The Wall and the Brigde :Chukwumerije Dike

If a white man turned and called  me “nigger”,

My blood will boil in righteous anger.

For the evil of discrimination is clearly established,

When a white man tries to treat me like rubbish.

But if Hausas say Igbos are greedy and crude

And Igbos say Hausa are haughty and rude

And the Ijaws say Itsekiri must die today

And Ezza tells  Ezilo, there is no other way

If Yorubas declare it is Awo or nothing

And we use “Federal character” to share everything

So before you can even smile and tell me “Welcome”,

You must first ask me where my father is from.

If those who were settlers but now indigenes,

Say those who are settlers can’t become indigenes,

And the constitution says we are all citizens

Local government keeps issuing certificates of origin

If my brother pass Jamb but can’t go to Uni,

Because he is Tiv and he is not Kanuri

And Unimed has a quota for his catchment area

So he must go back to Benue or wait one more year.

If it’s ok to say it’s not ok to marry someone

Just because they are Kalabari

That every tribe should have its own tide

Are we not then practicing …Apartheid?

If you cannot buy land unless you are native,

And cannot find work unless you are native,

And cannot feel safe unless you are native,

How can we then say we are not primitive?

Yet, you go to London and get their passport,

Then settle wherever and however you want,

You stand there and fight for equality

But come back and start to use ethnicity.

I don’t get the logic of thinking of it is different

to be tribalistic and then to be racist,

If you are happy to judge him just hearing his name,

Whatever you call it my friend, it’s the same.

When there is no courage to cross this divide,

When there is no faith to look deep inside

And stop judging accents and surnames and dressing

This fire we are quenching would only keep burning.

Which nation can stand dividing its people?

How can one build on foundation so brittle?

If we cannot see ourselves in each other

This journey ends here we are going no further.

For when God made man, he gave him no facial marks

He did not make “Gbagi”, “Okun” or “Angas”

As sure as a black man is just like a white man,

No culture is older than being human

This is the truth until we accept it,

Our nation would stumble on its broken feet.

For the same things that can bind us that drives us apart,

For the wall and the bridge are both in the heart.

Dealing with Life's Ups and Downs

"Transformation is a process, and as life happens there are tons of ups and downs. It's a journey of discovery - there are moments on mountaintops and moments in deep valleys of despair".
Rick Warren

"...but you can never lose focus of your individual goals and you can't let yourself be beat because of lack of effort”
Michael Jordan

"...It's how you deal with it that defines you".
Michael Lee-Chin

So "Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible".
Francis of Assisis

MATTERS OF LIFE

Like pages life flips,
Showcasing it's dark and light features as he strips,
Moments of happiness and tears -
the likely events each page bears.

People we loved come and go,
Desires we acquire and soon they melt like snow,
Life itself has an end,
So why not things life lends.

As years pass by I realise,
Things I managed to visualize,
Things I found paramount,
More or less, doesn't count.

The things I managed to buy,
The Limo I drive, the jet I fly,
They are not the real thing that makes me happy,
They are of less use, just trashy.

The worries, fears, tears and life bends,
The fortune, fame and friends,
At the end like bubbles they will fade away,
Same for human made of clay,

But the legacies left behind,
How much of my soul and mind-
Shared to others when needed on time,
Is the true measurement of one's life time.

How much love and kindness shown,
The healthy seed sown,
Before God invites me,
Somewhere above the land and the sea.

By:Somadina Anene
(Somafoundation)

Nigerian senators earn more than Trump, UK Prime Minister

Oyebola said a Nigerian Senator earns $1.7m a year, which is far higher than the $400,000 yearly income of the United States’ President.

The Initiator and Chairman, Movement for Nigeria’s Total Transformation, Chief Areoye Oyebola, has berated Nigeria’s federal lawmakers for refusing to slash their “monumental salaries and allowances”.

Many Nigerians have called for the downward review of the ‘outrageous’ earnings of the lawmakers given the widespread poverty in the country.

