WRITERS' BLOC

WRITING ADVICE FROM THE GURUS
For those of us bitten by the creative writing bug, here are a few tips from fore bearers to help you on the way.

1. Sentences Must Be Dramatic
Sentences are not different enough to hold the attention unless they are dramatic. No ingenuity of varying structure will do. All that can save them is the speaking tone of voice somewhere entangled in the words and fastened to the page for the ear of the imagination.
ROBERT FROST

2. You Get Ideas All the Time
You get ideas from daydreaming. You get ideas from being bored. You get ideas all the time. The only difference between writers and other people is we notice when we are doing it.
NEIL GAIMAN

3. Stay Away From Irony or Satire
Stay away from irony or satire. There is very little money in it. You are likely to wind up with reviews-like some of mine- that say, “I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry”. There is no such question in Dickens. Most readers would prefer to know exactly where they stand, where the author stands and how to respond. Ergo, no irony permitted.
BRUCE JAY FRIEDMAN

Culled from the Sun Newspapers on Sunday ( A Nigerian tabloid)

HMMMMNNNN..

THUS FAR…

I would like to give a brief account of my journey so far in the world of PHOTOGRAPHY, ever since I gained access to a digital camera at short notice! My avowed quest to go one better over time- ‘ to own a piece of that fleeting moment’, has seen me capture footages that would otherwise have been lost forever, even though they added their noble bit to the passage of time! In addition, some of such footages have found their way to a number of photography competitions and galleries, where I hope to hone my creative eye! Therefore, I present to you an abridged photo gallery of my inquisitiveness that covers such themes and everything in-between, from human interaction to animal behaviour and nature watching!
I have to add though that I need to get one of those high tech, high performance digital cameras in order to lavishly highlight the beauty of nuance and detail! So help me God!

Zone Poetica

SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE

I have a feeling
That this might work;
Ideas, innovation, plans
Strategy, perception, intuition
Meeting needs, pricing, freedom

There is this nudging
Right on my insides
That this should work;
Dead ends, challenges, frustration
Brick walls, spiraling costs, doubts
Fears, failures, hitches, even defeat

A humming bird reveals
“Do as your heart tells you”
And i determine that
This must work
Legacy, tradition, creation
Satisfaction, trail blazing, history
Norm shattering, peace with pieces

Curious Cat

CURIOUS CAT
1. In 1977, Cairo had 208,000 telephones but no telephone book.
2. Leonardo da Vinci could write with one hand and draw the other at the same time.
3. The Arthur Ashe Stadium is the largest Tennis Stadium in the World.
4. In the 16th and 17th century Turkey, drinking coffee was a crime punishable by death.
5. Seven percent of the entire Irish barley crop is used in the production of Guinness.
6. Russian Roulette is a dangerous game in which one shoots at one’s own head with a gun containing a bullet in only one of its chambers, without knowing if it will fire or not!
7. There are five trillion trillion atoms in one pound of iron.
8. A flying swan could overtake a cheetah at full pelt.
9. The average bank cashier loses €175 a year.
10. The world’s largest library is the ‘Library of Congress’ in the United States of America, accommodating over 29 million books, 2.7 million audio and video recordings, 12 million photographs, 4.8 million maps and 57 million manuscripts while adding 7,000 items to its collection!

SOUL SAYINGS

SOUL SAYINGS

‘Bullies are always to be found where there are cowards’
Mahatma Gandhi
‘Ability hits the mark where presumption overshoots and indifference falls short’ Nicholas of Cusa

‘The absent are never without fault nor the present without excuse’ Benjamin Franklin

‘Friends, though absent, are still present’
Cicero
‘They are able because they think they are’
Vergi

‘Forty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old age’
Victor Hugo

‘Never give advice in a crowd’
Arabian proverb

‘In times of prosperity friends will be plenty; in times of adversity, not one in twenty’
James Howell

A SHORT STORY

ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS

The room they were in, seemed to heighten the palpable tension…..and dread they felt. It was a tad small, poorly ventilated, reeked of the smell of damp earth and its walls featured a network of faded parches, cracks and crevices. In addition, it seemed that the walls could speak as well- their voices gaining audience in Mary’s sub-conscious! In a voice she could barely recognize as hers, she remarked “Peter, please hold me! I am a bit scared”. “You do not have to be, my love! We are in this together; you and me, forever!” he soothingly reassured her.

