FOREVER AND A DAY
(1)
CredoFiction- Wakdok, Samuel Stephen.
She is sexy, voluptuous, and dangerously beautiful. Exactly as I have always wished my lady to be. She brings all the passion and fantasy of my teenage years to life. I have always wanted to meet and fall in love with the most beautiful woman who will make heads turn on the street and even in the church. I have loved to have a woman that will make any man jealous. And also to have a lady who is hospitable and friendly to all.
I had a very busy schedule for the day; the appointment with the consultants was finally scheduled to hold today after about three postponements. As the lead partner in my architectural firm, this was the kind of contract I have always dreamed of. Once we successfully execute this contract and the sum is paid, I am sure of making triple digits which will launch me and the firm to unimaginable heights. The beauty of the design alone will earn us more business and I am very sure that this is just the beginning of our ----
Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Tyres screeching
I was so buried in my thoughts that I didn’t see the other car coming from left side of the road; before I could turn to see the car I had quickly maneuvered my car to avoid hitting the other car. I couldn’t imagining getting involved in any accident today of all days when I am about sealing this life changing deal and clinching the contract. As I swerved my steering to avoid hitting the other car, there was no way I would know that I had left the road and had hit my car against a broken down vehicle. Before I could rescue myself out of my car the other driver who caused all these quickly drove away.
I assessed my car to see the extent of the damage, luckily no injury to me or any other person, but this would surely delay me as my radiator was already empty, it gave way when I hit the stationary vehicle. I have just an option – take a cab to the meeting because I cannot afford to miss it at any cost.
“Oh no I am sorry, it is a pity you got involved in this but can we be grateful to God for your life?” Came one of the sweetest voice I have ever heard. As I turned to look at the owner of the voice I saw a face more beautiful. She was dressed in a casual but decent top and jean. Yet from her clothe I could see her feminity peeping out. I was still looking for my voice to respond to her concern when she moved closer and asked me if I was okay.
“I am Suzanna. How do we get you and your car out of this situation?”
My name is Felix was all I could stutter as her breathe enveloped the atmosphere.
I looked at my wrist watch and saw that I only had 15 minutes to the meeting. How long with it take my mechanic to get to the scene? Unless I decide to leave the car on the road since going late for that meeting was not thinkable.
She seemed to have read my thoughts and asked me what I was going to do.
“Suzanna, I have this urgent and very important meeting to attend and I have less than 15 minutes …
She cut me short before I could finish and asked for the venue of the meeting. Apparently she lives not far away from the scene of the accident. She put a call through to her driver and when he came she offered to drive me to the venue of my meeting. Her driver would wait until my mechanic comes to take my car to his workshop.
We talked less as we drove to the venue, she guessed rightly that I needed to calm down and regain my composure and I was grateful to her for both the ride and the silence. I travelled back to my thoughts and was oscillating between the beauty beside me who came to my rescue and the project I was looking for to clinch. We got to the venue on schedule and as I was alighting from her car, I bent down to pick my laptop; she reached out and touched one of my shoulders asking me when I would be through with the meeting.
All I could tell her “it is a business meeting and I can’t determine how long it would take. But immediately we are through I will take a taxi to my mechanic’s since I hope he would have been through with my car by that time.”
I was so happy that I made it to the meeting on time and I lacked words to express my appreciation. I quickly put my hand into my pocket and fished out my card and passed it to her. I thanked her for saving my day rushed away before I realized I didn’t collect her card. I ran back to her car and asked for her card which she didn’t have in the car but promised to text me her number since I was in a hurry.
I clinched the project deal and I was elated. That was when I realized that her text had not come in and all the euphoria of hundreds of millions in naira fizzled because I want to see Suzanna again. She made it possible for me to be punctual at the meeting and the money gave way for the quest of seeing her eyes again and listen to that sweet voice of hers.
So much has happened in one day and it seems it will take me a life time to forget the money I will make and the lady who came to my aid.
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FOREVER AND A DAY
(2)
CredoFiction- Wakdok, Samuel Stephen.
Luckily when I got to the mechanic’s garage he had fixed the car. I was hoping if the Suzanna’s driver dropped his GSM number with my mechanic but he answered in the negative. I paid for the job and zoomed off. Already my office colleagues were calling to congratulate me on this quantum leap and we were billed to celebrate this big feet at the Zest; one of the newest joints in town. I drove home to have a quick shower and change into something casual. Much as I was overjoyed from the success of our contract and was so enthusiastic to share the pleasurable moment with my partners and colleagues, I notice that I was thinking more of Suzanna than the jack pot we just hit. Life! Is this how it is that we crave for something and when we get it we crave for something more? In the afternoon of this day until the sudden car crash and my meeting with Suzanna; all I longed for was to clinch the deal which we just did, but now there is this feeling of wanting something intangible. Every sms that hits my cell phone gives me hope of her number coming in only to be dashed when I see a client or a friend’s text.
