09.01 HRS, 30th October
The biggest risk we all take in life and destiny is sleep. I was going through my journal yesterday and I saw one of my writings in the journal I did while my stay in Taraba state of Nigeria lasted. This writing was originally done June 2nd 2009. I hope you find it interesting reading:
As I sit on my students’ bench and table in Kwambai, the sleepy village in Taraba state where I presently serve my country, Nigeria, I’m kind of remembering the photo finish that my day was yesterday. Full and lots of activities and lots of strenuous exercises.
The way I drifted off to sleep and finally dreamland yesterday was shocking. Is that how we sleep not to wake up again? Na wa O!
So all the ambitious rants and plans just end up like that. I mean it could even have finished before starting. Yes it can, at least you sleep. What happens if one day I sleep and wake up in the other world, a world farther than dreamland?
I’ve never visited there though but I know that other world is not a world of dreams, not a world of ambitions, not that world of rat race where we the hustle and bustle ends nowhere.
Do you want to know the truth? Yesterday night made me think of my life in that other world where the only thing you will not do is WORRY. That world where you don’t have to bother about paying bills – electricity, water, children’s fees, cable TV bills and even ashewo and gigolo bills.
That world where the school you attended and the level of your education does not matter. The world in which you do not need a wife to make you happy; where you do not need a girlfriend not to talk of her getting angry because you have not called her today. A world different from this in all areas and ramifications.
Truth be told, I got scared when I woke up this morning feeling so scared. What if I drifted into that eternal sleep, what would have happened? Okay, people would’ve cried abi? Is it all of them that will cry because they feel good about me? NOPE!
Many of the tears (if I get any) would be for people’s selfish end. That guy who thought we could have done something together and has now seen the hope of that faded. That beauty that has been swaying her generously loaded bust and hips to attract me would cry because she finally would not have that chance. Those folks whose moods improve when they see me would also spare me a sob or two although it will not be because they love me, it’ll be because of what they’ll miss in me.
The good thing however is that no one, I mean nobody is irreplaceable in life. Some folks would be like “you see, see where he has ended it after all the posings and formings”. “I think we told him to relax a bit and live less on the fast lane”. Some would even be indifferent, “too bad he’s dead”, they’ll say.
But wait a minute, can you try write your OBITUARY yourself? Be honest with yourself, you know where you have been good and otherwise. Your obituary is not that glossy poster they put in front of your house and office when you die, it is not what people write in the condolence register (na lie full that register). Your obituary, my obituary, our obituary does not even have to relate to what happened in the mortuary, it is what people say of the kind of life you lived – “that boy was just wonderful, why did I not allow him to get a feel of me?”, young Eves would say. A lot of other people would say other stuff like “Did he forget that the end would come one day?”
Try evaluate yourself in a very honest way. As for me, I know how mine would read; I know the BUTS and FLAWS; I know the positive side of it. What I want to do is change my buts to a more positive side so that when I sleep and wake in another world one day, I’ll look at you and you and hear you speak well of me because life after death is not the number of houses you built while you bestrode the land; not the number of girls you had; not the number of guys that chased after you; it is not the number of folks that cry before you are planted; it is even not how attractive, unique and beautiful your glass casket looks. It is what folks say after you are gone.
What will be said of you? You’re asking me? I’ll still be around for some more time but I’ll make sure people say good and remember me for good me when I just go and long after I am gone.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
BETWEEN FIRST BANK AND CITIZEN DUROJAYE JOB ADEYEMI
I saw in one of the dailies this week and on an internet forum where I get to rub minds with people what First Bank has said about citizen extraordinaire, Durojaye Job Adeyemi, a HND II student of The Polytechnic Ibadan.
It is quite annoying that First Bank, a bank that has been in operation since 1894 will come out to wash her dirty linen in the public. I wonder what good they think they’re trying to do their already battered image by coming out to say Durojaye Job Adeyemi wanted to play a fast one by withdrawing more than he had on his account.
Now, let’s get a bit rational here. If it were to be any of these other people, the accusers, that saw a balance as huge as that on their accounts, would they not have withdrawn it? It becomes surer that they would do worse than Job is being accused of here because they are well versed and experienced in things like this.
While trying to protect their corporate integrity, I’m so certain that First Bank did not think of the outcry that would follow the ill-advised comment that Job is a fraud. I am not amazed though, the image maker of the Bank and his friends in the Press would have earned quite a few thousands of Naira to tarnish Job’s image, to bring down someone who is a million times more credible than they are.
I am happy quite some internet media have stepped into the issue. Newspapers have been publishing vox-pop to show First Bank the error of their ways, a popular website, www.saharareporters.com has also lent its voice to the debacle.
