Watchmen???

Watchmen???: Watchmen???

Watchmen???

Watchmen???: Watchmen???

LAST LAUGH (PLAYBOY)

He called.

            She snubbed.

He stalked,

            She booed.

He dogged,

            She coyed.

He touched

            She indulged.

He wantoned,

            She lauded.

He’s got all,

She wants more.

He’s gone,

She’s stunned!

He won,

            She wept.

- Gbadegesin Sijuade-kings

@iamkingsiju on twitter

Goldfish Grace

Goldfish Grace

Goldfish Grace

by Max Lucado

 

I’ve been thinking about grace lately.
The word is everywhere. My friend named his daughter Grace. A singer sang Amazing Grace in a talent show last week. I read about a politician who fell from grace. The name of my wife’s new shampoo? You got it: Grace.
In sermons, in songs, in slogans. Grace, everywhere!
But do we get it?
When our daughter Sara was four years old, she burst into the house carrying a water-filled baggie in which swam a wide-eyed burst of sunshine. “Look what they gave us at the birthday party!” (Gee, thanks.) We dumped the pet into a fishbowl and gathered around to select a name. Sebastian won. He was the star of the family. We actually set the bowl on the dinner table so we could watch him swim while we ate. The ultimate fish dinner.
But then we got bored. Can’t fault Sebastian. He did everything expected of a family fish. He swam in circles and surfaced on cue to gobble fish food. He never jumped out of the bowl into the sink or demanded a seat on the couch. He spent his nights nestled amidst a green plant. Quiet. Novel. Contained.
Like grace? Small enough to fit on the cabinet, contain in the aquarium. Package it up and send it home with the kids. Dump it in a bowl and watch it swim. Never causes trouble or demands attention. Everyone wants a goldfish bowl of grace, right?
If you do, steer clear of Jesus Christ. He brings a wild grace. It comes at you like a fire hose: blasting, purging, cleansing. It can flush every last clod of doubt and death and infuse  us with wonder and hope.
Grace does not promise to stop your snoring, turn your kids into valedictorians, or guarantee the correct lottery number. Grace doesn’t make you sexy, skinny, or clever. It doesn’t change what you see in the mirror. It changes how you see what you see.
Grace is everything Jesus. It uses five letters to describe six hours in which one carpenter hung on two timbers by three nails. Grace lives because he does, works because he works, and matters because he matters. To be saved by grace is to be saved by him; not by an idea, doctrine, creed, or church membership, but by Jesus himself who will sweep into heaven anyone who so much as gives him the nod.
Grace is God:
as Heart Surgeon, cracking open chests and extracting our crud and the desire to create it.
as Grand Marshall, leading his ever-swelling parade of has-beens and never-weres out of halfway houses and prisons into His palace.
as the Master who loves you enough to grab the nape of your neck and drag you out of blind alleys and deadend streets
as Chief Engineer, burrowing a tunnel through stone and sediment, unwilling to leave one soul in the cavern.
Grace placed a term limit on sin and danced a victory jig in a graveyard and pledges to do the same in yours, if you ask him.
Goldfish grace? Not on your life.
Goldfish grace happens on Sundays. God’s grace claims every tick of the clock.
Goldfish grace is only as good as you are. God’s grace is as good as he is.
Goldfish grace winks at sin. God’s grace nukes it.
Goldfish grace is a lucky charm crucifix on a necklace. God’s grace is a tiger in your heart.
Here’s a prayer that you and I discover God’s greatest news: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared…” (Titus 2:11).  May it appear to you!


5/15/2012 copyrighted material

HOW NOT TO HONOUR ABIOLA BY ABUBAKAR S. USMAN

HOW NOT TO HONOUR ABIOLA BY ABUBAKAR S. USMAN

HOW NOT TO HONOUR ABIOLA BY ABUBAKAR S. USMAN

HOW NOT TO HONOUR ABIOLA BY ABUBAKAR S. USMAN

The New Nigeria Anthem

The New Nigeria Anthem: The New Nigeria Anthem



Have you heard of the new Nigeria?

A land flowing with milk and honey,

The envy of other lands, ...

BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ! (soulbaba)

BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ!


1) Secrets behind scoring goals by YAKUBU AIYEGBENI
(2) How to win trophies by ARSENE WENGER
(5) Efficacy of shaving powder by RICK ROSS
(6) Secrets to greater heights by M.I
(7) How to speak good english by DAME PATIENCE
(8) How to maintain good looks by OBJ
(9) How to live in peace and unity by Boko haram
(10) The value of family planning by Tuface Idibia
(11) How to conduct a free and fair election by Maurice Iwu
(12) Humility pays by Dbanj
(13) My love for America by Osama Bin Laden
(14) How to enjoy constant electricity supply by PHCN.
(15) Fighting homosexuality by Charlie boy and Denrele


Get ur copy now!!