In the heat of that accident and the rush to make the meeting, I didn’t realize that the phone in my hand is the new one I bought with a new SIM and this new number is not on my card. I must have left the other phone on my table when I dashed out this afternoon. I hurriedly changed and drove to the office, on my way I tried calling my secretary severally but her line was not connecting. When I got to my office I saw her text and several missed calls from that line. As I was trying to call her back another text of hers came in
Felix, I came back to pick you but I was told the meeting was over. I called many times but you were not picking. I hope your meeting went as planned. Try fixing your car and get some rest. Sue.”
I stood there transfixed, undecided; should I call her and get her address or go ahead to the Zest where my colleagues and I will be celebrating?
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FOREVER AND A DAY
(3)
CredoFiction- Wakdok, Samuel Stephen.
I have always stood by my principles of not mixing business with pleasure and since the outing at the Zest is a continuation of our business victory, I owe my colleagues the duty of been there. Calling Suzanna will tempt me to want to meet her tonight and I wouldn’t want to risk standing up my colleagues.
When I got to the Zest, the enthusiasm of my partners was high, I was glad I didn’t keep them waiting any longer. We had drinks, ate enough meat and talked about our fortune and the fame that will come with it. We agreed that this is just the beginning and we must put more efforts to surpass our client’s expectation as that will open more doors for us all. Thankfully today is Friday and as such we can all rest tomorrow being Saturday. I needed the rest more than any one can imagine.
It was a long night for me, I tried severally but Sue’s line was switched off. I wanted to thank her on voice call apart from the text I sent when I was at the Zest. I was so exasperated that I should have slept like a log but this night sleep was not forthcoming. I couldn’t imagine how beautiful and sweet she was, I was grateful for her saving grace but most of it my heart began to travel and I want to meet her tomorrow, no tonight, no; right now. I wish she was here with me. I want to stare into those eyes and listen again to that voice. All the money I will make will not make any sense, not any more. I have suddenly found out that my fantasy has a face, my passion has a name, and my dream is real.
I struggled to sleep that night and since I was so fagged out, sleep came at about 3 am and I did not know when it was day break. I dragged myself to the bathroom and had a cold bath to clear off the fatigue. I could hear the beep of my cell phone and I was happy when her text came in. She turned in early for the night and she usually switches her phone. I called her and thanked her for the previous day’s kindness. She agreed to see me later in the day and I was so excited, I could only hold myself from screaming on the phone and wait for the time. Since my car was now in order, I offered to pick her but she declined and we agreed on meeting at La Ayisha, a cool spot not far from where we met the previous day. If she was beautiful yesterday, she is stunningly beautiful today. If she was sexy yesterday she is unethically tempting today. She smelled so sweet I felt like devouring her. I stood mesmerized at the sight of such a beauty that I did not even open my mouth to greet her.
“Felix, it is good to see you again. How are you today?”
I was jolted back to life when I heard my name.
We talked about a lot of things and by the end of that lunch, it was obvious that a friendship has been struck, but deep in my heart I knew that a day alone with this exquisite lady will not calm my nerves. I have always prided myself as a guy with self control, ladies do not accelerate my heart beat.I know that I am goodlooking, full of brains and sweet words and always in charge when it comes to matters of the heart; but here I am staring at my heart slipping away and should I be glad to let it go?
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FOREVER AND A DAY
(4)
CredoFiction- Wakdok, Samuel Stephen.
“Felix, you know it has been wonderful knowing you. I just do not go about throwing my self at men. With you it was different, the first day I saw you I couldn’t pretend to myself, it was obvious I liked you and I showed it.”
“But I can not jump into another relationship now,I have not healed from the past relationship. Tony is a nice man, he did not break my heart;though I was hurt by his decision, I perfectly understand his reason.”
I have spoken all the words I can,yet she remained adamant. She is not ready to dare more than been friends. How can I tell what Tony did to her unless she tells me?
“Darling you know I love you, but I am sorry this thing can not work.It is not your fault and neither is it mine. The only blame I take is not bringing this up earlier, and that was because I was so consumed by our love and your sweetness that I did not think anything could come between us but sweet heart this is beyond us and you know it”
“Tony, where do you want me to start from? How do you want me to go on living , I love you and with you all that I am is in your heart.”
“Suzanna, yes I know all these;I love you and that is why I am asking you to let go. All that is not love ,that does not begin with love and end with love.”
“Tony is it my fault that both of us are carriers?”