What I see here is a case of pot calling the kettle black, the asin (a breed of rat that smells) telling the obuko (Yoruba name for the he-goat) he stinks and whatever can also be related. I think, or better still, I know First Bank is trying to cover their own ineptitude by demonizing Job but no matter what they do, this guy that has got praises and knocks in equal proportions from Nigerians (praises from me though), has worked his way into Nigeria’s Hall of Fame while First Bank has willingly walked into the Hall of Shame.
Citizen Job’s Regional Overseer did not leap to his defence; he jumped and even flew to his defence. The comment credited to him in one of the dailies smacked of real anger and disappointment at First Bank’s position. Nearly everyone who commented on the issue rose in staunch support of the guy while knocking and bashing First Bank.
The Regional Overseer even claimed that it was not the first time Job was handling big money. “His department, the Youth department was entrusted with N1.2 million and they bought the church a befitting bus for everyone to see”, the Regional Overseer said.
I spoke to someone who retired from the Banking industry 10 years ago after working there for 19 years and in her exact words, “it is a fraud they should investigate. They were possibly waiting for him to come and complain. It’s something that was perpetrated possibly from the headquarters or the specific branch. First Bank is only trying to cover-up their staffers who were involved at the expense of Job”.
It is a classic case of Nigeria. First Bank is using the press because they have the cash to blow on the useless venture. Job Durojaye has no one. He has God and God alone. They only are trying to blackmail the guy and cover their own people in a bid to paint the innocent man black. It is a shame an institution of First Bank’s standing will do that.
From the least ranked staffer at First Bank to Mr. Bisi Onasanya, the MD, they have dragged themselves in the mud. Did they ever think of the counter-effect of the press war they wanted to start? Now cases will start in the Courts and lawyers will feed fat on the Bank again. This is avoidable waste.
What does it cause First Bank to celebrate Job for who he is? They would have been pardoned and the case would have encouraged some semi- honest people to do what should be done in cases like this. Right in my office, some guys engaged themselves in a shouting match over Job’s honesty. Some called him names and others defended him.
If the money were to be mistakenly wired into the account of a politician or one of our so-called big men, would they have returned the cash? Would they have screamed? Would they have told anyone? First Bank lost the chance to celebrate a true Nigerian icon and idol by resorting to petty lies, playing on the intelligence of millions of Nigerians. Whoever advised them to tell such a lie should forfeit his certificates and go back to Primary school.
I wonder if they discussed with their Legal department before their P.R department went to the press. If their Legal Advisers were privy to that, then they should possibly be de-robed and sent back to farm in their respective villages, Fat don dey enter their brain for inside office, make sun wire dem small.
For citizen Job, if the God of fire will agree, let him institute legal proceedings against First Bank. At least quite a number of us know what he can sue for. If he doesn’t want to do that, let him take it as the “Trials of Modern day Job”. However, methinks the NBA should do something to cut First Bank to size.
If First Bank wants to hear anything from an ‘enemy’, as they would call me, I think they should put their house in order. Their Inspectorate Department can do a very good job by getting to the root of the matter. Or how do we explain a situation in which about 37 percent of a Bank’s capital base is paid into someone’s account? To make matters worse, they now had to resort to babyish excuses of an error that all First Bank ATMs were credited with N9.3 billion at the time Job went to make his withdrawal. It is quite disheartening that an excuse as foolish as that will be given by First Bank, of all banks.
Those found culpable should be made to face the full weight of the law except they are ‘untouchables’ like some of us are in this country. The only pain in my heart is our penchant for making good people look bad while exalting the wicked. It is the same thing that makes our judges give a man who steals a N100 bathroom slippers a 6-month jail term with hard labour while they give a Bank Executive who stole billions of depositors’ funds an 18-month jail term which runs concurrently.
These dumb-heads who advised First Bank to blackmail and demonize Job are wrong and cannot be right again. Citizen Job, you are and remain an exemplary man. Case closed!
It is quite annoying that First Bank, a bank that has been in operation since 1894 will come out to wash her dirty linen in the public. I wonder what good they think they’re trying to do their already battered image by coming out to say Durojaye Job Adeyemi wanted to play a fast one by withdrawing more than he had on his account.
Now, let’s get a bit rational here. If it were to be any of these other people, the accusers, that saw a balance as huge as that on their accounts, would they not have withdrawn it? It becomes surer that they would do worse than Job is being accused of here because they are well versed and experienced in things like this.
While trying to protect their corporate integrity, I’m so certain that First Bank did not think of the outcry that would follow the ill-advised comment that Job is a fraud. I am not amazed though, the image maker of the Bank and his friends in the Press would have earned quite a few thousands of Naira to tarnish Job’s image, to bring down someone who is a million times more credible than they are.
I am happy quite some internet media have stepped into the issue. Newspapers have been publishing vox-pop to show First Bank the error of their ways, a popular website, www.saharareporters.com has also lent its voice to the debacle.
