each other.

OUR REACTIONS TO THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE
Based on various factors such as differences in background and upbringing, family structure, level of closeness to the deceased, faith, individual emotional strength, culture, e.t.c people react differently to bereavement. And the truth of the matter is that there is no right or wrong way to react when death snatches someone we love away from us. However, there are some common reactions that most bereaved people tend to show. These are;

1. Grief: People become sorrowful when they lost a loved one. I have seen cases where someone grieved over a loved one ceaselessly. It is not wrong to grieve when someone we love dies.

2. Anger: If grief is not properly managed, it can lead to a serious depression and one of the ways which people react is anger and being edgy. You feel like life is unfair and you take it up on everyone around you.

3. Withdrawal: Sometimes because we lost a loved one, we become afraid. We become timid and feel insecure most especially if we feel the deceased had been treated unfairly by life. As a result, we tend to withdraw from other people; we tend to keep to ourselves and bottle up our emotions and feelings. It can be worst if we are suspicious of the circumstances surrounding the death of the deceased. This makes it difficult and in some cases, impossible to trust other people

4. Guilt: People feel guilty when they take responsibility for the death of a loved one. For example, a child whose parent died in an accident while trying to rush home from work so that the child would not feel “neglected” may blame it on himself or herself (possibly) for the rest of their life. For example Sara in “Save The Last Dance”

5. Blame: Blame can happen from two different perspectives. (a) We may blame ourselves for the death of a loved one when we think our action/inaction cost them their lives. This is one major cause of guilt after the death of a loved one (b) We may blame other people for being responsible for the death of our loved one(s) if we feel their action/inaction was responsible for such a death. Sometimes, this may lead the individual who is bereaved to act irrationally towards themselves or other people.

6. Revenge: Some of the crimes that happen in today’s society happen because somebody feels unfairly treated and wants to have their pound of flesh. A bereaved teenager (especially boys) may want to express their pain at the loss of a loved one (parent or friend) by taking vengeance on the person(s) they feel is/are responsible for such a loss. Sometimes it is an eye for an eye and sometimes, we just wait for the opportunity to pay them back but not necessarily in their own coins.

7. Try to find a replacement for the person: For very emotional people (especially girls) one way they react to bereavement is to try to find a replacement for the dead person. Some go to the extent of making effigies of the dead person.

8. Give up on life: The fear of the unknown sometimes weakens our strength to cope with the void the deceased may have left. This may cause the bereaved in such situations to give up on life especially when they are not getting any form of support from family and friends whom they probably were looking up to. This can also lead to irrational behaviours such as people getting themselves to believe that there is nothing to live for again and therefore take their own lives as well. I call this “double tragedy”

To be continued...

OPPORTUNITY (II)

Hello, I thought I'd finish up this discourse while it is still "hot"

Before 1956 when oil was discovered at Oloibiri, in the Niger-Delta area of Nigeria, the people were fishermen. They caught, cooked, ate and sold fish for a living. Fishing and farming were their only sources of livelihood. Unknowing to them, right under the same water where they caught fish and under the same soil on which they farmed, was locked the treasure which a whole nation has come to depend on. Opportunity was right under their feet. They stepped on it and walked over it repeatedly and they remained poor. Trapped under their feet was opportunity that would change their lives for ever, but they never saw it. To add the stint of luck to their case, at some point, the ground could not hold the abundance of natural gas trapped in it anymore, so the grounds gave up and the released gas by spontaneous reaction ignited. When these fishermen and their wives and children saw the fire, in their ignorance, they took it for a visitation from the gods and they bowed and worship. They worshipped the fire! Opportunity knocked them in the nose but they were NOT prepared for it.

Shell-BP saw the opportunity and was not slow to capture it by any means. Arguably, those were the days when, according to an African saying, the eyes were on the knees. Because the people of the Niger-Delta were not prepared for the opportunity to make money from crude oil, they folded their arms and watched, as outsiders made merchandise of their birthright. From 1958 when oil exploration began in Nigeria till date, people of the Niger-Delta are still waiting for the opportunity to breakthrough. They have repeatedly passed over opportunities and so remain poor! Because they lack preparation, they have failed to build their capacity in order to be able to seize the opportunity right under their feet and getaway from the shackles of poverty. Their fathers still wake up in the morning, send the children to cultivate their dead farmlands and fish on their polluted waters while they all wait for Shell, Chevron and their cohorts to provide employment (for their majorly unschooled children), good road, good water, and free money. They are still waiting for manna from the sky.