“I didn’t say it was yours and I will be devastated too, but I know so much than to let us get into this. The future is longer than today, I want to save us all the problems that may arise which you know will not be in our control.”
“You have always confessed your love for me, remember how difficult it was for me to accept your overtures because I hate risking my heart. Eventually when you persisted and I saw how serious you were , I gave in and ever since I have loved you like I do to my soul.”
“It is because I love you that I am risking my life’s happiness to give us an opportunity to live happily. Loving you today will be useless if we can not remain in love forever.”
“What will stop us from loving always? If we love and love the way we do now, we can always stand what ever comes our way.Please Tony do not do this to me.”
I could see the mist in her eyes, I wanted to tell her to stop but I needed to know what she had suffered and why she is not forthcoming in opening her heart to another man.
“Suzanna, it takes a man that really loves you to give you up. If I am selfsih now, we all will suffer later. You, the kids and I.Take this as a sacrifice and evidence of my love. You will be hurt but that is because you are naïve now .”
FOREVER AND A DAY
(5)
CredoFiction- Wakdok, Samuel Stephen.
“I loved him, I felt like dying but life has to gone on. I withdrew into my shell. My dad was the Defense Attache to Mexico, I resigned my job at MTN and went to Mexico for a while to get over Tony. There I read and learnt more about Tony’s fear.
Hitherto, I took it for granted. Apart from treating it in a topic in senior school biology I didn’t bother much about sickle cell anemia. I went back to dig some books about this subject that has caused me the greatest pain of my life. I was born into an aristocratic home, I am beautiful and they also said I have a stunning figure; men hardly give me a break even when Tony was all over me.
Sickle cell anemia is a genetic life-long blood disorder which is occurs mostly in the tropics where malaria is common. It is characterized by the red blood cells assuming an abnormal rigid sickle shape. Tissues that do not have a normal blood flow become damaged. Sickle cell anemia is inherited. If one parent has Sickle Cell Anemia (AS) and the other is Normal (AA), all of the children will have sickle cell trait.
If one parent has Sickle Cell Anemia (SS) and the other has Sickle Cell Trait (AS), there is a 50% chance (or 1 out of 2) of having a baby with either sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait with each pregnancy.
When both parents have Sickle Cell Trait, they have a 25% chance (1 of 4) of having a baby with sickle cell disease with each pregnancy.
“Tony and I happened to have the traits meaning we both are AS and that was the waterloo of our love relationship. Because I didn’t bother to know my genotype earlier, we never talked about it until almost three years into our relationship when Tony brought it up. He had a friend whose kids were suffering from the disease and the parents watched helpless as two of their children died. They made frantic efforts to save the kids through blood transfusion and other means, but there is no universal cure for sickle cell anemia.”
As she spoke I was astonished. I do not even know my own genotype. I have never cared all I know is that my blood group is A+.
My world stopped for a moment as I try to think what next to do. Rush to have a test of course; but my fear grew. After her experience with Tony and what she now knows about the disease, she swore that she is so grateful to Tony for saving her and their unborn kids from the risk of sickle cell and she will not even go into any relationship if the man has the trait or where he is ignorant of his genotype.
I was under so much pressure that I could not imagine what the result of my test will be. If I was a carrier like her will I live a normal life again without this lady full of life and sweetness? She is sexy, voluptuous, and dangerously beautiful. Exactly as I have always wished my lady to be and now I am loosing her to one senseless biological trait the way she lost Tony? We both waited in silence as the laboratory technologist walked out with my result, my eyes closed themselves and all the laughter in this world seem to evaporate right before me.
Epilogue
Suzanna and Felix have never stopped talking about the way they met and how they narrowly missed falling in love because of sickle cell anemia. Interestingly they both concur that it was so helpful they found out about their genotype before getting committed and thank heavens Felix’s genotype happened to be AA after the test results came out. They did two more tests to be very sure and Suzanna has never been this happy. She lost Tony but was glad she met Felix. Their wedding bells are already ringing and they have set up an NGO to educate people about the importance of knowing their Genotype and the help they will be doing themselves and their would- be children if they took informed decisions of not marrying themselves if they suffer or carry the traits. They are also opening access to therapies that will limit the pains and sufferings of those suffering from it.
Love is beautiful but sickle cell anemia in children may shatter that love when we marry blindly.
“I love you Felix and I will never let go of you my King.”
“Sue, you are my Pearl, my heart beat and my all; I am dangerously in love with you my Queen”
She is exquisitely beautiful and I am grateful to have her, to live with her for a day is to live forever.
Dedication:
To Jordan and all the products of love whose parents were ignorant of their Genotype status or the love was so strong when they found to let go.
