THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

We had just returned from the Nine lessons and carol program put together by St. Luke Anglican cathedral.
It was December 20th that year, and my family was glad to have my siblings and I around for the Christmas celebration.
The Archbishop of my Diocese was in attendance. It was he who delivered the sermon. He spoke about the true meaning of Christmas and went all the way to reiterate the fact that the Person who we were celebrating actually came to die for the world, so as to bring about everlasting life for mankind.
Mum was particularly glad to have all her kids and grandchildren around.
It was a regular ritual since I and my siblings began raising kids.
My mum had particularly demanded we all came back to town to celebrate Christmas as one big family. This Christmas was special.
As we all drove in a convoy returning from the carol service, something struck my mind..... The true meaning of Christmas. I must confess that for donkey years I had just seen Christmas as a period to fraternise with Friends and Family through eating and drinking alongside having a break from my tedious work schedule.
The Archbishop's words kept reoccurring in my mind..... the true meaning of Christmas and the need to reverence God in this period and beyond. My parents had earlier on decimated this information to everyone in my family when we were kids but I personally took it with levity basing all my attention on the miracles which my mama made for us as kids during Christmas period.
After about thirty five years of hearing the same sermon over and over, I finally got abreast with its true meaning.
The drive was quite fast and of course quiet for me due to my thoughts. My wife said some words which I Didn't take cognisance of, I only smiled and nodded to her words so as not to make her feel sad.
After a while, I got home to my Dad and Mum in company of my Siblings. My elder brothers and sisters didn't ask me questions despite seeing my outward disposition. I guess they felt I was old enough to handle any issue I had. If it were about thirty years ago they would have paid a little more attention to my facial countenance.
Four days later and it was Christmas eve. Dad asked me to lead the morning devotion using the devotional guide. As fate would have it, the topic bothered on the true meaning of Christmas. I was glad that at least I could get some of my thoughts out of my chest.
My face was brightened. I spoke extensively on the topic and got the whole family meditating on my words.
Even my nephews and niece's were somewhat quiet as though they understood my words. Maybe they did. I finally had peace of mind.

It's been quite some years since that episode and anytime I remember the occasion, I give thanks to Jesus who gave me the true meaning about his birth and has kept me and my family in his bosom.

It's 2016 and we are here again just a day to Christmas and I felt I should speak out once more about the birth of the One Man who changed the world in the true sense of the word.
Jesus is the reason for the season and all we do throughout this period and beyond should only bring glory to Jesus' name.
When we do this, we would truly experience Christ in his true form as the Lord of our lives and the only one who dishes out salvation for absolutely no price save his precious blood.
This period isn't all about eating, drinking and wearing new attire, rather it should be a period of caring and sharing with our neighbors. Christ has expressly stated who our neighbors are; all those who are in need and who we are privileged to render help to during this period and beyond.
Lend a helping hand during this period irrespective of the economic recession plaguing this nation.
It's a known fact that where there is someone to cry unto the lord, there is a God to respond.
You might just be the answer to someone's prayers this season. Don't relent in your goodwill to others cause by so doing, God has visited many a people and blessed their lives immeasurably.

Felicem Natalem Christi.

By
Da Jandy.

Election review in Nigeria; State Guber elections as a readily available specimen.

It's safe to say that its only on social media and group discussion that people talk bad of APC. But when it comes to exercising their franchise, people rush to vote for them. They did it in KOGI, EDO and now ONDO state.
 It is trite at this juncture to state the obvious; that APC, the federal ruling party is here to stay. Of course this assertion is not based on mere opinion but rather it is based on recent happenings in the political terrene of Nigeria.
Before I delve into that discussion at all, I'll like to roll out the requirements to contest for the office of a state governor in Nigeria as entrenched in the constitution.
The position of a State Governor is provided for by the Constitution in Section 176.
It provides that –
*there shall be for each State of the Federation a Governor and the Governor shall be the Chief Executive of that State. The only persons qualified to be Governors are-
*Citizens of Nigeria by birth;
*persons who have attained the age of 35 years;
*members of a political party & sponsored by that party;
*and such candidate that has been educated to at least School Certificate Level or its equivalent.

                 *     *     *
It should also be noted that the following persons are not qualified for election to the position of the Governor-
*Persons who have voluntarily acquired the citizenship of another country;
*A person who has been elected to the position two previous times;
*A lunatic or person of unsound mind;
*Persons under a death sentence; *Persons who have been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty within the past 10 years of the election or has contravened the Code of Conduct; *An undischarged bankrupt;
*Persons employed in public service;
*Member of a secret society; *Persons who have been indicted for embezzlement or fraud;
*and Persons who presented a forged certificate to INEC.

