People have danced in this world and are still dancing. So many types of dance steps that either come with time or invented by musicians.
Sometimes, when I sit out and watch performers, especially some youngsters, I can't but wonder about the creativity, the ingenuity, the concentration. And all these for a largely very unappreciative crowd that would usually clap only when the MC screams *anakukwanu aka ebea?*(people dey clap here so?). Some Nigerian audiences can be frustrating really. You won't drop cash, you won't clap. Just guzzling beer and committing *free watchery*
One day, I saw one young boy joggle the ball in the course of dancing and I really wondered. Usually, after each performance, they would go round to beg for stipends from the audience who would rather *do two okwa of isi ewu than drop shishi* I have never seen a thing like this before.
I was forced to ask the ball joggler *Is this how you want to live the rest of your life? Dancing to an unappreciative audience and making pittance?*
He responded: *Sir, our target is always to be able to enter for international competitions but we usually lack sponsorship. So, apart from looking for small money for self sustenance, we also use places like this to practice before live audiences. If we are able to win just one good competition, we're made*
I suddenly remembered my *Sports Club* then at the *National Stadium, Lagos - Mercury Club*.
It is an *aerobics club* and we did a lot of dancing, guided by our coaches that would usually look *matcho*. There was this girl, a student in a higher institution in Ogun state, that was our member. I think a polytechnic. She was very dedicated and often offered to take the classes if our coach wasn't around.
Then one day, I opened the newspaper and saw that this young lady has just become a world dance champion! I mean a champion in the entire world!
*Kafayat Oluwatoyin Shafau (stage name Kaffy)* is a Nigerian choreographer, dancer/dance instructor and we'll known fitness coach. She broke the *Guinness World record* for the *Longest Dance Party* at the Silverbird Danceathon, 2006. Her result was amazing - *52 hours and 3 minutes*: jiji.ng blog 👏 👏 👏
Kaffy became A Star! I now see her on many occasions as a *panel judge* for many competitions. Kaffy was *purposeful* and had *drive*.
During our youthful years, *the best dancer in the world was John Travolta*
Long after he quit dancing and took to acting, John Travolta still registers in my mind, and the mind of many, as *the yardstick for good dance and being a dance champion*
But we have *the Nigerian John Travolta in Senator Adeleke* today. The man can dance🤣.
*Many people are trying to learn his dance steps including our dear Pastor Vice President of Nigeria*🤣
But someone is not impressed with our VP trying to learn dancing at his age today and considering the *economic quagmire* Nigeria is facing today - *Peter Obi* is simply not impressed!
They threw *banters* at each other *VP to VP*😊
It's midweek and month end!. If you haven't made money this month, "e don late be that". And except you begin to think of how to *sell bangers* this Christmas, "10k, you fit no see again". Christmas is here but Abuja is under lock down for politics, apart from the daily anxieties we face from the *rofo-rofo between the Shites and the Nigerian Army*. The daily anxiety level and *security alerts issued* can only be paralleled in *a Banana Republic*.
Enjoy the rest of the week.
I remain Sam
CC: *Take Nigeria’s Sorry State More Seriously, Obi Tells Osinbajo*
THISDAYLive
October 30, 2018
By Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
*The Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, yesterday advised Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government to reflect on how to arrest the country’s worsening state of affairs rather than spending their time in learning how to dance “Shaku Shaku,” a popular dance-steps among Nigerian youths.*
The PDP presidential running mate was reacting to the *vice president’s mocking of PDP, who said he was going to learn how to dance the popular “Shaku Shaku dance” if that was all it would take to garner votes.*
Speaking at a book launch last Sunday, *Osinbajo said, “I can never forget my dear friend in one of the states, who just danced his way through the campaigns; all he did was dance; he did nothing else but dance and he won 250,000 votes.”*🤣
However, Obi described such side jabs from the Osinbajo as unnecessary, especially at a time when Nigerians were looking forward to a debate on issues that would improve their lot.
Obi, who was returning from a trip to Dubai, told journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport yesterday, that the Atiku Team would rather spend their time with the best minds on how to start creating jobs and putting food on people’s table than engage in “Shaku Shaku dance.”
When asked to react to the vice president’s comment, the former governor said, “For the Atiku team, it is about spending our time with the best minds on how to start creating jobs and putting food on people’s table and not learning how to dance “Shaku Shaku.”
According to *Peter Obi,* “I have not had the opportunity of reading his comments as I haven’t seen the dailies. *I know Vice President Osinbajo is a gentleman* and may not have made such a comment. However, while I am not against people dancing or learning how to dance *‘Shaku Shaku,’* as I believe it *is one of those things that is keeping our people going on in this very difficult times,* I believe that the crossroads that we have found ourselves in as a nation requires sober reflection.
*“For me in particular, this period calls for sober reflection, not dancing or learning how to dance as there are many challenges facing our nation at the moment.* Not the least being recently having our country named the world headquarters of extreme poverty with over 87 million people.
Worse still millions more are losing their jobs, with four million by the third quarter of this year alone.
“Millions of Nigerians go to bed hungry not knowing where the meal for the next day will come from; hundreds of thousands risk death by crossing the Sahara and the Mediterranean Sea to wherever they can make a living.
“These and other challenges are indicative of the dire straits facing us as a nation today. And these are what we on the Atiku team are spending our time with the best minds on how to start creating jobs and putting food on people’s table. We must get Nigeria to start working again for the good of everyone.” *End*
These are *jabs, big man to big man*. "No put mouth oh😊
Wednesday, 31 October 2018
Wednesday, 17 October 2018
*Meet, Respect Lebanon*
We have a Lebanese community here in Nigeria. Don't bank on this, but I think they're even more in Ibadan than what you see in Lagos. Kano is not doing badly.
I have personally had a lot of dealings with the Lebanese community and can write a book on them.
What is most important to them is *trust* rather than *how much* like my Indian friends🤣.
You will find this strange!
There are more Lebanese outside Lebanon than in Lebanon. They're a people on the move due to both economics, and I believe, history of religious conflicts back in those days.
Unlike in Nigeria we can't really trace our collective history beyond say 200 years ago, Lebanese history is more than 7,000 years.
*A typical Lebanese can buy a typical Nigerian 5 times over and keep change*🤣
"No be for mouth". Check out their GDP per capita.
Guess what?
They have better schools and better hospitals in Lebanon as reflected in their *human capital index*. Unknown to Nigerians, as people line up to India on medical tourism, *few but well informed Nigerians actually head to Lebanon noiselessly*
*Meet Lebanon*
Officially known as the Lebanese Republic is a country in Western Asia. *It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus is west across the Mediterranean Sea.* Lebanon's location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland facilitated its rich history and shaped a cultural identity of religious and ethnic diversity. At just 10,452 km2 (4,036 sq. mi.), it is the smallest recognized sovereign state on the mainland Asian continent.
*The earliest evidence of civilization in Lebanon dates back more than seven thousand years, predating recorded history.* Lebanon was the home of the Canaanites/Phoenicians and their kingdoms, a maritime culture that flourished for over a thousand years (c. 1550–539 BC). *In 64 BC, the region came under the rule of the Roman Empire, and eventually became one of the Empire's leading centers of Christianity.* In the Mount Lebanon range a monastic tradition known as the Maronite Church was established. *As the Arab Muslims conquered the region, the Maronites held onto their religion and identity. However, a new religious group, the Druze, established themselves in Mount Lebanon as well, generating a religious divide that has lasted for centuries.* During the Crusades, the Maronites re-established contact with the Roman Catholic Church and asserted their communion with Rome. The ties they established with the Latins have influenced the region into the modern era.
