tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521564635165873892024-03-23T18:17:59.895+00:00Chelsea rules. Ok?Random rantings and ravings.Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-30052739271035067212011-05-19T09:28:00.002+01:002011-05-19T09:44:40.284+01:00Time for a change<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFb3Md9BWALbupfJjptKmDY3lGFlI_HAwLGfHMOJHDJ8gfaR3YVxx9gs9ovatccF4tLH67cZLTFb77rnA2DdIZlNZkhaHUnvxW7z9dfW9upRQ78VQwR71ZIduqBhJMjsCYNrhsa48rt7I/s1600/goodbye"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 131px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFb3Md9BWALbupfJjptKmDY3lGFlI_HAwLGfHMOJHDJ8gfaR3YVxx9gs9ovatccF4tLH67cZLTFb77rnA2DdIZlNZkhaHUnvxW7z9dfW9upRQ78VQwR71ZIduqBhJMjsCYNrhsa48rt7I/s200/goodbye" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608345257106403826" /></a><br />After many years of Chelsea rules. Ok? I have decided it is time for a change. Something different. More vibrant. More creative. More stimulating. As regular readers will know I am not one to postulate, make noise, do shakara (why are you shaking head, its true). To this end I have created a new blog that is more in line with my new character. The new me who likes to postulate, make noise and do shakara. Hence why I have called it - In My Humble Opinion. (Why shaking of head again? It is humble. Just because i decide not to keep it to myself or resist shouting from the rooftops does not make it any less humble.Really.<br /><br />So for the hundreds of thousands of you that have come to visit me here (see humility? I no wan talk the real number of visitors otherwise I go shame some people) please join me on this new journey at www.toksboy-imho.blogspot.com. The newest and bestest blog in the whole universe. In my humble opinion.<br /><br />Thanks again for your company and comments. Most of you.Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-32320013753528005842011-05-18T13:00:00.002+01:002011-05-18T13:06:40.060+01:00New Year resolutions Pt 2.....the saga continues<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNHLjWFg5xwaf1ugC3ee_OCJhq7CX7NZC8oA-IRQoHEszfbUN6lDcUvW1dsFTqJ7HsnkupGj_MiEaUKKldCx1QzLNy7LZbl98EpSu5fZKT_8ztx8dJdcf60bop1ygwpzcNKUkJKpSMHo/s1600/thinker.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 149px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNHLjWFg5xwaf1ugC3ee_OCJhq7CX7NZC8oA-IRQoHEszfbUN6lDcUvW1dsFTqJ7HsnkupGj_MiEaUKKldCx1QzLNy7LZbl98EpSu5fZKT_8ztx8dJdcf60bop1ygwpzcNKUkJKpSMHo/s200/thinker.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608026189260809666" /></a><br />Firstly apologies for the interrupted service denying you the chance to share your views and abuse with me. There is no excuse other than that which I mentioned in part 1. Procrastination. However I give you a solemn promise that I will be back in full flow.<br /><br />First thing tomorrow. See you then. Promise.Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-78618858642646219112011-01-02T16:10:00.005+00:002011-01-02T17:04:05.710+00:00My (belated) NewYear's Resolution...one shouldn't rush into these things lightly.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZuJlbwZiq51luhIYfHuOU9-n2cHf79K-dnjUZ31HzbG08euU0kFyQkrzwbZEOxQrvLqmebA3f5iXGajC7eHFps2i7pMOi5_tsiJLT507Q7PtVcPOXsMhsirUe2CIK5YbpcxYhlKwCOM/s1600/fireworks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 75px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZuJlbwZiq51luhIYfHuOU9-n2cHf79K-dnjUZ31HzbG08euU0kFyQkrzwbZEOxQrvLqmebA3f5iXGajC7eHFps2i7pMOi5_tsiJLT507Q7PtVcPOXsMhsirUe2CIK5YbpcxYhlKwCOM/s320/fireworks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557625440551065522" /></a><br /><strong>Exercise more</strong> – I am told that the thing in the corner of my bedroom on which I casually hang my clothes actually serves another function. According to the manual that was recently thrust under my nose, again, if one were to climb on to this contraption, place ones feet on the pedal looking things one would actually burn calories and fat and one would be considered to be doing aerobic exercise. Oh yes, one must not forget to actually push down on the pedal things and pull on the aforementioned coat hangers. One will give this a try. Tomorrow. If any damage was to occur to one please remember to tell the coroner Iyawo made me do it.<br /><br /><strong>Eat healthier</strong> – It has been brought to my attention that there are some foods that are naturally green and are good for you. As a typical Yoruba man I am of the opinion that if it is green and comes out of the ground then it needs to be fried in some kind of saturated fat to make it edible. Or even better yet Palm oil. Iyawo, in alliance with that yeye Dr of ours, now informs me that it is possible to eat and digest these substances naturally and wituout support from amala,eba and other nutritious starches. I had always assumed that was the difference between animals, like goats and horses, and humans. It now transpires that I must now share the same dining table or stable with them. <br /><br />Oh and now they are trying to convince me that plantain is not a vegetable!! Is is not green when it first comes from the market before I lovingly wrap it in that blanket and put it under the sink until I can smell its wonderfully putrid odour signaling that it is now ripe for dropping with care into boiling red oil? The debate over this one is still ongoing and in the meantime I will continue to imbibe freely.<br /><br />Finally, they casually mention that it is possible to drink water that has not been diluted, coloured, or carbonated in some way. Yes it might be possible but whats the point? Needless to say I have had to succumb to pressure and confirm that I will be taking one glass of this substance, orally, at least once a day if not more. Said dosage not to be preceeded by alcohol, ribena, juices or other sugary liquids of any kind.!!<br /><br /><strong>Relax</strong> – It is fair to say that my idea of relaxing is my BB in one hand and ipad in the other whilst watching a film and maybe listening to some music in the background. Besides proving to Iyawo that men can truly multitask I have now been advised by that yeye Dr again that relaxing means letting go of all my gadgets, locking myself in a dark room and taking it EASY. I have promised to look up that term in the dictionary as soon as they give me my ipad back. And the good Dr is prepared to pay off my mortgage and marry off my three daughters. To Northern politicians of course.I am sure that would relax me extremely.<br /><br /><strong>Be happier</strong> – I have had to put my foot down on this unless a compromise can be reached on the first three items mentioned above. If one can;t fry ones plantain in palm oil where does happiness come into the picture? In parallel Iyawo has also refused to budge on the Halle Berry issue so this one will be quite a struggle. I mean is it any wonder the poor girl has to throw herself at all these Hollywood losers when Iyawo will not release me from my vows just for one week? Its obvious, to me, what she really needs in her life is an IT consultant. A digital soulmate.<br /><br /><strong>Be more giving</strong> – I have thought long and hard about this. Now those that know me will say aha you are already too generous and are already making so many sacrifices but I feel I must do more. After a lot of internet research, of course, to find the right cause and outlet for my gift I have decided to focus on mentoring those girls that apply to Playboy magazine to be playmates of the month, or year, but for some reason never quite make it. Imagine the devastation of being rejected because these are too big or that is too wide, or for the unfortunate tattoo that says Crack bitch or Lammar's Ho on ones inner thigh. <br /><br />To this end I propose to offer them some comfort and solace and a shoulder to cry on. It is only right and fair to give these needy souls something to hold on to as we enter this new year. Yes it means more sacrifice on my part but surely this is what giving is all about? I have raised this again with Iyawo this year, being the fifth year in a row, and this time I am feeling very optimistic that she will finally say yes. She said earlier today that I would be hearing from her lawyers soon and that there would be fireworks this evening. This time insde the house. Wow. I can't wait. <br /><br />In the meantime, HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all.Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-15874470372142790132010-12-20T04:11:00.003+00:002010-12-20T04:21:26.758+00:00Sun worshipper<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhvh0fGNntMlxnnlnOXlL2CJrY3Fie-BseTmK7828VthFnMfzfPKIrqAofCq1C2RERImXloEuNx5SOqRTCWn9671rFUUHIA86KDHw_0Hb6trGpv7NfBG4yYD3OIXpQe42Vb1vAcYXbxc/s1600/sun"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 114px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhvh0fGNntMlxnnlnOXlL2CJrY3Fie-BseTmK7828VthFnMfzfPKIrqAofCq1C2RERImXloEuNx5SOqRTCWn9671rFUUHIA86KDHw_0Hb6trGpv7NfBG4yYD3OIXpQe42Vb1vAcYXbxc/s320/sun" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552613807446140514" /></a><br />I awake to find you<br />Creeping up my toes<br />Like a lover with desire<br />I yawn and stretch <br />And spread myself carelessly<br />Enjoying your embrace<br />The morning air, already warm<br />Fans my face softly and gently<br />I turn to face you<br />To give my full attention<br />I have to cover my eyes<br />Blinded by your brilliance.