tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37035459341659642962024-02-08T18:16:46.096+01:00Nine2NightA Nigerian woman's take on life, living and human development Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11615116437044932144noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703545934165964296.post-54830904054724817292013-03-29T10:20:00.004+01:002013-03-29T10:20:56.461+01:00
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<h3 style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Happy Good Friday people!</span></h3>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></span> </h3>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></span> </h3>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Friday Night Live<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(A Good
Friday Poem)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Our
dreams are hind sights, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">travelling
to the people under the earth,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">journeying
down the cities, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">filling
the centuries with sons <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">so fat
they can’t pass the needle’s eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Only the
ointment keeps faith, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">in the
hands of a daughter,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">preparing
you for burial,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">the
unleavened bread <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">calls
forth mourners<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">and
prostitutes eating bread <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">with
hallowed hands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Henna
mingles with tears <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">at the
eleventh hour when<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">rejected
pebbles fall like death<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">sentences
on brown earth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This wine
sets my eyes <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">to still
waters on barren hillsides.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This wine
red in the cup.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The
scarlet thread.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The
broken donkey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Linen
breeches dyed in crimson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The air
is rich in prophecies and revolutions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Within
the olive tree, a </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">copulation
is aflame, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">burning the
bush full of grass widows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The light
shimmers upon the waters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Light is
a quiver of arrows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Light is
an earthquake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Light is
a stormy wind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Light is
a great cry,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">electric
on bones and skulls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The bones
are diving for flesh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The
shrouds are dying in the stars,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">there is
light in our loins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="layout-grid-mode: line; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">© Toyin Adewale-Gabriel</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11615116437044932144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703545934165964296.post-6579776829050552252013-03-27T14:45:00.000+01:002013-03-27T14:45:57.833+01:00<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>My Oga on Top and Matters Arising</u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u></u>' </div>
Trust Nigerians to go overboard on the most inane issues. What's the big deal about a civil servant saying he needs to clear information from his 'Oga' before sharing it?.<br />
<br />
I watched the video which has gone quite viral and l was really disappointed by the conduct of the three Channels TV interviewers because l hold Channels TV in high esteem due to their winning the News Channel of the year award for three consecutive years.<br />
<br />
Every Nigerian understands the 'Oga' syndrome. Oga is the big boss,the one that decides whether you get promoted or not and can decide to boot you out of the organisation just to show who the 'Oga' is. You cross your 'Oga' at your own peril.<br />
<br />
There are many levels of Oga, the Oga's secretary, the Oga's Madam, the small Oga, the acting 'Oga', Oga police. Even the gate man is also an 'Oga' in his own right, as he can decide not to let you in through the gate to see the big Oga.<br />
<br />
And as every married Nigerian woman knows there is the original Oga on top- husbands. And those Channel presenters definitely have their own 'Oga'.<br />
<br />
Sure, the representative of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps did not know the website of his organisation but then, how many Nigerians are Internet savvy?. That wasn't enough reason for three journalists to turn on him and taunt him with their superiority complex like a pack of hounds.<br />
<br />
They had the responsibility to treat their guest with dignity and respect, instead they choose to embarrass and make him a national joke. They made us laugh for a moment, however, they have set back the campaign for access to information from public institutions.<br />
<br />
More than before, public officials will be afraid to share information with the media.<br />
<br />
And that is no gain to a nation that needs to popularise the use of the Freedom of Information Act.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11615116437044932144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703545934165964296.post-85432876778953489752013-03-27T13:22:00.001+01:002013-03-27T13:22:32.864+01:00<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent"><u></u></span> </div>
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<span class="userContent"><u>Remembering Achebe: My Fondest Memory</u></span></div>
