“SOMETIMES A POEM CAN CHANGE PEOPLES’ LIVES AND FOCUS PEOPLES’ BELIEFS AND IF PEOPLE CAN CHANGE, THAT CAN CHANGE THE WORLD” ADRIAN MITCHELL
“THE BEST TIME TO HAVE PLANTED A TREE WAS TWENTY YEARS AGO. THE SECOND BEST TIME IS NOW!”
AN AFRICAN PROVERB
“NOTHING IN LIFE IS TO BE FEARED. IT IS ONLY TO BE UNDERSTOOD”
JEAN MARIE-CURRIE
“YOU MAY FEEL LIKE DWELLING ON YOUR LIMITS OR YOUR FEARS.DON’T DO IT. A PERFECT PRESCRIPTION FOR A SQUANDERED, UNFULFILLED LIFE IS TO ACCOMMODATE SELF-DEFEATING FEELINGS WHILE UNDERCUTTING YOUR FINEST, MOST PRODUCTIVE ONES”
MARSHA SINETAR
“SINCE YOU GET MORE JOY OUT OF GIVING JOY TO OTHERS, YOU SHOULD PUT A GREAT DEAL OF THOUGHT INTO THE HAPPINESS THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO GIVE”
ROOSEVELT ELEANOR
Sunday, December 19, 2010
JOKERS AND ACES
ACE OF THE NOW (SPORTS, FOOTBALL AND FIFA)
The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) recently awarded the hosting rights of the 2018 and 2022 world cup events to Russia and Qatar respectively.
In reaching these decisions, the central executive committee of the world football body led by its president Sepp Blatter, cited the successful hosting of the event by South Africa in 2010 and the need to engender an even development of the game, as the underlying reasons for the awards.
JOKER OF THE NOW (SPORTS, FOOTBALL AND FIFA)
The brazen indifference shown by football’s governing body to suggestions bordering on the need for changes in the rules and regulations governing the game.
This is coming at the heels of many contentious decisions reached by match officials at some of the games played at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as well the allegations of graft taking leveled against some members of Central Executive Committee, the arm of FIFA responsible for selecting hosts for the World Cup.
The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) recently awarded the hosting rights of the 2018 and 2022 world cup events to Russia and Qatar respectively.
In reaching these decisions, the central executive committee of the world football body led by its president Sepp Blatter, cited the successful hosting of the event by South Africa in 2010 and the need to engender an even development of the game, as the underlying reasons for the awards.
JOKER OF THE NOW (SPORTS, FOOTBALL AND FIFA)
The brazen indifference shown by football’s governing body to suggestions bordering on the need for changes in the rules and regulations governing the game.
This is coming at the heels of many contentious decisions reached by match officials at some of the games played at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as well the allegations of graft taking leveled against some members of Central Executive Committee, the arm of FIFA responsible for selecting hosts for the World Cup.
Monday, December 13, 2010
ZONE POETICA
NIGERIAN CHRONICLES: FORECAST
Peace in Niger Delta
Tranquility in Kano
No erosions in Anambra
Adamawa; meningitis free
Droughtless Sokoto
Lagos minus the bustle
Serenity in Bayelsa
Oyo not missing the terror
A blissful Plateau
An emergent Niger
Religious tolerance in abundance
Food on tables
Money in pockets
Kidnappers; now happy snackers
Corruption; an endangered species
The oil, now for all
A common cause, no more a curse
Our collective till
Now beyond any individual’s kill
Petrol scarcity, an old wives’ tale
Election rigging, in history’s dustbin
The rule of law, no longer an outlaw
A new Nigeria, a land of justice and equal opportunity
Peace in Niger Delta
Tranquility in Kano
No erosions in Anambra
Adamawa; meningitis free
Droughtless Sokoto
Lagos minus the bustle
Serenity in Bayelsa
Oyo not missing the terror
A blissful Plateau
An emergent Niger
Religious tolerance in abundance
Food on tables
Money in pockets
Kidnappers; now happy snackers
Corruption; an endangered species
The oil, now for all
A common cause, no more a curse
Our collective till
Now beyond any individual’s kill
Petrol scarcity, an old wives’ tale
Election rigging, in history’s dustbin
The rule of law, no longer an outlaw
A new Nigeria, a land of justice and equal opportunity
COUNTRY TALK
PHANTOMS, SPIRITS AND AN ELECTION
“Our quest for free and fair elections next year seems to have hit another rough patch!”
