Brutalized, Humiliated And Dehumanized: A Day At The Passport Office In Abeokuta | Sahara Reporters

Brutalized, Humiliated And Dehumanized: A Day At The Passport Office In Abeokuta | Sahara Reporters: On Monday the 11th April 2016, I walked into the Nigerian immigration service office in Abeokuta with my personal assistant around 11 am. I met a man who directed me to the entrance to meet one Mr Ogunnaike nicknamed 'Authentic'. He was to be approached for the passport renewal. Mr Ogunnaike, therefore, told me that a day service for receipt was N28,000 for a 32-page passport and it would be ready by 4 pm the same day. I obliged but asked that I saw a banner downstairs stating a lower price. It was explained that that was not for same day express service.

THE STATE, THE CHURCH AND NUISANCE!

According to the Black's Law Dictionary, 9th edition, nuisance is "A condition, activity, or situation (such as a loud noise or foul odour) that interferes with the use or enjoyment of property; esp., a non-transitory condition or persistent activity that either injures the physical condition of adjacent land or interferes with its use or with the enjoyment of easements on the land or of public highways...liability might or might not arise from the condition or situation"

No other definition could possibly better capture the situation at the Headquarters of the Lord's Chosen Church in Lagos last weekend when officials of the Lagos State government sealed off the church and prevented the worshippers from holding their usual Sunday service in the midst of garbage. Reports say that the action of the government was in order to prevent the outbreak of an epidemic in the area. I'd like to address a few issues arising from this rather embarrassing situation. 

First of all, it is shocking to know that a place where people go to worship and/or praise God every Sunday or daily as the case may be, would be in such deplorable state. The church is supposedly a place where "believers" go to spend time with the "Almighty", the "King of kings", the "Lord of lords", the "Alpha and the Omega". I don't know about any other "believer" but one would have thought that since Christians most often than not shout at the top of their voices "Cleanliness is next to godliness", that they would actually live by what they preach. One would expect that as a true Christian, the temple of the Lord ought to be a place where you find joy and happiness, peace, and health of mind and body. One would expect that as Christians, we should be happy to declare like the Psalmist in Psalm 19 of the Scriptures "I was glad when I heard them say 'let us go to God's house'". In centuries past as we read in the Bible, it was the greatest of privileges for anyone to be chosen to build a temple for Yahweh. Do we not remember the story of Nehemiah who resigned from his prestigious job to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple which was in a deplorable state? Do we not remember the story of David and Solomon who spared no funds in ordering the best woods and materials for the building of the Temple? What is wrong with our generation? The situation at the Lord's Chosen Church is just one out of the thousands that have not yet come to public attention...sorry, did I say "not yet come to public attention"? Are there no faithfuls in the church, are the worshippers in that church and many others like it sheep and goats? No! They are human beings, they are the "public". For chrissakes, this church has tens of luxury buses with which it conveys its members from all parts of Lagos to its services every Sunday. There is no doubt that its members are dutiful payers of tithes and sowers of seed; yet each Sunday, they fail to see that they are centuries far from their God as a result of their filthy environment. It is a shame! They not only neglected their environment, they contributed massively to the filthiness of it. Haba! Even to construct proper toilets for worshippers is a problem?

Secondly, Let us analyse the action of the Lagos State government. Have they done the right thing? Did they act within the ambit of the law? Were they right in sealing off the church and preventing worshippers from holding their Sunday Service? Why did they have to wait till now; did they just learn about this nuisance? These are but a few questions one would ask. There are some that may even argue that the government's prevention of the worshippers from holding their Sunday service is a direct violation of the constitutional provision of freedom of association  and worship. But let us not forget that there is a bigger picture...that of the 'purported' prevention of an epidemic which to me is a classic exploitation of the principle of public policy which when interpreted simply means, "for the greater good of the citizens of this State (who by the way have as much rights as you do, and deserve to enjoy healthy lives), we are shutting down your premises to prevent a health situation that we are probably not well equipped to handle until such a time you deem it necessary to purge yourselves of your filthiness"

Generally speaking though, the level of nuisance caused by our churches goes beyond that of filth. Following Black's law's definition, nuisance also includes loud noise. With all the churches we find everywhere and especially at residential areas, and with the sleepless nights I experience frequently in my house from the noise of "praise songs" blaring from the "Ahuja" speakers of the church just beside my house during their night vigil services, I am fully in support of the government's involvement in regulating the activities and locations of these churches. That is why I totally support the Enugu State government in their plan to demolish the Large temple of the Mountain of fire and Miracles Ministries erected on the popular Zik Avenue without appropriate approval. Afterall, The Church and the State should actually be partners in progress.

