BLOOD ON BELLO WAY

               The sky has become dark

Now clothes will soon become black

As some have crossed to the great beyond

just because they were present at the banging sound

The plateau mourns

Bukuru hears the sound of the wailing

And the bello way is soaked in  red

For once again! we have been struck

Hands have fallen and fences broken

rain fall from eyes until its swollen

what do we say?

who do we tell

The plateau is on the spotlight

but I pray that grace make things right

And there is hope for a day so bright

and strength for the brokenhearted

THE GUNNING START

         Eight minutes into an experience that was supposed to be interesting, and we began to see a cause to lose hope. My God! after going this far, to lose again? to hull city? mehn! matter for too cast. I could not watch the match because of other engagements, but my eyes were glued to goal.com expecting miracle to happen. I began all those positive confessions that look like faith ( We cannot lose, we will equalize etc). The thought of Arsenal not winning the cup, was just something I was not ready to think about.

         But Alas! it was a double blast for me. A wonderful prayer section in the retreat and an  FA Cup to celebrate afterwards. We had to wait 9 years, not 9 months oh...haba. But all the same, we are no more trophy-less and that is what counts. The passion, expectation and joy in the players, were replicated in the hearts of the fans, little wonder the main message was "  thanks to our fans". 

        

   Wittingly, I will like to point out that we could use a devote christian arsenal fan to explain the benefit of patience or long suffering. Cos, in the midst of the talks, abuses, cartoons etc; we remain steadfast! knowing that all will be well. 

GBAGAUN!

           kai! I just finished a day. I watched as the clock ticked, noticing every ticking of the second. I naturally became nocturnal in the days leading to the summit. The head was full, but like a cloud that refuses to pour out rain, I remained. The flow could not match the speed; and I struggled to stain the paper with the ink.  All these happened because the deadline drew closer and the assignment was not ready.

         Most times, people tell me: I work best under pressure , but this one looked difficult. It was like a diver at the bed of a sea with too much pressure. In the midst of this I became like the prodigal, I made a resolution( which I pray I keep) that I will be dealing with assignments as they come and not waiting for the arrival of the D-day. Quite alright, the product of this deadlines matter are wonderful, and then we begin to wonder what would have happened, if we had settled down to work with the right mindset.

           The mind remains the seat of our thoughts and the oven of a lot of bread that come out as actions or habits. I believe that " I work better under pressure" , is a mindset that can be adjusted to produce maximum impact. Most times, it begins with a decision to want to change, which most times is not easy to make because we have become comfortable with the former. But the approach is stop the excuses and activate the cruise

        In addition, even nature teaches us that the best of things take time to build, your excellent work under pressure, is something extra-ordinary if it was given enough time to brood. With my today's experience, the aim is to make efforts that it doesn't happen again and be that producer of gems i.e a furnace that takes time with her precious stones.

    

    Deadlines! A supposed friend to a few

sometimes sweet in the mix like stew

Can also rush us out of the beauty of the morning dew

looking for fellows in the business as crew

Deadlines!too far yet very near

I will do it tomorrow

says the heart that might forget about it

Wont you do it now? no I still have time he says

Its now! and the rush begins

At this point every other thing looks like bins

but when there was time we chose to chop beans

And with speed, we miss the extraordinary's creed

Gbagaun! the heart beats with the tick

the tock makes us look at the clock

almost time, the heart panicks

but we could have rested if we planned well

                                                  

LIGHTS ON

       Ehen! Now we can sleep well; without heat and stinging fangs of mosquitoes. Mehn, it was an experience. I began to wonder, what it felt like for people that were living in areas without electricity and without money to properly sort out the need for themselves. You need to see the smiles on the faces of ekehuan students as some of us got into the hostels to see the bulbs shining during the day time, it was on PMs , TLs, facebook walls etc and this goes a long way to emphasize the importance of electricity to convenient living.
       I say a big thank you to the School management, for their speedy intervention. I saw them bring in a transformer on a truck, that means it was most likely an issue with the transformer. And for those of us that have once stayed in the streets, we know how long it takes to get things like that sorted out.May God bless them and continue to take us to greater heights.
      The Life has returned...long live magareth Ekpo! Long Live Nelson Mandela Hostel!...Long Live Ekehuan. Two and a half gbosa for Ek - city; GBOSA! GBOSA! gbos! ( You need to have heard how that sounded

LIGHTS OFF

       We may not have the hustle and bustle of the daughter campus. Her largeness in size and population including the craze in terms of attention. But we remain the beautiful small hub of creativity, with comfortable rooms and a serene environment for learning. The communal environment is one of a kind, as we enjoy the  beauty of knowing each other( at least from afar). Undoubtedly, we are the mother campus that gave birth to a child, and we are not jealous of the fact that our daughter is growing, we just continue to maintain our style, excellence and heart.