Soon they interlocked in an embrace that was too intense for words to describe. Starry-eyed, they both wished that the moment presented other alternatives, not as deciding, not as consequential. “This is the only way out” Peter said, in a voice that croaked with pain and anguish.” I wish we had met under different circumstances, in a different place, at another time” Mary sobbed a response- “But is this situation irredeemable; have we actually reached that point of no return?” She asked no one in particular. “Our love has been the anchor upon which our relationship has weathered every storm, over and over again. However the attacks have persisted for too long and in order to preserve the sanctity of our oath, we must resort to this action,” he surmised a reply. “Yes, the oath we swore to,” she painfully recollected, “giving of ourselves to each other, in love and affection, in life as well as in death!”

The sound of that unnerved her and as she looked into his eyes, she could sense the resoluteness of his will, nay, of their will! He cropped her in his arms again and reassured her of the appropriateness of the action they were about to undertake, since love conquers all, forgives all. Soon their lips locked in a passionate kiss, so intense that their intertwined bodies throbbed from the thrilling sensation of the act as well as a morbid fear of the course they had chosen! After what seemed to be an eternity, they disengaged and he reached for two glass cups, on a table close-by. “I assure you my love that the effect of this mixture will give a little pain and before long we shall be together in another world, free from all the interferences forever!” he stated matter-of-factly. He handed her a cup and both proceeded to reaffirm the love they felt and shared once more for the last time. They chinked their glasses in a toast and for a brief period that seemed frozen in time, they gazed at each other. In unison, they lifted the cups, signifying the beginning of the end .Peter directs his cup to his mouth and closes his eyes as the deathly mixture made its way into him! He opened his eyes and gave a smile. However, something had gone wrong and as the smile gave way to perplexity then a frown, the enormity of the situation dawned on him: Mary had not drunk the poisoned mixture! She stood silently, cup in hand, tears in her eyes and remarked “I am sorry my love. I can’t do this, please forgive me!”

However, there was little time to comprehend all that was happening as he dropped to his knees, the poison having begun its destructive assignment in him. He could sense life sipping out of him but not in his eyes, for they bore in them the motley mix of anger, sorrow, betrayal and anguish. And these very eyes were transfixed on her. As he succumbed further to the lethal effects of the concoction, all Mary could do was hide her face in her hands, in bid to shield her eyes and her heart from that glare. It was too late; though, for his eyes remained open even in death and his parted lips seemed to have spoken her name in anguish, how-be-it for the last time!

Eerily she felt obligated to make Peter’s exit from the world a bit dignified, “he deserves to rest in peace, his eyes should not remain open. I have to close them” she mused. However, she knew deep down in her heart that she could not afford to have his stare etched in her memory, indelibly! She stooped by his side and as she stretched out a hand to close his eyes, he suddenly grabbed her by the arms in a last fit of involuntary spasm, his eyes locked on hers! Screaming in fright, she forces herself free from his grip even as she stumbles backwards in the process. She ploughed her way furiously away from the now still remains of Peter but worse seemed to be in store! The voices had returned in her head in greater intensity as she beat a hasty retreat, taunting and jeering her! Moreover, she could not tell if they were random or that of Peter. All she knew with a certainty was her need to leave that room as well all the madness and torture quickly!

Still on the floor, she knocked the table over to get to her veil and hat, inadvertently spilling her cup of poison! Crawling on all fours, teary-eyed and gasping for breadth, she soon reached the door! Standing on wobbly knees, she paused to comport herself, concealing her identity with the veil and hat. As she opened the door, she casts a long, mournful look at the body at the center of the room, as if performing an act of penance! Then she hurriedly shut the door behind her and made her way into the sanctuary of the surrounding still darkness!

ZONE POETICA

( IN MEMORY OF THOSE NIGERIANS FELLED BY THE VIOLENCE THAT ERUPTED IN SOME PARTS OF THE NIGERIA, IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE 2011 GENERAL ELECTIONS.)