What I see here is a case of pot calling the kettle black, the asin (a breed of rat that smells) telling the obuko (Yoruba name for the he-goat) he stinks and whatever can also be related. I think, or better still, I know First Bank is trying to cover their own ineptitude by demonizing Job but no matter what they do, this guy that has got praises and knocks in equal proportions from Nigerians (praises from me though), has worked his way into Nigeria’s Hall of Fame while First Bank has willingly walked into the Hall of Shame.
Citizen Job’s Regional Overseer did not leap to his defence; he jumped and even flew to his defence. The comment credited to him in one of the dailies smacked of real anger and disappointment at First Bank’s position. Nearly everyone who commented on the issue rose in staunch support of the guy while knocking and bashing First Bank.
The Regional Overseer even claimed that it was not the first time Job was handling big money. “His department, the Youth department was entrusted with N1.2 million and they bought the church a befitting bus for everyone to see”, the Regional Overseer said.
I spoke to someone who retired from the Banking industry 10 years ago after working there for 19 years and in her exact words, “it is a fraud they should investigate. They were possibly waiting for him to come and complain. It’s something that was perpetrated possibly from the headquarters or the specific branch. First Bank is only trying to cover-up their staffers who were involved at the expense of Job”.
It is a classic case of Nigeria. First Bank is using the press because they have the cash to blow on the useless venture. Job Durojaye has no one. He has God and God alone. They only are trying to blackmail the guy and cover their own people in a bid to paint the innocent man black. It is a shame an institution of First Bank’s standing will do that.
From the least ranked staffer at First Bank to Mr. Bisi Onasanya, the MD, they have dragged themselves in the mud. Did they ever think of the counter-effect of the press war they wanted to start? Now cases will start in the Courts and lawyers will feed fat on the Bank again. This is avoidable waste.
What does it cause First Bank to celebrate Job for who he is? They would have been pardoned and the case would have encouraged some semi- honest people to do what should be done in cases like this. Right in my office, some guys engaged themselves in a shouting match over Job’s honesty. Some called him names and others defended him.
If the money were to be mistakenly wired into the account of a politician or one of our so-called big men, would they have returned the cash? Would they have screamed? Would they have told anyone? First Bank lost the chance to celebrate a true Nigerian icon and idol by resorting to petty lies, playing on the intelligence of millions of Nigerians. Whoever advised them to tell such a lie should forfeit his certificates and go back to Primary school.
I wonder if they discussed with their Legal department before their P.R department went to the press. If their Legal Advisers were privy to that, then they should possibly be de-robed and sent back to farm in their respective villages, Fat don dey enter their brain for inside office, make sun wire dem small.
For citizen Job, if the God of fire will agree, let him institute legal proceedings against First Bank. At least quite a number of us know what he can sue for. If he doesn’t want to do that, let him take it as the “Trials of Modern day Job”. However, methinks the NBA should do something to cut First Bank to size.
If First Bank wants to hear anything from an ‘enemy’, as they would call me, I think they should put their house in order. Their Inspectorate Department can do a very good job by getting to the root of the matter. Or how do we explain a situation in which about 37 percent of a Bank’s capital base is paid into someone’s account? To make matters worse, they now had to resort to babyish excuses of an error that all First Bank ATMs were credited with N9.3 billion at the time Job went to make his withdrawal. It is quite disheartening that an excuse as foolish as that will be given by First Bank, of all banks.
Those found culpable should be made to face the full weight of the law except they are ‘untouchables’ like some of us are in this country. The only pain in my heart is our penchant for making good people look bad while exalting the wicked. It is the same thing that makes our judges give a man who steals a N100 bathroom slippers a 6-month jail term with hard labour while they give a Bank Executive who stole billions of depositors’ funds an 18-month jail term which runs concurrently.
These dumb-heads who advised First Bank to blackmail and demonize Job are wrong and cannot be right again. Citizen Job, you are and remain an exemplary man. Case closed!
Friday, October 15, 2010
OCTOBER 9 REFLECTI
October 9. 13:43 HRS
I am presently at work, resting after a very heavy routine operation called grading (separating the big fowls from the small ones). I am waiting for my closing hour. However, while I wait, I’ve just thought of writing ‘something’ so that the time won’t look as if it isn’t moving at all.
To do this writing thing though, I must get my mind off the yabis and jests going on around me here. I’ll try do that as I let you into what’s on my mind today.
It’s been a torrid few weeks, a very difficult period for the better part of the year and a testing and trying period for the better part of one year. Emotions running high only to get suppressed, showing care, love and attention only to be rejected, getting told point blank in some regards that you are not wanted again, being told “I want out” to your face by the one you love and cherish. Now you know where I’m going.
In situations like that, everyone becomes an adviser. Worse still, those who don’t even have an idea of what love is about also giving you their own ‘piece of advise’. People who take ideas from you start blabbing and telling you what to do. It’s that bad. To make it badder than worse, the folks you tell and think they’ll give you a shoulder go gaga once told. Isn’t that kinda hellish?