<br /><br /><br />I take a stroll to the water’s edge<br />Disrobe with a shrug<br />And slip into the calming waves<br />They lap at me like last nights dreams<br />I open my arms wide<br />I soak in the sensation<br />Of a million magic fingers<br />Sparkling with your light<br />Warmed by your heat<br />Reaching to my core<br />I float, float, float away.<br /><br /><br />I throw myself onto golden sands<br />Watch water beads evaporate<br />Steam rising off my skin<br />As you caress me with your rays<br />You, and your accomplice, the wind<br />Playfully soothing me into a gentle daze<br />Lulling me into a light slumber<br />I wake to find you disappearing<br />Over the horizon from whence you came<br />But I know it will not be long<br />Before you appear again<br />Creeping up my toes<br />Like an old lover<br />With Desire.Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-43123152330944011502010-10-28T18:59:00.005+00:002010-10-30T09:16:41.958+00:00You think you 've had love.......<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9oXSOsyZim54XaHY2i55JnezmikyOaDwFm2eMbkVZG1J9uV1WqNPxdXDh-LU-pM8x98eZgRNK8hVBzGM-YbvNK70gl9Xtx5FWiGFn8py0bMEwTNSW8OJL8XZ2LdgR4sKpgagGGZSqpk/s1600/love"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 125px; height: 94px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9oXSOsyZim54XaHY2i55JnezmikyOaDwFm2eMbkVZG1J9uV1WqNPxdXDh-LU-pM8x98eZgRNK8hVBzGM-YbvNK70gl9Xtx5FWiGFn8py0bMEwTNSW8OJL8XZ2LdgR4sKpgagGGZSqpk/s320/love" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533175981453253250" /></a><br /><br />You think you’ve had love <br />But you ain’t seen nothing yet<br />I got more love <br />Than I know what to do with<br />And all I yearn for <br />Is to give it to you<br />My heart’s desire<br />My secret longing<br />My hidden passion<br /><br />You think you’ve had love <br />But you ain’t seen nothing yet<br />I got more love <br />Where that came from<br />I was raised in love <br />By love and for love<br />Soaked in its powers<br />Dazzled by its beauty<br />This is what I have t give<br /><br />You think you’ve had love <br />But you ain’t seen nothing yet<br />I got the kind of love<br />That can make you go crazy<br />Make you go dizzy<br />Set you a- floating<br />Toes all a tingling<br />Make you go ahhh<br /><br />You think you've had love<br />But you aint seen nothing yet<br />My love will hit you <br />With the force of a hurricane<br />Electrify like a lighning strike<br />Pour down like a thunderstorm<br />Shake hard like an earthquake<br />Heat up like the burining sun<br />I'll be your natural phenomenon<br /><br />You think you’ve had love <br />But you ain’t seen nothing yet<br />I got the kind of love<br />That goes beyond Christmas<br />Welcomes in the new year<br />Slides straight past Easter<br />Still with you in summer<br />October, November, December<br /><br />If you’d just give me a chance?Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-41306489749336877292010-10-01T08:24:00.002+00:002010-10-01T08:35:40.512+00:00Independence Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudp5gHL7IyTHrotZKeD2J3maWCLbBqOFq4Goh_L2jhwd1jGxRHI0RhPyX8SbmE_TdaMdhA_UfPBz4NKI-3AODlSgs01Q84h6WKjOOuyGdis-jeZ11lvQN6IVM5Ib4z3eHo8qJA0Xj1bE9/s1600/nigeria-flag.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 1024px; height: 768px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudp5gHL7IyTHrotZKeD2J3maWCLbBqOFq4Goh_L2jhwd1jGxRHI0RhPyX8SbmE_TdaMdhA_UfPBz4NKI-3AODlSgs01Q84h6WKjOOuyGdis-jeZ11lvQN6IVM5Ib4z3eHo8qJA0Xj1bE9/s1600/nigeria-flag.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Don't you know they're talking about a celebration now<br />Sounds like a whisper<br />Don't you know they're talking about an election now<br />Sounds like a whisper<br /><br />While we queue in our petrol lines<br />In an oil producing country<br />While we pray for electricity<br />And clean water just to soothe our brow<br />While we scramble for the scraps<br />That fall off the tables of the mighty<br /><br />Don't you know they say we are 50 years old now<br />So why are we still crawling?<br />Don't you know they're talking about an election now<br />When we already know the winner<br /><br />While we die on our potholed roads<br />Or murdered by our so called protectors<br />While outdated diseases find new lives<br />And our children lack for education <br />While our hospitals are bereft of care<br />And our security is not guaranteed <br /><br />Don't you know they're talking about a celebration now<br />Sounds like an obscenity<br />Don't you know they're talking about an election now<br />Sounds like profanity<br /><br />When are the good people going to rise up<br />And tell the truth<br />When are the good people going to rise up<br />And claim what's theirsToksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-44090528001433171882010-09-11T12:56:00.003+00:002010-09-11T13:20:59.288+00:00What an outrage!!!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/09/08/alg_koran_terry-jones.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 485px; height: 337px;" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/09/08/alg_koran_terry-jones.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Like all good Muslims everywhere I am outraged by this man. Has he no sense of shame? No sense of decency? No sense of decorum? He has outraged the world. He has caused great consternation globally. The Internet is aflame with discussions and comments. The TV channels cannot get enough. The big question on everyone's mind is - will he or won't he? The whole world waits with baited breath to find out when he will shave off that ridiculous handlebar tache? This is 2010 for goodness sakes.<br /><br />And as for burning the Koran? This is 2010 for goodness sake.Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-59867390375425251082010-09-09T08:03:00.002+00:002010-09-09T08:49:49.312+00:00In defence of the Nigerian Police Force<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/91/N_igeria_Police_logo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 143px; height: 140px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/91/N_igeria_Police_logo.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />After listening to Iyawo's show this morning I felt it was time for one person to actually stand up and defend the much maligned NPF. Now to some this might be a sacrilege as the current perception of the said Force is of corrupt gun toting buffoons and hooligans. This is based on the fact that they are either putting on a ridiculous comedy act to acquire loose change from travellers at the nationwide "illegal" road blocks or they are resorting to more vigorous means in order to extort said loose change. This can sometime result in the untimely passing of an innocent member of the general public which is totally unacceptable.<br /><br />However lets put things into perspective. Let's use another example of another group of public enemies - the 419ers, Yahoo Yahoo boys or whatever other name they are called. There is a worldwide perception that "nigerians" are all involved in this trade. Therefore as long as you are a Nigerian you must be involved. In reality I doubt if out of the 140 million Nigerians today that there are up to 50000 Internet fraudsters. This is based on some loose facts. The reason I raise this is that for the same reason we cannot continue to brand the "whole of the NPF" as hooligans. There is perception and then there is reality and sometime the two do converse as seems to be the case here. <br /><br />True there is a hardcore element that has been allowed to get out of control basically because of weak leadership. Don't believe all that rubbish where the IGP says he has ordered his men to remove the roadblocks even as you are sitting in front of a roadblock. That is mere propoganda. No Policeman wakes up and goes to the station to report in and then disappears for the day with his rifle and four other similarly armed colleagues in a police vehicle without his stations manager's knowledge or approval. And the station manager's approval comes from the area manager who has the regional commander on his neck to provide a bag of N20 notes every day or else.<br /><br />But even despite this is a clear majority of Policemen that have a pride in their uniform and their duty and go about it quietly and diligently. We never hear of these ones of course just as we never hear about the university students that only use their laptops for research and studies.<br /><br />I do not hide the fact that I grew up in a Police family and I have seen both sides of the coin but it seems to me that we are getting to a tipping point where all Policemen are getting tarred with one brush. I know how it feels when I go abroad and the minute it is known I am Nigerian I can see the lightbulb flicker and the spotlight of 419 er pointing my way. It is not fair to me and it is not fair to them. <br /><br />I heard today that there had been another change of command. Good. For me the last IGP was extremely ineffective and did the view of the NPF no great favours by claiming he was not aware that Niyi Rubadu had been into the country for Gani's funeral despite the visit having made both TV and newspaper headlines. Hopefully the new one will instill a sense of pride, discipline and honour that has been slowly ebbing out of the force helped by unscrupulous leaders and politicians.