Monday, April 26, 2010

My Family!

I am a working Mother with three wonderful kids! I had introduced them in my other blog as Tee!, Gee! and Little Dee! I am married to my Hubby.

Gee! is the eldest of the three musketeers and she  is 7 years old. Tee!, the only boy is 4 years old. Little Dee! is 1 year old. There is another member of my family, E! She is our help, looking after Little Dee! while I am at work. My children call her Aunty E!

Gee! is a third grader. Tee! is in Nursery. Little Dee! is in Home School. LOL! Today, Tee! and Gee! resumed school and as such we left Little Dee! alone with E!. Little Dee! cried as we waved her bye. Gee! stopped to give her a kiss and promised that "when I return from school, we'll play, ok?". Big bros Tee! simply waved and told her to stop crying! As for me, I just gave her a big bear hug sealed with my usual kiss. Gosh!

While I am at work, I try to stay focused and leave my thoughts in a zip bag! I remember, some years ago, when Tee! was just a baby in Home School, while I was in Court waiting for my matter to be called, I got so carried away that when my case was called, I did not know! My colleague who was in Court with me had to nudge me to stand up and announce my appearance! Yeah! I was day dreaming!

The life of a working Mummy!

Friday, April 23, 2010

My Issue with BBC's "Welcome to Lagos"

The controversial documentary depicting Lagos State as a slum where poverty and disease trive has been generating alot of reactions from Nigerians.

I just watched it on Solomonsydelle's NIGERIAN CURIOSITY.

After watching the documentary, I was so angry with the BBC for sending wrong signals to the entire world! Haba! Wetin Nigeria do them? Whenever they (BBC) air any documentary about Nigerians, it is always on poverty, disease etc. WHY? Why are they not showing the world the beautiful side of Lagos that attracts them here in the first place?

Please go there and watch. When you watch you will (I believe) know where I am coming from!

Eko o ni baje!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Making Nigeria Roads Safe!

On my way to work today, I heard on the radio today that the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) will begin to clamp down on motorists with fake drivers license. This warning was issued by the Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission Mr. Jonas Agwu. This great quest will purge the system and society of drivers with fake driver’s license. About time!

Mr. Agwu further advised anyone applying for a driver’s license or renewal of a driver’s license must be physically present before the driver’s license is issued or renewed. This means very soon, the quality of motorists/drivers will be greatly improved. Well done Mr. Agwu!

The need to purge our roads of half baked drivers cannot be over emphasized! With all due respect to the FRSC, most motorists in Nigeria today do have a valid driver’s license! For those that have, at least 70% or more have their licenses by proxy. That is the license holder was not physically presence before the license was issued! It is that bad. That is why we have a lot of problems on our roads!

Some time ago, our car was hit from behind by a commercial bus. Immediately, the bus driver came out and was ranting and cursing. He claimed there was no damage to our car, so why the fuss! Anyway, Hubby was in a very good mood, so he simply called a Police man and reported the incident. When the bus driver saw that Hubby was not throwing back words, he started begging! Mehn! The change of behavior was very swift! The guy prostrated and said “Daddy, please I am sorry! My conductor did not tell me there was a car beside me. I am sorry.” At this point, I told him it was too late, because the Police have been invited into the matter. When we got to the Police Station, the bus driver was asked to produce his driver’s license and vehicle particulars! Believe it or not, this guy could not presence any of the documents.

So what gave this guy the courage that he can drive on our roads? Who certified him a fit and proper driver for the Nigeria roads? There are a thousand others like him.

This problem is not limited to commercial bus drivers alone. Some private car owners and/or drivers are also affected. For this other category, they get their driver’s license by proxy! That is they do not present themselves for tests before been issued a drivers license! Too bad. Last year, one of my friends showed me a driver’s license issued in her name. We had the following conversation:
Dee!: When did you start driving?
My friend: Aunty Dee!, I am still learning o.
Dee!: So how did you get this?
Friend: Someone got it for me.
Dee!: Without testing you?! I will not enter any car driven by you! How can you join the band wagon to procure a drivers license by proxy? I am not happy with you.
Seeing I was not down with the whole thing, my friend just changed the topic.

When the society is filled with people who are not “qualified” to drive on the roads, you can imagine the high rate of accidents and other avoidable incidents on the roads.

We complain about traffic and rough drivers, most of the time, it is people who are not properly tested that start the problems faced on our roads! The commercial bus drivers boldly refuse to clear off the high ways to pick their passengers. When there are four vehicles on a slow lane, the fifth one, usually a commercial bus or a car driven by an ex-commercial driver, will form a second or third lane. In Lagos, the okada riders (motorcyclists) do not obey traffic rules! They are simply untouchable! There are so many vehicles on the roads that are not “road worthy”, yet they have a road worthiness permit.

Please note that only the FRSC, in collaboration with the state government, has the power and authority to produce driver's license.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Long live Lagos State!
Ekọ ó ni bajé!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Rebuilding Jos! Rebuilding Nigeria!

Jos, the capital of Plateau State is a mining city and therefore known as the Tin City. Plateau State is known as the Home of Peace and Tourism! Like other States in Nigeria, Plateau State is made up of several ethnic groups. For years, ALL these groups lived in harmony.

I know this, because I schooled in Jos and I was there for 5 solid years! I really had a WONDERFUL time in Jos to the point that I nursed the idea of coming back to settle there. By the late 80s, when I left Jos, the city was still a very peaceful town.

Today, Jos is no longer the peaceful city I knew back then. The current situation in Jos is very tragic. Violence and crime is the order of the day! Brothers killing brothers! This violence must stop! Why would a human being take the life of another? We should learn to show love to humanity.

Right now, we need to rebuild Jos. We need to rebuild Plateau State and make it the State of Peace and Tourism that it was meant to be.

Some Nigerians have started putting together various schemes to get much needed relief to Jos. I was so touched by the level of efforts put in by some LOVE filled Nigerians to help rebuild Jos.

I visited a blog - We are Jos, and I must say, I was very impressed. God bless the team members of that blog for putting up that blog with a view to rebuilding Jos and helping the victims. God bless you all!

There are so many things that can be done to help the survivors in Jos. However, I suggest that any person who intends to make any donation should visit any registered charitable Organisation, such as the Nigerian Red Cross and ask for details of ways to make donations.

I was at NAIJABLOG and I saw details of an account where donations can be paid to help rebuild Jos. This is an account for the NIGERIAN RED CROSS strictly for aiding the Jos survivors. The Nigerian Red Cross is a non-governmental, non-political, non-religious, and non-ethnic humanitarian organisation. The major objective of this Organisation is primarily to assist people who are victims of disasters, by providing shelters, food, clothing etc.

I also suggest that before making any donation into any bank account, please confirm and verify that the account is really for the charitable organisation and for the purpose of your donation.

Please do something. Help spread the word and get people to send donations as well. Apart from monetary aids, food items, clothes, medications and all other forms of relief aids can also be donated. Please save a life. Put a smile on a face.

While the rebuilding efforts are going on, I pray that there would be no more violence in our Nation. I pray that the LOVE that surpasses all understanding will bind us in Nigeria!

God Bless Nigeria!
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