IT'S STILL A NEW YEAR AND WE'LL ALL BE FINE!

andrevashaw.blogspot.com

A warm happy new year to all of you out there even though it’s almost three months gone already. Hmmm, how time flies. Just yesterday we all shouted “happy new year” on the 1^st of January.

 

Nonetheless, let me still wish everyone a very “warm happy new year”. Did anyone just say “yeah right? Here we go again, it’s another year”? If yes then it means you understand why I used the word “warm”.

Yes, the year 2018 was a very “trying” (with emphasis) one for many as in ‘very many people’.

‘Trying’ or ‘challenging’ not just in terms of making ends meet as in cash, but was both challenging mentally and emotionally for many individuals and families.

In business, especially for entrepreneurs (mostly young and fresh ones) it was like passing a camel through the eye of a needle. In the end, a lot of businesses folded up while others (including some already long established ones) almost followed suit but for grace and elastic doggedness which kept them just ‘hanging in there’ many of them almost lost their minds whilst trying to hold their heads and businesses above the stormy economic waters in the country.

Mentally and emotionally, many relationships crumbled as deception could no longer hold the midpoints of these relationships. The saving word for the ones that remained was “grace”.

Depression and suicide (attempts inclusive) became the order of the day leaving loved ones behind with a plethora of unanswered questions.

Domestic violence, children (male and female) abuse was part of daily news and happened nearly in every community with many still not reported till date for fear of stigmatization.

The most inhumane one was that of robbers/kidnappers who took their vices to another level by going ritualistic with the stealing of female undies thus making even the most innocent at heart their victims all in the name of money making.

Oh! 2018 was horrendous to say the least for many. Sadly even the politicians did not make it any better. Hmmm! Let me just spare us the (no need to remind us) details.

However in all of the aforementioned, it was still a memorable year for some group of persons as they had reasons to celebrate a few success stories (here and there) in the course of the year. Babies were born, weddings held, cars were bought, musical hits were recorded (from new and existing artists) so were deals signed, some people opened new houses while some others had successful surgeries, and many more. Most importantly, the country did not go up completely in flames.

Hmmm 2018! That year!! Thank God you’re gone for good!!!

We pray that 2019 will indeed be a good year and thus make up for the many losses of 2018.

Once again, happy New Year folks! *winks*  

By the way, did any of you make new resolutions this year? And how well have you held up?

Stella Ene - Inyang

AND SO TRUMP WON! WHERE ARE ALL THE "IF TRUMP WINS, I WILL ..." PEOPLE?

Now with the American 2016 Presidential election over, we are reminded again, more than ever before that in Politics anything and I mean anything can happen. Did I get a few others concur?

I can only imagine Soyinka keeping to his promise and many others who said one form of “if Donald Trump wins, I will…” Donald Trump has taken America and the whole place is coloured ‘RED’ and his party members are popping champagne as you read this. Such is life!

Hillary Clinton no doubts gave Trump a good ‘run for his money’ and that of his party members, her name has gone into the history books as one woman who almost became the first female President in America. If only all those who sang her praises during the campaigns truly went out en masse and voted. It’s just a repeated case of “Jonathan will win…Jonathan will win in 2015” yet after all said and done, more than half of all those who were chanting Jonathan’s praise either did not vote for him or did not  go out to vote at all. Politics is so filled with interesting dynamics, intrigues and most of all, confused people.

I almost had blood pressure and so did many others while the votes were counted and results released as if it was my country. No doubts, America affects every one of our lives in one way or the other. The world stood still for this election as nearly every country seemed to have a stake in the outcome.

Congratulations to Trump anyway even as the world awaits your work and policies in taking America to the next level.

I was reading some of Trump’s comments made during the campaigns and was even more alarmed that inspite of the so many uncouth statements and declaration from this ‘man of the moment’ he was still loved by many. The results speak volumes and how much he is loved. People can never be entirely trusted. When they say they love you, think again because they just may be implying the very opposite.

Once again, politics is an interesting world filled with confused people!

WHAT’S NEXT IN AMERICA?

Big question!

NIGERIANS ARE FANTASTICALLY...

Amid government’s efforts in fighting the so popularized ‘corruption’, Nigerians are no doubts getting angrier by the day as nothing seems to be moving despite the number of people being arraigned or probed or what have you on a daily basis. No one has being convicted so far just cases of indictment here and there while Nigerians are losing saliva talking about the ‘forever looking’ game of home invasion, indictment, probe and eventually ‘deafening silence’ of the many mentioned money laundering crime stories.
 

I know this may come out clichéd but then I still need to say this “I hate politics” in as much as interesting it is to the detriment of the masses, “I hate politics” but unfortunately I will need to keep talking about and discussing issues related to it because nearly everything that one writes about is one way or the other intertwined or interwoven around this very ‘fantastically corrupt’ word ‘politics’.

Fantastically corrupt? Yeah right. Fantastically corrupt, and are you surprised? Well in case you do not know by now, I wasn’t the one who started it; ask David Cameron the British Prime Minister. It was he who used the word whilst describing how corrupt Nigeria is during a corridor talk. Well, there are speculations going around that he never knew words of that discussion would come out in the open. Too bad Cameyyy, word got out! Next time you’d be more careful!! Always remember ‘walls have ears’!!!

Growing up and even now, when a child does something good or brilliant, the parent goes “that’s fantastic! Give yourself a round of applause” and the child goes clap clap clap clap clap and then the child ends with “myself” happily with a good feeling of a job well done or self-accomplishment.

