INTERNALLY DISPLACED vs EXTERNALLY DISPLACED.

Abokina,

In Hausa language, the lingua Franca of Northern Nigeria, it means my friend.  It is already turning white in some parts of the world and it is currently hazy here. I wish you a beautiful Christmas in advance.  

As a country, we have been battling Boko Haram in the last few years and it has led  to the death of many people both civilian and military. Our hearts are with their families and we pray that they will be eternally consoled. Let's dig deep as we discuss internally displaced and externally displaced in various lights. Both displacement can be summed up in a Yorùbá proverb "eniti o so ile nu ti so apo iya ko" meaning he who has lost his identity has keep a bag of torture.

The internally displaced people are those that have been sacked from their homelands and they are refugees in their fatherland. Unfortunately, the reports are more disheartening because they are malnourished and the funds that should be used in catering for them is being embezzled in their country of birth. The government keeps paying lips service to optimally caring for them. 

Another set of internally displaced people are those who are neither accepted in the city they reside and their country home. This is evident in documents such as state of origin, local government identification letter, Federal Character and others in Nigeria. All of these have reduced the opportunities available to people and this has led to brain drain.

The externally displaced people are those have lost their sense of their own identity based on some external influences despite being in close proximity to their culture and language. I strongly believe that regardless of the level of foreign civilisation, if your own culture is not promoted, it will die a natural death. 

Some years ago, we were having Generation X and now, we are having Generation Z. People are getting lost even in their homeland. There are many families resident in the cities who neither know their country home nor are told about the place. The question, "who will build and promote your country home?"

Either you are internally or externally displaced, you can rewrite your history; you can create a new order. If you are internally displaced, brace up to rebuild your home community; if you are internally displaced, work towards improving your language & country home with your expertise if you are externally displaced.

Whatever you do differently will engrave your name on the roll call of honour one day.

Have a nice transition into 2017.

Cheers

Olutayo

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FIRST HUSBAND vs SUBSEQUENT HUSBANDS

E káasan,

That’s the greetings of a Yoruba person which means ‘Good afternoon’. It has been some weeks that I last came this way but it is all for good! The tap is still gushing but the demand of this time makes it seems like it is seizing from my end. I am sure the wind of the yuletide is blowing all around you; either it White Christmas or Hazy Christmas; May we all do it in good health.

There is a Yorùbá proverb, ‘ti obinrin o ba dan ile oko meji wo; ko ni mo eyi to san’ which means, if a woman never attempts two matrimonial homes; she will not know the most pleasant of both homes. We would want to consider this saying in the light of the first husband and subsequent husbands. However, this can be applied to all areas of life including our career.

The first husband is usually the stage of exposition from being naïve. The first husband has a lot of role to play in one’s life as it determines how wild and insatiable one would be in later years. The experience also determines if the person will want to hang on or find an exit route out of the union. For example, if the first company that one works with pays well; gives a lot of allowances and encourages growth; many people would not bother to seek for employment elsewhere until the statutory retirement age.

Subsequent husbands, from the second husband upward, usually, are tasked on many sides especially when there was a very damaging experience from the first union. This could have maligned the ability of the person to trust and stay loyal. As such, the husband strives to convince beyond all reasonable doubt that he can care and sustain the person. Unfortunately, the person coming into the union would be very sceptical and would have developed either a cantankerous, violent or defensive mind-set.

In all, some people will never go beyond the first marriage; some will prefer the second marriage; some will appreciate the first marriage while they are in the second marriage and some will regret both marriages.

I would plead with everyone, wherever you find yourself; please be the best so that we can create valuable experiences for others and not marred experiences. For those who are yet to make a choice, kindly examine your choice, if it will lead you to the Promised Land or an impediment to your progress.

Have a great weekend ahead.

Cheers!

Olutayo

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PATCH PATCH vs FOLLOW COME!

Mwanmin,

There is no ethnic tribe where there is no word "friend" and that's "Mwanmin" in Kulere language of Plateau State, Nigeria. It is always a pleasure to have you as an audience for Versus Series

Today, we have the voice of two people in a dialogue. An Igbo man who sells spare parts who gives the owner of the car the option of either buying a "follow come" part while the vehicle owner for financial reasons insist that he wants him to "patch-patch".

