It's 100 Days Today

To all NYSC 2014 Batch C members, happy #100Days... May the days ahead bring better opportunities, greater joys and more secure protection.

For 2014 Batch B, who aren't counting, it's 192 days today... Enjoy!

For Batch A, its 345 days...

Have you started on those plans of yours?
Have you learnt that skill you wanted to learn?
Have you added that certificate you were determined to add?
Have you read that book?

Have you benefited your community?
Have you given your best?
Have you truly served?
Have you helped that person?

Is your integrity still intact?
Are you still a worthy ambassador of home?
Have you kept your good name?
Have you showed someone good people still exist?

How will the next 100 days be?
Will you still be yourself?
Will you still keep your hopes and promises?
Will you still pursue those opportunities?

As you celebrate, reflect
As you look forward, look back
As you run, watch your steps
As you life, remember destiny

Happy 100 days...

Wonders Shall Never End

Wonders Shall Never End
I've seen many things under the sun
Just a hundred days as a youth corp member
And I can't stop being amazed

I've seen trees grow out of a rock
Life overcome lifelessness eventually
The work of years and many tears
Eventually becoming an inspiration

I've seen beautiful skins in this scorching sun
Genuine beauty is from deep within
Weather sunny, rainy, cold or dry
Beauty keeps beaming all year round

I've seen cocks crow in the evening
It still baffles me after weeks
What ushers us into a new day there
Is what announces every hour here

I've seen people tie wrapper to school
Common for one is classy for another
Your impossibility is another's normalcy
Your preposterous is another's no-big-deal

I've seen a job-seeker living in his own house
Early diligence paying off when needed most
Being too young for life is itself a deception
Set something aside once you think about it

I've seen people from extremes become brothers
I've seen strangers fall in love in days
What we never considered may become part of us
That's the power of meeting people

I've seen the old seek favour from the young
I've heard the grey call the black 'sir'
Wherever life places us

I've seen people dislike you for doing right
Bad is the new good, strange the new normal
People get close to because they see common imperfection
And get farther when they sense higher standards

I've travelled an hour to browse the internet
I beat myself anytime I remember that
I couldnt do what I initially planned for
Right in one corner of the room lies network

I've seen a very beautiful lodge in this obscure place
I've seen bright colourful flowers on leafless tees
I've seen bright petals grow in the desert
I've seen the golden sun peep between trees

I've seen people leave their rooms to get comfort outside
The day's heat has made home repulsive
Its like the walls store up heat while we hide from the sun
Only to lavish it on us when we desire rest the most

I've seen collegues in tears when about leaving serving year
Strangers have become family; sojourners, friends
Leaving is now much harder than staying
The memory of the first fear have faded out

I've seen corpers stay behind in the most unlikely places
Won't be surprised to know some are now married
A foreign land has become home
A Critic has become chief advocate

I've seen beauty fade because of neglect
Buildings deteriorate for lack of use
Schools retrogress because of government misplaced priority

I've learnt wisdom from men who came from far
Never look over another man's head
What you need may be in his hands
Pride will make you miss wisdom from another's mouth

I've heard people say my mind much better than I would have
No one has a monopoly of ideas
If you hoard yours too long it becomes obsolete
Men would soon find a better alternative

I've seen men who defied all odds to stay
Men who's decision to stay is held by a tiny chord of faith
Not that we have all things figured out
The only thing we know is we'll be fine anyway

Those in the village are happy they're not in the city
Initially it looked like a loss, it was gain afterall
Where crowd, cost and contempt is alien
Noice, traffic and fear is far away in the city.

I've seen beauty in the must unlikely place
People I'd really like to get close to
I want to know why, and how they got here
When they look so much different from others

I've seen the scars of past hurt
I've seen the shadow of past destruction
Vacant buildings; empty compound in a one time big city
The marks the beast called hatred left behind

I've seen people in safety fear for those at war
The tales of war are simply exaggerated back home
Any news of a bombing in the north speeds up their pulse
While the little baby here sleeps without worry

I've seen people prefer local breeds to exotic ones
So I heard they prefer their own cocks to broilers
They even say it tastes better
Bad business for anyone thinking broiler

I've seen people standout in the midst of mediocres
While everyone else seeks on opportunity to cheat
There preserve integrity every opportunity they have
Never lump all men together, there is greatness among the lot

I've seen people hope for what you consider common
Someone told me He hoped to come to Lagos sometime
Lagosians want to leave the slightest chance they get
We're there because we have to

I've seen locales teach us our own art
Students here teach corpers to play snoockers
We leave behind everything we think we know from the news
And pay attention to those who know the true story

Wonders shall never end
After hundred days, I haven't being weaned from surprises

Now that We've been Paid

Now that we've been paid..

Now that we've been paid, I'm no more getting messages. All the questions people have been asking have suddenly been answered. A week ago when the payment was due and it wasn't coming, I get messages from everyone. All seem to be asking the same question: "you don see alert."

