I LOVE TO KISS by Mfon Ekott

This is no news, people who are familiar with me are aware that I love to kiss.

The first time I ever did that was in my first year in the university. I was still young and naive that it took a lecturer to show me how to do it.

In one of the classes, my lecturer asked a question and I answered. After I did, he looked at me straight in the eyes. I quivered.

“What’s your name?” He asked.

“Mfon!” I replied.

“Meet me in my office after this class.” He said while star gazing at me.

“Yes Sir.” I replied in fear, thinking hard if it was right to have answered the question.

After the class, I meandered shyly into his office and it happened.

“Mfon,” he called me, “I know you’re a brilliant girl, I couldn’t help but ask to meet you because I see so much potential in you, but you need to get it done the right way.” He concluded.

“Right way?” I thought to myself. “What could he possibly want with me?” I wondered.

“Hmm… Let me not see what I’ve been hearing of in the ‘tales of a campus girl’ o,” I prayed in my heart.

“Now you’re here, I’ll show you how it’s done.” He finally concluded.

He came closer, passed me a white sheet and right there on his table, we did it.

Yes! I learnt how to kiss.

Ever since that moment, life has been beautiful for me.
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Oh, I forgot to tell you,

KISS, to me, means Keep It Short & Simple.

Yes, my lecturer showed me how to make short and simple sentences in French in his office.

“Keep it short and simple, Mfon. Your answer was correct but the expression was way too long, clumsy, and loaded with jargons.” That’s what he told me.

He also said that when a sentence is too long, there is a possibility of it not making sense. This was true.

Since then, I found it easier to construct simple and clear sentences in French.

It got better.
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I also apply this rule in life.

“Always do the right thing and avoid excesses.” – Anonymous.

Live simply and enjoy the benefits of life, don’t overstress yourself unnecessarily.

• Stop waiting till the dine minute to rush to get things done.

• Stop going all out to help people to whom you should simple tell ‘sorry’ and pass.

• Stop investing your energy into fruitless relationships with people.

• Stop going overboard for people who are not worth it and would not do same for you.

• Stop searching for love where friendship is needed.

• Stop giving commitment to temporary events.

• Stop stressing yourself monitoring another people’s activities.

• Stop giving in your all where a very little effort is required.

• Stop putting in effort when you should just let it go..
(I can’t list them all).

Just stop it mbok, live a simple life.

Above all, MIND YOUR BUSINESS, you will live longer.

Yet, in all these things, LET YOUR SIMPLICITY BE GUIDED BY DISCIPLINE, and not careless attitude, you will soar..

In life, don’t ever forget the KISS principle, you will need it.
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À bon entendeur salut! 👋
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PS: With much respect to Dr. S. F. Nzuanke, the most principled lecturer ever.
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#Bonjour

#Day24
#MyPenMyThoughts

© Mfon Ekott

Mfon Ekott is a Language consultant, French instructor, A Writer and a great Poet who hail from Akwa-Ibom State. To check more of her works, go to her Facebook Page Mfon Ekott.

Reasons and Redwoods by Richard Wilson Moss

I would climb redwoods
I have my reasons
But there at the top of them
Clouds confer, droplets talk of jumping
Angels are angry, seething
How dare one break into heaven
Picking the lock of hell.

© Richard Wilson Moss.

Letters xxix

To His Diamond and Gold

Never belittle the trials of the weak
who, on his twenty-ninth’ pace
calls at the banter from your face
that see no star sparkles but glitters
in tears, wiped away in awful display
of your handkerchief!

Natur’s Pictur N’quill

 

Brooding by Ubaji Isiaka Abubakar Eazy

Brooding

Oh pigeon, brood not and know happiness
Constrain not thine self to sad thoughts
Dwell on what is thine that others have not
And let this a smile draw on thine face

You need not a house
The sky is thine home
You want neither cars nor planes to travel
Your wings are there to serve you
You want no clothing to deter the cold
Your feathers stand in this stead
You need not labour
Mother Nature knows not improvidence

Not bound are you by lines called boundaries
You belong to no country
All the world is your inheritance
And you bequeath it to your progenies
None judges you by the colour of thine skin
Or puts you down for being poor
None looks upon thee with ill will
Or take pleasure in thine fall.

It is I, not thee, who should sit brooding
I who sits in this quadrangle
Lazily watching the sunset
As my soul sojourns places
My body may never reach
I whose mind and body is chained by labels
It is I who should sit brooding, not thee.

I envy thee and want what is yours
For what is yours is what I never can have.