The earth is so vast in resources and by design, can never run out of same. Thus, there is always opportunity available to every man, woman, boy or girl to tap into. Life is fair enough, you can only become what you think and see of yourself. In other words, you can only be limited in life by your own imagination and drive. Yes, you can if you believe you can. You can, if you make efforts to do. Life is just, life is fair; it has made provision for each and every creature created to live on it. Therefore, our level of preparedness will determine whether we will recognise an opportunity if we see one. This also determines how far we will go to seize an opportunity and convert it if we found one.

Going through the biography of men who have shaken and are still shaking the world today i.e. people whom the world would almost unanimously describe as successful, I found that there is a common gene in their blood which makes them successful. They are desperate - desperate for a change in the status quo. It is this desperation that propels them in a forward thrust and brings them to a place of opportunity. This desperation creates alertness in their system to the extent that they recognise opportunity by the smell even before seeing it. Positive desperation gives us the edge and makes us go the extra mile in making things happen for ourselves and the people around us.

It is common for people who do not believe in this school of thought to pity themselves and make excuses for their inability to rise beyond their poverty line. Afterall, they have “tried”, they have a job that pays their bills while they moan and badmouth anyone who can afford what they cannot afford but can only wish. They either label them as thieves, fraudsters e.t.c or make excuses for them. Mr ABC is the son of Mr XYZ – he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. I put it at such people that it does not take the brain of Einstein to know that unless Mr ABC allows that dominant gene of desperation inherited from his father to have an upper hand, he comes crumbling like a pack of cards – unfortunately, he does not go down alone, he goes with in most cases, everything that it took Mr XYZ (perhaps) a lifetime to build. The reality of vanity cannot be more real to him and his cohorts. Happenings in the family that owns the “Concord” brand in Nigeria is common knowledge (at least to Nigerians). I was an ardent reader of “The Concord” since I was seven before politics and improper management of the vision killed the brand. Concord airline was so popular; it was the Virgin Nigeria of their time. On the other hand, a Ladi Balogun is arguably the pride of any father. I don’t think I need to say much about this family and their place in the business world in today’s Nigeria.

Preparation I’d say comes with expectation and expectation (sometimes) gives birth to desperation (drive). Mix all these together, it will definitely drive you to the doorstep of opportunity and when you find one, you will find that you have a room for it in your world. Think about these as we head for the top cos I tell you, it’s hot down here! My geography teacher was right (at least for once); the higher you go, the cooler it becomes.

Stay tuned…

OPPORTUNITY

I was reading a book several years ago and a line caught my attention. The author wrote that “poverty is not a state of the pocket; it is a state of the mind – a sense of lack” This line with other facts and truths from this book and several other similar books changed my outlook to life from age 17. You may be tempted to laugh at and probably scorn an individual who just woke up to the real meaning of life at 17. But if you have an idea of where I’m coming from, that is a very early start at getaway worthy of emulation among my folks. The culture and atmosphere under which some people like me grew up never gave room for self-discovery or the knowledge that there’s actually a better life out there. Robert Kiyosaki did justice to his book, Rich Dad Poor Dad when he pointed that the difference between the rich and the poor is actually not their bank accounts; it is not in how large the estate of one is, compared to the other. It lies not in physical wealth or class. A difference in their mindsets makes all the difference.

Recently, a very dear friend invited me to read his blog. I noted that the (caption) right at the top of his page is the definition of the word “poor” He quoted an author as saying that the word poor actually means Passing Over Opportunities Repeatedly. Recognising the truth when I see or hear one, I immediately nodded in agreement; “true that, true that”… I absorbed this knowledge and it rested in my archive of knowledge I guess for a day such as this when I would have mulled over it sit back to chew the cud for your enjoyment and (probably) edification.