“What is the news?”
“Pieces of equipment-known as Direct Data Capturing machines (DCC) - needed by our electoral body, INEC, in conducting next year’s general elections, were reported stolen, after their arrival at the International Airport”
“That’s sad! One would think that equipment as critical as that should have been accorded priority attention”
“And to think that only recently, a princely sum was expended in upgrading security at the airports”
“Any how, security and other relevant agencies at the airport have been passing the buck!
“Typical but who could be behind this? There must be leads or clues, the police could follow!”
“I have important information to share. Do you promise not to tell?”
“In the name of all that is good.”
“A friend’s uncle knows the identities of the perpetrators!”
“What! You must be kidding! Was he at the scene of the crime? That either makes him an accomplice or a star witness”
“Relax my friend! He was in the comfort of his home. He possesses this knowledge with the aid of a device!”
“A device?”
“Known as the SPIRIT-O- METER. With it, he ascertained that the thieves came in as phantoms, waltzed their way through security with the DCC machines and disappeared into thin air!”
“This must be the ninth wonder of the world! So, can the Federal Authorities get to work with the evidence at this man’s disposal?”
“Yes, as a patriotic citizen, he wants the best for the country, especially as the elections draw near”
“Good, so we can bring the criminals to book”
“However he has certain demands!”
“Demands? I thought he wants to help?”
“Just listen! In addition to him being awarded the highest honours in the land, he wants to conduct next year’s general elections – on his own!”
“Conduct next year’s elections all on his own? If the first demand is a bit outlandish, the second must border on the insane! If I might ask, how does he, entirely on his own intend to conduct the voter’s registration exercise, the elections proper and other related tasks!”
“With the aid of the SPIRIT-O-METER; it is programmed to carry out multiple tasks”
“And if his requests are not granted, what happens?”
“He is an optimist and is prepared to wait!”
“These are exciting times we live in”
“And he plans to make them even more exciting!”
“Our quest for free and fair elections next year seems to have hit another rough patch!”
“What is the news?”
“Pieces of equipment-known as Direct Data Capturing machines (DCC) - needed by our electoral body, INEC, in conducting next year’s general elections, were reported stolen, after their arrival at the International Airport”
“That’s sad! One would think that equipment as critical as that should have been accorded priority attention”
“And to think that only recently, a princely sum was expended in upgrading security at the airports”
“Any how, security and other relevant agencies at the airport have been passing the buck!
“Typical but who could be behind this? There must be leads or clues, the police could follow!”
“I have important information to share. Do you promise not to tell?”
“In the name of all that is good.”
“A friend’s uncle knows the identities of the perpetrators!”
“What! You must be kidding! Was he at the scene of the crime? That either makes him an accomplice or a star witness”
“Relax my friend! He was in the comfort of his home. He possesses this knowledge with the aid of a device!”
“A device?”
“Known as the SPIRIT-O- METER. With it, he ascertained that the thieves came in as phantoms, waltzed their way through security with the DCC machines and disappeared into thin air!”
“This must be the ninth wonder of the world! So, can the Federal Authorities get to work with the evidence at this man’s disposal?”
“Yes, as a patriotic citizen, he wants the best for the country, especially as the elections draw near”
“Good, so we can bring the criminals to book”
“However he has certain demands!”
“Demands? I thought he wants to help?”
“Just listen! In addition to him being awarded the highest honours in the land, he wants to conduct next year’s general elections – on his own!”
“Conduct next year’s elections all on his own? If the first demand is a bit outlandish, the second must border on the insane! If I might ask, how does he, entirely on his own intend to conduct the voter’s registration exercise, the elections proper and other related tasks!”
