Oh dear...another arrest?

Hia!!!!!! Just when I started relaxing again...now this? Apparently,Emmanuel Emeke Asiwe is the publisher of this site . According to Sahara reporters, there is a witch hunt for online writers, bloggers and commentators. They claim the president "has adequately funded a special squad headed by the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), Afas Gadzama, for this purpose".

A special squad? Just for online writers? Hot damn!

Update: Read more, here.

FREE JONATHAN ELENDU NOW!!!

WHILE WE WAIT FOR MORE NEWS ABOUT THE SITUATION OF JONATHAN ELENDU, THE RALLY CONTINUES. STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS!

UPDATE:PLEASE READ A MESSAGE FROM JONATHAN HERE

These great masses will have turned their backs on the grave insult to human dignity which described some as masters and others as servants, and transformed each into a predator whose survival depended on the destruction of the other. Thus shall we live, because we will have created a society which recognises that all people are born equal, with each entitled in equal measure to life, liberty, prosperity, human rights and good governance. Such a society should never allow again that there should be prisoners of conscience nor that any person's human rights should be violated. (Nelson Mandela, who for 28 years was a prisoner of conscience, on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, 10/12/1993)

I IMPLORE ALL CITIZENS OF NIGERIA TO DEMAND FOR THEIR RIGHTS. THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT MUST RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF ITS CITIZENS. WE SHALL NOT BEG FOR OUR RIGHTS BUT DEMAND IT. LET EACH MAN BE ABLE TO SPEAK HIS MIND WITHOUT FEAR OF PERSECUTION. LET THE RULE OF LAW PREVAIL.

Yesterday I had the courage to fight. Today I shall have the courage to win. (Bernadette Devlin, Catholic political activist in Northern Ireland)

LET US FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS TODAY, SO THAT WE MAY WIN TOMORROW!

JOIN US!

Check out Nigerian curiosity for more information


Both quotes taken from the warrior of light,Issue nº 184, Paulo Coelho

JONATHAN ELENDU IS OUT!

Check Nigerian Curiosity for more details.

Bubbles....

I am living in a bubble...seriously...I have made my very own bubble. The bubble is really not so bad. Really, you should try it. You don't even need to come out for air...I have that all figured out. You stay in until you suffocate...and...die. Thats what bubbles are for...sort of a way to get out without any effort at all. My day in the bubble yesterday was quite charming. All I did all day was to stare at eyes....I made out the iris and all that white stuff...and veins...very cartoon-like I must say. Today, I am planning on staring at finger tips...you can always tell from finger tips...I don't know how but you can. But I have not finished talking about the eyes...sometimes you think you can melt in them...i guess thats why people are always singing about "eyes". A turkish guy once said he fell in love with me because of my eyes. Seriously. He used to ask my friend, "where is that girl with the lovely eyes?" but then again...those arabs...they have serious yarns...they love all those "one thousand and one stories" kind of romance...they will take you away on magic carpets...oh sorry...where was I? I don't feel like talking about eyes or bubbles anymore...or turkish romance...that's what the bubble does to you.

And somebody, please get this song out of my head!

Networking...

How the hell do people do it? Most of my friends in the business world just "network" all the time, constantly getting contacts, phoning, writing mails to unknown people, etc. Like drinking water. Its nothing to them....

and me?

Hello,

My name is waffy...and then what????????

Too old to be young...

Off to a gallery...I hear there is a secret bar where one can get drunk anonymously on a sunday....

Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

Fuck youtube, I'll put up another video when I get back. Lots of love.

Financial seed!

I was doing my usual rounds on the internet when I came across this bullshit in the vanguard.I don laugh so tey I no fit laugh anymore...please note the very end of the article. I am printing it in full here just incase the link disappears(Nigerian newspapers online are such a mystery). I have highlighted the parts that I think are just hilarous. Surely this human being can not be educated? He can write I know...but who says crap like this in 2008? and why on earth is it in a newspaper? We are doomed in that country. It is over. Finished.