"Patch-patch" is a phenomenon in which a similar part of another manufacturer or model is used on a different vehicle. Those who do patch-patch, usually and unfortunately, are at risk manage times because it could malfunction anywhere. People who commute in commercial buses around Lagos, would have noticed some vehicle part of another vehicle entirely in some buses. Patched parts cannot function optimally like the original part; the destruction could be compounded and it may lead to fatality.

Follow come is the ordinary part made by the manufacturer for a particular model of a car or any other device. The part has less complications if it will be fixed onto another car of the same model. The "follow come" part usually gives the right feel and produces the right result effortlessly. It, equally, does not complicate the issues.

The right result is achievable through the right tools. A disjointed combination cannot produce optimal result.

Have a nice week.

Cheers!

Olutayo

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PARALYSIS VS ELLIPSIS

Kowure,

This is my special morning greetings to you in Kulere language of Bokkos local government area of Plateau State, Nigeria. It is another good time to share with you. Hope you are earnestly looking forward to the end of the year- the most expensive and fun - filled time of the year?

Today, I will tell you the story of my friend who had an entrepreneurial drive; he went to his uncle to discuss his intentions. His uncle, gave him ten reasons why he should hold on to his career as his boss would reward his loyalty down the line. What should he do? However, as a convinced young man, he moved on with faith. Let's think together on Paralysis versus Ellipsis.

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ETHICAL WORDS vs CONTRADICTORY ACTIONS

Nafmin,

I travelled down from Bokkos Local Government area of Plateau State, Nigeria and I just said ‘My people’ in Kulere language. Hope your week has been great thus far?

In this pervasive world where we live. There are many clergymen that had been accused of committing heinous crimes against humanity most especially their congregation. This has caused people of other faiths to speak ill about them, their ministries and their faith. 

In another vein, people who have written against a political administration, they get baited and eventually get entangled in some administrative mess at a later time usually mar their reputation for life. Let’s think together about ethical words and contradictory actions.

Ethical words are sayings that condemns a particular act; educate and encourage people to stick to the right lifestyle or admonish them to desist from doing what is totally wrong. Those who are usually guilty of this are influential people in the society ranging from religious leaders, celebrities, writers and other vocal people.

Contradictory actions are secret deeds that are against the ethical words that have been preached. Interestingly, people hardly forget these ethical words that have been said in the past; as such, one’s words becomes a trap that catches one. 

Contradictory actions have made people to lose their respect and voice because their lives does not match their words. Brands have cancelled brand endorsement of celebrities for such things. Some people have committed suicide in other to cover up the shame of behaving contrary to their saying.

It is honourable to make ‘our yes, yes and our nay, nay’. It is a simple maxim that reflects integrity.

Cheers!

Olutayo

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UNSUNG vs SAMSUNG

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Matan Mwanmin,

How has been the month so far? I have not come to you recently but I am glad to sharing my thoughts with you today. I have come to you saying ‘Hello’ in Kulere language of Bokkos local government of Plateau State, Nigeria.

Many of us have the mind-set of becoming entrepreneurs later in life. However, we are either not prepared for the challenges ahead as such, we chicken out over time seeking solace in paid employment. As such, the age long quote has not lost its relevance, ‘If you don’t build your dream, someone will hire you to build theirs.’ Our dreams would either be unsung or sung.

An unsung business is the business that has a lot of intricacies that is jealously guided by the person who owned or discovered the idea. Such businesses are highly specialised and people are not taught how to do it not to talk of modernising the vision. In another vein, an unsung business is a business where the entrepreneur does not have the tenacity to wait till he break-even or breakthrough.

A sung business is Samsung. This is a business that started in 1938 in South Korea as a Grocery store. By 1940, it switched to the production of noodles, by 1950, it started Sugar Production, and by 1954, the company went into woollen mill cum started selling insurance and security. In 1960, they started producing TV, in 1980, the company went into production of telephone switch board. Samsung died in 1987 and the company broke into four independent businesses- departmental stores, chemicals & logistics, paper & telecoms and electronics. In 1990, it delved into real estate, in 1993, the company was restructured and they went into production of memory chips. In 1995, they switched to liquid-crystal displays and they have been the world’s largest manufacturer of flat screen TV. In 2010, Samsung focussed on the production of smartphones. In 2016, they have outsold iPhone. Samsung has undergone many metamorphoses but they retained their brand name.

