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I'm Lafty Lad - Working to Inspire, Motivate, Entertain and Better Lives via Music, Writing and General Media.

Sunday, 28 August 2016

NOSTALGIC REMINISCENCE

"Antho, i ghala?" Mma'd say, in the supposedly Amaraku tongue, raising her head for a glimpse, most times with a ready-for-transit ball of akpu in her palm. This happens whenever i came back from school, mission, farm or such and such errands she may ask i embark on her behalf during my short stay with her.

"Nna, Luvunus/Sriva, have you eaten? Let me give you more. I'm sure these children didn't give you enough...!" She'd always say to either of her two sons after they must have eaten full and left over close to half of the bowl of meal they'd been served. Their innitial responses usually falls on unwilling ears of Mma, as she'll predictably continue with the defiance of a mother's love. "...Let me give you more meat and fish then...", she'd retort at their expected refusal, clutching the small pot of soup with her left arm and the dispense spoon; already placed under the meat inside the pot, with the other arm. And soon, they'll respectfully and lovingly cease to respond or step away to attend to other issues because she'll keep on with the pressure until the one is out of sight.

But that's just about the way she could show her kids the mother's love at this point.

It was no longer the times of giving them clothes to cover up. Or, Okpa from Orie Amaraku. 'Akara ji akpu' and the likes. It was their turn to do such now, so she offered whatever she had at hand in overdose to show her overwhelming love to her kids which they still were to her.

Aunt Augustina is usually the one that lends her all the time. Or, atleast more of it. Which is never enough, still. Mma would rather forfeit food and have her beloved daughter around and with her, gisting. More like about the same thing over and over again. No matter how long Aunt Augustina stayed before going back to Ezihe or Lagos, Mma sees it as never enough for the most meager details she'd like her to pay credence to. In the end, Aunt Augustina would always have to force her way out before getting an 'ije oma' gesture and prayer from Mma. She still wanted her in her bossom, if possible, as in her infant days. Truely, the children never lacked Mma's love and care. That i can attest to, anyday.

Having witnessed a good deal of Mma's aging life. Shared in her love, widsom, renewed childlikeness and the resultant humour with the rest of the grand children. You know what? Ofcourse, you guesseed right, she never agreed with the young grand children on lots, if not all issues. And rightly so, too!

Otherwise, how do you explain to someone who had lived for seventy to eighty years before you were born that it's no longer cool to go to church on bathroom slippers? That thi's 21st century so she had to pull up on lily heels? Eeh, you want her head over heels or what? Or, still, how do you get her to seat in front of a camera for an interview; like when she was confered with the Ezinne title in the church?

While embarking on such meaned lots of laughter and fun, it, meanwhile, presented us; the grand chiledren and direct children alike, with the opportunity to understand that we've been greatly blessed by the Almighty. For, many only dreamt but never had such moments with their well aged grand parent(s). So, we say a very big Thanks to the Almighty for the lone blessing of having Mma around us for such a long time. Quite long in today's world of sudden deaths. If well checked, Mma could actually be the oldest female at transit moment around the community. If not her exactly, then, certain, she's one of them! Rarity is the word and we bless God!

I'm close to certain, too, that Mma couldn't have asked for more. Came into the world a 100+ years ago, made babies who, right before her eyes, developed into men and women and begat their own children of whom a few's got offsprings aswell, all in Mma's lifetime. Mma must have been thanking God since the day she transitted. It's indeed a fulfilled life.

Mma, listen, we may not have had all we wanted you to enjoy during your lifetime, but i'm sure we gave you all we could afford which was only in reciprocation for you first gave to us.

At this point, we say thank you for coming, for being part of our path into the world. And now that you're very well done with your part of the bergain, we pray God to grant you eternal rest by His side without taking into account all shortcomings that were yours for none will stand if He does.

We also pray Him to grant your own children the grace to see their own grand and great grand children in good health of body, mind and soul. Even so better than yours. And i'm sure we're on the same page on this one. For you wouldn't wish evil on your children. But the best that could be.

We do not bury you at this time, we only commit the dusty container of the real you to the dust while you rest in eternal glory as we've prayed God to grant you and where we hope to be with God and His Angels on our appointed day.

