Thought Flake

I like knowing things I never knew. I like seeing things I'v never seen before.
I love to go to places I'd never gone to before. I love thinking of things I've never thought about.
I'd enjoy peering into the future, but I sit back every now and then to steer at my past.
I would like to pass through some moments that I have passed through before.
I love moments that comes once and never again.
I like to meet people I thought never again to meet, it makes the moment a glorious one to savour.


I would like to step back into time, even the hour just past.
I hope to see the future if only a second of it, to change a phrase or a word in a sentence; it's good enough for a life time.
I wish to go back in time to revisit errors of the past; one has made enough.
Life isn't a choice, living is.
Life is subtle, we know not what it purports.
Though we live hoping someday to understand life, we can never be old enough to know enough or understand it well enough.
If life is a book, every hour would be a page, a fresh start, a new chance to turn things around for good or scribble in our doom.

Alas! A new hour and I flip a new page to put down another ink-less memory.
Will it fade away like smoke, just like the page before?
I hope it's good enough to last a few more days, so that people watching can breath these into their lungs and live.
I have something to dream about, Something to live for. It is My Dreams.
I dream because I live, and I live because I dream.
When i stay under the covers dreaming, my pages don't stay blank; other people will write on it. -The same goes to you

#Dream #life #Poetry #StrayingThoughts #AfricanPoetry

CAT AND DOG

I've heard different versions of the cat and dog story, so I decided to write one of my own

Many many years ago, the cat and the dog existed as best of friends. They live together as good neighbours and did everything together. When they went hunting they both combined each other’s abilities to the quest; the cat’s skills and speed with the dog’s strength and aggression to bring down their pray. When they hunted for fruits, the cat would climb the tree and toss the fruits down. When it was time to fight, the dog will stand in for him and scare their foes away with his loud howl and fierce barks. But when it came to being clever, the cat was thought to be miles ahead of the dog.

One day man came into the kingdom and overthrew the Lion as king. He declared a hunting competition among all the carnivores in the kingdom. Any animal that returns with the biggest game will win a chance to live under his care as a friend, and to feed from his cooking pot. Never will he have to hunt for food or be hunted by man again.

At midnight, every animal set out in search of wild deer and buffaloes. As expected, all the large pray went into hiding, making the hunt a bit more difficult. The cat suggested to the dog that they should go to the lake in the village nearby to hunt the animals that come early to drink off it.

Before sunrise, they were at the lake. They lay there in ambush, waiting patiently. Shortly, the animals came one after the other in their herd to drink from it. Right after the monkeys, the baboons, the antelopes, even hyenas, and then the herd of deer came to the lake to drink.

The dog was losing patience. He wanted to jump out from hiding and attack right away. He couldn’t wait any longer, he could already picture himself lying on the floor by the feet of man, getting a back rob and feasting on his meal.

The wait was endless.

The pack of deer were quick to scramble off, scared away by a stampede of buffalos rushing towards the lake. When the new arrivals settled, they took their time to bath and drink from the water. The sight was glorious, the hefty beasts threw their pounds around so gracefully; massive trunks, dark polished horns and hoofs. The patient gamers nodded in agreement. The leader of the herd who was the largest stayed aside monitoring the terrain vigilantly, waiting to alert the others when danger approached. The beast was monstrous, puffing what looked like steam from it's nostrils. He was their pick.

The opportunity had presented itself, but bringing down such mass pf muscle, flesh and fibre will prove to be a herculean task. Instantly the cat thought out a brilliant plan to put down the large beast. They tied one end of a strong rope to the trunk of a tree across the path that led to the stream, and covered it in leaves. The dog sneaked to the opposite end of the stream, from there, he howled like a wolf from behind the bushes. The terrified pack followed their leader and swiftly raced towards the path way. As the leader approached the path, the cat pulled the rope, tripping it, and the unsuspecting herd stamped their leader to death.

The task has been done but only one could have a place in the man's home. The cat thought this through and knew it would be impossible to negotiate with the dog, he scowled and sighed as he worked towards the catch. An idea came to his thought, and an evil grin masked his face. Twisting his whiskers he chuckled and matched on.

The dog was elated, wagging hard and panting rapidly and hopping round the carcass. The cat walked up to him beamed a smile and offered him a warm hug, congratulating him for a job well done.

The cat suggested a meal before they set out back home. They caught some fishes, and the cat being the better cook volunteered to prepare their meal. The conning cat sent the dog away in search of leaves. When the dog traded out of sight, the cat proceeded with his evil plot. He stuffed one of the fishes with poison leaves that would make the dog sleep. The dog with his incredible sense of smell caught a scent of this. He sneaked closer and watched.

The dog returned soon after with the leaves, but remained mute about what he observed. After the meal the dog dropped and pretended to be glued within the depths of sleep. The cat picked up the loose end of the rope bound to the corpse and started dragging the heavy trophy to the village. At about a hundred yam length ahead, the dog sprung to its limbs and stalked after. He had pretended to have eaten the poisoned fish but hid some into the unsuspecting cat’s portion.

At a sight of the village through the greens, the weary cat slumped to earth, panting and gasping for breath. Soon he was in deep slumber. While having his catnap, the dog carefully lifted their game and set out.

When the cat got out of his snooze, he saw the dog in the distance stumping gallantly with the carcass.  The cat ran like never before, chasing after the Dog. He couldn’t make it, the dog had set the carcass at the feet of man, and assumed a valiant pose.

The cat arrived enraged and cried his plea, claiming a foul play, as he narrated their ordeal. All fell on deaf ears.

Man duly kept his words and made the dog his best friend. For the cat's cleverness and wonderful hunting skill, he rewarded by allowing it stay around the house, promising to accept the clever creature, if it impressed him well enough.