Oyebola said the recent statement by Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, is one of many criticisms that had trailed the lawmakers over the years but they turned deaf ears to it. According to Oyebola, he had raised the same issue in a publication, tagged, “Grave Issues Nigeria Must Tackle,” which was publicly presented at an event attended by a former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN); human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN); and Prof. Pat Utomi among others.In the presentation, he noted that the United States of America’s President does not earn as much as a Nigerian lawmaker.Oyebola had said, “It is also strange, unthinkable and very disheartening that a senator, not minding the grinding poverty of Nigerians, earns $1.7m a year, which is far higher than the $400,000 yearly income of the United States’ President, whose stupendous country is the richest in the world. Even a member of the House of Representatives also earns more than the American President. What a tragic and pathetic situation!“Worse still, each of our National Assembly members earns more than the British Prime Minister, while the pay of a member of Ghana’s unicameral legislature is a very small fraction of our House of Representatives’ member jumbo pay of more than N10m in a month, let alone the monumental quarterly allowances that have led to serious public outcry.“The multi-million naira earned by the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives even worse, more outrageous and mind-boggling.”Also comparing Nigerian lawmakers to Ghana’s, he said their Ghanaian counterparts receive modest pay and that they work harder, with “minimal absenteeism” while they have also done so much to sustain their country’s democracy.He recalled that an attempt was made by the Ghanaian lawmakers to increase their earnings in 2009 but the idea was immediately dropped after a public outcry.Oyebola called for a 90 per cent reduction in the earnings of elected public officials in Nigeria, adding that if the slash is implemented, they would still be richer than their counterparts in the US and the UK.“As suggested below, for the National Assembly, the President, ministers, state governors, state legislators, chairmen of local governments and councillors should have their pay and allowances reduced to 10 per cent of their present earnings. If effected, each senator’s present earnings of N15m a month will be reduced to N1.5m or N18m a year. A similar 90 per cent reduction should be effected from the pay of members of the House of Representatives.”He said without the pay cuts, politics in Nigeria will remain a do-or-die affair.Source:Pocket News

Monkeypox: Anambra schools shut down over rumour of injection of virus on children by military

Pandemonium broke out in Anambra today over the commencement of a medical outreach by men of the Nigerian Army in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo local government area when soldiers stormed a school in the community to begin the administration of drugs to indigenes.

Rumour however went to town that the soldiers were in Anambra to inject children with vaccines as had allegedly been done in Bayelsa State with the hope of infecting them with the monkey pox disease.

The rumour had caused serious pandemonium in town as some people claimed that over 50 children had died in Nnewi after they were administered with the vaccines, leading parents to rush to the schools of their wards to withdraw them.

As early as 10am, most schools in Anambra had sent their pupils home to join their parents, while others shut their gate against visitors, to resist the attempt of anyone coming in to immunize the children.

In one of the missionary schools, the school management refused parents from picking up their wards, saying that if the parents were allowed in, some children may go missing in the pandemonium that would ensue.

DAILYPOST however gathered that the medical outreach was not for children but for elderly people, just as the Army insisted that there was no truth in the rumour.

Colonel Musa Sagir told journalists in a chat that the rumour was false. He stated that he was at the venue of the supposed medical outreach, and that the rumour of dead children was not true as no child had been immunized. He however promised to send in a full press release to state the position of Military.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State government has called for calm among citizens of the state, saying that there was no truth in the rumour that soldiers were injecting children to death.

A press release signed by the secretary to state government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu stated that the outreach was a well intentioned exercise, but said that it was unfortunate that the military did not announce the exercise or sensitize the people of the state before arriving.

Part of the release reads, “The attention of the State Government has been drawn to an on going medical outreach being undertaken by the Army in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area.

“The State has been made to understand that the exercise is part of Army social responsibility to members of the public.

“However, strong apprehension among the populace has followed the exercise leading to withdrawal of students from schools by parents, misconception of the actual motive behind the exercise by stakeholders, community leaders and a general reservation by the public for whom the outreach is intended.”