The region eventually was ruled by the Ottoman Empire from 1516 to 1918. Following the collapse of the empire after World War I, the five provinces that constitute modern Lebanon came under the French Mandate of Lebanon. The French expanded the borders of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, which was mostly populated by Maronites and Druze, to include more Muslims. *Lebanon gained independence in 1943, establishing confessionalism, a unique, Consociationalism-type of political system with a power-sharing mechanism based on religious communities.* Foreign troops withdrew completely from Lebanon on 31 December 1946. Lebanon has been a member of the United Nations since its founding in 1945 as well as of the Arab League (1945), the Non-Aligned Movement (1961), Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (1969) and the Organisation internationale de la francophonie (1973).
Despite its small size, the country has developed a well-known culture and has been highly influential in the Arab world, powered by *its large diaspora.* Before the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990), the country experienced a period of relative calm and renowned prosperity, driven by tourism, agriculture, commerce, and banking. Because of its financial power and diversity in its heyday, *Lebanon was referred to as the "Switzerland of the East" during the 1960s, and its capital, Beirut, attracted so many tourists that it was known as "the Paris of the Middle East".* At the end of the war, there were extensive efforts to revive the economy and rebuild national infrastructure. *In spite of these troubles, Lebanon has the highest Human Development Index and GDP per capita in the Arab world, with the exception of the oil-rich economies of the Persian Gulf.*
Population and migration:
The *Lebanese diaspora* consists of approximately 8.6- 14 million, both Lebanese-born living abroad and those born-abroad of Lebanese descent. *The majority of the Lebanese in the diaspora are Christians, disproportionately so in the Americas where the vast majority reside. An estimate figure show that they represent about 75% of the Lebanese in total. Lebanese abroad are considered "rich, educated and influential and over the course of time immigration has yielded Lebanese "commercial networks" throughout the world.*
*Notes:*
*Lebanese Christians of all denominations constitute the majority of all Lebanese worldwide, but represent only a large minority within Lebanon.
*Lebanese Muslims of all denominations represent a majority within Lebanon, but add up to only a large minority of all Lebanese worldwide.
*Shias and Sunnis account for 54% of Lebanon's population together, even split in half (27%).
*In Lebanon, the Druze quasi-Muslim sect is officially categorized as a Muslim denomination by the Lebanese government.
*Economy*
GDP Per capita PPP
$19,128[4] (66th)
GDP Per capita Nominal
$11,615[4] (71st) *Wikipedia*
*As a banker then, a bank or two where I worked enjoyed Letters of credit confirmation lines from Lebanese Banks, at a time when I did not know of any Nigerian Bank that had such for even the poorest African countries. That's economic sophistication*
Surprised?
I remain Sam
CC: *See how the Bible supports Wikipedia on Lebanon as a beauty to behold in those days*
*Isaiah 29:17 ESV*
Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?
*Psalm 104:16 ESV*
The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
*Hosea 14:5-7 ESV*
I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
*Psalm 92:12 ESV*
The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
*Jeremiah 18:14 ESV*
Does the snow of Lebanon leave the crags of Sirion? Do the mountain waters run dry, the cold flowing streams?
*Isaiah 2:13 ESV*
Against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan;
*2 Kings 19:23 ESV*
By your messengers you have mocked the Lord, and you have said, ‘With my many chariots I have gone up the heights of the mountains, to the far recesses of Lebanon; I felled its tallest cedars, its choicest cypresses; I entered its farthest lodging place, its most fruitful forest.
*Jeremiah 22:6 ESV*
For thus says the Lord concerning the house of the king of Judah: “‘You are like Gilead to me, like the summit of Lebanon, yet surely I will make you a desert, an uninhabited city.
*Isaiah 14:8 ESV*
The cypresses rejoice at you, the cedars of Lebanon, saying, ‘Since you were laid low, no woodcutter comes up against us.’
*Judges 9:15 ESV*
And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’
*Song of Solomon 4:15 ESV*
A garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon.
*Song of Solomon 5:15 ESV*
His legs are alabaster columns, set on bases of gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars.
*2 Chronicles 2:8 ESV*
Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. And my servants will be with your servants,
*Ezekiel 27:5 ESV*
They made all your planks of fir trees from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
*Isaiah 60:13 ESV*
The *glory of Lebanon* shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
*Isaiah 35:2 ESV*
It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. *The glory of Lebanon* shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.
*Psalm 72:16 ESV*
May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field!
*Nahum 1:4 ESV*
He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither; *the bloom of Lebanon* withers.
*2 Chronicles 2:16 ESV*
And we will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you in rafts by sea to Joppa, so that you may take it up to Jerusalem.”
*1 Kings 7:2 ESV*
He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was a hundred cubits and its breadth fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits, and it was built on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars.
*Ezekiel 17:3 ESV*
Say, Thus says the Lord God: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.
*Song of Solomon 4:8 ESV*
Come with me from Lebanon, my bride; come with me from Lebanon. Depart from the peak of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of lions, from the mountains of leopards.
*Ezra 3:7 ESV*
So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.
*2 Chronicles 9:20 ESV*
All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. Silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon.
*1 Kings 9:19 ESV*
And all the store cities that Solomon had, and the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
*Song of Solomon 7:4 ESV*
Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose is *like a tower of Lebanon*, which looks toward Damascus.
*Song of Solomon 4:11 ESV*
Your lips drip nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the fragrance of your garments is like *the fragrance of Lebanon.*
*Deuteronomy 3:25 ESV*
Please let me go over and see the *good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.’*
*1 Kings 10:21 ESV*
All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver; silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon.
*Isaiah 35:1-10 ESV*
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. *The glory of Lebanon* shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; ...
*2 Chronicles 9:16 ESV*
And he made 300 shields of beaten gold; 300 shekels of gold went into each shield; and the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.
*1 Kings 10:17 ESV*
And he made 300 shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went into each shield. And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.
*1 Kings 7:2-5 ESV*
He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was a hundred cubits and its breadth fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits, and it was built on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. And it was covered with cedar above the chambers that were on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row. There were window frames in three rows, and window opposite window in three tiers. All the doorways and windows had square frames, and window was opposite window in three tiers.
*1 Kings 7:1-51 ESV*
Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house. He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was a hundred cubits and its breadth fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits, and it was built on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. And it was covered with cedar above the chambers that were on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row. There were window frames in three rows, and window opposite window in three tiers. All the doorways and windows had square frames, and window was opposite window in three tiers. ...
*1 Kings 5:14 ESV*
And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts. They would be a month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the draft.
*1 Kings 5:9 ESV*
My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon, and I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct. And I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive it. And you shall meet my wishes by providing food for my household.”
*1 Kings 5:6 ESV*
Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. And my servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants such wages as you set, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
*1 Kings 4:33 ESV*
He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish.