AA + AA= AA,AA, AA,AA=Excellent
AA+AS=AA,AA,AA,AS= Good
AS+AS= AA,AS,AS,SS= Not Good
Note- The probability is the chances of occurrence in every pregnancy and not in the total number of children.
AS+SS= No
SS+SS= Not at all
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Saturday, March 6, 2010
Just Like Yesterday -One Year Wedding Anniversary
CredoWriters:Wakdok,Samuel Stephen
Just Like Yesterday
It was like a dream, can you believe that I just woke up yesterday-02-2010 to find out it was one year since I lost my bachelors and my wife got her masters, one year since we got married? One year of frustration or happiness? One year of regrets or accomplishment. It was one year and the second year has begun counting again.
I recall those years when we were single. We belonged to different schools. As a single I was sure in the luv skool but I was also in the OBB gang (Original Bad Boys) and been in these two schools at a go made it mandatory for me to be in the Heart Break Academy. We knew then that heart break was the sweetest thing to do but the worst thing when you are on the receiving end. I remember one of my female friends telling me that She knows I was not ready to surrender my independence to any woman. So marriage is all about surrendering one's independence huh?hahahahahaha
But sometimes what do we need that independence for? We mostly need it for our freedom. Yet Freedom without responsibility is anarchy. So if marriage means placing responsibility on us to make us better people then it is worth it. That is the truth, Marriage is an eternal union; we go into it never to come out of it and that's what makes us responsible. To know the task ahead, to go into it and stick to it like the stamp.
I know people who were almost ten years my senior when I was in primary school, today I am one year in the institution but they are still single. It takes courage to take the bold step, and maturity to acknowledge the challenges, but it takes commitment to make it work. We can possess the three; courage, maturity and commitment.
One year is so short for me to teach others the lessons so I allow people like Precious,Ayo,Stella and Gabriel to do that. But for the singles who are not ready, please do not rush, and for those who are dragging, please procrastination is the thief of time.
I can't answer the question of what should you consider in choosing a life partner. I have come to understand that no reason is parochial as long as you can live with your decision. If you want to marry a beautiful sexy woman, please go ahead, if your desire is a rich handsome man, please feel free to get one. If you want a friend or a lover or a friend and a lover; that is beautiful. If you want a man to play a fatherly role in your life, look for one and if you want the President's daughter please do no hesitate. The major thing that matters is this ;go for your heart desire and live with it.
Marriage is a cross and a cross we must carry with joy, because without a cross there will be no crown. All I can tell you is do not carry a cross bigger than you or more than your strength will allow you. This is applicable to physical size, emotional worries, psychological stress and even financial liabilities. If you are slim and she is big, it is okay as long as you are strong. What I am talking about here not your spouse's proportion but your own capacity.
Marriage is not for the saints alone if not, only people in heaven will marry, and it is not for the sinners alone if not, only those in hell will marry. It is for saints and sinners which is what makes us human. We fall and we rise. There must be room for compassion and forgiveness in marriage. The best solution to your marital issues lie in your home, lies within the two of you and no more. She may not be the best, he may not be the best but you two can be your world. The best advice of all I got when I married was from an uncle. he said to me that anytime my wife annoys me, I should just go out and take a walk , I must not respond to my wife in anger. To me he said the best of them all. It is better to be patient, tolerant and if need be play the fool than to be the man and apply damage control later. The damage may be beyond control.
Marriage is sweet where love is served, but sometimes love is like the invisible forces of demand and supply which may tend towards perfect elasticity or inelasticity. In such circumstances we need the currency of friendship to bail it out and ensure stabilization.
For those of us who used to be in the OBB gang and Heart Academy, it is time we accepted the fact that we are no more boys and it is also a fortune for the girls that the bad boys have been taken out even if it is just me or two or three of us. I must warn the guys though that there are also the-girls out there who are razors to the pockets, they are few when we compare to the erasers who will clean off our blunders.
To all my brothers and sisters in the game, I say a big well-done and more grease because the elbow will not find it easy, for those discouraged who think it is hard, we can not be cowards, we must face our challenges and we will come out tops.
For those disappointed by their partners, do not loose faith, God has a better spouse for you. For those suffering from indecision, calm down, cool down and take charge. I am more concerned about all those who fear marriage because they can not trust or they are not trustworthy. All those who are scared because their hearts are too fragile. All those who are too beautiful to obey a man or too proud to respect their women.
When I wake up and stare at my son, I feel so great that if this is all I have achieved in my life time, then I can not be a failure. Do not get me wrong, marriage is not all about having children. For those who are still seeking the fruit of the womb God will make everything beautiful in his time, for now enjoy other fruits of marriage like love, happiness, companionship etc.