DO NOT WEEP FOR US

Do not weep for us as we have gone away
To a distant land
Where you cannot hold our hands
We, who once sojourned on these naija sands,
Can only hope our dirges; will be sung by a national band

Do not weep for us because we gave our best
We did not go down timidly, with arms at rest
For our executioners seemed so possessed
As if in a hurry to accomplish some urgent national quest

Do not weep for us because we are no more
Nevertheless, if you do forget us, we will not feel sore
For being a Nigerian at times
Could be such a big chore
One thing we ask
Let us remain treasured in your hearts’ core

Do not weep for us but sing the national anthem
If it makes you feel any better, convene a gathering that is solemn
However, go beyond the rhetoric of seeking whom to condemn
And address salient national issues in tandem


Do not weep for us and our labours past
We may not be the heroes standing last
Do well to spread the peace message fast
And begin a new Nigerian drama, complete with crew and cast

Do not weep for us because we left in a hurry
But this monstrous event happened in a flurry
And their mercy, we tried in vain to curry
So we bequeath to you, our remains to bury.

Do not weep for us; rather look up life’s golden rule
Though we have lost our place on Nigeria’s stool
Erect structures on things that make us wise, not fools
For we will never forget Nigeria,
The place of our birth; the land of our death.

ACE OF THE DAY (Kanu Nwankwo, Cardiology Hospital)
A distinguished former member of the Super Eagles (the senior men’s football team of Nigeria) has concluded plans to establish a cardiology center through his foundation (Kanu Heart Foundation {KNF}) and the support of friends! Considering the fact that a heart condition could have ended his professional football career and even his life some years ago, it comes as no surprise that he has chosen this course of action. Only hopes that more philanthropic gestures like this will come from the rich and famous as part a holistic corporate social responsibility!



JOKER OF THE DAY (Nigerian Government)
The Federal Authorities in Nigeria must receive heavy knocks for the lip service it has paid to revamping the country’s healthcare sector! Critical health conditions requiring specialized care such as heart problems, kidney failure and the like have compelled many Nigerians to seek medical attention abroad, usually at great costs! The situation is further exacerbated when public officials depart our shores, for routine medical check-ups! Kanu Nwankwo hinted that it would costs about N5Bn to set-up the cardiology centre, an amount that is not beyond the capabilities of a nation that is the sixth biggest oil-producer worldwide. What is required is the will and sincerity of purpose to effectively, efficiently and equitably utilize the resources of the country for the well-being of Nigerians!

Zone Poetica

(TO THE NINE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS; {NYSC}, WHO WERE VICTIMS OF POST- ELECTION VIOLENCE IN SOME PARTS OF NIGERIA, IN 2011. )

FOR NINE AND A HALF

For nine and a half
For less of self, more of country
On a tour of duty
Did they not become?
Signposts for the revival
Of stunted dreams, flailing hopes,
Stillborn aspirations,
In a land begging
For a dire re-awakening.

For nine and a half
Will they not become?
‘Super Citizens’
Models of unflinching patriotism
Holding up National bulwarks
By the strands of their
Beliefs, strengths and fears

For nine and a half
Will they not embark on quests?
In addition, seek conquests
Over enemies, within and without
Pressured by labours of heroes past
Burdened by the sure
Inquisitions from posterity.


For nine and a half
Do they not become?
‘Responsible Schemers’
Plotters and planners
Situating personal dreams and goals
In the maze of
National yearning and expectation

For nine and a half
They may be transformed
To proverbial beasts of burden
Turning canon fodders for critics of the scheme
Receiving restrained accolades
All the while comprehending their place
In the scheme of things?

IN THIS SEASON

NIGERIA VOTES 2011
After the initial postponement, Nigeria’s general elections finally commenced on 9th April 2011, with Parliamentary elections! A cross section of local and international observers and election monitors has applauded the Independent Nigerian Electoral Commission (INEC) for the above-board conduct of the exercise! Indeed, results for the polls have been, to say the least, unexpected and surprising; indicating that maybe the wishes of the electorate may be the sole factor in the process this time around!
While INEC should be commended, it is pertinent to state for the record that the journey has only begun and we must remain vigilant, to consolidate on these gains achieved thus far!
With the all-important presidential elections slated for the 16th April 2011, one can only hope that INEC will consistently improve on its act and deliver credible, free and fair elections at the end of this electoral season!

RE: WHAT A DAY!!!

It is said that lighting does not strike twice at the same place! It however pleased the Creator of the universe to turn that belief on its head! You may recall that i penned down a piece, sometime ago, on an inventor/builder/maker of what looked like a car, which could also pass for a space capsule! In addition, you may recall that i came down hard on myself for failing to obtain his contact details, due to factors I still cannot fathom!

