...And Life Continues

I am sitting and looking towards the 365 days ahead of me. I really do not know if it would be a complete 365 but I am hoping that God in his goodness would spare my life. It is a miracle that I am alive, hale and hearty and I am most grateful to God for all his mercies.

Looking backward at 2010, there is a lot I have to be thankful for and I am sure that you must be thankful for something. I am immensely thankful for life, family and friends for they gave me strength and love. I am grateful for successes and promotions, these gave me something to climb on and work harder. The failures and setbacks made me stronger and tasked my faith. Now that I look back, I see that I had so much to be grateful for and I humbly ask my Creator to forgive me for all the times I complained, pulled myself down, allowed people to pull me down or pulled others down and I am counting on his abundant grace to double my blessings in this new year.

When I think about the New Year, I really do not know what to expect for Nigeria. I can only hope that the power situation would improve, the roads would be better, the hospitals would be well equipped especially to handle emergencies, and the list goes on and on. Most importantly, I earnestly pray that the elections would be peaceful and selfless leaders would be elected. I am old enough to know that there is gap between hoping and achieving so I pray to God almighty to help each Nigerian make good decisions concerning our future. I am praying to the excellent King to make our votes count during the election. I ask that we get strength to withstand opposition and pull them down. I am praying that the elected leaders would excel in their good works of justice and equity. They will rule with justice and grace.

It would be foolhardy to think that difficult times will not come, but I am praying that God will give each and every Nigerian the strength to fight for unity,truth and peace. I say that we should look to the future, not with uncertainty but with boldness because we are not on our own. I place Nigeria in the hands of the Creator of the Universe to help us.

For myself, I ask for wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Most importantly, I ask for a grateful, selfless heart that will help me to reach out and touch others.
I wish you all a great year that is as fruitful as the trees in the Garden of Eden and peaceful as the pleasant white dove. Shalom!

Inordinate Ethnic Loyalty

It is not uncommon to find someone refer to a member of his village, town or state as ‘my brother’. In fact, most people would applaud his efforts to stay connected to his roots and call him ‘son of the soil’ especially in our modern day society that jumps at every effort to adopt any western culture possible. It feels very good to be able to put your ‘brothers’ first before considering others. When a newly engaged-to-be married person tells of his/her new status, we all jump for joy and start with the following questions ‘so, where is he from? What does he do?’ and if per chance the spouse to be happens not to be from the person’s tribe, some people would exclaim ‘are you serious? And your parents had no objections?’ While growing up, I heard mothers tell their daughters ‘don’t bring a Yoruba man to my house’ or ‘find someone from your own tribe, i will not be in your house when the husband’s people will maltreat you.’ These daughters grow up conditioning their minds to the fact that an Ibo man, or Hausa Mallam is not good for them because of the differences in ethnic values or just because their mothers or fathers said so and if fate plays a good number and they marry from their tribe, they in turn tell their own daughters ‘please dear, Kwara people are very fetish, choose wisely.’

While some children who are well informed and exposed to different culture soon realise that there isn’t much difference between us all, the segregation follows others through generations. Not just in marriage, but in work places, political settings and even religion.
The question is ‘how then do we fight ethnic crisis when down at the roots we place ourselves higher or in more favourable positions than others?’ When are we going to learn from the people of Rwanda that these inordinate ethnic loyalties can lead to full blown massacres and unspoken evils?

Recently, I took my first trip to the eastern part of Nigeria. From the beginning of the journey, I studied the people with whom I was travelling. Apart from the fact that they all spoke Igbo and I appeared deaf and scared, they displayed the same gentility, haughtiness, loquaciousness and introversion that i would see in people of my tribe. All their actions and temperaments were defined by who they were as individuals, values they learnt from their upbringing and not what tribe they came from. I spent a short time with a wonderful Ibo family and did not for once fear for anything. An Ibo woman I spoke to on the bus called me at every point to ensure I had reached my destinations safely and she very well knew I was not from her tribe or even a nearby tribe.

