NaijaPositive.com

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Eradicating the Light-quenching Agents.

Sometimes we wonder why the actualization of progress in Nigeria is thus and I've come to the conclusion that one of the major reasons is the skewed, whopped deranged reasonings of some of it's (hopefully a minority) citizens.

Where some people can NOT have an exchange without getting personal, harassing people (they perceive have questioned their reasoning, or challenged their beliefs), getting downright rude, spamming people (as in one of my recent experiences) and taunting others because of differences in opinion, there can NOT be much room for advancement.

When some people can NOT even understand the fundamentals of discussions facing them, how then can they focus let alone come to resolutions regarding the issues of discussion.

Now I understand better how Nigeria may 'seem' to remain totally unprogressive despite it's advances. With those who are only mouthpieces of NEGATIVITY clouding every good news and accomplishments that come out of Nigeria, how can anyone else within, let alone outside know, let alone believe that something good CAN and DOES indeed come out of Nigeria.

We need to stand up and put out the all the 'negativity' being advocated, promoted and announced by those 'Light-quenching agents' by advocating, pronouncing and promoting light and truth, no matter how incredible it may sound, and I for one choose to do so.

Cxsm
6th Oct. '03

© Cxsm 2003 All Rights Reserved

_________________
May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Shake it Off & Step Up

One day a farmer's donkey fell down a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway. It just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed shovels and began to shovel dirt into the well.

At first the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then to everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw.

With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped over the edge of the well and trotted off.

Life is going to shovel dirt on you. All kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.

We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping - never giving up! SHAKE IT OFF.

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Who are the Nigerians?

From: "Franklin O Masade" <franklin_o_masade@e...>

I got a mail from a Friend yesterday that touched me so much. Amongst the things he wrote was that we blame government as the root of our problems, meanwhile, there is a little Abacha, a little Buhari, a little Babangida in each of us.
He wrote that, "It is in a politician who accepts bribe, a school teacher who extorts from his pupils' parents, the armed robbers on the highway, the gateman who requests some kolanut before you see his oga and even the husband who cheats on his wife or
vice-versa."

After reading this mail, I started to think: We all Nigerians that have become professional critics of the government, how clean are our hands? How clean are our hearts? Are we going to start making the change with ourselves or just continue to throw the stone and hope our hands are hidden? This is not an apology for those who ruined our country. This is just a call for self evaluation.

As I think about it, I asked myself several questions. I have friends with whom I trash the government of Nigeria each time we meet. We complain about everything and conjure endless solutions. But I never asked myself who are we? Some of us attend top most universities in the New England area. Some have parents who pay tens of thousands of dollars for their school fees. Some do not work, some do not act as if they need anything in life. I asked myself, did their parents make it by just being Judges, Engineers, Lecturers etc in Nigeria?

Are our parents the people we complain about? Is our anger an attempt to run away from our parents, the lives they lived? Is our reaction as a result of the privileges we used to enjoy which changed all of a sudden? If our parents had remained in a privileged position, like Buhari's father, are we going to retain these views we have?

I am not generalising. But I know over 70 percent of Nigerians reading this (abroad or at home) were once privileged. Have we looked into how we became privileged? It has been noted that in the 60s, they stole thousands; in the 80s, they stole millions; and in the 90s, they steal billions. Are we just angry that in our parents time, they could not steal enough?

I feel there is hypocrisy in all these. If not, why is it that the children of these privileged individuals were not the ones on the forefront of this battle for change? How could Rotimi Williams agree to defend Buhari and his children or his grandchildren, whom I guess should be thinking like you and me raise no voice of protest? Or better still, have any children of these privileged people fallen out with their parents on principle? If they have not, it follows that if we are in their position, we may not be complaining as we are doing at present.

Do we really love Nigeria as we claim? How many of us will not give bribe? How many of us will not accept bribe? How many of us are not tribalists? How many of us have not robbed Nigeria? How many of us truly, truly, are ready to make a sacrifice for Nigeria? How many of us care about anyone but our family and friends?