However, i came across Kenny (that is his name) and his crowd pulling invention (more or less the same car i pictured) not to far away from the spot i first chanced upon him! And did my joy know no bounds! I made my way to him and immediately asked for his phone number, which he willingly gave me!

Therefore, you could say that somehow this could be an opportunity to start something that could be the next big thing to happen in Nigeria! Although i do not have a definite plan of action, i believe i have crossed a major hurdle by being in possession of his phone number, so future interaction is possible! So over the next few days, I plan to make enquiries and seek advice over how this compatriot can have this God-given talents harnessed for the good of the Nigeria!

MORE WORDS FOR NIGERIAN MANUFACTURING
In continuation of this series, another entrant to be unveiled is a product called ‘MORNING FRESH’, a dish washing liquid, manufactured by our very dear PZ Cussons Nig Plc situated at 45/47 Town Planning Way, Ilupeju, Lagos!
From experience, a little quantity of this dish washing liquid foams excellently, resulting in a greater number of plates cleaned! It is also mild on the hands and comes in an attractive (and more economical) pack.
Therefore, let us make dish washing be a fun activity for the family whilst using MORNING FRESH, knowing that we are keeping the wheels of industry moving, as the Nigerian economy comes out the better for it! Take care all!

JOKER OF THE DAY ( INEC, 2011 GENERAL ELECTIONS)
The 2011 General Elections in Nigeria, scheduled to have commenced nationwide on April 2 2011(reports indicate voting actually took place in some parts of the country) have been postponed. INEC chairperson, Professor Attahiru Jega cited the non-delivery of election materials by contracted vendors as the reason for the postponement. In a press release, the INEC chair offered profuse apologies for the unfortunate event whilst giving assurances of the preparedness of INEC to conduct free, fair and credible polls.
It however beats the imagination that after a series of occurrences that included a shift in the polling dates from January to April this year and an upward review in the operating budget of the electoral body; the non-delivery of electoral materials could be tendered as an excuse for this hitch. Especially in the light of the fact that Professor Jega had sometime earlier(forty-eight hours before the elections were to commence) publicly declared that the electoral body was set and rearing to go! One hopes that from here onwards, the electoral umpire would be more circumspect in his utterances and have in his possession; verifiable facts and first hand information!



ACE OF THE DAY (NIGERIANS, INEC, POLITICAL PARTIES)
Curiously, this unfortunate incident threw up a number of players, who acquitted themselves nobly! First to receive rare mention is the electorate; all Nigerians who turned out for the botched exercise in their numbers, from the North to the East to the West. It was gratifying seeing a people willing and eager to exercise their constitutional rights. May all our votes count in this electoral process!
Oddly, up for praise also, is INEC (hmmn) and the sixty-three or so political parties, who took the postponement in their stride, deliberated extensively and came up with re-scheduled dates for the 2011 general elections. Their reactionary yet expedient consultations may just be the turning point in the nation’s hopes for a free, fair and credible electoral process!

ZONE POETICA

WHAT IS POETRY?
Poetry is as magic
That leaves both
Charmer and charmed
Desiring an encore

Poetry is as a rare delicacy
The kind of which
You desire to eat all you can
And still keep all in a can

Poetry is like sweet wine
The older it becomes
The sweeter it gets
And inebriation is easily forgiven

Poetry is as a spider’s webbing
Your fight for extrication
Derives its purpose
From an ensuing desire for entanglement

Poetry is like a great painting
Finished yet lacking
Those needed ingredients
Only you can contrive

Poetry is like the mist
That caresses the cheeks
However, it disappears abruptly
Leaving behind a payload of memories

Poetry is like the occasion
That provides the pomp
While you bring the ceremony
Together, you both, steering the tides for patrimony!

ZONE POETICA

THE LANGUAGE OF A THOUSAND YESTERDAYS


A thousand yesterdays ago
You touched me in more ways than one
Leaving me bleeding and wishing
Watching the sun rising and setting
And rising…………………………
Basking in the excitement of leaves
Rustling in the evening breeze
We relished the freedom of our air
Submitting willingly to the captivity
Imposed on us by our bond
And sense of loyalty
Arriving at places dreamed of
Even before we set-off

A thousand yesterdays ago
We dared the impossible
To achieve the unattainable;
To face all challenges
With child-like courage,
And to forever stand true
To the one thing
Our hands have painstakingly built
And could so easily destroy;
OUR FRIENDSHIP
Which we must continue to define
Along paths ; beaten and unknown