MUCH ADO ABOUT THE DAME

 That the wife of the President of Nigeria and the First Lady of the country, Dame Patience Jonathan is, and has been absent from the country for a period of six weeks is no longer news. That the presidency is dodgy about the state of her health is no longer news too. The insinuations that she travelled to Germany to undergo some kind of cosmetic surgery is stale also. It suffices to say that what would truly be classified as news probably hasn't occurred yet.

What amazes me though is the nature of Nigerians; they can never be pleased. It is true that the First lady is a public figure but I think whatever she chooses to do with her "personal" life is her own "personal" problem. I have heard so many people say that the office of the First Lady of the Federation is unconstitutional and it is an office created to embezzle public funds. If you ask me, I totally agree with this point of view and I have sat down and have pondered on her office and how it affects me as a tax paying citizen of this country.

 The first lady, even though a public figure, is not an elected official. I cannot remember her ever standing as a candidate in all the poor elections we have had in this country; she just happens to be the wife of the president. And as the wife of the president, I believe that her role in most cases is purely domestic. When she travels with the president for an international meeting, I am always almost certain that she is not expected to give a talk at such meeting. The president apparently needs her to perform other "chores". When she receives other first ladies of various countries, she only receives them in her capacity as a member of  the "Association of First Ladies", which Association if you ask me, is not different from the usual solidarity expressed amongst women who find themselves in the same line of business (take the Association of Market women for example). At best, her role as the wife of the President and the First lady is merely to give support to her husband. That is why I do not bother myself with her whereabouts when I do not see her for a period of time. I would definitely not feel the same way though, about my elected representative at the National Assembly who never attends a parliamentary sitting for many weeks and yet collects all the allowances arising therefrom. Nigerians! If you did not vote the First lady into any office, and if her office is unconstitutional and therefore non-existent, why do you now bother yourself about her whereabouts? Why the sudden interest.

This poor woman who has been the subject of ridicule and sarcasm since the days of her "umblerra" speech has continued to be in the spotlight for one reason or another. After that epoch speech during her husband's presidential campaign, the presidency was forced to instruct the nation's broadcast outfit to always edit her speeches before airing them. The first lady was also compelled to reduce the number of public functions she attends and refrain from making speeches thereat because of Nigerians and their bad mouth. When she was made a Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service even without an iota of knowledge of what goes on in her Ministry, there was another public outcry. A few months ago, she was accused of Buying 200 exotic cars for the African First ladies who came visiting her in Abuja. The accusation was so much that the Presidential image maker was almost fired for failing to conceal such "classified information". His failure led to the appointment of a bulldog with a certain reputation for devouring anyone that gets in the way of its master. Now the tongues of Nigerians are at it again. This time they have accused her of travelling to a foreign land for some cosmetic surgery.

I must point out though, that it is not the fault of Nigerians. It has been the practice of successive administrations to keep the well being or otherwise of the occupants of Aso Rock and their affiliates highly classified/top secret. Not too long ago, we had a president who suffered from some kidney problem so much so that he became unfit to rule the country but information about his health was hoarded more than the oil subsidy beneficiaries hoarded fuel products. Eventually he died in office even after some of our so-called religious leaders paid him a visit and came back to tell Nigerians that he was hale and hearty. Many years before that, our erstwhile, goggle-wearing head of state died in office. The circumstances surrounding his death is yet to be known. While some say he was offered apples by some exotic Indian dancers, others say he died from acute exhaustion arising from a hot session with some Indian prostitutes. After that, we had a first lady who "obviously" died after an unsuccessful cosmetic surgery. Till now, that story has not been refuted. Now we hear of the ill health of our dear Dame and the Presidency is trying to cover up the state of her health. Will you blame Nigerians for speculating the nature and state of her health? The presidency should know by now that when you leave Nigerians in the dark, they come up with theories.

