10 months old kidnapped Enioluwa Odegbaike is back and better

I bless God with all that dwells within me at the amazing and splendid news of Eniola’s peaceful return.

Exactly seven days ago my heart was heavy and injured at the news of this missing baby. I had to join the prayer chain and read out the confession that was made available on the blog where I read the sad news.

I’m more delighted because it’s a show that God answers prayer.

How else can I start a new month? In fact, it’s like winning a trophy
Congratulations to the entire nation but most importantly the family of Odegbaike.

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Condom or Conduct? Conclusion! Written by Lanre Olagunju

The fact that parent neglect this singular responsibility is a reason why some started out too soon. Mike (not real name), my addicted friend, narrated that his uncontrollable sexual craving wasn’t his entire fault. He started out a daily sexual routine before seven with an obsessed maid servant. He’s now a little over 24 and he finds it pretty hard to concentrate on other smart areas of life. After all, sex isn’t everything.


At the onset, as teenagers, many just wanted to experiment. But, now that it’s known how sweet the forbidden fruit tastes…who will stay stop? The chances to abuse or misuse a particular product is mountainous if knowledge of the product is without insight. For instance, an out-rightly able person might foolishly reduce an umbrella to a walking stick even on a Sunny day or while its rains cat and dog.



The craving for love has made many young ladies especially, more sacrificial than they should averagely be. You will be shocked that even some of this though talking, tall and heavy ladies with the ‘I can seduce you right now and pretend to never know you’ idea, just want to be sincerely loved and cared for.


Whether it’s a man’s world or not, the truth remains that in cases such as this ladies are most times on the receiving end. No lady can be sexually active enough to impregnate a guy… lai lai! Be it accidental discharge or whatever! Besides, this same wolf -like guys are the ones who sow their white seeds on every available porous soil and still wants a very tight and decent girl for a wife. Ladies wise up!


If you naturally don’t have the urge to make sexual expressions, or probably you really don’t know that it’s just cool to wake up strong as a guy or nurse some itches as a lass. Then so many things might be wrong all at the same time. But must we give ourselves to every urge that comes our way. If we check and analyze critically, is sex a need or a want? When our genitals are yet to start thinking independently (and you know at such point they can be very disobedient…lol), or when agro is out (like we guys call it). Yes, I mean that which is responsible for the goose pimples in the brain and perhaps, when not considering child birth, clearly you realize that it’s just a desire. After all, sex doesn’t pay bills.




Oh less I forget and sound un-witty or less intelligent I remember that some ladies live large in school and get marks at the expense of their body. Even older women shag their boss for promotion with the self consolation that it’s just shag. When we look into ourselves deeply with the mirror or self respect and dignity we just know that it’s more than that.




Gold circle or no Elegance! There are some rules that break us when we bend them. Since we can’t reduce a global village to a religious one-(even God won’t). Therefore, it would be out rightly uncalled for to advocate against condoms after all, they are primarily birth control measures. Advocating or campaigning against them is just like throwing away the baby with the bath water. But the media hasn’t helped in some ways. When the condom adverts go on air, all they emphasize is ‘if you must do it use a condom’ without any age restriction. If there are age restrictions for driving, for taking alcohol and cigarette, and they ventilate them in their adverts, shouldn’t there be one for condoms too? If no, then I would rather advocate that once babies are born, we should gleefully present them with several cartons of condoms and place it carefully by their cot side right from the labour room, so they can’t but grow to become faithful users of condoms till death… ptschew!



Anyway if you must give away your ice cream generously like Father Christmas or as a lady, eat or drown in every Mr. Biggs at every now and then or perhaps you just feel it’s cool to uphold didactic values. Importantly, we all should Know like Newton stated that “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”. Some will be seen others will be unseen!




The tale that everybody is doing it is not just true; there still exist some who don’t feel that being hyper sexually active makes us special or that meeting a person and shagging them that same day is serious achievement.


Ashamedly, we practically live in times where nothing is either right or wrong. Everything is relative like we intelligently put it. But our core values as individuals helps to decide what is right and what is wrong, because in us all is a whore and a celibate but when we determine to make the right decision a divine force bigger than us all helps us with our determination. It is more fulfilling to make conscious effort to uphold great values of integrity and strong self worth, rather than live a life that isn’t out rightly ours carelessly.

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Condom or Conduct? Written by Lanre Olagunju

Apparently, there seems to be an unwritten law of parenting deep rooted in zilch-nothing but shame and secrecy. African parents can be too shy or should I say too religious to discuss the sensual gratification that brought about their existence and that of their wards. And sadly enough, our society is not better for it.


