Grabbing Life with fistfuls...In tribute to Egheomhanre Eyieyien (1967- 2015)

Grabbing with all fortitude the healing God has promised, the opportunities of medical intervention and the relentless encouragement of my wife and others, I stumbled into Christmas Day. The signs were unmistakable it was to be no ordinary one, sprinkles of indications were evident in the succumbing of my health, in my sterile surroundings, in the army of doctors and medics gently invading my space, my body and night. These dragged with it disorientation drenched in bewilderment.

But all these were but a build up to a news of unbelievable proportions, a shock so immense which words cannot yet shape or contextualise. Little did I know that as I was emerging from the pains and strains of my indulgence, that my friend, classmate and one of my set captains 1978-83 had slipped away into eternity!

I encountered you in your first form when you were admitted into King's College, you were a slight youngster, bouncing, grabby cheeks and spindly legs while I was not so di-similar, cheeks excepted. You had a sunny disposition following your every move and with time we became classmates.  You were caring, strongly opinionated and with impact of friends like Ifeanyi Onah you found your faith. We crossed paths in the King's College Student's Council. 

In later terms we reunited on Facebook, at your office and a number of telephone calls.  We almost never agreed but you cared for me and treated me and all others as brothers.   You had my time, you called my name and met with me, you demonstrated in words and deeds, the traits of a brother, friend and king's man. Your wife, your son and wider family are poorer today but consoled by what God did through you.

I know that the streets of heaven are paved with one more addition today, our monumental loss is their eternal gain. My friend I thank you. 

Olu Ojedokun KCOB (1977-1984)

The Sounds of Time

I hear my heartbeat, so strong and full of vitals, I sense my muscles rippling with intensity and I see my handsomeness so obvious to the world.  All these indications suggest my invincibility, that I shall live on forever and my blossom on the landscape, a constant feature.  

Then boom! I see my self being dragged away to the intensity of care only a hospital can provide.  In the fog, all I can see are nurses, then doctors and then medics subtly prodding, injecting, pressure testing, radiographing, intubbing me and I come to the realisation I am not in control at all, invincibility is a false bill of goods I have sold myself! 

So suddenly I realise that in the sounds of time only God is sovereign and invincible and that I am living on borrowed time. What shall I do with the new lease I have been granted?

Speaking Truth to Power: A Senate of Frivolities

I am neither surprised nor astonished about the sheer capacity of the Nigerian Senate to rise to the display of the ridiculous. They have already demonstrated that they are a House that abandons its legislative role to escort its President to attend his own criminal trial.  This Senate belittles the past contributions of past intellectual colossus in the ranks of Aja Wachukwu, Jonathan Odebiyi, Obi Wali, ‘Banji Akintoye, Uba Ahmed, et al.  It is obvious that it has its head screwed in the wrong place. One wonders if the Saraki trial becomes a daily affair, whether these characters will book permanent seats in the gallery of the courtroom to complete their cheerleading role.  They act as if we elected them to grandstand and place private interests above the national.  How does the criminal trial of one of the members of the Senate equate to an interest that commands their every presence.  One wonders whether this is indicative of an absurd morality, misplaced priorities or conflicted attitudes to the change the APC so earnestly promised us.

It is in this light that emergence of the Social media bill, one designed to tame the social media fits into their pattern for the ridiculous.  The media has been saturated with reports of the bill, it states:

‘The bill, titled: “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and other Matters Connected therewith”, is sponsored by Senator Ibn Na’Allah, APC, Kebbi South. The bill provides for an option of N4 million for persons convicted of false newspaper, radio and television statements and N2 million for offenders of false phone text messages or messages on Facebook, twitter, Instagram, or WhatsApp. The bill also punishes alleged malicious intent to discredit or set the public against any person or group of persons, institutions of government.’

What is puzzling is that it is clear as the crystals displayed in the jewelry shops of Bond Street, London is why the Senate has nailed itself to such a legislative priority, in the face of economic turmoil, the war against corruption and other institutional issues the promotion of its own insecurities.  It demonstrates the bankruptcy of ideas that some of our ‘distinguished’ Senators are afflicted with.  They reveal through this bill that their interests are quite separate and independent from the vast majority of Nigerians.  They make it clear that their elections to the hallowed chamber is not as representatives of the masses but their own respective selfish interests.

One wonders whether the sponsor of the bill has identified deficiencies in the present laws of defamation but that will be to expect too much and require much more intellectual rigour and diligence, which many of the present crop of legislators do not possess. 

In the mean time whilst they engage in passing feeble resolutions and launching into meaningless initiatives, the country is groaning, cars are grounded, businesses are hampered, anti-corruption war is paralysed, and revenue keeps tumbling down.  But what is the answer our legislators present? None other than to dream of a meaningless and a senseless bill designed to shield them from the deluge of revelations coming their way.  How does this help the masses? For all the alleged excesses of Sahara Reporters, they are not our problem, you Senators led by Dr ‘Bukola Saraki are presenting yourselves as the great impediment to the change we so earnestly desire.

Its not too late to recalibrate your priorities and become a true voice of the Nigeria people, to respond and do what we elected you to do, to transform the landscape littered with so much hopelessness.

– Olu Ojedokun