       However, Lightning struck and it affected one of the constituents of our comfort. Normally we can boast of about 18-20 hours access to electricity, which is a buzz to interesting life. But during the outpouring from heaven's heart, the hostel suddenly became dark; little did we know that this was a beginning of another experience. Now we have to learn to live in one of the harsh realities experienced in other areas.

      The first night was an experience, as like the bible times electricity passed over the doors of the hostels as it saw the signs and everywhere had light apart from Mandela and Margaret.We were at the mercy of the school generator till about 2 am , and then mosquitoes began to sing songs of praise as the heat made the body succulent enough. Normally, the fan would have helped us in times , like this but the absence of light, meant the presence of darkness. 

       Ha!the hostel light is bad, the classes are the only options for charging phones and systems. We now have to limit the bed fun times,food matters are on the table unattended to...e no easy oh. We are so used to light like Ajebo ehn, that this is looking like ...Although the school tried today to put on the generator for us in the afternoon to bring us little succor, nothing for us beats the excitement of resting in your room, the bulbs on and the fan blowing us to sleep.

      Maintenance oh! help!...I saw them carrying ladder, hope its for the better oh. Especially with the way assignments are flooding us in this final year. maybe,this is a ploy to take us to the classes to read? but where we have to choose between the fangs of the mosquitoes and the slippery bodies, none of the options is good oh.... We continue the wait!

CHIBOK GIRLS

Sisters! where are you?

      Hope you can see the sky as blue

I cannot imagine the stress you are going through

Been thought the hard lessons of life by the gun barrels

Sisters! can you hear me? 

We will continue to shout, even in whispers

we will  remain on the streets

 As we protest for effective efforts for your release

Tears fill the faces of mothers

And the fathers try to remain calm

O what will bring the soothing balm

to the pains of those that bore the pain

Forests! I know you have ears

Can you just do something to help our girls

we have not seen them in weeks 

And they say they are hidden in you

Sisters! You are missed

arrgh! this situation is a sad lip to be kissed

I really do not know what you are going through now

but I pray that  soonest we will hear the shouts of Joy....

phlegvinyl

OKOKU GRANDANI

                When new students come into school, they are the fresh inputs and hence a lot of spheres make efforts to bring them to the knowledge of their beliefs.  The Keggites do meetings to indoctrinate them into the life of the palm wine. The Man O war make their impact known (I.e. displaying the opportunities available if you are part of them) right from the clearance exercise at the Akin DEKO main Auditorium. The Red Cross show how helpful they can be and even some banks display kindness of different sorts; the lists of “welcomes” by different belief systems are endless.

                However, I concern myself with the efforts of the Christians to bring freshers to the fold of believers on campus. Programmes ranging from the CTY (Catch Them Young) to the fresher’s Welcome are organised to share messages of the riches of his grace and love. Saving the lost, steadying those that are shaking and encouraging those that are firm in Christ like Iron sharpens iron.  Hence, in the spirit of OKoku Grandani, I express my feelings on the beauty of the Freshers welcome organised by the house of CU-NIFES (Christian Union – Nigeria Fellowship of Evangelical students) for the new intakes of the 2013/ 2014 session.

                In 2010/2011 session, I was “Atote Percektuara” – the determined ones, the next year came; I had to be part of those to welcome the “Monadikous Thisavrous” – Unique Treasures to campus. And then as an exco, I participated fully in the unveiling of the “SuuKapale” – Mouthpiece of the 2012/2013 session. And then, this year came and they called it “OKOKU Gradani”...and I waited patiently for the unveiling of the theme by the evangelism secretaries.

                The choir scatter my head with their presentation, Praises and worship was from the planet called “wow”. The MCs Jide and Onyinye made sure, boring moments were lacking. I could feel the kicks of passions on the drums through the subwoofers on the front panels and grace soaked the atmosphere. Back to the choir jare, their dressing make sense to the core and NICUDU ( NiFES –CU Drama Unit) did not dull in their own presentation.  Jesus Generation Singers built on their excellent performance of last year to thrill us with beautiful dance steps that pleased our eyes and touched our souls.

