3rd LAW OF DECISION

    PLAY THE PLAYER AN NOT THE CARDS


Ceteris paribus (all things being equal), all the choices you have in life even at a time may not be favourable, all odds may be against you, but here is one thing I've learnt from a poker game, a very strict rule "you do not play the cards you play the player" of course this does not mean you are not playing the cards. playing the player is just more important to focus on.
how does this apply? you must understand that the game and the player is constant while the card is variable in which case the cards represent your options in decision making and the player , in each case life, no matter what your option, choices are, life goes on. so you have to be smart enough to decipher the life around you, what is and what may be about it. the life around you is peculiar to you alone, though the options are the same, do not be surprised if we both pick the same option(card) but yet we have different result, the reason is clear, the players (life around) are different. learn to master the life around you , the options will then be just a compliment no matter what they are. in every decision you have to make , always remember that all you are trying to do is to beat what life threw at you. life is your competitor so learn to play the player and not the card.

2nd LAW OF DECISION

 

 

 

 

NEVER GO FOR THE SHORT TERM

 Sometimes after we've made what seemed to be the most brilliant decision of a life time, we just discover that the whole brilliant idea  is working against the purpose for which it was set up, this is not necessarily because the decision was bad but rather because it was not reinforced with a set up for futuristic purpose, its just like building a good road during the dry season, and not making a drainage, when rain comes it doesn't matter how good the road is or was, it just will be unmotorable due to flood. every time you have to make decisions always consider the long term conquest rather than the short term victories.

before you finalize any decision, try to ask yourself, what will be the impact of this decision on a long term?   

never be caught in the web of your own decisions

1st LAW OF DECISION

One vital thing you will agree with me that is a great challenge to you and me is decision. sometimes the problem lies in making them, other times in effecting them, either ways we get to points where we can surely say that the singular process of decision is just what stands between us and particular targets, be it who or what. decision is not just the result of a long or short term cognition but most importantly a reflection of ones personality. in a way to help you make decisions, I have come up with certain laws of decision
 
LAWS OF DECISION
1. DECIDETO DECIDE: your life today is a result of your yester-decisions, you may say "I really did not decide all these" yeah, I know exactly how you feel but you must understand that INDECISION IS A DECISION NOT TO DECIDE and so your decision not to decide is responsible for your state now at least, no matter what options life bring along, though they be variables but life itself is constant and time will always move so therefore when you decide not to decide. one of these options still becomes your reality, most times the ones we just really don't want. so it is better I think to make your decisions irrespective of how difficult it may appear, to be experienced I something you must partake in it, so never be afraid of making the wrong choice, it only teaches you one way it wont work.

you have to learn to be the driver of your own life because no one else knows your destination but you.

 so you must decide to decide thus making you responsible not just for but also in your life.


 

MASTER YOUR MIND

do you know that your mind is so powerful that the only person it respects is you? that it takes what you feed it, produce what you require of it? the mind is like a soil and your thoughts like seeds , when you plant a seed it grows to produce fruits, in which much more seeds abide. so therefore when you choose to dwell on a thing in your mind, it magnifies it that you can see it clearer, when you dwell, focus, think about impossibilities, your mind gives you a broader picture of it, when you focus on possibilities, your mind equally enlarges the picture showing you much more than you can ever imagine, those who have mastered the use of their minds, only sit back in the evening to enjoy the cool breeze while their mates get worried over the same issues or circumstance. 
like i said earlier the only person your mind respect is you, you must learn to instruct your mind, you must learn to talk to yourself, just like the farmer must plant the seeds, you must learn to feed your mind with the right thoughts, the number 1 best selling book, says "guide your heart(mind) with all wisdom for out of it comes out the issues of life. the author in his great all encompassing wisdom tells the readers to carefully guide their minds just because the result of the lives is attached to the working of their minds. 
in your mind lies the blueprint to your explosive reality, in there lies the unexplored individuality the world is yet to see, all you have to do now is to control what enters inside, so that you can be sure of what comes out of it. 
you are the master of your own mind.......be responsible  

CITIZENS OF NO CITY

Grace, after living three years in Russia could not wait to eat her first sushi. Tarrying patiently on the queue, she watched as people ate raw fish wrapped in seaweed. It finally came her turn. Her spoken Russian was awful she couldn’t even understand else she would have requested the sushi man to customize hers to suit her taste.

