AMERICA'S DAY IN HISTORY

(Please click on the photo to listen to the inaugural speech)

Yesterday evening I went for a religious meeting. At the end of the meeting, which lasted nearly two hours (It was actually a gathering of a few to pray) after the benediction, as people were beginning to exchange pleasantries before departing for their respective houses, from the blues, the voice of one of the leaders rang in the background; “tomorrow is world changing day”. What is he talking about? I quickly ran though my calendar in my head in an attempt to remind myself of any special global event for the 20th of January which I may have forgotten. Nothing came to mind. As I joggled through my memory, he announced that Barack Obama is being inaugurated tomorrow (today) as the first black president of the United States and we should pray for him. As a typical African, the prayer would not commence without a prologue – a presentation of logical reasons why prayers for this man of history was crucial.

While in the car on our way back home, my lift was also all about this son of a Kenyan immigrant who has risen above all odds to become the most powerful man in today’s world. I was quick to remind her that Obama, will be sworn in not as president of Kenya, Nigeria or Ghana, but as president of the United States of America – the nation to which he primarily owes his total allegiance and loyalty.

As it often turns out when I speak with (most) Africans since the Obama race began, a subtle debate ensued and I thought in my mind, the world is missing the point. And if care is not taken, the world, the smae way they stood by Obama to victory may drive him to an embarrassing state of being sorry.

I hope someone would not get me wrong here. And I am careful not to create the impression that I do not wish the new US president well; my point is that I am really afraid for him. His rhetoric (like British journalists would say) and skin colour seem to be clouding people’s judgement of the real man whom I have no doubt has got what it takes to deliver.

In the media, almost every report on Barack Hussain Obama begins with or make reference to his "black" heritage - "the first US BLACK president”. It was only on BBC Radio 1 that I heard a slightly more modest description of him as “the first mixed race American president” Obama, just like any American sought the highest office in the US, he campaigned just like any other person had or would, he fought really hard and won a very well deserved victory. But I wonder why no one would speak of him and his historic feat without reference to his skin colour. It worries me that most Obama supporters, especially those of african descent do so because of racial and religious sentiments. The guy is good, full stop! Africa has not moved beyond where it is today because africans have allowed religious sentiments and tribalism to delude them for so long. It's time somebody woke up and see life beyond their doorsteps!

The above drives me to a conclusion; the world is still far from winning the war against racism. Until we get to a point where a man’s colour or gender do not bear any relevance to what we think of them in light of public service; when this has no basis in influencing our opinion about them, we still have a long way to go. Don't be deluded, as long as colour or race still matter in the way we see people, the world at large still remains to me, a haven of racism.

As I drove home from work today, I listened to the president's speech on radio. When I got home, I went online to check the transcript of the speech and lo, there's an avalanche of interesting comments about the speech. Below are selected comments from diverse fora on the speech. It took 27 years old Jon Favreau the last two months, working at about 16 hours a day to put this powerful speech together.

SELECTED INTERNET COMMENTS ON OBAMA'S SPEECH:

“The speech was inspiring and has challenged us all to unite in a comon cause - making America the country our forefathers faught for. Let's not let them down” Posted by:Linda Agnes

“Not as good as his audacity speech but clearly he doesn't have the expereince necessary to be truly great---three years as a Senator--perhaps his next speech will be better--when he learns what' he's doing. Maybe by that time, he'll start being called the President rather than the black President.” Posted by:Speak English

“He isn't any less experienced than President Clinton, or better yet more experiecned than Gov. Palin. If he were white would you feel different "Speak English" because your title alone bares your opinions. It is so much more than his being black that makes this a magnanamous event; Like President Obama said in his eloquent speech "That less than 60 years ago a black man could not walk into a resturant and not be served and now his son stands before you." Are one of the cynics that he spoke to? This was a powerful speech the President told the story from all points of view. God Bless you and yours and maybe one day your memory will extend pass the past.” Posted by:Sabrina_Palmer

