What a day... (personal blog)

Sunday 24-01-10 8:12am

As members of the house get ready for church & evacuate the premises... I still lie there in bed lazy!!! I finally get up, take a shower and wander off into the streets of Gbagbaa Apeenega, Adekaa in Benue State. Went to visit a few 'acquintances' and then was invited to wander further into experiencing the 'normal' sunday morning of the typical TIV man in Gboko. Walking through the well tarred road, we cut off into another street well ridden with erosion down the arms of the road. After about a couple of winding turns through houses, with naked children screaming at the top of their voices begging for attention and elderly women laden with age just staring into space, we arrived at our destination.

It was about 9:32am when we got here & I must confess, I was amazed at the amount of people present at this location. More amazing was that I was told there are about three or four more locations with the same population density at this particular time in Gboko too. Even more amazing is the fact that the age bracket at this location was between 3 - 60 years of age. The place was bubbling with life with local songs being played, some people took the time to display their wares (clothings) and all types of food was also being sold at this place. People from all works of life were here too and of course 90 percent of them are natives (though Tivs mixed with Idomas and Igalas). Transporters, masons, bankers, businessmen, traders etc. busied themselves discussing and chatting in whatever local dialect their audience(s) could understand. It was one big mini marketplace. Curious to know what would draw such amount of people here, I noticed there was only one thing they all had in common...BURUKUTU!!!

Each person,either sitting or standing, had a calabash and they were enjoying it with gusto. In my curiosity I asked to be served some. Seriously it really wasnt that remarkable. Sour taste (like fermented corn) and served in a calabash to give it that fresh taste. Its made out of ground guinea-corn. Its then mixed in water and some additives added before it is then sieved off. It is taken with a lot of 'variations' available on demand. Bean Cake (Akara), Fried Yam with pepper sauce, Irish potato (with pepper sauce), garden egg with groundnut paste, Kpomo (in spicy peppered sauce), moi-moi etc.

Attempts to get voluntary pictures proved abortive so I made do with waiting till all attention shifted and I took a quick candid shot!!! Well the main shocker came after I left the venue. As soon as I got to a viewing centre to see a couple of movies...I dozed off!!! I couldnt believe that a whole me wey neva sleep for days go fit crash like dat!!! But, as usual, despite the intensity of the sleep I still maintained the less that two hours sleep limit. I thought I was just tired only to find out my companion also suffered the same fate only that mine was better. At least I had breaks in between, he slept for two hours thirty minutes straight!!!

I had to wake him up to indicate that I was starting to feel empty again and then we changed location to have lunch. We both had pounded yam with native Tiv soup and 'rats'. As soon as I saw the rats I opted for alternative meat. It was later that I was made to understand that rats too was a local delicacy. As for me...i no fit chop am!!! Well, all these experiences have made me understand the way of life of these people. Apart from being a 'sedative' that causes them to have maximum rest on sundays, it is rich in nutrients giving rise to a healthy eating habit which can improve the general well being of the individual. It also boosts the products of the reproductive system thus giving rise to the high fertility rate enjoyed by the Tivs.

Well I do hope to learn more ans they are a people rich in culture and heritage and as usual...i wont hesitate to bring you feedback...

P.S. Did I mention their babes are 'cheerful givers'...!!!???...I don catch one oh!!!...watch awt!!...lolz

To Save the Nation, first Save the People...

Last night's insomnia really had an impact in my life...it helped me go through articles and analyse the rot that has eaten into our nation.From the Presidency,to the Senate,House of assembly.Ambassadors,Diplomats and even to the common people.There is rot, rot, and more rot!!! Right now in Nigeria we have a living President who is totally negligent in his duties (for health reasons). Even with that excuse that does not undermine his incompetence especially his inability to know that continuity exists in a living entity called Nigeria. When he as a president can no longer function properly, he has to hand over to a more healthy party or have that position taken away from him as the constitution stipulates.

The nation is falling deeply into rot because of the corruption of the people within. You see banks having MD/CEOs keeping their hallowed positions for 20 years and above in a Public Liability Company.Spending so much time and money there till they lose foresight and vision for the company they control. Others embezzle billions in acquiring personal houses and shares for children yet unborn with public funds.Then there is the case of diplomatic envoys who dont even know the present state of their employers and then going out to hold press conferences on matters they know little or nothing about the subject of discussion. This and others increase the rot in the system...leading to an increased rot in the nation.

To sanitise the nation,first sanitize the people. In this era of forgiveness and repentance,it is imperative that characters change for the better and public office holders take into consideration the needs of the populace at heart. This in turn will save the people and in tun save the nation. In sanitizing the nation, it starts with me...it starts with you!!!