The view was beautiful, eating sushi on a beach, what could be more wonderful. “Быстрыe мпожалуйста” (be fast please) she said to him

Suddenly to her amazement, she saw the sushi man dropping his utensils and shouting some Russian she couldn’t place “Девушка отойти оттуда быстро!" (girl, move away from there quickly) She saw pandemonium, people evacuating the area where she stood. It was too fast and she was so confused

A vehicle was heading towards her with failed brakes. She said looking around “deliver my sushi or refund my money before you leave!”

Then like a flash she saw what they were running from. Before she could react, it was too late as she was hit into the ocean. Too damaged to struggle, she plunged down and deeper below sea level. The oxygen supply to her brain had started depleting.Unconsciousness set in. Her eyes shut and darkness took over. For ten minutes she kept sinking before the paramedics arrived.

Then instantly,she was no longer unconscious. She was out of the water and stood on the beach wondering what had happened and how she escaped such a gruesome death. She caught a glimpse of the sushi man and then ran to meet him for details.

“Sir what happened….and why are those people gathered over there with the paramedics” she said pointing at the area where she stood before the accident. No reply came from him. She then moved closer to tap him, but he didn’t feel her touch, neither did she feel his body. Alarmed she ran to another set of people, shouting “что случилось, что случилось, чтослучилось”……”what happened, what happened, what happened”…..”Listen to me! Why can’tyou hear me?”

It seemed nobody heard her, she was not even noticed. She ran to where people were and was shocked at what had kept them there. On the sand was her lifeless body. She then fought brutally for attention. “I am not dead”…..” я не мертв…..look at me!” She then moved forward to hold the hands of the paramedic guy performing CPR on her body. “Stop!”

Turning to the crowd, she shouted “stop morning am not dead, I was just going to buy sushi…” they could neither see nor hear her.

Without warning, a figure appeared and stood beside her. The figure was terrifying yet calming. He had wings and covered in light and everything about him radiated peace. He smiled at her and said in the most beautiful voice she has ever heard“you are dead” now be calm and follow me.

In a split second both started ascending to the clouds. She clearly saw as her body was being transferred into a waiting ambulance. The paramedics had given up and packed their equipments.

Most of her friends from school had arrived, some splitting their mouths in shock, some crying. Distance could not stop her from hearing them. Her course mate and closest friend said “but I spoke with her an hour ago! How can this happen?” Almost immediately another friend ran to the scene screaming “is it true? Is she dead?”

They kept moving higher. Both arrived at a place and the ascension stopped. All the while she kept mute, too scared to ask anything yet she felt calmed. This place is the most beautiful she has ever seen, no majestic scene on earth can come close to it, endless, solid and real. Vast jungles, parks, majestic mountains, oceans in size of earth itself.

They stopped ascending and started moving towards another being far beyond. As they moved along, she saw waterfalls a hundred kilometres high, mighty rivers packed with life, crystal clear waters, colorful and beautiful plants, each one unique and detailed.

Back on earth,her body had arrived at the morgue. Various people had arrived to view her and sympathise

The magnificent structures kept on unfolding before her eyes. “I will have to leave you soon, another will proceed with you” the angel said to her

They reached a greatly terrible building; the structure looked alive and in front of it stood a beauty full man. His beauty cannot be described with English or any other earthly language, his skin was so pure that it appeared transparent. He has no wings but had an air of authority around him. She felt a great urge to kneel before him, then realising she lacked a body to kneel with, she resisted. His eyes were so blue, green, gold….all colours.

“Are you God” she asked with much trembling

He looked at her, and then humbly replied with “I AM”

“Come with me Grace, I have a lot to tell and show you”

Deep down her, she was so determined to remain here forever.Nobody will ever dream of leaving once they glimpse this gigantic city.

Another journey started. They got to a bridge, with water flowing beneath it. She developed another urge to go swimming even without a body. There were souls down below,people, and children without tears. There were so many there, even considering the current rate of abortion.

They were all dressed up, some in modern clothes, some robes, some wearing nothing but light.Healthy, vibrant, solid and real. All were playing, laughing and jumping off the bridge, lots of laughter and joy.

To her amazement,amongst them, she saw her grandfather who died five months earlier. Her neighbourhood lost her life in a fire accident was there too, so many recognisable faces.

These are the citizens of no-city. They no longer belong to any city, race, tribe, country, continent on earth. All are citizens of heaven now. They are the saints.