For me, I see no shame or big deal in anybody falling ill; it is a natural course of life. The body is structured to work that way, so why conceal the state of your health especially as a public figure? Unless of course a certain person is squandering public funds trying to look prettier or the nature of sickness is so shameful that it cannot and should not be spoken of. I'm not even sure whether I should wish the Dame a quick recovery because the Presidency has said over and over again that she's not sick, she's "hale and hearty". If she is the way they say she is, then I presume she's on vacation somewhere and like I said before, since she's not an elected or appointed official and definitely not my Representative in the National Assembly, it is really none of my business. I wish her lots of fun wherever she's lounging.

THIS IS BARBARIC, DISGUSTING!!

The 4 students of UNIPORT who were brutally murdered.

 To say that I am disgusted and sick to my bone marrow at the level of inhumanity displayed by Nigerians on a daily basis is to put it mildly! Can someone please explain to me what exactly is happening in this country? Can anyone, just anyone prove to me that there is a government in place in this country? Is it a crime to be a Nigerian?

I have seen many horrible things in my life and I have heard of so much more - I have seen a man beat his wife to death, I have read of a man who stabbed his wife many times to death, I have heard of a bus driver who was coerced into running over a number of passengers by criminals, I have seen and read of jealous lovers who poured acid on their so-called lovers, I have heard of pastors who brutalised minors in the name of exorcism...I have seen many things...but never have I seen or heard or read of such inhumane act as I did a few days ago. Four good looking, promising, boisterous young men beaten, clubbed and burnt to death at the prime of their lives for allegedly stealing laptops and phones. Yeah, you heard me right, laptops and phones. It is so shameful, what we trade for human life!

What was even more disgusting and horrible is the fact that while their heads were being clubbed over and over again, some people stood by  watching, without anyone attempting to stop the heinous act. All the incidents I have mentioned above happened either at gunpoint or in isolation, with no one to caution the assailant or prevent the occurrence; but for this incident, they were simply heartless!  Now, that is my worry! Does it mean that there was not one person there who could plead on their behalf? Does it mean that life has stopped being sacred? Could it be that they were all enjoying what was going on?  As I watched the video of the killings which by the way was recorded by an even more heartless animal, I cried. You know, the kind of tears which you won't see on the outside because the brain and the heart are too terrified to even process them, that was what happened to me. I quickly recalled a passage in the Bible where a woman accused of adultery was about to be stoned to death and was brought before Jesus; but Jesus looking at the angry mob said to them "let he who is without sin be the first to cast a stone".

These people of Aluu Community in Rivers State not only watched the brutality meted on these young boys but also, enjoyed it! This goes to show the level of evil in the heart of man. I am scared. Scared because I do not know how far and how deep this wickedness has eaten into the hearts of Nigerians. For all I know, my neighbour who lives just beside me may see me dying tomorrow and he won't lift a finger to help. Yes, I am scared. The words of Shakespeare come to my mind: "The people of Aluu community have murdered sleep, they shall sleep no more"

How will this guy expect to sleep peacefully after doing this?

A lot of people have said in different fora that Nigeria is a failed State but I have always disagreed with that. It has been said also that we do not have institutions in this country but I have disagreed with that too. However, with this unfortunate incident, I totally agree with that fact. Where were the Police when all this was going on? Where was the civil defence corps? It must have taken over 2 hours for these murderers to arrest the boys, strip them naked, parade them round the town, beat them to stupor, before eventually smashing their heads and setting them on fire even while they were still alive. Where were the Police? Is it that there is no police station in the whole of that community? Is it that they were not aware of what was going on? Is it that not even a single person had the heart to call the police before things got out of hand? There are more questions than answers. I am disappointed in my country! I am disappointed...again, in the Nigeria Police force. Where were officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps who are supposed to be at the grass root and who so brazenly display "defending the defenceless" as their motto? Let it be known that when we say Nigeria is a failed State, we do not refer to the name "Nigeria". If the Institutions in the country have failed, then the nation has failed.