<br /><br />Long Live the NPF.Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-23084775795813538192010-09-04T04:39:00.005+00:002010-09-04T04:57:26.678+00:00On the radio.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUP-w2DMpM8OwCccecwTavxrJiKhSkZTadalTtWTB86Cw34zVBz93nCtt4q3FdxgmlhhE5OhoiBJ6iWCn6hDz1nZK610FPP74vnR8H3Kf7iUByAaYgjunGj5Fn9OTHrHcYGWiBgSEuwhI/s1600/harare"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512916439382496370" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUP-w2DMpM8OwCccecwTavxrJiKhSkZTadalTtWTB86Cw34zVBz93nCtt4q3FdxgmlhhE5OhoiBJ6iWCn6hDz1nZK610FPP74vnR8H3Kf7iUByAaYgjunGj5Fn9OTHrHcYGWiBgSEuwhI/s320/harare" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_qw-ciiokbZw91s-MEBC3B_jXmKs6wjUK5e8CJyZ_rcRGWuuAsOOUJT2T50t0Ccqqj7e8EK0HvHXEaJzTtC0pUWkbwUIE7RsDHFxDaB8Cm6NYnWrNa-Ma2Nc71-1T-AS5AX8MjbKpM0/s1600/i_do_not_come_to_you_by_chance.jpeg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512915888833327298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_qw-ciiokbZw91s-MEBC3B_jXmKs6wjUK5e8CJyZ_rcRGWuuAsOOUJT2T50t0Ccqqj7e8EK0HvHXEaJzTtC0pUWkbwUIE7RsDHFxDaB8Cm6NYnWrNa-Ma2Nc71-1T-AS5AX8MjbKpM0/s320/i_do_not_come_to_you_by_chance.jpeg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Catch me on the radio this Saturday 4th Oct. on the Smooth Book Review Show with Mandy Brown-Ojugbana reviewing two of my fave reads this year - "I do not come to you by chance" and "Harare North". The show is on at 10am on 98.1FM or you can catch it on the internet at <a href="http://www.smooth981.fm/">http://www.smooth981.fm/</a> and click on the listen live button.</div><br /><br /><div>Let me have your feedback and if you have not read these books then you definitely should.</div></div>Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-43705843774758750682010-07-28T21:17:00.002+01:002010-07-28T21:29:01.425+01:00My father is slowly dying.My father is slowly dying<br /><br />he is shrinking away before my very eyes<br /><br />every day he disappears a little further<br /><br />takes up less space in the bed<br /><br />his movement is now minimal<br /><br />every breath ragged and painful<br /><br />blind from diabetes<br /><br />he lives in a world of darkness<br /><br />but now he sees things<br /><br />imagines things<br /><br />remembers things<br /><br />decade old memories jumbled<br /><br />with things that happened yesterday<br /><br />dead friends remembered<br /><br />he struggles to finish his sentences<br /><br />but the humour is still there<br /><br />the sarcasm remains<br /><br />amidst his shallow breathing and bed sores<br /><br />even now he still makes us laugh. Out loud.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My father is slowly dying<br /><br />he has been my hero all my life<br /><br />I've spent a lifetime trying to please him<br /><br />to win his love and affection<br /><br />now he says he's always loved us<br /><br />he asks us to stick together<br /><br />he makes us promise to<br /><br />look after the grandchildren<br /><br />and his wife, our mother<br /><br />he wants me to cut down on my exercising<br /><br />his memory is obviously gone<br /><br />I haven't exercised for 20 years<br /><br />but I tell him no problem<br /><br />I will start straight away.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My father is slowly dying<br /><br />we gather round for his final words<br /><br />he rambles here there and everywhere<br /><br />words of wisdom mixed with nonsense<br /><br />prayer mixed with odd unintelligible questions<br /><br />I feel I'm looking in a mirror<br /><br />sometime far into the future<br /><br />we've always been too alike physically<br /><br />so this is the fate that will befall me<br /><br />sometime in the years ahead<br /><br />I better get some joy from living<br /><br />Squeeze some juices out of life<br /><br />I try not to think of the near future<br /><br />when his ragged breaths will cease<br /><br />my sister has already cried river <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">naija</span><br /><br />being the eldest and a man<br /><br />I have only cried a lake.<br /><br /><br /><br />My father is slowly dying<br /><br />his skin is stretched tightly across his bones<br /><br />so tight it is almost translucent<br /><br />shiny like it's been polished<br /><br />I tell him that we love him<br /><br />I tell him we will miss him<br /><br />We wont know what to do without him<br /><br />He has always been there for us<br /><br />He smiles his secret smile<br /><br />He has said his goodbyes<br /><br />He'll be leaving soon<br /><br />I wish him safe travels<br /><br />He once told me that death was not an ending<br /><br />but the beginning of another phase<br /><br />for as we wave the dead <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">adieu</span> from this earth<br /><br />so others stand at another shore<br /><br />welcoming them home.<br /><br /><br /><br />As you go into the dark night Father<br /><br />please always remember<br /><br />we love you now and always<br /><br />and forever more.<br /><br />And for those on the other shore<br /><br />waiting patiently to welcome him<br /><br />we hand him over grudgingly<br /><br />please take care of him, this gentleman,<br /><br />for he was truly gentle, and a man.<br /><br /><br />(p.s- he can be a bit cranky sometimes<br /><br />but he means no harm.)Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-5469571522830985822010-06-02T15:46:00.002+01:002010-06-02T15:50:48.953+01:00Teacher's Pet.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22kFIsqkXCDgc_D29AB4YEBGUQ5B0xf7Nxzugxq19KRZFUaOxje2_kucYjJYjBYpvqY0NX_KVUWqMRaljdLjUAAFfKzqJ2b85-x9Q9V-rx-VlxGo0zlqdEHLc_t2pM6buF4gsK1lG6Dk/s1600/teachers+pet"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478188137945682754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 236px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22kFIsqkXCDgc_D29AB4YEBGUQ5B0xf7Nxzugxq19KRZFUaOxje2_kucYjJYjBYpvqY0NX_KVUWqMRaljdLjUAAFfKzqJ2b85-x9Q9V-rx-VlxGo0zlqdEHLc_t2pM6buF4gsK1lG6Dk/s320/teachers+pet" border="0" /></a><br /><div>From a very early age we all learn that there are some sacred cows (even though we do not know that this is what they are called at that stage). These are the pampered pooches that can do no wrong. In school, they probably had an older sibling who protected them, or their parent or relative was the Head or a teacher, under whose umbrella they were free to commit all sorts of dastardly deeds knowing full well there would be no repercussions.<br /><br />In later life daddy, mummy or someone of influence at work gave them the leeway they needed to behave like the spoilt brats they are even though occasionally the odd warning look is thrown their way when they really overstep the bounds of decency. But nonetheless the bad habits and behaviour continue because dirty looks are akin to being beaten to death with a feather. Ineffective.<br /><br />This is the case of the US and Israel – surely the most pampered terrorist nation on earth. How else can you explain the continuous crimes this nation commits and gets away with if not for the fact that they know that they will be fully protected from all sides by Big Brother. We had barely gotten over the blatant assassination of a guest in a hotel room (Hamas, Hummous whatever) using the forged passports of different nations (imagine the disdain for the sovereignty of these countries which included the UK) before we are now confronted with commandos boarding a humanitarian aid ship fully armed and murdering in cold blood between 10-19 human beings.<br /><br />Notice how quickly the propaganda machine swung into action with videos showing “soldier being thrown overboard” or “soldier being beaten by metal pipes”. Sob, sob. I notice there was no caption of the soldier pointing his gun at protesters at head level and firing (something wrong with their kneecaps? If all you really wanted to do was subdue them?). As of now there is no report of a single Israeli commando being killed despite the claims that the “terrorists” on board (who are quickly and conveniently linked to every Islamic terror organisation) had guns, knives and other weapons (at least they were considerate enough not to tag the “of mass destruction” on to the end of it). There was even a picture of a soldier holding up a knife to the camera. Even back in my boy scout days we instinctively knew that when confronted with a machine gun toting commando who drops out of the sky in the dead of night, a Swiss army knife is as useful as a condom at a convent. No really, we did.<br /><br />So now what from Israel? The usual platitudes and excuses. “We must protect our citizens, we must protect Israel, we are the most put upon nation on earth –even with our nuclear weapons, trained army, MOSSAD. Oh woe is us etc etc. We are so generous in that we allow tons of food to be delivered to Gaza every month so those pesky children don't die etc etc.” How much longer can this go on? Can Obama really allow it to go on? Can Europe? Can China?