WHAT IS UP ABOUT THE NEPA???!!!

 Up Super Eagles! Up Manchester United! Up Omotola! Up God!!!... Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the afore-going the right order? I mean, isn't that slang used for champions? (Oh yeah, chalk me right up there with the champions!)... Like when a person or group of people do you proud and you are impressed with their genius? Grumble all you want about the Super Eagles making my list of champions, but I'm sure I need not remind you that they are the reigning champions of Africa... *raises finger*... hold on, hold on, even if they weren't the reigning champions of Africa (yeah, I just had to repeat that *wink*), they'ld still make my list, because from when I was a wee child, the Super Eagles have always been my champions who always win and never loose no matter who they face, even if it's the Samba boys or the Spaniards (Don't even try to think about Sunday's match now!)... (Well, this is not to say I've not had my rude awakening, over the years, I'll just like to hold on to that part of my childhood, thank you. Since I can no longer build sand castles with utter concentration , or play “SUWE” like I'm in a job interview *nostalgic sigh*).

God forbid that I get side-tracked from the holy indignation that birthed this post. Oh yes, I want to know why there's even anything like “Up NEPA!” From where I stand, I don't see anything up about NEPA (if you like, call it PHCN, IJKL, even MNOP, I can't be bothered, NEPA is NEPA, and will always be NEPA, sue me!)... I know this is a Nigerian tradition and is solidly embedded in our culture (that's not as serious as it sounds o. Don't go and give a speech about the “Traditions and Cultures of Nigeria” and go and be sprouting this hulabaloo from your mouth o! Ehn-Ehn)..., and I didn't use to be so averse to this “tradition”, but now, I am righteously miffed. We are continually, until God knows when, faced with an epileptic power supply (great thanks to our governmentsssss)..., and the company to whom has been entrusted the responsibility of the distribution of this “epilepsy” decides to restore power to a street after 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months (oh yeah, I've heard of that alright)...of power outage, and there are uproars of “Up NEPA”! “Up NEPA!” “Yeeeeeeee, NEPA! NEPA!”...Will you just shove it! What is up about the situation??? What is up about having no power for 3 weeks??? What is up about the NEPA??? (I'm mentally screaming now).

Now, I'm not saying there's no cause to be happy that there's light again, I'm just saying there is no cause to champion NEPA for that (of course, I'm mentally calmer now)... The situation of power supply in this country leaves nothing to be desired, is not worth celebrating, and should absolutely, under no circumstance, be celebrated! There is a need for us Nigerians to stop celebrating failure and mediocrity (sounds familiar yeah?)... Even if for now, we aren't doing anything about it (which is absolutely not to say I am satisfied with things this way. Another issue for another day anyway)..., we ought not to champion their cause. Every shout of “Up NEPA” is a declaration of satisfaction and assent to the status of power and every other thing that is failing or has failed in this country.

I'm reminded of a NEPA staff who by his own testimony used to get off on these shouts of “Up NEPA”, and resorted to appeasing his ego and boredom by turning on and off the switch, just to hear the people in the neighborhood of that station shout “Up NEPA”. He would switch it off, plug in his earphones, and immediately walk off to avoid hearing the groans, grunts, and most importantly the curses (hey people, have you noticed that the curses have subsided considerably, almost stopped totally??? Personally, I can't remember the last time I heard anything like that)..., and then come back later, remove his earphones, press the switch to restore power and stay to revel in the hailings!

I'm sure you're thinking that story to be very absurd and unbelievable. But of course, it is absurd and absolutely not true! You smart asses... It was simply a joke... Hey, hold your hisses, I was just trying to create a kind of comic relief in the face of the electricity tragedy and all other tragedies in our country!

Nevertheless, can we just remove the smirks off their faces by showing indifference and stop hailing them: that is, if they like, they should give us light, and if they wish to hold it as well, they can. At least, even the “poor man” has included providing light for himself in his list of necessities, and has adjusted to it. May God continue to help the Citizen's Government, that provides everything for himself, from Education, Food, Water, Shelter, Electricity, right up to Security, through the help of God. Government of the people, for the people, and definitely by the people. Now who says we do not practice true DEMOCRACY! Any Democracy truer than this has gone round the bend.

However, it is of utmost importance to note that, in all my mentions of NEPA, I do not in any way refer to the staff of the POWER HOLDING COMPANY OF NIGERIA, since they are in no way responsible for the generation and maintainance of Power Supply in this country, but simply Distribution. And as they can only work with what is made available to them, NEPA here refers to the Government!

Conclusively, let me say this. The “Up NEPA” bit is sort of a joke really, and it will be fool-hardy of me to think I can write it out of our “TRADITIONS” handout, or that it'll change anything, it's just fun anyway... BUT... every other thing is no joke. The situation in this country isn't any funny, no matter how laughable things might get at times (Oh, we've surely been given a lot to laugh about amidst our shedding of tears and blood) ... There's hardly anything “UP” about anything... *deep and long sigh*

Nevertheless, GOD BLESS NIGERIA!