“I loved President Obama's speech.....he spoke to everyone, not just one race or group of Americans. I did not vote for our newest President, but I am an optimist. With his election to the highest office in the land, I believe that this may be the final step to ending racism, oppression, affirmative action, etc., in our United States. This man is Anglo-American/African-American; a Christian with a Muslim background. Barrack Obama is, without a doubt, a 'melting pot' who will lead us, using the many facets of his own existence. Godspeed Mr. President!” Posted by:analisa41

“It was amazing. I felt so touched and I cried. My favorite: "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." It opened my eyes and hopefully those all around the world to work and be there for one another, to not hold hatred within ourselves or within each other. Obama's speech enlightened the dark ways and lifted the spirits of the world for HOPE and CHANGE that anyone can fulfill the dreams for humanity. God Bless Obama, 44th and first African-American President of the United States. May our country and the other third-world support our Change. “ Posted by:BlissfulMirage

"I think Obama's speech contained truth and hope. He has a message for everyone including our enemies. I am proud this day and have great hope for a new future. I look forward to see how our nation responds and look forward to how I as a person can contribute to this great nation under God." Posted by:Darchamois

"His speech seems more to be directed at the rest of the world, rather than to americans themselves. The example set forth by the US in times past, and in the worst of times, seems to be the object of his statements. To recall that the best is in all of us and guidance is what is needed; guidance set by example instead of oppression, leadership delivered by action instead of force. The hopes of a better world once again are placed at America's feet by us all; let's hope if was deservedly done so" Posted by:Fabrizziov

“Enlightening speech for a Dark Age in humanity. May the United States and third world countries support the 44th President Barack Obama, the first African-American President in our times of new Hope and Change. The speech was so heartfelt and reflected every human being. Congratulations to the first step of change. Peace & Love to our President and country!” Posted by:BlissfulMirage

“To answer the question regarding 44 Americans having taken the oath of President. Grover Cleveland was the 22 and 24 president. Looks like President Barry Obama needs to do better research. It may be a mere detail to you but wouldn't it be nice to have the facts correct. After all he is going to fix all that is wrong with America. You want him to fix it correctly the first time don't you?” (I edited this comment. The original version contained some offensive language) Posted by:Nmbr1stlrsfn

“There have only been 43 unique presidents since Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms as the 22nd and 24th president.” Posted by:Maustin31

Cashflow 101

Recently, a friend, in an analytical tone asked me what I thought about the year 2008. I answered; “2008…That was one year too many” I believe most people would share my sentiment in this respect going by the myriad of record-breaking and history-making events that we witnessed.

America elected her first afro-American president in a landslide election victory. Indeed that was a “Change” in America even if the anticipated change does not manifest eventually. The turn out at the election that secured the ticket for America’s first black president into the white house was unprecedented in history.

Zimbabwe’s controversial election and her 85 year old leader’s obsession with power certainly cannot be shoved aside by political observers. I was stunned to the bones when I watched Robert Mugabe declare to the whole world on CNN that Zimbabwe belongs to him! Well, you may say "what fallacy!" Another fascinating event in 2008 was a confirmation of the truism that “falsehood may run for years, certainly the truth will catch up with it one day”: John Darwin, the canoe man who faked his own death and orchestrated his incarceration after years of lies to the world and his two sons cannot but make this saying more true.

2008 was a roller-coaster year I’d add. There were so many surprises here and there. The rate at which events unfolded was unbelievable! Finally, a curtain was drawn over the princess Diana death inquiry even though Harrods’ owner, Mohammed Al-Fayed differed with the jury’s verdict.