This is a journey of tenacity. One of the things that we lack around use here is the ability to bequeath your business unto your children who should modernise it with their level of exposure and education. I am not saying that children should be forced into a particular line of career but parents should know how to make children- buy into, invest in and develop their businesses.

Before you become sung, you would have sworn to maintain your dream and vision. There would be time for modification of your idea, restructuring of the dream and many more. 

Keep building your dreams regardless of the hurdles. 

Have a great weekend.

Cheers!

Olutayo

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JUNGLE JUSTICE vs ANALYTICAL JUDGMENT

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Muli Bwanji,

It’s been wet in the city of Lagos in the last few hours, those on my social media would have seen the video on flash flood around Idi-Iroko; Ikorodu road.  I have come to greet you in Bemba language of Zambia which means ‘Hello’.

As human, we have disagreement with our friends and families from time to time. Some people would want to mediate but they do not take time to listen to both parties before arriving at conclusions. Yoruba sages in their wisdom described this in a proverb that says, ‘agbo eje apa kan da agba osika ni’ transliterated as a judge who hears from a party and gives a verdict has committed a dastard act.

Jungle Justice is a situation in which a person is judged with a bias and also taking laws into their hands. The person narrating and the person judging are the perpetrators of jungle justice. People who grew up in Nigeria can remember the days when petty thieves are caught in the neighbourhood and people take laws into their hands by burning them with tyres. Jungle justice leads to name calling amongst others. The deadliest forms of jungle justice is gossip; the extent the words would travel cannot be determined.

Analytical Judgment is when people are objective in their conclusion. They take time to ask questions; invite the two parties for reconciliations; they allot blames, correct both parties and resolve the entire crisis. This set of people are honourable and forthright. People with such mind-set are usually incorruptible. 

People that carry out analytical judgement can be attacked for being confrontation but they would surely be vindicated for being upright. Those who are known for carrying out jungle justice are put to shame when they are apprehended.

Analytical Judges are needed at all spheres of life, would you join the train?

Enjoy the rest of the week.

Cheers!

Olu

For more articles on Versus Series, kindly visit www.versusseries.blogspot.com; call 07062021341 or send an email to peodavies@gmail.com

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ILÉSANMÍ vs JOYÈ

E ku ayo odun o!

As a Yorùbá man, we are renowned for having greetings for all occasions and situations.  Well, our Muslim friends are in the mood of celebration and we wish them the best of the season.

Today, I would be discussing a very simplex (simple but complex) issue here. There are certain people who are given a position or a title and others keep asking, "does he merit the position?" We would analyse this from a cultural standpoint today using the proverb, "Ilésanmí dùnjoyè lo" meaning being a homely person is better than being a titled person.

Ilésanmí is a state of being without a title but playing a background role to the accomplish the organizational goal, it could also mean that the person is under tutelage. Also Ilésanmí can be the state of being willing to be the kingmaker. Lastly, the person might have previously occupied a position and have got fagged and is willing to relinquish the office.

Joyè is the time of being crowned, installed into a particular office, or taking a particular leadership position. There is a saying in Yorùbá, ewo ni ka fi'yan joye awodi, koma  le gbe adie meaning the person endowned with the title of a hawk must be able to pick a cock. This signifies that there are responsibilities attached to every office.

However, life must be delicately balanced. There is nobody that does not come into places of responsibility. Some graduates into leadership roles, others inherit it, some are naturally attain it while some earn it. At some point, one would be either the Baálé (head of a family); Baálè (head of a community) or Òtùnba (a titled chief) and many more.

The implication is that we should all know that at some point in life, we would change roles and we must stand out in all these capacities.

Have a great week ahead.

Cheers!

Olu

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FOREWARNING vs RESCUING

Muli Shani,

It is such a great opportunity coming your way again this week. Hope you have been making the best of this month? It's way more than half, what have we achieved so far? I am saying "hi" in Bemba language of Zambia.