All I can say is :Thank you Lord for what you have done to us and what you are doing. It was just like yesterday but more than a year gone by
So long !!!
Just Like Yesterday
It was like a dream, can you believe that I just woke up yesterday-02-2010 to find out it was one year since I lost my bachelors and my wife got her masters, one year since we got married? One year of frustration or happiness? One year of regrets or accomplishment. It was one year and the second year has begun counting again.
I recall those years when we were single. We belonged to different schools. As a single I was sure in the luv skool but I was also in the OBB gang (Original Bad Boys) and been in these two schools at a go made it mandatory for me to be in the Heart Break Academy. We knew then that heart break was the sweetest thing to do but the worst thing when you are on the receiving end. I remember one of my female friends telling me that She knows I was not ready to surrender my independence to any woman. So marriage is all about surrendering one's independence huh?hahahahahaha
But sometimes what do we need that independence for? We mostly need it for our freedom. Yet Freedom without responsibility is anarchy. So if marriage means placing responsibility on us to make us better people then it is worth it. That is the truth, Marriage is an eternal union; we go into it never to come out of it and that's what makes us responsible. To know the task ahead, to go into it and stick to it like the stamp.
I know people who were almost ten years my senior when I was in primary school, today I am one year in the institution but they are still single. It takes courage to take the bold step, and maturity to acknowledge the challenges, but it takes commitment to make it work. We can possess the three; courage, maturity and commitment.
One year is so short for me to teach others the lessons so I allow people like Precious,Ayo,Stella and Gabriel to do that. But for the singles who are not ready, please do not rush, and for those who are dragging, please procrastination is the thief of time.
I can't answer the question of what should you consider in choosing a life partner. I have come to understand that no reason is parochial as long as you can live with your decision. If you want to marry a beautiful sexy woman, please go ahead, if your desire is a rich handsome man, please feel free to get one. If you want a friend or a lover or a friend and a lover; that is beautiful. If you want a man to play a fatherly role in your life, look for one and if you want the President's daughter please do no hesitate. The major thing that matters is this ;go for your heart desire and live with it.
Marriage is a cross and a cross we must carry with joy, because without a cross there will be no crown. All I can tell you is do not carry a cross bigger than you or more than your strength will allow you. This is applicable to physical size, emotional worries, psychological stress and even financial liabilities. If you are slim and she is big, it is okay as long as you are strong. What I am talking about here not your spouse's proportion but your own capacity.
Marriage is not for the saints alone if not, only people in heaven will marry, and it is not for the sinners alone if not, only those in hell will marry. It is for saints and sinners which is what makes us human. We fall and we rise. There must be room for compassion and forgiveness in marriage. The best solution to your marital issues lie in your home, lies within the two of you and no more. She may not be the best, he may not be the best but you two can be your world. The best advice of all I got when I married was from an uncle. he said to me that anytime my wife annoys me, I should just go out and take a walk , I must not respond to my wife in anger. To me he said the best of them all. It is better to be patient, tolerant and if need be play the fool than to be the man and apply damage control later. The damage may be beyond control.
Marriage is sweet where love is served, but sometimes love is like the invisible forces of demand and supply which may tend towards perfect elasticity or inelasticity. In such circumstances we need the currency of friendship to bail it out and ensure stabilization.
For those of us who used to be in the OBB gang and Heart Academy, it is time we accepted the fact that we are no more boys and it is also a fortune for the girls that the bad boys have been taken out even if it is just me or two or three of us. I must warn the guys though that there are also the-girls out there who are razors to the pockets, they are few when we compare to the erasers who will clean off our blunders.
To all my brothers and sisters in the game, I say a big well-done and more grease because the elbow will not find it easy, for those discouraged who think it is hard, we can not be cowards, we must face our challenges and we will come out tops.
For those disappointed by their partners, do not loose faith, God has a better spouse for you. For those suffering from indecision, calm down, cool down and take charge. I am more concerned about all those who fear marriage because they can not trust or they are not trustworthy. All those who are scared because their hearts are too fragile. All those who are too beautiful to obey a man or too proud to respect their women.
When I wake up and stare at my son, I feel so great that if this is all I have achieved in my life time, then I can not be a failure. Do not get me wrong, marriage is not all about having children. For those who are still seeking the fruit of the womb God will make everything beautiful in his time, for now enjoy other fruits of marriage like love, happiness, companionship etc.
All I can say is :Thank you Lord for what you have done to us and what you are doing. It was just like yesterday but more than a year gone by
So long !!!
Freedom-Yes-Freedom!
CredoWriters: Wakdok, Samuel Stephen.
18-02-2010
“I will not be a slave to another man, and no man will be a slave to me”-Abraham Lincoln.