*Hosea 14:7 ESV*
They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like *the wine of Lebanon.*
*Hosea 14:6 ESV*
His shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and *his fragrance like Lebanon.*
*Song of Solomon 3:9 ESV*
King Solomon made himself a carriage from the wood of Lebanon.
*Evidently, every good thing came from and was happening in Lebanon in those days*
I have personally had a lot of dealings with the Lebanese community and can write a book on them.
What is most important to them is *trust* rather than *how much* like my Indian friends🤣.
You will find this strange!
There are more Lebanese outside Lebanon than in Lebanon. They're a people on the move due to both economics, and I believe, history of religious conflicts back in those days.
Unlike in Nigeria we can't really trace our collective history beyond say 200 years ago, Lebanese history is more than 7,000 years.
*A typical Lebanese can buy a typical Nigerian 5 times over and keep change*🤣
"No be for mouth". Check out their GDP per capita.
Guess what?
They have better schools and better hospitals in Lebanon as reflected in their *human capital index*. Unknown to Nigerians, as people line up to India on medical tourism, *few but well informed Nigerians actually head to Lebanon noiselessly*
*Meet Lebanon*
Officially known as the Lebanese Republic is a country in Western Asia. *It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus is west across the Mediterranean Sea.* Lebanon's location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland facilitated its rich history and shaped a cultural identity of religious and ethnic diversity. At just 10,452 km2 (4,036 sq. mi.), it is the smallest recognized sovereign state on the mainland Asian continent.
*The earliest evidence of civilization in Lebanon dates back more than seven thousand years, predating recorded history.* Lebanon was the home of the Canaanites/Phoenicians and their kingdoms, a maritime culture that flourished for over a thousand years (c. 1550–539 BC). *In 64 BC, the region came under the rule of the Roman Empire, and eventually became one of the Empire's leading centers of Christianity.* In the Mount Lebanon range a monastic tradition known as the Maronite Church was established. *As the Arab Muslims conquered the region, the Maronites held onto their religion and identity. However, a new religious group, the Druze, established themselves in Mount Lebanon as well, generating a religious divide that has lasted for centuries.* During the Crusades, the Maronites re-established contact with the Roman Catholic Church and asserted their communion with Rome. The ties they established with the Latins have influenced the region into the modern era.
The region eventually was ruled by the Ottoman Empire from 1516 to 1918. Following the collapse of the empire after World War I, the five provinces that constitute modern Lebanon came under the French Mandate of Lebanon. The French expanded the borders of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, which was mostly populated by Maronites and Druze, to include more Muslims. *Lebanon gained independence in 1943, establishing confessionalism, a unique, Consociationalism-type of political system with a power-sharing mechanism based on religious communities.* Foreign troops withdrew completely from Lebanon on 31 December 1946. Lebanon has been a member of the United Nations since its founding in 1945 as well as of the Arab League (1945), the Non-Aligned Movement (1961), Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (1969) and the Organisation internationale de la francophonie (1973).
Despite its small size, the country has developed a well-known culture and has been highly influential in the Arab world, powered by *its large diaspora.* Before the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990), the country experienced a period of relative calm and renowned prosperity, driven by tourism, agriculture, commerce, and banking. Because of its financial power and diversity in its heyday, *Lebanon was referred to as the "Switzerland of the East" during the 1960s, and its capital, Beirut, attracted so many tourists that it was known as "the Paris of the Middle East".* At the end of the war, there were extensive efforts to revive the economy and rebuild national infrastructure. *In spite of these troubles, Lebanon has the highest Human Development Index and GDP per capita in the Arab world, with the exception of the oil-rich economies of the Persian Gulf.*
Population and migration:
The *Lebanese diaspora* consists of approximately 8.6- 14 million, both Lebanese-born living abroad and those born-abroad of Lebanese descent. *The majority of the Lebanese in the diaspora are Christians, disproportionately so in the Americas where the vast majority reside. An estimate figure show that they represent about 75% of the Lebanese in total. Lebanese abroad are considered "rich, educated and influential and over the course of time immigration has yielded Lebanese "commercial networks" throughout the world.*
*Notes:*
*Lebanese Christians of all denominations constitute the majority of all Lebanese worldwide, but represent only a large minority within Lebanon.
*Lebanese Muslims of all denominations represent a majority within Lebanon, but add up to only a large minority of all Lebanese worldwide.
*Shias and Sunnis account for 54% of Lebanon's population together, even split in half (27%).
*In Lebanon, the Druze quasi-Muslim sect is officially categorized as a Muslim denomination by the Lebanese government.
*Economy*
GDP Per capita PPP
$19,128[4] (66th)
GDP Per capita Nominal
$11,615[4] (71st) *Wikipedia*
*As a banker then, a bank or two where I worked enjoyed Letters of credit confirmation lines from Lebanese Banks, at a time when I did not know of any Nigerian Bank that had such for even the poorest African countries. That's economic sophistication*
Surprised?
I remain Sam
CC: *See how the Bible supports Wikipedia on Lebanon as a beauty to behold in those days*
*Isaiah 29:17 ESV*
Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?
*Psalm 104:16 ESV*
The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
*Hosea 14:5-7 ESV*
I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
*Psalm 92:12 ESV*
The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
*Jeremiah 18:14 ESV*
Does the snow of Lebanon leave the crags of Sirion? Do the mountain waters run dry, the cold flowing streams?
*Isaiah 2:13 ESV*
Against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan;
*2 Kings 19:23 ESV*
By your messengers you have mocked the Lord, and you have said, ‘With my many chariots I have gone up the heights of the mountains, to the far recesses of Lebanon; I felled its tallest cedars, its choicest cypresses; I entered its farthest lodging place, its most fruitful forest.
*Jeremiah 22:6 ESV*
For thus says the Lord concerning the house of the king of Judah: “‘You are like Gilead to me, like the summit of Lebanon, yet surely I will make you a desert, an uninhabited city.
*Isaiah 14:8 ESV*
The cypresses rejoice at you, the cedars of Lebanon, saying, ‘Since you were laid low, no woodcutter comes up against us.’
*Judges 9:15 ESV*
And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’
*Song of Solomon 4:15 ESV*
A garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon.
*Song of Solomon 5:15 ESV*
His legs are alabaster columns, set on bases of gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars.
*2 Chronicles 2:8 ESV*
Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. And my servants will be with your servants,
*Ezekiel 27:5 ESV*
They made all your planks of fir trees from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
*Isaiah 60:13 ESV*
The *glory of Lebanon* shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
*Isaiah 35:2 ESV*
It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. *The glory of Lebanon* shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.
*Psalm 72:16 ESV*
May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field!
*Nahum 1:4 ESV*
He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither; *the bloom of Lebanon* withers.
*2 Chronicles 2:16 ESV*
And we will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you in rafts by sea to Joppa, so that you may take it up to Jerusalem.”
*1 Kings 7:2 ESV*
He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was a hundred cubits and its breadth fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits, and it was built on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars.
*Ezekiel 17:3 ESV*
Say, Thus says the Lord God: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.
*Song of Solomon 4:8 ESV*
Come with me from Lebanon, my bride; come with me from Lebanon. Depart from the peak of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of lions, from the mountains of leopards.
*Ezra 3:7 ESV*
So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.
*2 Chronicles 9:20 ESV*
All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. Silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon.