<br /><br />Who wants to bet me that at then end of it all by next month it will all have blown over and teacher’s pet will be back under teacher’s bosom. Safe and sound. Until the next time.<br /></div>Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-37507691138693076832010-05-10T16:14:00.003+01:002010-05-10T16:23:30.128+01:00I don't need nothing for my troubles now.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEt-GgLMrtCpplRIUPssefJcgThmsz1y8zhuzQ0iWt5Bz_N7cRdPBpqYljq9nsxMW6tzC8YRPT060scJhvgiKRHICOVzL_6Obk-DCtIY4aZG8QsM4O6JCxroNi4PjMownkeMnaigVsY4/s1600/yardy+funeral"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469661069220809186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 231px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEt-GgLMrtCpplRIUPssefJcgThmsz1y8zhuzQ0iWt5Bz_N7cRdPBpqYljq9nsxMW6tzC8YRPT060scJhvgiKRHICOVzL_6Obk-DCtIY4aZG8QsM4O6JCxroNi4PjMownkeMnaigVsY4/s320/yardy+funeral" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I don’t need nothing for my troubles now<br />Please tell my wife and her cabal<br />That only the Almighty Allah can decide<br />And now he’s come to claim my soul<br />Ask her for how much she sold my pride<br />My dignity and life besides<br /><br />I don’t need nothing for my troubles now<br />I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ve</span> laid my weary head to rest<br />The lies, the pain, the grand <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">façade</span><br />Please ask my wife if she did her best<br />To ease my pain and sooth my brow<br />Sneaking me back in the dead of night </div><div>As if I was a thief or louse<br />When it was best to let me be<br /><br />I don’t need nothing for my troubles now<br />I hope you remember me for what I was<br />Before they turned me into a thing<br />Please don’t forgot for all I stood<br />Before I became a running joke<br />What I endured no one shall know </div><div>But now alas the end has come<br /><br />I don’t need nothing for my troubles now<br />For in my lifetime I gave my all<br />To serve my home and motherland<br />To lead with quiet dignity and grace<br />But alas it was not meant to be<br />From ash we come and so return<br />I pray for Allah to rest my soul<br /><br />I don’t need nothing for my troubles now<br />To those who rejoice at my demise<br />Tell them this fate befalls all men<br />There is still time to change their ways<br />To tell the truth, to face the facts<br />To all my children I bid farewell </div><div>My time has come and I go in peace<br />I did my best with what I had<br /><br />I don’t need nothing for my troubles now<br />I don’t need nothing for my troubles now.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-67820892290858920832010-03-21T08:46:00.004+00:002010-03-24T03:18:30.450+00:00The Power of Electricity and the Electricity of Power.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymUwtFYiQNcNzBJP4OkqqMywVJp3SermH51vlV2N5fq9I4gBDjV08DcCVercRwyJrcnxfo_5czWROtGYy71Ys1utmqclGQgjTT7DW5-QKtWdfZHv1o1pk5KNKqZ50GOOIET6G9fF-S6A/s1600-h/electricity"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451121621788054818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymUwtFYiQNcNzBJP4OkqqMywVJp3SermH51vlV2N5fq9I4gBDjV08DcCVercRwyJrcnxfo_5czWROtGYy71Ys1utmqclGQgjTT7DW5-QKtWdfZHv1o1pk5KNKqZ50GOOIET6G9fF-S6A/s320/electricity" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>The Power of Electricity.</strong></div><div></div><div></div><div>Oh how sweet it is. Oh what wonderful feeling. Oh what a wonderful day. I am filled with good spirits. I woke up this morning and stretched and yawned like the cat that got the full fat cream with sugar on top. What has led to this state of delirium. A very simple thing. But profound no less. We have had electricity almost constantly for the past two days. You might say to yourself "and so?". Well considering that in the past year we have been mostly reliant on generators and you can understand my sense of euphoria. Oh yes we have had occasional glimpses of that thing called light. But that has always been a tease. Never full current but that bastard child called low current that destroys your electrical items, barely illuminates a light bulb far less carry fans or air conditioners and also tends to set your house on fire (which is what happened to us). </div><br /><div></div><div>But for some perverse reason we have been blessed for the last two days with "light". Let's not go overboard here. It is not the full current one would expect in a civilised country but hey, here it is Sunday morning and I can actually make toast for my breakfast. Off the National grid. NEPA. PHCN. Whatever.</div><div></div><br /><div>Oh I am giddy with joy at this simple thing that in other places are taken for granted. I feel strangely normal. I want to wear some new clothes knowing I wont have sweated through them by the time I stepped out of the bedroom. I can connect to the internet without having to pollute the environment to do so. I can have a shower without silently poisoning my neighbours. I can send to the village for another wife (pending the consent of Iyawo although terms and conditions will apply) on the basis that she can move into a house with almost full current. Tell her people she will never suffer in darkness. Oh I am giddy with excitement. The possibilities. Maybe I will open a manufacturing plant in the backyard. Not sure what we will produce but what does it matter with all this electricity flowing through the house. Oh this Nigeria is a funny country. You sack the Minister for Power and the power supply improves.<br /></div><div></div><br /><div><strong>The Electricity of Power.</strong></div><div></div><div>All over the land in direct contrast to my giddiness there will be people who will feel like someone has switched off the lights. They who once were so illuminated and incandescent will now be standing in somewhat duller environments. These people are the recently sacked Ministers who will find that all of a sudden they are also running on half current. Not fully abandoned by friends and acquaintances, in the event that there is a recall on the cards, but certainly not awash with current. This is the way of the world.</div><div></div><div>From the minute the sackings were announced the crowds will have diminished, the noise abated, the convoy disappears, phones becomes silent, they become (almost) human again. Now they will find out their real worth. For some of them there will be no way back (thank goodness and good riddance). For some it will be like all their "intelligence" had disappeared as where once all they had to do was open their mouth to hold their audience in thrall they will now find out that when they speak now it is like they have gum disease. So it is with the electricity of power. Enjoy it while it lasts. Once it is switched off it's good night and beddy byes.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-69946259118876412172010-03-05T14:44:00.005+00:002010-03-06T05:59:31.741+00:00Looking for clues..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcSMOOSqh5n7JitL6kGhZhqUFNVW_mF0umvC3Anc4NRPFBF2hbBfhQSK27c8ZWNu7qmjEqrfaETKeDSraM2xCXeOMQr1g8hdzMVNIS_kUeFTfQi7QrECS0BdJtaYbVgTiVfX4IhtCcHM/s1600-h/clouseau"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445395776206914770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 149px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 196px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcSMOOSqh5n7JitL6kGhZhqUFNVW_mF0umvC3Anc4NRPFBF2hbBfhQSK27c8ZWNu7qmjEqrfaETKeDSraM2xCXeOMQr1g8hdzMVNIS_kUeFTfQi7QrECS0BdJtaYbVgTiVfX4IhtCcHM/s320/clouseau" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I was very touched last week by the story of the lady that was killed by the whale at Disneyland in Florida. I pondered on this tragedy for quite some time and wondered what could have been done to prevent it. I tried to look for some clues that would have given a hint as to the potential for this sort of tragedy. After much consideration I decided that I would have to put it down to the language we use and the way we use it to describe things. </div><div></div><br /><div>So for example I tend to avoid vicious dogs. See how the language comes in handy there. Look at it again. Vicious dogs. Let's take another example - Serial killer. Another one to avoid at all costs. It's all there in the name. Oh how our forebears through the generations were so perceptive and accurate with these things. Ok another one. Extreme sports. See for me sport does not need to be extreme. I am more than happy with normal sports - like watching TV. If I want to be extreme about it then I get up to change the channels rather than using the remote -either the one with batteries or the ones that eat my food otherwise known as children.</div><br /><div></div><div>So back to this poor lady and the killer whale. Spot the clues in that one. You spotted it straight away right? If you were meant to play and fondle the thing surely our forebears the Romans would have named it something like playful whale or tickle my tummy whale or such like. But killer whale? Which means they must have spotted something right? Maybe the first guy didn't but by the time the thing has eaten ten or twenty Romans someone would have stood up in the parliament and said something along the lines of "£$% this. I cannot take it anymore more. From this day forward that beast will no longer be referred to as Tinkerbell. I decree that henceforth it be referred to as a killer whale". Someone never told them at Disneyland.