I will be starting this edition with the post proverbial of a saying in Yorùbá language. *A forewarned crippled man does not die in the war; howbeit, the wise one.  Let's go on with the topic of today, Forewarning vs Rescuing.

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FRIVOLITY vs NECESSITY

Mai Shamwari,

I am excited coming your way again today after some weeks break. I have been on recess but I am not depressed. Life has different folds of challenges and I hope we are on top of all the pebbles thrown at us. I am saying ‘My People’ in Shona language of Zimbabwe.

There is a story of a young professional who is excelling in his career. He had a lot of people who report to him ranging from drivers to his colleagues. He had luxurious cars; high quality phones and travel out of the country at will. Oddly, he had a need to change his apartment; he scouted for another apartment; he got another one apartment; he paid and the final process was that he should meet the landlord of the house. On the day of visiting the landlord, the person that can out to his amazement was his driver in the office. Let’s think together, at what point are our acquisition frivolities or necessities?

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BLOATED EGO vs MASSAGED EGO

Makadini,

Last week was defined by a friend as a ‘mid-term’ for workers, it was at the beginning of the second half of the year so the holiday felt so good, so short and I felt like it should continue. However, the economy suffered largely for it. I just greeted you in Shona language of Zimbabwe saying ‘Hello’.

There is a story of a fairly old female trader who buys her goods from people who are as young as her children. As an African, this act was extraordinaire as many elderly people cheat younger ones. They feel very important when she addresses them with respect and this made it easy for her to get whatever she wants from them. She mentioned one day, ‘I do not feel foolish by respecting them because it deducts nothing from me. They have even respected me more because of my lifestyle. Being respectful is beneficial to the humble at every point in life.’ Let us think together as we consider Bloated Ego versus Massaged Ego.

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WRITING vs BESTSELLER

Mhoro,

I have been hibernating for some weeks now; however before I go into today’s discourse, I’ve come to you in Shona language of Zimbabwe; that’s how far I can go to bring you greetings, ‘Mhoro’ means ‘hi’.

Today’s title is just metaphor of any creative endeavour. Many people from the South-West of Nigeria know about Pa Fatai Olagunju popularly called Fatai Rolling Dollar, the ‘Won kere si number wa’ Crooner. He was born in 1927 and he died in 2013. However, he trained the maestro like Ebenezer Obey and Orlando Owoh. He went into obscurity for some years before he came back to limelight and he remained in the spotlight till the end of his life. Let’s us think together of writing versus bestseller.

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MANAGER vs FOUNDER

Photo credit: www.redeye.firstround.com

Otume,

I am back from the Igede clan in Benue State and I am now with my friends from Degema, Rivers State, saying "hello" to everyone. May we always encounter favour as we anticipate a new month.

There is a certain man who was hired as a manager; he had great ideas and was willing to share it with the founder of his company. The founder does whatever he wants at every point in time. Out of frustration, the young man started executing his ideas without permission and this got him into trouble with the founder who felt slighted by the actions of the man. Let's think together as we discussed, Manager vs Founder.

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GENERALIZATION vs INDIVIDUALITY

Anginyi Nyiam,

My affiliation with the people of Igede in Benue State continues today. I have come to ‘My People’ just like they call it. This week is bombarded with many activities and I am hopeful that it will all end in praise.

Have you ever heard older people talk about certain tribes that they have some traits as such; they will make an inference advising their children and relatives to desist from associating them. Also, some communities are renowned for the production of academic doctors and professors. Interestingly, some people pride themselves with these traits.

Generalization is a situation when people of certain clans have been stigmatized. This happens intra-tribal and inter-tribal. I know that the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria have different banter on one another. This generalization has been negatively affected a lot of loving relationships and how people are treated in the case of any eventuality.

Individuality is about a person- the lifestyle, the attitude, the character. A contact with a person from a certain community might be the beginning and the conclusion of the traits from a community. The trait found in these people is not as a result of their ethnicity but based on their personality.

What is the crux of today’s discussion? Do not make people stigmatize others from the same ethnicity with you because of your behaviour. Also, you can stand out as a different person regardless of the ‘negative’ attributes associated with your tribe across generations.

Take time to rewrite history and not continue with negative attribute from your homeland.

Cheers!