The existence and obedience to this un-rooted law shows when parents avoid sex related questions like a plague. It’s obvious too when they use irrelevant and digressional words to quench imperishable questions from kids. Little do they know that those questions won’t cease until a satisfying answer is procured. Unfortunately, youngsters get those answers from external sources-most times equally
naive friends.



Can you recollect seeing romance scenes in movies and you ask ‘mum what are they doing’? And all you get is a “shot up!" Or Perhaps you get to hear something like “don’t mind them they are doing rubbish”. You probably would have revolted if you knew better, that how can what brought about your existence be termed ‘rubbish’? A friend once told me that his mum would rather say they are fighting. And that kept him wondering for like ever. Anyway, the boxing ring looks close to a bed- isn’t it?


I’m not blind to the fact that such questions catch parents unaware, but after the first occurrence I think a premeditated line with little details which should be upgraded as the child grows older should have been readily primed. Till date, I never got the opportunity of being talked to on this subject matter; I wasn’t instructed not to start too soon or when to start at all. And in fact at this point it’s absolutely late.


But how long shall we continue to keep sacred that which is ever paramount on our minds and expect the right knowledge to abound? Or how much more shall we talk less about sex and sexuality, knowing fully well that it’s one of those integral and crucial parts of our lives that affect other different aspect of our complex being.

In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s Alfred Kinsey published a research of over 15 years of intense study in human sexual behavior. His studies revealed that approximately 95% of males and 60% of females had masturbated at one point or the other. (Hey! This result is no justification for you to stay longer in the bathroom o…lol). The long and short is that we all are sexual beings (including youngsters). Dejectedly, parents are either too late to discover this reality or as the case may be, some never want to admit that reality.


This shyness of a thing is evident when mum sings words like “remember the son of whom you are”, when you are probably leaving home for the very first time, just as if the family name is such a difficult one to spell, pronounce or remember. Since the proverb is all -encompassing like parents will always rightly say, little do they know that this proverb is most time decoded by young people to mean everything including ‘study well at school so you can have the best of grades, that can at least guarantee you a good job (into the rat race). It also means keep good company and the host of other do’s and don’ts, including please o don’t start indulging in sex till marriage o… and if you must, please use a condom, and even when you fail to use it in cases of quickie or excessive ‘agro’ or whatsoever reason under the sun, just pray and ensure that she doesn’t get pregnant/ or you don’t get pregnant. You know I and your father are well respected in the community and we are also leaders in church/mosque too. I don’t want wahala (trouble) o’.


Hello! Who is wrong or who is correct, the coder or the decoder? The answer is, will you tell an all- encompassing proverb to get rescue from emergency when you dial 911 or the fire station? Pardon me that am answering a question with another question that’s one of those things that makes me Nigerian you know…lol

P.S. watch out for the concluding part of this piece or do I say part two like they say in Nollywood movies…lol. It will be posted in less than 48hours, In fact the discussion has just started. Thank you

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Capitalism is A Moral Philosophy Part 2. Written by lanre Olagunju

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, MOVEMENT, AND SOCIAL RELATIONSHIP
Political freedom, legal freedom, social freedom and economic freedom are all inter-reliant. Freedom of speech is meaningless if the media‘s right to publicize facts that reveals the shortcomings of the existing administration is thwarted. In a free state, social relationships are voluntary and results from the volition of individuals to decide who and who not to relate with. In an unfree society, the rights of citizens to relate are also severely regulated.



POWER STRUGGLE
The three political fundamentals of a free society are democracy, limited government and decentralization of government. If government were adequately limited, it would depoliticize life and reduce the cruel struggle for power as it is in Africa. However, the greater the power of government, the greater the endless pursue for power.

ECONOMIC FREEDOM REDUCES POVERTY
The biggest reformers were communist in china and the south union, protectionist in Latin America and nationalist in Asia. Over half a century ago, the soviet rule commanded their subject to be patient for the sake of industrializing the nation. Unfortunately, though surprisingly too, the soviet Russia hasn’t been able to impressively feed her citizens till date.

Longevity of the human live with accompanying sound health is connected with the decline of a serfdom oriented society. The occurrence of great famine disaster has also shrunken drastically, largely as a result of the spread of democracy. In all of these centralized and authoritarian states incidence of starvation has been practically recorded, be it communist state, the colonial rule, technocrat dictatorship or the ancient tribal society.