© Ubaji Isiaka Abubakar Eazy 2019

Song of a Businessman

Song of a Businessman

There’s a song sung by a businessman
Who has nothing much to tell the man,
That works in hope to eat and to save
Whilst his wealth hisses beneath what he’s missing,
I mean investment in a long run!

© Natur’s Pictur N’quill. 2019.

Examination Hall by Ezeali Testimony

​Examination hall

        By Ezeali Testimony

In an examination hall

I am left alone in the wilderness

A hall where no one accompany me. 

A jungle where its path leads me to face its king.

A hall where there’s no time

to rest, except my residual knowledge

wins with absolute understanding…

Its road, so wide but passage tight

Left with me would eyes read me

Amidst success; my utmost goal.

©Ezeali Testimony (12years)

Ezeali Testimony is a young girl of twelve who is currently in Junior Secondary 3 Class in Oshboug Modern Secondary School, Ogba Lagos. Her first poem caught my attention while I was having a creative class with them and I think it worth sharing on my blog. Will like more of her works and other young writers, poets and creative mind published on my blog to improve African Re-creativity. This is my first post of this year, I think you will love it!

SANCTITY OF LIFE by Abiola

Where is the sanctity of life?
The beauty of life hangs majorly in the rise and fall of health, a part of our existence that clearly declare our imperfection; this is a fact that an ordinary layman would know, hence the reason for the general saying “no one wants to die” as well as the sensitization to always run for your life. With this, you can easily trust a man to always guard his dear life at all cost because there isn’t a spare but what are we to say about those who were paid for safeguarding lives.
Let’s start with the hospitals, I’m sure one or two of us have witnessed a harsh treatment of patients by nurses especially in government hospitals where every worker’s action is in the caution of a body of ghost invigilators, that comes once in a blue moon and whose eventual visitation would be announced about a fortnight earlier in order to get a grand welcoming. A rather bitter and eventual fortunate experience for a young man who fell sick in secondary school and was rushed to the health center, he was given several ample of injections on an empty stomach, simply because the nurse failed to ask if he had eaten. Thanks to God for grace because the young boy now a man fell to the floor and fainted but was brought back to consciousness with drips after the doctor’s intervention. I wouldn’t like to go into details on how I had to scream at a nurse before someone could go call the doctor to attend to my dying little brother. Let’s just cut the chase about the flaws and give kudos to the government on the provision of health centers but there’s more to be done, perhaps proper orientation. Some of these nurses probably already forgot the university courses that thought them on sanctity of life.
An organization with yet the duty of safeguarding life is the police force but how much of these duty do they execute? I started journeying around this country constantly every year since 2007 and all via road, a period of which I have literally “seen a lot”. From several robbery and accident escape to annoying police reactions to situations. To begin with the faithful day when the bus conveying us to Lagos from Akungba-Akoko in Ondo state developed a major fault on the Lagos-Ibadan highway close to a so called police checkpoint, on pushing past the checkpoint, the driver suggested we pushed the bus back to the check point, then pandemonium broke loose with the officer shouting atop his voice “wetin happen again, sebi una don push dis moto comot before” with response from us being “oga the motor don spoil, we push push e no gree work” the reply was pitiable and so was the total reactions. The police man reported us to the superior saying “oga see dis pippu, dem don push this moto comot before oo, dem com dey carry am com again say e no gree work” the superior then insisted “oya oya carry am carry am, make una just dey go”. That was how the squad denied us of the security we were entitled to as fellow citizens, but you probably don’t want to ask what happened next, I’m still alive writing about it.
It was from a police man that I knew there is a difference between local and international armed robbers, when on escaping slightly from the grip of a gang on a highway towards Delta state we came across a police checkpoint about 2 kilometers away. As law abiding citizens and knowing they have started robbing a bus on the other part of the road we reported the case and the response was terrible, he replied saying “oh, those wans dem be local armed robber, dey go dey go”.
However, the saddest and the reason for this call for the appreciation of life albeit ours or others was an event I briefly witnessed on the 25th of October, 2016 when I saw a man chase another with a machete and saw him angrily aimed at him at a very close range while running still, I didn’t see the end result because my bus was on the move in an opposite direction. It obviously was a rubbery case because a fuel tanker was parked most likely broken down, what I don’t know is what party the victim was. The deed was done at a place where a police squad should be on a watch because several reports of robbery by motorists have been raised. This raises the question all round, where is the call and where is the response to protection of life? No one deserves to be a victim of these acts; I hope this touch the heart of Nigerians in positions to influence the change. Let those in positions to make things right do, the patriotic citizens will surely follow and the nation at large will respond. I am a positive patriotic Nigerian who will influence a change when given the chance. If truly the change begins with me let the leader guide our path with exemplary deeds.