A FURTHER WORD FOR NIGERIAN MANUFACTURING

I sincerely apologize for the extensive interlude! It is due to meeting certain obligations of everyday life. So back to our inquest. Another product that catches the eye( or it the tongue) is an ice cream- FANICE, manufactured by Fan Milk Plc, situated in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. It has a rich and creamy taste, with a smoothness that titillates the taste buds; characteristics usually associated with quality ice creams. In addition, it is available in small packs, hence costs does not have to be a hindrance to having an ice cream treat. So here fellow compatriots, is another arsenal in our war chest, as we battle our way to that place of economic growth and development!

ACES AND JOKERS

ACE OF THE DAY (ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT, INNOSON MOTORE NIG.LTD)
The Enugu State government recently flagged off its public mass transportation scheme for citizens of the state. Dubbed the “Coal City Transport” project, the scheme will be bussed by Innoson Motors NIG Ltd, an indigenous vehicle manufacturing and assembling plant, based in Anambra State! The State government has already taken possession of thirty buses, in a first installment, for the take-off of the project. We can only hope that this kind of initiative and cooperation spreads across the length and breadth of Nigeria, especially as regards our march to becoming the twentieth largest economy in the world by the year 2020!



JOKER OF THE DAY (CHIEF OLABODE GEORGE, NIGERIA’S ANTI-CORRUPTION DRIVE)
A thanksgiving service was held for the release from prisons, of Chief Olabode George, a former head of the Nigerian Ports Authority. Chief George was convicted of embezzling a public fund worth several billions of naira and was sentenced to a two-year jail term, in 2009. Therefore, to commemorate his release, family and friends organized the service in his honour! However, such acts of celebration for someone who committed such crimes against the state put our drive to stamp out the scourge of corruption in a quagmire. A crisis of confidence, a crisis of sincerity, and a nation that needs to sincerely fight to a standstill, the malaise of corruption and self-aggrandizement!

ZONE POETICA

CREATIVE BLOCK

This is killing
This hiatus is not consensual
Thought and process seem
To have taken flight
If man lives to think
And he thinks to live
Can I be said to be
A dormant or forlorn soul?
Plagued by a restless spirit
Housed in a contemporary body?
The blank page, the bare stage
Are the chief conspirators
Fueling this burning rage

I think volumes
That I desire to share
I see visions
Begging for form,
Devoid of fanfare

But in this present discourse
All I can do
Is sit and stare
But there is still
Life in the blood
Even if it is spilled

The wheels of life grind
Ever so slowly but surely
Though the fire may be out
The embers are prime possession
I must fan them again
To initiate a conflagration
That will consume despotic notions
Standing in its path
Bring down walls of doubt
To feeble to withstand
The might of its light

At tunnel’s end
Shall be a renewal and a song
Where writer meets matter
Where the creation embraces creator
And we hold hands
To pen tales
On the sands of time

AN OPINION

A NATION’S VISION AND CERTAIN DYNAMICS
NIGERIA AIMS TO BE AMONGST THE TOP TWENTY GLOBAL ECONOMIES BY THE YEAR 2020(WHICH IS LESS THAN A DECADE AWAY FROM NOW).THIS LAUDABLE OBJECTIVE IS ENCAPSULATED WITHIN AN ACTION FRAME WORK KNOWN AS THE NV 20:2020 DOCUMENT. THE VISION SEEKS TO EXPAND THE NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC BASE, SHORE UP HER FINANCIAL STANDING, INSTITUTE MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE AND FRAME WORKS,OPTIMIZE HER HUMAN AND MATERIAL RESOURCES AS WELL A S A HOST OF OTHER INTENDED GOALS. However, we must pause and place this national vision in a proper and broader context. For Nigeria to break into that esteemed circle, it means that she must at least, as a matter of necessity, displace an existing member nation with the twentieth largest economy. Therefore, common sense dictates that the spotlight must be beamed on the nation that is currently occupying our dream economic destination. A detailed study must be embarked upon to reveal the reason(s) why that nation is where it is; critically analyzing her economic and financial institutions, government policies and programme on her human and material resources, budget control and planning as well as a gamut of other development indices. In addition, an analysis shall also be conducted on other nations aspiring to break into that global economic bracket.
These series of investigations should give us the needed framework to properly stress test our operations; drawing the line between unattainable national projections and sound, calculated and realizable economic goals! I hope that you will join me on this journey of discovery, as we see how best we all can bring Nigeria to that place of socio-economic and political bliss!