Amartya Sen carefully observed that there has never been a famine or starvation related disaster in a democracy not even in countries like Botswana and India with poor democracy. Directly or indirectly, democracy has succeeded in avoiding starvation.

It’s crystal clear that the current food challenge isn’t related to overpopulation rather famine is caused by dictatorship, induced by immoral leaders who desperately fulfill their desire to destroy trade and production. Or how else do you describe a situation whereby rulers ignore the cries and agony caused by starvation only to concentrate on metal weapon for war.



CONCLUSION
Capitalism is the only moral social system, reason that it is the only system that respects the freedom of the producers to think and the right of an individual to set his or her own goal and pursue his own happiness to the max. The ability of a man to govern his own affairs and exercise his freedom without being bounded by the chains and fetters of boundaries, laws and mendacity is the only genuine way to explain freedom. Any scheme of government that sacrifices freedom of the mind or soul in any form to society is a system of slavery and serfdom. Also, whatsoever system that sacrifices thinking to coercion is a system of brutality, cruelty and violence.

The foundational concept which characterizes a free and un-free society is divergent. In fact, they are mutually incomparable, incompatible and irreconcilable. In most countries of the world, numerous studies revealed that many are against most governmental interventions and polices which elected representatives implement. Oslon’s law explains why representatives are bent on this intervention in the first place. And the only reason is so that they can invariably manipulate government in order to achieve their personal and selfish enterprise.

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Capitalism is a Moral Philosophy Part 1. Written by lanre Olagunju

The society of serfdom lasted well into the nineteenth century until it was obliterated by the advent of capitalism. Capitalism is a term used to denote the economic system that has been dominant in the western world since the breakup of feudalism. After the collapse of communism and dictatorship during the era of big government, capitalism remains the only system which advocates the doctrine that every service including production and law enforcement be supplied through the market, and that all of government’s excesses in form of coercive activities be replaced by free market activity. During the days of no capitalism, private property existed de-facto rather than de-jure that is by tradition and sufferance rather than through right and law.

The outstanding accomplishment of capitalism can be rationalized by the productive use of the “social surplus” which is the singular virtue that powered capitalism to outstrip all prior economic system. Instead of building massive architectural structure like Saddam Hussein of Iraq did, capitalist in power of the social surplus chose to invest in raw materials, finished goods and other material forms of wealth. This same social surplus was thus converted into massive engorged productive capacity.

Bill Clinton, 42nd president of the United States, who is one of the most popular American presidents in the 20th century, referred to capitalism as the primary engine of growth. Other brilliant and outstanding political commentators also acknowledged that capitalism is of practical value, though some acknowledged reluctantly. Capitalism is recognized as the only practical economic system. Yet only few are willing to defend it as moral, due to the general but ailing believe that morality requires the free market be controlled by governmental regulations.

The capital influence of capitalism in any nation will always produce an unending moral result and a few can be discussed under the following captions.


FREEDOM THROUGH FREE SOCIETY
The first and central idea of capitalism is that people should be permitted to run their own lives as they wish totally nullifying the idea that people must be forcefully protected from themselves.

The beauty and essence of capitalism is revealed in the reality that it bans the use of physical force and fraudulent act in economic relationship. In this freedom oriented system of government, decisions are taken by stakeholders including buyers, sellers, manufacturers and distributors through active participation.

The most un-ideal word is the word ideal itself, but an ideal society is one in which there is freedom peace and prosperity for all. It is worth noting that no society in the world is ideal not even the super-developed societies of the world, but some political and economic system create a higher degree of freedom and prosperity than others.

Comparing a free society and a centrally planned or regulated society would help to out-rightly spell out the moral basis of capitalism. Politically, a free society can be described as a system of limited government also known as miniarchy, decentralization, delegation of power to the local levels, individualization and personal responsibility. In any free society, the main purpose of government is to serve and protect the right of her citizens due to the understanding that individuals are supreme. The case is absolutely counterclockwise in an un-free society. Rather than individuals being supreme the state is, rather than states serving the people, the people serve the state compulsively.

CAPITALISM SELF MOTIVATES CITIZENS TO SUCCEED AND PRODUCE WEALTH.
A free society is made up free market economy powered by market forces. It is characterized by individual planning, entrepreneurial activity, competition and spontaneity which are recipes in ensuring superior customer satisfaction and market vibrancy. Therefore no producer can hold consumers to ransom of any sort. At the birth or existence of all of this breathtaking characteristics wealth, prosperity and a commendable standard of living becomes achievable.