My name is Omotola!

GOD DOES NO EVIL...NOW I CAN SAY GOODBYE... ADIEU EKUNDAYO.

SEEK KNOWLEDGE, IT'S NOW IN THE PALM OF YOUR HANDS: AGBALUMO/UDARA IN ALL ITS GLORY.

Some days ago, a question was asked and the question is “what is the English name of agbalumo”? The answer that was given led to the birth of this post and its title because the information I'm about to share with you, I got from the palm of my hand. The journey started with me going back to a post MOJI DELANO (blogger: mojidelano.blogspot.com) did on agbalumo/udara, and then made some research myself. *pheew!*. So go on to the next paragraph, and the next, until the last. You can thank me when you're done. *wink*

You know you can actually google “Agbalumo” or “Udara” and get a bank of information on that fruit almost everyone loves so much, some, even too much. You should see young, fresh, sophisticated, classy, biuntifu (no error pls), hamsome (no error here too) graduates/youth corpers throwing decorum to the winds, plucking udara in Umudi ( Served in the East, and that's where our orientation camp is, Umudi), as well as begging to be plucked for (you should know this refers to the female specimens) on the parade ground (of course before parade starts, otherwise you will be WRONG, and the consequences of being wrong sure aint pretty!). Most of them came from cities where they only saw agbalumo/udara on the trays of traders hawking, or in the markets. And to then see a tree bearing their beloved fruit was sheer ecstacy! Well, I wasn't one of them, you know, being a very tush human being and all....If I hear!). But true, I was not a part of it, and that's only because I'm not one of the biggest fans of the fruit (yeah, call me weird, you won't be the first). However, if they were plucking garri, I would have forgotten the word “tush” too. *big toothy grin*.

Okay, let's get serious, that's why we are here. What's the English name for Agbalumo/Udara?... Taaa! See your mouth like Cherry! Lol....Oya, sowie. It's not like you're totally off the mark though, because after Nigerians dicovered and fell in love with this fruit, and for many years did not know the English name, the name “local cherry” was coined.

But hey, the real English name for agbalumo/udara is...is...is...ta da! WHITE STAR APPLE or AFRICAN STAR APPLE! However, it should not be mistaken for STAR APPLE, which is another fruit indigenous to Central America (this has been refuted by some botanists who claimed it may properly belong to the West Indies). The STAR APPLE is common throughout most of the Caribbean Islands and in Bermuda, but have been found in other places including Jamaica and Haiti among others, it's botanical name being CHRYSOPHYLLUM CAINITO. While the botanical name for our own agbalumo is CHRYSOPHYLLUM ALBIDUM (to whom it may concern, I doubt it concerns a lot of people though). Move on to the next paragraphs for all the good news! (Who cares about the English name, Hot Dog sha no get yoruba, Ibo, or hausa name).

The pulp of agbalumo/udara which is common in both rural and urban centres especially during the months of December to April, and are not usually harvested from the trees, but left to drop naturally to the ground where they are picked, is an excellent source of vitamins and irons (and an excellent source of raw materials for industries). It has been found to have higher content of ascorbic acid than oranges and guava, it has a hundred times more Vitamin C than oranges, and ten times that of guava.


A study by researchers at the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University,Ogun State titled “EFFECTS OF ETHANOLIC LEAF. EXTRACT OF CHRYSOPHYLLUM ALBIDUM G. ON BIOCHEMICAL AND HAEMATOLOGICAL (BLOOD-RELATED) PARAMETERS OF ALBINO WISTAR RATS” (Jesu!) which was published in AFRICA JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, showed that agbalumo/udara lowered blood sugar and cholesterol, and could be useful in preventing and treating heart diseases.

Previous studies indicate that the roots, barks, and leaves of agbalumo/udara tree have been employes in folk medicine for the treatment of diseases. The bark is used for the treatment of yellow fever and malaria, while the leaf is used as an emollient and for the treatment of vaginal and dermatological infections in Western Nigeria.

Another study which was done by researchers at the FOREST INSTITUTE, IBADAN, OYO STATE titled “ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF CHRYSOPHYLLUM ALBIDUM LEAVES” and which was published in ASIAN JOURNAL OF FOOD AND AGRO-INDUSTRY, showed results that suggests that water and methanolic extracts from the leaves of Chrysophyllum Albidum may contain active agents, which provides the basis for their folkloric use as a result of infections and inflammatory reactions.

In conclusion, the result of this study justifies the traditional uses of the leaves of agbalumo/udara for the therapeutic purposes!