That been exhaustively outlined, I would now state my own opinion on the subject matter.
The Election in Edo and Ondo would be my focus point owing to the fact that those states were the ones I focused a search light on in order to reveal the secret behind the APC victory at the polls.
Truly Truly, I have found what I tag "reasons for APCs successes at the polls".
Also, please note that this analysis is issue based and absolute deviod of bias on my path.
The Edo State election was conducted on September 28 2016, and to our surprise, the candidate of the APC who was not until his victory at the controversially conducted primaries an active politician, emerged victorious with a landslide victory. So many tongues wagged but after all said and done, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki is the executive governor of Edo state as you are reading this write-up.
Many persons even myself still believe that the good Pastor, Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu ought to be at Osadebe Avenue as we speak but from facts and figures which we were privy to courtesy INEC, that is not the case.
The PDP failed on its part to function adequately in the eight years they were in power in the state. This in turn rubbed off on the good Pastor who served as SSG during the failed tenure of the PDP in Edo State.
From all frontiers, it is safe to say that Ize-Iyamu did better in his campaign and even in the debate organised by various media outlets.
Despite all these, the minds at least from the results announced showed that the Edo people were not willing to spite their then governor Comrade Adams Oshiomole who within 8 years of governance, turned around the state for the better in all ramification. It is clear that the Head of Oshiomole's economic team, rode on the strong wings of his predecessor into victory, thus leaving the good Pastor, Osagie Ize-Iyamu to water the bad seeds sown by his former boss some 10 years ago.
I for one, thought that with the much vexatious words spoken against the President who is an APC Man, and also the lack of oratory prowess by our governor at the debate, it would be easy for Ize-iyamu to clinch unto victory; But this was not the case this time.
Godwin Obaseki secured victory over our good Pastor.
This feat further cemented the rate at which APC governors have come a long way in election winning matters.
It would be a failure on my path if I don't reiterate the fact that the National Chairman of the APC is actually a former Governor of Edo state, and so Him securing his state for his party further added a feather to his already glorious cap.
The Edo state is in the hands of the APC at least for the next four years except the electoral tribunal says contrary and the chance of this happening is infinitesimal.

                   *        *          *
Now heading to the most recent victory of the APC, which is that of Akeredolu Rotimi (SAN), we would all agree that with this victory, nothing is impossible for the APC at this rate of speed in their conquering conquest, winning a whopping 14 out of 18 LGA's.
It is no news that the PDP gubernatorial election candidate in Ondo state Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) had little or no time to campaign and also due to the factions in his party, had not quite a huge support.
Jimoh Ibrahim who was the factional party's candidate safe for few days to the election when he was sacked by the court thereby bringing in Eyitayo as the candidate of the PDP, didn't quite like the arrangement and instead of rallying round his party, zoomed off like a political hallelujah boy and went to support the candidate of the opposition party in Ondo thereby switching his camp and endorsing the APC candidate fews hours to the announcement of the election results.
It must not escape mention here again, that the APC rode on the in house mumbo jumbo presently plaguing the PDP and it paid off by them securing the victory thereby putting the power of incumbency of Mimiko to shame.
This is a clear pointer to the fact that a house divided against itself can never stand let alone surmount the easiest of challenges thrown at it.
The PDP might just be in for a tough one come 2019 if the APC continue to sustain their unbeaten run at the polls till 2019 general elections.

                  *      *       *
If we actually want to have a democratic Nation and also a multi party one at that, then the PDP who are the largest party in West Africa, would need to get their acts together and become a single party devoid of factions and internal rancor so as to become a formidable opposition come 2019.
All hope is not lost in this fight because eventually the PDP would have no choice than to receive sense and stop costing their candidates the post they run for due to a bad and confused platform.

All said and done, the APC would continue to fly high pending the PDPs rejuvenation and bouncing back of same into victory.

Da Jandy.

"MUSIC": A Tool For Nation Building And Birthing of Novel Ideas in the 21st Century

It's been a while. I am back now though and this time, I would be bearing my mind on the issue as introduced by the title of this article.

There is an infinitesimal gain in reiterating over and over again what is adequately obvious.
In the light of this assertion, the obvious notion is that of the hollow lyrics which lace the somewhat nice instrumentals which artists record on. The wording's of most contemporary song's are in a perpetual abysmal. I was listening to an old song. The song was song by Shania Twain titled "Forever and for Always"(you should check it out by the way).
The song started with wordings... actual wordings and not 'blabs'.
In the real sense of it, I am not writing to castigate or malign the efforts of Local and Foreign acts but rather I am wailing at the extent to which the aim of music production has been beaten severely to just profit making thereby sidelining the main aim or at least one of the major factors for music production and distribution i.e the decimation of vital information laced with heart breaking, mind changing and smiles birthing lyrics which in the olden days tended to make humans "humans" in every sense of it.
Information and historic events were also embedded in such tunes and this made all and sundry to be abreast with ancient and recent happenings by just tapping the green button on the stereo.