The Voice Christ Reality:The way out of barrenness
Written by Pastor Johnson Omomadia
Friday, 24 October 2008

To be barren means unfruitful, sterile, childless, deserted, uncultivated, dryness and something or someone that does not produce after its/his kind. Barrenness is not part of God’s covenant for His children. It must not be accepted or tolerated in any form. Don’t accept the lie that says whatever will be will be. It is a lie from the pit of hell.

God’s first blessing is for man to be fruitful. Gen. 1: 28, states, and God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. This means you have been empowered by God to be fruitful, expand, multiply and replenish. Exo. 23:26, states there shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfill. It is therefore forbidden for you to be barren. Reject it, refuse it and release it. Know that barrenness does not have power over you. You have been made victorious through the blood of Jesus Christ.

What then is the way out of barrenness? Heb. 7:25, states, wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Intercession brings fruitfulness. You cannot intercede about an issue and not get God’s attention and God’s kind of result.

Let’s take a look at some people in the bible who were involved in intercession and see the kind of result they obtained. They turned barren situations around for good. 1 Sam 1:5, 10, & 27, states, ...but the Lord had shut up her womb ... and she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him.

Here was a case of a woman who was barren. The Bible states clearly that her womb was shut. There was no hope for her to be fruitful in the natural. No medical aid could change her condition. To man, her case was closed. However, what is impossible with man is possible with God. What did she do to change her situation? She turned from her husband to God that knows no barrier and always knows what to do. Don’t you ever forget that there is no hopeless case with God.

Has men given up on you? Are people calling you a man just because you have not been able to bear a child or children for your husband? Don’t worry, God will fill your mouth with laughter and great joy shall become your portion in Jesus name. God has not given up on you. Don’t give up on yourself. It is time to turn to God just as Hannah did. Pray from the bottom of your heart, cry out to Him. He answers the prayers of the destitute. He will surely answer your prayers. He is neither a partial God nor a respecter of persons.

Call unto Him, morning, noon and night. Give Him no rest until He makes your life a praise. Hannah, cried from the depth of her heart and gave her testimony afterward when she said for this child I prayed. She went on to sing a song saying there is none beside God. Do you know what God did for her? God gave her a son that became the first prophet whose words did not fall to the ground. Her son was more important than those of her adversaries. Begin now to wage war against the devil and put God in remembrance of His promises and He will surely turn your barrenness into fruitfulness.

Hannah broke out of the power of barrenness and became very fruitful through intercession. She was dead serious about what she wanted from God. Intercession will lead to new dimensions and breakthroughs. It will open shut wombs.

Testimony: I have been married for a while now without a child and my mother-in-law and people have been asking questions. I was almost losing my peace. I got in touch with pastor who prayed asking for God’s intervention. I want to say that God has finally answered. He has put my enemies to shame. I am now eight weeks pregnant. Praise the lord.

Gly S.A.

Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and savior? If not, but you desire to do so, then pray this prayer out loud and believe. Father in heaven, I have had your word. I give you my life; cleanse me of my sins with the blood of Jesus. Make me a new person. Jesus come into my life and be my personal Lord and saviour. Thank you for saving me in Jesus name Amen.

I believe that this word has richly prospered your life. Write to us or send us an e-mail of your testimony and let us rejoice with you for Jesus is real. Your praise reports and prayer request are welcome.


You can support or partner with us by paying your financial seed into any Guaranty Trust Bank (gtbank), Acct name-Pst Johnson Omomadia, Acct Nos-207-700486110, or any Union Bank of Nigeria (Aspamda Branch, Lagos) Acct name-Christ Reality Church, Acct Nos- 0961030000940, and advise us accordingly, through our contact stated below, so that we can verify and acknowledge receipt.

Illusions of nothing

I sail down corridors of paintings, paintings of dreams, where there is never anything....but it feels like all my life I have been in there. In the darkness of the corridors, I splash in colours of imagination and swim in dark circles. I wish I could say this in a way you would understand but I have never been a poet and my words sometimes feel like the fibres of chewed sugarcane on my tongue.

I have never been a poet, my words are like illusions...illusions of nothing.