The rivalry lingered on generations upon generations, things never remained the same, they have till today been in constant competing. While the dog remained obedient and never left sight of its master, it also used his aggression to fight and scare enemies away from man's territory. The cat tried his best to be neat and of best behaviour, pretending to be calm and quite at all time, diligently hunting rodents in the house and scaring reptiles away.

The dog guards his rank jealously, and whenever they crossed each other's path, a chase begins, and a fight is eminent. No one knows it they can never forgive each other or trust each other again.

It continuous. 

How your Ancestors programmed your DNA

Your geographical roots affect your thought pattern

After my post on Japan’s ‘Too many Virgins’ problem, a few friends contacted me via phone calls and other social media, expressing displeasure at my being critical of the “blackman” in my introductory paragraph of the article [http://blackboythinking.blogspot.com/2015/07/japans-too-many-virgins-problem.html]. They frowned about what they perceive as my constant deprave of Africa. I think everyone expresses his/or her freedom in thoughts, and a writer who is one who puts thoughts down in ink would be robbed of freedom if restriction and boundaries are placed. The earlier we as African in Africa comes to terms with the realities surrounding us, the quicker we can evolve from what we are and who we are, to what and who we want to be. If we hide our problems, we will be hidden by them. These are sad realities.

I want to take advantage of this opportunity to push out a series of thoughts on my Philosophy on how our ‘geographical roots affect our thought pattern’.  

I will like to state clearly, I’m neither a certified Philosopher, nor a sociologist, historian nor anything psycho-special. I'm just a #blackboythinking

Necessity is the mother of all inventions. 

If you need timber, you must invent something to fell the tree. if you need to join two planks, you need to invent a nail and then the hammer. We agree. Let me take you on a shallow tour of man’s journey through history, with respect to his geographical location and environment.

Let us look at some hypothetical scenarios that comprise my series. 

                                                                 Series One(Africa)

I will start with my roots, Igbo Land.

Scenario 1 (Africa-Nigeria-Southeast-Ndi Igbo):

Let us assume Mazi Obi fell from the skies and landed on Igbo soils. He studies the vegetation, the land scape, the weather and the seasons and tries to adapt himself to his new home. His major challenges are; cloths to cover his body, food to eat, and medical supplies, a roof to shield him from the elements, and tools.

Clothing: The weather isn’t too bad to a decent cover from animal hides, and simple weaves from special fiber and cotton will do. Clothed.

Next stop, where to live.

Housing: The soil is rich and bathed in greens, the sun shines daily and the rains are frequent but not too heavy. From mud and raffia from the palm rich vegetation he casts his cylindrical huts, and from straws he roofs his house.  When the storms come the tress are there to break the wind, and the circular hut streamlines the wind, so he has nothing more to worry about.

Tools: To complete his hut, hunt, defend himself, and to cultivate the lands, he needs tools, good tools. From wood to bones he started Iron fabrication (Iron was not brought to Africa by anyone Western or Asian it was discovered by Africans in Africa, ask UNESCO [http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=3432&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html]. From iron he fashioned the suitable tools for his activities. Tools like blades to sharpen and cut through things, Machete, Cutlass, Hoes, Spears and other specialized tools to work the lands and defend his territory.

Yes fire wasn’t handed down to him by “GOD” but let’s skip that particular detail.

Food: The land is big and only he can’t work the earth. He marries many wives (birth of polygamy) who would bear him many sons. Now he has a troop to work the vast farm lands.

He builds barns for his tubers, and silos for his grains, and hanging gills for smoking his seafood and meat. A trial and error and his medical needs are all sorted out.

Unchallenged by nature, Mazi Obi and his household for would indulge, feast and take chieftaincy titles, practice religion and set up traditional ways of doing things, haven conquered all the major challenges fate threw at him. Living the trouble free life, he measures success by farm yield and family size. This lifestyle over the centuries embedded into the DNA of the Igbo man, thus the his/her affinity for growing affluence. He can travel the ends of the earth to afford himself the luxury he craves. An Ijebu man is in some way of the same mould.

Senerio 2 will cover the Middle-belt and Northern Nigeria, and gradually we drift into Europe and Asia in further series. Hang on…

#Iron #TheRoot #Origin #BlackAndProud #Acestory  #Invention #UbahIkechukwuAnthony #Necessity #MotherOfInvetions  

UKE

 UKE

(GODS AND MEN)

(Original folklore by Ubah Ikechukwu Anthony)

There is a belief that when Deities are forgotten, they cease to exist; when rituals are no longer offered in their name, and their names are not mentioned in reverence, they are rendered powerless. The gods know this, and all mortals do too.  No mortal dared them for the fear of incurring their wrath. The gods are also thought to put hardship upon their subject to punish them, or just to draw them closer to them in times of crisis, just to empower themselves.

When the people of Amandi returned from battle as the vanquished, the Uke became unpopular among the villagers. The Amadioha had given Omimi victory over them and so, they lost their farm lands to them and their blood wet the thirsty earth. This was contrary to the prophecies of the oracle of the Uke shrine. He was mobbed and maimed the days after their defeat, leading to his death a few moons later. On that day the shrine of Uke was desecrated, his statuette along with his sacred stool and sacrifice bowel, were razed and the shrine brought down to ashes on the foot of the mighty twisted Iroko where it housed.

Seasons came and went, few and fewer people made mention of Uke or offered sacrifice. Majority of the villagers pledged their faith to Amadioha, some worshiped their clan Chi, and a few lived without the gods.