The journey continued. They got to a fantastic place, it can't be described. The beings here are huge, tall, winged and powerful, yet gentle and subtle. Some citizens of no-city were there too. All were looking at a great light source which was the source of all the lights there.Their unflinching gaze was supernatural. They radiated happiness as it seemed they had been there before time.

Grace couldn't look at the light it was too bright for her eyes but the rest were staring brutally and smiling. Glorious songs were flowing out of their mouths. They were singing different songs with beautiful and eternal symphony. No repeated stanza, each unique, always new, utterly without description. She heard sounds of new instrument that never stopped playing.

They travelled what seem like days, or hours or minutes. Telling time in a place that has no time is difficult. She saw elegant tall buildings. They were constructed with nothing she had seen before. These buildings put to shame everything on earth.

What an amazing design. She gazed at the creator next to her, amazed at how brilliant He was.Even the simplest of the building design were thoughts of light years beyond the most brilliant minds of earth. Even the flowers around were busy singing and shouting praises.

Finally, the creator placed his palms on her shoulder and said

“look, daughter you have spent three days earth time here, my sons and daughters on earth have prayed so much for you…I will help their faith by sending you back. Don't forget all you have seen. I have finished all the mansions but the earth is not ready. They are not prepared for my coming. Some still do not have their names in the book of life, even you.”

She was shocked and greatly afraid at this, and as if He heard her thoughts

“Yes even you, if the book of life be closed today this place will never be your portion”

Those were the last words she heard as she opened her eyes where she laid in a cold chamber.

HEAR O YERIMA

 

There is a generation that looks to the previous ones and curse them my best book says, I wonder what holds for a generation full of corruption, political aggression and Yerima. If I were given a chance to introduce a new word into English dictionary this year, I bet you can guess what it will be.

YERIMA of course, and it will mean, irrational and unreasonable child molester and its word roots from the English words “erring man”

 I wonder where the thinking of a man could go disruptively wrong to perverse the course of nature, for satanic personal selfish reasons. Well if 35 YERIMAS can’t see that our female children have futures and impact they must make, we will show them that we as a people are still committed to saving the future of these future mothers who will train our future generation, we will show them that we cannot afford to cut out the girl child prematurely from her development and that we cannot watch them molest our girls and that we are a people with value and morals who have already said NO to

1.    GENDER INEQUALITY

2.    VESICOVAGINAL FISTULA (VVF)

3.    CHILD ABUSE

AND YES TO

1.    EDUCATION OF THE GIRL CHILD

2.    BUILDING A BRIGHT NEXT GENERATION

Respect the right of the girl child. Her right to

1.    EDUCATION

2.    PROTECTION

3.    PARTICIPATION

4.    FREEDOM FROM FEAR

5.    PROVISION

And lastly her right to be kept away from YERIMA

HEAR O YERIMA, THE GIRL CHILD IS OUR OWN FUTURE, WE WILL PROTECT HER

THE MYSTERIES OF LIFE

We are all created by one God
Yet some have the world
While some have no word
Help me through oh God

Same God that created merchants

Also  created the servants

Just as he created elephants

He created the ants

 

He created the leader

And also created the follower

He created the beggar

And also created the giver

 

Someone makes history

Someone tells the story

Lord in your glory

See me through creations mystery

NIGERIAN EMBASSIES: A BLESSING OR A CURSE?

Embassies, I think should be the powerful presence of a guest country in a host country, an embassy does not represent the building but in actual sense, the delegation of people sent on diplomatic course to a particular receiving country and are called diplomatic mission. The functions of a diplomatic mission consist, inter alia, in representing the sending State in the receiving State; protecting in the receiving State the interests of the sending State and of its nationals, within the limits permitted by international law; negotiating with the Government of the receiving State; ascertaining by all lawful means conditions and developments in the receiving State, and reporting thereon to the Government of the sending State; promoting friendly relations between the sending State and the receiving State, and developing their economic, cultural and scientific relations.

Embassies are legally considered to be the soil of the country that set them up so that, technically, when one sets foot inside an American embassy in a foreign country, he is subject to the laws of the United States of America. Embassies also serve several functions in the foreign countries they are located in.