OPINION

NORTH AFRICA, NIGERIA AND HER 2011 ELECTIONS
Over the last few weeks, widespread uprisings, revolts and protests in the North Africa and indeed the Arab World have resulted in the deposing Of Presidents Ben Ali of Tunisia and Hosni Mubarack of Egypt respectively! Although the causative factors of the uprisings in both countries were different- while the Tunisians want the enthronement of liberal democracy, the Egyptians were bent on seeing Mubarack out the door- the consequences are the same! And the reverberations are being felt in other parts of the Arab world; with tensions on the rise in Yemen, Bahrain, Tunisia and Libya. In addition, a major morale in this saga is that change is always inevitable and that the will and aspirations of the people are supreme! And that brings me to the subject of Nigeria! Can the current trend in North Africa be replicated here it the most populous black nation on earth? Given the legendary docility of the average Nigerian- especially toward issues of state and governance- it would be an uphill task mobilizing Nigerians to take to the streets in mass protests, against perceived imbalances in the governance of the nation!
However, there is a platform that Nigerians can express their desire for change and that avenue is the 2011 General Elections. So instead of taking to the streets, Nigerians must take to the ballot box. The power of the single vote must be exercised in its entirety and must be protected. Exercising such powers will entail carrying out detailed background checks to unearth the suitability or otherwise of candidates seeking elective offices. The uprisings in some countries in North Africa commenced at the behest of the common person; there were no promptings from opposition parties, civil society groups or non-governmental organizations. The same must be replicated here in Nigeria! Nigerians must amass in groups and press for deep-seated amendments to the nation’s constitution in areas such as the provision of social security and welfare package, a periodic assessment bill for public officials and so on!
In protecting our votes, we must cast them only for candidates that scale pre-determined parameters and shun the lure of exchanging our votes for financial and/or material inducements! Any candidate or party that canvasses for votes by financial inducements cannot, by this very act, mean well for the electorate.
In summary, we can begin our own revolution by ensuring that our votes put only officials of integrity, vision, passion and a willingness to serve the masses in public office! As the uprisings in North Africa have shown, power ultimately lies in the hands of a people! They and only they, can determine the fate of that nation!

ZONE POETICA

WHAT SHE IS DOING (DEDICATED TO CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE; AUTHOR OF THE NOVELS PURPLE HIBISCUS AND HALF OF A YELLOW SUN AND WINNER OF THE 2007 ORANGE BOOK PRIZE)

She teaches us to
Number our days
To wonder at
How far we have wandered
Too indifferent
To be bothered
About our states
So so withered
She advocates a
Clean swipe of
Our hearts’ slates
Therefore, we bid you our daughter
Do these and much more


She comes as an emissary
With peace offerings
From a land
Where she has learned
And is willing
To teach us all
How to live
And love again
To make the sincere move
From a factitious civil war
To strong brotherhood
Therefore, we bid you, our daughter
Do these and much more


She sounds the alarm cry
That we are being
Battered and bruised
With an eroding sense
Of self and worth;
Our common patrimony stolen
In exchange for
HALF OF A YELLOW SUN
That shines at half-mast
At our sorry cast
She rouses us to rise
And fight for our rights;
The coveted wreath
Of a PURPLE HIBISCUS
Therefore, we bid you our daughter
Do these and much more

SEARCH LIGHT

Another Word for Nigerian Manufacturing
Yes in this episode, Je vous prsente (French for –‘i present to you; learning the language bit by bit) another made -in- Nigeria product that can compete favorably with its peers locally and abroad! It is also a bar of soap with the brand name- SPIN. Manufactured by Oriental Investments Ltd, Plot No 129, Apapa Road Iganmu Lagos, its packaging is eye-catching and elegant, it lathers lavishly and here is the catch- it serves both as a laundry and bath soap. However, i believe the manufacturers can improve on its fragrance, in order to enhance its appeal! So here again, fellow Nigerians, is another fine testament to the ‘Proudly Nigerian’ mantra, in our march toward actualizing the VISION 20,20:20. Now, the ball is in our courts !