Our dear Nigeria is at a critical stage and in desperate need of competent men and women irrespective of tribe or state from any part of Nigeria who are ready to push unto victory. We need to have leaders we can trust who will lead with fairness and justice in managing the affairs of the country. It is time for us to be more conscious of our thoughts and actions. We need to stop making comments like ‘if you see an Mbaise man and a snake coming towards you, make sure you kill the Mbaise man first before killing the snake.’ We must be willing to trust one another to maximize brotherhood and interdependence with each other.

I am a Nigerian and want to be identified as such irrespective of the tribe I come from. I want to be able to live freely in any state of this country and not be ruffled by thoughts of ethnic crisis and religious wars and I hope that you do too.

Addicted!!!

I find my self always glued to the Stephanie Meyer’s Vampire novel series: twilight, new moon, eclipse and breaking dawn. I read the books over and over again sucking pleasure out of the words on the pages. As if I would find something new. I am thrilled by the way Edward and Bella are drawn to each other. I wonder if love can exist that way, totally open, trusting and overwhelming. Their kisses are like a ritual consisting of sucking out souls and replacing them with each others breath as if saying to each other ‘your life is mine and mine is yours’. It shows a deeper display of love that is rarely seen in reality.

Edward described Bella as his own personal brand of heroine. I ask myself every time I read them if I would ever find myself addicted to anything or anyone so much that I could put my life at stake. Perhaps I would get to that point someday, perhaps not. In the same way I cannot but wonder how people can be so attached to their country that they would die for it. I look at my country on the map of the world and I have a natural desire to smile every I see it. It seems to me that it’s the shapeliest outline in the entire map, even better than that of Africa. Perhaps I think it is so out of bias for my country. I look at the people in the map and I cannot say I do not love them. Every time stones are cast at my people, my country, I feel a sharp pain in my heart and emotions run like a tap of cold water gushing on an unsuspecting puppy. Yet still, I cannot say that I would be ready to die for my country if the need arises. I wish though that I could be ready to do so for the sake of my children yet to come and my children’s children. I say this because unless we start to die for dearly beloved country, nothing will get better. It seems to me that she seeks blood to cry ‘Enough! Enough!’ before anything changes, before anything can get better. She needs her children to be drawn to her like Edward is to Bella. She needs you and me to kiss her with soulful breaths so she can live again. She needs us to treat her with care and respect putting her first in everything so that she does not fade away into non-existence. She needs us to free her from the evil hands of fake lovers sucking the life out of her in the name of service to her people.
I wish I could see ahead like Alice, the pretty petite vampire with spiky hair. I would stop from my chattering to say ‘The wind of change is coming.’ And smile with relief.
This I know: Soon! The wind will change for better or for worse. Those who can love till death should better brace their hearts and pour out all their love on their beloved country whilst they can maybe their actions will bring healing to the land.

GHOST OF VALENTINE PRESENT

I looked into my wardrobe this morning and I made a few notes. There are things that should be in there staring at me in the face, making me grin like the cat that got the cream or the mouse that ate the chef’s Caciocavallo cheese. And there are things that are in there that should be replaced like my little black dress that I have worn so often that I could easily be described as ‘the pretty lady that often wears the short black sleeveless dress that hugs her bum nicely and has one big black button that rests a little above her right chest.’ etcetera. After my wardrobe scrutiny, I went on to my dressing table and I was not pleased at what I saw. My bottle of cherished perfume, the one that makes me feel like a well looked-upon Mona Lisa, just lies on the dresser almost empty. I sighed and glanced at my shoe rack. Let me not divulge the state of my shoes. The only words that come to mind about my shoes are ‘yuck! Yuck! Yuck!’ A good red would brighten up that department though.

I ask myself, what can I do to change my situation? I experience neglect all of a sudden. Can’t I have someone to pamper me more than the usual? A real McCoy to make me feel like the queen of Sheba. My cousin calls me just at that time ‘Hey Coz, what is happening this valentine’s day?’