Many a time, people scroll through my playlist and are caught in the toxic web of acute confusion solely because they do not seem to find contemporary ranting called music on my phone. This is not to say that I do not love some contemporary jams but I still prefer to listen to the likes of Elton John, Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Babyface, Lucky Dube, etc.
I most especially find solace in Kenny G's Albums which I have in abundance. These old but golden tunes aid in the way and manner in which people fratanise with each other.
Study has shown that the genre of music which a one listens to, tends to have a long lasting effect on a person's self confidence and associational skills alongside the development of a less abusive diction.

Furthermore, the adverse effect of producing lyrically empty tunes is that, the artist would in some cases not be nominated for awards. I mean real awards and not some petty shows tagged award nite. Also, such tunes which are lyrically devoid, tend to hit the air waves for a short time span and then they are completely forgotten about. The tunes which are lyrically structured properly, tend to last longer even through decades and each time these soothing tunes are played, the audience sing along and reminisce on past happenings alongside the good old days. These tunes also tend to cart away awards after awards several years after the orchestrators have returned to mother earth.

Flowing from the above outpouring of my thoughts on the need to produce and listen to soft lyrically sacrosanct tunes, it is my earnest hope that someone who has read this piece would resolve to listen to good music which would blaze his or her mind with lovely ideas to move the world forward.

Thanks and God bless.

Da Jandy.

Behind The Blue Helmets

... as he got into his room, just seconds after kissing his sofa, the lights went out. He knew that meant perpetual darkness till dawn. The only device which illuminated the obscurity was his Android phone.

All he ever wanted was everything, but now it seemed he had a basket full of voidness.
Brenny found solitude in company of the soft tune which emanated from his phone. This night of course, he had decided to find a reminiscence in the tune which he chose. He wasnt a jazz lover, but this night wasn't a regular one and so he decided to play Kenny G's "Alone".
As the sound filtered into his ears, the rush of memories both positive and negative came running through his mind. This made him shudder;
How on earth did he get into this kind of life.
The war in Syria had made him to be deployed by the United Nations on a peacekeeping mission.
Brenny never envisaged such a clarion call would be made to him. At least he was just a junior officer who in fact saw himself as being inexperienced.
ALAS, the General didn't see him in that light.
Given just a day to pack up and head towards Syria, he saw his life change like the weather. In normal circumstances this would be regarded as a promotion but not in this scenario, the rebels in Syria amassed unquantifiable pleasure from placing a kiss on the heads of any one wearing a blue helmet through the bullets of their mac five (a lovely gun which had the weakness of not showing love).

Brenny thought at least he would be deployed to a less violent area in syria but providence had a "better" plan for him; he was deployed to western Aleppo, Syria.
He had heard on the news and seen disturbing graphics of the war torn place.

Brenny thought about what happened on the line of battle earlier in the day. The rebel forces had gradually taken over the area and so the troops had a tough time trying to ward them off. Both sides sought to take cover in the bosom of the remains of fallen walls.
In the duel, a young lad ran into the midst of the beautiful habitually flying bullets. In the twinkling of an eye, he laid lifeless on the floor amidst risen dust. He had been hit by multiple bullets.
The sight was gory. The life of a lad of about 7 years of age had been abruptly summarized.
Brenny couldn't stand the sight, he knew he was destined to be a soldier but not one who would face a civil war. He had fainting feets. The troop successfully drove the rebels to a distance but a significant casualty had occurred. The lad was gone and this had gradually become a ritual, whereby little kids were hit by stray and even straight bullets.
Brenny thought about how long this would continue. Was the country going to be utterly destroyed like the Amalekites or was the war going to come to a definite end soon.

The music gradually came to an end signaling the need to get some rest in anticipation for another day of bloodshed and gnashing of teeth.

Da Jandy.

The Encounter. (Fiction)

He picked up the bible and flipped it open...
The passage which surfaced was Psalm 121:5, it read thus "The LORD watches over you... the LORD is your shade at your right hand".
Mike had just lodged in the hotel close to the conference centre. He had arrived at Garki for the conference which was slated to commence the next day. He checked into the hotel and freshened up. It was in his relaxation mood, that he sighted the book placed on the shelf. He discovered it was a bible...

Mike wasn't an atheist but neither was he a strong Christian. He attended church services occasionally when he didn't have an appointment on some Sundays.
He pondered on these words from the bible for a while before hitting the comfy mattress. Even in that state, for the first time in his life, he couldn't just take his mind off what he just read. He was perturbed by the wordings of the bible passage.
What actually aggravated this thought, was the fact that the bible verse which he had just read applied to what had transpired on his way to Abuja.
Mike had planned to attend the conference in Garki and so getting his things ready on the date of his journey, he invited a cab man to pick him up from his house at about 8am on Sunday morning in order to catch his 9am flight to Garki.
On his way to the domestic airport, he almost got killed by a trailer whose driver had swerved off his lane only to face the opposite lane head on. The cab man could manoeuvre his way out of deaths way and both men were safe.
He boarded the 45 minutes flight to Garki and took a cab to his hotel accommodation.
He wondered as he laid on his bed what would have happened if the trailer had collided with the cab he had entered.
Finally after a while, he postulated that the salvation was orchestrated by a superior force which was God.