SEARCH LIGHT

A WORD FOR NIGERIAN MANUFACTURING
In our avowed march to becoming the twentieth largest economy in the world by the year 2020, the phrase ‘Proudly Nigerian’ just hit me with the force of lighting! And this happened when I patronized two home (in our lingo-NAIJA) made products! However, do not misunderstand me! I am not a sales representative of the firms producing these products neither am I on a publicity drive; what I simply intend to create an awareness that good things are happening here before our very eyes! Now to the products in a bit of detail. The first is a bar of soap-with the brand name Blue star- which was smooth to the touch, lathered lavishly and left a pleasant after-wash fragrance on clothing! The second, a fruit drink with the name FUMMAN FRUIT DRINK, manufactured by Fumman Agricultural Products Ind. Ltd, Ibadan , Nigeria was simply too Nigerian to be true! The flavour i drank was mango and it seemed that i had personally extracted the juice from the fruit myself! It tasted fruity and rich, devoid of the usual taste of preservatives associated with these drinks!
Now to the crux of the matter; if we are to reach that zenith of economic and socio-cultural prosperity, we must consciously seek out manufacturing concerns and products (made in Nigeria of course) that adhere to the high standard of quality and- here’s the magic word - PATRONIZE them! From government to businesses to households, we must dig in and play our parts in this drive for development and industrialization! I hope to make this unveiling of quality, made- in- Nigeria products, a regular feature in this blog.So spread the word, that no matter where you are, all you manufacturing firms, the high quality of your products will find you out!

CURIOUS CAT

(1)There are five trillion trillion atoms in one pound of iron.

(2) Russian roulette is a dangerous game in which one shoots at one head’s head with a gun containing a bullet in only one its chambers, without knowing if it will fire or not.

(3) A flying swan can overtake a cheetah at full pelt.

(4) The Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York U.S.A is the largest tennis stadium in the world.

(5) When attacking, a rhino lowers its head and charges, reaches speeds of up to 50km per hour. Its horn, capable of immense blows is not a true horn attached to the skull. It grows from the skin and is made up of keratin fibres.

SOUL SAYINGS

Excerpts from Coca Cola’s award winning 1996 annual report to its shareholders:
A billion hours ago…
Human life appeared on Earth
A billion seconds ago…
The Beatles changed music forever
A billion Coca Cola’s ago…
Was yesterday morning
Our Challenge:
To make a billion Coca Cola’s ago be this morning!

BUSINESS AS USUAL?

BUSINESS AS USUSAL?

Sometime last week the online edition of the punch news daily reported that the umpire of Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, was on a foreign tour of a number of countries! While over there, Professor Jega is to carry out first hand inspection of the facilities of a number of foreign firms bidding to produce election materials like the ballot papers needed for the successful conduct of the 2011 polls in Nigeria. The report adds that local firms will also be considered in the bidding process and a choice will be made after due consideration of factors such as the capability of the firm, cost, quality as well as security.
As I digested the contents of that report, I shook my head in disbelief and sorrow, but I am quickly reminded that the country in question is Nigeria, where it seems normalcy is eternally confined to the dustbin!
You will wonder why INEC would even consider bids from foreign firms! The last time I checked, there is the government agency called the National Security Printing and Minting Company of Nigeria (I believe the name speaks for itself). I believe that it handles the printing of our national currency; the naira and it should have been handed the task of printing these election materials without a fore thought! It makes economic sense, poses less of a security risk and should be a source of national pride that these election materials be produced here in Nigeria! If Nigeria is to achieve her desire of becoming the twentieth largest economy in the world by the year 2020, it will only happen, when we take calculated, steady and incremental steps toward achieving self sufficiency, especially when opportunities like these present themselves! Until we effect these changes in our national mind-set, it may continue to be business as usual!

ZONE POETICA

THAT DAY WILL BE MY LAST

Whenever I lose the urge
For living and life
When the zest of each day
Escapes from between my fingers
Like the final solemn offerings
On a darkened night

When I can no longer
See the wood for the trees
And mind’s eye is dream-blind

When I cease to enjoy
The simplicities of every moment
Weighing them by the
Yardstick of burdened expectations

When penning down boundless thoughts
Lead to an imprisoned existence

When I commence that slide,
Into the intractable cycle of numbness
I WANT THAT DAY TO BE MY LAST

Zone Poetica

TRAJEDY
(DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF CHIEF GANI FAWEHINMI S.A.N, S.A.M, 1938-2009)

The man died
Perhaps from the exhaustion
Of journeys he alone embarked upon
For the countless years
Others watched on, passively
Numb to their existence
His was a mission in persistence
Unable to show concern
For their manufactured states
He tried a change of slates


Weep! Weep! Weep!
Under this same sun
Where he earnestly sought
To clothe naked backs
And minds…
With the attire of dignity


Indeed the man died
At knife’s thrust in his back
By the same hands
These are now under restive chins
They wonder if the frontiers, despised
He fought so hard to push back
Were always in their hearts
Not without!