Yes! Valentine’s day! In time past, I would have made sure that I was in the good books of many to ensure that my gifts show up as scheduled but these days I keep my head straight. As I sit I remember my chocolate days and I ask myself ‘were they trying to make me fat and insecure so that they can move on to other girls?’ A ridiculous thought because chocolates make excellent valentine gifts albeit every lady wants something they can hold on to and not something that would end up in the famous pathway for human waste – the toilet bowl. Of course dark chocolates are great for the heart, so the doctors say but give me a bottle of scented water or alcohol and I would remember you for as long as I smell great and even beyond because I would forever remember that I had once used that particular fragrance.

I look forward to an upgrade when I would receive gifts of immeasurable wealth. Gifts that would make eyeballs come out of their sockets, turn enemies army green with envy and make friends utter words such as ‘you know, what is mine is yours, what is yours is mine.’ Sigh! Dreams do come true and as the saying goes ‘anything can happen if you just believe.’ Laugh! Enough day dreaming!

Of all the gifts one can receive on Valentine’s day, the one most valuable, most cherished and priceless is the gift of the three letter words, I- love- you, whispered to you from the lips of the one who makes your heart go ‘gbingbin.’ The magic words would do for you what a Stuart Weitzman’s strappy sandals cannot do although some would disagree with me.

Chocolate or perfume, dress or shoe, I am content to say that I love. I love without the trappings of worldly goods; although I want them so. I love those in my care and those who care for me. I love my family and friends and all those who make my heart flip just by hearing their voices and I say to all ‘I wish you a happy day of love and friendship and goodwill.’ I hope that we all get what we are looking for this Valentine’s Day and give to those who hope for something for there is great joy in giving.
Happy Valentine’s Day.

My! My! what a year!

The year 2009 was very eventful – at least for me. When I woke up on that first day of January, I did with a dream to change Nigeria, a passion to help change our mental models, world views or whatever you want to call it. I told myself that I could do this. This was not my resolution for the year; it was more like a calling I called myself to. Truth be told, I abandoned the cause before you can say Smokey Robinson because I realised that to change the world one has to change herself first and I really had to practice what I was preaching. So I made myself my personal project for the year and believe me when I say that it was not an easy project. The consequences of some action I took however yielded results, rewarding results and I am better for it, Nigeria is better for it. I remember when I decided to give fitness a chance in my life. I felt so invigorated in those months. I would jog in the wee hours of the morning and finish up with crunches and other things that might or might not be called exercise such as dancing. At that time I was encouraging people to increase their physical activity so it was necessary for me to practice what I was preaching. However I had to stop the jogging because security was an issue. It is hard to move about early in the morning when you do not know if the person walking fast behind you is set to harm you.

I worked hard in 2009 and achieved some things. If I had worked harder, I would have achieved more with the help of God. Where I did not achieve what I sought after I did not give up, just postponed them till a more convenient time. Call it procrastination if you like. It was also a year I threw caution to the wind...do not let your minds run too far, all I did was let go of myself so that I could achieve more albeit I didn’t perform too well in that task, I tried.

I met people this year, great and small alike. I brainstormed, dined and laughed and worked with some while I cussed out a few (don’t ask me questions but I did regret some of the things I said). For those I truly hurt for some abstruse reason, or cut out their hearts from their chest when they didn’t deserve it, I am truly sorry. Of course I did some things that should not be mentioned for the sake of my sanity and yours but I have learnt considerable from them. All in all, I am a better spirit, better human, better friend, sister, better everything than I was at the beginning of the year and I give glory to God who helped me in the construction.

I must admit that I am not too excited about 2010 for the much known reason that the country has cancerous growth all over her body and there is not even palliative care in place for her. It does not take a prophet of doom to prophecy that things will be tough but we have God, we have hope and we will work hard to make it a successful year.

To all of you out there, I do not know how your year went but I figure, good or bad, we shall have a better chance to start afresh. I wish you all the things that I wish myself and they are God’s divine favour, blessings, protection and guidance. I wish you success in all your endeavours and progress in all your undertakings. I also wish that you have zeal to work towards a better Nigeria. Finally, I wish you all a very Happy New Year.
Yeside Pikuda

CELEBRATING FOOD IN TIMES OF CRISIS

Food, they say, is a basic requirement of life. It is that which feeds the body that feeds the mind that feeds the soul. Food is an essential ingredient in achieving health and productivity and therefore it has a large economic and political significance. The world shall celebrate food on the 16th of October 2009 as have been done every year since 1945. The theme of this year’s celebration is achieving food security in times of crisis.