                “We think say e don finish oh”... little did we know that the sweetness of the programme was just changing gears. Dr.Ken Katas, mounted the pulpit to share Gods word and the service entered into another realm. Although, the clocked ticked tirelessly as the time counted, I think the time was worth it. Live were changed, transformed and saved. The Holy Spirit expressed himself in the beauty of his awesomeness, inhabiting the praises of his people and touching lifes...Moving like the wind, where we see the impact but not really the visual person.

                Okoku Grandani, freshers welcome for the 2013/ 2014 session means “Kingdom Citizens”...and the kingdom of God invaded the earth in lives and I know this is a start of something beautiful and great. They are the kingdom Citizens (me sef  join oh) ,  to function from the perspective of the kingdom and express Gods will on earth. Hmmm...na so we see am, some things we cannot just explain except you were there...all glory to God

           

LETTER TO MY FELLOW YOUTHS

 DEAR YOUTHS,

The increasing situation of cases plaguing our country may have continually dimmed the ray of hope that has begun to grow in our hearts. Children like  us were kidnapped from school and we have not been able to find them in more than a week, the bomb blasts at Nyanya and other areas at the north east, institutionalized corruption in high places ( #cabals) etc. Are part of the growing matters arising. I will not blame you, if you do not even have hope again.

                But your knowledge of the above comes with a responsibility that goes beyond talk. We all know that there are problems plaguing our nation; denial will  be just self deception.  However, I am hopeful for the greatness that lies in you. Yes you! ...The youths of this nation! Sadly, many of us no longer even believe that we are the leaders of tomorrow; because of the harsh realities that we have come to experience. Nevertheless, Can we decide to form a reality based on values to transform the current nature of the country? Yes we can.

                The corruption that has obviously become a culture of the majority, based on our own democratic system started small and spread like a wild fire; so also can we start a revolution of character and virtue to transform this nation into a spectacular place to be in. I beg us not to learn the wrong from our fathers and choose not to follow their steps. If we continue to cry that our fathers have failed us, we should not allow our children cry same...you can start the change by becoming the change.

                In addition, I write this with severe pity and concern for the female children who could have been my sisters that have been kidnapped and pray that God grant them succour in the face of the present challenges. The present situation moves me to concern and not just mere complain. The fathers claim that we have not been responsible enough ...let us rise up and build a Nigeria that we will be proud we are part of.

                Get your hands stained in the mixing of the mortar that makes the new Nigeria, let your voices be heard on the streets as you mobilize like minds. Encourage those that have lost hope by your  patriotic acts and speech...things are getting worst...and might deteriorate further if we fold our hands, but let us join our hands together to make things work.

                Moreover, some of us complain about the fact that the system inhibits our growth to getting a platform of reasonable influence but some have risen through the same sphere to create an influencing atmosphere. Explore the adaptive gene that is embedded in the DNA of every Nigerian and carve a niche of excellence for yourselves.

                In conclusion, I ask that you be the  Nigeria you want to see, strive to excellent in anything you do and continually make your input in  the struggle to make Nigeria a better place. We must breathe fresh air, we must have shoes, we must go to schools....yes we can, if we do not loose up and stop efforts. With support for each other, for this order (Nigerian Greatness)... together we can make Nigeria brighter.

                                                                                                            Yours Sincerely,

                                                                                                             Phlegvinyl

HE LOVES YOU

             At this period, every depth of emotional stress is tested.  The inquisition of life is fed to us as bread; and we chew with a voracious speed.  A void remains in our hearts at this period, and so many options look like they can get to fill it. It takes grace to make the right choices at this point, as the turbulence of this time sometimes make us navigate the worst and best of bends. These are some of the trials of the sojourning youth.

                Born in a spiritual home, where morning devotion is compulsory and we learnt to put verses in our heads just like our class subjects. Children church was like a pool where we came together, but what we had to swim in was scriptures, bible stories, and different form of spiritual exercises. We were groomed to love God, it was not uncommon for us to hear things like “ IF YOU LIE YOU WILL GO TO HELL FIRE OH”, sing songs like:

If you do good kingdom

If you do good kingdom

Kingdom waiting for you

If you do bad, no more kingdom

No more kingdom waiting for you

               

                However, we became taller and began to have broader chests. Some of us had to apply “Ethylated spirit” on our chins and jaws, so that we had more beards; others brushed their hair and used comb to draw the sporting wave lines.  For the buns, the sizes of the boobs, hips and “Bakassi”, became something to give attention to and it even made some feel bad about how they were. It now became a matter whether the boys laughed when she passed or they are awed by her elegance and grace. “Maybe, I need to make the skirts tighter and shorter or just leave a part open to attract attention”, became a subject matter in some of the minds.