From that moment on, Mike never stopped trusting in the Lord. Those two incidents, paved a way for Mike to finally have a reorientation about life and the saving grace of Jesus.
He now believes that God is life and He alone is able to keep humanity from falling.

Da Jandy.

How Come, How Long.... Independence Reminiscence

He remembered the 30th of
september, 1960... His mother had excitedly cooked enough to feed an army and his father had gone out to find fireworks as was everybody
in the country.
High life music softly played and
the scent of fried animals wafted around his nose. It was exactly 10pm and in two hours time,
nigeria will be made independent.

He watched his senior sister, Nwanka as she pulled off her
shoes and staggered a little bit.... She said a drunken 'kedu' and a scream of 'independence'.
Nwanka will surely miss that her white boyfriend but then good riddance to bad rubbish. It was an anamazing time, Nigeria for once was just one people awaiting freedom.

He saw the yoruba
professor across the street engaged in a heated but friendly argument with the hausa vendor and laughed... He went back to the
sitting room and sat down beside his stonedsister...
'Nwanka, you know daddy is going to kill you...'
His senior sister eyed him ' Obinze, biko..apu maka'.. And she stumbled back to the room...
He started dozing off until he heard the national anthem playing, he checked his watch...11:55pm...he rushed out into the neigbourhood,
his parents and his now sober sister were already singing in tune to the anthem with the neigbours 'Nigeria we hail thee....' After singing,
they put up the national flag of green and white and saluted it, and then the allnight party began...he sipped his drink as he double checked the time '00:00..1st october, 1960'...he raised his glass cup to the flag 'Happy birthday, Nigeria'

56 years later.....
'Grandpa, so why would we celebrate?' ike asked
76 years old Obinze smiled at his 20 years old grandson 'because it is our country... Listen young man, you all ...youths of these days only know how to complain... In my days, we lived for what we believed in.

I lost your grandmother in
that stupid civil war... For Biafra, yes i did! But it never came... What of the likes of Zik of Africa or Awolowo...or Ken Tsaro Wiwa who died while trying to tell the truth... You all complaining about some hard times, we saw hard times son!
Military regimes, civil wars. Nigeria has always had problems and we have always found a way out and we will find a way out again...so quit
whining and get me a bottle of whisky'....

Ike laughed and poured two shots of whisky...giving one to his grandfather...
Obinze downed it and looked at the Nigerian flag in his son's study
'God bless Nigeria...' he whispered..

The national anthem continued playing on the radio... '.... To serve our father's land with love and strength and faith....the labour of our heros past shall never be in vain......'

It is october 1st 2016 and we are wishing Nigeria a happy
birthday...you should know that you are getting old already...God bless you,we love you and
Africa loves you!

By
#DeeAdebayo

(Edited for blogging by Da Jandy)

EXERTING YOUR FRANCHISE; A POLITICAL ILLUMINATING EPISTLE.

As the 28 day of September crawls near, the tension on the various political parties gubernatorial candidates in Edo state South South Nigeria grows more and more.
It is no news that in Nigeria, aspirants and their political parties always point accusatory fingers laced with fear at their strongest opponents. This is done all is a bid to dissuade the electorates from pitching tent with their strongest opponents.
At such crucial points, opposition camps find ways of bringing "wrongdoings" of their opponents into limelight. This is often carried out in mal afide. The painful part of the whole thing is that the electorates, whose ears are itching to hear even a tinge of incriminating statements about any candidate aspiring for a political position, tend to blow any little information out of proportion without finding adequately the truism of such claims.
Most electorates only savour the "bad blood meal" served by political parties all in a bid to bring down their opponents, the electorates often fail to adequately and critically examine what the aspirants are capable of offering and rather pay attention to trivial issues. Most time this behaviour tends to poise a negative outcome which might last for the whole tenure of the elected representative.
Also I believe that in a situation where a party becomes too comfortable in power and also poses as a "recurring decimal" then the main aim of a democratic system of government would have been defeated.
This does not in the slightest way imply that for true democracy and independence to prevail in governance then a different political party should be giving the opportunity to produce leaders at the expiration of the tenure of one party... no not at all.
What I mean in every Sense of the word is that whereby a political party is well aware that the masses have the power to either make or mar their return bid then they would work as they should; both in their first and second tenures.
Also even when a party performs wonderfully in two terms of governance, it does not automatically mean that they would perform or not perform well enough if allowed to continue their rule.
In ascertaining this, there is a large difficulty and that is what points to the obvious fact that we are "Mortal Men" who have limits.
In as much as we must pray to God to lead us aright in our choice come 28th of September 2016, we should also have an inner conviction of whom we would vote for on that day before leaving our abode to the voting centres so as not to be confused by those political urchin who rigmarole all in a bid to canvas for votes for their candidates.
As the saying goes "A people divided  against themselves cannot stand". Let us do well to turn out to vote on that day and ensure your vote counts before leaving the voting centre.
Also remember that....."THE FUTURE IS NOW!!! "

Da Jandy.