“With the aid of the SPIRIT-O-METER; it is programmed to carry out multiple tasks”
“And if his requests are not granted, what happens?”
“He is an optimist and is prepared to wait!”
“These are exciting times we live in”
“And he plans to make them even more exciting!”
ZONE POETICA
MAN-GUITAR
He strums her
Limbs meeting strings
Is symphony exemplified?
That leaves one stupefied
He fondles her
To find epicenter
Where man and guitar
Speak languages of the
Now and hereafter
He caresses her
Exploring every musical curve
Eyes closed, self lost
A cause at no less a cost
He rides her
She sways at delicate prodding
He is buoyed by imagination running
Together, coasting into lyrical bliss so soothing
He strums her
Limbs meeting strings
Is symphony exemplified?
That leaves one stupefied
He fondles her
To find epicenter
Where man and guitar
Speak languages of the
Now and hereafter
He caresses her
Exploring every musical curve
Eyes closed, self lost
A cause at no less a cost
He rides her
She sways at delicate prodding
He is buoyed by imagination running
Together, coasting into lyrical bliss so soothing
Saturday, December 4, 2010
ZONE POETICA
This poem is dedicated to a lady whose promptings actually propelled me to start blogging!So this is my way of saying a big THANK YOU to her!For certain reasons, i will not state her name here but i trust that when she does get to read this, she will be delighted! Take care, all!
TELL HER
Tell her
America is the land of dreams
Nigeria, her blood
Thicker than water
Is it not the land naija?
Where you did things;
Bare footed, bare-chested
Happy, unfettered
Under moonlight’s watchful approval
Where meal times
Were not mean times.
Fish oil escaping
From between grinning teeth
Leaving imprints (near lasting)
On raiment and heart
Amongst kinsmen and women
But I still understand you
Even though you speak
In strange tongues
They say you’ve been
Bitten by American bug
So you have new friends
Who write and speak like you do
Of signs and letters
That leads to more
Signs and letters, complex
T-e-k-i-n-o-l-o-g-y is good
Since it gives us power
To see your face,
Make out your frame
Hear your voice,
However the optimists may try
Machine spirit cannot
Rival kindred spirit
And always remember that
That bounce in your stride
Bears its roots from
your sense of African pride
So go to the uttermost parts
If you must, but please listen
To that still small voice
That tells you
Home is where your heart is.
Tell her
America is the land of dreams
Nigeria, her blood
Thicker than water
TELL HER
Tell her
America is the land of dreams
Nigeria, her blood
Thicker than water
Is it not the land naija?
Where you did things;
Bare footed, bare-chested
Happy, unfettered
Under moonlight’s watchful approval
Where meal times
Were not mean times.
Fish oil escaping
From between grinning teeth
Leaving imprints (near lasting)
On raiment and heart
Amongst kinsmen and women
But I still understand you
Even though you speak
In strange tongues
They say you’ve been
Bitten by American bug
So you have new friends
Who write and speak like you do
Of signs and letters
That leads to more
Signs and letters, complex
T-e-k-i-n-o-l-o-g-y is good
Since it gives us power
To see your face,
Make out your frame
Hear your voice,
However the optimists may try
Machine spirit cannot
Rival kindred spirit
And always remember that
That bounce in your stride
Bears its roots from
your sense of African pride
So go to the uttermost parts
If you must, but please listen
To that still small voice
That tells you
Home is where your heart is.
Tell her
America is the land of dreams
Nigeria, her blood
Thicker than water
COUNTRY TALK
MANDATES AND RULINGS
“Nigeria is experiencing change and quite rapidly too”
“What do you mean?”
“I will ignore that question. And the institution behind this sweeping change is the judiciary”
“Oh you mean the court rulings that removed certain governors and installed others in their place!”