I’ve come to realise over time that most people never attain their desired success because they’re simply waiting for an opportunity to break through. They live on the cliché; “opportunity comes but once”. And day-in-day-out, they steadfastly lay wait for the opportunity which unfortunately will never come! From my friend’s definition which I’ve analysed and found from experience to be very true, opportunity actually never comes just once. In fact it never comes at all! Rather, we find opportunity (consciously or unconsciously) and seize it. It therefore means that every person actually has the potential to get several opportunities to “make it” in life no matter what your goals and/or pursuits are. His ability or inability to seize and convert at least one of them will determine his end. Contrary to general belief that opportunity comes looking for us, opportunity actually lays in wait and never moves. We (sometimes search for it) find it, recognise it and seize it! That is the simplest way to success and the making of a great man. “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing and the honour of kings is to search out a matter” Opportunities are like treasures. In fact, they are treasures and we have to find them in order to benefit from their potentials.

Wealth or riches never come on a platter of gold. We have to search for it to find it. Afterall, he who seeks shall find. And the good news is that opportunities are very fertile. Once you unlock one, it becomes a chain reaction and the process replicates itself (almost) endlessly. A critical mind would say “but what about people who are just lucky?” That is a valid argument and no doubt, luck has a role to play also in our pursuit of success. Another truth is that we all are born lucky - luck shines on all of us every moment of our lives. Luck shines on you when you capitalise on your ability to recognise an opportunity, capture it and convert it. A friend once gave a quote (I have never asked her for the source); she gave a formula for success as; “Opportunity + Preparedness = Success” This is the truth although it sounds scientific. The lucky man is he who is prepared for an opportunity. He does not live life by the law of chance. Therefore when he finds one, he is prepared to seize and convert it. The same is he whom the world would describe as lucky. It’s about being in the right place at the right time and knowing you are at the right place when you find yourself in one. According to Brian Tracey, in his lesson on Psychology of Achievement, one of the laws that govern the universe is the law of cause and effect. Nothing happens by chance. There is always a cause for any event. According to him, people with a positive mental attitude anticipate good things to happen to them before it happens. In other words, they see what they want and live like they already have it before it materialises. To me, that is being prepared.

To be continued. Stay tuned…

Paradox of Our Time

"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses, but smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space, but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce; fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.

A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember to say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember to say "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment, for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And, give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

-- George Carlin

Study reveals that Biofuels could boost global warming

Growing and burning many biofuels may actually raise rather than lower greenhouse gas emissions, a new study led by Nobel prize-winning chemist Paul Crutzen has shown.1 The findings come in the wake of a recent OECD report, which warned nations not to rush headlong into growing energy crops because they cause food shortages and damage biodiversity.

Crutzen and colleagues have calculated that growing some of the most commonly used biofuel crops releases around twice the amount of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) than previously thought - wiping out any benefits from not using fossil fuels and, worse, probably contributing to global warming. The work appears in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics and is currently subject to open review.

'The significance of it is that the supposed benefits of biofuel are even more disputable than had been thought hitherto,' Keith Smith, a co-author on the paper from the University of Edinburgh, told Chemistry World. 'What we are saying is that [growing many biofuels] is probably of no benefit and in fact is actually making the climate issue worse.'


"What we are saying is that growing biofuels is probably of no benefit and in fact is actually making the climate issue worse"
- Keith Smith
Crutzen, famous for his work on nitrogen oxides and the ozone layer, declined to comment before the paper is officially published. But the paper suggests that microbes convert much more of the nitrogen in fertiliser to N2O than previously thought - 3 to 5 per cent or twice the widely accepted figure of 2 per cent used by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

For rapeseed biodiesel, which accounts for about 80 per cent of the biofuel production in Europe, the relative warming due to N2O emissions is estimated at 1 to 1.7 times larger than the quasi-cooling effect due to saved fossil CO2 emissions. For corn bioethanol, dominant in the US, the figure is 0.9 to 1.5. Only cane sugar bioethanol - with a relative warming of 0.5 to 0.9 - looks like a viable alternative to conventional fuels.

Some previous estimates had suggested that biofuels could cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 40 per cent.2

Global picture

The IPCC's N2O conversion factor is derived using data from plant experiments. But Crutzen takes a different approach, using atmospheric measurements and ice core data to calculate the total amount of N2O in the atmosphere. He then subtracts the level of N2O in pre-industrial times - before fertilizers were available - to take account of N2O from natural processes such as leguminous plants growing in forests, lightning, and burn offs.