Have you all started dancing around licking sweet??? Isn't this fantastic news for you agbalumo/udara lovers, who now have a plausible excuse to indulge your cravings!
But please, in all your excitement of the new knowledge, don't go to the market and ask the agbalumo/udara seller for CHRYSOPHYLLUM ALBIDUM o. Don't ask for WHITE STAR APPLE either! Those traders always have a cane on hand which they use in chasing away the mentally unbalanced from their stalls!

Very importantly is the issue of the first part of the title of this post. All of the above information and more are just a click away. Let's endeavour to seek knowledge at all times. Ignorance is not in any way attractive. Utilize the smartness of your smartphones! A smartphone is not smart by itself. Like lifecoach, Sam Obafemi (Barnabas House, Abuja) said to us, owning a smartphone is no longer a luxury, but a necessity ( a view he must have taken straight from my mind). Get information on the move! And credit also goes to him for the statement below.

“To other creatures, ignorance is nature, but to man, it is a vice”.

And remember the bible also implores us “to study to show thyself approved” (2 Timothy 2:15). Even in law, ignorance is not condoned and can not be claimed. “Ignorantia legis neminem excusat” (ignorance of the law is not an excuse. And in Jesus' name, we will not be caught unawares and goof over simple things on TV, oops!, sorry, in public (I did not mention any oga's name o, oops again! Sorry, I meant anybody's name o).

So my friends, seek knowledge, it's now in the palm of your hands!

My name is Omotola!
@mOtTyMaT

WE SHOULD ROLL IN THE DRUMS??? : “MY OGA AT THE TOP”

     Some people are now asking for the “oga at the top” party to be called off. But the party only just got started! We have seen the tees. Where are the caps? And the bags? What about the car stickers??? It's not like we are digressing from what the norm is in Nigeria. Are we not good at celebrating and crowning mediocrity and cluelessness? We roll out the drums for convicts, give thieves pats on the back and look who we have for president! (I absolutely mean no disrespect but then, can we play back in our heads the media chat of 24th June 2012 with Mr President? And while that is playing, look up Chapter VI, Part 1, Section 140 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of our beloved Nigeria? That done, what about the recent condemnable pardons that weree granted by the president and not to talk of granting pardons that already been granted some 14, 15 years earlier! And that doesn't even begin to tell it all! *deep sigh*). Besides, aren't they always having big hearty laughs at our expense? Only that now, the tables have turned, and we the “ogas” not at the top are the ones having a laugh, and the bill's on them! It's not everyday that Nigerians have a reason to laugh, so why can't we enjoy this one while it lasts??? And forget not, that this laughter episode is a jolt for all the ther “ogas” in the middle and “ at the top” to come out of their mediocrity slumber!

Contrary to what you may now be thinking, I am not someone who enjoys to laugh at other people's mistakes or blunders, because I empathise with them and think it could happen to anyone, but not this! Not this! This man really goofed goofily in a very goofy way! This evokes nothing in me but angry laughter! It didn't have to go this way, it could have been avoided! The thing is, I don't have an issue with him not knowing the website of his organization, the best of us don't know the simplest of things, but could he not have humbly admitted to not knowing in a graceful manner and then told the presenters he would get back to them on it??? It didn't require anything but a little bit of intelligence to wittily and subtly get himself out of that situation. The popular defence I've been hearing and reading of Mr Obafaiye Shem's goof is that competence and not intelligence or eloquence got him to the “top”. But please correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't the ability to think on one's toes and get one's self and one's team out of messy situations one of the strong points that characterizes competence? And especially in a field like Security and Defence? And the blessed man wasn't even on his toes! He had to himself what looked like a very comfortable chair! In my opinion, instead of “categorically” asking them to “waitee, waitee”, he could have humbly put out the fire in the studio that day before it even started at all. It did not have to pan out into the big deal that it eventually turned to.

And then, “that's 'not' all”, in 2013, a commandant of the Lagos ( the new biggest city in Africa according to <em>John Campbell</em> and the <em>New York Times</em>, and one of the leading urban areas in the world) chapter of an organization like the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps does not know that something has to come after <em>www.nscdc</em>, that, that can't be all??? At least, he could have just added the very popular dot.com and that would have been one less joke at his expense. And for those of you laughing and playing out the “dot.com is silent” joke, the website isn't even <em>www.nscdc.com</em>, it is <em>www.nscdc.gov.ng</em> (*tongue out* to you all on behalf of Mr Waitee, oh, sorry Shem)

Another thing, don't you think the NSCDC Public Relations department should have handled this interview, or one of their public relations officers should have been in the studio with Mr Shem? And since they were going to be talking about job racketeering, to which he was going to say people were going to the wrong website, should he then not have at least found out what the right website to direct them to was? Would you not agree with me then that it was just a lackadaisical attitude and lack of preparation on his part, having been used to people not pushing him for answers and him using his position to have his way. (I'm sorry if my opinion of him I wrong, but it very much looked like it in the video).