</div><div></div><br /><div>Which brings me nicely to our Minister for Information who proudly and loudly announced last week that on a matter of national and even international importance - the status of the Yard man- she has no information. Nothing. Nada. So again I went back to the drawing board and banged my head on it. I took a long hard look at her title and pondered how it must feel to be a MOI without I. Is this the sort of thing you stand up in public to announce? Surely that would be reason enough to resign? Throw in the towel? How can you continue? Why not just keep quiet? Keep the lack of information to yourself? Unless you were grandstanding of course. Playing to the gallery. Sending the market women into raptures with your high moral standards and your superior intellect. Over and above the other members of the Cabinet. Meanwhile there are rumours of a major reshuffle in the Cabinet by the Acting President.</div><div></div><br /><div>Anyone spot the clues there?</div><br /><br /><div></div>Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-10702855967337012442010-02-25T09:25:00.004+00:002010-02-25T10:20:13.724+00:00Oh ye of little faith......<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hkXOh9g1M3G-c_bVk3cKy0VxwBviv1f0QTxQowKhQvUJlC_Kxky_6ti57zxJ2PJf0C9SYQwE9eUJk5KwA3HTfYRluquB6_eFiO2lRqWnXL07OAG1qCl-A_bC4RcAhmlmP6RbLMNKJyA/s1600-h/umaru"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442116042725340962" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hkXOh9g1M3G-c_bVk3cKy0VxwBviv1f0QTxQowKhQvUJlC_Kxky_6ti57zxJ2PJf0C9SYQwE9eUJk5KwA3HTfYRluquB6_eFiO2lRqWnXL07OAG1qCl-A_bC4RcAhmlmP6RbLMNKJyA/s320/umaru" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgjfcunV47UapbhddZw0xPBtqx_puc9ffW0vWRhyphenhyphen0EsABHgNe9jqaovbZab09Gqew4BDYneK9tgZtg_A4-uRJleR27fNuf0MakjtXCuORY1wT6HrO-3BlDd9YM4b3lA3NPh3kG52jks4/s1600-h/turai"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442115927429783954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 95px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgjfcunV47UapbhddZw0xPBtqx_puc9ffW0vWRhyphenhyphen0EsABHgNe9jqaovbZab09Gqew4BDYneK9tgZtg_A4-uRJleR27fNuf0MakjtXCuORY1wT6HrO-3BlDd9YM4b3lA3NPh3kG52jks4/s320/turai" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Oh you cynical blog readers. Coming here for your daily dose of cynicism and sarcasm in equal measures. Something I like to call cynisarcism as is the wont these days of using as few words as possible by joining two or even three words together. After all how else are we going to save the planet if we cannot even save on the amount of words we use?</div><div></div><div> </div><div>Anyway, Yardy drops out of the sky into the arms of the Nigerian army and a specially fitted ambulance and is shipped off to Aso Rock to take his rightful place. In the specially built ICU. Meanwhile, you will recall that at exactly the same time as he was leaving Saudi a delegation of erstwhile Ministers were on their way to check on his progress, say hey to the King and do some shopping. All facilitated by the Nigerian Ambassador. So its obvious that nobody is actually being kept in the loop on this. Even Goodluck was in the dark apparently (well after all Yardy did land at 2.30am and I would expect JG to have been tucked up in bed with his Winnie the Pooh bear and the formidable Mrs JG).</div><div></div><br /><div>Now this is the master stroke and for you aspiring politicos this is where you need to get your notebook out. Mrs Yard then issues a statement (let's not even fool ourselves that Mr Yard would have had enough breath to dictate that long thing) thanking all and sundry and making special mention especially of all those who had stabbed her/him in the back. For example - the Governors. Now let's imagine how many Governors slept peacefully in their girlfriends bed's overnight after that statement. Not many I would imagine. It was a declaration of war. Pure and simple. This Turai should be sent to the US to help Obama sort out those minor skirmishes in Iraq, Iran,Israel, Afghanistan etc. The woman is something else. I've heard of stand by your man but this is a whole new level. Stand for your man.</div><div></div><div> </div><div>So we all wait with bated breath for the next chapter. Does JG cave in at the first opportunity and hand back the baton? Do the Governor's do a quick u -turn and say they were quoted out of context? Does Dora suddenly reveal that the memo was forged and somebody else had signed in her name? Does the AG fly back in from the Carnival in Brazil with a couple of beauties on his arm challenging his demotion? Oh the intrigue of it all!!</div><div></div><br /><div>Meanwhile, back at the ICU our man lies quietly, oblivious to all the Africa Magic going on around him with a serene smile on his face and a slight dribble from his lips. Every once in a while he is heard to murmur "OBJ walahi". So now that he's back Turai's next move will be to gather all the Alfas together to create a powerful prayer to help bring her man back into a sitting position (at the FEC for example). If the Alfas fail then Chris Okotie, Benny Hinn and other such miracle workers are already setup on speed dial.</div><div></div><br /><div>Oh ye of little faith. Believe o. This is Nigeria. Anything can happen.</div></div>Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-17021193791969260482010-02-23T15:36:00.001+00:002010-02-23T15:40:43.786+00:00The road to nowhere…….Desert Storm Pt2.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpsGLiOayTASmqG8KDGhMqY0KO8VaiG86_hZKmgG99Ph9I4Bg6jf5ZzaTQpcfkdAhAUsINHlyj-Si9t0IK45PV2lzp1V0TC4fLd5oSd9F19JwULasamhkYujwrpn2IBBfQqnfnpHhGxg/s1600-h/desert"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441464073810371762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpsGLiOayTASmqG8KDGhMqY0KO8VaiG86_hZKmgG99Ph9I4Bg6jf5ZzaTQpcfkdAhAUsINHlyj-Si9t0IK45PV2lzp1V0TC4fLd5oSd9F19JwULasamhkYujwrpn2IBBfQqnfnpHhGxg/s320/desert" border="0" /></a><br /><div>My morning routine is very simple. Wake up. Do <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">abolutions</span>. Pray. Kids off to school. Watch Sky News. Settle down to work. I find this the easiest way to fend off insanity in Nigeria. Luckily I mostly work from home so I do not have to face any of the madness outside the gates…..traffic, noise pollution, aggression, fighting, death etc. No. At home I am sheltered in cosy comfort from the “Real World Lagos” – that never ending reality series – although one must not forget the lunatics called house help who do their best to bring the outside world in.<br /><br />Typical exchange:<br />Guard – <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Oga</span> diesel has finished<br />Me- finished finished or just finished?<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Mallam</span> – finished finish<br />Me- why <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">didn</span>’t you tell me it was finishing<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Mallam</span>- because I was waiting for it to finish and now it has finished finish. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Walahi</span>.<br /><br />The other thing I also manage to avoid by hiding away at home is the newspapers and their various headlines. Unfortunately today I had an appointment which meant going out. Oh the gnashing of teeth, the sweaty palms, choking back of tears (and this was just my driver as I had decided to take the wheel. These incidents never end in a good way but a post on that later). After spending over 30minutes sitting very still on Admiralty Way (the traffic was so bad that people were actually coming out of their cars and sitting on the bonnet – as I understand often happens on the mainland and other deprived areas….. just a joke now. Cool down.)<br /><br />And so it was that I had the misfortune to be trapped with nothing to do and hence fall easy prey to the newspaper boys. The headline in one read Ambassador : Doctors barring people from seeing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Yar</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Adua</span>. Ministerial team finally departs. Now see what is happening here. Read it again. To translate for you basically what this paper and several others are saying is that another team of Ministers will be spending your hard earned (cough) tax money to travel to Saudi Arabia not to see the ailing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Presido</span> - The Yard himself. As in no chance in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Turai</span> that they will get within a mile of the man. Not one jot. No way. No how. On this basis some smarter people than me, that can speak Latin and such, would say that this was therefore a travel in futility. Ipso Facto (that’s all the Latin I know) a waste of time and money. A road to nowhere. A journey into the known.