Olutayo

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FAST FOOD vs HOMEMADE MEAL

Photo credit: www.9jafood.com.ng

Gbe nor,

As I have always shown intention to showcase Nigerian languages on this platform, I have come to you speaking Ososo language in Edo State, Nigeria, saying, Good morning. Hope it is a pleasant morning over there as it is here?

I will be discussing something that we all know but we usually ignore for many reasons ranging from laziness; change of taste; tight schedule; traffic congestion and many more. Well, I will want to ask you some questions, have you gone to a restaurant to find out that the condiment is overwhelming? Have you gone to a restaurant to buy a sour meal? Let’s reason together as we consider Fast Food vs homemade meal.

Fast food is defined by Wikipedia as a type of mass-produced food that is prepared and served very quickly, was first popularized in the 1950s in the United States, and may be relatively less nutritionally valuable compared to other foods and dishes. Food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a packaged form for take-out/take-away. Fast food restaurants are traditionally distinguished by their ability to serve food via a drive-through. The consumption of fast food leads to at least a 50 percent increase in calories consumed, sodium and total fat intake which may lead to weight gain and high blood pressure - risk factors for diabetes and heart disease.

Homemade meals are food made for the consumption of a sizable family. Homemade meals taken into consideration the dietary needs of everybody and it is also less expensive while everyone can have sufficient quantity. Some people who are used to homemade meals ‘find it tasking’ to eat out. Homemade meals do not have complaints but it is much healthier with natural supplement and less consumable ‘cosmetics’. Homemade meal is largely a balanced meal. Contrarily, many mothers refuse to train their sons how to cook as such he has no choice but to constantly consume fast food.

According to research conducted at Harvard University, families that ate together every day or most days had higher intake of health-promoting nutrients such as calcium, fiber, iron, vitamin B-6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin C; they also had less overall saturated fat intake.

Children who eat more processed and fast foods that are usually less healthy than home-cooked meals. Children see up to 10,000 food commercials every year; most of these are for fast food, candy, soft drinks, and sugared cereals. Also, a survey by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that teens whose families ate together frequently were less likely to use alcohol, drugs and cigarettes, something that provides myriad other benefits besides better physical and mental health. 

Unfortunately, as people go up the career ladder; they have little or no time to take homemade food because of the call of duty and frequent travels. However, the zeal to be healthy such not be traded on the platter of career because at retirement, you might have to nurture illnesses with your pension (if you are not in Nigeria because pensioners here rarely get paid).

Like a healthy life at all times with good homemade meal; such is my preference.

References:

Medical Daily

Medical News Today

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DISDAIN vs DEFERENCE

Photo credit: www.wordpandit.com

Aligwu Nyiam,

Trust you had a great week? I am still in solidarity with my Benue friends; I have come to you in Igede language saying ‘my friend’. Let me congratulate our Mothers; I am proud to be associated with different category of women who have impacted my life positively over the years: my daughter, my wife, aunties, my mother, my grandmothers and many foster women. I hope that one day; I will have the opportunity to write more about them.

I do not know if this applies to all cultures but I am sure that there are certain people that we revere and would not want to ignore their words ‘mi o lẹ ko ọrọ siyin lẹnu’. Many times, we unwillingly take to their stand because of the person involved. The response is usually you are so dear to me that is why I am taking this advice, ‘e tobi lọwọ mi’. Let’s go to today’s discourse, disdain versus deference.

Disdain is a state of feeling of contempt for anyone regarded as unworthy, haughty, contempt and scorn. When a person is showing this trait, the person does not want to the opinion of the person. Many times, even at close range, the word of that person is not taken with a pinch of salt.

Deference is the state of utmost respect. The person has the ability to ‘correct, chastise and impact on your life. People are held in deference are usually more experienced than the person in question, they would have impacted on your life and their contributions to the previous achievements cannot be overlooked.

What’s the crux of the matter, everyone has someone that is held in deference; they have the ‘reset’ button to the person’s character when some wrong attitudes set in. For every relationship, locate that person your associate holds in deference and report the person so that restoration can happen before things turn worse.