*1 Kings 9:19 ESV*
And all the store cities that Solomon had, and the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
*Song of Solomon 7:4 ESV*
Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose is *like a tower of Lebanon*, which looks toward Damascus.
*Song of Solomon 4:11 ESV*
Your lips drip nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the fragrance of your garments is like *the fragrance of Lebanon.*
*Deuteronomy 3:25 ESV*
Please let me go over and see the *good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.’*
*1 Kings 10:21 ESV*
All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver; silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon.
*Isaiah 35:1-10 ESV*
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. *The glory of Lebanon* shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; ...
*2 Chronicles 9:16 ESV*
And he made 300 shields of beaten gold; 300 shekels of gold went into each shield; and the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.
*1 Kings 10:17 ESV*
And he made 300 shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went into each shield. And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.
*1 Kings 7:2-5 ESV*
He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was a hundred cubits and its breadth fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits, and it was built on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. And it was covered with cedar above the chambers that were on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row. There were window frames in three rows, and window opposite window in three tiers. All the doorways and windows had square frames, and window was opposite window in three tiers.
*1 Kings 7:1-51 ESV*
Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house. He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was a hundred cubits and its breadth fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits, and it was built on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. And it was covered with cedar above the chambers that were on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row. There were window frames in three rows, and window opposite window in three tiers. All the doorways and windows had square frames, and window was opposite window in three tiers. ...
*1 Kings 5:14 ESV*
And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts. They would be a month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the draft.
*1 Kings 5:9 ESV*
My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon, and I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct. And I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive it. And you shall meet my wishes by providing food for my household.”
*1 Kings 5:6 ESV*
Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. And my servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants such wages as you set, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
*1 Kings 4:33 ESV*
He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish.
*Hosea 14:7 ESV*
They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like *the wine of Lebanon.*
*Hosea 14:6 ESV*
His shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and *his fragrance like Lebanon.*
*Song of Solomon 3:9 ESV*
King Solomon made himself a carriage from the wood of Lebanon.
*Evidently, every good thing came from and was happening in Lebanon in those days*
*Stages in Madness*
Madness doesn't happen overnight. There are stages I observed as a kid back then in Awka:
*The person begins to misyan. The family observes.
*The misyan increases and the family gets really worried. The person may start getting destructive this time. He may also start "commoting cloth".
*The family consults and agrees that things are now getting out of hand.
*Then. *The Ikpo Iga* stage - the person is chained.
*The chains are to hold him down so he wouldn't hit the streets and bring disgrace to the family. At this stage, efforts are made, including consulting the oracles, or handing the person over to local psychiatrist homes. I cannot remember any govt run psychiatrist home around then. It might have existed.
*Then the last stage if not handled well. *The mad person "afuo afvia"(enter market). It was generally believed that it was all over. The person would be mad for life*
We also believed that *igwotagodi onye ala, imannapunwia ntamu* - even when you cure a mad man, you can never cure him from talking to himself. In Geology and Earthquakes, this sounds like *aftershocks*
As we grew up, an average family then, that was progressive, would either have a *Peugeot car (403, 404, 504, 505)* and/or a *VW beetle* (usually for rich wives and young graduates).
The rich homes would typically own a *Mercedes Benz* or a *Volvo* in order of wealth. Someone with a Mercedes was obviously richer than someone with a Volvo or so we thought in our tiny little heads then. You didn't get to have many opportunities, if at all, to enter a Mercedes or Volvo cars. They were for the *nouveau rich*
Mercedes is still very much with us. *Volvo has almost faded out.*
All these *Toyota, Nissan* were later day vehicles. I even remember *Mazda* hit it before Nissan. Remember *Mazda 929?* Ultimate!
*Kadet* was in then. Then *Lada* for teachers doing well🤣
All those *Cherry* and *Daewoo Racer*, very popular later along the line from the mid 80s, came with *IBB* and his *1,001 Finance Houses and Banks* At this stage *VW Santana* was for the upper *Middle Class* and business men and women announcing their arrival. *Toyota Crown* didn't do badly for aspiring rich men or to complement the fleet of the rich. It trailed *Toyota Corolla* which I remember also sighting for the first time around 1974 - 1976. Some of these vehicles are all gone now. Gone with the winds! I think our super sports cars then were *Renault Fuego*, proudly driven by a Governor's niece then in my University, as we begged for meal coupons. Not forgetting *Toyota Celica* or *Honda Prelude* which *Chris Okotie* used to oppress us in the University then as a young musician. Stars are always stars. I recall sighting *Chris Okotie* driving in from *Enugu Campus of UNN* occasionally, to check out his "half caste/mulato) babe, *Tina* who would later be his wife. I recall sighting him dressed like a Star in his Honda Prelude (I think red color then) without a shirt but just a towel hung on his neck🤣
Do we still have any *Subaru* around?
Forget this and forget anything: *Citreon* was the *status symbol* for *Governors/Administrators* and *Commissioners* then in the 70s. When Commissioners were Commissioners and not reporting to SAs and SSAs as they do today.
*uwa nkea leeeee!* - This world sef😊. Change is a constant thing in life.
But Volvo is still powering overseas. Check this out!
*Volvo's safety goal: No deaths by 2020*
*Volvo promises deathproof cars by 2020*
By Peter Valdes-Dapena January 21, 2016
Volvo has made a shocking pledge: *By 2020, no one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car or SUV.*
Seriously.
"If you meet Swedish engineers, they're pretty genuine," said Lex Kerssemakers, CEO of Volvo Cars North America. "They don't say things when they don't believe in it."
*There is one big caveat. If someone really wants to hurt themselves, or is just really, really stupid... well, Volvo can't do anything about that.* But, assuming you're not a suicidal maniac or a total idiot, in four years, you'll be safer driving a new Volvo than you are climbing a ladder to screw in a light bulb.
*Fatality-free vehicles are not unprecedented. In fact, there already are some, and they're not just Volvos.* According to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, *there are nine vehicle models -- including the Volvo XC90 -- in which no one in the United States died in the four years from 2009 to 2012,* the most recent period for which data is available.
*Volvo, still based in Sweden but now owned by China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (GELYY),* wants to make this the case for its entire vehicle line up throughout the world. The automaker already tracks how many people die in its vehicles in order to monitor safety. That way, engineers can tell how much safer their vehicles become each time they roll out a new crash-prevention technology. That also helps Volvo predict how much safer its vehicles will be with each new advancement....... *CNN Business*
Can you see above the new owners of Volvo?
Then sets in the initial madness stages of Volvo!
Stage 1: Volvo is "misyaning" - *We now lack components* The components must be from China.
Stage 2: The family members are worried - *Volvo shares slumped 9% after warning of lack of components: Bloomberg*
Stage 3: has not arrived but may get to *ikpo iga* stage - reduce staff strength, partial production etc.
Then, the final stage will be *to commot cloth enter market* - shut down🤣
We hope it won't get to that.
But would you know what the issues are? Do you think it has anything to do with this China - US trade impasse and wars?
Brace for a major impact!
I remain Sam
*The person begins to misyan. The family observes.
*The misyan increases and the family gets really worried. The person may start getting destructive this time. He may also start "commoting cloth".
*The family consults and agrees that things are now getting out of hand.
*Then. *The Ikpo Iga* stage - the person is chained.
