See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

I planned to blog about something funny and upbeat today. However, after the bombing in Abuja, I have been so confused.


My confusion - WHAT IS GOING ON ????.................................................


I know Nigeria has always had its share of challenges BUT this violence is just spiraling out of control.


Since January 2010, Boko Haram has been at the heart of so many atrocities. This year alone, they have been behind several attacks -  including a car bomb attack on the Police HQ; a bomb blast at a bar near an Abuja barracks. Needless to say, innocent lives have been lost


Surprisingly, it seems that whenever the perpetrators are even caught, they are killed instantly. How will we ever get to the root of all this if those who can reveal more - are killed as soon as they are captured?


Some may feel the best way to deal with Nigeria's challenges is to pretend they dont exist. I beg to differ. Even if I am not a politician, my conscience dictates I must speak/rant/cry........................whatever.


The Irish philosopher, Edmund Burke (1729-1797) once said - 'All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing'


While I pray for God to intervene in Nigeria's future; I also pray that those who are in a position to stop this violence do not adopt the principle of  'See no Evil; Hear no Evil and Speak no Evil'
If they do, the repercussions will be disastrous. 


The poem below by Martin Niemoller (1892-1984) was originally written about the failure of German intellectuals to condemn Nazi rise to power. 


I do believe the poem totally encapsulates what happens when evil is allowed to take root in any society:

First they came for the communists,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist,

Then they came for the trade unionists,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,

and I didn't speak because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me

and there was no one left to speak for me

*sigh* Please have a blessed week

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Rabble Speaks

It is no news now that parts of England are/were on fire. 

This situation brings back memories to me:

In 1990, the Nigerian Military Government decided to accept a World Bank/ IMF loan.                                                            This loan came with the condition that the government implement Structural Adjustment Policies (SAPs).                                                               These SAPs required Nigeria to do the following:

-          Devalue the Naira against the Dollar;

-          Lift import and export restrictions;

-          Balance the budget and not overspend;

-          and remove price controls and state subsidies

In a country with more accountability, this could have been bearable. 

However, most students were incensed because we knew that corruption, economic mis-management and an absence of accountability had put Nigeria – Africa’s primary oil producer – in this position. The general feeling was that these austerity measures would mean - as always - ‘poor man go suffer but big man go chop big time’ (the poor would suffer, while the rich would continue to prosper)

University students all over Nigeria took to the streets to protest. Aged 19 and in my third year at Uniben, I was one of them. We felt anger towards a government that didn’t seem to care about us; that wasn’t paying our parent’s  their salaries and pensions; that was doubling fuel prices and refusing to upgrade campus facilities.

Indeed, why should the government even care...when most of their children were schooling abroad.

I am proud to say that I was part of that Student Protest because that was my only way I could express myself – as a young student from an average, struggling home...who was growing up under a military regime. However, I never looted because my upbringing would not let me – deep down I was a ‘well-brought-up girl’.

Unfortunately, what started as a peaceful student protest degenerated into looting and stealing. Unfortunately, others who were not so ‘well-brought up’ destroyed and looted. Just like in the London riots.

Lives were lost, people were injured, looters destroyed businesses and a lot of students were suspended/ expelled.

I do not endorse or support what is going on in London at the moment BUT like my father always said ‘If two friends never quarrel, one is cheating the other’. Yes, the protests have gotten out of control, but I believe they are a manifestation of underlying issues.

In a year where the UK has seen numerous people lose their jobs; families lose their homes due to missed mortgage payments; children suffer in homes where finances have dwindled to nothing; small businesses close because banks have cut off their overdraft; youth and community centres shut due to austerity measures...........................We have also seen two Royal weddings; Banks post substantial profits and the decision to treble university fees from 2012.

Rioters are always likely to hijack peaceful protest AND Some people are always intent on committing crime.

Unfortunately, time and time again, governments ignore the gentle voices of protesters until their voices are taken over by the roar of the rabble. 

All this might have been avoided if the Police had been more diplomatic in the way they handled the family of the man who was shot. Who knows.............

Unemployment;........ Racial tensions;....... Bad Parenting;........ Social Inequality;......... Bad Policing;.............whatever fuelled this, I only hope that the underlying issues are not ignored. If they are, history tells us they will come back to haunt us.

The brave lady in the video below made a passionate speech in the midst of looters...I believe she speaks for most Black mothers:

Thank you

I opened my emails this morning and was shocked to see an email from GNG to say that I have been awarded the 'Best Parenting Blog' by The Nigerian Blog Awards 2011.

To say I am shocked is an understatement - mainly because I still think my blog is 'not quite there', in terms of consistency, quality and depth. So, I see this award as an encouragement to do better.

A big THANK YOU to all who voted for me. Thank you to other bloggers who motivated me to start blogging, to read their blogs and to even think deeply about the issues they raised in their posts.

DISCLAIMER: 
I know I have been awarded the 'Best Parenting Blog' but I want you all to know that I am still learning how to be a good parent.
So, do not be surprised if ........................................
(1) You run into me one day and I am screaming at my kids OR
(2) You hear I made a parenting mistake OR
(3) My kids think I am an awful mum OR
(4) My hubby thinks I can do better.

LOL..........................Thanks to you all.

Please help a sister out

My blog sister Ginger is carrying out research into the effect of Sickle cell disorder on reproductive behavior.

As someone who carries out research, I can confirm that questioning Nigerians in particular (and Africans in general) is not an easy task. So, I would like to ask you all to please, please, please, please help a sister out. ABEG
Please take 20 minutes to complete the SURVEY HERE
*Closing my eyes in prayer and stretching my hands out to you*

As you help, so others will help you

Whatever you seek, you will find

You will be blessed hundredfold.

Amen and amen

Thank you all 


PS - Ginger is not paying me oh. This is investment for when her big bucks start rolling in *smile*

New Naija-British Drama

A new Naija-British drama is launching in the UK and US this Sunday 26th June 2011 - titled MEET THE ADEBANJOS

Watch the trailer here:

And here's some behind-the-scenes footage:

You can sign up to the mailing list NOW So You Can Receive A Password to watch for FREE!!

I sincerely wish them the best of luck...I'll definitely be watching :)

Real Nigerian Family Life Portrayed on British Television..................!

A Nigerian family - The Adesinas - are being featured on British television.

The family were filmed around the clock for the Channel 4 observational documentary series, The Family.

The programme makers describe the Adesinas as:

 'A large family living in London. Vicky and her husband Sunday have been married for 30 years. They are traditional Nigerian parents with strong views on God, love and family values, with four British-born children aged from 15 to 27, all living at home'.
'Together they run a family business- a Nigerian takeaway and restaurant. This is the first time in six years that all adult children and parents have lived together and tensions simmer as the streetwise kids collide with their parents' old fashioned ways'.

I watched the first episode and so far, the potrayal has been honest; and the family are really down to earth! I am hoping the programme makers do not misrepresent this family.

To find out more about them, visit: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-family