P.S: All I really want to say is despite the fact that I have so many stories, dreams, fantasies...I am so dry...oh, and this explanation is for those that often accuse me of talking in a roundabout kinda way...they know themselves...

Freedom of information

I am very disappointed with this news. The SSS has arrested Jonathan Elendu of Elendu reports, a political blog that features news and political articles about Nigeria. He was arrested on arrival at the airport under suspicion of being a journalist for Sahara Reporters, one of my favourite places to get the main "koko" of the matter.

What is happening? First Channels Tv, and now arresting an online blogger? I am afraid Yar'adua is going to be a surprise to many in that country. He is one of those that actually bites before even barks!

Why do we insist going backwards? When the world is developing, why do we insist on behaving like uncivilised human beings?

And all that "rule of law" bullshit, hypocrites!

The burden

The girls walked faster, as they encouraged Fatima on, don't look back, just keep walking. Keep walking, one leg after another, keep walking....Fatima suddenly stopped.

"I can't do it" she said

"I told you, she is too weak!" Mayo looked at Fatima with disdain. Her eyes took in the cheap shirt she had lent her, the torn wrapper and stained scarf on her head.

"Too weak" she said again. As if this point was not the one that had brought them to the edge of a strange town at night.

"Well, I am not going back and if you go back, you are no longer welcome to stay at our place"

"I understand" replied Fatima, her head bent and her eyes concentrated on a spot in the ground where a frog had just leapt from and left a trace of a slimy substance behind.

"I understand and I thank both of you for all you have done. I don't know what I would have done without you guys"

The girls looked at each other; they all knew this moment was the one that would bind them together. At this spot. At the edge of a town that wasn't theirs, in an unknown bush. It was ironical that six years in boarding school together had never been able to achieve this but here they were, a year after school, and this was going to be the moment. Each of them carrying with them, this memory for the rest of their lives.

"I really wish you could stay on but we can't do it anymore. You know we would help if we can but we are just students, we can't do more....at the moment" Funke was now looking Mayo with pleading eyes. Perhaps they could allow her to stay but...the burden...

"The burden is too much" Mayo said what she could see Funke was unable to say. She was not weak; she could do and say what others could not.

"We have helped all we can. We were not even that close in secondary school yet, we took you in. Your own parents threw you out, even your grandmother. We are also struggling. The burden is too much on us"

Fatima hugged Mayo, then Funke, who would not look into her eyes

"What are you going to do now?" asked Funke

"Don't worry about me, guys. Thank you for everything. I'll be fine"

The girls walked on, living Fatima behind in a forest that wasn't hers and a town that wasn't hers. The burden alone was hers. She quickened her pace...faster and faster until she broke into a run. She could hear the child crying, she could feel the milk in her breasts leak into her blouse and she ran until she could see her burden in the basket.

"Mummy is here now, don't worry"

The child sucked at her breast hungrily, unaware of moments, and strange towns and forests. The warmth of the milk spread through out his little body and he was soon off to sleep, in the arms of his mother.

Fatima smiled at her son...this burden so heavy.

Rejection...

The worst feeling in life, I now understand would have to be a feeling of rejection...not only when your work is rejected but when you in turn, have to tell another person that their work is not going to be used for various reasons...

Of course I asked, "do I really have to do this?"

Unfortunately, I have to. Rather than contemplate my own inadequacy which I'd rather crawl into and die a slow and miserable death...instead, here I am trying to think of all those proverbs that come in handy at times like this. Things to do with strength, falling, rising, being brave, looking ahead, tomorrow is another day, etc etc. All that stuff that I normally reel off my head to friends and family alike.

For the love of God, why can't I think of any now?

Advertisment lingo...

I am trying to enquire about placing adverts on Nigerian radio. How ever, I do not know the lingo required. In layman's terms, I just want to know how much it costs. I am assuming you pay according to how many minutes, etc. I really have no idea...what am I supposed to be asking for here? Abeg, if anybody works in advertising in Nigeria, take pity on me before I make a fool of myself!

In fact, I change my mind. Why I dey do all this wahala self? Abeg, if anybody can hook me up with a small but reliable advertising agency that can do all this work, I will be very grateful!