*The chains are to hold him down so he wouldn't hit the streets and bring disgrace to the family. At this stage, efforts are made, including consulting the oracles, or handing the person over to local psychiatrist homes. I cannot remember any govt run psychiatrist home around then. It might have existed.
*Then the last stage if not handled well. *The mad person "afuo afvia"(enter market). It was generally believed that it was all over. The person would be mad for life*
We also believed that *igwotagodi onye ala, imannapunwia ntamu* - even when you cure a mad man, you can never cure him from talking to himself. In Geology and Earthquakes, this sounds like *aftershocks*
As we grew up, an average family then, that was progressive, would either have a *Peugeot car (403, 404, 504, 505)* and/or a *VW beetle* (usually for rich wives and young graduates).
The rich homes would typically own a *Mercedes Benz* or a *Volvo* in order of wealth. Someone with a Mercedes was obviously richer than someone with a Volvo or so we thought in our tiny little heads then. You didn't get to have many opportunities, if at all, to enter a Mercedes or Volvo cars. They were for the *nouveau rich*
Mercedes is still very much with us. *Volvo has almost faded out.*
All these *Toyota, Nissan* were later day vehicles. I even remember *Mazda* hit it before Nissan. Remember *Mazda 929?* Ultimate!
*Kadet* was in then. Then *Lada* for teachers doing well🤣
All those *Cherry* and *Daewoo Racer*, very popular later along the line from the mid 80s, came with *IBB* and his *1,001 Finance Houses and Banks* At this stage *VW Santana* was for the upper *Middle Class* and business men and women announcing their arrival. *Toyota Crown* didn't do badly for aspiring rich men or to complement the fleet of the rich. It trailed *Toyota Corolla* which I remember also sighting for the first time around 1974 - 1976. Some of these vehicles are all gone now. Gone with the winds! I think our super sports cars then were *Renault Fuego*, proudly driven by a Governor's niece then in my University, as we begged for meal coupons. Not forgetting *Toyota Celica* or *Honda Prelude* which *Chris Okotie* used to oppress us in the University then as a young musician. Stars are always stars. I recall sighting *Chris Okotie* driving in from *Enugu Campus of UNN* occasionally, to check out his "half caste/mulato) babe, *Tina* who would later be his wife. I recall sighting him dressed like a Star in his Honda Prelude (I think red color then) without a shirt but just a towel hung on his neck🤣
Do we still have any *Subaru* around?
Forget this and forget anything: *Citreon* was the *status symbol* for *Governors/Administrators* and *Commissioners* then in the 70s. When Commissioners were Commissioners and not reporting to SAs and SSAs as they do today.
*uwa nkea leeeee!* - This world sef😊. Change is a constant thing in life.
But Volvo is still powering overseas. Check this out!
*Volvo's safety goal: No deaths by 2020*
*Volvo promises deathproof cars by 2020*
By Peter Valdes-Dapena January 21, 2016
Volvo has made a shocking pledge: *By 2020, no one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car or SUV.*
Seriously.
"If you meet Swedish engineers, they're pretty genuine," said Lex Kerssemakers, CEO of Volvo Cars North America. "They don't say things when they don't believe in it."
*There is one big caveat. If someone really wants to hurt themselves, or is just really, really stupid... well, Volvo can't do anything about that.* But, assuming you're not a suicidal maniac or a total idiot, in four years, you'll be safer driving a new Volvo than you are climbing a ladder to screw in a light bulb.
*Fatality-free vehicles are not unprecedented. In fact, there already are some, and they're not just Volvos.* According to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, *there are nine vehicle models -- including the Volvo XC90 -- in which no one in the United States died in the four years from 2009 to 2012,* the most recent period for which data is available.
*Volvo, still based in Sweden but now owned by China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (GELYY),* wants to make this the case for its entire vehicle line up throughout the world. The automaker already tracks how many people die in its vehicles in order to monitor safety. That way, engineers can tell how much safer their vehicles become each time they roll out a new crash-prevention technology. That also helps Volvo predict how much safer its vehicles will be with each new advancement....... *CNN Business*
Can you see above the new owners of Volvo?
Then sets in the initial madness stages of Volvo!
Stage 1: Volvo is "misyaning" - *We now lack components* The components must be from China.
Stage 2: The family members are worried - *Volvo shares slumped 9% after warning of lack of components: Bloomberg*
Stage 3: has not arrived but may get to *ikpo iga* stage - reduce staff strength, partial production etc.
Then, the final stage will be *to commot cloth enter market* - shut down🤣
We hope it won't get to that.
But would you know what the issues are? Do you think it has anything to do with this China - US trade impasse and wars?
Brace for a major impact!
I remain Sam
Tuesday, 9 October 2018
Which Way Nigeria
Which kin wahala be this now?
Everywhere I try to check out to, problem😕
*US - blocked by Trump
*Canada - overbooked
*UK - let them even allow our students after paying millions in school fees
*India - caste system
*China - scarcity of babes🤣 plus I no wan disappear like that Interpol Chief
*Malaysia/Indonesia - they can accuse me of drug peddling and waste man for nothing
Don't even think of:
*South Africa - are you the only man in Jerusalem who has not heard of Xenophobia?
*Even Ghana here - Nigeria must go!
I settled for Brazil. Look at what they just sent to me - that they will soon have another Trump😕
*Which way Nigeria?*
"which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my father land
o yeah
i want to know
yes i want to know
i love my fatherland
which way Nigeria is heading to
which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my fatherland
which way to go
i want to know
which way Nigeria is heading to
*many years after* *independence*
*we still find it hard to start*
*how long shall we be patient till we reach the promise land*
*lets save Nigeria*
*so Nigeria wont die*
which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my fatherland
i want to know
which way Nigeria is heading to
*every little thing that goes wrong*
*we start to blame the government*
*we know everything that goes wrong*
*we are part of the government*
lets save Nigeria
so Nigeria wont die
which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my fatherland
i want to know
which way Nigeria
which way Nigeria is heading to
*inefficiency and indiscipline*
*is ruining the country now*
*corruption here there and every where*
*inflation is very high*
lets save Nigeria
so Nigeria wont die
which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my fatherland
o sure sure
i want to know
yes i want to know
*we made mistakes in the oil boom*
*not knowing that was our doom*
*some people now have everything*
*while some have nothing*
lets save Nigeria so Nigeria wont fall
which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my fatherland
which way Nigeria is heading to
Green revolution is a reality
lets give it a chance to grow
*lets join our hands together to farm the land so we can have enough food to chew*
lets save Nigeria
so Nigeria wont die
which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my fatherland
i want to know
which way Nigeria heading to
*our ambition to become millionaires is ruining the country down*
*we all want to be millionaires* we want to leave in the earth
lets save Nigeria
so Nigeria wont die
which way Nigeria
i love my fatherland
i want to know
which way Nigeria is heading to
*remember that a single step is the beginning of a million mile*
lets start right now to
rebuild ourselves to make the country smile
lets save Nigeria so Nigeria wont die
which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my fatherland
i want to know
which way Nigeria is heading to
*heaven and earth will pass away*
*it is written in the book of God*
*the good people will surely find their way*
*and the meek will inherit the world*
lets save Nigeria so Nigeria wont fall
which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my fatherland
which way Nigeria is heading to
which way Nigeria
which way to go i love my fatherland
i want to know
yes i want to know
which Nigeria is heading to
lets save Nigeria
which way Nigeria is heading to
one more time which way Nigeria is heading to
AMEN - *Sunny Okosun*
I remain Sam
CC: https://www.ft.com/content/86a29826-cad1-11e8-9fe5-24ad351828ab
Jair Bolsonaro and the return of strongman rule
Brazil threatens to become part of a global political turn away from liberalism
Gideon Rachman
The rise of Jair Bolsonaro is not just a Brazilian soap opera. It is an event of global significance, the latest chapter in an unfolding story about the destruction of liberal norms and the rise of populism. The first round of the Brazilian presidential election has left Mr Bolsonaro, a far-right populist, poised to win the presidency later this month. If he completes his victory on October 28, Mr Bolsonaro will be the latest addition to a global club of strongman leaders that includes Vladimir Putin in Russia, Xi Jinping in China, Narendra Modi in India, Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey, Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines, Viktor Orban in Hungary, and, of course, Donald Trump in the US. This group spans democracies and autocracies — west and east — but it is loosely united by a highly personalised style of government that combines nationalism with a leadership cult, and a disdain for liberal norms, such as a critical press and independent courts.The addition of Brazil to the group of countries that is led by strongman leaders would matter a lot. This is the fifth most populous country in the world, and the largest in Latin America. It was, until recently, seen as a model of a nation that had successfully embraced globalisation and democracy, and left the dark days of authoritarianism behind it. But a savage recession, a series of corruption scandals and disillusionment with the leftwing Workers’ party has discredited Brazil’s mainstream politicians. Until the late 1980s, Latin America was the home of the strongman leader. In 1978, there were just three democracies on the whole of the continent. The political landscape was pockmarked with military juntas and dictators-in-uniform, such as Chile’s Augusto Pinochet or Argentina’s Jorge Videla.