Spiritually or Manually Inflicted...part 2... (Fiction)

Daddy asked Damian about school and Damian replied that School was fine. Dad also inquired whether the car which Damian owned had reduced stress for him (I was standing at a corner quietly and in my mind I said "of course it has reduced the stress of taking a cab to go clubbing at least now he can drive down to the club at anytime with his squad") Damian accented to that fact.
Dad went inside to relax as usual, the family enjoyed the evening with everyone around... and at about 10pm, every one went to sleep.
The following day our ritual(morning devotion) was done and everyone went their way. Damian returned to school that day and through out that week I reminisced about the "drunken state" incident and in my mind I said a prayer to God to protect and guide my elder brother so as for him not to encounter danger in his escapades.
  Like the saying goes "he whom an elder loves, he chastise". Fast forward to about 2 years later, Damian was a final year student and I had almost roundedoff my secondary schooling my little sister wasn't left behind either she had progressed as expected. It was second semester for Damian and of course the last semester of his 5 year acquisition of knowledge journey.
Mum and Dad had called him specifically at the beginning of the session and sitted him down to admonish him on how to continually "be a good boy that he had always been". He thanked them and said he would be a good boy.
He went to school and knowing fully well that it was his last lap he actually decided to be subtle on his unproductive movements and rather give all his energy to his academics so as to graduate with a very high grade. It worked out well for him because he also distance himself from his friend.
On the day of his last exam, haven just concluded his last paper and being in a state of jubilation, his friends came and suggested that they all go to a "location" to merry haven successfully completed their final exams. Damian thought about the call he received from mum and Dad that morning intimating him about a dream which mum had concerning him having an accident. He silenced the thought and said he would drive carefully and also not drink too much after all it was the last "chilling with his guys".
Evening came and Damian in company of his friend drove to "Club Iyalobo" which was situated at a distance away from the campus. They had a nice time and at first Damian was conscious About his alcohol intake knowing fully well that he would be driving them back to school later on and also the dream which mum had concerning him having an accident,  but after much persuasion by his friends on him to drink a little more he obliged them and despite not being too "high" he didn't have a calm spirit while driving... also loud music was banging from the car stereo all this put together and in a jiffy he closed his eyes..... and that was all he could remember by the time he woke up in the hospital. He and his friends survived but the car was a "write off". Mum and Dad were mad at him but at the same time greatful to God that it was not a fatal accident. Dad wondered what people would have said if He as a devout Anglican had lost his senior son in a motor accident.
Damian recovered fully and began to live a normal life and even secured a job with a company but he never forgot that incident the only thing that kept and is still flickering in his mind is whether the accident was perpetrated by "Evil ones" spiritually or whether it was perpetrated manually due to his negligence.... Till this very moment he is still in a dilemma as to what to believe was the actual causative of the accident.

Da Jandy.

Spiritually or Manually Inflicted...part 1... (Fiction)

The day started like every normal day with myself and my parents alongside my siblings gathering together in the living room to have morning devotion. My Dad was a devout Anglican and if you observed him from afar you would conclude that he was a deacon or better still a Priest. My mum likewise was obsessed with the duties she carried out in the Women's guild... flowing from this insight on my family, one could say that we were a Christ like family.
The devotion started with my Dad leading us to recite the Apostles creed... He never missed it. Later on he prayed for me and my siblings admonishing us to be godly children and eschew societal vices which youths engaged in.
My Elder brother Damian was the only one in higher institution, he was about 20 years of age and although he portrayed a Christ like attitude at home, in school he wasn't much of a religious person. You would wonder as to how I knew about this being that I was barely a teenager (13 years) and still in secondary school. I knew because he would always keep late night's at school when I go over to his apartment which he stayed in school. Dad was wealthy and willing to spend money on his family (both nuclear and extended) so as for them not to seem impoverished.
Damian to my knowledge kept bad company in school I was well aware of this but He had chastised me not to mention anything I saw happening in his school at home. I didn't want to annoy my elder brother so I "religiously" kept shut even when mum and dad inquired about how Damian was faring at school all I did was to reply saying "he is doing fine" and that was all I was permitted to utter.
 Damian despite his lifestyle was not academically weak as a matter of fact he was one of the scholars in his class and all the lecturers would sing of his academic gusto little were they aware of his escapades with his friends who ironically also did well academically. At a certain level Dad decided to buy Damian a car, mum supported the idea (of course which mother wouldn't... at least her son was doing well) and within a week my elder brother had a brand-new Automobile.
He was glad and when he was returning to school he took me along because as at this time my school was on holiday and I had days to spare with him. I could make some meals too... that also made Damian to always crave for my company even though he knew I saw somethings which ordinarily I shouldn't have seen.
At the end of class the following day,  Damian came back to his apartment and whisked away some outing outfits of course he was in company of his "not so friendly" friends. They came back very late at night and of course I was already asleep they banged on the door and when I opened the door they rushed in slowly they had gone clubbing or drinking as the case may be. They asked for food Damian asked me to bring the meal which I had earlier on prepared. I brought it and they all devoured it soon after they were all snoring. The following day was a week day and they ought to have had a class but "dem broses" slept past their time for class thereby wasting the full day.
At about 1pm in the afternoon, they woke up and headed their various ways leaving myself and Damian behind. Damian freshened up and went to read. Later that evening he drove both him and myself home I took along my things telling him I would love to spend my remaining holiday at home.
We drove home and on our way, no one uttered a word concerning what transpired the previous day until we got to our street and then Damian told me that not a word of what happened should be heard at home, as always I kept my mouth shut.
When we got home, mum sighting my luggage inquired about the reason why I returned so soon.. the quickest reply that hovered around my mind was... "mum I missed you so I decided to come back home".
  Daddy came back from work alongside my little sister who accompanied him to work. My sister was glad to have me back because the house was becoming boring with only herself at home.