Just sharing...

We see evil in others because we know evil through our own behavior. We never pardon those who wound us because we feel that we would never be pardoned. We tell others the painful truth because we want to hide it from ourselves. We take refuge in pride so that no-one can see how fragile we are. That is why, whenever you are judging your brother, bear in mind that it is you who is on trial(Okakura Kakuso, The Book of Tea, 1904).

Honestly, I won't mind.....

email is waffywaffarian@yahoo.com

You guys are gonna have to do better than this to get my attention!

Come on people! Where is the imagination?

FROM YOUR FRIEND ALLAH BLESS YOU VERY URGENT

READ CAREFULLY AND GET BACK TO ME

CALVARY GREETINGS FROM .....

I AWAIT YOUR URGENT REPLY...

CAN I GIVE YOU THIS TRUST?

I NEED YOUR CO-OPERATION

URGENT ASSITANCE NEEDED

PROFITABLE TRANSACTION

URGENT REPLY NEEDED

BUSINESS PROPOSAL

URGENT ASSISTANCE

URGENT PLEASE

VERY URGENT

DEAR FRIEND

REPLY ME

and if you feel like dancing on a wednesday afternoon....

I don't know you

She didn't have the ring she always had."It got lost" she said, somewhere between the first child and third. She now walked with a limp, her fast gait lost along a motorway in India."Riding motorcycles can be dangerous" she said. Paul kept hovering nearby, I could feel his eyes boring into my back, the questions would come, at night, when all was quiet and the children fast asleep. He would ask, "do you regret marrying me?", "do you regret not leaving when you had the chance?". Then we will make love and sleep off in each other's arms, the confirmation that everything is exactly as it should be. I wish Paul would go away...even my friendships are not truly mine. "How are the kids?" I finally asked. She told me they were all doing well. Joan seemed to take after her, studying art and all that "hocus-pocus" as her father called it. She has a small exhibition coming up, perhaps I'd like to come? Paul said I couldn't, we had a lot of unfinished work in the garden. That's what we would be doing next Saturday. "It is?" I looked up from staring at Agatha's hair, now black, jet black, the colour she had always wanted.Paul said it was, then he finally went away. Agatha said she had something for me, she reached into her bag, and brought out an old picture. Good lord! How old could we have been? only 16, that was before Paul and Frank had come into our lives, before the children, before the gardens, before the houses. Before we became like.... everyone else. It was great to see Agatha again, I waved until her scooter disappeared into the darkness and I could not see her scarf flying behind her anymore.

On Saturday, I wore my dress, the one he says makes me look like an old prostitute. I wore my lipstick and my black heels. He looked up from his weeding and said "You know, sometimes I don't know who you are". I did not blame him for saying that, I felt the same way too. Most mornings, I look into the mirror and I say "I don't know you".

And you want to find the way....yeah, right.

I have been meaning to tell this story for a long time but I never could find the time to write it down. It is just one of my many observations of human beings which I find completely astonishing and unbelievable. Recently, I was at a seminar with a couple of ladies. Now after the seminar, we all decided to grab lunch together but before that, I had managed to pick up some books. A couple of the books were from this author while a couple of others were from other religious teachings including Christianity. Now, after picking up these books, I went straight to lunch so I did not have time to buy a bag or anything to put them in. I had just my laptop and these mountain of books. I figured I'd eat first before solving that problem. Hence, the books were on the table when I started my lunch. None of the other women noticed my books and especially not Lydia who sat beside me.

Now, half way into our lunch, a very dishevelled looking guy stopped in front of our table and just seemed to be staring. The other ladies of course immediately started holding unto their bags and making sure all their properties were accounted for. I don't blame them though cos this guy would not be the sort they would feel comfortable with. He had long unwashed hair, flared pants, and some tired looking shirt. I knew it was the books that had attracted him and from the beads on his neck, I reckoned he was a Buddhist.