But by the end of the 1980s, democracy had triumphed across most of the continent. The transition to democracy in Brazil in 1985 — which ended more than 20 years of military rule — was a particularly significant moment because of the country’s size and role as a regional leader. However, just as Brazil played a significant role in a decades-long cycle of international history — which saw the expansion of political and economic freedom around the world — now it threatens once again to be part of a global political trend. But this time, the movement is away from liberalism and towards strongman leadership.Of course, it is important to underline that if Mr Bolsonaro wins, he will have come to power through a democratic election, not via a military coup. But Mr Bolsonaro, a former army captain, has actually invited the comparison with the Latin American autocrats of the past by repeatedly praising the record of Brazil’s military rulers from 1964 to 1985, who he argues saved the country from communism and provided rapid economic growth and law-and-order.
When former president Dilma Rousseff was impeached by Brazil’s Congress, Mr Bolsonaro dedicated his pro-impeachment vote to Colonel Brilhante Ustra, a man who once led a notorious torture squad. His running mate, a retired general, has suggested that military intervention might be the only way of purging the country of corruption.Mr Bolsonaro was once an advocate of state control of the economy, but is now arguing for privatisation and tax cuts. As a result, markets have been rising alongside his political fortunes. Some sympathisers say his more outrageous remarks are simply designed to gain attention and to dramatise an issue. They are comments that are (as was once said of Mr Trump), “meant to be taken seriously, but not literally”.But the US has strong institutions and centuries of democracy that act as a constraint on a strongman leader. Brazil’s democratic traditions and institutions are weaker. The election of Mr Bolsonaro would not mean the end of Brazilian democracy. But it probably would usher in an era in which the country’s president displayed a contempt for the norms of a free society, such as the rule-of-law, independent courts and a free press.Mr Bolsonaro has promised to let the Brazilian police off the leash in tackling the scourge of violent crime. By one measure, seven of the 20 most violent cities in the world are in Brazil and there were over 60,000 homicides last year. The near-fatal stabbing of Mr Bolsonaro during the latter stages of the election campaign has dramatised the threat of violent crime — and, understandably, increased sympathy for the candidate.In his emphasis on crime and his fondness for the years of military rule, Mr Bolsonaro is reminiscent of Mr Duterte, who rode to power in the Philippines in 2016 on the back of popular despair about crime and corruption. Since coming to office, Mr Duterte has unleashed police death squads against suspected criminals. He has also ordered the arrest of political opponents. The Philippines and Brazil made their transitions to democracy in the same era. Ferdinand Marcos fell to the “people power” revolution in the Philippines in 1986, a year after José Sarney became Brazil’s first civilian president since the 1960s.Thirty years ago, both countries were part of a hopeful global trend that lasted for decades. Now the fear must be that we are entering a new and darker phase of world history, and that once again Brazil epitomises the trend.
Everywhere I try to check out to, problem😕
*US - blocked by Trump
*Canada - overbooked
*UK - let them even allow our students after paying millions in school fees
*India - caste system
*China - scarcity of babes🤣 plus I no wan disappear like that Interpol Chief
*Malaysia/Indonesia - they can accuse me of drug peddling and waste man for nothing
Don't even think of:
*South Africa - are you the only man in Jerusalem who has not heard of Xenophobia?
*Even Ghana here - Nigeria must go!
I settled for Brazil. Look at what they just sent to me - that they will soon have another Trump😕
*Which way Nigeria?*
"which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my father land
o yeah
i want to know
yes i want to know
i love my fatherland
which way Nigeria is heading to
which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my fatherland
which way to go
i want to know
which way Nigeria is heading to
*many years after* *independence*
*we still find it hard to start*
*how long shall we be patient till we reach the promise land*
*lets save Nigeria*
*so Nigeria wont die*
which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my fatherland
i want to know
which way Nigeria is heading to
*every little thing that goes wrong*
*we start to blame the government*
*we know everything that goes wrong*
*we are part of the government*
lets save Nigeria
so Nigeria wont die
which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my fatherland
i want to know
which way Nigeria
which way Nigeria is heading to
*inefficiency and indiscipline*
*is ruining the country now*
*corruption here there and every where*
*inflation is very high*
lets save Nigeria
so Nigeria wont die
which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my fatherland
o sure sure
i want to know
yes i want to know
*we made mistakes in the oil boom*
*not knowing that was our doom*
*some people now have everything*
*while some have nothing*
lets save Nigeria so Nigeria wont fall
which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my fatherland
which way Nigeria is heading to
Green revolution is a reality
lets give it a chance to grow
*lets join our hands together to farm the land so we can have enough food to chew*
lets save Nigeria
so Nigeria wont die
which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my fatherland
i want to know
which way Nigeria heading to
*our ambition to become millionaires is ruining the country down*
*we all want to be millionaires* we want to leave in the earth
lets save Nigeria
so Nigeria wont die
which way Nigeria
i love my fatherland
i want to know
which way Nigeria is heading to
*remember that a single step is the beginning of a million mile*
lets start right now to
rebuild ourselves to make the country smile
lets save Nigeria so Nigeria wont die
which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my fatherland
i want to know
which way Nigeria is heading to
*heaven and earth will pass away*
*it is written in the book of God*
*the good people will surely find their way*
*and the meek will inherit the world*
lets save Nigeria so Nigeria wont fall
which way Nigeria
which way to go
i love my fatherland
which way Nigeria is heading to
which way Nigeria
which way to go i love my fatherland
i want to know
yes i want to know
which Nigeria is heading to
lets save Nigeria
which way Nigeria is heading to
one more time which way Nigeria is heading to
AMEN - *Sunny Okosun*
I remain Sam
CC: https://www.ft.com/content/86a29826-cad1-11e8-9fe5-24ad351828ab
Jair Bolsonaro and the return of strongman rule
Brazil threatens to become part of a global political turn away from liberalism
Gideon Rachman
The rise of Jair Bolsonaro is not just a Brazilian soap opera. It is an event of global significance, the latest chapter in an unfolding story about the destruction of liberal norms and the rise of populism. The first round of the Brazilian presidential election has left Mr Bolsonaro, a far-right populist, poised to win the presidency later this month. If he completes his victory on October 28, Mr Bolsonaro will be the latest addition to a global club of strongman leaders that includes Vladimir Putin in Russia, Xi Jinping in China, Narendra Modi in India, Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey, Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines, Viktor Orban in Hungary, and, of course, Donald Trump in the US. This group spans democracies and autocracies — west and east — but it is loosely united by a highly personalised style of government that combines nationalism with a leadership cult, and a disdain for liberal norms, such as a critical press and independent courts.The addition of Brazil to the group of countries that is led by strongman leaders would matter a lot. This is the fifth most populous country in the world, and the largest in Latin America. It was, until recently, seen as a model of a nation that had successfully embraced globalisation and democracy, and left the dark days of authoritarianism behind it. But a savage recession, a series of corruption scandals and disillusionment with the leftwing Workers’ party has discredited Brazil’s mainstream politicians. Until the late 1980s, Latin America was the home of the strongman leader. In 1978, there were just three democracies on the whole of the continent. The political landscape was pockmarked with military juntas and dictators-in-uniform, such as Chile’s Augusto Pinochet or Argentina’s Jorge Videla.