MAY THE SOULS OF THE YOUNG BOYS WHO WERE BRUTALLY MURDERED BY THE PEOPLE OF ALUU REST IN PEACE. AMEN!

Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog: Police parade Cynthia Osokogu's killers; they narr...

Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog: Police parade Cynthia Osokogu's killers; they narr...:                                                           The suspects                                            Cynthia Osokogu This is a...

#save George

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s_a8QNtC8Qc/T_Vr2exBz-I/AAAAAAAAAC0/kCIqFk5vNHo/s1600/Screen_20120704_152610.jpg

Here and There; This and That...: WHAT IS ALL THIS RUBBISH?!!!

Here and There; This and That...: WHAT IS ALL THIS RUBBISH?!!!: This is certainly shocking! Outrageous! Unbelievable! Ridiculous! And above all, very annoying! Imagine some misfits in the US who call the...

WHAT IS ALL THIS RUBBISH?!!!

 This is certainly shocking! Outrageous! Unbelievable! Ridiculous! And above all, very annoying! Imagine some misfits in the US who call themselves Nigerians protesting the anti-gay bill just passed by the National assembly. It is indeed very sad that the world we live in has become so decadent that people can now come out to publicly declare their shamelessness and foolishness and promiscuity.
If you investigate very well, you will find out that all these people calling themselves full citizens of Nigeria have NEVER stepped on the shores of this great country. Most of them were born in the US and have lived all their lives there. Most of them are products of broken homes; most of them are very confused individuals because the American society has made them so. Check very well, half of the American society is confused! A lot of them are bi-sexual, not knowing whether to stick to a man or a woman; so many of them are transvestites, not knowing whether to dress as a man or a woman; many of them pierce the most obscene parts of their bodies and a lot more distort their bodies just to prove a useless point. Very many of them don't even know whether they are whites or blacks! It is as bad as that!

And here they are trying to make us confused too. If these guys are truly Nigerians and Africans, then a big shame on them! In this time and age when we are trying to sell our cultural values to the western world, they are trying to import rubbish into the country.

Many people have argued that individuals have a right to do whatever they like to their bodies and to themselves and rightly so too. You see, a crime is what the State says it is. But the State will not follow you to your bedroom to monitor you, the State does not know...and does not want to know whether you're daily, engaged in the act of sodomy within the confines and secrecy of your room. It is a jurisprudential matter. The state however, does not only care for a certain group of people, but for all. So, if you as a homo or a lesbian think you're being treated unfairly what about those who will be offended by your unnatural acts especially when such acts are publicly displayed?

For the avoidance of doubt, the Bill has not abolished or prohibited the "straffing" of a man by a man, or the "straffing" of a woman by a woman in the privacy of your dirty sick room; you can go ahead and do that as long as you are not caught (again this is a jurisprudential discourse which I am very unwilling to explore now). What the State is simply saying is that "DO NOT POLLUTE OUR SOCIETY WITH YOUR SICK BEHAVIOURS AND TENDENCIES". I have the right not to have my senses abused by the sight of two grown-up men kissing and necking and smooching on the streets as much as you have the right to do so. So, why don't we just help ourselves; do your smooching and ass banging in your sick room while I go about my business!

It's a big shame to you Nigerians out there. Don't even have the misguided belief that you're fighting for the rights of folks back at home. If you really want something to protest about, why don't you start with protesting the oil subsidy removal?

Here and There; This and That...: SENATE, UNA TRY!

Here and There; This and That...: SENATE, UNA TRY!: So the Nigerian Senate yesterday, approved the Anti-gay marriage Bill amidst so much pressure to do otherwise. If you ask me, this is about...

SENATE, UNA TRY!

 So the Nigerian Senate yesterday, approved the Anti-gay marriage Bill amidst so much pressure to do otherwise. If you ask me, this is about the best news to have come out from the Upper Chambers of the National Assembly since this new administration. What with all the lame and annoying Bills we've been hearing about in the past few weeks! First was the proposed Bill to legalise prostitution sponsored by that.....(I don't even want to know what his name is and from what constituency he's from); and then the audacious demonstration staged by the gays and lesbians to the National Assembly to press home their demand to legalise homosexuality and lesbianism? Brrrrrrrrrrr! I have goose pimples all over my body!