Now that we've been paid, some people are already falling in love with Jonathan. They've stopped passing their usual derogatory comments. I can imagive if the increment rumour was true, GEJ would have had a more vibrant youth followship willing to postpone their regrets and suspend their anger.

Now that we've been paid, a bottle of soft drink is no longer as expensive as it used to be a week ago. You can confidently buy a soft drink knowing that what would be left is much more than what was spent.

Now that we've been paid, all creditors are saying hello and the bills are coming top the to of the stack.Everyone seems to know we've been paid. Bad thing about being paid is you can't lie about it. The whole nation is singing the same song. Yours can't be different.

Now that we've been paid, i'm considering a good meal. Something off the regular. Something that will keep me smiling till the next windfall. Something that will probably fill up the gaps and add some flesh to these bones.

Now that we've been paid, yanga go plenty. Feathers and wings will grow. All the fever and temporary gentleness caused by 'no money' will suddenly be healed. Money answers all things, including certain psychological and behavioural inconsistencies.

Now that we've been paid, take it easy. Another one will still come. Don't treat it as a miracle. Now that we've been paid, don't sleep at the bar. Get essentials, save the rest and life goes on.

Now that We've been Paid

Now that we've been paid..

Now that we've been paid, I'm no more getting messages. All the questions people have been asking have suddenly been answered. A week ago when the payment was due and it wasn't coming, I get messages from everyone. All seem to be asking the same question: "you don see alert."

Now that we've been paid, some people are already falling in love with Jonathan. They've stopped passing their usual derogatory comments. I can imagive if the increment rumour was true, GEJ would have had a more vibrant youth followship willing to postpone their regrets and suspend their anger.

Now that we've been paid, a bottle of soft drink is no longer as expensive as it used to be a week ago. You can confidently buy a soft drink knowing that what would be left is much more than what was spent.

Now that we've been paid, all creditors are saying hello and the bills are coming top the to of the stack.Everyone seems to know we've been paid. Bad thing about being paid is you can't lie about it. The whole nation is singing the same song. Yours can't be different.

Now that we've been paid, i'm considering a good meal. Something off the regular. Something that will keep me smiling till the next windfall. Something that will probably fill up the gaps and add some flesh to these bones.

Now that we've been paid, yanga go plenty. Feathers and wings will grow. All the fever and temporary gentleness caused by 'no money' will suddenly be healed. Money answers all things, including certain psychological and behavioural inconsistencies.

Now that we've been paid, take it easy. Another one will still come. Don't treat it as a miracle. Now that we've been paid, don't sleep at the bar. Get essentials, save the rest and life goes on.

A Corper's Cry towards 2015 Elections #VoteNotFight #NigeriaDecides

Whenever I have the opportunity to get online, I see comments, predictions, news and status updates about the coming general elections. I noticed every single person talking will only be out for a few hours. They will not even feel the pressure of the event. They will be in the comfort of their homes most of the time. I haven’t seen any Corp member bear their views on the elections. So I thought I should raise our voice as loudly as we can. We are the ones who will feel the most intense pressure. We are the ones at the 'agbami eto.'

Security is a majour concern for us. I cannot help but remember the tragic occurrence that claimed the lives of some of our senior colleagues who served in the north in 2011. Upon the announcement of the results of the elections, aggrieved supporters poured into the streets and pounced upon innocent corpers. This is a memory that will continually haunt the families and friends of the deceased. Even those who lost have accepted defeat and summed up courage to contest again. But the breadth of the deceased have gone forever.

I want to state that nothing is worth more than the life of a youth at this time. The reason and motivation any candidate is contesting is centered on the future of the country. If you kill the future, what are you becoming president for? If you take the lives of those who believe in the future of this country and showed their commitment by participating in the youth service scheme and have further volunteered to assist in the election process, who do you want to leave the leadership of the country to? People who bought certificates?

We are the reason you are going to Aso Rock. Whatever happens, our safety is far more important. We are the little finger of the government that can reach the cracks and crevices of our dear country. Give us that respect. We squeeze ourselves to reach unimaginable places the fat and proud politicians cannot reach. We are the people that know the names and pains of the little boys and girls forgotten in the rural areas. 

We are the only image of the government some people will ever get. Give us that honor! We are the ones who can help bring transformation or change to the schools with thatched roofs and adobe walls. We are the ones that make sitting on the floor worthwhile for the little child that walks barefooted to school.

Whatever happens, the green khaki is the only impact some people will feel. Do not cut anyone's dream short. Whoever wins, all things being equal, has a shorter life ahead of him than the average Corp Member. Do not cut these beautiful destinies short.

With this I want to echo the most beautiful sound I have heard so far.

A sound more beautiful than #Transformation

A sound more honorable than #Change

A sound more creative than #FeBuhari14

This sound is #VoteNotFight