                

               Some people were “perfect” all through, and did not have many challenges. I really appreciate God for their lives and pray for grace to stand through the thick and thin.  But for some of us, we really did not just understand why we shouldn’t be in control of our lives. All those scriptures that were drummed into our heads when we were little we got to rationalize them and the new information we got from them made more sense.  Sometimes, some scriptures only made sense when they were explained in the room, but when we got to the outside world, they just seemed impracticable.  I say this with all sincerity and deepest sureness:  there was still a part of us that loved God and pricked us as we went farther away. We got lost in various degrees of depth, some of us still listened, while some others forsook the right way entirely and ran the race for the other team (In this world, you are either for God or for the devil). And they ran it very well.                  

There is something I have gotten to observe( It may be wrong), those with the best of future in the Christian race, most times are the ones that get to go through the worst of challenges in their youthful stage. Hence: I have gotten to believe the devil most times sort after the best of futures in their strategic placement and try to keep them engrossed in different struggles so that they do not get to understand the Excellency of function that awaits them in Christ Jesus. Anything that is precious to the devil, the devil likes to get it for himself too and I am excited to let us know that we are very important to Christ Jesus.

                Unfortunately, for some of us the “CHURCH” made our exodus a little bit faster.  They made us feel that Jesus hated us and that we were already too lost: this they most times did unknowingly. The message of “Jesus loves us” was brought in the shades of condemnation, so when it came to us; the pricking of the conscience made us choose the latter as the message. We were made to feel as if we were the worst, few of us had the opportunity to be corrected in love instead we became the talk of the church. We were left aside, and the absence of love almost drove us down the cliff. At the points where we thought of coming back, we thought we had done too much to be accepted back. The idea of Sinning and asking for forgiveness, doing it over and over again...made us feel bad, so we just gave up oh.  We tried to put ourselves in Gods shoes, how will he feel?  “Am I not just abusing his grace”?

                However, I bring today a message of peace and Love that God loves you and that you are important to him as a son. Deep down within you, there remains a search for what completes you and I am glad to announce to you that it is the love of Christ. For some of us we were trained to fear God rather love him, and bask in his love. We did not lie not because we loved God, but because we did not want to go to hell fire; the fire of hell kept us in check rather than the fear of God. So the idea we had about God was a task master waiting to flog and cast us into well when we misbehaved. But scripture says that the love of God constrains us (2 Cor 5: 14) and perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18), how do we combine this realities? This explains to me that I should live in God’s love, stay there, swim in it and it controls my actions. I won’t like to hurt daddy (God) because I love him, and even when I do; I perfectly get it that he loves me and will not cast me away. On this matter, my thought has always been that, in my worst it is him... in my best, it is still him, and in him I live and have my being. 

What manner of love that the father has bestowed upon you that you should be called his son... he loves you even in the depth of your struggle, and that is why his beckon to you now is “Come son! I love you with the whole of my heart, even with what you have done... Come let me cleanse and make you whole”. I knowingly did this oh and I like it, “Still come! In my love, an avalanche of matters is sorted. “See the way I am just simplifying the matter to just love, he / she had sinned ...as in better sin (Pidgin), killed, robbed, raped, aborted, Casanova, prostitute” someone might think, but still again in the midst of all Gods awesomeness, anger, judgment... one of the only truth that could accommodate his being is love: For “God is love” (1 john 4: 8). When we live our lives in this world, through the prism of love, things will be made better. Then even someone who went to steal and is to be sentenced to prison, when he catches the revelation of God’s love, will feel sorry for his act, be willing to serve the prison term for his crime because he knows that the prison walls cannot keep him from the beauty and refreshing of God’s love. Like the thief on the cross, death will not matter, as long as you will be part of the bride when the bride groom appears for the final feast.

                Youths! God loves you greatly and richly. He understands the delicate situation of your present age. He knows you really want to........... (Fill in the blank space), but in him alone will your completeness be. Him alone can help you whether the storm. It is out of his love for you, that he doesn’t want you to act that wrong way. The Devil knows that you are greatly loved and cherished, that is why he is doing so much to take you to the other side. You are very important to God and he loves you greatly. I really want to encourage that we make sure our children grow to know that God loves them: when we begin understand how much God loves us, loving him back flows back easily (1 john 4: 19).