But by the end of the 1980s, democracy had triumphed across most of the continent. The transition to democracy in Brazil in 1985 — which ended more than 20 years of military rule — was a particularly significant moment because of the country’s size and role as a regional leader. However, just as Brazil played a significant role in a decades-long cycle of international history — which saw the expansion of political and economic freedom around the world — now it threatens once again to be part of a global political trend. But this time, the movement is away from liberalism and towards strongman leadership.Of course, it is important to underline that if Mr Bolsonaro wins, he will have come to power through a democratic election, not via a military coup. But Mr Bolsonaro, a former army captain, has actually invited the comparison with the Latin American autocrats of the past by repeatedly praising the record of Brazil’s military rulers from 1964 to 1985, who he argues saved the country from communism and provided rapid economic growth and law-and-order.
When former president Dilma Rousseff was impeached by Brazil’s Congress, Mr Bolsonaro dedicated his pro-impeachment vote to Colonel Brilhante Ustra, a man who once led a notorious torture squad. His running mate, a retired general, has suggested that military intervention might be the only way of purging the country of corruption.Mr Bolsonaro was once an advocate of state control of the economy, but is now arguing for privatisation and tax cuts. As a result, markets have been rising alongside his political fortunes. Some sympathisers say his more outrageous remarks are simply designed to gain attention and to dramatise an issue. They are comments that are (as was once said of Mr Trump), “meant to be taken seriously, but not literally”.But the US has strong institutions and centuries of democracy that act as a constraint on a strongman leader. Brazil’s democratic traditions and institutions are weaker. The election of Mr Bolsonaro would not mean the end of Brazilian democracy. But it probably would usher in an era in which the country’s president displayed a contempt for the norms of a free society, such as the rule-of-law, independent courts and a free press.Mr Bolsonaro has promised to let the Brazilian police off the leash in tackling the scourge of violent crime. By one measure, seven of the 20 most violent cities in the world are in Brazil and there were over 60,000 homicides last year. The near-fatal stabbing of Mr Bolsonaro during the latter stages of the election campaign has dramatised the threat of violent crime — and, understandably, increased sympathy for the candidate.In his emphasis on crime and his fondness for the years of military rule, Mr Bolsonaro is reminiscent of Mr Duterte, who rode to power in the Philippines in 2016 on the back of popular despair about crime and corruption. Since coming to office, Mr Duterte has unleashed police death squads against suspected criminals. He has also ordered the arrest of political opponents. The Philippines and Brazil made their transitions to democracy in the same era. Ferdinand Marcos fell to the “people power” revolution in the Philippines in 1986, a year after José Sarney became Brazil’s first civilian president since the 1960s.Thirty years ago, both countries were part of a hopeful global trend that lasted for decades. Now the fear must be that we are entering a new and darker phase of world history, and that once again Brazil epitomises the trend.
Monday, 8 October 2018
Remembering Abubakar Rimi!
Wikipedia
*Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi (1940 – 4 April 2010) was a Nigerian politician, who was the governor of Kano State during the Nigerian Second Republic. He died following an attack by armed robbers.*
He was the Governor of Kano State back in those days under "fi r fi"(PRP) 😊
Do you recollect that he was Jim Nwobodo's best friend? As a Moslem, I think I remember that Abubakar Rimi, of blessed memory, was Jim Nwobodo's *Best Man* in a church wedding.
That was in those good old days! They're gone now! Gone with the winds! 😕
Who is Jim Nwobodo?
Wikipedia
*James Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo (born May 9, 1940) is a Nigerian businessman and politician who was governor of Anambra State (1979–1983) during the Nigerian Second Republic and was Senator for Enugu East in Enugu State (1999–2003). In 2003, he ran unsuccessfully in the Nigerian Presidential elections.*
Guess what?
History bear me witness! - *Jiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmm!* as he was fondly called then was and remains the most popular Governor Anambra state, old Anambra state, would have, till the present day! Contradict me if you can!!
Forget that Ikemba Nnewi, Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu(Big boy🤣) called Jim Nwobodo(Big dude🤣) a *meglomeniac pimp*. Jim would return fire then and called a whole Ikemba Nnewi *Ogboso 1*
For the benefit of the children, *"an Ogboso"* is somebody that *"runs away (during a fight to fight on another day)"* Emeka Ojukwu led the Biafrans to a civil war (1967 - 1970) against Nigeria.
*"There was a country" - Late Prof Chinua Achebe*
Biafra didn't make it and Emeka Ojukwu went on exile to present day Cote d'Ivoire called Ivory Coast then. So that earned him that name *Ogboso 1*. But it was all politics. They belonged to different political parties and fighting for the soul of the old Anambra state then. Jim was also disappointed that after Ojukwu was granted pardon by the then President of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, returned from exile, he didn't join the mostly Igbo political party that Jim belonged to then. Ojukwu joined a National Party saying *I took the Igbos out of Nigeria, I will take them back to Nigeria*
Fight broke out🤣
If you were in the University between 1980 and 1983 and didn't like Jim and still doesn't like him, I have an advice for you - *Jump into the Lagoon*
He gave us bursary two times during my University days, a feat later day Governors cannot match due to:
*Funds diversion to the unconstitutional office of the First Lady and her numerous SAs and SSAs.
*The Governors learnt a bad thing. They now chop our money unaccounted for and call it Security Votes. Children, children! - are you happy?