The challenge for everyone is this, can you be held in deference? Even your children, do they look to you in deference? Have you lost your deference to some flimsy attitudes of life? All category of leaders at all facet of life must not toy with his deference because many times, once it is lost, it cannot be recovered.

There is a respected leader in everyone and it must not be lost to disdain.

Have a Wonderful Mothers Day.

Cheers!

Olutayo

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TATTOO vs LALI

Ior Av,

It’s a wet Thursday in Lagos, Nigeria and I am glad it rained. People have been enduring the high weather temperature in the last few days. It is the day of relieve and we look forward to more relieve as the rainy season sets in fully. I have come in the similitude of a Tiv from Benue State, Nigeria saying, 'My People'.

As a lad, there are names on my Grandmother’s arm, she told me it is called “Soju” and why she had different names written on her skin. When I got to Ilorin for my tertiary education; I came in contact with another intricate patterns drawn on women in the market and some corporate environment, I asked questions about it and I got to know this as one of the traditional fashion style called “Lali”. By the time, I got to Maiduguri, Borno State, before the Boko Haram days; I was used to seeing it on women. Interestingly, when I returned to Lagos, I came in touch with another set of patterns called tattoo. Let’s reflect on today’s Versus Series as we consider Tattoo vs Lali.

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OUTER MOTIVATION vs INNER CONVICTION

Ior Av,

Despite all that is happening in Benue State, not political though, I have decided to associate with them today. I just said my people in Tiv language from North-Central, Nigeria. How it has been a great day for you? Am trying to try (one of the phrases that I learnt from my lecturers)

There are certain children that are seen tilting towards a particular skill early in life, for example Olumide Oresegun, the painter whose work went viral online recently had started drawing since the age of 4. Interestingly, his parents did not deter them from pursuing his dream while some parents want children who would be 'learned' professionals. Do you have an inner conviction or you need outer motivation alone as you pursue your dreams? Let’s reason together.

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WEAKENED NORMALCY vs STRENGHTENED STRETCH

Iniebinotu,

There is nobody who does not want to associate with people who can speak their language and this is one of the ways of being favoured. Interestingly, some people understand other’s language more than their mother tongue because they are resident in those areas. I am saying ‘My People’ in Izon (Ijaw) language of the people of the riverine communities in South-South, Nigeria.

Children are the most encouraged set of people on earth. You are being encouraged by your parents; pampered by your grannies (apologies to those who never had that experience); got gifts from uncles and aunties. However, when you get to certain heights in life; you are being encouraged in a way that looks chastising; you are encouraged to break some limited to set new records. Eventually, when one grows out of that age, one starts to appreciate the efforts invested into one at that time.

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BUS DRIVER vs CAR DRIVER

Mutane,

‘People’ that is my greetings today in Hausa language. Hope it has been a great day thus far? Most especially at this time, for those in Nigeria, when there is fuel scarcity! It has been a great challenge commuting from one place to another. Imagine, Third Mainland Bridge has been free lately because many people have stopped driving. Hopefully, traffic will return next week when the scarcity is over.

Have you ever noticed the difference in the driving of a bus driver and a car driver in Lagos? You will be amazed at the roughness and the carefulness of both drivers. Let’s think together as we draw some inferences on both driving styles.

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FUMIGATION vs SANITATION

Otume,

That’s ‘hello’ in Degema language of Rivers State, Nigeria. Hope you had a fantastic Easter. I had some fun-relaxed and equally did some personal tasks. Welcome to the last week in March 2016. Time flies so fast. The first quarter of 2016 is gradually coming to an end; all thanks to God for the power to attain heights so far this year and also for good health.

There was once a need for fumigation because of rats in a particular household. When everything was finally set for the fumigation to take place; the resident of the apartment called the man who was to do the fumigation and asked him, ‘I hope that we would have no incident of rat destroying our property after this exercise.’ The man who would do the fumigation smiled and replied, ‘Sir, this exercise will kill all the rats inside but does not stop other rats from intruding. What you have to do is to improve on your sanitation of the apartment.’ Let’s discuss fumigation and sanitation.