What is the African Society turning to? In years past, one could not even talk about having had sex outside of marriage for fear of being punished publicly or even killed. A lady could not boast about having visited her suitor talk less of sleeping over at his place before marriage...(well a lot of that has changed now), and for good reasons too...which I support! But homosexuality? Lesbianism?

One very annoying thing about all this is that Britain kon dey treaten us again!!! Dem dey yarn rubbish because say dem dey support us wit some kain tashiri pepper!!! Dem don colonise our land, our brain, our leaders, our government...now dem wan colonise our sexual orientation!!! Dem wan colonise the kain people wey we fit straff!!! I DEY VEX!!! If I was a member of the Senate, I would go into the Chambers with a T-shirt that bears the inscription: "F**K YOU AND YOUR AID!" Ahn ahn! E don too mush!!!

We cannot allow these so-called and self acclaimed super powers dictate everything to us! We have everything it takes to live independently of their Aid; but it is a pity that we have not yet fully tapped into our potentials. I hail the Senate for this bold step and I hope that they will have the guts to take more radical decisions for the overall welfare of the Nigerian people.

EL-RUFAI LOSES DAUGHTER :(

I was so heartbroken when I heard and read of the death of the eldest daughter of  former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. It is always devastating to lose a relative however distant, not to mention a beloved first daughter; and one as pretty as she was and who in a very short period was able to achieve academic records as she did. At the tender age of 25 she had already bagged two degrees; one in Economics and the other in Law. And then she had even a Masters degree from the very prestigious London School of Economics. Oh boy! At the age of 25 I was still a 200 level student of the Faculty of Law in the prestigious University of Ibadan. See what the combination of money and brains can do?

I commiserate with the former Minister and even though I didn't know her before her death, I am deeply heartbroken! Don't you see how pretty she was? Damn! This is somebody who, by some very rare chance, could have been my wife. But as we always say, God knows best. May her gentle soul rest in the bosom of the Lord and may god grant Mallam El-Rufai the fortitude to bear this great loss!

The very sad end of Gadaffi: lesson for all leaders!

 Take a good look at this man. Yeah, the man in the picture. Take a very good look at him. Yes, that's the face of a confirmed idiot! You don't agree? Okay, take a look at the picture below. Now you agree?

I don't know why these African leaders always think with their asses. You have ruled your country for over 40 years - with an iron hand for that matter - you have placed your children in the choicest positions of Government; you have run the country like you run your own family; you have used the country's money to set up private business enterprises in various countries; you have violated every human right rule known to man; what more could you want? When the people cried foul, you used them as human shields against fire power, you refused to relinquish power; for what purpose? Now you're dead! killed like a chicken, or better still, like a rabbit hunted down to its hole. What a shame!

To many people though, he was a hero, a fine soldier, a brave man, a leader. But to me, he was the greatest coward ever heard of, a dictator, a tyrant. But I feel sorry for him though, I honestly do. I know that he was not a master of his own actions, he was being led by the "African mentality" of our African leaders who want to cling to power by all means necessary at the expense of the respect that is due to them. After ruling Libya for 42 years, Gadaffi was a legend; he was a force to reckon with but he decided to throw away all that respect and relevance for more years in power. In other countries, the West to be precise, people resign from their exalted positions just for making wrong comments, for making wrong decisions and for being involved in scandals, whether moral or otherwise. But in Africa, it is not so! They will rather die shamefully than give up power.

A few years ago, our very own Baba Iyabo tried to hatch his third term bid; but thanks to democracy, he did not succeed. I remember then, his spokes man, Femi Fani-Kayode referred to him as the Messiah and the only person that can deliver Nigeria and I was like "After eight years"? It took Jesus Christ just three years to perfect his Ministry! And then the case of Laurent Gbagbo, the Ivorien President who refused to give up power after an election he lost, was the most annoying. A few months ago, Hosni Mubarak was shamefully dethroned after a series of protests by the people. And a few months before that too Ben Ali of Tunisia was forced to flee his seat as President after a month of protests.