Assuming the rest of the N2O is attributable to newly-fixed nitrogen from fertilizer use, and knowing the amount of fertilizer applied globally, he can calculate the contribution of fertilizers to N2O levels.

The results may well trigger a rethink by the IPCC, says Smith. 'Should we go along the road of adding up the experimental evidence for each of the processes or are we better off using the global numbers?'

Critical reception

But other experts are critical of Crutzen's approach. Simon Donner, a nitrogen researcher based at Princeton University, US, says the method is elegant but there is little evidence to show the N2O yield from fertilized plants is really as high as 3-5 per cent. Crutzen's basic assumption, that pre-industrial N2O emissions are the same as natural N2O emissions, is 'probably wrong', says Donner.

One reason he gives is that farmers plant crops in places that have nitrogen rich soils anyway. 'It is possible we are indirectly increasing the "natural" source of N2O by drawing down the soil nitrogen in the world's agricultural regions,' he explains.

Others dispute the values chosen by Crutzen to calculate his budget. Stefan Rauh, an agricultural scientist at the Instituteof Agricultural Economics and Farm Management in Munich, Germany, says some of the rates for converting crops into biofuel should be higher. 'If you use the other factors you get a little net climate cooling,' he said.

Meanwhile, a report prepared by the OECD for a recent Round Table on Sustainable Development questions the benefits of first generation biofuels and concludes that governments should scrap mandatory targets.

Richard Doornbosch, the report's author, says both the report and Crutzen's work highlights the importance of establishing correct full life-cycle assessments for biofuels. 'Without them, government policies can't distinguish between one biofuel and another - risking making problems worse,' said Doornbosch.

Credit: RSC

You may read a similar story here

LEADERS ARE LADDERS

Recently, I listened to a renowned motivational speaker/teacher speak on leadership. As I took notes in my notepad, I became more aware (just like many others) of the fact that this speaker has actually carved a niche for himself in the area of leadership and leadership training. His 30 minutes air time was like 3 minutes. His message did not lack substance and you could tell that he is "deep" As I studiously listened to him analyse and make conclusions on the subject which arguably is not new especially to minds which aspire greatness, I was amazed at how strongly the need for leaders in every facet of human life dawned on me several times during the 30 minutes telecast. Leadership and the role of leaders is indeed a very crucial one.

A few days later I engaged a friend in a conversation trying to rub minds and "chew" more on the subject and hopefully absorb more than was said on TV. One very key quality of a leader mentioned by the speaker referred to above is the ability to give direction to their followers. I will not be surprised if you are quick to remark that “yes, that is a 'normal' expectation from any leader!” Well, you’re right. In the telecast, the speaker remarkably mentioned that leaders are expected to be visioners. The ability of a leader to think ahead using the power of insight is very crucial as well. Leaders should be dynamic. You (or we, as the case may apply) as followers are merely standing behind a "leader" if they are not forward thinking and dynamic. If a leader is static, then their followers are merely standing behind such a person. Your leader needs to move before you can claim followership to such a person!

Unfortunately, out of sentimental allegiance, majority of us today are merely standing behind people who we claim to be our leaders. They have a sense of direction but lack the drive to explore the potential within them to forge a forward thrust towards achieving the vision/cause for which they stand.

From the “leading and directing” point of view, the above topic which though is only a metaphor stands. This afternoon at my place of work, I was going to carry out a task, The task required me to access a position at a height. Even if I was a seven-footer, there was no way my hand and eye-level would have reached the spot I needed to work on; hence the need for a ladder to make the task possible and easy at the same time. While I was busy on the task, it occured to me that people who have been appointed leaders actually play the same role in the lives of their followers. Apart from providing a sense of direction by effective communication of a common goal, they provide the encouragement needed by the followership to see the task as achievable in spite of the obvious limitations. Realising that encouragement on its own may not be sufficient to achieve the goal(s), leaders provide the necessary support just like a ladder. An astute follower of my line of thought would have been able to draw a pattern at this stage -the life of a leader is that of selfless service. Although we all have all it takes to be a leader, we are not ready for leadership unless we are ready for selfless service. This is not taught in Harvard. You need to work it out yourself.

Stay tuned…

Three Things...