It started as a rumour, and then it gained more attention. This is arguably one of the most shocking events of our time; the event that shook the world economic powers right to their foundations. And the world is still counting the casualties of this event which has earned itself a name that causes even financial doyens to bow -“The Credit Crunch”. That is a phrase that sends shivers down the spine of even the most astute financial managers of our time. What some may have initially thought was “the business/problems of the Americans” turned out to be the problem of the whole world. I guess many until now still grapple with the fact that when America sneezes, the whole world would catch cold. In spite of governments’ desperate moves to contain the situation, it was still gloom and doom in the news almost on an hour-by-hour basis for the better part of 2008.

The effects of Credit Crunch, I bet will remain indelible in many families globally. Even the “Credit Crunch-immune” Nigerian economy (as initially boasted by her Central Bank governor, Prof. Charles Soludo) felt and still feels the pinch. Stock markets are crashing. House prices are falling. Redundancies are on the rise - jobs are being lost. People lived and still live in fear of the unknown with increased sense of insecurity in their jobs. The giants are indeed fallen and are still falling.

Thanks to Israel’s last minute invasion of Gaza which in the past week or so has dominated the news, Credit Crunch seems to have receded to the background in the news. But earlier forecasts for 2009 before the curtain was pulled over 2008 were not the least encouraging. We have heard carious analysts predict that the worst is yet to come. It therefore becomes important for everyone to guard their wallets with all diligence and ensure that measures are put in place to prevent their fountain of wealth from drying in 2009.

At the moment, short term measures are needed to contain the situation and to survive it. However, these short term measures would enable individuals and corporate bodies to take more enduring steps to hedge against future economic shockers such as this. The good news is that tough times do not last; Infact, history has proved that it is tough people that do. Economists propound that economic events are cyclical which means that this time won’t last forever. However, while the situation continues, not everyone would survive the crunch. In the short term, what really matters is survival. And what would you do to survive? Here’s a tip:

9 to 5 or 8 to 4 may not be the answer at this crucial time in human history. I said in one of my postings last year that in the light of the current economic situation, it is not the hard workers that’d stand out (I’m not against hard work by the way, it has its own purpose and advantages), but the smart workers. One way to demonstrate smart-working is by creating alternative source(s) of income at this crucial time. That would not only help beat the crunch, it can become en during financial lifeline for you.

The day after Boxing Day, I played a game (the first time I heard about and played this particular game) called “the game of life” with my friends whom I visited and it blew my mind. Although I had read the book (Rich Dad Poor Dad) authored by the designer of the game (Cashflow 101), the reality of the wealth of knowledge in the book didn’t hit me as clearly as when I played Cashflow 101. That was when I realised that your profession or how much you physically have in your bank account does not actually determine whether you are or would be rich. Your attitude and the decisions you make in life hold the key to where you belong on the wealth ladder. To enter the league of the rich, two things are very crucial; (1) Your Cashflow and (2) Your Passive Income. You generate “passive income” when through your attitude and investment decisions, you get your money working for you and not the other way round.

I learned in this game that delayed gratification is one of the keys to getting rich. You may belong to the class of people who work hard to earn so much and wait several years to save money for your dream holiday or to buy your dream car. You save for this “luxury” so that you won’t incur any debt – fair enough, good thinking. What if you wait for say one or two more years and get this money to pay for the so-called luxury! It’s like eating your cake and still having it isn’t it? There’s no better time to grab opportunities as when there’s anxiety in the market and people are cautious about taking risks, if you can take calculated risks. I also learned that calculated risks means knowing when to hold on, when to fold up, when to walk away from a deal and when to cash in on an opportunity. It is also very crucial to keep up to date with happenings in the market and on the global scene.

Unless your monthly passive income exceeds your expenses, you are still in the Rat Race my friend.

What is the implication of getting out of the Rat Race? It means that your monthly passive income exceeds your monthly expenses, which in turn means that you do not have to work at all! Your money is doing all the work for you and your assets are actually paying for your expenses and liabilities.

Take your destiny in your hands. You will wait forever if you wait for the government to change your world. You can choose to stay in your comfort zone or dare t stand out. The choice is yours.

I wish you a fear-free 2009, friends.

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)