In an un-free society the economy is so centrally planned that those with the resources are compelled by the state to provide the needs of others

P.S. In the subsequent chapter of this article, other relevant advantages of capitalism that portrays it to be didactic will be discussed. Till then and hereafter let’s encourage libertarianism.

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Laziness: An all Time Vision Extinguisher. Written by Lanre Olagunju

Can anything be more maddening than trying to manage what one has got no capability to control? In every sense of the word manage; time can't really be managed like we most times say. After all, it can't be kept, considering that even science in its fullness of creativity and per second technological advancement hasn't devised any successful means for time storage. Twenty-four hours is adequately given to all, rich and poor, wise and foolish. Till now, controlling time is just as difficult as controlling the wind speed and direction, instead, managing our schedule is the wisest and safest way to maximize time.

“Tick says the clock, tick-tick what you’ve got to do, do quick” goes the nursery rhymes with a fundamental doctrine that if critically analyzed is larger than life. Since we live in a world adequately characterized by space and time, and also a world that dishes different season with accompanying opportunities, it’s so evident that nothing can be practically achieved outside time. It takes time to conceive an idea like a woman conceives a baby; it takes time to nurture the idea to fruition. It takes time to ensure that the idea stands tall so it can speak for itself.


It is also crystal clear that thorough knowledge from a sound mind is what gives stamina to any brilliant idea. Interestingly, we live in a world that houses much more knowledge than our minds can congregate. Yet, tragedy befalls the vibrant young minds who will rather lazy around in aimless or non rewarding activities all in the name of hanging around or social networking, which isn’t bad in itself, if not over done. Hard work brings knowledge and the reward of being knowledgeable is priceless.

At a time such as this, being the beginning of the year, we should note that if any meaningful achievement will be attained at all, be it academics, business or the chase of a new career, unless laziness is killed, unless laziness is allowed to die a murderous death and be buried in a place far beyond resurrection. The year would just be another opportunity passing away unsuspectingly. Things don’t just happen, hard work and diligence make things happen

Idleness isn’t just a garage for the devil to perform his enterprise, victims who have been knocked down by idleness on the high way of life know that it’s not only the cheapest route to poverty, It also the most important recipe for future frustration. In fact, we rubbish our chances to become successful each time we postpone the sacrifice of today for another.



Ironically, lazy people want so much and always get little. Once portion of lives abundance won’t fall on the lap, rather true success and significance comes at the boiling point of challenges. There’s got to be synergy between what you consistently do now and your desired future. Young people with a destiny worth dying for will push consistently like a pregnant woman who can’t wait to hold her baby in her hands. They would think independently and won’t lose their individuality in the crowd, they would be mindful of what’s suitable for them regardless of what the rest of the world says and also they would ensure to slaughter the culture of instant gratification so well never to reincarnate again.

The Greek interprets season as opportunity. The fire brigade approach isn’t any guarantee for a secured future; the boys scout approach is preferable. Preparing for the desired future when it looks like nothing is happening is the one way out of idleness, so when opportunity comes, you are just more than ready.



We unconsciously pass away each time we postpone the sacrifice of today for another. It’s wise not to get glued to the TV all day, too much television has been related to mental dullness and lulls one into lethargy.

The addiction of wanting to rest before getting tired is a sign that laziness has crept in; it travels so slowly that poverty over takes him. Laziness may appear loving and pleasing, but it adequately denies one the reward and satisfaction that work gives.

In 2011, permit no iota of laziness, especially in doing that which is required for the enrichment of our goals. Be lazy in one thing alone and that’s in being lazy.

Less I forget and be lazy, happy New Year folks and lovely followers of “larigold”. In 2011, I pray that in whatever field that you have failed before I pray that as a result of diligence, smart work and God’s ever intelligent direction, you will now succeed. A friend said it's 2000 and elevate I say it’s a year of abundant favor. You will succeed.

Cheers!

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A Night Stand On the Ninth Planet written by Lanre Olagunju.

My invitation as a guest speaker at the 5th annual national undergraduate summit in Abuja took away sleep and tranquility away from me for days like it would to any speaker. In time past, my interest and social comments on issues like etiquette, morality, politics, economics and nation building has always been the basis for my speaking invitations and engagements. At a time like this, I’ve got no idea, or where on earth my host got the slightest hint that I could handle topics on sex and relationship. But since I know deeply that practice, practice and more practice is the bed rock for great speeches I dashed into my study with my creative hat on in tedious preparation to do perfect justice to the great task ahead.