I was chanced to spend some time with a friend, or better put a sister and confidant some days ago. While rubbing minds about life, we talked about our relationships and that really set the tone rolling. We discussed a lot about things in that regard. That was when our emotions almost got in the way of reason. She bared her mind and so did I.
That was when I really remembered the emotional challenges I’ve been facing for some time now, the emotional turmoil I’ve been coping with for quite some time.
You know things like not giving shit but having to take shit. Showing love but getting none, giving care but getting thrashed and a lot of the opposites that come with loving someone. My confidant discussed her problem and I also discussed mine. We shared our problems, our burdens, our secret disappointments, our hopes and dreams and thinkings, our calculations and the likes. I talked, she talked, we gisted as the time ticked away and crept into the early hours of the afternoon.
We’ve got similar problems but it’s just that while I have mine with my Eve of about 6 years, she has her with her Adam of a decade. From what we discussed, both would have wanted that perfect relationship, devoid of rancours, pains and shames.
That one in which your partner would appreciate everything you do, everything about you. That perfect relationship in which your partner would take you as you are, boast with your strength, see your weakness as her and work on them with you. Love you and you only. Enjoy the good times, face the challenges head long and similar things.
That will never be so anyway, everyone has a place where their shoe pinches. A proverb in my place translates as ‘all lizards crawl on their belly but we can’t know the one whose belly aches’. The perfect relationship can never ever be found here on earth, I’ve never been to heaven though so I can’t say if we’ll have any there.
So why all these you wanna ask me?it’s to tell you the problems you have in your relationship isn’t peculiar to you alone.E everyone has their own ‘stuff’ to cope with, I mean everyone, even the so-called model relationships. Don’t let that problem destroy you, I’m trying to overcome mine. As my mangled English-speaking brothers would say “no gree am destroy you”.
I should pack my bag and head homewards, it’s been a very hectic day.
I am presently at work, resting after a very heavy routine operation called grading (separating the big fowls from the small ones). I am waiting for my closing hour. However, while I wait, I’ve just thought of writing ‘something’ so that the time won’t look as if it isn’t moving at all.
To do this writing thing though, I must get my mind off the yabis and jests going on around me here. I’ll try do that as I let you into what’s on my mind today.
It’s been a torrid few weeks, a very difficult period for the better part of the year and a testing and trying period for the better part of one year. Emotions running high only to get suppressed, showing care, love and attention only to be rejected, getting told point blank in some regards that you are not wanted again, being told “I want out” to your face by the one you love and cherish. Now you know where I’m going.
In situations like that, everyone becomes an adviser. Worse still, those who don’t even have an idea of what love is about also giving you their own ‘piece of advise’. People who take ideas from you start blabbing and telling you what to do. It’s that bad. To make it badder than worse, the folks you tell and think they’ll give you a shoulder go gaga once told. Isn’t that kinda hellish?
I was chanced to spend some time with a friend, or better put a sister and confidant some days ago. While rubbing minds about life, we talked about our relationships and that really set the tone rolling. We discussed a lot about things in that regard. That was when our emotions almost got in the way of reason. She bared her mind and so did I.
That was when I really remembered the emotional challenges I’ve been facing for some time now, the emotional turmoil I’ve been coping with for quite some time.
You know things like not giving shit but having to take shit. Showing love but getting none, giving care but getting thrashed and a lot of the opposites that come with loving someone. My confidant discussed her problem and I also discussed mine. We shared our problems, our burdens, our secret disappointments, our hopes and dreams and thinkings, our calculations and the likes. I talked, she talked, we gisted as the time ticked away and crept into the early hours of the afternoon.
We’ve got similar problems but it’s just that while I have mine with my Eve of about 6 years, she has her with her Adam of a decade. From what we discussed, both would have wanted that perfect relationship, devoid of rancours, pains and shames.
That one in which your partner would appreciate everything you do, everything about you. That perfect relationship in which your partner would take you as you are, boast with your strength, see your weakness as her and work on them with you. Love you and you only. Enjoy the good times, face the challenges head long and similar things.
That will never be so anyway, everyone has a place where their shoe pinches. A proverb in my place translates as ‘all lizards crawl on their belly but we can’t know the one whose belly aches’. The perfect relationship can never ever be found here on earth, I’ve never been to heaven though so I can’t say if we’ll have any there.
So why all these you wanna ask me?it’s to tell you the problems you have in your relationship isn’t peculiar to you alone.E everyone has their own ‘stuff’ to cope with, I mean everyone, even the so-called model relationships. Don’t let that problem destroy you, I’m trying to overcome mine. As my mangled English-speaking brothers would say “no gree am destroy you”.
I should pack my bag and head homewards, it’s been a very hectic day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)