WE ARE A NAGGING NATION by Adelaja Olayiwola Ridwan

WE ARE A NAGGING NATION: A call for all to rise and facilitate Nigeria’s growth By Ridwan Adelaja.

At a very tender age, I understood that Nigeria is a country in distress: always having to battle a fundamental crises or the other. And, contrary to prophesies, so designed, by our religious heads to give us hope and reason to believe our trials won’t last forever; I have come to realise that those prophesies are mere wishful fantasies as none of them ever reached fulfilment. Whether these men are real and anointed faithful(s) or not is a topic for another encounter.The present day Nigerians are never the first to wish and pray for betterment. As a matter of fact, the wishing of our people for an improved economic situation is an inherited dream passed on from time down time. Our people have always looked forward to a creamy future so promised. It is however disheartening that they have always had to wake from their dreams, to find something much unpalatable.

According to history, the country has never for once been in proper shape. Sometimes, we are very close to getting it right only for a daunting circumstance to evolve from nowhere, and withhold our ship from sailing. Paraphrasing the African Hero Mandela, “our walk to freedom is indeed long and still on.” And, we cannot but continue to pray to hit the mark, someday. Every Nigerian must understand at this point that, this is really not the time for sweet talks, if resuscitating the country is our open option. Indeed, the toying with the prosperity of Nigeria is unforgivable. It’s quite absurd and unimaginable how our so called brothers sell out patriotism to greed and selfishness.

At age 56 of independence, we should be ashamed. The African mind is a powerful one, so praised. Africans have always demonstrated to be people of strength and goodwill. It is however unfortunate that, a country with such global respect and reputation like Nigeria keeps suffering from internal maladministration. Following the trend of events, we will agree that time has never come upon us when things were ever right or considerably fair. We only get to admit we had a better past after the passage of deadlier situations. Our fear today is what lies ahead. If we must project the future from the present, it is obvious, if proper care isn’t taken that, an unthinkable sight and landmark economic disaster is what we are plunging into.

Without going too deep into the past, we can establish that ours is a country in distress -with something spectacular at different times to complain about. At the time of former president Olusegun Obasanjo for instance, even though Naira never got this bad, our people complained and asked how we got to where we had to exchange a dollar for N140. On poor electricity generation and security laxities, our voice bleat on the dailies like goats set on for slaughter. Stories on kidnapping and armed robberies were also common headlines. To this day, we are still struggling to be free from many of these national hiccups. This is about a week after the celebration of our 56th year of Independence. But we may as well ask: how much independent are we, as a nation? Of course, we have been in this for so long. And, there is really no need to draw up hope again for another long term prediction. Dates have failed, prophesies lied. The only thing reasonable for us is to keep those things aside and face our problems head on.

We are a nagging nation; always complaining about one thing or the other but never capable or ready to proffer solution to the many wrongs around. I’m guilty here, also. How much of our problems have I solved? It doesn’t really help writing to condemn the system we are a part of. We cannot continue to cross our legs, fold our arms and watch fatherland fall apart? Every Nigerian (home or away) should be ashamed.

Truth be told, there are institutional problems, governmental mismanagement and unfavourable policy implementations as a result of some cabals in the name of leaders who are hell bent at milking the nation dry. However, we cannot continue to nag if we mean progress. We have got more to do than prayers, complaining or engage in beer-parlour arguments. This is the time to display our sense of responsibility in contributing to salvage the situation. We should be ashamed if we cannot help our land live out of troubles in every ways we can. We must accept that Nigeria is a project under construction. And, we must all take active part to build her because if we don’t rally round to restore sanity, we may have to die dreaming of a great Nigeria.

​
Ridwan Adelaja is the Ogun State Director for Peace December Nigeria and current President of The Campus Ambassadors, TCA Lautech. He is the founder of Speak Quill Initiative –a youth led organisation for peace, science and national development in the country using education as a formidable tool. Email: justolaola@gmail.com

Not A Season of Songs by Ridwan Adelaja

this heart

tonight 

sing not of love 

for the door that 

leads inside is broken 

and the hinges in between 

growing gaps like 

rusted fetters. Don’t ask

who -my brothers broke 

it: a tale of cock-lords

in cockroach den.

*

this heart

tonight

no longer feel 

at home at home

for the suffering of my people

drum thunders to my ear.

*

I am a widow 

married once again to 

aloneness, watching the 

sweep-change-finger of 

the clock from a 

distance.

*

this blow is heavy,

this wound is 

eating in; will

time ever a-flesh 

my bone?