<br /><br />But you smarty pants are not as smart as these Ministers because it turns out that their tax payer funded shopping trip is not actually for the purpose of seeing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Yardy</span> at all. No, it is to go and say thank you to the King of Saudi for looking after him so well (I am therefore assuming the Saudis will be writing off the multi million dollar tab for his long stay hence the need for gratitude?) since his unfortunate illness. So there. Oh you people and your negative thinking. Get over yourselves. As if we did not know that we <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">couldn't</span> see <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Yardy</span>. Of course we know that. We are going to see the King. Soon and very soon. Far be it for me to mention that we could have probably built a world class modern hospital with the amount of money spent shuttling back and forth to see a ghost.<br /><br />How long this farce will continue God only knows. I mean this is not the first or second set of appointed delegates to make the journey out into the Saudi desert and come back with nothing but gold trinkets, lace and other banned goods. I suspect though that this is just the beginning. I envisage a day when all Nigerian citizens will be required to go out to Saudi Arabia to see for themselves (after all the Ministers and other despots obviously) the way things are going. We might even have to break into the hospital, force our way in past security, protocol and the most sophisticated defense mechanism we have ever seen –<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Turai</span> the Tiger. It will be a case of Desert Storm 2. After all if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Yardy</span> won’t come to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">AIT</span> then…….</div>Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-31548937858113168702010-02-19T17:40:00.003+00:002010-02-19T18:53:01.559+00:00HiTech. Low value. SOS<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nngoIDtPL08jUJTu-gLKaYYmVynpyUmC5GKqRYa3CIUMg5FZ-ku-h_DFlScBUvcz8AyDTk6qs6QeHUgGoAEfFa6PhFavPQJQjAIe7hCigZETHtBHuHhRohoQAZMkww6Zmj0zxV5MszQ/s1600-h/road+works"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440029469609005330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 131px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nngoIDtPL08jUJTu-gLKaYYmVynpyUmC5GKqRYa3CIUMg5FZ-ku-h_DFlScBUvcz8AyDTk6qs6QeHUgGoAEfFa6PhFavPQJQjAIe7hCigZETHtBHuHhRohoQAZMkww6Zmj0zxV5MszQ/s320/road+works" border="0" /></a><br /><div>So I live in Lekki. And to some the very word conjures up pictures of massive villas with swimming pools and tennis courts. These people have obviously never been there. Yes there might be a few such carbuncles but mostly it is full of middle class people trying to earn a daily crust. I can't say an "honest" daily crust of course because this is Nigeria and some people might be offended to be addressed in such a manner. But we are all trying to earn our daily crust.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Unfortunately in Nigeria no matter how much you try to earn your daily crust with as much dignity and honour as possible invariably some fools will step in and ruin it for you - be it PHCN, Tax collectors, Water company, Resident's association etc. When all you want is to wake up in the morning, go to work, do a good day's job (ok, ok - just go to work) and then come home and rest your weary head on your beloved's bosom (assuming your wife is not around) (it's just a joke..Please!!!) invariably you will be frustrated (no pun intended) in this simple routine of daily life.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>For the past two and a half years the thorn in our well padded side has been a company called HiTech. It is funny how these companies always pick names that are a total opposite of what they really are. So anyway HiTech has been charged to build a road from law school in VI to somewhere way out into places that have no interest for me - that is beyond VGC. In corporate lingo they have won the bid for the concession to build the Lekki-Epe expressway. Whatever. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>What interests me however is the bit of road between Lekki Phase 1 and ExxonMobil. (Yes I am Nigerian and yes I am selfish and parochial. And so?) A stretch of say one mile. Pardon me if I am wrong but geography was never my strong suit. All that stuff about north,south, east and west when really all you need to know is - is it close to Tantaliser? Which side is Zenith bank? Is there one yellow woman like this selling recharge cards on the corner? Based on these non scientific identifiers I have managed to survive to a rope old age but I digress.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Now having moved back to Nigeria two years ago I had thought that by now this small stretch of roadworks would be complete by now bearing in mind that they had started even before I moved back, but no, the torture continues. So daily life for us lucky ones in Lekki Phase 1 is like this. Wake up really early, sit in traffic for about one hour just to join the traffic on the main Lekki Expressway. Sit in Lekki Expressway traffic for another hour by this time irritable, irrational and prone to occasional bouts of fisticuffs and gesticulations to all and sundry. Arrive at destination emotionally ragged and raining curses on all those involved in building this god forsaken road. The trip I describe above is just the one my girls go through every morning to get to school. A fifteen minute drive turns into a two hour ordeal. They have a friend who lives in somewhere called Ajah who has to leave home at 530am to get to school. Then repeat the whole thing in the evening. This has been going on for TWO YEARS. Haba wetin?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So can someone explain to me the objective of this badly managed fiasco? Where is the Project plan? Who is the Project Manager? Every time the road is covered in tarmac and we take a deep breath we are invariably met a month later by tractors digging up the very same stretch again. Almost like someone wakes up one morning and says - guys, you know I think we forgot to put in the drains? Or guys remember all those black cables we dug up last month apparently they are for telecoms services and no one in Lekki has been able to make a call since. We better dig up the road and bury it back pronto. Or L arry did you ever find that Timex watch you lost? I have a funny feeling it is buried under the road. Let's have a looksie shall we?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>To make things even worse the company then takes out an ad in the paper a couple of days ago putting the blame for the fiasco on everyone else but themselves. They blame Lagos State, the Police, LASTMA and everyone else for failing to hold up their end of the bargain. I may not be good at Geography but I do recall a saying I learned back at school that says only a crap tradesman blames his tools. O.r others. For a crap job</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The heartache caused by this fiasco on a daily basis is almost too much to bear. Forget about making plans. For where? Fixed time appointments. No way. "Rushing out" to get something. Dream on. The worst part is that the fear of getting stuck in the traffic is so high now that we just prefer to stay at home. Which leaves us at the mercy of PHCN, the Water company, the tax collector and every other crackpot and shaman peddling their wares.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So welcome to the <span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">HiLife. HiTech? I</span>ndeed.</div><br /><div></div>Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-38745626595587552472010-02-18T14:05:00.004+00:002010-02-18T17:49:52.342+00:00DORA THE EXPLORER.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyEibR6Ju0GQKivhn2IXCvQ8h11qxJ3JkjWti_5oEdzllCIMubedCOLsFtY3rZbjge5WfD3s93Ok8QAPxeNczj9l3XLwvQkaQXCuM_XuUOTwyBK9WmMOoIQnukepiF9DBwtBeTi5vBqE/s1600-h/dora+1"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439640878807707042" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 82px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyEibR6Ju0GQKivhn2IXCvQ8h11qxJ3JkjWti_5oEdzllCIMubedCOLsFtY3rZbjge5WfD3s93Ok8QAPxeNczj9l3XLwvQkaQXCuM_XuUOTwyBK9WmMOoIQnukepiF9DBwtBeTi5vBqE/s320/dora+1" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQvOk2cEfADxIpT9XimrFgBG7Fm4TOt0VZHNr6pAzvb_I-MPqL3X8Uo2K19kAASMZwkH4TOeZD3rLxqp59AG2l0aNE2qp7z31mIDlhqP8PhzWMb7BWW9IJGR7jasPvO2oi_VBliANmzI/s1600-h/dora"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439588024802680402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 65px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQvOk2cEfADxIpT9XimrFgBG7Fm4TOt0VZHNr6pAzvb_I-MPqL3X8Uo2K19kAASMZwkH4TOeZD3rLxqp59AG2l0aNE2qp7z31mIDlhqP8PhzWMb7BWW9IJGR7jasPvO2oi_VBliANmzI/s320/dora" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Above are two pictures. One is of a cartoon character with wild eyes, a crazed look, penchant for lecturing and a fervent zeal to educate the masses. The other is of course Dora the Explorer – a popular TV show for children.<br /><br />I have been amazed over the past few weeks about the number of articles (planted??) in newspapers and magazines praising our erstwhile Minister for (Dis) (Un) (No) (Wrong) – take your pick – Information with regards the memo she wrote asking for support to oust Yardy and get Goodluck enshrined.