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Haiti Quake

Earthquakes have become a mordern day natural disaster that has continued to claim both Life and properties irrespective of age and status. Even with mordern technology to detect and predict high magnitude earthquakes and tremore, its occurence always seems to elude all technological advancements. This leads us to believe that we really havnt gotten to the stage where we'll comfortably rest on the oars of technology to predict and possibly deter the massive loss of lives that come from natural disasters.

One of the most hit this year is Haiti. Eight days ago a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti leaving several thousands dead!!! As if that wasnt enough, a 5.9-6.1 magnitude aftershock hit the troubled state at Port-au-Prince yesterday creating a gap about 60kilometres west-southwards and 10kilometres deep. May we in this time of sober reflection review our lives and prepare our minds solely to pray for the souls departed and also pray for the quick recovery of all the wounded survivors.

More news can be read on: http://cnnmobile.com/primary/_tEgZBD-iS4dY5mIAq

I think someone's been going thru my blog and arranged for the 'sick man's voice' to be played on air...I didnt bother to listen to it but I already know how it sounds...DEAD!!! I live next to Aso Rock and the Minister and some Senators where discussing on who will arrange for the tape to be played!!! I finally couldnt hear who was chosen because I was called to come and see a tanker that wanted to run into my toilet!!!

Anyway...Whoever finally agreed for that voice to be played on air is as daft as whoever appointed (not elected) him into that post and must really be 'mutallab' (new dictionary word for stupid) to have agreed to go ahead with the decision anyway. In this era of webcams, VoIP and technological advancements,why didnt they get the 'sick man' infront of a camera and broadcast live over the internet so we can see him talking??? We will be forced to believe that 'a little' and then work towards having to contend with the fact that we have a president who cannot deliver his official duties on seat here in Nigeria...and then push further to have VP Goodluck Jonathan be sworn in as Ag. President pending the return (if ever) of Musa Yar'Adua.

America dared put us on terrorism watchlist...why not???The Notherners are terrorising us with their hold on the presidency.This man's absence should not draw us back!!!...the bible gave us a solution to such wahala...it states if your hand shall hinder your movement into the kindom of GOd...CUT  IT  OFF!!!!!...Yar'Adua is such hands...if he really wants to get well (that is if he is not dead already) he should relinquish that 'hallowed' position for able bodied men to handle...and recover in peace!!!...

My people no be soooo!!!!????

Nations Cup Extras

Angolans Wicked oh!!!...so someone can allow himself/herself to be paid to attack a National Side that has come to participate in a football competition!!!...or is there a target or personal greiviance that they have against Togo or where they just unfortunate targets??? They were practically used for target practice while crossing into the Angolan border.Well while we condem the actions of the 'rebels' ...we look forward 2 a hitch free Nations Cup.

Here are some of the results from games played...

January 10th
Angola 4-4 Mali
January 11th
Malawi 3-0 Algeria
CIV 0-0 Burkina Faso
Ghana P-P Togo
January 12th
Egypt 3-1 Nigeria
Benin 2-2 Mozambique

With Nigeria showing a lacklustre performance against the pharoahs of Egypt (though I never expected them to win against an in-form Egypt), they have a long way to go.Good players are in excess supply for the Super Eagles,team selection and proper co-ordination is lacking. While we were busy losing,the Egyptian Coach was giving instructions to the players while Amodu Shuaibu was busy folding his hands and watching the game go on and sink futher and further into oblivion.

Question is...is he scared to shout at the players and dish out instructions to ensure we get at least a goal back???...or did he run out of tactics and just decided to watch in shame???

May God save Nigeria!!!

Dead Or Alive???

The present state of President Umar Musa Yar'adua has not been made know to Nigerians by our 'leaders'.Oweing to the fact that they cannot but agree with the populace that the dude is a walking corpse!!!...I wont blame the foreign media for using us as 'yo-yos' when giving us news about the 'to be or not to be' death situation of Yar'adua when any time he has the grace to mutter a few words,he'll call BBC instead of NTA,AIT,MBI,MiTV,DBN,OGTV,STV,CHANNELS and d 1million miscellanous TV station they collected fees from to operate!!!

Now that American Chronicle (foreign media) has told us the 'young' man is dead & BBC (another foreign media) says he is still alive which one we go take??? Our Nigerian media dont even know how their own president is faring...why should they sef???...The man don overstay the time wey constitution give am to stay abeg make them swear in our Goodluck Jonathan abeg make we see if goodluck go follow us this 2010...abeg my people una dey feel me???