After two decades, the streams that bound Amandi from Ikpa village dried up, the river banks kept pushing backwards and the land it bore was littered with fish bone and scales. The trees turned yellow and the land was bedded with brown leaves and dry grass. The member of every household who could still stand remained indoors to tend to their sick and hungry. The clouds where brown and the empty village square and pathways were patrolled by dry leaves being swept around by the dry unending hamartan winds which sway and whistled round the near-ghost-town. It had been over 16 moons since water from the heavens touched the ground. Their barns had long gone empty, and in their silos housed only grain dusts and dead weevils. Their cows were so lean and looked like blankets paced on wooden frames, dropping dead on the vast fields of flaked earth, one after the other under the scotching sun.

The people of Omimi had angered Amadioha. Being the most feared and revered god in the kingdoms near and far, it plagued the entire kingdom under its guidance with the famine to command more respect and reverence. The Amandi people were unprepared; they had no oracle or deity to warn them of the approaching shadow. Among the neighboring kingdoms, they were hit the most by the famine

On eke, the main market day, a loud cry from the Igwe’s palace greeted the morning sun. His son gave up his ghost to the night. This wasn’t the first death in the palace or in the kingdom, the youths died prematurely in the year, but it was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. The Igwe sent out the town crier to summon all the elders to his palace.

“My people, we cannot lay down on our mats and wait on death to take our spirits to our ancestor, we need solutions now. As you all know the hare to my thrown is no more, your linage and mine will gradually be whipped out of the surface if we don’t put our heads together”.  The Igwe said in a teary tone to the assembly of elders and ndi ichie(Chiefs)

After series of dialogue and arguments, Ichie Okogwue who was the oldest among them rose up and spoke.

“Igwe and my fellow elders I greet you all, we have wasted a lot of time running around in circles. As we speak, our neighbours and their Ndi Ichie have consulted their oracle and offered sacrifices to appease the gods. We at Amandi, we have no knowledge of the root cause of our problems. Some of us have travel far and wide in search for solutions and have come back with different tales. We have no supreme deity of our own and no Oracles to ascertain from the gods what we are being punished for. Some have offered series of sacrifices  to their chi but to no avail. The only thing we know is this, Amadioha has failed us. Never have we faced such perils during the era of Uke and his priests.  I say let us go back to Uke and beg for forgiveness, it is our only hope”. Iche Okogbue ended stamping his staff on the dry floor before sitting.

After a moment of pitch silence, everyone agreed with him and went ahead with the plan. The Igwe sent words over to the son of old Uke high priest, asking him to consult Uke and brings words to the palace.

After three market days, the village square was once again reoccupied by humans, as the entire village came together for the first time in so many moons to hear the words from the mouth piece of Uke and the price to be paid. Joy filled the kingdom when the gods finally spoke. Uke had offered to bring their rains back and cure their sick.

Yes, the news was good indeed, the gods had forgiven them, and promised rains before the next market day.

On the next nkwo market day, the sky bleached, and the rains came as was promised. For the next four days, it rained none stop. The rivers reclaimed their banks, and the streams reappeared. In two market days, the fields turned green again, and crops began to grow.

The Uke demanded the every family came to the shrine to pay respect, make requests and pledge a sacrifice ahead of harvest season.

Every household in the village did as they were told. They all visited the shrine, made chants and incantations in honour and praise to Uke, after which they made personal requests and promised various sacrifices in return to the anticipated favours.

Adindu and his house wife visited the shrine as did the rest, they were slaves and so the fertility of the land meant little to them, they lived off the wages the earned from the Igwe’s palace. They asked Uke to grant them their freedom, a land of their own to build their hut and farm on. He promised to offer a jar of wine, two white hens and ten tubers of yam the shrine of Uke.

Few moons on, one of the Igwe’s wives was delivered of an heir. Out of joy, the Igwe rewarded a few of his hardworking slaves with their freedom, a land to live on and a piece farm on, with a handful of cowries. With the little money Adindu had, he built his hut and farmed the land. These were all he ever desired. The next thing on his mind was building on what he had. His desires had grown from humble to noble. He wanted to be an Nze(a title for wealthy and respectable man) and needed all the money he could get.

The harvest was rich, the river was crowded with life and the village flourished. It was time for their deity to have its reward. Most of the villagers kept to their word and offered their thanksgiving to the Uke.  Some refused to fulfil their promise to their god despite series of reminders. Adindu looked down on the treats made and focus on buying more seedlings for his yam farm with the proceeds of his rich harvest and the loan he acquired. Even his wife’s warnings crashed against the rocks.

The harvest season is here again and early harvesters have commenced, drums rolling in celebrations for rich yield across all village. Anxious Adindu anticipates a bountiful a huge yield too so he hired labourers, thus hiring extra hands to bring in the rich yield. Upon arriving his wife and the dozen men would only watch, as nothing could hold him back from rolling his unclad body on the dusty, thorn littered floor of his farm. The grains he grew were gone, roaming feathers left behind tells the tale of the feast which his farm hosted nights before. Large beetles have made homes out of every tuber of yam and cassava underground.

The enterprising Akubuike had expanded his farm with loans from money lenders. His produce is gone, and he is left with debt to pay.

Sleep departed from him, his voice and apatite too. Withdrawn from all and locked in his hut, he saw and spoke to no one form 6 days. Drifting in and out of reality, it his searching mind found the truth he sort. He dashed to the shrine to plead for mercy. He forgot too soon, it dawned on him, this was the axe of the gods, it is the punishment for his disobedience.
At the shrine, he offered the sacrifice of; 2 jars of palm wine, three white hens, and 15 tubers of yam, in excess of the promise he made.
The gods speaking through the voice of the oracle has rejected his sacrifice, and Adindu in ghostly gait returned home to face his fate.

After two moons, his debtor collected everything he owned including his farmland and hut. Broken and homeless, he and his household returned to the Igwe to plead for a chance to work as a slave to survive.