Till then, and for now, we say: MMA.., IJE OMA; TILL WE GET TO 100+ like you!

Thursday, 11 August 2016

One Way Nigeria Can Change



It's funny and sad, but truth also -if you do not know yet- that the Nigerian Electorate since 1999 has never been the decider of who governs. No, i'm not talking about vote casting and counting here, i'm talking about the actual decision on who to cast the vote for before you now talk about it counting and being counted.

Certain people, very few actually, take that decision for the majority of the people and then find a means to reset their subjets minds to agree and endorse at the polls. Every four years.

Don't forget, this short contribution is about "One Way Nigeria Can Change", not about elections. So we're on course. I just have to draw my point from the narration. Now, back to it, with illustration, this time!

In 2011, Nigerians of the all Northern and South Western regions, not mentioning the South South and East for reasons without prize, came out en-mass and voted for certain Goodluck Jonathan (Dr.), to be President of the Federal Republic. It seemed like the ethnic/religious differences in the Country that had unnecessarily bred untold hatred among Nigerians was gradually dieing; seeing majority of the people from all nooks and crannies rejoicing at his victory at the time even when he's from a 'minority' ethnic group, so called. Enough on that for now.

Bit more retro. The same scenario was witnessed when certain Olusegun Obasanjo (Gen.) and Umar Musa Yar'adua (Alh., late) ascended the same seat. People rejoiced and made merry which soon turned opposite, as always, as a result of... whatever! But that's not the topic here. So we move on.

In those elections that produced these people from differet Nigerian ethnicities and religions, many people, majority actually, voted against their ethnic/religious brothers and, or sisters as the case maybe, to make sure these ones ascended the Aso Rock rein. Even though we know it wasn't 'just' and 'only' the votes that worked in all these instances. I believe these past presidents got the higher number of vote in those elections, anyway. But that's still by the way.

Three examples to corroborate my earlier assertions: in 2011, a large number of northern Nigerians voted against Gen. Buhari and Mallam Ribadu, and westerners against Mr. Momodu, to push Dr. Jonathan up to be C-in-C. Back to 2007, the majority of easterners voted against Gen. Odumegwu Ojukwu and Dr. Uzo Kalu, the south southerners, against Prof. Pat Utomi and Evan. Chris Okotie, and the westerners against Lawrence Adedoyin and Olapade Agoro to elevate the late Alh. Musa Yar'Adua to that same position of C-in-C. Same happened back in 2003 in favour of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo. In that election, Ojukwu, from the east ran; Buhari, from the north ran, as well as many others from different ethnic and religious nationalities.

Now to my main point and crux of this op-ed: "irrespective of the differences between the diverse nationalities that make up the Nigerian umbrella Nation, something was employed by certain people who wanted certain people in the Presidency at these different times, to bring the majority of the Nigerian people across divides together to speak with one voice as to who they wanted to occuppy the highest office in the land".

"Thereto, my assertion and convinction is that whatever means --or, atleast, some of the means-- that was used to bring the majority of the people together to speak with one, and unified voice, in those electoral outings, across the Nation, can be used today, to bring the people together again for a common course that'll precipitate into lasting solutions to the many challenges of the Nigerian State".

That course i may not know. But i know there can be a course capable of the task. And i believe we'll know, when such arrives. Because it'll have certain undeniable characteristics that cannot be mistaken. And that cannot be percieved, in anyway, as divisive and sectional.

It remains to know, and see which Nigerian and Nigerians can stand up; with a Worthy Common Goal, strong enough to unify the people; and make all the sacrifices needed for such to happen in an altruistic manner and change, forever, the course of the Nigerian Nation.

That Nigerian can come from anywhere and any part. Maybe young, or old. Male or female. The truth being that today, Nigeria and Nigerians needs that Nigerian and Nigerians more than ever before. And maybe, more than ever will; for there to be a continued Nigeria.

And if that Nigerian and Nigerians do not arise fast enough, there may not be the Nigeria and Nigerians, in a little distant future, to need their altruistic heroism.

But with what i can 'feel' right now, --not anything that i know to be factual;-- that Nigerian and Nigerians are close to arival.

Let's get ready for them. As they arive with the 'One Way Nigeria Can Change' solution.