“Thank God you are through booting. I think the courts could win awards this year, but they sure are stirring up a lot of dust”
“And fear and possibly enemies, if I might add”
“To say the least, the fear of the courts is now the beginning of wisdom for our dear governors”
“But at least the true wishes of the electorate have prevailed”
“Even though some rulings came at the twilight of the tenures of some of the ousted governors!”
“Remember that the wheels of justice grind slowly but surely!”
“But I have a nagging fear”
“And what might that be?”
“It may embolden other classes of people to seek changes in the status quo, even if for the fun of it”
“I am lost. All that has happened is of a political nature.”
“…..that could fast spread to other facets of life. Wives could seek greater rights in marriages, children could agitate against corporal punishment and adult supervision, and the possibilities are endless!”
“Aha, I see. And I guess this has nothing to do with the demands for more money, made by your wife and supported by your kids”
“Do not insult me! What happened in my home has nothing to do with this!”
“Do not blow your top my friend! It is just that the writing is on the wall!”
“What writing?”
“That the time is up for those who steal power and authority and then go ahead to misuse or abuse it!”
“Implying…..?”
“…That your fears could come to pass and you could wake up one morning to a knock at your door only to welcome a man brandishing legal papers making him the substantive husband and father to your wife and kids”
“ You are insane! I am out of here.”
“Nigeria is experiencing change and quite rapidly too”
“What do you mean?”
“I will ignore that question. And the institution behind this sweeping change is the judiciary”
“Oh you mean the court rulings that removed certain governors and installed others in their place!”
“Thank God you are through booting. I think the courts could win awards this year, but they sure are stirring up a lot of dust”
“And fear and possibly enemies, if I might add”
“To say the least, the fear of the courts is now the beginning of wisdom for our dear governors”
“But at least the true wishes of the electorate have prevailed”
“Even though some rulings came at the twilight of the tenures of some of the ousted governors!”
“Remember that the wheels of justice grind slowly but surely!”
“But I have a nagging fear”
“And what might that be?”
“It may embolden other classes of people to seek changes in the status quo, even if for the fun of it”
“I am lost. All that has happened is of a political nature.”
“…..that could fast spread to other facets of life. Wives could seek greater rights in marriages, children could agitate against corporal punishment and adult supervision, and the possibilities are endless!”
“Aha, I see. And I guess this has nothing to do with the demands for more money, made by your wife and supported by your kids”
“Do not insult me! What happened in my home has nothing to do with this!”
“Do not blow your top my friend! It is just that the writing is on the wall!”
“What writing?”
“That the time is up for those who steal power and authority and then go ahead to misuse or abuse it!”
“Implying…..?”
“…That your fears could come to pass and you could wake up one morning to a knock at your door only to welcome a man brandishing legal papers making him the substantive husband and father to your wife and kids”
“ You are insane! I am out of here.”
COUNTRY TALK
WHOEVER GOES A BORROWING…
“Please tell me again what deal the Obasanjo presidency led by former finance minister Okonjo Iweala reach with the World Bank and other global financiers in 2006 or so?”
“I think in summary, it involved a cancellation of our debts after the country paid an agreed sum of eighteen billion dollars or so!”
“So in other words, we were to be given a clean slate”
“Yes”
“No more debt servicing payments”
“Yes”
“And did we actually make that part payment?”
“Yes we did-it was even reported in the papers”
“Then why is the present administration saying the country is currently indebted to the tune of some trillions of naira-I think four or so.”
“Hmmn beats me”
“And it is currently planning to borrow some more money from the World Bank, in partnership with some state governments to fund certain ‘developmental’ projects”
“It is a case of seeing less as one inquires more”
“So what’s being done with all our oil money?”
“Don’t you get it; it is used to wash away the stain from oil-soiled hands”
“Definitely not the hands of the great numbers of Nigerians”
“The projects you talked about-will the money be expended on them?”
“Or on bullet-proof cars?”
“Or on the emoluments of public officials?”
“Or on preparations for the upcoming elections?”
“Which ever way we look at it, we maybe in for another round of official posturing on why our national earnings are depleting due to our financial obligations to our creditors”
“I have a bright idea!”