They say, "the gods are wise",
Some say, "everything is predestined and the gods have no hand in it",
Others say, "the gods only watch and listen",
A few say, "there are no gods".
For the Amandi people it is simple, "there is God, and there is man, and they have an understanding".

Anthony Ikechukwu Ubah

LAGOS behind the wheels

A lot has been going on around me in the past few days, ranging from waiting outside the doors of a labor room (my sister added another to the planet's 7 billion people), to a mountain of tasks at work to shovel down, thus I couldn't post anything on my blog. Lagos did have Her fair share of me this time. My apologies. 
The city in mind: I stumbled into this post on a friend's Facebook page about driving in city of Lagos Nigeria, and as funny as it sounds it's as incredibly true as it is...well most of it. I made a few adjustments and additions to the original post... 
What can I say, START YOUR ENGINES!!

On the road;

1. When in doubt, accelerate!
2. Be prepared to ram into anything stopping you that is wearing uniform in Lagos (police,traffic warden, FRSC, Kai brigade, fire brigade, road safety, VIO, LASTMA, LAMATA, LASWA)
3. If you get caught by any chance, do not allow them to enter your car, if they happen to get in do not drive from that spot (veer off traffic & settle properly #cash), and if they don’t agree, pretend that you are calling an uncle who is in the army (believe me it always works), never follow them to any sort of office except you are ready to pay ten times more than what was demanded.
4. Never give police, Road safety or VIO your original particulars (whether expired or up to date).
5. Danfo(Bus) drivers believe they are immortal. Never yield to the temptation to teach them otherwise.
6. Okada(commercial motor bikes) riders have a pact with suicide, avoid them like a plaque.
7. Avoid BRT buses in all ramifications, they have no brakes.
8. Taxi cabs (oko asewo) should always have the right of way, all of them have been driving in Lagos for "25 years".
9. Never, ever, stop for a pedestrian unless he flings himself under the wheels of your car. 
10. The first parking space you see will be the last parking space you see. Grab it. Survival of the fittest! That's how the city be.
11. Learn to swerve abruptly. In Lagos, potholes (and sometimes car-holes) are put in key locations to test drivers’ reflexes and shock absorbers,( I saw a man fishing in one of the potholes last week).
12. There is no such thing as “one-way” in Lagos. Expect traffic from any direction at all times. The okada riders are the experts in this area.
13. Never get in the way of a car that needs extensive bodywork, except you want to spend your whole Saturday at the panel beater’s.
14. Morning rush-hours are equivalent to Lagos grand prix (who gets to the junction first).
15. There is no such thing as a short-cut during rush-hour traffic in Lagos. Everybody might be inclined to take that ’short-cut’.
16. When asking for directions, always ask at least three people. Lagosians always claim to know every inch of the city – even areas they’ve never been to. Please do ask, Google maps never tell you about street gates and abandoned roads, so make your GPS a second option.
17. Use extreme caution when pulling into service lanes. Service lanes are not for breaking down the traffic, but for speeding, especially during rush hour.
18. Never use directional signals, since they only confound and distract other Lagos drivers, who are not used to them.
19. Similarly, never attempt to give hand signals. Lagos drivers, unused to such courtesies, will think you are making obscene gestures to them. This could be very bad for you in Lagos.
20. Hazard lights (popularly called “double pointer”) is not (as commonly supposed) used to indicate a hazard. It is a warning to you that you are a bonafide Lagos driver headed ’straight’, and as such, will not stop under any circumstance. Take him extremely seriously especially if he backs it up with a continuous blast from his “horn”.
21. At any given time, do not stand on the zebra crossing expecting traffic to yield to you, or else you will have to explain to the on coming traffic whether you look like a zebra.
22. Speed limits are arbitrary figures posted only to make you feel guilty.
23. Remember that the goal of every driver is to get there first by whatever means necessary. No room for slow or cautious driving.
24. In Lagos every spot is a potential bus stop. FRSC and LASTMA know that too. It is in their constitution.
25. Above all, keep moving. Even with a flat tyre!!!
26. Always drive with the full beam of your full headlamps at night, otherwise all oncoming cars would blind you with theirs. Endeavor to change your lamp to those white bright light.
27. In the event of a little car accident, don't hold back on your vocal aggression. In Lagos, the driver who cannot show a higher level of "craze" is judged guilty irrespective of who actually is at fault.
28. Putting a L sign on your car is just an attraction of bully drivers, don't do it you will be tortured! well maybe you can if you are yet to renew your licence, or haven't got one yet.
29. On a narrow road, if u are waiting for cars with right of way to completely finish passing through or stop for them to allow allow you join traffic from a connecting road, you might as well be prepared to wait forever. Just block everybody till they have no choice but to let you go.  
30. 
31. If you are a Danfo driver, you have a free parking space every where in the city, even on roundabouts, the middle of the road or a busy junction. but if your car is private, LASTMA is always willing to toll you car and park it well for you, at their office. If you don't have money to bail your car from LASTMA, park on an entrance or feel free to takeout the 'NO PARKING' signs anywhere and park comfortably, they are put there to selfishly secure the space for someone else. Kill the engine and walk away.

HORNING IN LAGOS

'Horn’ when someone executes a dangerous maneuver.

‘Horn’ when you’re about to move off.

‘Horn’ when you’re about to overtake.

‘Horn’ when someone is about to overtake you.

‘Horn’ when turning into a road.

‘Horn’ when emerging from a road.

‘Horn’ back when someone horns at you. (It’s considered good etiquette.)

‘Horn’ when you hear a chorus of horns. Don’t worry if you don’t know

what all the ‘horning’ is about.

‘Horn’ when you’re happy.

‘Horn’ to the beat when you’re playing music in your car.

