Dear Dad
I'm sure you still remember Chief Anthony Enahoro, the journalist, politician and nationalist? He's gone where elders go! And we mourn.
From your own versatile pedigree and extensive contacts those days, I wonder if your paths didn't cross. You left in 1963 - three years after independence - so you were of the hopeful and proudful generation. Sadly, Pa Enahoro just left after 50 years of independence, and he left very broken and disillusioned!
I leave it to him to brief you why.
Welcome him warmly, Dad, for he was a very good man - a patriot till the very end.
Bless you
Dayo
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Look at Them!
Dear Mom
You know, we had a good laugh yesterday over the names of the various fish and marine life in Ilajeland. It led us to wonder what happens to local knowledge these days.
Growing up under your care and tutoring was a rare privilege, honour and grace - such a blessing! Maybe the trajectory had a lot to do with it (i.e. losing dad so early and moving from place to place, etc.) but I can also cite many who had such and more, who haven't been so blessed.
We got to gain insights about our localities, neighbours, languages, cultures, flora and fauna. The freshwaters of River Oluwa, the brackish waters of the swamps and lagoons, the salt waters of the Atlantic Ocean and those generous offerings from its huge expanse, the communities-on-stilts, the wonderful and peaceful lives of the riverine peoples of Nigeria's coastal splendour, and our numerous relations spread along its territories. Oh!
These are memories of unmatched measures. Royalty and your rich heritage conditioned you and cautioned us. These days, one must wonder.
Our kids need so much help that a real renaissance must commence. They know less and less of both the country and their place in it. There are parents who even know less than their children! How then can they help them? Alas, we have to redesign our civic education and invent our own Public Service Media to save the situation.
May I close on a bright note: Many many mothers are doing their very best to redeem things o! We just hope and pray that 2011 will be an electoral banquet for Nigeria and her hardworking MOTHERS.
We love and miss you dearly
Dayo
You know, we had a good laugh yesterday over the names of the various fish and marine life in Ilajeland. It led us to wonder what happens to local knowledge these days.
Growing up under your care and tutoring was a rare privilege, honour and grace - such a blessing! Maybe the trajectory had a lot to do with it (i.e. losing dad so early and moving from place to place, etc.) but I can also cite many who had such and more, who haven't been so blessed.
We got to gain insights about our localities, neighbours, languages, cultures, flora and fauna. The freshwaters of River Oluwa, the brackish waters of the swamps and lagoons, the salt waters of the Atlantic Ocean and those generous offerings from its huge expanse, the communities-on-stilts, the wonderful and peaceful lives of the riverine peoples of Nigeria's coastal splendour, and our numerous relations spread along its territories. Oh!
These are memories of unmatched measures. Royalty and your rich heritage conditioned you and cautioned us. These days, one must wonder.
Our kids need so much help that a real renaissance must commence. They know less and less of both the country and their place in it. There are parents who even know less than their children! How then can they help them? Alas, we have to redesign our civic education and invent our own Public Service Media to save the situation.
May I close on a bright note: Many many mothers are doing their very best to redeem things o! We just hope and pray that 2011 will be an electoral banquet for Nigeria and her hardworking MOTHERS.
We love and miss you dearly
Dayo
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
FAMILY First
Dearest Dad & Mom
We can only imagine why did it decades ago: but you put FAMILY first! Growing up under your care and concern for ALL our family was a great lesson. It is now an ennobling legacy for us. We must cherish it, we must keep it.
Was it costly? It was. Will it be, now? Absolutely. And in the future? No question. I can't trade it for anything else in the world. We need family as family needs us - each one of us; every one of us. That is the greatness and the beauty of this tree - The FAMILY Tree.
Thank you for the golden example. As the LORD wills and keeps us, this treasure will endure.
Pray for us.
Love,
Dayo
We can only imagine why did it decades ago: but you put FAMILY first! Growing up under your care and concern for ALL our family was a great lesson. It is now an ennobling legacy for us. We must cherish it, we must keep it.
Was it costly? It was. Will it be, now? Absolutely. And in the future? No question. I can't trade it for anything else in the world. We need family as family needs us - each one of us; every one of us. That is the greatness and the beauty of this tree - The FAMILY Tree.
Thank you for the golden example. As the LORD wills and keeps us, this treasure will endure.
Pray for us.
Love,
Dayo
Monday, October 11, 2010
How Do Elders Cope?
Dearest Dad and Mom,
Just hearing about the passing on of Professor Babs Fafunwa, eminent educationist, former minister, great patriot and elderstatesman, set me thinking: What was on his noble mind these last days? How did he rate Nigeria's 50-year nationhood in those final moments? What will he tell you up there when he arrives - just like those before him? I simply wonder...
May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Well, I've got loads to report to, and lots to share with, you now that I'm back online again. The days are getting tougher as nights are running darker. Side A is grim, Side B is dream. Both can be dim and brim, if you see what I hint!
Why parents are not running amock is because of faith - religious faith - and resignation, utter self-support. Why kids are still in check is because of age; but they come...
Now where do I stand? Positive. I dey kampe! I should return with my story of the stories.
Meanwhile, I love you and have missed you both.
Still, Dayo.
Just hearing about the passing on of Professor Babs Fafunwa, eminent educationist, former minister, great patriot and elderstatesman, set me thinking: What was on his noble mind these last days? How did he rate Nigeria's 50-year nationhood in those final moments? What will he tell you up there when he arrives - just like those before him? I simply wonder...