I’ve read a lot about the state of Nigerians and their embassies in other countries, but I will like to place my emphasis on the Nigerian embassy in Ukraine, I stay in Ukraine and during my first year in the country, my ears were full of the bad reception the embassy gives its own citizens especially the students, there were lots and loads of complaints, which for a right thinking person could make you full of shame for your country at least within the confines of where you heard those, as a student leader I’ve been to the embassy and witnessed these things myself, many things happen to Nigerians here that a normal functioning embassy will stand to the interest of its people, but you hear statements like “we were not aware you are in this country, did you come and report to us when you came into the country” and also a most frequent “there is nothing we can do about it” which sounds like a rehearsed primary school poem when they utter them.

The delivery of the embassy in Kiev (Ukraine) is so poor that, of recent they relocated, but their website does not contain the new address as ignorant Nigerian who do not reside in Kiev become the victim of advantage-taking taxi drivers. A lot these things make me wonder if what we have in Ukraine as an embassy is really not a post office.

In Ukraine the greater part of the population of the Nigerian community are students, many times the authorities of these universities just bring in some regulations which are hostile to the welfare of international students, it shocks me to see nations like Namibia stand up for the right of their students while the supposed Giant of Africa sleeps. And one thing, not particular to Ukrainians is that once they see you’ve got no backing, they take advantage of you to the fullest.

I’ve once been threatened at gun point in my hostel by an Ukrainian who also lives in the hostel, though not a student to clear up our projector as we tried to project the 2013 Champions League final, few minutes later, my pro-rector who also lives in the hostel was out, I reported the case to him, with the man standing in front of us. Nothing was done, not even an apology from the university, and don’t ask why I did not report to the embassy, you and I know nothing will be done about it. At that moment I thought to myself were I an American, I would have cashed in on the University for risking the lives of their student. But I could not because I wouldn’t get the backing of my own embassy. I will hear words like “there is nothing we can do about it”.

There are a whole lot of others to mention but the problem with the embassy is not a horizontal one, it is an all encompassing vertical problem, starting with the leadership of the country, the embassy at the middle and the citizens at the end.

I think we as a people have not done enough in demanding our constitutional right, we seem to be comfortable with maltreatment and the only solution we proffer is talking about them when we can talk to them, just as the saying goes anything you do not confront, has the right to stay, I think this problem is little or no different from the problem of the general Nigerian society, nonchalance from the citizens and unaccountability from the leadership. But I think it is time to stand up for what we deserve, a solid representation of the people by the embassies.

THE GIFT OF BLINDNESS BY COBHAMS ASUQUO

DOES AGE REALLY MATTER WITH RESPECT TO ACCOMPLISHMENTS OR ITS JUST A NUMBER?

just as the news filtered in that 22 years old Ezinne Akudo won the 2013 miss Nigeria contest, then it dawned on me how old i am, this bothered me a little so i decided to put it up to you (readers)

DOES AGE REALLY MATTER WITH RESPECT TO ACCOMPLISHMENTS OR ITS JUST A NUMBER?

UNCLE, DID YOU FIGHT WITH A LION??

Ever imagine what changes in season could cause? Change in time will be a right answer, but what about change in time? I’m sure you guessed change in culture and way of doing things, you can be so shocked at the revelation of how time and culture has changed and the norms of time past look so awkward at this present age, we’ve heard of the dark age, the medieval, the computer, jet and sorts but I wonder what age we’re entering.

Little Sam just was just visiting Nigeria for the first time with his dad, born in America had little or no knowledge about the African culture,  was struggling to acquaint himself with his temporarily new environment, got the shock of his life when his Dad introduced him to Uncle Shola as the family gathered to have dinner, in a typical rural setting of welcoming their just  returned son, as uncle Shola bent to exchange pleasantries with Sam, the youngster curiously asked “uncle what is this on your face, you fought with a lion?” everybody upon hearing the question busted into laughter, ridiculed Uncle Shola reluctantly said no and took his sit. 

 Tribal marks was used in the olden days as

1.    Mark of identification of the members of a particular clan

a.     Royal family

b.    Slaves

c.     Any other family interested

2.    Fashion

In the times of old tribal marks used to be an enviable accessory for beauty, in fact Yoruba myths have it that the origin was that a certain King named Sango sent two slaves to a distant country on an important mission. In due course they returned, and he found that one slave had achieved successfully what he had been sent to do, while the other had accomplished nothing. The King therefore rewarded the first with high honours and commanded the second to receive a hundred and twenty-two razor cuts all over his body. This was a severe punishment, but when the scars healed, they gave to the slave a very remarkable appearance, which greatly took the fancy of the King’s wives. Sango therefore decided that cuts should in future be given, not as punishment, but as a sign of royalty, and he placed himself at once in the hands of the markers. However, he could only bear two cuts, and so from that day two cuts on the arm have been the sign of royalty, and various other cuts came to be the marks of different tribes.