'Horn' when nobody is horning, you need to break the silence

'Horn' when every body is horning, 

'Horn' when you are scared.

'Horn' When you can not wait.

'Horn' to test your horn...just keep on horning its also part of your car

Good luck, as you expeditiously navigate through Lagos and hustle and bustle


 #LAGOS #LAGOSTRAFFIC #LAGOSDRIVING

Japan's 'Too many Virgins' Problem

I got into an argument with my friend John M. on Monday about Africa (I always get into arguments lately about Africa). We debated about the challenges faced by Africa and the possibility of diverting the African course to a ruling continent. I must say, we agreed on this one thing; Africa is the least challenged continent on this planet, and my beloved Nigeria is one of the least challenged. 

Now I know someone will be upset at my 'ignorance', or 'blindness' of the African plight, and close this page. Hold your horses, I'm not being too conclusive. Lets look at this scenario: 

If Africa is to be completely evacuated, and the Europeans, or any other random advanced continent or country dwellers are brought in, where do you see Africa in 50 years. With our fertile vegetation, stable climate and stable crust???? Let's not be racist! Now imagine Africans in a region plagued by hurricanes, tsunami, blizzard, Forest fire, landslide, earthquake, heatwave, SNOW! Think.

Tell me.

You will discover by your self that our problems is not only a System problem, its also a people problem. I will discuss my thoughts on how the human geographic roots affect his thought pattern later on my blog, not today. Today's topic isn't about Nigeria or Africa, it is about Japan, Land of the rising sun. 

Let us take a few moment to worry about Japan.

Japan has a Nominal GDP of $4.210 Trillion, and a Per Capita income of $33,223, making tit the 3rd Largest economy in the world. they also have the world's second longest life expectancy at birth, at 84.74 years in 2015. Ironically they also pose as the country with the lowest birthrate, with a birth rate of 7.93 in 1000 (only recently surpassed by Germany in a May 2015 survey), mange a low mortality rate of 9.73 per 1000 persons. Thus averagely an aging population.

Top on the challenges facing Japan's shrinking population today is the virginity problems. Yes "Virginity". Japan suffers an odd situations of having so many mid-age virgins, having lots of men and women at 40 who are still virgins. Trust me, this has nothing to do with any religious beliefs. Up to 80% of their population don't identify with any form religion. #BigCityLife

With the world's most rapidly aging population, their sexual apathy is extremely causing growing concerns that Japan may nut be able to produce enough children to sustain their massive economy, due to shortage in labour force.

A survey by Japan's National Institute for Populations and Social security Research in 2010 found that a quarter of Japanese men in their thirties were still virgins. Amazing isn't it? 

They are imaginative people who love fantasies (you can see that from their games and cartoons), thus the illusions of a perfect relationship coupled with the Japanese fear for failure, they degenerate into induced chastity. A lot of Japanese in there forties have never kissed a girl or dated one. They are distracted by their manga series, comics, cartoons, movies, music, celebrities, video games, sports and other forms of entertainments, that comes with little suffering or pain and with low tendency of causing depression. (Quick fact: In Japan they use more papers for Comics than for tissues).

NOTE: Japan has famous red light districts(aka Ashawo spot) littered in urban and suburb areas, but this has done little to nothing to ease their crashing libido.

There is also the case of numerous sexless marriages, with a Tokyo suburban clinic recording over 200 women in  marriages who have not had sex with their husband in over 20 years (Can we please observe a moment of silence). Many men see their wives as a second mother, and not a woman with emotional and sexual needs, and guess what? the women still love their husbands and aren't opting for a divorce. Creepy!

If this trend continues till 2060, Japan's 128 million population could shrink by 30%, with 2 in 5 people above the age of 65. 

This has lead to Non-Profit groups like White Hand to set up programs like; 3 days sex Booth Camp, to help people loose their virginity in days. Damn!....well this was halted almost immediately (I can bet my next pay cheque that randy men and women would flood their gates for free sampling). 

White head has now stepped down to a less crazy bimonthly Nude art classes, where Virgin men can spend time drawing a real naked adult female subject; the first time for some to see a real naked woman. This is geared towards reviving their desires for sex, by taking time to draw, admire and appreciate the female body(parts).

Let us see how far this goes in helping them.

Other Facts about Japan's whahala;

Did you know? 

Japan...

• Has over 50,000 people over 100 years old, and 441,584 between the ages of 95-99 (documented)
• Adult diapers sell more than children diapers due to very low birth rate. 
• 98% of all adoptions are of male "Adults" so that family business can remain within the family.
• There are more Pets than children.
• .
• Late night Dancing was Illegal in until 2015.
• Only 2 gun related homicides in a year.
• Suicide rate of 19.4/100,000 persons. (In 2014 an average of 70 Japanese committed suicide daily, which is actually an improvement on a 12 year stick of 33,000 plus cases per year as at 2010)
• Suffers an average 1,500 Earthquakes in a year

Now I'm sure you see Japan in a different light now.

I think Japan needs to get Laid, Africa needs Birth Control, and the US need sex control. America has explored the limits of sex and have resolved to trying out experiments.

#Transgender#LGBT #CaitlynJenner 

#BlackBoyThinking

by Ubah Ikechukwu Anthony

credits 

edition. cnn. com/2015/06/24/asia/japan-middle-aged-virgins/?iref=obinsite;

en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Suicide_in_Japan

theguardian. com/world/2005/apr/04/japan.justinmccurry

independent. co. uk/life-style/love-sex/when-you-are-young-you-are-afraid-of-rejection-japans-reallife-40yearold-virgins-10304364. html

Buhari's Interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour

President Muhammadu Buhari in an Exclusive interview with CNN's Chief International correspondent Christiane Amanpour, gave little insight into his meeting with President Obama at he Whitehouse. In the interview President Buhari said 12 weeks was too early to judge him on his campaign promises, he however reassured Nigerians and the world of his intention to tackle corruption, and the security challenges facing the country, stating that security is paramount in the interest of Nigeria in Her current situation.