Freedom! One word that I have never bothered myself to write about, yet the very idea that we live for and will die for if need be. I know that freedom is a word said and used by billions across the world. Freedom is that which we seek and many have died for, yet we fight for freedom because we can’t live without it. I once asked if we preferred to live as hungry free men or live as wed fed slaves. What stops us from living as just free men because for me to live as a hungry free man is the same thing as been a slave. There is no freedom in hunger just as there is no freedom in been a well fed slave.
Freedom covers all the length and breadth of our lives as individuals and as a people. We seek freedom, but freedom from what and freedom to do what? Children want freedom to play, teenagers want freedom to explore, and adults want freedom to misbehave. Families want freedom to grow, religions need freedom of practice and to convert, companies need freedom to make more profits and even to expand, employees want freedom to earn more ,men want freedom to cheat and women want freedom to experiment. Serious nations want freedom to develop and in many cases to exploit the resources of more endowed but less developed states.
There are many types of freedom. Physical freedom, personal freedom, emotional freedom, spiritual freedom, political freedom, economic freedom, financial freedom, academic freedom, mental freedom and many others like abstract freedom .Even nations have freedom and that is what we call sovereignty
We may have some combination of these freedoms but lack others. It is desirable to have all the various types of freedoms but not always tenable. Yet it is advisable to possess a combination of the key types of freedom in the absence of all. What matters most is that we appreciate the freedom we have and use it to achieve more freedom. So while you may want economic freedom to gain financial and personal freedom, I many desire academic freedom to gain intellectual and physical freedom. While you may need emotional freedom to gain personal and financial freedom, I may pursue spiritual freedom to gain emotional and eternal freedom. He may need religious freedom to get spiritual and personal freedom and she may need physical freedom to get intellectual and emotional freedom. It is a matrix, while some may be brilliant to solve a two by two matrix, others may be sharp to solve a three by three matrix. The most important thing is that we get our iteration table correctly.
Freedom is liberty, and I cannot claim to be a free man if I enslave others by my actions or inaction. There is always room for freedom and more freedom, but just like freedom has a prize to be won, there is always the price of liberty to be paid. Costly as this price of liberty is, it is better to pay the price of liberty than to remain without freedom no matter the kind of freedom you think of. We paid heavy prices by losing sleep to pass exams and achieve our goals. People gave up their families and wealth to gain their national independence, sometimes we must give up smaller freedoms to get a bigger one. People have given up their personal liberties for the quest of greater freedoms. All the prisoners of conscience had a choice to hold on to their personal liberty to fight for a bigger kind of freedom.
In as much as everyone has the right to his or her own freedom, there are always limits to our vision of freedom. Such limitations could either be placed by God, the society, our faith or creed, the organizations we belong to; or even ourselves. Your freedom must not encroach on the freedom of others be it religion, monetary, or even ideology. God has placed the limits on man’s freedom by giving us his commandments, the country has laws, societies and families have rules etc. For an armed robber to expect the freedom to rob and kill in the name of physical freedom is not freedom, for a corrupt government official to claim freedom to loot and under develop the country in the name of personal freedom is not freedom. For gay people to expect that homosexuality and lesbianism should be legalized in the name of freedom of expression or association when it contradicts God’s plan of creation is not freedom. For people to take the lives of others in the name of freedom of religion when it is against the law of God and the land is not freedom either. For drug dealers to import fake drugs or sell expired drugs to the detriment of other humans who have the freedom to live is not freedom.
Freedom is universal; irrespective of our race, language, creed, hereditary or sex. We all have that urge to possess our freedom, internal or external. Selfish as man is, we want to be free but we deny others their freedom by accident or by design. A teacher who wants his salary paid but will not teach well is guilty of this, an employer who wants profits but denies his employees their dues is guilty, a government that demands taxes to be paid but cannot provide the amenities to its citizens is guilty, a preacher who wants tithes to be paid but will not lead the flock to the truth is guilty, a god who wants to be worshipped but does not guarantee freedom to its worshippers is guilty, a parent who wants respect but cannot provide for his or her dependents is guilty and children who want to be catered for but will not obey are also guilty.
If we want freedom we must guarantee the freedom of others, if we demand freedom we must allow others the right to their freedom. It is only when we allow others access to their own freedom and they too allow us access to our own freedom that we can be said to have freedom in its true sense. We may be constraint to choose just one or a few types of freedom. For me I know I may not have all the types of freedom. I do not seek for personal or physical freedom, I do not weep for economic or financial freedom, I will not die for emotional or religious freedom, yet I need all these types of freedom. All I ask to be given is the FREEDOM TO BE FREE. With this single freedom I will get all the types of freedom I need and want and desire and deserve. The freedom to be free-Yes!