When I read about Cameron’s statement on Nigeria and how fantastically corrupt she is as a nation, I was wondering why he used the word until this morning when I saw this picture as seen here (above left) depicting the true picture of the state of the children of the politicians and the children of the voters *the less corrupt Nigerians* who set these politicians on the ruling seats. It was after I took another look at the picture that I said “maybe just maybe, Cameron was right when he made that statement.

Yesterday while out with a couple of friends and this issue was being discussed, one of the guys with us said Cameron was “high on expensive but expired painkillers” when he made that statement and we all laughed at his sarcastic remark.

Now take a look at that picture above again. What are your thoughts?

My take is, whether or not Cameron was high on expired drugs or painkillers, one is tempted to agree with him to a large extent. If not that these politicians are so good or should I also say ‘fantastically good’ at what they do *not including the job of making the lives of Nigerians better though* why is it that after all these years the gap between the rich and the poor keeps widening year in, year out? Yet every election year, you still see children of the masses killing themselves over unrealistic promises of a ‘better life’ from Politicians ‘If elected as whatever’ while their children are far way overseas enjoying themselves as majority of them do not even bother to vote when they know that the very ‘gullible’ children of the ‘have nots’ will do the dirty jobs that will eventually get their folks into power. I just don’t get it.

So why are Nigerians reacting angrily to what Cameron said? Mtcheeew!

On my way home yesterday, someone who is on vacation in London called into a program of a radio station and said all those Newspapers that keep publishing stories of court arraignments are wasting their newsprint because: it is no longer interesting to millions of Nigerians who already know that nothing may come out of these arraignments,  hence they are better off publishing stories of how tomatoes can be got cheaper in the markets or how to locate stations where fuel can be bought at the regulated price of N86.05 per litre. I laughed but then, the guy spoke the minds of many Nigerians.

Many Nigerians are not moved by these stories of who is being probed anymore as such excitements have long being exhausted.

So Nigerians, let’s get off this Cameron ‘thing’ and heal ourselves of this mess we’ve found ourselves as a Nation. We have enough on our plate to deal with as it is, as a country. We are just 'fantastically' good at fighting the wrong battles!

While not supporting Cameron for that insult, I want us, especially our leaders to remember that 'a government is a reflection of the governed'.

BUHARI CAN BURST BUBBLES SHA!

President Muhammadu Buhari sure knows how to burst some bubbles!

Can you imagine? Just when some people were gearing up to attend the swearing in of Ministers today  Wednesday the 11th of November 2015, Buhari comes up with the directive that each Minister is entitled to have two guests in attendance.

Haba! This limitation to two guests per Minister is a whole lot different from the norm which used to entertain loads of friends and relatives of those being sworn into offices in the past. As if that was not enough, by today he's shrunk the ministers from 29 to 25. (News for another day).

Now tell me, what would happen to all the 'Aso-Ebis' which must have being bought/sewn by the (no doubts) numerous intending guests of the Ministers that definitely would have included, friends, foes, cousins, in-laws, friends of friends of relatives, former school mates, and the list could go on and on. Would they rather have a bigger party after the swearing in?

Wait a minute, would they be any after party? Didn't the President say there shouldn't be any jamboree of any sort? I presume that "jamboree" includes not spending on any party after the inauguration as Buhari had warned against any form of flamboyance. Or what do you think? Hmmm!

Watching the on-going swearing in ceremony of the Ministers into the federal cabinet live on TV as I write this article, I see a hall that is well filled with all the seats taken by those in attendance which to me looks good enough for any inauguration ceremony of this sort. Not rowdy at all, thanks to Buhari.

Looking at the crop of Ministers, I'm wondering what could be running through their heads as they take their oaths. Certainly Buhari's warnings he gave during the retreat he had with them last week such as "no foreign travels except duty-related and even at that, I must approve all such trips. No more flamboyance but must work within lean resources. All vehicles in your convoy would be reduced to cut cost. Comply with civil service rules and regulations and avoid conflicts with permanent secretaries as any infractions will be punished according, etc" would all be resounding in their heads even as the inauguration of the federal cabinet is on-going.

I can only picture one funny/stern expression on Buhari's face that must have said  'if you forget the rules at any point, take (as he hands over copies)  'read/consult your copy of the civil service rules and regulations book I've given to you at least you all know how to read better than I do. *Laughs* That was just my mind running wild.

If Buhari truly had that stern look, I can assure you that all the Ministers would be having in their 'minds' eyes' is that look and the warnings that came with it.

Ask me if I envy these Ministers and the answer would be capital NO!

No because, Nigerians are complicated when it comes to ruling them so is the country and the kind of politics practised. I'll rather have my peace of mind and my cup of coffee everyday without bothering about who is after me or which tribunal I'm going to face because at the rate things are going, as long as you hold a public office in this country, once you miss a step, hmmm, according to my people in our beautiful parlance/vernacular YAWA MUST GAS YOU!

So here's wishing our new Ministers the best, hoping that  they truly do things differently and not just differently but take better decisions and actions in order to make life more meaningful for Nigerians. It is only then we (Nigerians) would thereafter believe that truly the campaign for CHANGE was not just a slogan but a promise achieved at the end of the day.

And so Nigerians are holding onto the Ministers to do well even as Dr. Chris Ngige, said: “We are going to block areas of leakage, retinue of aides and  large convoys of cars are things that will not fly in this administration.”

And for all those who could not attend the ceremony due to the "limited number of guests" directive, just relax and keep watching from home/shop/office/anywhere like I am doing right NOW!

And maybe, just maybe. You may still wear that Aso-ebi (despite the 'lean resources') at the end of the day for that after party *winks*. That is, if you pray hard enough. 

Like always, NO HARD FEELINGS!