Let us look into our lives and let the change start from there. If our parents are the Abachas and the Buharis, are we going to complain about them? Are we speaking out about the Abachas and the Buharis we know? Or are we just heaping praises on them and helping them enjoy the loots? How many owambe party have we turned down because the host do not come across as a honest Nigerian to us? How many of our friends have we asked how they made their money?

As we point one finger at the Babangidas, the Buharis, and the Abachas, let us remember that the other four are pointing at us. If you have ever asked what has Nigeria done for you, then, you have never really loved Nigeria.

"Friendship is about being a friend not having a friend. And so it is that friendship is about loving and not being loved. The gift that one receives for giving is so enormous that it is almost an injustice to accept it." - Rod McKuen

May the scrutiny continue, but may the changes start from me and you.

God Bless Nigeria!!!!!

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

A response to 'who are the Nigerians?'

I can not thank Franklin enough for sharing such a wonderful masterpiece with us. It is rather a wake up call and a reminder of the Golden Rule to all of us. There is really not much to reply to the message but I would like to comment that over 70 percent may be a little high for "once privileged Nigerians." Many of us abroad are here only by God's grace and I rather not explain because everybody's experience is different. I can also attest that a lot of us abroad have parents who have Never stolen from Nigeria. I speak for those who can relate to my views because OVER 70 percent can be 100 percent.

.... Working on my undergraduate degree in Computers (which I had never seen until I came to the States) and having 2 different jobs for those 4 years to pay for school wasn't quite easy, epecially when your mates didn't have to do much and had things so easy. Many of you may have been through worse. Growing up in Nigeria wasn't easy either. Walking to school, coming back and going to fetch water and/ or fire wood was a daily routine. The only fun was going to play football. Then again I had mates and friends that would be dropped off and picked up everyday from school, had servants at home, etc. Again, many of you can relate to this.

Corruption has been going on in our country that it became a way of life for some people. Bribery becomes an Expectation. You must give something before something can be done for you. ....
You asked: "why is it that the children of these privileged individuals were not the ones on the forefront of this battle for change?"
Well, some people don't like change if it doesn't works for them. They are not the ones suffering. Even if some of them would like to battle for change, would their family look at them as a disgrace? And can we accept them knowing that they did not do the stealing? Just questions and keeping it real.

I agree that the change can truly start from us. I proposed for a group to seek for the welfare and justice for all Nigerians early last month. A few people responded positively with interest... Because of the situation in our country, there are lots of positive expectations and 'Perfection' pictures for us to live up to. I am yet to see a perfect human in the face of this earth (and I am not making excuses for us) but we can definitely strive to make our Land a better place to live in. A king is not a true king if his brothers are starving. We can truly use this medium effectively.

Thanks again Franklin for sharing.

Kelechi Eke, MCSD

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Another response to 'Who are the Nigerians?'.

A simple answer, true and genuine Nigerians of today are those that have NOT soiled their hands and consciences. They are those who have NEVER stolen in hundredths, thousandths, millions and NEITHER have they stolen in billions NOR are they ready to steal in trillions; they are in existence in Nigeria and in abroad.

I'm hundred percent a Nigerian, born during the Biafran war and raised in the Eastern part of Nigeria. My parents did not steal from the government and I have never stolen from Nigeria. I'm proud to be what I am today from personal achievements and I will continue to live that way.

[For those] who have in one way or the other soiled your hands with the elements of the Buhari's, Babangiba's, and Abacha's that's in you, a sincere re-evaluation of these people ..is to come out publicly and vomit your loots and save Nigeria from dying.

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Some people are simply light-quenching agents because they are so entrenched in 'Colo-mentality', that they can simply not grasp any idea, concept or attitude that has not been 'imported', 'ready-made' or 'from away'.