May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Well, I've got loads to report to, and lots to share with, you now that I'm back online again. The days are getting tougher as nights are running darker. Side A is grim, Side B is dream. Both can be dim and brim, if you see what I hint!
Why parents are not running amock is because of faith - religious faith - and resignation, utter self-support. Why kids are still in check is because of age; but they come...
Now where do I stand? Positive. I dey kampe! I should return with my story of the stories.
Meanwhile, I love you and have missed you both.
Still, Dayo.
Saturday, October 02, 2010
I Do Apologise
Anyone who knows Nigeria and Nigerians knows that we are very passionate about our dear nation, and go the extra mile to mull over her. We will not be put down or held down. Ask the colonialists, ask the military, ask the Third Termists! Read up on the Nigeria vs Niger Delta conundrum. Ask the so-called "cabal" that held our late President Yar'Adua and his regime by the jugular! Just to add a more current scent, ask our soccer (mis)representatives - the Super Eagles (?) – to the just-concluded FIFA World Cup in South Africa: For earning us such a poor grade, and not rising to the challenge of making Africa proud in the first-ever mundial on African soil, they are being roasted! This, despite our criminal and incriminating absence of focus, bad and improper coordination, the palpable fraud in sports administration - not unlike everywhere else - late and inadequate preparation, and an ageing squad!!
Followers of this site may recall my passion and commitment when all was well. So, for me to be off - sort of AWOL - all these months is the most painful and depressing blow my country has dealt me thus far. Recall, dear friends, that we've had hitches and glitches before: Internet Access wahala. And the usual apologies followed. However, this time, it became very clear that there was a plot to "under-DIGITALize" the nation! The official national carrier, NITEL, had been "cornered" along with SAT-3, the submarine cable. As my preferred ISP and Nigeria's Internet backbone, we have been virtually crippled in the last 20+ months! I got very angry and decided to await the Glo-1 and Main One submarine cables being deployed by some great patriots Mike Adenuga (I told you before) and Fola Adeola (founder of GTB Bank) + Ms Opeke (a Telecoms Amazon). I will revisit this subject sometime soon.
If it cost these firms less than US$1.5bn to land their cables in West Africa, we could have wired up the Whole of Africa with US$5bn a few years back. Yet, Nigeria paid over US$15bn to exit her so-called "external debt", to the London and Paris Clubs of Creditors!! Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria & South Africa should have paid US$5bn to put their continent on a 21st Century Internet pedestal, under the proud auspices of the African Union. It would have been easier, cheaper and faster. Thank God for our conscientious compatriots and their likes around Africa, and within the African Diaspora.
Returning to my blogs, and remaining online, was my only condition for re-subscribing to any ISP. I have used most of what was on offer, and, along with other nationals, the story has been sad. So sad. Since you are reading this, it means I'm fairly confident I now have a good deal. Well, I hope!
My apologies to you all. If you had any lashes for my back for going AWOL, spare them: I've groaned under the harshest possible punishment: not being able to "speak" with you, "share" with you, in this privileged and enthralling zone of our Online Commons!!
Followers of this site may recall my passion and commitment when all was well. So, for me to be off - sort of AWOL - all these months is the most painful and depressing blow my country has dealt me thus far. Recall, dear friends, that we've had hitches and glitches before: Internet Access wahala. And the usual apologies followed. However, this time, it became very clear that there was a plot to "under-DIGITALize" the nation! The official national carrier, NITEL, had been "cornered" along with SAT-3, the submarine cable. As my preferred ISP and Nigeria's Internet backbone, we have been virtually crippled in the last 20+ months! I got very angry and decided to await the Glo-1 and Main One submarine cables being deployed by some great patriots Mike Adenuga (I told you before) and Fola Adeola (founder of GTB Bank) + Ms Opeke (a Telecoms Amazon). I will revisit this subject sometime soon.
If it cost these firms less than US$1.5bn to land their cables in West Africa, we could have wired up the Whole of Africa with US$5bn a few years back. Yet, Nigeria paid over US$15bn to exit her so-called "external debt", to the London and Paris Clubs of Creditors!! Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria & South Africa should have paid US$5bn to put their continent on a 21st Century Internet pedestal, under the proud auspices of the African Union. It would have been easier, cheaper and faster. Thank God for our conscientious compatriots and their likes around Africa, and within the African Diaspora.
Returning to my blogs, and remaining online, was my only condition for re-subscribing to any ISP. I have used most of what was on offer, and, along with other nationals, the story has been sad. So sad. Since you are reading this, it means I'm fairly confident I now have a good deal. Well, I hope!
My apologies to you all. If you had any lashes for my back for going AWOL, spare them: I've groaned under the harshest possible punishment: not being able to "speak" with you, "share" with you, in this privileged and enthralling zone of our Online Commons!!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Jubilee Knocks!
Thank God for both big and small mercies! I am writing with great gratitude myself, as with my dear country Nigeria, for resuming my blogs on the eve of our Fiftieth Independence Anniversary. Details will follow on why and how I've been off. But I apologize sincerely.
As I write, there is optimism in the air and in my own heart. If we cannot speak for the past, we can certainly play our worthy part in the plans for the future.
Your humble blogger shall do his bit. May God's Plan for country and citizen be fulfilled in Jesus' Name. Amen
God bless NIGERIA!
As I write, there is optimism in the air and in my own heart. If we cannot speak for the past, we can certainly play our worthy part in the plans for the future.
Your humble blogger shall do his bit. May God's Plan for country and citizen be fulfilled in Jesus' Name. Amen
God bless NIGERIA!
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