Three things in life that once gone, never come back -
1. Time
2. Words
3. Opportunity

Three things in life that can destroy a person -
1. Anger
2. Pride
3. Unforgiveness

Three things in life that you should never lose -
1. Hope
2. Peace
3. Honesty

Three things in life that are most valuable -
1. Love
2. Family & Friends
3. Kindness

Three things in life that are never certain -
1. Fortune
2. Success
3. Dreams

Three things that make a person -
1. Commitment
2. Sincerity
3. Hard work

Three things that are truly constant -
1. Father
2. Son
3. Holy Spirit

Meditate on these and effect the changes where required...

Peace...

RE: WE THOUGHT HE IS SLOW...

The ongoing controversy concerning the N30b Nigerian Ministry of Transport "Scandal" has been clarified. Apparently, the document which caused distinguished Senator Patricia Akwashiki, to raise the alarm on the purported withdrawals, was actually misinterpreted by the senator. The document which caused senator Akwashi to raise the alarm is actually a document containing a summary of nine mandates issued by the Accountant General of the Federation requesting the Central Bank of Nigeria to release moneys and honour cheques for 570 named contractors stating the amounts due to each contractor against their name.

Please read full reports in these newspapers; The Sun,This Day and other national dailies

Thank you gsharp for your valued comment on my last post.

WE THOUGHT HE IS SLOW...

I was somewhat impressed when NTA aired a random opinion poll before President Yar’Adua’s speech on 29th May 2008 to mark this year’s “democracy day” General opinion about this former lecturer-turned-politician were majorly and impressively positive except for the fact that Nigerians are unanimously of the opinion that our embattled president is slow. Listening in-between the lines through his chat with the media I could see an intelligent and sly president. I take that for granted because afterall, he was a lecturer and not just a lecturer for that matter, a lecturer of analytical chemistry. It takes a smart head to hold that position and hold it well. I’m not surprised; he has done well so far in his new career.

That Yar’Adua is a “sme-sme” president is nothing but a delusion of the Nigerian populace fuelled and nurtured by the press. Babangida was a nice president until “Dele-Giwaism” and other atrocities started coming to light. That was a president that would put a knife at your neck and still hold the smile. He was indeed “nice”.

Recent revelations by Sahara Reporters reveal that our dear president may actually not be what/who he portrays himself to be afterall. It is tempting to speculate that the voice, though that of Jacob, the hands may be Esau’s considering the powers that enthroned Umaru in Aso-Rock but relationship with his predecessor and acclaimed god-father makes it crystal clear that Yar’Adua has attained political adulthood to be able to make up his mind contrary to speculations and fears before Obasanjo stepped down.

One characteristic of the president that tickled my fancy is his ability to stay cool and calm even when his roof is on fire. When rumours went round that he was dying in Germany and probably may not be able to address the nation on 29th May, Yar'adua’s demeanour when he eventually broke his silence did not show that of a man who was ruffled by public saying (Nothing less can be expected of a president anyway). He likes letting matters “cool off” before responding/reacting which I’d say is a virtue worthy of emulation because by then you’re in a better frame of mind to make “objective” decisions. Yar’Adua is off to Cairo to attend a meeting of the African union but one would wonder what thought would dominate his mind on his way to and during the meeting. Certainly, if he is not thinking of any of the plethora of controversies and issues calling for his neck at home, he would be thinking about Mugabe and his coronation as Zimbabwe’s new president and also about what to do concerning his “very close” friend, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, Nigeria’s Minister of Transport and recent allegation of her involvement in a N30billion scandal.

Investigations of the Obasanjo government took another turn when the National Assembly revealed massive withdrawals by Mrs Allsion-Madueke’s ministry late December 2007. Unsurprisingly, Mrs Madueke has been said to blame this revelation on an on-going plot to strip her of her current portfolio.

Behold some of Yar’Adua’s shady deals as uncovered by Sahara Reporters;

1. Obasanjo gave away import duties worth N1.6 trillion to political associates, businessmen, traditional and religious leaders as well as many female “friends”; there are revelations that Yar’Adua’s regime has given out concessions worth N85 billion to his business and political associates for the importation of cement and fertilizers in the last one year.

2. There’s a fresh PDP memo at the National Assembly calling for the extension of Yar’Adua tenure to 7 years – an official follow-up to senator Turaki’s campaign; a modified version of the third-term agenda you’d say.