<br /><br />Apparently after a whole two months and more she woke up one morning with her conscience pricking her to make a stand. Hence her “inspired” memo. She has been called a voice a reason, a true citizen, an ambassador for truth and other such rubbish that we Nigerians are prone to throw at any elected person who actually does anything remotely connected to their job.<br /><br />Well here is my view. I reckon that Aunty D. got inside info that Yardy would not be returning in exactly the same format in which he had left the country. He left the country in VHS format and will be returning in Beta. i.e. old, outdated, gone. Being Minister of Info I suspect she was actually given this info or tipped off in one way or another. This I feel was the fuel that ignited her conscience and fired her up to her act of unrivalled bravery.<br /><br />For me the day she delivered the memo was the day I knew that Yardy was a goner from this mortal coil because you see there is no way Aunty D. would have dared step out of line if there was a chance in Sokoto that Yardy would return. Remember she has been on every single leaked list of Ministers for the chop whilst he was still of full cranial functions. So getting the news that he had ceased to be so Presidential in demeanour she quickly hatched her plan to get into Uncle Goodluck’s good books. She is obviously more than a pretty face our Aunty D.<br /><br />My mole tells me that not long too long after the memo Aunty paid one of those courtesy visits, so beloved of the favour seeking, to Uncle G to commiserate with him on his time in limbo and to assure him that all would be well and the of course she would be standing shoulder to shoulder with him through thick and thin (and his first cabinet reshuffle) once he got himself in the driver’s seat. She also offered to make him a special stew from her part of the country. I understand he politely declined both offers. He has already won me over. </div><br /><div></div><div>To top it all off she then had to deal with a jolt from the king of darkness himself - our former Attorney General who seemed to imply that all had not been tickidy boo at NAFDAC whist she was in charge. Ouch that must have hurt. To have someone with whom snakes and other belly crawling reptiles are loathe to be compared to cast aspersions on your name and character?</div><div> </div><div>Well how low can you go? This game of politics is definitely not for toddlers. Is it Aunty?</div></div>Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-82351952698784234222010-02-12T10:16:00.002+00:002010-02-12T10:32:33.020+00:00Happy New Year.Yes you read right. Happy new year. What's the problem? So it is February. And so? What's your own? Are the Chinese not doing new year next week? So it's only Yardy that can "be away" for 80 days? Ah beg Happy New Year jo. From today. It's official. Go and check it. Not just in any almanac. Go and check the procrastinator's handbook for successful living. First Edition. (Second Edition has been delayed for some time). It is right there. Happy new year can be any day you want. Just not today. Tomorrow. Seriously. Go and check it. Obviously not straight away. Tomorrow or possibly the day after. What's the rush? Don't stress yourself.<br /><br />So five months just passed like that and I was sitting there thinking " I really must update my blog". This country is leaderless. They need someone to guide this great ship away from the rocks of Akinyuli. Toks you must rise to the occassion. Anyday now. Aaaany minute. You really must. No. You must get to it straight away. Now, now. Immediately. Definitely. With urgency. Ok tomorrow then. Latest. Walahi.<br /><br />So you see? And here I am. I did it. Happy New Year.Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-7015397228819163582009-10-27T08:42:00.002+00:002009-10-27T08:57:31.508+00:00The good Lord helps those who........<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4OIRYcC4VHBFSYxSPoZaK67lsXd4mY1P9Ucl-ymXVK2pQKsojnmZOczmAZfVvlGSdnvGoEiX8AU6aFe-z_KgcHhK3QzW6UnXZH1eYcX9XEjNW03k1WE20pAiSbZq3_VonJyWPkC_K3E/s1600-h/clouds"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397201183776794770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 135px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 90px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4OIRYcC4VHBFSYxSPoZaK67lsXd4mY1P9Ucl-ymXVK2pQKsojnmZOczmAZfVvlGSdnvGoEiX8AU6aFe-z_KgcHhK3QzW6UnXZH1eYcX9XEjNW03k1WE20pAiSbZq3_VonJyWPkC_K3E/s320/clouds" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Arrived at MMIA last week with a friend from the UK. He was met in the arrivals hall by a protocol officer to help smooth his way through. As we were waiting for our luggage the chap asked him how many bags he had. "Four", he replied, "will this be a problem with the Customs people?". Without missing a beat the chap said "no, we will just tell them that you are a pastor returning from a crusade". Huh?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Sure enough after collecting the bags they made their way to the exit door where they were met by a stern looking Custom's official. He put his hand on the trolley and told them they had to step to one side for inspection. The protocol office then said to him "Oga, this man is a pastor with the Redeemed Church and he is just returning from a crusade abroad" all the while flashing my friend's Nigerian passport in the man's face. The Customs officer then took one look at my friend and waved them through. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Outside they burst out laughing. Why? Well if he had checked the Custom's man would have seen that my friend's name was Abdul Hammed XXXXXXX. Surely even in Nigeria this would have roused some suspicions? Or maybe not? Is there some law that I have missed that says members of the clergy (regardless of their faith) are immune from Customs checks? What if the bags were filled with guns, drugs, body parts? Na wa o.</div>Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-8331577066306469782009-10-18T12:45:00.002+00:002009-10-18T13:01:01.240+00:00The Enemy Within .....EpilogueThe matter is sorted. Things have been "settled". We hold our breaths that there is no further comeback.<br /><br />Yesterday my sister reeceives the following text from one of the settled - "Hi Madam, hw is family n work? Suppose wonderful. I want 2 say AM impressed d way u handled that ordeal with maturity n with high sense of understanding. I say well done. Keep it up. If we r having your kinds I don't dere (sic) will be problem in this country. Well done I do appreciate u. Do have a wonderful day." I am assuming that by "your kinds" he means the kind that come come up with half a year's salary at a moment's notice.<br /><br />We learn that since the superiors have been settled it is now time for them to take action. The original instigator is to investigated about his role in our "ordeal". I assume there will be further "settlement" involved before the matter is fully em...settled. We also learn that the wound to his head was sewn up without benefit of any pain killer or anesthetic. It is hard to feel pity but how can you be human and not?<br /><br />The mallam meanwhile is now doubly cautious before opening our gate. A lesson we have been trying to teach him for years. Life.Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-16268372377890595712009-10-15T18:25:00.003+00:002009-10-15T18:57:59.399+00:00The Enemy within...My mum's driver was turning into the house a few days ago. Apparently he has his earpiece in for his phone and might have been on a call. As he was turning in a chap on a motorbike started banging on the side of the car asking "did you not see me?". The driver said "who are you?" and drove into the compound after the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">mallam</span> had opened the gate assuming that this was another one of those 30 second Lagos dramas.<br /><br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">mallam</span> closed the gate and was in the process of locking it when there was a loud banging on the gate. He opened to to say "aha what is going on?" only to be met by a slap to the face and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">several</span> blows followed. In defence he swung still with the padlock for the gate in his hand and hit the slapper on the head. The padlock made contact and drew blood. At no point as far as I am aware were they aware that the slapper was an Army officer.<br /><br />Roll film forward ten to fifteen minutes and our compound is full of army men physically <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">assaulting</span> the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">mallam</span>. Numerous <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">attempts</span> by family members to save him are rebuffed. The driver has to make a run for it in order to avoid the same treatment. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">mallam</span> is seriously assaulted and dragged off in an army vehicle. All hell breaks loose as my family desperately spend the rest of the day trying to find him. He is later located at a Barracks close to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Yaba</span> where he is found with his hands tied and and hanging from the ceiling.