A different prespective to Life

I recently came from Nigeria, and the word on everybody's lips; well, almost everybody I had spoken to was when "we", I mean those from Ibadan environs, would have a state of our own. It seemed that the issue of "why" had long been decided, and people were acting on "when". People have seen the "progress" in Oshogbo with the "newly" created Osun state. The new buildings, the increase in the number of jobs, and other infrastructure, and if it is felt that we should have our own state. People were talking about the Ibadan - Lagos express. We have seen the rate of development in Lagos already. It seems each day numerous houses are being opened or built. My father, before he died, was a keen supporter of our own state, and since I did not have much experience of the political setting in Oyo state, I decided to listen and ask questions. It is said that we in Ibadan have greater populations than some whole states, Ibadan ...

There is a beggar outside the station in the centre of London, just next to where I work. Holding a cardboard poster saying "Hungry and homeless please give. God Bless You". I used to find some loose change at the bottom of my pocket and relive the contents of my pocket, minus the pounds into a small bowl he had placed in front of him for that specific purpose of collecting alms. Despite hearing stories that some of these "beggars" were rich and some were actually millionaires in disguise and had houses, I did not allow that to sway me in giving. But after reading a book titled "Dead Aid" by Dr Bambisa Moyo recently, this had made me consider my actions seriously and if I was actually doing more harm than good in giving. It is often said that "the path to hell is paved with good intentions". The interpretation of this statement I often take (as there are quite a few) is that there are a lot of "unintended consequences...

I was recently at a party of a close friend of mine who just arrived from Nigeria, and as we were moving from one part of the party to another. Our host said quite loudly we should leave our plates on the table as “it’s a woman’s job” to wash and pack them.  I noticed that a few of the men immediately felt very uncomfortable and there was silence all round. Some of them not willing to offend the hospitality of our host just smiled or crocked. Others of similar deposition laughed out loud, displaying all their 32 teeth, with a twinkle in their eyes. While a particular guy, showing that he was a moral crusader immediately reacted, stood up and left in disgust, hoping never to be seen or invited again.  The rest of us took a more 'practical approach' as it seem to us and called the man to order, and after seeing our reaction, he decided that “it was not a woman’s job” after all, and maybe he had misinterpret events, we quickly added if he wanted to stay married he ...