3. Current minister o Agriculture, Alhaji Abba Ruma, is angling to become the next energy minister in a cabinet reshuffle due to be effected very soon. He is to re-invest “profits” from fertiliser concessions to play his role in the current PDP/Yar’Adua version of the third-term agenda.

4. Mrs Mdueke’s recent fashion transformation (to dress more like a Muslim woman) may not be unlinked with her “very close” relationship with the president.

5. In a sharp contrast to the case of former Minister of Health, Adenike Grange, and Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, Yar’Adua is not keen to call in the EFCC to investigate the N30 billion scandal that has rocked the ministry of transport although reports say he is troubled by security reports that Mrs Madueke had purchased a multi-million naira house in Abuja in the name of her youngest son

6. Yar’Adua went against his transparency policy when according to Sahara reporters members of Adamawa state’s State Assembly were offered a mouth-watering N25m bribe each to drop their impeachment motion against the governor Mr Murtala Nyako.

7. A House of Representatives source also recently revealed that, contrary to his public posturing, Yar’adua did intervene in a failed effort to stop the impeachment of former Speaker, Patricia Etteh. His front was Dr. Aminu Shuaibu Safana, Yar’Adua’s former secretary when he was Katsina Sate governor, who slumped and died supporting Etteh during a rowdy legislative session. His death paved the way for Etteh’s eventual removal.

He may appear slow there is certainly more about this regime than meets the eyes.

These present revelations just leaves one wondering when the era of self-aggrandisement will end among African leaders.

Many opine that political office holders’ greed and selfishness which has been the bane of growth in Africa is actually an “African thing” but thank goodness for the likes of Nelson Mandela. The grandeur at his 90th birthday aired live by AIT is indescribable; it leaves me with the consolation that all hope is not lost in Africa.

Robert Mugabe and Nelson Mandela belong to the same generation (Mugabe is 84, Mandela is 90) It is actually a mater of choice whether this generation would choose to be agents of positive change or vice versa. I refuse to be heart-broken by our leaders’ lack of direction for Africa and Nigeria in particular. Rather, I will position myself to be that agent of change which the world has been waiting for.

What about you?

Who is a Happy Man?

"The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family. You will have flats called Jobs..."

I woke up this morning feeling "somehow". I managed to get out of bed, said my prayers, carried out my morning routine and off to work. 7:55a.m, I was seated behind my desk. Officially, I start work at 8. I booted my computer and while the computer was making up its mind on how long it would require to come fully alive, I realised, after some lines that I was humming "one day at a time sweet Jesus..." For some reason I can't explain, I kept repeating the line "Lord FOR MY SAKE teach me to take one day at a time..." Tim, my colleague walked in. "Morning Femi, how are you?" "Morning Tim, I'm good" I guess he was surprised. "Oh, that was a change! You either are not sure or not bothered but today you're good!" Well... I didn't know what to say but then I realised that I had made an impression which will last with Tim (probably) forever. Unconsciously, I have voiced my feelings, mainly driven by cirumstances and feelings.

4p.m, I tidied up my desk, saved my work for the day, made mental note of the milestones on my ongoing project and shut down the PC. My friend Abi had rang just a few minutes before then and I was still on the phone with her. I connected my handsfree and headed for the car park.

By 4:18p.m I was in my room and the laptop just finished booting; I am still on the phone with Abi, catching up on how her Pre-Induction at our new job went. I checked my e-mail and opened a mail from my friend Lanre.A portion of that mail spoke to me directly and I thought it may be speaking to so many people in my shoes and so I decided to share it on my blog.

I have copied and pasted the mail unedited below (I don't know who the Lateef guy is but Lanre is my friend and brother, he is indeed my blood). Read the mail from Lateef;

Dear all,

I got the piece below from a colleague and I found it thoughtful.

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On examining it I saw it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors and got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while! As she is a victim of Alzheimer's disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me but I still know who she is.' I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life. True love is neither physical nor romantic.

True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank. The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

I hope you share this with someone you care about, I just did. Life isn't about how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain.

The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family. You will have flats called Jobs.

But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith, a driver called Almighty God, you will make it to a place called Success.

Cheers,

Lateef