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18-02-2010
“I will not be a slave to another man, and no man will be a slave to me”-Abraham Lincoln.
Freedom! One word that I have never bothered myself to write about, yet the very idea that we live for and will die for if need be. I know that freedom is a word said and used by billions across the world. Freedom is that which we seek and many have died for, yet we fight for freedom because we can’t live without it. I once asked if we preferred to live as hungry free men or live as wed fed slaves. What stops us from living as just free men because for me to live as a hungry free man is the same thing as been a slave. There is no freedom in hunger just as there is no freedom in been a well fed slave.
Freedom covers all the length and breadth of our lives as individuals and as a people. We seek freedom, but freedom from what and freedom to do what? Children want freedom to play, teenagers want freedom to explore, and adults want freedom to misbehave. Families want freedom to grow, religions need freedom of practice and to convert, companies need freedom to make more profits and even to expand, employees want freedom to earn more ,men want freedom to cheat and women want freedom to experiment. Serious nations want freedom to develop and in many cases to exploit the resources of more endowed but less developed states.
There are many types of freedom. Physical freedom, personal freedom, emotional freedom, spiritual freedom, political freedom, economic freedom, financial freedom, academic freedom, mental freedom and many others like abstract freedom .Even nations have freedom and that is what we call sovereignty
We may have some combination of these freedoms but lack others. It is desirable to have all the various types of freedoms but not always tenable. Yet it is advisable to possess a combination of the key types of freedom in the absence of all. What matters most is that we appreciate the freedom we have and use it to achieve more freedom. So while you may want economic freedom to gain financial and personal freedom, I many desire academic freedom to gain intellectual and physical freedom. While you may need emotional freedom to gain personal and financial freedom, I may pursue spiritual freedom to gain emotional and eternal freedom. He may need religious freedom to get spiritual and personal freedom and she may need physical freedom to get intellectual and emotional freedom. It is a matrix, while some may be brilliant to solve a two by two matrix, others may be sharp to solve a three by three matrix. The most important thing is that we get our iteration table correctly.
Freedom is liberty, and I cannot claim to be a free man if I enslave others by my actions or inaction. There is always room for freedom and more freedom, but just like freedom has a prize to be won, there is always the price of liberty to be paid. Costly as this price of liberty is, it is better to pay the price of liberty than to remain without freedom no matter the kind of freedom you think of. We paid heavy prices by losing sleep to pass exams and achieve our goals. People gave up their families and wealth to gain their national independence, sometimes we must give up smaller freedoms to get a bigger one. People have given up their personal liberties for the quest of greater freedoms. All the prisoners of conscience had a choice to hold on to their personal liberty to fight for a bigger kind of freedom.
In as much as everyone has the right to his or her own freedom, there are always limits to our vision of freedom. Such limitations could either be placed by God, the society, our faith or creed, the organizations we belong to; or even ourselves. Your freedom must not encroach on the freedom of others be it religion, monetary, or even ideology. God has placed the limits on man’s freedom by giving us his commandments, the country has laws, societies and families have rules etc. For an armed robber to expect the freedom to rob and kill in the name of physical freedom is not freedom, for a corrupt government official to claim freedom to loot and under develop the country in the name of personal freedom is not freedom. For gay people to expect that homosexuality and lesbianism should be legalized in the name of freedom of expression or association when it contradicts God’s plan of creation is not freedom. For people to take the lives of others in the name of freedom of religion when it is against the law of God and the land is not freedom either. For drug dealers to import fake drugs or sell expired drugs to the detriment of other humans who have the freedom to live is not freedom.
Freedom is universal; irrespective of our race, language, creed, hereditary or sex. We all have that urge to possess our freedom, internal or external. Selfish as man is, we want to be free but we deny others their freedom by accident or by design. A teacher who wants his salary paid but will not teach well is guilty of this, an employer who wants profits but denies his employees their dues is guilty, a government that demands taxes to be paid but cannot provide the amenities to its citizens is guilty, a preacher who wants tithes to be paid but will not lead the flock to the truth is guilty, a god who wants to be worshipped but does not guarantee freedom to its worshippers is guilty, a parent who wants respect but cannot provide for his or her dependents is guilty and children who want to be catered for but will not obey are also guilty.
If we want freedom we must guarantee the freedom of others, if we demand freedom we must allow others the right to their freedom. It is only when we allow others access to their own freedom and they too allow us access to our own freedom that we can be said to have freedom in its true sense. We may be constraint to choose just one or a few types of freedom. For me I know I may not have all the types of freedom. I do not seek for personal or physical freedom, I do not weep for economic or financial freedom, I will not die for emotional or religious freedom, yet I need all these types of freedom. All I ask to be given is the FREEDOM TO BE FREE. With this single freedom I will get all the types of freedom I need and want and desire and deserve. The freedom to be free-Yes!