Fumigation is the time when you do a holistic overhaul of your environment to get rid of rodents and pests that are harmful to residents of a particular apartment. Fumigation usually demands for a little space from the resident so that the offensive odour of the chemicals used can diffuse before their return. Let’s narrow, it down a bit, fumigation can also be a review of one’s work and tasks at work. There are times when past atrocities are unveiled after thorough investigation. It can also be a time when one decides to change some nasty habits that would later in life after one’s health negatively.

Sanitation is a continuous effort at ensuring that the environment is always clean. It must be noted that rodents and pests thrive in dirty environments. If one painfully cleans the environment at all times, there would be limited outbreak of diseases for example Lassa fever, cholera, diarrhoea and dysentery. If this would be narrowed down a little also, there is a need to always ensure that your little space from the school to the office; from the church to the car is always kept clean. This will impact positively on the damage that one suffers when one is careless or carefree about the environment.

Let’s wind it up today; we have a choice to keep sanitizing our environment than always waiting for the next fumigation exercise that does not guarantee total freedom from the rodents and pests. It is much cheaper to keep a good sanitation habit than to keep expending money on fumigation.

I will prefer to maintain high sanitation standard rather than to be a customer to the fumigation expert.

Enjoy your week

xoxoxo

Olutayo

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INTERNAL ENTRUST vs EXTERNAL ATTACK

E kaaro, Idobale ni mo wa o!

The Yoruba boy in me will often emerge. I have no option but to say ‘Good Morning while prostrating’!  I consider my language an asset, at this time, now that the spotlight is now on Africa and her languages. Be that as it may, let’s learn from the worldview of the Yoruba today. Welcome to a new week, its a wet Monday morning in Lagos.

In some corporate organizations in Nigeria, it is a company policy not to allow couples to work within the company. It is understandable because it would be easy to perpetrate fraud. However, there are some couple who work in the same big organization without the knowledge of the management. The lady thereby retains her maiden name after a ‘secret’ marriage. One of the ‘assumed allies’ of the lady sold her out to her line manager hysterically. She called her the surname of the guy mentioning his vivid details. This reinforces a Yoruba saying, ‘B'íkú ilé kò bá pani,t'òde kòlè pani’ meaning if the household (enemy) does not kill one; an external (enemy) would not be able to penetrate.

Internal Entrust are the people that one believes they are one’s allies and you can narrate everything about one at every point in time. However, these are the set of people that can easily be your ‘Judas’ because they have all your information at their disposal; they can easily be your ‘Delilah’ who can be used to obtain great information from you and they can also be ‘spy’ who wants to evaluate you for further action.

External Attack is a response to the information gathered from the internal people that you have entrusted your life and secret to. The causes of many job losses are based on tip off by colleagues! Many times, we sell ourselves out cheaply and we pay dearly for it. However, there are times when external attacks could be as a result of sin or that the glory of God to be unveiled.

Men are built for relationships but know this for sure that you are the only person that can help yourself against internal entrust or external attacks. If you do not set limit; your information can turn around to inhibit you!

As small as your tongue is, it can set a forest on fire. James 3:5.

Have an attack free week.

Cheers!

Olu

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DESPERATION vs AMBITION

Iniebinotu,

I have come to address ‘My People’ according to the Izon (Ijaw) language of South-South, Nigeria. You know one thing that has happened to Nigerian languages is the modification by Westerners during the era of colonization. I still hold this opinion strongly that we should either revert to the original names or at least, let them reflect in our historical books. However, that’s not what we have come to discuss today.

There are certain people that we know either in business, sports, entertainment and other spheres of life that started their practice before us and we can tell their success story over time. When we see them in the media, we utter statements like, ‘I know him very well; he was my classmate’ etc. However, the journey to stardom can be in different ways; some are out of desperation while some are basically pure ambition.

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EXTERNAL ADVISORY vs IN-HOUSE ADVISORY

Iniekiowei,

If I were to be a singer, I would have been able to prove my dexterity with all the languages that I have used in greeting you; today I am fraternizing with my Ijaw friends from the Niger-Delta region

by calling you, ‘my friend’.

There is a certain organization that discovered huge revenue leakages and all the loopholes needed to be blocked immediately. The organization ‘ran’ to a renowned consultancy firm to request for their professional services. When the consultancy firm wanted to start working; they requested for all the documents from staff within the organization and at the end of the agreed timeframe, they submitted a report. There are professionals within this organization that can provide the same result but it was not entrusted to them. This correlates with the scriptures, ‘a prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.’