The Interview;






Christiane Amanpour: Mr President you have asked the United States to help you in the fight against Boko Haram. What exactly did you ask in this regard and what answers did President Obama give you?

President Muhammadu Buhari: The United States leading the G7 promised to do what they can to help Nigeria. So we have brought our requirements in terms of training, equipping and intelligence-gathering for Nigeria to be able to fight Boko Haram.

Christiane Amanpour: You mention the economy and the fall in oil prices over the last many months. How are you going to deal with that? Because that is really what your people want.
President Muhammadu Buhari: My people, firstly I believe, they want the security in the country to be stabilized so that normal life, both in the southern part of the country where militants are still sabotaging oil installations and kidnapping people and demanding ransom and then in the north east of the country where Boko Haram is still active. This is a main preoccupation of Nigerians now and is a realistic way of looking at things. Nothing will work until the country is secured.


Christiane Amanpour: But despite your vows to tackle Boko Haram, there are reports in your own country that there have been at least 400 deaths by that group since you became president. Added to that, Amnesty International reports that your military has totally lost the credibility and trust of the people because of the systematic human rights abuses, the killing of some 8000 people. How do you expect your military to be able to go against Boko Haram, to get the trust of the people instead of being a platform for Boko Haram’s grievances?

President Muhammadu Buhari: Well I have just mentioned that under Lake Chad Basin Commission, we have agreed to form a multinational joint task force, so whatever happened before that decision was taken, we have to allow further investigations to verify the question of human rights abuse. And with that I am sure you must have known the decision taken by this government - the federal government of Nigeria - in changing the military command.
Christiane Amanpour: What about the famous Chibok girls, the 200 or so, abducted so long ago; yet again there has been a suggestion that the Boko Haram captors may seek to trade them for their incarcerated inmates who they want to get out, is your government willing to trade those girls in that regard?

President Muhammadu Buhari: We have to be very careful about the credibility of various Boko Haram leaderships coming up and claiming that they can deliver. We have to be very careful indeed and we are taking our time because we want to bring them safe back to their parents and to their schools.

Christiane Amanpour: So are you in principle against, or will you consider, negotiating with Boko Haram if you can verify the credibility of those who approach you?
President Muhammadu Buhari: I cannot be against it. I told you our main objective as a government is to secure those girls safe and sound back to their schools and rehabilitate them to go back to normal life. So if we are convinced that the leadership that presented itself can deliver those girls safe and sound, we would be prepared to negotiate what they want.


Christiane Amanpour: You came to power on a platform that you will do better than the previous president in all regards; Security, Corruption, Economy et cetera. But there have been hundreds of people killed since you become president. How can you do any better?
President Muhammadu Buhari: I think I can be held to my promises for the next three and three-quarter years ahead of me. And I think 12 weeks or so are too early for any person to pass judgment on my campaign promises.

Christiane Amanpour: What about your campaign promises to root out corruption, if they turn out that some of the guilty ones were members of your own party or your own associates; Will you crack down on them too?
President Muhammadu Buhari: I just have to, there isn’t going to be any party member or any personality that can escape justice.
Christiane Amanpour: Are you disappointed that President Obama yet again is not coming to Nigeria. The biggest and most economically powerful country in Africa?
President Muhammadu Buhari: I wouldn’t say I was disappointed, but how I wished he will change his mind and go to Nigeria.


Christiane Amanpour: Did you ask him, did he say he would?
President Muhammadu Buhari: Well I asked him and that I will send a formal invitation.

Christiane Amanpour: Let me ask you about a previous African leader, the former dictator of Chad, Hissene Habre who is being tried – or at least they are trying to try him – in Senegal; do you support that process of trying an accused African leader in Africa, rather than at the International Criminal Court?
President Muhammadu Buhari: Justice is justice, whether it is done in Africa or elsewhere in the world. The important thing is let justice be done. Whatever evidence the prosecution has in Senegal, I think they should proceed to make it available to the world and prosecute him according to international law and human rights.
Christiane Amanpour: So you support that process?
President Muhammadu Buhari: I support any process that is based on justice.

Christiane Amanpour: President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, thank you for joining me from Washington.
President Muhammadu Buhari: Thank you very much.

#cnn #cnninsideafrica #BuhariAmanpour #ChristianeAmanpoure #Nigeria #BlackBoyThinking #ChibokGirls #BringBackOurGirls #Buhari

CNN said, I say(Buhari meets with Obama )

With respect to my previous post about the Nigerian president’s visit to the United States and his meeting with Barack Obama, an article on CNN Politics last night caught my attention and I am going to share some of the twists with you here on my blog. 

The article Titled ‘Obama looks to new Nigerian partner in Boko Haram fight’, starts thus;

“Washington (CNN) President Barack Obama will welcome Nigeria's new president to the White House Monday in an effort to bolster the fight against Boko Haram and begin a new chapter with Africa's most populous country.The United States is eager to boost its ties with Nigeria now that the former president, Goodluck Jonathan, who was often a source of frustration for Washington, has left office….”

I’ll pause here to review some details;

"…in an effort to bolster the fight against Boko Haram and begin a new chapter with Africa's most populous country."

It doesn’t come as a surprise to me, the new “chapter” which will involve a direct involvement  in Nigeria’s military and security affairs..."Do I smell the military base i talked about?" If so, could it benefit us and guarantee Nigerian citizens safety? Maybe I’ll ask Iraq, Afghanistan and other's in the list.