Food security has been said to exist only when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. People must not live in fear of hunger or starvation. Food insecurity is evident when household members are concerned about the adequacy of their household food supply and there are adjustments in food management such as reduced quality of food, increased unusual coping patterns, when people repeatedly experience the physical sensation of hunger. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, it is estimated that more than a billion people, one in every six human beings, may be suffering from under-nourishment.

You must agree with me that the state of being food secure is not yet in our reality. A large proportion of Nigerians cannot be certain of a complete meal at all times. The increase in food prices around the world has had people unsettled for a while now and the belief is that the governments are not doing enough. We must reflect on the statistics and the suffering behind them. We have the know-how to do something about hunger in our society. Let us all work together to alleviate this critical problem because the consequences are great.

This world food day would be an excellent time to appreciate all those who have contributed to agriculture in Nigeria. It cannot be easy producing food in a country like Nigeria where subsistent farming is still the order of the day and there are inadequate storage systems, Poor distribution channels, and inadequate food processing system to mention a few challenges. Farmers, distributors, marketers, banks, research institutes, the Nigerian government, non-governmental organizations and international agencies have been working tirelessly to ensure that the nation is food secured. This target has not yet been reached; however, we must applaud these people.

Women should be specially commended because of their important role in assuring food and nutrition security. Their roles as producers of food, as managers of natural resources, in income generation and as providers of care for their families cannot be overlooked. Though women often continue to have limited access to land, education, credit, information, technology and decision making bodies, they still fulfil their socio-economic roles in food and nutrition security and in ensuring care, health and hygiene for themselves and their families.

Finally, we must appreciate the maker, who first ensured that man was food secure in the Garden of Eden. Adam, in the beginning, did not have to worry whether he would have enough to eat or not. He had the opportunity to diversify his diet and live a healthy life. We must also thank God for the wisdom and knowledge he has given to us in this present world to guarantee that we are food secure. The hope is that we would utilize this knowledge, remove the obstacles in our paths and ensure food security. Happy world food day.

PEOPLE IN THE COCOON

Turmoil and struggle, resignation and submission- these are the things that we face each day. There are those – very few of them - that truly fight back. They fight with all their might; arms and all. We sit and ponder ‘why can’t they fight in silence like we do?’ we watch as they destroy themselves in hope that their fight would yield good fruits; as they surrender all to their cause.
We pay tributes with our lips and with our buttocks, sit still – holding fast to our soft cushions. We watch the aggression of our brothers in the Delta, Kenya, Sudan, Rwanda and outside the continent but we clamour only for peace. ‘Peace is good.’ We say to ourselves.

Boko Haram popped out of the northern air and our feathers were ruffled, Clinton said her piece and some of us gnarled at her. Instead of learning from others and from experience we fight things that do not need fighting. Who started this Boko Haram? Who had Bayo Ohu killed? Who are those really behind these things? Don’t sit and ask, shout at those who can give us answers, force their mouths open. Corruption cannot be fought with peace, or can it?

As we sit, wonder and sigh, thought of our needs consume us. We want electricity, we want good roads, and we want water, jobs and security. We want our children safe and though we crave desperately for all these things, yet our buttocks, brown and round, remain buried in our soft cushions.

The fans above our heads do not roll, we cannot do much work and we are impoverished yet we sit and shout ‘give us our due.’ We don’t want to get up because half bread is better than none and we are afraid of the loss that comes with contest. We could lose our homes and peace of mind, we justify our inactions. We also have to think of our children and what may become of them. We hope a lot and we like to live in peace.
Hope is good and peace is good too so we look forward to them for we are convinced they will come someday. In the mean time – that could mean forever – we strategize, adapt and endure.

Some say to us ‘Ko ti de oju e’ – It has not reached the eyes yet. So we sit since there is no fire under our butts. We the people in the cocoon are peaceful and hopeful.