Cxsm
3/20/04

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Response to a person who because of his bitterness decided to pronounce negative and vile utterances upon Nigeria and Nigerians, in response to my article "I'm Proud to be a Nigerian" http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/about69.html because he had issues being a patriotic Nigerian. Even an East African found his comments offensive and responded (Responses available via link) I choose not to dignify his utterances from that forum site by posting them here, but you can get the gist from the below response.
------------------------------

Abimbola,

You are entitled to your perspectives and opinions, you are even entitled to be bitter because you are NOT proud to be a Nigerian, in which case you are free to immigrate elsewhere and obtain citizenship there, BUT you have absolutely NO RIGHT to reign curses on others because you have vile opinions.

Your statements included

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Dear Cxsm:

You echoed my thoughts completely! There is no doubt in my mind that most Nigerians are unhappy with the economic and social welfare situation at home. We are approximately 50 years behind where we should be as a nation considering our tremendous human and natural resources.

Nigeria is a tough place to live but it is by far not the worst country in the world to call home. The disgruntled Nigerians who have lost all hope in Nigeria have a right to voice their opinions as long as they do not insult the intelligence of others in this listserv!

No one is forced to be a Nigerian. There are many ways in which a Nigerian citizen can revoke his or her citizenship! I'll suggest that Nigerians like Abimbola heed your advice!

Memo to Abimbola: Please visit your nearest Nigerian Embassy or Consulate and surrender your passport either immediately or following two to three weeks on Prozac. Your gloomy perspective on Nigeria might change for the better!

Regards,
Quincy
12/31/03

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Thanks for all your comments.

The main point in my message was that, we, as a people need to acknowledge that we are peculiarly different and start to work towards redeeming ourselves. Nigerians are a different specie in the human league and am sure non of you will dispute that.

Thanks IBK, I do not exclude myself and this is why I use the words 'We' 'Us' throughout my message. All of us have sinned. The only difference is that some of us know this but some don't acknowledge this simple fact. Its easier for a sick man (who knows) to get healing than for a man who continues to deny it to be healed. I used to live behind Fela's house in Ikeja in the early 90's and this hero of a man denied the existence of AIDs till his last day on earth! At the Shrine everyday he used to campaign aginst it.He refused to acknowledge that the white man's medicine could do anything for him. But you and I know that people with AIDs can get treatment that will prolong their lives.(I hope somebody will not attack me for 'cursing' Fela)!

To "cxsm", I did not curse you or your family and will never do such a stupid thing. In fact I know better than that. Besides, I will never decend so low as to start a spiritual battle against someone or people I don't know. No where in my message did I say that I was bitter or not proud to be Nigerian. I only added to Alex's list of the ills bedevilling the Nigerian space. When I wake up every morning my first prayers are that: 'Every ancestral curse standing against my destiny must die in Jesus name'. Because I am a xtian, I know that ancestral curses exist and am only alerting those who may not know to start to fight against it so that they will not continue to manifest the symptoms that comes with such curses.

Also, my emphasis was actually not on the spiritual but on the human ills and indiscipline that most Nigerians exibit both at home and in Nigeria. Beleive me, I have travelled a little bit accross the world, Nigerians are simply different. Because I don't want this sort of attitude to stay in my family, I spend extra time teaching my children to carry themselves like good human beings. Besides, a curse is not such a scary thing as you've protrayed it and if you are like me you will know that no man has the authority to curse you or your family unless you allow them. In the Bible, God cursed Adam and Eve, but today we are decendants of this first family and yet continues to bless us. God also cursed the Israelis from time to time but blessed them each time they repented of their wicked ways.

A few years ago, I used to be a part of all the discussions on a forum. One of the reasons I left at the time was because I was amazed at how dificult it was to get any simple idea acrross in any Nigerian forum. Every simple issue simply has to be relegated to a tribal or personality battle where Igbos, Hausas and Yorubas will have to queue up on different lines. The hate mongers were the champions at the time. I have not and will never lose hope in Nigeria because I am one of those who have paid so much dues, invested so much in material and human resources in Nigeria and the human race.

Abimbola
12/31/03