*They now inflate contracts more than ever before. Each Governor wants to "naa ezumike nka"(go on retirement) in our Hallowed Senate Chambers. Children children! - is it good?
*Guess what Children? Each Governor now has like 500 Senior Assistants (SAs) and Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) either doing nothing or "usurping" the duties of the Commissioners, apart from being too many.
Children children! What do we say to them?
*Shame on them*
Why did I remember Abubakar Rimi?
He ran into armed robbers and suffered from "obi mmapu"(panic and resultant heart attack and failure". May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen!
Yesterday, I didn't run into armed robbers but almost suffered the same faith of "obi mmapu".
I had gone for evening mass and went somewhere thereafter *"imunye amu n'ikpo amu"* - an Awka way of saying to have a little fun. I had packed my car and was trying to check my whatsapp messages before switching my phone off. I don't like engaging when I'm relaxing. It's a quiet moment for me to think and compose my stories in my head.
Suddenly, all my three doors opened!
A man opened the front door. Another man opened one back door and a girl, that appeared like 15, opened the other back door.
My heart skipped!!!!
"Is this Uber?", one of them asked.
"No!!!!", I responded, my heart beating very fast now.
They apologized. They called an Uber and thought I was the one.
I didn't find it funny! Those guys almost gave me heart attack for nothing.
The reason I preach that over protection is not good. Expose yourself to the streets a little bit more, eat a little bit more of germ-infested food and build your immunity to depression, food poisoning and "obi mmapu".
A brotherly advice.
By the powers I have as an End Time Evangelist, you shall have a beautiful week ahead of you. Push those deals a little harder, there will be progress this week.
Can someone say Amen with his 10% upfront!?🤣
I remain Sam
CC: Uber!
Wikipedia
*Uber Technologies Inc. (doing business as Uber) is a peer-to-peer ridesharing, taxi cab, food delivery, bicycle-sharing, and transportation network company (TNC) headquartered in San Francisco, California, with operations in 785 metropolitan areas worldwide. Its platforms can be accessed via its websites and mobile apps. Uber has been prominent in the sharing economy, so much so that the changes in industries as a result of it have been referred to as Uberisation......Uber has also been the subject of protests and legal actions, including a criminal investigation for its use, until March 2017, of Greyball software to avoid giving rides to regulators. The name "Uber" is a reference to the common (and somewhat colloquial) word uber, meaning "topmost" or "super", and having its origins in the German word über, cognate with over, meaning "above".*
*Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi (1940 – 4 April 2010) was a Nigerian politician, who was the governor of Kano State during the Nigerian Second Republic. He died following an attack by armed robbers.*
He was the Governor of Kano State back in those days under "fi r fi"(PRP) 😊
Do you recollect that he was Jim Nwobodo's best friend? As a Moslem, I think I remember that Abubakar Rimi, of blessed memory, was Jim Nwobodo's *Best Man* in a church wedding.
That was in those good old days! They're gone now! Gone with the winds! 😕
Who is Jim Nwobodo?
Wikipedia
*James Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo (born May 9, 1940) is a Nigerian businessman and politician who was governor of Anambra State (1979–1983) during the Nigerian Second Republic and was Senator for Enugu East in Enugu State (1999–2003). In 2003, he ran unsuccessfully in the Nigerian Presidential elections.*
Guess what?
History bear me witness! - *Jiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmm!* as he was fondly called then was and remains the most popular Governor Anambra state, old Anambra state, would have, till the present day! Contradict me if you can!!
Forget that Ikemba Nnewi, Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu(Big boy🤣) called Jim Nwobodo(Big dude🤣) a *meglomeniac pimp*. Jim would return fire then and called a whole Ikemba Nnewi *Ogboso 1*
For the benefit of the children, *"an Ogboso"* is somebody that *"runs away (during a fight to fight on another day)"* Emeka Ojukwu led the Biafrans to a civil war (1967 - 1970) against Nigeria.
*"There was a country" - Late Prof Chinua Achebe*
Biafra didn't make it and Emeka Ojukwu went on exile to present day Cote d'Ivoire called Ivory Coast then. So that earned him that name *Ogboso 1*. But it was all politics. They belonged to different political parties and fighting for the soul of the old Anambra state then. Jim was also disappointed that after Ojukwu was granted pardon by the then President of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, returned from exile, he didn't join the mostly Igbo political party that Jim belonged to then. Ojukwu joined a National Party saying *I took the Igbos out of Nigeria, I will take them back to Nigeria*
Fight broke out🤣
If you were in the University between 1980 and 1983 and didn't like Jim and still doesn't like him, I have an advice for you - *Jump into the Lagoon*
He gave us bursary two times during my University days, a feat later day Governors cannot match due to:
*Funds diversion to the unconstitutional office of the First Lady and her numerous SAs and SSAs.
*The Governors learnt a bad thing. They now chop our money unaccounted for and call it Security Votes. Children, children! - are you happy?
*They now inflate contracts more than ever before. Each Governor wants to "naa ezumike nka"(go on retirement) in our Hallowed Senate Chambers. Children children! - is it good?
*Guess what Children? Each Governor now has like 500 Senior Assistants (SAs) and Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) either doing nothing or "usurping" the duties of the Commissioners, apart from being too many.
Children children! What do we say to them?
*Shame on them*
Why did I remember Abubakar Rimi?
He ran into armed robbers and suffered from "obi mmapu"(panic and resultant heart attack and failure". May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen!
Yesterday, I didn't run into armed robbers but almost suffered the same faith of "obi mmapu".
I had gone for evening mass and went somewhere thereafter *"imunye amu n'ikpo amu"* - an Awka way of saying to have a little fun. I had packed my car and was trying to check my whatsapp messages before switching my phone off. I don't like engaging when I'm relaxing. It's a quiet moment for me to think and compose my stories in my head.
Suddenly, all my three doors opened!
A man opened the front door. Another man opened one back door and a girl, that appeared like 15, opened the other back door.
My heart skipped!!!!
"Is this Uber?", one of them asked.
"No!!!!", I responded, my heart beating very fast now.
They apologized. They called an Uber and thought I was the one.
I didn't find it funny! Those guys almost gave me heart attack for nothing.
The reason I preach that over protection is not good. Expose yourself to the streets a little bit more, eat a little bit more of germ-infested food and build your immunity to depression, food poisoning and "obi mmapu".
A brotherly advice.
By the powers I have as an End Time Evangelist, you shall have a beautiful week ahead of you. Push those deals a little harder, there will be progress this week.
Can someone say Amen with his 10% upfront!?🤣
I remain Sam
CC: Uber!
Wikipedia
*Uber Technologies Inc. (doing business as Uber) is a peer-to-peer ridesharing, taxi cab, food delivery, bicycle-sharing, and transportation network company (TNC) headquartered in San Francisco, California, with operations in 785 metropolitan areas worldwide. Its platforms can be accessed via its websites and mobile apps. Uber has been prominent in the sharing economy, so much so that the changes in industries as a result of it have been referred to as Uberisation......Uber has also been the subject of protests and legal actions, including a criminal investigation for its use, until March 2017, of Greyball software to avoid giving rides to regulators. The name "Uber" is a reference to the common (and somewhat colloquial) word uber, meaning "topmost" or "super", and having its origins in the German word über, cognate with over, meaning "above".*
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