Sometime In April,I Voted GEJ Not PDP – By Harry Slim Omoakhia

Sometime In April,I Voted GEJ Not PDP – By Harry Slim Omoakhia

… (Reminiscent of the song of Transformation). Humans, especially Nigerians are fond of shying away from failures they directly or indirectly created. President GEJ(Goodluck Ebele Jonathan) had over 24million votes in the last elections, but today only a few people still accept that they voted for him.
I am not a conventional Nigerian. My name is Harry Slim Omoakhia.I voted for GEJ and this is my story: Sometime in April 2011,in the beautiful and ancient city of Benin, the rainforest belt of the Nation, where the Oba is revered, the rain seemed to have gone on a sabbatical –quite unusual at that time of the year, or had the transformation cloud and wind of fresh air taken prominence over our normal climes?, I asked. Interestingly the song of transformation was the mantra then, so Benin should be in the mix of things. On that fateful day, I was woken up by the strong rays of the rich eastern sun coming through my window….Ooops! I had forgotten to shut it the previous night; I needed some air to be able to sleep. Kudos to PHCN for making power supply a scarce commodity.
I was consoled by the thoughts of the coming “fresh air” from Abuja when the loud Nokia tune from my phone interrupted my thoughts. Mum was calling to remind me for the umpteenth time about the need to be careful and vigilant at the polling centre. I couldn’t blame her for getting scared. Elections in Nigeria have been an epic tale of violence, intimidation and assassinations. As I sailed from my slumber into the corridors of reality, I realised it was the much talked about election day.I prayed to God to take control of the day, dashed to the bathroom and in 30 minutes i was ready to exercise my franchise. Stepping out of my room, Eric, a carefree next door neighbour, greeted me and in a sarcastic tone told me to vote for Buhari. Another of his pranks I thought. I wanted him to convince me about why i should toe his line of reasoning, but he couldn’t give me a reason. I replayed the song of transformation for him, he was overwhelmed and I felt good.
However, on the bank of the stairs, my subconscious asked me: ”what’s wrong with Buhari been my choice?”.Well,he is Buhari, I thought, my General social studies teacher talked about him a lot. His time predates mine , so, I didn’t know much about him other than what I picked from hearsay and what I have read, I opined. I also knew some people, including those from his region didn’t want him to become president. There must be something special about him that makes the cabal uneasy, I surmised. But I didn’t care to find out.I believed in the songs of transformation. As Carl Sagan said ” you can’t convince a believer of anything; for his belief is not based on evidence. It is based on a deep seated need to believe”. It was like a carnival at the polling unit. It was really a date with destiny.

Soon it was time to cast our votes. The voting queue was long. I felt hunger pangs because I hadn’t eaten before leaving the house. The sun was hot like the furnace of Babylon. Yet the people persevered. An old man even collapsed. Obviously I wasn’t the only one moved by the song of transformation. Finally, it was my turn to vote–thank God. As I stepped into the INEC cubicle (the conscience chamber)with the ballot paper, I heaved a sigh of relief. But, I was disappointed when I x-rayed the ballot paper and found GEJ’s name was conspicuously missing. I actually came to vote for GEJ and not the PDP.(pause).
Nigeria today is a story of mankind’s betrayal by leaders whose speeches were idealistic and full of noble sentiments under the guise of reforms (the transformation),but whose policies were based less on principles of justice and uprightness than on expediency and compromise with the evil forces which confronted it. I am not a pessimist, but my optimism dwindles when I think of the high level of insecurity in the land, especially in the Northern part of my country. A phenomenon the National Security Adviser alluded to having its roots from the PDP brand of politics. My hope dwindles again when I see the level of unemployment, corruption, deception, injustice, poverty etc. and no concerted effort made to tackle all these; or wasn’t the transformation agenda supposed to fix these problems? GEJ’s lackadaisical approach in berating erring or non performing officials among his fold, means that the PDP affair takes pre-eminence over the yearnings of the masses. Hence he cannot disavow the fact that the masses voted him and not PDP therefore his loyalty should be to the people. He should be solicitous about the people rather than leaving them distraught. The song of transformation should not be repaid with pains of lamentation.
Moreover, there is still a glimmer of hope, which he has to rekindle. He should reconnect with the people. This is no longer time for rhetoric. He should roll up his sleeves and do a campaign tour round the country again, to identify with people’s needs. He said he had no shoes, now that he has, we shouldn’t walk barefooted; he said he trekked many kilometers to school, please we need good schools and cheap transportation; he read with lanterns, how about giving us stable power supply? The son of a poor canoe maker should help youths to get good jobs.
It’s a year now and we are terribly gasping for air and lamenting in agony. Where is the fresh air? As I reminiscence on the song of transformation this morning,I REMEMBER that SOME TIME IN APRIL, NIGERIANS VOTED GOODLUCK AND NOT PDP.