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UNSERVICED USAGE vs SERVICED USAGE

Ovre me,

Waking up on a Monday morning to see a Police officer break the windscreen of a commercial bus popularly called ‘danfo’, thereafter  boarding a bus where a passenger engage the bus driver and the conductor in a duel. This reminds me of the song of the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti that says ‘lojo Monday, Eko o ni gba igbakugba’ meaning Lagos won’t accept rubbish on a Monday. Ovre me means my friend in Degema language in Rivers State of Nigeria.

There are many care-free people who care less about items that services them. A typical example is a car; there is no vehicle that cannot be used for 15-20 years. However, what makes the difference is the way the car is maintained. There are careful people who have been successful in using the same car used by careless people for decades; what makes the difference is the service pattern which can be ignored or given necessary attention.

Unserviced usage is very predominant in the lives of youths. Cars driven by youths are largely not well maintained. Why? All they understand is to ignite the vehicle and move; they would not want to check the gauges to know if the vehicle is in the best state to move. They ignore all warnings requesting for attention. Some of the consequences of unserviced usage include; totally breakdown of the machine or item; more expensive to repair, disappointment at the hour of urgent need and possibly replacement of the whole item.

Serviced usage is the conscious look out for repairs and servicing to prolong the lifespan of an item. Serviced usage is very deliberate. People who are aware of the need to service their items do it with all zeal. They understand the saying, ‘penny wise, pound foolish’. When they notice any strange sound; they would attend to it; they set reminders for the time when servicing should be done and attend to it passionately.

It is cheaper to be passionate about maintaining all you have as compared to running helter-skelter when the chips are down.

Have a well-serviced week.

Cheers!

Olutayo

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INDEPENDENT ADOLESCENCE vs PARENTAL GUIDANCE

Tubara,

As a true Nigerian, I have coming in the similitude of an Ijaw man, I just said ‘hello’. Hope it has been a great weekend? Hope the zeal to make great success is still burning in you for 2016? Let’s not get tired from the first quarter of the year. Arise... for the journey is too great. We would make good success if only we do not desist from pursuing our dreams and visions. I appreciate everyone who has supported us thus far, this is the 101^st edition of Versus Series.

Gone are the days when satellite television was exclusive to the elite; everyone has a form of digital television now. When movies are to be showed; the rating of the movie is shown; some reads ‘viewers’ discretion is advised’. As a little digression, people in Lagos, especially, have little or no time (an assertion subscribed to by many); the endless chase for money makes children gain ‘independence’ early. To further compound, the issue, parents take these positions at different times in life’ these are the child is young and naive. Also, the child is now old enough to use his or her discretion. This independence now determines if the race would race according to ‘juvenile delinquency’ or parental or elderly guidance.

Adolescence is the scariest phase of life. It is time when the blank ‘slate’ on the heart of children finally gets engaged through ‘positive writing or negative writing.’ This writing is dependent on the types of association they keep; the type of independence they are given and the type of parents they have. There are many children who took up ‘terrible’ habits while in secondary school while those who could not muster the courage get to tertiary institution to show their stunts. Adolescents do not need total independence.

Parental guidance is the delicate work of parents and guidance to nurture their children. Unfortunately, most parents are experts in correcting other people’s children while they leave their children to ‘rot’.  Parental guidance becomes effective when these children have imbibed the teachings of their parents; know the stand of their parents and can determine the response of their parents to whatever they do. There is a mode of reasoning by many people of my generation, ‘What Would Mummy Say?’ Not basically because they have made us fearful but because we see ourselves as worthy ambassadors.

There is a saying; it is better to train boys than to mend men! I remember greatly disciplined parents who would stand their feet and tell their children to the face, ‘If I still pay your bills or if you still stay in my house; then you cannot do that’. This is the turning point for many children. Parents should keep their stamp of authority till the child is finally independent and the good guidance which is equally good training is instilled into that child.

Make a choice either you want to battle with delinquent children later in life or you want to be parents of well trained children.

Enjoy your week!

Cheers!

Olu

Note: To know more about the film rating in Nigeria, read more on this Click here

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