<br /><br />The soldiers who have been recruited to escort my sister to the barracks (no policeman is prepared to take the risk) are given a dressing down and told never to show their faces there again with regards this matter. My family members are told it is too late to discuss the matter as the person in charge has gone for the evening and they are told to return in the morning.<br /><br />This morning my sister decides to go to the family house early to make sure that our poor mother (father has travelled , thank God) has not faced any further harassment. There had been murmurings from the soldiers of coming back to burn the house down and to find the driver by all means. She is met by a group of Military Police who say they have come to arrest the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">mallam's</span> employer. She is asked to step into a black maria type vehicle which she refuses as she is not a criminal and declares that she will travel in her own car to the barracks.<br /><br />At the barracks she is asked to write a statement after which she is asked to pay N60k for the offense. She does not have that kind of money on her in cash and she is asked to bring it tomorrow. On the way out she is accosted by one of the officers "dealing" with the case and told that they would prefer a top of the range mobile phone rather than the money. She says she would rather pay the cash rather than try and choose a "top of the range" phone from the numerous models in the market.<br /><br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">mallam</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">released</span> and is sent home with my sister after she signs an undertaking.She is left in no doubt as to what could happen if she does not show up tomorrow morning with the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">money</span> sharpish. I ask her if the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">mallam</span> is seriously injured from the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">assault</span>. She says that one of the Army men told her that we would not find any bruises on his body because they have been trained in a way that they can torture and cause internal damage without leaving any <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">obvious</span> signs. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">mallam</span> is on his way to hospital for a check up.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Ths</span> has caused no end of suffering and anguish and distress <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">to my</span> mother. She is over 70 years old and would not hurt a fly. The past three days have taken months if not years off her life. All for a simple driving incident in which no one was hurt or property damaged.<br /><br />This is not fiction. This is real. This is Lagos, Nigeria. October 15<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">th</span> 2009. 49 years after our independence. 49 years since we have been "free". Good people. Great nation. Indeed.Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-46003659042379826742009-09-16T19:30:00.004+00:002009-09-16T19:47:58.150+00:00And justice for all?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8k9sCQOIXxnKg7TXv2auxrNvagWK8HMA90YnYw4Kt0SvRl-3V60QVSmmiPGoIL-vPGIQhQ5QHqam-vGlZiXQSMvAo84Ki7wyfEHERxihzpjPSOuRICu-5Q2KvlPwP99AdP5HRBNav_w/s1600-h/aondoakaa"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382153311131874322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 116px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 109px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8k9sCQOIXxnKg7TXv2auxrNvagWK8HMA90YnYw4Kt0SvRl-3V60QVSmmiPGoIL-vPGIQhQ5QHqam-vGlZiXQSMvAo84Ki7wyfEHERxihzpjPSOuRICu-5Q2KvlPwP99AdP5HRBNav_w/s320/aondoakaa" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ESA-EgtFBCcb016RlqPVy4EUTT2qIB0vnrmVKxtGY7hxJiPurEap2fXO8zxKPHCotRVDRkKRcNNdo1p5xY7CDGI65T3gO9PD0T0srVjIjbZjKJI1PcBQ9nM64uVWR_ZBuJ_Sx0L15no/s1600-h/waziri"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382153932132183490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 90px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 110px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ESA-EgtFBCcb016RlqPVy4EUTT2qIB0vnrmVKxtGY7hxJiPurEap2fXO8zxKPHCotRVDRkKRcNNdo1p5xY7CDGI65T3gO9PD0T0srVjIjbZjKJI1PcBQ9nM64uVWR_ZBuJ_Sx0L15no/s320/waziri" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div>Is it really possible to get any sense of justice from these two? Who is the Attorney General there to protect? Who is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">EFCC</span> Chairman there to protect? Is there a citizen of Nigeria who really believes they are on his\her side despite their public posturings? Who believes that any of the sacked managers of the failed banks or their accomplices will ever see the inside of a cell again? Who believes that all the debtors were actually listed? Or that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ibori</span> will be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">convicted</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">anything</span> in our lifetime despite all the supporting evidence? Yes. Me neither. Which is a shame. Especially under a President who spouts rule of law as a mantra.</div></div>Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-24599143695841733372009-09-14T22:25:00.003+00:002009-09-14T22:38:11.827+00:00The things I take for granted......but shouldn'tWaking up in the morning<br />Having food on the table<br />A roof over my head<br />A family that loves me<br />Parents that love me<br />Parents that are still alive and well<br />Healthy kids<br />My health<br />Access to money<br />A supportive loving wife<br />A forgiving God<br />My many many blessings<br />My life<br />My siblings love<br />My family's understanding<br />My accomplishments<br />My friends<br />The list goes on.<br /><br />Shame these things are only brought to the forefront of our thoughts only when we think about losing them as I thought today after a health scare. All is well <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Insha</span> Allah but I will be more careful with all the above in future. So should you.Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752156463516587389.post-30779300228885193022009-09-10T17:37:00.003+00:002009-09-10T18:10:11.760+00:00Charles.......So I was standing in the car park outside an office complex in Accra a couple of days ago when I heard someone call my name. I turned to see a familiar face walking towards me. The digital photo library inside my head started shuffling through desperately looking for a match to the face even as the distance between us narrowed and I tried to retain a neutral but still welcoming look on my face.<br /><br />"Long time no see" he said which helped as I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">immediately</span> jettisoned all the faces from the last five years off the index and dug further back in time. It took two or three minutes for the penny to drop and I finally placed Charles as a chap I had worked with briefly 20 years ago. 20 years. Now that is what you call long time!!<br /><br />So Charles. Once I had placed him, all the memories came flooding back. We had worked together for about three months but in those three I had got to know him well. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Whist</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ghanaians</span> are generally humble compared to Nigerians (but then who <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">isn't</span>?) Charles had set for me new benchmarks in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">humility</span>. He was one of those guys that really did tiptoe lightly through the tulips. I never saw him stressed, swear, or even shout. You hear people say "he wouldn't hurt a fly" and this was definitely apt for Charles.<br /><br />We exchanged some quick pleasantries and contact details as he was dashing off and promised to catch up next time I was in Accra. In my taxi minutes later I got a call from a strange number. I answered it and it was Charles. "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Toks</span>, so sorry I was wondering if you needed a ride?. I know you are visiting Accra and it was rude of me to have left you there in the car park." I told him I was alright and that I already had a hire car.<br /><br />The point of this is that despite what we see on Sky, CNN,Fox etc there are still some decent people in the world. People for whom doing good and being good is a big part of their DNA. For some strange reason Charles' actions <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">immediately</span> made me want to perform a random act of kindness for someone else (so I took myself out for an extensive meal. Aha am I not someone?). Between him and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Gani</span> it has surely been a great week for good people. It is nice to know they exist. It reminds me of the closing words from Desiderata. It is still a beautiful world. Strive to be happy.<br /><br />It is important to remember that in these days of banking crises and other nonsense.Toksboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677461134164763718noreply@blogger.com2