Follow me on twitter @Harryslim9

A Camera Will Open the World | Münchow's Creative Photo Blog

A Camera Will Open the World | Münchow's Creative Photo Blog

Joseph Stiglitz: The 99 Percent Wakes Up - The Daily Beast

Joseph Stiglitz: The 99 Percent Wakes Up - The Daily Beast

WAITING FOR THAT GOOD NIGERIAN-Dele Momodu

 Terrorism survives on propaganda and its main propeller is the media. The attack on the Nigerian media two days ago was therefore a tactical error.

Fellow Nigerians, it is with ultimate sadness that I write to you barely 48 hours after the Thisday offices were mercilessly shattered by bombs in Abuja and Kaduna. Only last week, and on this very page, I devoted ample space and time to the critical issue of Boko Haram as if I had a premonition of what was coming. In fact, a few readers had told me that the way I argued feverishly about the need to dialogue with Boko Haram may be misconstrued as being sympathetic to whatever cause they represent. Also, my attention was drawn to a full-page advert in The Punch newspapers in which the advertiser opened and closed his letter with copious quotes from an earlier article I had written about this Boko Haram menace. No matter how my Boko Haram interventions have been interpreted or misconstrued, I’m a realist.
Let me reiterate the fact that I’m very convinced that our government lacks the capacity to handle Boko Haram. There’s no point pretending to be a King Kong when it is obvious that you are nothing but a Lilliputian. It is not a shame to admit your limitations before the whole world. Our case is like that of a boxer who has been pummelled to a corner refusing to raise up his hands in submission to a superior fire-power. I insist that where we have failed to tackle Boko Haram militarily, just like we failed to conquer the Niger Delta militants, the time has come to seek the path of dialogue, no matter what it takes. Those who are being slaughtered, with unbelievable regularity, are Nigerians like the rest of us. They suffer from the same injustice that most of us have encountered at different times and places. We must do everything humanly possible to end this terrible saga. Too many lives have been wasted to this carnage. Now that the attacks have been extended to journalists, who are usually protected even in war situations, something has to be done urgently to rescue this nation from total mayhem. I know Thisday too well and can confidently attest to its major contribution to the growth of Nigerian media.
I have been a regular reader of Thisday newspapers, and was the founding Editor of Leaders & Company at its inception in 1992. I have come to respect Thisday as the most liberal and well-respected newspaper you can find anywhere. Its influence has gone beyond the shores of Nigeria. Of course, there would always be certain misgivings about certain conducts of all human activities but Thisday has maintained a strict code of professionalism and effervescent presentation that has endeared it to fans and critics alike. A cursory look at its editorial composition would reveal a fair representation of all shades of opinion across political, religious and ideological divides. This is why you would find contributors like Eddie Iroh, Chidi Amuta, Femi Falana, Nasir el Rufai, and yours truly, all writing for Thisday’s Backpage. Any media organisation that can tolerate, and accommodate, some of the hottest anti-government critics should be embraced and applauded because what the publication has achieved is a very delicate marriage of ideas.
God is my witness; Nduka Obaigbena has never called to tell us what to write and what not to write. He may have his personal foibles, like all of us human beings, but he’s committed to the best tenets of journalism, and has struggled hard to build a humongous newspaper conglomerate which would be difficult to replicate in this difficult terrain. I respect his creativity and dare-devilry. He has erected, and provided us, with one of the most formidable platforms for information dissemination in Africa. It is not a platform that we must take for granted or seek to destroy. No matter its imperfections, Thisday is one of the best things to happen to Nigerian journalism. We all need a good conduit for our views. Without the media publicising Al Qaeda, no one would have known Osama bin Laden. I never heard that he ordered that journalists should be killed. In fact, he cultivated friendship with the media, and managed to send his secret tapes to Al Jazeera and a few Arab television channels. Osama became a quintessential newsmaker who forced himself into headlines and breaking news all over the world. Terrorism survives on propaganda and its main propeller is the media. The attack on the Nigerian media two days ago was therefore a tactical error.
I say without any fear of contradiction that an average Nigerian is angrier than Boko Haram on the state of our backwardness. Our level of corruption and recklessness has become totally idiotic and unjustifiable. There’s no nation that is governed by Saints but ours has become over-populated by demonic politicians and civil servants. And to make matters worse is the nonchalance of our leaders to the groans concerned citizens. There’s no sign of remorse or any fear of retribution.