The SSG further said that because of the unrest caused by the rumour, the Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has contacted the Army Authorities and advised for immediate stoppage of the medical outreach until wide sensitization is conducted to reassure people of its intentions and benefits. The exercise has therefore been put on hold.

He advised parents and guardians to stop withdrawing their wards from schools as the situation has been handled. He said all schools within the State will remain open as there was no cause for alarm.

Chukwulobelu assured community leaders, Presidents General and all stakeholders of the commitment of the Governor and the State Government to the wellbeing of Ndi Anambra.

The State categorically refuted allegations of death of any student anywhere in the State, warning ischief makers to desist from spreading falsehood.

Joe Chukindi

Anambra guber: Politics made me poorer financially – Peter Obi

Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has said that venturing into politics made him a poorer man in terms of finance.

Obi stated this in reaction to allegations against him by oil magnate, Ifeanyi Ubah, who claimed that he demanded N7 billion from governor Willie Obiano.

In a chat, the ex-governor said: “You could even sense it yourself that it is sheer blackmail. I am a Christian and I am not supposed to swear, but I can put my hand on any form of ecclesiastically prescribed oath and say that I have never discussed with anybody to be paid any amount. I have never done that and I will never do that.

“At this stage of my life, I cannot support anybody for political and personal benefits. I have passed that stage and to do so is to abuse the Grace of God in my life. I did not go into politics wretched; I was already a director in three financial institutions, a director in four other major companies; all by the virtue of my investments. I was also running a successful family business.

“Going into politics even made me poorer but I won’t question anything because that is where God wants me to be. The joy of rendering fruitful service to the people cannot be quantified in naira and kobo. For me, all I want is for us to have a better society; caring for the poor and the people.''Ordinarily, I don’t react to comments people make, especially those made out of ulterior motives. I do not return evil for evil, rather I will cling to my rosary, praying for God’s love on all of us.

“Having asked the question, let me tell you about an encounter I recently had. About two weeks ago, two persons came to me and said that they just came out of a meeting where it was discussed that for the upcoming elections in Anambra State, they will come out aggressively to attack my integrity and make it impossible for me to campaign for the candidate of my party. And I asked them how it would happen.

“They said they didn’t know but they had what it takes to bring people to the media to shred my character before Nigerians through blackmail and lies. I thanked them and said that when they come, we will see it.

“After a week, I started hearing on local radio in Anambra State, people being put on radio owned by the state government to call me names and associate my name with things I do not even dream of doing in my sleep.”

Entertainment ng

I built structures for Davido, Wizkid, others to enjoy –Elajoe

Do you remember Elajoe? He used to be a part of the defunct rap collective, Da Thoroughbreds, together with Ill Bliss, Obiwon and two others. But he is most popular for his verse in DJ Jimmy Jatt’s hit song, Stylee, along with 2face. He seemed to go off the scene for a long time, but apparently, he is back. And he is not worried that the new generation of artistes making waves right now would edge him off the scene

He recently released a new song, Naija International, and Sunday Scoop reached out to him to find out if he thinks he can hold his own against people like Davido and Wizkid. He responded, “I am not competing with anyone. I helped build the industry and put structures for them and many others to thrive. I am still doing that and I will continue to do so by God’s grace.”

Speaking on his hiatus from the music industry, he said, “I was made a goodwill ambassador so I moved to Abuja for a while, but I’m back now. I’ve been engaging in a couple of humanitarian endeavours and events in line with celebrating people who have contributed to humanity. By God’s grace, my company, Dark Cypha Entertainment, is 20 years old, so I will be celebrating it soon. It was actually supposed to be on October 1, but I was in church for most of that day. However, I uploaded my new song, Naija International, exclusively on two websites. The song is basically about celebrating Nigeria. Irrespective of all the terrible things that have been happening in the country, I believe we still have reasons to be thankful.”

Source: Punch