With experience and flexibility, alongside my personal experience and research, I was able to deliver my speech with so much ease and expertise such that stimulated my audience to think that I must be a major or a sort of super male lead on issues such as sex, relationship and dating. Though, heaven knows that am yet to graduate from the school of hard knocks, which in my opinion is the best school to learn, especially where there is no teacher.

My experience with Omolara was quite unusual. And till date, I dreadfully prize what fuels her nerve to drop her telephone number in my breast pocket in such a harmless manner after leaving the lectern. Initially, I felt it was a burning question she wanted me to do private justice to, since we couldn’t take all questions during the sessions “but when did telephone numbers become question”?, I asked.

Mere looking at this good looking undergrad with such an innocent and graceful charisma, you don’t want to liken her to a Jezebel, even a vicar doesn’t want to think twice at the sight of her gorgeous, sweet and ravishing looks especially when considering the goodness of her hips and the grandeur of her brown eyes. In fact, the devil himself can’t but be tempted.

After the heat and fever of the event, I failed repeatedly at each attempt to cool from the euphoria and ecstasy that comes with achieving a task that has been responsible for sleep and appetite loss. I completely forgot about Omolara and her brave and smart advances as I relax in my hotel room to catch my undiluted rest. But to my utmost surprise my executive toy jingled. You want to hazard a guess? It was Omolara’s call. It’s nothing but crying over spilled milk if I respond to the nudge to ask where on earth she got my number from.

Despite being tired like a recently knocked out Samuel peters I got her message clearly despite that her moaning and rhythmic voice was a major distraction during our phonversation which revealed that she’s a student of business administration in one of the cracked up Nigerian institution of learning, whose name was rechristened years back to sound like one of the very ancient schools in south west Nigeria, with adequately proud students, despite that the citadel of learning is neither premier nor among the first, Great, top 6000 universities in the world.

Being in her penultimate year, and the sight of her structural endowment that I saw in the conference room, you can’t but agree with me that the issue of being unripe or under-age is out of it. So I wasn’t in the dark, not even in a world like ours where we suffer from grand morality melt down considering the fact that even sex has lost its virginity.

The only door with which I should flee from this unannounced invitation produced a sound as a result of Omolara’s knock. I was all alone in my hotel room and my body gave all the seemingly valid reasons why I should grab this once in a life time opportunity with both hands and feet as if I will be castrated thereafter. As the silent but well understood knock continued repeatedly, I could hear myself reproaching some folks during my undergraduate days in such a priest like manner saying to some during periods of sound, heart to heart intellectual recharge. “How did you fall for such, why did you yield to that…”? All because I have managed to maintain a less busy sexual log-book compared to folks who are great, retired generals already at 19. I doubt if I can ever catch up with the mind-blowing records of some. Over and over again, I dear not trust some folks with my toothless grand ma who says church as “shush” let alone my untutored maid who can’t even successfully count her fingers without foreign aid. And here am I battling with a mere invitation to dine from the forbidden cake.

All of a sudden, I became lost in thoughts, and my flesh wasn’t just willing it was ready. I didn’t just sense that I was as weak as a worn out “apere ajase”(a hand woven basket), I could practically feel me coming out of me. “Am in trouble”- so I murmured as I put myself together a little so I could dash for the door.

Her response was “larigold, permit me to reveal how much am obsessed by your articulate prowess and charming personality” in such a voice that even my ears couldn’t take note. I have followed some of your writings on the net and others on some national dallies and have always longed for the singular opportunity to be with you so I can intimate you about myself. The excellence of your address during the sessions made me desire you the more than I desire the air that powers my heart. All I wish is nothing but your warm masculine hug; beyond that honey, I want you as a package”.

At this point, all the scriptures in my big head were experiencing a traffic jam like the constant one you can’t but experience on Lagos roads-anyway that’s what makes Lagos. All of the Sunday school drugs, words of pastor wale and all the character series I heard recurrently from pastor Sam which on every occasion I hold in high esteem didn’t mean much to me anymore. I was congest with shock to realize that even the word of honor I took on the 15th of September under the teaching of Fela Durotoye in the rocky but dirty brown roofed city of Abeokuta couldn’t call me to order like it has always done. I just wanted to spit out my white seeds and I wanted to do it right away. It was as if my whole life was dependent on it.

I wasn’t thinking with my brain anymore, I was thinking with the stretch of my genitals.

And the best my church mind could do was to bring this very old but absolutely inappropriate song to my memory. Believe me, this is a song I haven’t placed my mind on in 7 years, but on a day like this it became my watch word “move on, move on, don’t be tired the savior understands… all shall be well” goes the old song. Some modern psychedelic Christians might not know such a song, so trying to remember it could just be as difficult as searching for a dinosaur in the newly equipped University of Ibadan’s zoo or wanting to study banking and finance in my Alma-Mata.