To be continued.....

After the rain comes what?

Nigeria as we all know is currently experiencing recession.
The naira has fallen drastically when compared to the American dollar.
A few days ago the Emir of Kano(His Eminence Sanusi the second), was talking about the economy in an occasion he attended. The Emir who was the governor of central bank some months ago once again as he has always done, gave an insight into the causality of the recession currently plaguing the nation Nigeria.
The former CBN boss stated that the dependence of the Nigerian economy on crude oil alone has plunged the nation into its current economic saga. He further went on to state that he had known the economy would dwindle with time. He urged the President (His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari) to as a matter of urgency find a lasting solution to the problem so as to ameliorate the sufferings of the populace.
Flowing from the above report, it is clear that Nigeria needs to really diversify its Economy. The fall of crude oil price at the international market has really affected the nations economy. It must not escape mention at this point that before crude oil became an economic product, Nigeria's economy was hinged on the exportation of agricultural products.
But after the discovery of crude oil and it's economic benefits, the leadership of the country and indeed the citizens dropped their agricultural implements and "played the harlot" after crude oil exploration and exportation thereby relegating agriculture to the background gradually and at a certain time dealt agriculture a final blow.
The only solution or at least the most achievable solution to the current economic "higgledy-piggledy" is for more Nigerians to indulge in farming even if it is on a minimal scale. I must tell you that as a farmer myself, and as someone who is acquainted to large scale farmers, the economic benefits that comes from farming is capable of alluring anyone to enter into the agriculture business. If at least there is someone interested in agriculture (even as an aside) in each family, then the economy would progress rapidly.
The only issue now mostly amongst youths in contemporary Nigeria, is the fact that most of them see agriculture as a "poor man's" job and this has further created apathy for agriculture on the side of the average Nigerian youth.
I must tell you that the saying "the rich become richer and the poor become poorer" clearly explains the condition which we face and would continually face as a result of the non interest we show towards agriculture.
At this juncture,I would expatiate on the above quote, through the use of live scenarios.
The owners of Mega Farms in Nigeria are very wealthy and most of them were already well to do through other economic sources before they delved into agriculture in other to expand their wealth.
If those who are already "satisfied with life" can go into agriculture just to make more profit, how much more the average Nigerian who is paid #18, 000 monthly and still buys things like yam and fish which he can easily cultivate and rear in his compound.
We all must at this crucial point in time, indulge in agriculture either crop farming or livestock farming or better still both so as to expand and  build the economy of Nigeria.

Da Jandy.

The present situation of the country; where did we go wrong.

A while ago,  I saw a quote by my friend and colleague Mr. Possible and the quote goes thus ÷
"Not every pain heals with time, not every hurt heals with care.. sometimes, just sometimes, the best times bring back the worst memories"
Destiny Possible Osayi
(2016).

Sometime in 2014 to be precise a group of girls were adopted from a school in Northern Nigeria Chibok (to be apt) and up until now some of them are still held captive. In this write-up I would focus on the ones that "escaped" from the adopters.
It is expected that when one escapes or is free from captivity, joy should fill the heart of such a one but this is not so in respect of one of the escapee; a young lady.
After coming back to civilisation, she was initially happy and glad to be back but soon after, she began to hint that she missed her husband who she was forcefully married off to by the gang of adopters. The hearing of this bizarre statement frightened people and some even claimed she had been bedeviled.
Relating this to Mr. Possibles quote, she is having to some extent the best time of this period of her life, but the memories of her forced husband lingers on in her mind with each passing day. She may have had the worst time of her life while in captivity but her disposition towards her "husband" is still positive thereby bringing back some of the worst memories in her life right in the middle of her best times.
Situations like this happen every day in different scales, many persons still thinking of their lost loved ones who died as a result of the "religious war" going on in Nigeria even when they have been compensated by the government and are seemingly ok they remember the memories which they shared with their loved ones and it brings back bitter sensation right in the middle of their jubilation.
  As much as possible we must do our best individually and collectively to make people feel secure and loved even though the country at this point in time is experiencing crisis in every sense of the word.