#singing:

 Jesus loves me this I know

For the bible tells me so

Little ones to him belong

They are weak but he is strong

Yes Jesus loves me

Yes Jesus loves me

                #that Grace is abused does not change grace from being grace. Love is Gods nature... enjoy God as a father, and it will easier to run to him in times of struggles and he is ever ready to make us whole.

ARE YOU READY?

      

                  With excitement, I prepare for the gemstone Port Harcourt meeting. My heart leaps for joy, as I really believe it is going to be a gathering of people who love God and love their nation too. Yes! I can hear your thoughts: what if not? But i choose to believe the what if positivity. Within this last few weeks, I have gotten to talk with people who have the beats of Nigeria as part of their heart beats and are empowered by grace.

       At a point,  I thought  " that  we might be very few in this business." This was fueled by the products of discussions I had with youths ( Like me) who believed that there was no hope for this country again. A common excuse was that, they have been saying that we are the leaders of tomorrow, while the leaders have continued to be recycled from the same pack for the good parts of our independent existence as an entity called - NIGERIA. The rate of embezzlement is on the increase, with the figures missing in the range of millions, billions and trillions; the thought for most was " LET US JUST CHOP OUR OWN  PART OF THE NATIONAL MOIN MOIN."  I saw people who saw corruption as the culture that they were born into and the system in which our country is wired.

        I spoke to Old men, who pitied our situation. The discussion most times ended with this question: " Will this nation ever be good again?"  They compare, the amenities available for them when they were young, and what we have at this point when this nation is richer... and shake their heads in nods of sadness. I feel their pains and am sometimes tempted to loose hope, but deep within me the hope of glory says "things will be better."

          The religious minds  remind me of the fact that the world is coming to an end. That there will be earthquakes, nations warring  against  nations etc,that things will continue to grow worse. Using the scriptures as an excuse, they sit back, watch their heads only and leave the world around to suffer in darkness.  I should just be on my own oh, try and live right, so that I can make heaven and escape this bad and wicked world. They avoid the political systems and call it the world, the unbelievers continue to make the millions while the religious say that they want to set their eyes on things that are above.... The excuses abound!

         However, I remain part of the generation that believes in the greatness of this nation. Who believe in the truth that "the earth awaits the manifestation of the sons of God". The world waits on the preservative function of the salts of the earth. I was left with an instruction to Occupy till he comes, what use is my presence; if there is no shining light where I am. 

          As lights in this generation, we are meant to give light where there is darkness, give warmth when there is cold and provide energy to make food available. 

        We await the fulfillments of prophecies upon our lands. Declarations that we are part of the trigger for the end time kingdom revolution. I believe in the excellency of this nation in the midst of the various challenges. I believe in the raising of giants to ignite the national revolution of mindsets. The giant will run again (N:B I did not say she will rise). It is either you are a part of that army or you remain a part of the onlookers.

            I write these beliefs to make plain the vision, so that men will see and run with it. Standing! We continue to stand, ready to carry the banner of restoration to the ends of this nation. To begin the transformation from the grassroots, increase the information base of the masses and leave foot prints that will inspire the next generation.

             Nigeria's rise has begun, the statesmen are taking their points and recruitment into the file is taking place... let us join hands and fulfill the greatness that is hanging upon our head as a country.

Singing #Great NATION By Timi Dakolo

Here we stand as a people
With one song: with one voice
We're a nation: undivided and poised
We will take our stand: and build our land
With faith: to defend what we love

Here we are as a people
With one heart: for one cause
We're determined: to rebuild and restore
Where freedom reigns: and truth prevails
A land where there's hope for us all (2x)

(Chorus)
We're all we have, we'll defend our land
We believe in this nation, and we know we'll get there
We're all we have, we'll defend our land
We believe in Nigeria and the promise she holds
And that one day we'll shine like the sun
We're a great nation


Though we are many people
Different tribes: different tongues
We're united in our strength and resolve
To uphold the honour of our land
And for generations to come

(Chorus)
We're all we have, we'll defend our land
We believe in this nation, and we know we'll get there
We're all we have, we'll defend our land
We believe in Nigeria and the promise she holds
And that one day we'll shine like the sun
We’re a great nation