POET ADELAJA RIDWAN OLAYIWOLA is the founder of SPEAK QUILL INITIATIVE, a youth led organisation for peace, science and national development in the country using education as a formidable tool. As a poet, his works have been published in numerous poetry websites, book anthologies and magazines. Mr Adelaja Ridwan is a dynamic multi-talented personality. He is a versed speaker, writer (poet), journalist and social media savvy. He currently serves as social media manager for the GREENBLES NETWORK.​

STOP POINTING ACCUSING FINGERS: we all contributed to the nuisance after all.

STOP POINTING ACCUSING FINGERS: We all contributed to the nuisance after all -Ogunleti Azeezat.

The world can only be a better place if we learn to accept one another as family and learn to fulfil our responsibilities (be it to another or to our nation) as faithful citizens. This, however, will never be possible if we fail to recognize and design measures towards safe coexistence.

It is quite unfortunate and regrettably shocking that we have gotten to a point whereby love for another no longer has a definition in our individual minds. A point where nobody truly cares about his associate, friend, colleague or fellow country man. 

Just last week, I witnessed another gory event here in Ikorodu. The sight of this scene left me wondering how we got this far in greediness and sheer wickedness. On that spot, I had to ask myself how we got this blind and what exactly is the problem?

We are a community that shifts blames. Everybody points accusing fingers. We busy ourselves seeking out whose table to land the blame of our collective sociopolitical mishaps. Yes, collective, if you ask me. We point at the government. The government points at institutions. We all forget that we make up the institutions. My dad, your dad, my uncle, your uncle all serve in these government places. And who knows, myself or yourself will be there serving someday?

In the awareness of this, I think we are only being hypocritical whenever we point those silly accusing fingers. And that the better thing to do instead is for us to start accepting those blames and finding solutions, not faults! This, for me, is the one sincere and only true way out of this mess if you ask me!

Imagine how we blame the government for all our woes yet our relationship with one another (within the masses circle) is on the other side of the fence of equality, love and justice. Patriotism, if you ask me, in this clime died a long time and the stench smell is in the air. I feel very sad about the state of our people, and I don’t seem to understand our problem. Why will a man act so unruly and wicked at the cost of others lives. This Ikorodu’s incidence brings one to tears on our collective failure in providing security and safety for another in times of serious need. It is even more sadden to note that some of us contribute to the unease in the land. Yes, we do!

A good instance is the Ikorodu fracas that I witnessed where one driver of a tricycle (keke napep) nearly lost his life at the refusal of paying a traditional 50 naira which was claimed to be a compulsory due for “agberos” on the highway. The first question is, who made this compulsory; the Constitution or the government? What sort of shameful extortion is this? And, when is this going to stop?

The poor man and his passengers nearly lost their lives. This evil genius agbero forgot that the driver is part of the masses who is going around to fend for himself. He forgot that recession is a song that everyone is currently dancing to. He forgot his responsibility of being his brother’s keeper. This time, he didn’t bother about love or kindness to others, instead, he went the other way, at the cost of irreplaceable lives. This Agbero was so mean and mad, he got hold of the steering of the cart and contested it with the driver. The light tricycle swayed, from left to right, losing control before later managing to maintain balance again.

As if that was not enough, other ‘agberos’ joined in. They got hold of the driver, dragged him out (not mind if his cart has been properly brought to halt) to deal with him mercilessly. You can imagine how heartless. Where is Love? Many thanks to the gentle man sitting next to the driver who saved the day. It could have been another story.

Flashing back at this incident, a question popped up. Of what use is the money they collect to have almost claimed lives of innocent commuters? Funny as it may, this is exactly what our big brothers in blacks (Police men) do, too. We hear of stories of whoever dares deprive them of their traditional 20 naira highway due could get shot.

This is where hypocrisy comes in, we point accusing fingers, to the government most times. We say the government is corrupt, wicked and inhuman. But how true is this? My fellow country men, maybe we need a rethink at this point. Is the governing body really responsible for all these?

From this, I draw my conclusion. We ourselves are our greatest problem! Everyone has different mindset and motives, not minding who gets hurt. This exactly is our problem and it is really sadden! We seriously need to correct this thinking.

Once again, the world can only be a better place if we learn to accept one another as family and learn to fulfil our responsibilities (be it to another or to our nation) as faithful citizens. And as a matter of fact, we need to change our thinking and become more considerate to our neighbours, co worker and associates. Only then, only then would the world be a better place.

The change definitely begins with myself and you, or, what do you think?

-Ogunleti Azeezat Aderonke,

Secretary General, TCA LAUTECH,

Youth Leader and Peace Advocate.​

+2347056660449, +2348147220614