At the sight of ‘Lara’s super transparent gown which shelled her absolute nakedness I became fearfully contented. I was consumed by the cuteness of her chest organ as an identical whole. Through her hips I could intelligently and logically explain the unknown mystery of how water got into the coconut. I was practically on a planet science is yet to discover. She stylishly loosen the only piece of clothing on her, and that single handedly made the independent brain in my length subdue my ever intelligent mind. At this point we were both looking beautifully dressed in our birthday suits with my stretch searching northward as if something was out rightly missing. Now that Omolara’s eyes were closed from their sockets I stretched into her being in charge of the event. We went into each other in such a rush that made it look as if we were timed. Any way, It happened. And to worsen the case, we were in each other without any Elegance for her, or the Ethiopian coffee scent latex for me. I mean how can two educated adult do such without a Durian latex or even the cheap Gold circle? Well, what on earth will a certified monk be doing with a contraceptive in the first place? That I wasn’t protected didn’t matter to me, neither did the methodically placed incisions on her chest nor the ones round her waste scare me to sanity. My whole world has been simplified and all I could clearly think of is to fill up her vacuum to overflowing. After a hot non-romantic session of intense encounter, I was looking like an over detained bottle of coca- cola in the freezer.

We both lost our animalistic instinct in ten minutes, after an encounter that was hard, subtle and warlike all at the same time. But besides loosing the animalistic instinct I know so well that had lost the respect and gracefulness of a brilliant mentor, so called moralist who also doubles as a youth advocate.

All of a sudden, the fear that this young chap is suppose to be a mentee and that I’m to practice all that I preach and say fell on me like fire fell on the Pentecost Christian. I wasn’t the same guy who thought morality like say “I holy pass” anymore, neither was I the eloquent public speaker who flows like the pen of the ready writer. I was just lying on my bed like a helpless casualty who needs urgent attention.

I couldn’t’ but keep slapping myself repeatedly as if that was the medication to my self-cause distress

As I hit my body over and over again, I suddenly slapped myself back to life.

OMG! It’s all a dream and a wet one for that matter!!!

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The best of the world’s treasure remains the human mind written by Lanre Olagunju

Great treasures of the earth look unappealing, ugly and insignificant in their novel state. Besides that, they require so much strength, time, purification and refining before they look any useful or beautiful to behold. In fact they lodge in places where you least expect. Or how do you explain that petrol that fuels our cars resides thousands of feet beneath the earth surface as crude oil, same as gold and other ornamental stones. Think of it, even the chips of the computer you are currently starring at came from sand particles.

The best of the world’s treasure remains the human mind. As teeth in the gum of a baby, and words in the ink of a writer, so are treasures in the depth of obscurity and shapelessness. But like other ornamental treasures, they will remain as worthless as used toilet pad, until well refined and polished. The best way to take full advantage of the mind is to stretch it with dreams that are under every circumstance bigger than the mind itself. The realities of today were the dreams of yesterday. That our leaders never dreamt of a better Nigeria is the reason why we can’t but keep wallowing in the anguish of poverty.

Many world achievers, who have succeeded in one area or the other, only do, at the extensive use of their imaginative minds to see things before they literally happen. That you believe or not doesn’t change the fact that so much wealth and abundance dwells on your inside, neither does all the unpleasant occurrences that beclouds you like rain change the reality that you were born with great treasures.

It matters less if you have been nicked named “good for nothing” or referred to as a child born out of the sexual recklessness of two adolescents. “You are as useless as the left hand” might be the words that flow into your ear repeatedly like heavy current of water. Never allow these words get deep rotted into either your conscious or sub-consciousness. Little do they know that without the seemingly useless left hand, stability of the body can’t be attained.

No matter who said it or regardless the number of times the false message has been said, the truth is that such people are liars and they stand a chance of winning a Nobel Prize for lying. But if you proof them right by giving audience to those empty words, it’s your fault and your fault alone. No one can comprehend the worth of greatness that others carry; after all, they weren’t involved in the creation process that brought about either your existence or theirs.

People who make you feel unimportant should be avoided like a plague. When you uncontrollably find yourself amidst such people, you are saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that such words don’t filter into your mind, as no one can ever slap you with your own hand without your approval.

