Naija on Strike!

Since yesterday the Nigerian Labour Congress has been on strike, but of cuz, we being efikos in my office, we still dey come to work. The only good thing I can see so far is that the Lagos roads are free of traffic!! Imagine having that on a typical day in Lagos. Can't!

I checked round blogville yesterday and am surprised not many people are blogging about this situation. Tayo, was expecting an update on your blog! Thankfully Funmi Iyanda blogged about it. I reckon bloggers in Nigeria are on strike as well!

So far, the goverment and NLC have reached an impasse on their negotiations. I wonder how long this will go on for. I think a lot of workers are happy (apart from me and my colleagues of course) that they have time to rest at home while our leaders decide on what they what to do.

I really don't have an opinion on this matter, but I must say that it is sad that we are having such issues for a country that produces oil. God help us!

Anyway let me finish up my work so I can gerrout of here on time. Have a nice weekend in advance.

N.B- Tayo, just checked your blog now and I can see you have put up a nice piece on the current Naija situation. Ehn hen, I was wondering pe ki lo se Tayo...cuz i knew you would cover the story ni sha! Nice one ;)

"Let them say..."

"Don’t take things personally. Most of the time whatever is going on around you and the reactions you encounter have very little to do with you. The response has to do with the accumulation of many experiences that particular person had before he or she even got to you."

- Michelle McKinney Hammond

Sometimes we need to be reminded of some things we already know. I read the above in an article written by Michelle Mckinney (I love her books!) today and I feel like a heavy weight has been lifted off my shoulders (the past week has not exactly been the best of weeks for me). These words have just made me realise again that I will make some decisions and people will get offended, they will misjudge me, they will misconstrue what I say based on their past experiences. This tells me, I cannot be held accountable for people's feelings or reactions towards me. I can only be held responsible for my own actions. God sees and knows my heart and it is to him I am accountable to.

Do you feel bad because others misjudged you? I can imagine how you feel, because I have just been there and it is not a healthy place to be. Lets try not to take it personal. I hope the words above make enough sense to you like it did to me because it is TRUE.

Please feel free to share your experiences. Any words of encouragement for me and others feeling misunderstood will also be appreciated. Thanks!

Becoming one flesh? When?

Just My Opinion!

When the bible says that “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” I believe becoming “one flesh” should ONLY happen in marriage. Many single people especially ladies in relationships are jumping the gun and already becoming one flesh with their partners. Am not talking about sex, that is a diferent topic on its own. I am actually talking about ladies that do not have lives of their own anymore but are glued to their boyfriends or fiancés. I am saddened when I see ladies behave so sheepishly. Some girls in the name of love abandon their girlfriends when they start a new relationship revolving their world around their men. The guy gets tired of the relationship, dumps girl and the girl is left stranded with no friends. Being in love is good, sweet, heavenly etc but we should not let our love become something else in the process.

A good friend of mine said to me: “In a relationship 1 + 1 = 3". I asked him to elaborate on this. He explained that when you are married you become one with your partner because you practically start a new life together, suppose to start having sex (spiritual oneness..some deep stuff we can't go into now) but when you are single and in a relationship, the girl has her life (1), the guy has his life (2) and they “their life” (3). Meaning that both the girl and guy should have both individual and common interests. I totally agree with this analysis. This way there is a balance in the relationship. When there is no balance, one person will always feel choked in the relationship and this can be disastrous.

Typical examples of "clingy" behavior:
- When you are the only girlfriend at your girlfriend’s birthday get-together. The men at the get-together are friends of your friend’s boyfriend and the other girls are girlfriends to these guys.
- When a girl can’t go anywhere – parties, outing with other friends etc except Mr. boyfriend comes along
- When everything a girl talks about is remotely or directly linked to her boyfriend. She must always mention boyfriend name in every sentence. Personally I don’t have an issue with girls talking about their boyfriend but am sure we can have a decent conversation without his name been mentioned in every line!
- Mr Boyfy has to endorse everything she does, wears, spends etc.

I can go on and on about examples but that is not the point. The point is ladies need to reach a point in their lives where they don’t have to rely on mr. boyfriend for everything.Ladies that are overly dependent on their men are setting themselves up for a BIG fall either now or in the future. The irony of the matter is that guys in relationship still hang out with their friends …so why can’t ladies take a cue from guys…why do you feel that until you forsake every thing for a guy he won’t/can’t love you. That is a lie from the pit of hell.

Even in marriage, becoming one flesh with your husband doesn’t mean not having a life of your own. Well am not married yet so I won’t even go there. So back to you my fellow singles, in relationships, about to marry etc please note that a mature guy respects an independent woman and not one that clings…Get a life, get a hobby, get passionate about something outside of the man in your life. You need it!

We have been called to live a purposeful life and this definitely involves more than the men in our lives. Selah

The Nigerian Proclamation Project (better late than never)

Ok I know this is coming late considering Nigerians (well Nigerians that caught the vision) were suppose to put this on their blog on May 29. But I only heard the 411 recently, omodudu says he sent me the email but I really can't remember seeing it (thanks though).

I am proud to be a Nigerian anytime any day. I think we are the smartest set of people on earth. :) My prayer is that God will make Nigeria great. All y'all should watch out and see, Nigeria will become the next America very soon!!!

The Nigerian Proclamation was started by SOLOMONSYDELLE , a few days before the presidential handover (29th May).

Please read below:

IN RECENT HISTORY, NIGERIANS HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY BETRAYED BY THOSE CHARGED WITH ADDRESSING THEIR NEEDS. INSTEAD OF SERVING THE PEOPLE, PUBLIC SERVANTS HAVE SERVED THEMSELVES TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE MASSES. THE RESULT IS A NATION LACKING ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE, ORGANIZATION AND SECURITY.

THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF NIGERIAN LEADERS INDICATES A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE CONSTITUENTS. NIGERIANS ARE NO LONGER RELEVANT TO THE LEADERS, THUS, LEADERS DO NOT FEEL RESPONSIBLE TO THEM.

THE RECENT FAILURE TO CONDUCT A FREE AND FAIR ELECTORAL PROCESS WAS YET ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION THAT THE NEEDS OF THE MANY ARE SECONDARY TO THE WANTS OF THE IMPORTANT FEW.

FROM THIS DAY, ALL NIGERIANS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS GREAT & POWERFUL COUNTRY. CONSEQUENTLY, ALL NIGERIANS MUST COMMIT THEMSELVES TO THE FOLLOWING:

1. WE MUST DEMAND THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND IN-ACTIONS.


2. WE MUST EXPECT DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES TO BE HONORED, RESPECTED AND MAINTAINED.


3. WE MUST BELIEVE THAT ALL NIGERIANS ARE EQUAL UNDER THE LAW AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.


4. WE MUST APPLY OURSELVES TO IMPROVING THE LOT OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL NIGERIAN REGARDLESS OF GENDER, RELIGION, TRIBE OR SOCIAL STATUS.


5. WE MUST STRIVE TO MAINTAIN A UNITED REPUBLIC DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES.

ONLY UPON ACHIEVING THESE PRINCIPLES CAN WE AS A PEOPLE FULLY LIVE UP TO OUR POTENTIAL AS A LAND OF GREATNESS. FOR OURS IS A COUNTRY RENOWNED FOR ITS ILLUSTRIOUS PEOPLE, AMPLE RESOURCES AND SHEER PHYSICAL BEAUTY.

Naija go better o!