“…Goodluck Jonathan, who was often a source of frustration for Washington…”

Of cause this line was also tweeted by @APCNigeria in their official handle, "as expected". I ask, What are the oyibo insinuating? I was not a big fan of the GEJ led administration which is infamous for his characteristic indolence, but if there is anything I cannot forget about the former president, it is this, he refused to bow down to America, thus America denied him support. 
First and evidently, in Obama’s two visits to Africa, ‘Africa’s Most Populous country’ and no.1 economy was omitted. 
Secondly when Goodluck Ebele Jonathan approached the United States for Arms trade, he was turned down by not only the US, but also it's allies. This prompted Goodluck and his administration to secretly opt for illegal arms deals abroad. A move which the western allies tried to sabotage. This deals yielded an early and significant success in pushing the insurgents back and halting their attacks, prior to the ploy by western allies that intercepted further deals. 
The third reason why America considered GEJ’s administration frustrating is simple. He fraternized with one of America's political opponents Russia. GEJ signed a multi billion dollar Nuclear power plant deal with Rosatom Corporation, a Russian government run company nuclear company, in his bid to conquer electricity challenges in the country.

continuing;

"Buhari, a devout Muslim in a country where a majority of residents are Muslim, said during his election that he'd fight aggressively against radical Islam and promised to ramp up the fight against Boko Haram…”

The reporter isn’t Mr Obama, but if he was, I’ll say he is trying to paint Nigeria as an Islamic nation, so he can easily convince the Americans that he is only trying to save a group of Muslims from themselves if he eventually invades Nigeria; typical American technique in her Global Policing ideology. Since the writer isn’t Obama I can’t blame him for this blunder. What I can blame him for however is, not categorizing Nigeria as a country with predominantly Muslim North and Christian south as is generally referred to world through.

"President Obama looks forward to discussing with President Buhari our many ‘shared priorities’ including US.-Nigeria cooperation to advance a holistic, regional approach to combating Boko Haram," the White House said in a statement.

‘Shared Priority’, office romance? ok o. the lines above simply brings back my thoughts that US might want to employ the 'divide and rule' strategy to control Nigeria, to control the ‘Region’. No? Now check out the statement below;

Activists are hoping that the United States can assist Nigeria in halting Boko Haram's growth, especially by focusing on strengthening the country's military.

hmmm....

According to Omolola Adele-Oso, executive director and co-founder of Act For Accountability, a D.C.-based African government watchdog organization,

"The largest help the U.S. could give comes with intelligence -- helping Nigeria develop and monitor and track our security issues, and develop a better understanding of what it means to control our border,"

America understands propaganda more than anyone, so I need-not say more. All I see is help, help, help, help the Nigerian military.

One lovely part that appeals to my little brain in this article is this next one:

"While Nigeria would be wise to strengthen its relationship with the United States, ultimately the solutions to the country's problems -- including divisions -- will have to be solved internally, said Tukufu Zuberi, a professor at the Center for Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania."The solution to that can't come from Obama. It has to be a Nigerian solution," he said. "There's not much France can do or the U.S. can do in order to provide a national consciousness and unity in Nigeria." 

I wouldn’t agree more. Why does the US need to nose into affairs we can tackle within ourselves? Poor Africans. Do they think we can’t solve our own problems? Well we can’t blame them for thinking so, can I? Although organization and coordination are not a black man’s thing, i'm sorry. I still believe the best way to solve family problems is, taking them back home.

Having recently won Nigeria's first credible elections, Buhari enjoys the most respected status internationally of any of his predecessors.

An election conducted by an administration perceived to be a source of frustrations to the man at the Whitehouse. Ironic

The United States, for now, has praised the democratic moment in Nigeria and both Jonathan and Buhari for a peaceful transition of power.The United States Itself helped to some extent in this process. The U.S., the United Kingdom and others in the international community warned those considering disrupting the elections that there would be serious consequences.

This is clearly laughable. I don’t think the United State's input would have stopped GEJ from playing 'Laurent Gbagbo'. This is Africa.

         That is the much I will like to take from this article. Today is Monday, lets watch the news unfold, and hope our honorable President keeps our best interests as a Nation at heart always.

Read the original article on: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/20/politics/nigerian-president-buhari-obama-visit/index.html?iid=ob_homepage_NewsAndBuzz_pool&iref=obnetwork

THE LEAP 3 (Final)

PART 3

(Short Story)

by Ubah Ikechukwu Anthony

He knows he has made a decision and there is no time to change his mind on it. He is a Thief.

“Thief! Thief! Thief! Onye oshi!” she exclaims, staggering and dragging slowly on the tip of her high heeled shoes, one hand behind her head, the other pointing at Akubuike. He is terrified. He knows he must run as fast as his legs can carry him, and he did.

“Shove the bag my my jersey, cross into the next street which leads to the market, blend in and mingle with the crowd.” This is all he his brain can produce at the moment. He is finding it hard to think with the noise from within his ribs. All he hears are the pounding in his chest and the sound of his heavy pant.

People sieve out of shut doors, street corners, eateries and raced after him "Ole! Ole!!; some jump down from slow moving and stationary danfo buses, some from their motorbikes, some from their shops and some just simply turned around and joined the chase. A mob was born.

He has seen this several time before, and he knows how most of this brewing tale ends. He starts to run even faster. The grounds he has against his victim is quickly being eaten into by the hunters filtering from  every direction, and even directly opposite him. It feels like everything is against him, and tears start to form. Terrified and confused, he makes a quick the left turn into the open gate of an old white two-story building, straight to the back of the compound, up and over the fence he swiftly went, into the compound behind which shared a common wall, zooming out the through the open the front gate into the less bust street. He continued pacing, still latching the bag onto his aching right hand.