Little children are consumed with the dream of a bright future; it shows when they stage the mum and dad play, when they drive in imaginary choice cars using the mouth to make sounds from the engine. The usual saying of a kid that includes ‘when I grow up I will do this, when I will grow up I will become that is evident of the assurance of a bright future. But as adult, we get drowned with the challenges of the present, that we dream no more.

It’s worth noting, that every word we ever spoke got into our mind through our ears so do the things we gravely crave for gets into our life through our minds. Everything might be expensive but dreaming is cheap, affordable and in fact its priceless. When pictures of the future are altered imagination and possibility becomes eroded. No one can use your imagination against you, except you permit, principally because things are created twice first in our imagination, and then in reality.

Imagination is everything. Albert Einstein calls it is a preview of life’s attraction. Abundance is a mindset, likewise lack and abject poverty. The ability to write ones success story before it arrives is the real work of life and not the hustling we engage in only to discover that we’ve been chasing nothing but the air. No day last forever. So in times of obscurity and hopelessness say to yourself “this too shall pass”.

Success comes before work in no other place but the dictionary. All dreams and no work will definitely make jack a frustrated dreamer, how enjoyable would it be if day dreaming alone will bring all our desires into fruition? But like the old adage says, “If wishes were horses, even beggars will ride. A lazy hand makes a man poor but diligence brings abundance of wealth. The idea that one day soon, the long awaited money bag will drop on our roofs like raindrop is gradually killing our ability to stretch ourselves to work diligently.

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Flash Light Phones: Bait for Sudden Death. By Lanre Olagunju

What else can be more axiomatic than to say that death is inevitable? One of the surest things is that whatsoever has a beginning must surely have an end. Living in a country that has succeeded in fulfilling all of the indices of a failed state like ours, a nation with an unending intercourse with abject poverty, despite that she has no business been broke let alone been poor. You realize that people die for all the wrong reasons in the world you don't want to think of. How can a whole family sleep their last as a result of inhaling the fumes from their own power generating set? Don't be too quick in bellicosity by saying ignorance was at play. What would you need a generator for; if you never knew what it means that light should blink? International bodies keep coming to our aid like a mother has got no choice but to continuously breast feed her crying and helpless baby. Little wonder why our debt keeps skyrocketing, as if someone promised a medal for the country with highest debt…it's pretty shameful.

A wise brand like Nokia is so mindful of our malady. They aren't in the dark to see that our power sector is in a shadow of nothing, let alone say shadow of itself. After all, we never had it rosy. Lately, I was choked with an avalanche of shock when I heard a track by the Fuji legend, Ayinde Barrister ,(don't bug yourself if you don't know him ask Encarta and sure, you will get help) the track revealed that far back as 1986, power supply has been a major prayer point – “so no bi today”…

Since Nokia and other mobile phone manufacturers aren't cripple like our leaders are in the mind, they ensured that special phones were designed for Nigerians. At lease to ease us the excruciating pain and torture that comes with darkness- I beg your pardon perpetual darkness.

Considering how merciful God is, I have a strong feeling that soon babies vacating the heavens for Nigeria will arrive at their various maternity wards with flash lights permanently glued on their foreheads. So when the breaking news comes on air, please be quick to say to someone that ‘larigold’ once prophesied it.

Exactly two nights ago, mum was close to tears as she shared a somewhat pathetic story that might be of good interest to you and without any exaggeration, to anyone you don't wish dead. ‘A cousin lost a neighbor, she narrated. NEPA or PHCN or whatever they rechristened themselves to “happened” as usual and this young promising guy rushed to the power generating set, navigating through the nooks and crannies of the living room with the flash light from his phone....Just as he used the light from his mobile phone in fueling the generator, something tragic happened. And before he could decipher if he was featuring in a movie, all he discovered was an unannounced explosion from the power generating set. He wasn't even receiving a call neither was the phone ringing in the first place. As if been clothed with fire wasn't enough a tragedy, his misfortune doubled as he was electrocuted to the teeth, at his unsuccessful attempt to escape out of the gate that houses the generator.

Cutting the long story short, this young man was disrobed of his life. He died.

He actually didn't lose his life due to complications from burns or excess loss of blood due to acute electrocution, like the doctors would say; he died as a result of ignorance, yes, sheer ignorance.

I was so bellicose to say to mum that OK I agree that when switched on phones come near petrol pumps and flammable solvents, chemicals or gases, they release enough energy to ignite a spark, but what about the shock? I asked. I disregarded the story and almost concluded that it must have been an attack from the deepest part of hell, just like you are about to.