“What is it?”
“What is the population of Nigeria?”
“A conservative estimate puts it at a hundred and thirty million people”
“Good! The government should obtain financial instruments of a million naira for each Nigerian”
“You must be out of your mind! Do you realize that that will amount to approximately a hundred and thirty trillion naira?”
“Look my friend, financial experts will work out the modalities but it could be done in phases; commencing with the employed or unemployed, adults or teenagers and so on.”
“You must be from outer space!”
“Please, see the possibilities-businesses will spring up, the demand and supply chain will be active and the economy will be rejuvenated”
“What you are proposing is a one way ticket to the land of GIGA inflation!”
“Well it should be duly considered! Still on this discussion, I’ll have to talk to the owner of Mama ‘Eat Good’ restaurant, down the street”
“Why?”
“To begin negotiations.”
“Negotiations over what?”
I happen to owe her a substantial amount of money over food and drinks I have consumed”
“And what are you proposing?”
“It is quite simple! For every four bottles of beer I have consumed, I pay for only one while she writes off the cost of all the plates of pepper soup I have taken!”
“What makes you think she will agree to this outrageous deal of yours?”
“Simple! If the debts of a whole country can be written- off, how much less those of a mere mortal like me?”
“You are not Nigeria and she is not the World Bank. Pay up your debts my friend!”
“It will work; I tell you it will work! Just wait and see!”
“Please tell me again what deal the Obasanjo presidency led by former finance minister Okonjo Iweala reach with the World Bank and other global financiers in 2006 or so?”
“I think in summary, it involved a cancellation of our debts after the country paid an agreed sum of eighteen billion dollars or so!”
“So in other words, we were to be given a clean slate”
“Yes”
“No more debt servicing payments”
“Yes”
“And did we actually make that part payment?”
“Yes we did-it was even reported in the papers”
“Then why is the present administration saying the country is currently indebted to the tune of some trillions of naira-I think four or so.”
“Hmmn beats me”
“And it is currently planning to borrow some more money from the World Bank, in partnership with some state governments to fund certain ‘developmental’ projects”
“It is a case of seeing less as one inquires more”
“So what’s being done with all our oil money?”
“Don’t you get it; it is used to wash away the stain from oil-soiled hands”
“Definitely not the hands of the great numbers of Nigerians”
“The projects you talked about-will the money be expended on them?”
“Or on bullet-proof cars?”
“Or on the emoluments of public officials?”
“Or on preparations for the upcoming elections?”
“Which ever way we look at it, we maybe in for another round of official posturing on why our national earnings are depleting due to our financial obligations to our creditors”
“I have a bright idea!”
“What is it?”
“What is the population of Nigeria?”
“A conservative estimate puts it at a hundred and thirty million people”
“Good! The government should obtain financial instruments of a million naira for each Nigerian”
“You must be out of your mind! Do you realize that that will amount to approximately a hundred and thirty trillion naira?”
“Look my friend, financial experts will work out the modalities but it could be done in phases; commencing with the employed or unemployed, adults or teenagers and so on.”
“You must be from outer space!”
“Please, see the possibilities-businesses will spring up, the demand and supply chain will be active and the economy will be rejuvenated”
“What you are proposing is a one way ticket to the land of GIGA inflation!”
“Well it should be duly considered! Still on this discussion, I’ll have to talk to the owner of Mama ‘Eat Good’ restaurant, down the street”
“Why?”
“To begin negotiations.”
“Negotiations over what?”
I happen to owe her a substantial amount of money over food and drinks I have consumed”
“And what are you proposing?”
“It is quite simple! For every four bottles of beer I have consumed, I pay for only one while she writes off the cost of all the plates of pepper soup I have taken!”
“What makes you think she will agree to this outrageous deal of yours?”
“Simple! If the debts of a whole country can be written- off, how much less those of a mere mortal like me?”
“You are not Nigeria and she is not the World Bank. Pay up your debts my friend!”
“It will work; I tell you it will work! Just wait and see!”
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