The tremor behind him has ceased. No one is in sight. Relieved, he toss himself in hiding, by the refuse dump near the St. Theresa‘s Church. The dung hill is guided by an old dwarf wall. there he lay steadily, trying to quiet down the heavy thuds on his chest and loud pant. he stays alert sitting patiently, gasping for air. 

Shortly his breath stabilized, he sits up and listens carefully, everywhere is calm, and so sign of anyone in site. Hurriedly he opens up the bad and empties the content in the debris, quickly running his fingers through. There is in total, two hundred and fifty five Naira(N255) in every denomination, makeup kits, an old squeezed up Ankara wrapper, pieces of paper and some dirty tissue papers. His eyes dim, and his face melts in disgust, “Bi*ch!!!” he shouts, tossing the bag his left. He cleans his forehead and springs to his feet to survey the terrain.

“There he is!” A little boy shouts, pointing at him, “He’s here, he’s here.” 

Akubuike momentarily freezes in shock, placcing his right hand over his mouth, guarding his own mouth in bid to gesture the Young man to be silent. Fruitless, the mob reappears. He jumps out from hiding and takes to his heels,wishing he can turn round and talk to the angry cavalry, he will explain to them why the chase isn’t worth it. It’s only a wish, now all he can do is run, run for his dear life.

His strides are swift, and his body sailing fast in the wind. He has lost his sense of direction, and no longer feels in control of his speed and body. It feels like a brake-less car racing down a steep, and all you can do was control the wheels. But this isn’t a slop, and he was in no car. His fear fuels him, he felt levitated, only the tip of his toes touch the ground, the wind slapped his face and the earth once again trembles under his feet. The ground moves under his feet like a sheet being swept under him, the world moved so fast under his feet like an automated Thread mill. He doesn’t feel his own movement, object and images raced towards him at top speed, all he can do is hop left to right to avoid a head-on collision.

He is unable to maintain speed; weakness starts to anchors him. His ears remain constantly threatened by the whooshing sounds of; metals, pieces of wood, rocks and blades hurled or swung at him by the chasing pack, landing on his back, or flying over his head. His head has been struck by a rock but he staggers on, his back hurts so badly, another sharp pain from a blow he just received, probably an iron rod etching into his ribs. They are close, very close- everyone wants a piece of this wretched thief.

In front of him, the figure of dark and sickly six-year-old girl crying in the middle of the narrow street Ikem Street pops up straight ahead his, rapidly magnifying as he raced towards her. He a sense pity swings in,

“She might be crushed by this stampede,” he thinks to himself. Attending a sharp right turn into Nike road created a huge momentum pulling his heavy mass down, crashing on his face.

He is drained, a few yards from the Mili-Ocha Bridge. Hopeless and exhausted he submits himself to the dusty earth, planting his face down and placing both hands on top of his dusty blooded head, expecting what comes next. 

It is common knowledge that the louts and jobless residents in this part of town who made up the mob, sees these types of  opportunities to maim and pass jungle bad eggs, as a media to and cleans themselves of the frustration heaped upon them by their government and politicians, thus transferring aggression on someone else. It is neither a written nor a stated custom, but it is secretly embedded in every one of them. The chance has presented itself yet again. Akubuike is now too tired to speak, lifeless and void of thoughts he lay, the sound of pounding and shuffling feet quickly turns into kicks on his side, and stamps on his head. A thick cloud of dust envelops them. Blows, chains, Lashes, rocks and metals clattered against each other all over Akubuike as the charging crowd descends on him, pounded the life out of him. His body is now drenched with his own blood and sweat, his back is now bare as hands dragged him in every direction, and scourged. 

It feels warm and wet on the outside, but inside, Akubuike can fell the cold hand of death romancing his body.

“Mama mu o”, he screamed, “Ije ije ije m”. He screams again, as his lost voice reappears. A kick in the mouth and his voice is lost again, same as his two front teeth. 

Now he doesn’t feel the pains any more, he sees himself being stuck, but it feels numb all through. He can think again. Think of nothing more than his life through. He had never stolen anything before and the news of his death and the reason surrounding it will kill his mother. Ije’s dreams, and his father’s health, his dreams, these seem to worried him more than his looming death. 

A large man from the crowd steps forward and halts the rest of the raging mob. 

“it’s ok, it’s ok, that’s enough” he shouts with his hands wide open. The crowed obeys.  With one badly damaged eye, and the swollen second eye, Akubuike turns his blooded face to catch a glimpse of the fat man with the brown barrette. 

“Bring the tires” the man continues. 

Aku slowly places his head back on the ground where it was, breathing out a cloth of blood heavily though his nostrils, creating raising a small haze which the breeze flushes onto his face, and he remains motionless, eyes shots, trembling in periodic jerks. He shots is eye and slips into darkness.

Two tires drops over his heads and a gallon of petrol is emptied all over his lifeless. The irritating smell of the volatile fluid pulls him back to light. A section of the crowd starts chants victory songs and dancing in excitement, others with their hands and just stand watching, other who are uncomfortable to watch just spit on him and walk out.

The blood-soaked Akubuike starts making soft movements, he knows he will be dead shortly, and he worries about shame this will bring upon his poor family. He whispers a little prayer to the wind, dipping his fingers deep into the warm dust and clenched the earth in his bloody hands. The burning match is dropped, his entire body is clothed in flame. He jumps to his knees and to then to his feet, dashing through the awestruck cluster of heads watching him. He takes three quick steps, and with a smile of his battered face and flame for clothing, he makes The Lead like an Olympic athlete over the bridge barrier, dropping over twenty meters down into the rocky base of the Mmili-ocha stream. There he hopes the stream will wash his shame and sins along with it.

Fin