Da Jandy.

Tales from the past (Fiction)

Today was Friday and I alongside uche just returned from our visit to our friends house where we went to indulge in PlayStation 2. Our intention was to pass the back door and enter into our house because we sneaked out to play game so we didn't want anyone to be aware of our return.. as we crept slowly towards the back door, we heard a voice "EKENE AND UCHENA.. BOTH OF YOU COME HERE".. the fright that gripped both of us was out of this world knowing fully well that the voice was grandpa's and we had just been "caught in the act". We decided to "play deaf" and walk back to follow the main entrance but papa was quite ready to discipline us (Spare the rod and spoil the child was papas watch word especially to "little demons like myself and Uche"). Grandpa got up from where he was sitting and followed us till he nabbed us by the shirt and that was when we knew we were in for it. As an aside, I must say at this point that grandpa had earlier on given us task to accomplish before he left for his age group meeting in company of his friend. We were very much aware of this but since he went for age group meeting, knowing fully well that the meetings take donkey years to arrive at a conclusion, we decided to save the task for a later time and instead go out to fraternise with our friend. Grand pa nabbed us and sought to find out the candid reason why we did not play by the rules(finishing the task before going to play) this time.... we knew what grandpa would do if we didn't give any reply at all. Uche looked at me with the gaze of "guy give papa a reply oo" I knew that look and so decided to play along but today was not my day because the moment I opened my mouth to speak, no words came out. Grandpa was tired of waiting for an answer and so decided to punish us without mercy. After serving the punishment, it was time for dinner and grandma was back from the market. Grandpa briefed her on our misdemeanors and we weren't aware of this fact until we got to the dinning table and we were literally "shutout" from partaking in supper. Myself and Uche looked at grandma to come to our rescue as she had hitherto done on previous occasions. Instead of that to happen, we were chastised further by our grandma telling us that we were no longer babies but young men who should be responsible and trusted to carryout task without any hitch. Every other person ate and went to bed except both of us, we were made to sleep on empty stomachs after playing throughout the afternoon. At about 11pm that day grandma came to our room and woke us up to come and eat as a matter of fact we were so glad. She sat besides us and admonished us throughout the meal to be good boys who would one day grow up to be fathers. That singular episode gave me particularly a broader view of life. Moral lessons÷ 1. We should always keep to time in our dealings.
2. We must not take anyone for granted.
3. We should be trustworthy at all times.
4. We should show good example to everyone we come across.
5. We should always work before we crave for rest (play).
   Da Jandy.

The Political Mumbo Jumbo in Nigerian politicking; Edo State as a Case Study. By; Da Jandy.

It is stale news that the gubernatorial election in Edo state is around the corner. The singular knowledge of this fact tends to frighten the political parties involved. Most especially the two prominent parties which are "All Progressive Congress(APC)" the ruling party and the strongest opposition party "Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)".
The main aim of this write-up is to beam a search light into the politicking and convictions of Edo people,  and highlight major criteria with which the candidates should be adjudged and subsequently voted for.
In lue of the upcoming elections, various allegations both true and false have been going around so as to limit the trust which the masses repose on the flag bearers of both of the aforementioned parties. Let it be noted at this juncture that the use of the words "FLAG BEARERS OF BOTH PARTIES" is clearly stressed.
 Some quarters have alleged that a particular candidate "stole" from the coffers of the state treasury while serving in a political capacity, others have accused another candidate of not being "qualified" academically and politically to pilot the affairs of Edo State. Some of these allegations might be true but the issue is that the extent of the truism of these allegations cannot be validated totally and this tends to create a distrust amongst the masses about both candidates. This singular issue has caused a deviation from the real aim of political campaign which is to sell the manifesto of candidates vying for political post to the masses who would either buy the ideas of the candidates or not, rather what we now have is the "state" of a STATE torn between itself supporting various candidates based on sentiments, pity, and party affiliations. This ordinarily should not be so. People should not be "bedeviled" by sentimental stands which they take blindly because what ever decisions we take on September 10th 2016 would either Favour us or hunt us for the next four years.
On the basis of this, it is my earnest plea and chastisement to the People of EDO STATE to calm down and weigh both candidates, find out what they actually have to offer and finally make our choices based on such criteria.
 I must tell you.... Then and only Then would we finally have a government that is "by the people, from the people, and for the people"