There's a plethora of cases of African Presidents and heads of state not willing to give up power even after their term expires. Why are African leaders so power-drunken? It is just a pity. The annoying thing about all these is that those leaders who are still clinging to power now will never learn from the mistakes of those before them. But I don't blame them; Gadaffi did not learn either. But see where it has landed him! Who's next?

Now who's the rat; NTC or Gadaffi?

lifeless body of Gadaffi

BABA SUWE, WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR EXPENSIVE SHIT OH!

About a week ago, Ace Yoruba actor and comedian, Alhaji Olasunkanmi Omidina, popular known as "Baba Suwe" was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, by men of the NDLEA on the suspicion that he was carrying Cocaine in his stomach. His arrest came as a great shock to his numerous fans. The greatest shock however was not in his arrest but for what he was arrested.

Now this man has been in detention for the past week and the officials of NDLEA have been feeding him with all sorts just so he can "shit out" the Cocaine suspected to be lodged in his system. We hear that he was tested twice, and each test showed that he had the "expensive" stuff inside of him. But come on! This is like a week after and still no expensive shit! What kind of purgative are they feeding him with? It is either Baba Suwe is outrightly innocent or the NDLEA scanners are terribly faulty.

But wait oh, what if it turns out eventually that this man is innocent, and has been all along? Will he just go home with an apology no matter how unreserved it may be or will he do what the right-thinking man would do...sue their asses?! Only time will tell. But if I were him, this could be the right time to teach these inept narc officials some lessons. Imagine the embarrassment! Imagine the loss! I understand this guy was on his way to France to act as MC at a naming ceremony; do you know how much he would have made? Do you know the   level of disappointment and hardship his failure to make it to France has caused his immediate employers? But if on the other hand, Baba Suwe is found guilty by virtue of the contents of his expensive shit, then "im own don finish be dat"!

I understand that a few years ago, something similar to this happened to another comedian..."Papa Aluwe". He also was accused of carrying cocaine only for them to realise that it was "Elubo". Well, that was before the installation of the "Coke scanners".

Our fingers are crossed, our eyes are wide open. This much-awaited shit is too expensive to be ignored; and the issues expected to arise from it too interesting to be waived by the hand. The whole nation is eagerly awaiting the outcome of this drama as the watchman wait for dawn.

To my Childhood...

I know very many of you will be staring at this picture and you'll be like "aaawww, what a cute baby"! For some of you who like to drool, I'm sure you're doing that already; but drooling is allowed, this blog is droolproof...lol.

Yep, that's me..in case you were wondering. If the information I got is correct, that would be me when I was about 6 months old. I was going through some of my old stuff when I stumbled on this picture and I immediately fell in love with it...again! Who would have thought that I was this cute when I was a baby? How time flies! I almost don't believe that this is me. Not that I look so bad now, but mehn! I was a stunner! Take a good look at the afro, the bulging eyes, the pink, supple lips; not to even mention the bling bling! Back in the days, Terry G and all those bling freaks would not compete with me.

But seriously, this is the reason why my sister keeps telling me "your wife must be fine oh! She must be beauty in the eyes of every beholder, not just in your eyes" and I kinda agree with her. I mean, in searching for a wife or husband, one must put everything into consideration. While it is extremely advisable to look out for the inner beauty, one must not neglect the physical appearance as well...that is equally important! As our comedians will always say, "we must help our generation". So I'm searching for a wife that can be rated as balanced. I do not expect her to possess all the virtues in the Holy Book, but I also do not expect less in her appearance. So help me God!

Anyways, enough of the wife advert. I guess very many people would like to go back into time and be babies once more...when you didn't have to worry about a thing, didn't care about running around the neighbourhood naked, didn't have to pay rent, school fees, buy food etc. Such is the beauty of childhood...no worries. But alas! We must grow up to become men and Women, with the ability to fend for ourselves until the cycle of dependency runs its full course.

So, here I am, with a glass filled with wine (at least in my mind), giving a toast to all those who miss their childhood. You also will have children that you can be proud of. Amen!

