Waist Deep

Those of us who reside in the United States may be familiar with a TV commercial featuring a man caught in a quicksand. His teammates, instead of springing to action to rescue him, began a conversation to identify the situation before they could plan a course of action. All along, the poor guy sank deeper and deeper into the quicksand.
This is a scenario which I liken to the state of the Nigerian government. In the past, I have blogged about negative things going on in that country. My blogs were well intended, as every Nigerian wishing the best for our homeland would. BUT, I soon realized that lamenting on the Nigerian fiasco is similar to one who cries over spilled milk. I made a secret vow to offer solutions in any little way that I could rather than blemish the image of our dear nation, Nigeria.
But, that when a president and his vice president put matters of national interest aside for their personal finger-pointing, one is left to wonder what the fate of Nigeria would become. EFCC indicting Atiku is long overdue but I bet there are Nigerians who wait anxiously to see if the likes of Obasanjo and other corrupt public officials would face the same fate.
Democracy is a wonderful form of government. But has it really worked in Nigeria? If you assess the economy, you’d see that its on a downward spiral. Foreign investors are apprehensive of doing business in that country. Its not because we don’t have the resources of qualifies manpower. Much of it depends on those investors who are willing to pay bribes here and there in order to do business in that country. Only those companies from whom they could gain personal benefits can do business in Nigeria.
So dare I ask if military leadership is what would help our country? It appears to me that after seven years of democratic rule in Nigeria, our leaders, especially Obasanjo are waist deep in what I call ‘The Nigerian Hot Mess’. They are still engaged in preemptive stance on how to run that country while Nigeria has morphed into a cannon ball waiting to explode on impact.
Until this point, there isn’t a definitive plan for major issues in that country. Thus far, the whole nation is set ablaze with calls for impeachment of one governor or the other. I must admit that Nigeria has made steady progress on one front – the lines baring us into ethnic groups are becoming blurry. However, the rush to loot government funds has intensified in the wake of sprawling violence in local areas.
It is a crying shame that a president and a vice president of a nation, as eminent as Nigeria, would engage in such shameful bickering. Where does that leave the fate of the nation? I wonder what Obasanjo’s legacy would be at the end of his time in office? Is his legacy one which has left Nigeria more fragile than it was before the civilian regime? Only time would tell. At the moment, we are all caught waist deep in our political and economic uncertainty.

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Much love to Master P

Whoa what a weekend. First of all, much love to Master P and his son Lil Romeo for kicking it with homeboy over the weekend. Lil Romeo headlined a concert for the Navy Exchange’s 60th anniversary here in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I had the daunting task to of doing the public relations thing with Master P and the BET folks that came down here with them. I 've never met the rapper, so I didn’t know what to expect. Much to my amazement, Master P is quite a textbook parent. Outside the spotlight, you would not believe how modest he really is. This dude is straight up laid back and nice as hell. So is his son Lil Romeo. You would expect him to have a little chip on his shoulders. After all, he's gat the millions. He's gat his own tv show, and he's only 16...Far from it. Dude wanted to get on his playstation instead. He was respectful to everyone he met down here. Master P spent a little less than an hour in his after-party (big ups to ma homeboy Todd Jordan for hooking the party up). Afterwards, he chilled and played cards with us.
Lil Romeo and I



Master P and I

I did ask him (Master P) if he would consider performing in Nigeria. He was ecstatic. He said he loves Nigerians. He’s also a huge fan of Nigerian movies. He said that would be an opportunity he wouldn’t miss for the world. (If only he can truely rap...lol! I go die o!) So all you promoters out there, take note. He's also involved in humanitarian efforts in his home state Louisiana.

Remember this guy?


Rulon Gardner; the US Olympic wrestler who won the gold medal in 2000. He was also in town this weekend. Another nice fella! I may be smilling in this picture but dude has gat a grip like a vice grip but I ain't no pushover either. Know what I mean? LOL!

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A Salute to UDSS Class of 95/96

For the past few months, I’ve been on a leave of absence, so to speak. I had so much going on. I needed to clear my head. Work became intense and then there’s this little thing called 'Master’s Degree' for which I pursue persistently. A collage of all these stresses were talking their toll on me so I had to depart your honorable presence for a while. By doing so, I turned of the reason to hang out with you all - my friends and cohorts. I had turned a deaf ear to your calls to join the daily congregation.

But don’t think I was never here. I still come in everyday to read your blogs and I must say that I appreciate each and everyone one of you for sharing your experiences. I do learn from you. I am eternally grateful. I am glad to be back on the block. Nothing is more entertaining and enticing than a lunch break with you fellas.

OKAY! Now that I’m through with the preamble, lets get down to business. Shall we? There’s a lot happening down under in a country known as ‘Nigeria’ a.k.a Naija (I often say, the gods of the Good and the Bad must reside in that country because amazing things happen there whilst such things don’t happen anywhere else in the world).

I’m on a two week leave back in Maryland. I needed to get away from the political stumping ground in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. So I’ve spent the past week to unwind, lounge around, and party here and there. If you ask me, I’m just hanging on to the twilight of the summer.

Today is Tuesday October 3, 2006. I am on a relapse from all the parties commemorating our 46th Independence(Hurray!). As the effects of the party withered off, I am in dire need for some jolt of entertainment. After all, I’m on vacation dammit!....and I’ve gat a whole week left.

…And then I checked my e-mail the moment I got up from bed around eeeerrrrrrr 11. In my inbox, there was a blast from the past- an e-mail from a high school classmate, Agbani Douglas now Mrs. Akhaze.

So I quickly dialed the phone number she left on the e-mail and called her up. We chatted for a very long time trying to recall our days in high school. Oh how time flies. Frankly it seems like yesterday. But the conversation made me realize one thing. That the strength of the stream lies in its source and what it carries along the way. Sometimes, you have to go back…way back in time in order for you to truly appreciate the strides you’ve made in life.

I also learned never to forget those who were there in the beginning for they are the source of your strength. They are the foundation to your future because they affect your outlook in life thus affecting your future.

So I am caught in the serenity of this moment. In this moment I reflect on ALL of those who I shared those memorable years of my youth with:

Agbani Douglas, Kelechi Dike, Otu Kadana, Ibrahim Jimoh (deceased), Chituru Wodi, Chimene Wali, Onimi Erekosima, Dagogo Erekosima, Uju Ezeamama, Benedicta Elechi, Tambari Kua, Chijoke Didia, Kenebi Okoko, Bio Mangete, Godswill Obomanu, and many others I just can’t recall your names but you are equally important to me.

I thank you all for being a part of my life. Your foot prints left in the sand of time guide my strides. I’ll always carry you with me. I’ll never forget you all!

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