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In 1988, just fresh from youth service, I had attended the Association of Nigerian Authors Conference held at the University of Calabar. Achebe was also there. The conference participants travelled to the Obudu Cattle Ranch (that's what it was called back then) and spent one pristine, unspoilt night sitting at Achebe's feet, listening to <span class="text_exposed_show">him tell us african tales by the wood fires.<br /> <br /> The night was so cold, you could use a hug, the night was clear, the air was pure oxygen and l could reach out and touch the stars... It was a night made for loving life.<br /> <br /> Brings to mind those classic Nduka lines:<br /> <br /> ''The night is so communal,<br /> I can hold it close and offer it a bowl of rice''<br /><br /> I think Achebe was all about possibilities. What a writer could
a<span style="font-family: Calibri;">chieve</span> with mind and art and God's favour. Things Fall Apart is a book meant to be written , to shape the destiny of what is called African Literature. Achebe was a man of courage- a quality not to be bought with money, who was not afraid to be different or to tell the truth without fear or favour. I am glad he had the time to give us 'There was A Country'. For those of us born at the end of Biafra, the book is a very important historical document.</span></div>
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As Mandela said, with Achebe, the prison walls of the mind fell down. Because of Achebe, our words will flow like fresh palm oil over hot roasted yams, making the world hungry for African Writing...</div>
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<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show"> Sleep well, Chinua Achebe, thank you for that night and for showing us how we can thrust our African experience into this 'Oyinbo' langauage.</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11615116437044932144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703545934165964296.post-54086654428776485192013-02-27T12:39:00.001+01:002013-02-27T12:39:22.053+01:00<span class="userContent"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="text-align: center;">
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<strong><u>The Murder of Students of Nassarawa University</u></strong></div>
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How on earth can men of the Nigerian Police Force who have the duty of protecting Nigerians shoot live bullets into a peaceful demostarion of Nigerian students, killing innnocent youth and causing families to mourn?<br /> <br /> How can this happen in 2013?<br /> <br /> What is the worth of a Nigerian life if the guardians of our safety squander it so dismally?<br /><span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show"> <br /> Haven't they heard of rubber bullets, tear gas or water that can be used for crowd dispersal?<br /> <br /> We have no other country but this and people must be held to account for this extra judicial murder. Please dont keep quiet: speak out on your blogs, on the pages of newspapers, on facebook, on radio programs,on television, talk to your legislators, senators, pastors, imans, kings and ministers, talk to every body you know.<br /> <br /> This must not be swept under the carpet, remember it could have been you or your brother or your sister...<br /> <br /> Let us see that justice is done in this matter, the culprits must be brought to book and held accountable and the Nigerian police must have policies in place for crowd control and dispersal. <br /> <br /> We must value our lives as Nigerians.</span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show">God save Nigeria!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11615116437044932144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703545934165964296.post-64398859237840091162013-02-21T11:56:00.000+01:002013-02-21T11:56:44.782+01:00<br />
<strong><u>Taking proactive steps to address environmental pollution.</u></strong><br />
<br />
I wonder if anyone is noticing the increase in vehicles belching exhaust fumes into the still pristine skies over Abuja, Nigeria's capital city?<br />
<br />
I wonder what the Abuja Environmental Protection Board and the Vehicle Inspection Unit (VIO) will do about this?<br />
<br />
I wonder, what the Ministry of Envionment will do about the growing scourge of non-
biodegradable plastic bags littereing everywhere?<br />
<br />
I wonder, who cares about the weeds choking our water ways?<br />
<br />
<br />
When the next floods come, as the meterological agency has predicted they will this year, we will wring our hands, and shake our heads and lament at the tales of loss, they may bring.<br />
<br />
But right now, let's deal with accountability issues. It starts with you and I.<br />
<br />
Do you dispose of your trash safely and sustainably?<br />
Do you recycle?<br />
Do you throw wrappers, bottles etc out of your car window?<br />
Do you mantain your vehicles when you should?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11615116437044932144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703545934165964296.post-83181087583036048212013-02-15T19:16:00.000+01:002013-02-15T19:16:48.697+01:00<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong><u>A Billion Mamas Rising</u></strong></div>
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<strong><u></u></strong> </div>
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Perharps you noticed, all over the world yesterday, women weer marching, singing and shaking all they've got to raise one united voice on violence aganist women. It was one magnificent day of activism and how poignant, coming just a day after Olympic Star , the South African athlete, Pistorus was accused of the murder of his model girlfriend.</div>
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The statistics are alarming. According to the United Nations, 1 in every 3 woman is likely to suffer one form of violence or another. From rape to beatings, acid attacks to mental abuse and murder, the range of abuse aganist women is worryingly widespread.</div>
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Just a few days ago, on the Amanpour Show on CNN, I was stunned to discover the high incidence of abuse, inclding rape in the US Armed Forces aganist women and many do not report because the person who they would have reported to is the abuser!</div>
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Beyond stamping our feet and shaking our bums, we women need to advocate more decisively to ensure the transfer of more power, more opportunities, more businesses, more money and more education to women and girls.</div>
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I urge you to throw in your voice: say NO to violence aganist women and girls.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11615116437044932144noreply@blogger.com0