Ibiso: The Light Just Went Out

 

Late Mrs Ibiso Igonibi Jamabo-Jack

Ibiso was everything to me. She was not only my younger sister, I saw and felt my mother in Ibiso. Far away she communicated with me at the same levels as my mother did. We made jokes, we laughed and hoped for the future together. We had shared concerns, fears, hopes and goals and in our chats she demonstrated the level of wisdom I never had when I was her age, perhaps even now. I am naive with little understanding of the prevailing thought pattern but in Ibiso I had an extremely insightful and logical ally who possess great vision of comfort and prosperity for the family. I abhor sluggishness but Ibiso is different; she is calmer than I am even though it is noticeable that she has a no-nonsense approach to her ways which comes out whenever it is necessary and required. 

God Is Broke: Money, Nigerians And God

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For the Nigerian, there is God o, they would wail when things go wrong. Yes, but it's usually money first, themselves and then God. When a Nigerian arrives, meaning when they stumble upon money regardless of whether it's legit or illegit, they beat their chest and boast about how smart and/or hardworking they have been. It's their power, hard work or cunning skills. More often than not they take the credit and God comes last as they gloat. 

But then they are put to the test, like health challenges, career challenges, loss of business or jobs, financial misfortune, death of loved ones etc., God immediately come to mind and the first mention of God goes like this: God, why me, why now and what did I do to deserve this? There is God O becomes God, if you exist, God, where are you at this time of need?  What they know not how to do is self-examination, soul-searching sort of. 

Vultures From Within

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No one leads,

No structure or strategy,

Voices from all around,

Reasonable voices can't be heard or sort,

No one listening,

All are talking and loudly; 

No one believes no one,

Everyone is a fighter or a leader or a spokesperson;

Everyone strive to shout louder than everyone,

The loudest get the jeep, the house and the bloody money;

The violent get their belly filled,

The gentle go hungry or forced to join the violent;

The fight is mostly from within,

Instigated by the controller from without,

Fighting for the $billions in the bush,

Wasting the $millions in hand;

Why Is Africa So Attractive, Yet So Poor? Pt 2

Why is Africa so attractive yet so poor? 

I did a cursory search with the term "Africa" and what got thrown up were not unfamiliar - animals, shanties, dirty town roads, looks of pain in the eyes of women and children; a general portrayal of penury on the wealthiest continent in the world. Some might argue that these are wrong portrayals to make Africa look bad? The white man would not show the good parts of Africa, others may argue to defend the absolute failure that is modern Africa. So, how would you portray the continent as an African? Your view may not be in line with mine but you certainly have one which fits the vision of the Africa you desire. 

So, what is it that is so attractive about Africa to the imperialists and foreign economic mercenaries who force their ways into the continent for the sole criminal purpose to plunder and commit grand larceny of the wealth under our feet. Why have we ignored what attracts outsiders while we depend on these external freebooters for handouts? Here is the interesting part; these invading picaroons have their traitorous gate keepers (maiguards in Nigerian parlance) and mules, most of whom are politicians, business people, academics and local chieftains,