A prose fictional work written by Da Jandy.
This story follows the life of a young man from a micro community in Nigeria.
Facts of his life, his struggle and his imminent success are aptly couched in black pen.
Coming soon on this blog.
(www.dajandy.blogspot.com)
ANTICIPATE!!!
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.
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.
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.
... 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.
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.
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)