How could something meant for beauty (at least according to the forefathers) now be a subject of ridicule, it all boils down to the change in time, but now considering tribal mark as fashion, someone once said fashion revolves, so I wonder when tribal marks get back will you be the first to give your child? And probably we will see designers tribal marks like Adidas, Nike, Puma e.t.c on faces.

DIVERSION OR THE UNDREAMT DREAMS?

As a young chap I had things on my mind I really wanted to accomplish and probably not so different were other kids, I remember how I and some other kids used to be questioned by older folks about our future "what do you want to be in the future?" we answering with energetic optimism, say stuffs like “I want to be a doctor/lawyer/accountant/engineer” boldly that it even intimidates the interrogator, making some wish they had better exposure in their time, surest of all was the SANDALILI (standard living) song every child in my time and clan sang with poise.

But as the days grew older and sky attracting the heads of boys and girls as they metamorphosis, the sureties seemed to take a different turn as one time prospective doctor/lawyer/accountant/engineer finds him/herself toeing a different lane, now the question comes to be

1.    Did they loose interest in their initial dream?

2.     Did they just discover themselves?

3.    Is this an undreamt dream?

Personally I’ve never thought of anything else than being a medical doctor and a priest, I grew with them as though I was born that way, but having seen friends deviate from their lets assume original course, so I begin to wonder if I was special or something (of course I am), and though some might have been less fortunate, but three things keep me yet going, my parents who defined purpose and not career to me, early discovery of myself, and the third, my undreamt dreams one of which is writing, I never planned being a writer, as a matter of fact, my younger brother started writing way before I knew I could, but as I discovered an undreamt dream it never distracted me from a known purpose, but propelled me to greater chances, undreamt dreams might just be the lubricant to your engine of purpose but I think we must learn and tag their borders, so  that they won't distract us from our purpose. conclusively I’ll like to urge parents to teach their children purpose rather than choosing careers for them and young folks telling themselves the truth of who they are and want to be rather than live in the fantasy of a though possible but unfulfilling future. Believe in yourself and what you do best, what you can see you can achieve, even your undreamt dreams

 

Never Quit

NO ONE'S NOON

Just as I sat on my bed to ponder, thinking about what plans I had left, many they were, and much to list. Not quite long after the vacation of my thoughts came the resumption of another, that is the game plan, I’ll need a coach , a team mate and a list of spectators to cheer me on, I had so many on mind but they were just the figures of the traits in the personalities I needed, when I got to the faculty of reality I then realized the difference between people and personalities, is similar to the difference between man and his shadow, my department of human trust had admitted a lot of shadows though not willingly but by the power of that which subjects in hope, their casted figure never gave a clue to my unsuspecting mind that they are but shadows until when I walked by and decided to lean, arrgh the pain is a resonance, as reality dawned trust diminished, as actuality beckoned idealism begins to fade, and just as it was night when I sat but day when I stood, I stood to understand that I was not alone after all though I saw no man, that was because I rummaged around for men, catching a glimpse at the rising sun, I gazed to the upwards and I saw bigger than I imagined, brighter than I bargained the glory of he who actually appointed me, and his abiding presence was just the person behind the personalities I craved, so now I appreciate why today is called no one’s noon

THIS IS MY DREAM

What the hell are you thinking? Screams flying across the room, as the poor teenager looks slantly upside to the window wards, I do everything I can, I pay your fees so you can become ……..but dad! The lad muttered. not caring to listen, Dad continued to dish out his commandments, the teen had options but one choice left, to obey, I mean to act in line with the scripts reeled out by a father who cares too much about his future, he had so many options but just one will, to disobey, to live his life not as an act, but a reality, to right his own script suitable for his person and his time, but he has a contender , his caring father. But wait a minute Dad, what happens after you are dead and no longer around to write script for me to play, to dictate what game to play, what then will I offer, what shall I do, in whose theatre again will I rehearse, father I know you want good, but this is my moment, my passion, my drama and my life. Your dream is yours, I can’t live it, because it yours The young lad said just as you can say THIS IS MY DREAM, LET ME LIVE IT.