Finally, he decides to speak and comes to my side of the table. Again, these women shift further away and are giving each other "eye signs". Apparently, we were now all in a very dangerous situation. Anyway, this guy asks me if I am a Buddhist, I say no, I am just reading the books because I enjoy them. He says he has never read any of the books but he is interested cos he belongs to that particular Buddhism path (or however it is called). He asks me if he can sit next to me and look through the books. By this time, all the women are shaking their heads and their eyes are getting rounder. I say yes of course, he can look through them. As he sits down, the ladies automatically shift further down the table. God forbid any of them should be caught dead in the company of such a man!

Anyway, this guy and I get into some deep conversations cos he notices the other religious books as well. Turns out he studies theology and is writing his thesis on "suffering and pain" or something like that. Hello! If there is anybody that has theories on "suffering and pain", it has to be me. We get into all sorts of theories and it is at this time and he starts explaining some of the things he is writing about and of course mentions a bit about Buddhism. Now, at this point, Lydia finally gets it that he is Buddhist (praise Jehovah!). She jumps in the conversation and here below, is the conversation as much as I remember it.

Lydia: Oh, so you are a Buddhist?

Buddhist: Yes.

Lydia: Oh, I was thinking of starting Buddhism, where do you think I can start?

Buddhist: ehhhh, it depends...you know there are different ways and you have to find the right one for you...

Lydia: But which one would you recommend? I was thinking of going for the trade fair coming up (yes, that's right, there is actually a fair for Buddhism)

Buddhist: Well, I don't know if I can "recommend" anyone, but I am meeting up with a couple of friends at "so and so" cafe, there are all from different Buddhist paths...you are very welcome to come along.

Lydia: But this fair...its going to be on the 27th...I think I'll go there.

Buddhist(totally not getting it): Yeah, so maybe you'll get a feeling of what is it all about. Its by 6 o'clock. I could give you my phone number if you want to come.

Lydia: I was thinking I 'll just go to this fair, you know, look around.

By now, I see that the poor man is totally confused, so I decide to jump in and save both of them from further suffering.

Waffy: I am gonna go there as well, I want to buy some more books, we could go there together if you like.

Lydia: Because at the trade fair there would be different types so maybe I'll find one I can start with.

Buddhist: Well, here is my number if you decide to come anyway...or anything you want.

Very awkward moment as Lydia has now decided to move away...obviously she ain't giving her number to this man.

Waffy: Oh great!...yeah, here is mine as well...in case you ever want to discuss books or whatever.

We exchange numbers and say our good byes.

Lydia: About the trade fair. This is very personal for me, you know, its a journey I must take alone.

(IN A FUCKING TRADE FAIR!!!! GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK!)

Waffy: Oh, I really don't care. It's "whatever" for me.

Lydia: I just want you to know that I am a very social person, I mean I do love going out with people, but this is just so personal...

Waffy (interrupting): No, no. You don't need to explain. I really really do not care.

My point: This is something people do all the time, everybody is looking for something. People will take the time to go to the church every Sunday, or mosque, or in the case of this woman, a trade fair. Everybody is looking for a way. People are ready to read books, sing hymns, chant prayers, we can do all the superficial that can confirm that we are actually finding our paths. Yet, when it comes to the extremely simple things in life, like sitting next to someone that is not dressed as you think is "proper", or shaking hands with someone that does not seem "clean" enough, lo and behold, it becomes impossible. Yet, come Sunday or Friday, you will enter traffic and struggle your way to where ever it is you are going to confirm once again, that you are on the right path.

Oh, another point. It always baffles me when people have opportunities to learn and they can not see it. I have seen many people wave away golden opportunities to learn something new because they are too focused on something else. I guarantee you that Lydia would have learnt much more about Buddhism in two hours from hanging out with them than she would if she spent three days in a trade fair.

Thats all you can do at two in the morning...goodnight.

Another party, to remind us of what's ahead
I bought you a helmet, to protect your head
It is of no use though, since you have no head
Its hard to remember if you once had a head
My father said he once thought you had a head
I hope you are happy not having a head
I am going to stop saying head
and get you out of my head


Jeez!!!!!!!!!I am going to bed...I am the one without a head at 2 in the morning!Oh...that was supposed to be about Nigeria...for what its worth!