WHAT A DAY!!!!

WHAT A DAY!!!!

One sunny day, while feeling sunny on the inside and walking determinedly toward the bus/stop in order to board a bus to keep an appointment, something caught my attention, fully! Fully in the sense that I had earlier noticed it but gave it nothing more than a glance! In addition, as I drew closer, the inscription on the number plate caught my eye-‘The Pride of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’- and it immediately dawned on me that I was astride what could pass as a motor vehicle!
It looked like the product of a restless mind nay spirit, impatient with the stunted potentials of the Nigerian state. It seemed to resonate the belief that given the required time and resources, Nigeria could put her own car, indeed her very existence back on track. And the vehicle itself was a bold statement- its body, I think was made from aluminium or some derivative, put together here and there; reflective of may days work at a panel beater’s, for its shaft system, an improvised network of water pipes were employed as well as other parts that must really be seen to be appreciated. Couple this with the futuristic space shuttle like shape of the vehicle and you have in your palms, a blue-print of development and growth for the present and years to come!
I immediately set out in finding the inventor, maker or fabricator (which ever term catches your fancy) among the gathering throng of onlookers. I found him, crouched, fiddling with one of the tyres. I introduced myself to him and requested his permission to tke photographs He said in the Yoruba Language-”Oruko mi je Kenny! Se journalist le yin je?” ( My name is Kenny! Are you a journalist?) I reply in the negative but tell him I’m interested in his work. He grants my request and I began to shoot away! So here, my good people, are panoramic servings of something that has the potential to cause a drastic change for the country( my only regret was using my phone’s camera):

Now this is the part where you could decide to pull out a gun and blow me to smithereens! And for good reason too. After taking those shots, I walk up to Kenny and we exchange telephone numbers. However because I had an appointment to keep and was really pressed for time, I thought I successfully saved his number on my phone. I discovered later in the day that I had not. Mortified and speechless, I have since done penance and have not stopped pricking myself for committing such an egregious mistake!

So please join me in keeping fingers crossed, in the hope that Kenny contacts me soon. Until then I promise to keep pricking myself!!!

ZONE POETICA

SENSING

Touch! Touch! Touch!
And take hold of those dreams, visions
Inherited, to be bequeathed
Defying seeming intangibles
Confronting the strongholds of deities

See! See! See!
Through those windows of contention
Realities hidden from the sages
Whose admissions, though myopic;
Will form the basis
Of our liberating re-illumination

Taste! Taste! Taste!
The guile of deception
Recipes of malignant taskmasters
Intent on perpetrating the slave game
We set off on a counter course
On the path of hope and belief

Hear! Hear! Hear!
The prodding of inner self
That island of calm and stability
In a sea-like cantankerous cacophony
Endeavour to listen to the essence
Sure guards against falling prey to the phony!

Smell! Smell! Smell!
The freshness of a new beginning
Bought by the sweat and blood
By those who pushed back, defiantly
The frontiers of fear and repression

ZONE POETICA

RETROSPECT


The months trudge heavily,
The whistle is sounded, and the rumble is unleashed
Untold billions commence the journey
In different directions, with one destination

The weeks wind up
On their own accord
And the stage is set, with its props
Along with all performances and renditions
Singing their swan songs

The days come, with reminders in hand
To all who will care to listen
“Make hay while the sun shines”
Becomes the pantomime
To make or mar us

The hours will creep up on you
Stealthily, unexpectedly
Like a fast moving locomotive
You either shape up or be shipped out

The seconds announce their arrival
With a gait in their stride
Sparking a frenzy
Hearts and hands clutch at and believe in
The last stanzas of songs of hope
In fulfilling dreams, realizing ambitions

The moment emerges
All time seems to freeze, momentarily
We are readied for an outer-body experience
Witness to a myriad of past events
As they scurry to the land of no return
“WELCOME TO A NEW YEAR”