And then someone asked how many times we have laughed at Messi or Ronaldo for not speaking proper English and how bad English affect a man's competence. He/She further said that “we don't know who we are as a people and what language we really need to speak” amidst other things. Huh??? Errr....errrm, sir/ma, you are on the wrong page, that's not where we are. Nobody is laughing at his English, infact, I personally did not hear him make any grammatical blunders in that clip, so even though I understand your need to stand up for the defenceless (pun intended) in the face of our cruelty in having a much-needed laugh, your defence, I think, is unnecessary. The man understands and CAN speak English, thank you. And you probably should have written that message in your ethnic language, whatever it is (no offence intended).

All of the talks about his family, children, insomnia and all seriously does not cut it in the face of such an ugly situation, we have yet again brought forth our sentiments. I won't lie and say I haven't thought about all of these factors and parties, infact, I have thought about everyone of them, and just only today, the suicide thing came to the fore of my mind, but I quickly dispelled it ( A ma ni ri laburu o=We will not see evil o). But then everytime the video pops up in my head again, the magnitude of the disgrace that man heaped upon us as a nation, the NSCDC, his family, oh his family, may God see them through these trying times (I'm not trying to be funny, that prayer came from the depth of my heart), I just usually let go of the sentiments ( and I am normally a very sentimental person, I can't help it, it's part of my make-up). The first time I actually saw the video, I could not look at the screen initially because I felt so embarrassed for him. And then as the clip progressed, disbelief set in, and then the holy anger. That is something we Nigerians really need to deal with, the need to let aside sentiments and face the truth head-on when we need to, and then, there won't be a need for our sentimentality to be played upon whereby we will be called upon to vote in someone who would rule over the affairs of our nation on the premise that he had no shoes while growing up! (Meanwhile, I recently stumbled upon a picture of his Excellency in his growing-up years, and guess who had shoes on! Infact, he also had on a watch and hat to match!)

My fellow “ogas” , what I am saying is, it is okay for us to be unhappy about this situation and not fall into the guilt trap some folks, after having the laughs of their lives (even Ruggedman who is now condemning Channels television admitted to having had his share of the laughter) are trying to lay on us. The episode is indeed appalling! And I am positive that we have laughed many “ogas” at the bottom, in the middle and “at the top”, into making findings about the offices and positions we have put them in! (Isn't that one bright side to all of this?) A lot of people at the helm of affairs are as ignorant, if not more, someone just had to be the scapegoat. For the sake of the family and especially the children of Mr Obafaiye Shem, it is only unfortunate that the scapegoat had to be him.

Another bright side to all of this is that many people, especially the children now know what the NSCDC is , what they do, their website, and who their Lagos State Commandant is! Plus, I can personally testify that I now know even who the Commandant General of the organization is! *huge grin*. That's one- very- many current affairs questions answered. It might be okay to roll in the drums then.

My name is Omotola!
@mOtTyMaT

Welcome to my mind!

Hiya!

My name is obviously Omotola *big grin*.

I am someone who usually has  a lot to say (in my mind and in writing), and PHEW!, hasn't there been a lot to say!  Well, our social networks are  such a kill-joy in this area, meaning, they are tight-fisted with their space. The social network that I know of which affords the most characters is FACEBOOK and even THEY allow you just 420 characters! (Correct me if I'm wrong though *smile*). And they ask you “what's on your mind?”. Oh C'mon! You really think I have that small a mind?????? LOL... Just kidding though, I know it has to be so controlled   to avoid some could-be-avoided sometins (this you should get used to, it won't be all proper english all the time).

Well, they can hold on to their control (I say that smiling-ly) because yaay, I discovered (not invent o) blogging! (Like  2 or more years ago though). Yeah, Yeah....I hear you ask why it has then taken me this long to put it to use. Well, this is not something I'm proud to admit, but I do tend to push things off. And I have my melancholy personality to thank for that (not embracing it though. Trusting the holy spirit to help me deal with the weaknesses of  my temperaments, you should too *wink*) But really, isn't blogging a breath of fresh air for a writer??? Oh, the joy of true expression without inhibitions. And being Phlegmatic, Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholy or Supine.matters not! It's just you, your paper and pen! (Keyboards, Keypads and screens apply). Well, all writers can't be journalists, columnists, authors, but we can be bloggers! (It doesn't have to make sense to you, it sounds and reads good to me! *tongue out*)

You see why I need space to pour out my mind??? I've filled up this space just trying to pass across a simple message! That, this here blog is going to be my online journal! (I tire for me o *in my friend Isaac Daminabo's voice*). So, Welcome to my mind! And welcome to share yours with me.

MY NAME IS  OMOTOLA AND THESE ARE MY THOUGHTS! *TICKLES*