But while digesting Saturday punch as it is my ritual. Buki Olabiran’s column of 20th November 2010 titled “Obeying vital instruction” on social etiquette, gave credence to mum's story. Buki's visit to the hospital revealed the cases of two patients who suffered severe burns as a result of using the flash light from the phone while fueling the generator. One of the patient explained that all he knew was that his phone rang, then he realized a ghastly explosion. The other, narrated amidst so much pain and agony that the phone was in his pocket while he fueled the gen. In his own case, his mobile phone rang repeatedly but he couldn't honour the call since his hands were busy. After the phone rang repeatedly, he also experienced an explosion.

Some are of the habit of checking the fuel level of the generator while the machine is on or even refueling the gen while it's on or while still red hot. It's suicidal. In fact, it's like pulling the trigger of a pistol placed on your head all by yourself.

I'm yet to recover from the shock that I should have lost my face or complete skin to such a hellhole. Men! I should have been dead, buried and long forgotten. I practically use my phone's flash light at each attempt to on the gen at night. My guardian angel must have done a lot to ensure that my kids don't have a secondary albino for a father. God Am grateful.

Hello folks, lets learn from the experience of others and preserve our skin, the money we don't have and most importantly our lives, because it's pretty cheaper to learn from the experience of others. Don't tempt the thief like my friend will always say. At this point in time, I say don't tempt the devil, as it is widely believed that he is the author of all mishaps, even when it's crystal clear that we are manifesting in our own pool of ignorance. Don't tempt science either, please don't.

Tell other friends or better still feel free to copy this article on your wall and tag as many friends you love. Remember, your happiness is incomplete when your loved ones aren't happy!

May I not lose you or your face to fire.

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It Pays to Treat People Right by Lanre Olagunju.

Undoubtedly, human beings are the most treasured creature on planet earth; unfortunately, men don’t treat men as such. No society can succeed beyond the premium it places on people, after all government is all about people and people alone.

The parallel reason for the irreconcilable differences between the western world and the poor third world countries like ours is the premium placed on human. Developed countries dwell on the understanding that human capital is the richest and most crucial recipe for economic development. To that effect, they value education, provision of food and water, fine art of hospitality and good health that her citizens may function optimally.

In fact, we think otherwise and it shows. Here people die for very wrong reasons, or how else do you explain that young and old alike die of treatable and curable diseases like malaria and absence of drugs in our hospitals. Asking for electricity is like asking for too much but humans aren’t meant to live without basic survival needs like food and water. Today, bad roads claims lives each day as if granite and coal tar have all relocated into extinction. Little wonder why we as a people despite our dreams to prosper will still wallow in the anguish of poverty.

Young people aren’t the leaders of tomorrow anymore, but leaders of today- so we claim. Although our actions can’t be more contradicting. In fact it’s like we’ve taken an unconscious oat to replicate the wrong deeds of the older generation and we can’t be any better for it. It shows when we scam foreigners on the web and also when we celebrate our scammer friends and relations. Lately, there is this advancement, witchcraft has been successfully rebranded into a money making machine.

“Service to humanity is the best work of life”-so says a creed, and the only way to be impactful and fulfilled is to serve humanity by the giving away of oneself. The shocking irony is that only those who give themselves to others make a meaning out of life. After all, the worth of our days will be measured by what we gave and not what we earned. There is an urgent need to ensure that greed and self centeredness die a natural death by birthing the zeal to help, serve, encourage and inspire others.

The scarcity oriented society we live has succeeded in making us aware of one thing and that’ self and ourselves alone. It is understandable that one’s environment has a whole lot of influence on the mind. Therefore the default in a country like ours is to be greedy, self centered, embezzle and be awfully stingy. Any act short of this can be possibly tagged non -Nigerian.

Let the truth be told, even your future helpers might desperately need your help now. It should be noted that every broken relationship is a broken bridge. Relationship is everything, and only those who have mastered the act of treating others right can love genuinely. When we treat others right, the success we pursue endlessly will be replaced with abundance of wealth, joy and most importantly fulfillment. If all of our net labor is to make ourselves just a little comfortable, then we are by all standards the most miserable creature.

Learn to look out for the genuine interest of others especially those who are despised. Help someone solve a problem, encourage your neighbor, buy someone a gift, call that old friend you haven’t seen in a long time, keep loving that irritable and cocky roommate, go visit that friend who is lying lifeless on the hospital bed.

Great men like Nelson Mandela, Bill Gates and Henry Ford just wanted to solve a problem, and in return life has furnished them with all the wealth and fame they couldn’t imagine, reason that God can’t but reward those who nurture that which he created in the fullness of his power.

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