T.G.I.F

I have never been a fan of Fridays for just one simple reason: It is not different from every other day. Yet a lot of people all over the world are crazy about the day...and if I may add, for the wrong reasons. To very many, Friday is a day to hang out in one of those nice little clubs where you indulge yourself in so many things without worrying about the next day; it is day for many others to have a sense of rest. I say "sense of rest" deliberately because many people still have to leave their homes for the office to tidy up their desks during the weekend. So what happened to the lovely weekend you looked forward to? Question is: Is it the day we are excited about or the days after it?

I have tried to understand the origin of T.G.I.F and this has led me into carrying out a little research. I'll just reproduce my findings here:

TGIF is an initialism for the phrase "Thank God (or Goodness) It's Friday", celebrating the last day of the work/school week before the weekend.[1][2] Its origin dates to the 1960s[citation needed]. It was first popularized by the restaurant T.G.I. Friday's which was founded in 1965[citation needed]. However, it became mainstream by 1970[citation needed], mainly due to the 1967 movie of the same name. It is also an acronym for Toes Go In First, which is the punch-line of various blonde jokes.[citation needed]

I bet, majority of Friday-lovers and party rockers did not know the foregoing. May I point out that the world has changed since the 1960s? We are in a fast-paced world and everything just goes "voooooooooooom" these days. In the past, people actually looked forward to the weekends but the same cannot be said for these days. Imagine that you're a banker, a telecommunications worker, a doctor or even a lawyer; and you have been given an assignment for which a report is required by Monday; will the weekend appear friendly to you at all? And yet we still shout T.G.I.F!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not mad at the day; there's a lot of joy in having fun...and I mean "a lot of joy". I'm just mad at the system! My point is that we all shout T.G.I.F, yet we still have to contend with the terrible traffic even before we get to the clubs or local joints and if you are very unlucky, the sales boy/girl might bring you a drink and say "Oga no vex, the drink no cold, we no get lite since". For those that can afford the Clubs, the drinks are very expensive because they have to put the cost of cooling the drinks into consideration.

I love Fridays, but the Government of the day will not allow me enjoy it. The crisis in the country will not allow me enjoy it (I don't know which joint Boko Haram will attack next); and for those of you who still find themselves at work during the weekends, your employers will not allow you enjoy it. So next time when you put up the caption "T.G.I.F" on your Blackberry DP, or you share a picture on Facebook, or you tweet about how wonderful the Friday is, ask yourself: Do I really mean it? Or better still, if I get drunk this Friday night, will I enjoy the days after it?

If I may proffer a little advice; reserve the "bottle licking" and the "party rocking" and the "general grooving" till Saturday night. There's usually more fun on that night. Try it! T.G.I.S (Thank God It's Saturday).

Dusty Brain...

Well, here I am, starting up something I like to do...putting my thoughts on paper! But this time, on a very much larger paper, the internet. I remember a few years ago as an undergraduate in the prestigious Faculty of Law of the equally prestigious University of Ibadan, I acted as the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Law Press Organisation (LPO); and it was a thing of joy to see fellow students gather round the Press Board to read your articles and make comments. Of course you would expect that some of the comments would not be friendly especially when the article made reference to the commentators in such a way as you may describe as "uncomfortable". On the other hand, it was really uplifting to hear wonderful comments about your article; how it was brilliantly presented, how articulate, how funny...and all that stuff. Only thing is you could not publicly acknowledge such accolades because we all wrote, using our pseudonyms.

That was some years ago. For about 2 years now, I have not written one single article; where is the time, where is the audience? The result is that I have grown cobwebs in my brain. But I have decided to do some cleaning and serious mental sanitation; no more shall I allow cobwebs and dust to gather in my brain...and thanks to the Internet, I have the desired audience.

Like in my University days, I am going to write articles on this blog on virtually every topic that comes to my mind...politics, fashion, morality, education, fiction, poems, inspirational, gossips, name it! And like those days, I expect people to make comments...I am ready for them, whether good or bad.

I welcome you all to this blog and hope that we find each other exciting and interesting!