Reminiscence of Demostarz13 days by Dee Adebayo

I was listening to Joshua's (da Jandy's) "children,leaders of tomorrow"...and a flood of memories came rushing back... memories from a few years back... in one big secondary school somewhere in the university of Benin. . a group of teenagers were in the arts... it was a class full of different characters but one thing bonded all of them and that was their passion for the arts... they were all talented young men and women.... singers.... speakers ..writers... beautiful people owho had a common dream... to read law 😊 so today I remember all of them..... Abolagba Joshua 'Da Jandy' who was fond of warming my hands then... always cold... seat mate for two years... he could tease the hell out of me.. he also used to tell me of how we will be seat mates wen we get to the faculty of law... or how he was going to blow so big... and I was going to hear his songs one day... I am hearing it all right and I miss u... I remember small Aliu Jennifer, she was of course a friend... I remember you with that small mirror of yours, rubbing white powder and repairing ur lipgloss, the only makeup we could own as of then... always beautiful.. miss u girl... then osaruese Rhoda... the girl with "huge" assets... beautiful to the core too although we used to clash back then.. I remember you laughing and me shouting "rodent!!!!! stop it ooo"...miss you too.. Asije Ohita, seat mate for a year, fragile yet strong.. I remember you today rapping... spitting those words out with ferocity... miss u too... Remember Sede gracious, my partner in crime when it came to reading those yeye novels and with one powerful voice... madam, you are highly missed too... Orhue Enodiana, another partner in novel reading.. I remember you with your large skirt.. powerful voice too... miss you.. Can I ever forget Efe Eseka..bestie that year that year.. intelligent with a tint of stubbornness... smallie... you are missed... Ifidon... tall, quiet and mysterious even up till date.. Mr politician.. missing u bad bad... Oriakhi Lisa... you and makeup ehn!!!!! I remember you and Joshua always fighting.. Khai.miss you love... Abu praise... our dear quarrel settler, she was like our mature class mate.. true definition of black is gold.miss u hun..,Emmanuel..."can't spell your surname again oo".. tall,dark and well built even at that our young age... I wonder how you look like now..i miss you too.. can't exactly remember everyone as I am sleeping and typing but I truthfully miss you all... you know what my last memory of us all... "all of us, sitting in our various seats... Joshua and I.... ohita and praise... Rhoda and Jennifer... lisa rubbing lipstick sitting on the seat that Joshua abandoned for her.. Ifidon in one place like that talking with Emmanuel... Orhue reading a novel... Efe thinking of one joke like that to say.. all of us on our 'low cuts'... dressed in our pink and purple uniforms, white socks and brown shoes... and everyone suddenly laughing at one funny thing Efe has said" happy that we were together in the Arts... SSS1B ND SS2F.... life might have separated us but I remember you all fondly and all I can say... je vous aime ( I love you all)

By: Dee Adebayo

The Prevalent issue of lack of respect amongst youths in contemporary times.

Many a time Elders most especially African parents often stress the need for children and youths alike to cultivate the habitual nature of respecting and greeting elders. This attitude was hitherto adhered to strictly but in the 21st century, this culture of respect for elders began to dwindle drastically. A number of reasons have been put forward as to the cause of this negative trend. These include;
1. Failure on the part of Parents to instill the "greeting culture" into their children.
2. Exposure to such trend through the availability of western movies in which children show little or no respect to their elders.
3. The African Children themselves claiming that the "greeting culture" is old fashioned.
4. Some Elders don't respond when they are greeted.
These and many more are the reasons given as an explanation of the ill manner portrayed by youngsters today.
Not too long ago I was driving into my school compound through the main gate in company of a youngster. I greeted the security officer who gave me a gate pass and to my dismay he didn't reply. I felt bad (I must confess) but I drove past him and continued my journey. The youngster accompanying me saw the look on my face and putting "1 and 2" together he figured out that the reason why I was not all smiling was due to the fact that I was snubbed at the gate a while ago. Having known me for a while and my constant adjudication for people to always greet elders, he began to put forward reasons why he ordinarily does not greet some certain people and this included the "snubbing ish". After much haggle we finally settled the issue by me telling him to keep on greeting elders because it's the right thing to do at all times and it also has its reward.
  So many other persons have various painful experiences while trying to exchange pleasantries with elders and getting snubbed. These persons sometimes resolve to keep their cool and continue to greet but this is not admissible to all due to the fact that we all have our "elastic limits" by which when stretched beyond limit, may snap and give room to a cantankerous situation.
  In suggesting a solution, when we are faced with such situations, we should try as much as possible to "play the fool" and move past the scene at that particular time;
reason being that it takes absolutely nothing to greet a person and even if they snub us,  it equally takes absolute nothing from us to go our way without creating a scene that would either make us suffer grievous bodily or emotional harm.
Finally as a concluding sentence, I would say that it pays to be respectful at all times because by so doing, people have received unmerited favours from others.
Da Jandy