Unfortunately, our society expects the journalist to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the earth. People sit in the comfort of their homes and instruct the journalist to take the kamikaze jump and fight its war for them while they continue to run their own business. They tell you what journalists do in Europe and America but forget the journalist and his publisher are amply rewarded by their society with millions of print-run while it is impossible for any Nigerian daily to sell up to 50,000 copies in a country of 160 million people! The man who wants you to fight his battle is unaware that it is easier for an elephant to pass through the eye of a needle than for a Nigerian paper to generate enough revenue from advertisement. At the end of the day, when the few bolekaja (come-let’s fight) publications die, as they must ultimately, there are no mourners seen. Rather the experts in every business step forward to propound hundreds of theories on why the publication died without ever proposing how it can be resurrected.
The Nigerian journalist is nothing but a meat in an American burger, big but cheap. He’s at the mercy, whims and caprices of everyone, just like a junk food. Government is angry that it is being criticised. Readers are complaining that government is being offered a platform. He’s turned into a sandwich to be munched by all with his left-over trashed in a jiffy. That is the sad story of the Nigerian journalist. We need to paint this lurid picture in order to appeal to those who have an axe to grind with government to spare these attacks against the media like the recent one against Thisday, The Sun and Moment.
The journalist is as angry if not angrier than Boko Haram. But the journalist only has his pen and no bombs to detonate. As angry as he may be, he still has his bills to pay like the rest of society. He would not tell his children he cannot pay their school fees because he’s anti-government. The few foolish ones like us who criticise government know the toll it takes on us and our financial condition and we are not too different from suicide bombers because it is suicidal not to be in the good books of government in Nigeria. But a few of us have chosen a different path and strategy for specific reasons. It is based on the knowledge that money alone can never guarantee happiness and fulfilment. We desire a good country for ourselves and our children, and we know it would take a huge sacrifice on the part of a few people to ever achieve that elusive dream.
At the end of it all, it all boils down to searching for that good Nigerian at the very top. We don’t need a multitude to change a society. I still hold on to the theory that a tree can make a forest in political Leadership. What Nigeria is lacking is that strong and visionary leader. For a leader to be strong, he must be known to have the knowledge and vision for his mission in power. He needs that ingredient of trust for his people to agree to follow him through rain and fire. He has to be sound intellectually, and have a vast knowledge of world affairs. He must have been exposed to how particular leaders helped to reshape the destiny of their nation from penury to prosperity. He must possess the heart of a lion and the determination of a David to defeat the political Goliaths who make it difficult for most leaders to succeed in power.
The good Nigerian we crave must be charismatic and urbane. He must have enjoyed a bit of life in his private capacity in order not to be overwhelmed or intimidated by the allure and paraphernalia of office. Most of those who misuse and abuse the privilege of power are usually those who had waited for their turn to attain power and seize the chance to flaunt their newly-acquired status. That is why a woman who could not afford expensive fashion suddenly becomes a fashion icon who spends more money on shoes and jewellery than Imelda Marcos. It matters not if the new style fits her or not. The good Nigerian must be able to hold his family in check and let them know they were not elected with him. His children cannot become emergency contractors and the wife must never grab the power that makes it possible for her to run riots on the streets. We need that good man who can inspire the new generation of Nigerians and not one to depress them further.
The good Nigerian must be selfless and ready to leave power poorer than he came. He must be satisfied with prayers of the people and wait on God to continually bless him and his family. There’s no honour that can be greater than being called upon to lead a country out of 160 million people. To whom much is given, much is expected. I wonder why any leader would choose to serve the selfish interests of a few parasites when he can satisfy the yearnings of the majority and become an hero for all times.
It is strange what comes over men of power that makes it impossible for them to see the difference between being a Statesman like Mandela and ending up as a poor footnote of history like Mobutu.
 Follow Dele Momodu on ThisDay HERE.

Between Terrorism and Corruption

Between Terrorism and Corruption