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WHO OWNS THIS LUCK; NIGERIANS OR JONATHAN?
CredoWriters: Wakdok, Samuel Stephen.
Where is the luck in taking over as acting President of a Nigeria at a time when the country is known more for the plethora of complications than stability? I can not imagine why Nigerians are celebrating Dr. Jonathan’s luck. Aside from the fact that Nigerians deserve to have the vacancy in Aso Rock filled for effective governance, any form of Jubilation is suspicious and dubious. Are we celebrating the fact that Good luck Jonathan now has unfettered access to our national treasury or are we celebrating the ouster of a Turai Yar’adua?
Goodluck Jonathan I must confess played down all attempts to showcase a power grab on his part which helped in diffusing the tension in the polity, but the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians must remain paramount. Celebrating the luck of a Goodluck is only personalizing and trivializing the matter, what we ought to celebrate is the stability of our nation which is what we need for growth and development to take place. Goodluck Jonathan is definitely a lucky man, to have risen to the position of a number one citizen in his state, and now his country without printing poster or campaigning. But that also makes it dangerous because it goes to show that like the occupants of that office before him, he also does not have any manifesto. Meaning he has no direction and purpose, unless he is quickly able to put his house in order and take charge of the nation’s destiny. The question I would love to ask is not how lucky Goodluck is to act as President but how lucky Nigerians are to have Goodluck as their acting President?
Will the luck end with him as an individual who has suddenly risen to be the number one citizen or will the luck be distributed across Nigeria through provision of visionary and transformational leadership at a time when many things seem to have gone terribly wrong? Can Jonathan be the man who will give the ordinary man food or will he be another man who through anti-people policies force more hardship down the throats of already hyper-hungry Nigerians. Can Goodluck tackle the various cabals holding the nation’s power and petroleum sectors to ransom an effect an era of positive change that will eliminate the problems of these sectors or will he too be held captive by these cabals? Will Jonathan be a National President or will he decide to be a Niger-Delta President as some of his kinsmen are already thanking God for seeing a Niger Delta President in their life time even if in acting capacity for now?
The focus must shift from the individual of the acting President which is only parochial to the transformational leadership he can and will offer. He has the listing of Nigeria as a terrorist nation on his hands, the most recent Jos crisis, and the impeding strikes by civil servants. Let it be said that the Doctors’ have not received their reviewed packages which prevented them from going on their last strike. The power situation has also nosedived after the government failed to deliver on the 6,000 megawatts by December 31st 2009; and the perennial fuel queues are back. The post-amnesty programme has not achieved much progress since Yar’adua left the country and it will be more delicate for Goodluck to independently address the issue without been accused of bias since he comes from that region.
The luck must not lie and end with the man Goodluck Jonathan but it must be an opportunity for him to see the hands of God in preparing him to perform a divine role of salvaging this nation. Public servants and politicians must not be allowed to become sycophants and use our public wealth to place congratulatory messages in the media. If any group deserves an accolade for this triumph it is the ever vibrant civil society groups who from day one have insisted that due process must be followed. Unfortunately political dark horses who have argued that Yar’adua can preside from any where will be the people who may now switch allegiance for their selfish and mundane motives.
Nigeria must not remain a sliding state not to talk of a failing state and Goodluck must be bold in flushing out all anti-democratic elements within the ranks of the ruling clique. He must wither the storm and steer the ship of the Nigerian nation safely to dock at the port of rule of law, constitutionality and people oriented development programmes. He has a choice to write his name in Gold and be remembered like the Jerry Rawlings of this world or seek to go the selfish way which is typical of African leaders and become a present day Mobuto Sese Seko. He can decide to be like the Thabo Mbeki of this world whose intellectual capacity gave him a launching board to become a charismatic leader or choose to go the way of the highly educated Robert Mugabe who has decided to live and will die a Power drunk autocrat at the peril of his nation.
Only when we see a vibrant Goodluck acting as the People’s President can we now talk of a good luck which is national in colour; and not the luck of one man to have at his beck and call the wealth of our suffering citizens for his personal aggrandizement and that of the few but ever greedy ruling elites.
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Where is the luck in taking over as acting President of a Nigeria at a time when the country is known more for the plethora of complications than stability? I can not imagine why Nigerians are celebrating Dr. Jonathan’s luck. Aside from the fact that Nigerians deserve to have the vacancy in Aso Rock filled for effective governance, any form of Jubilation is suspicious and dubious. Are we celebrating the fact that Good luck Jonathan now has unfettered access to our national treasury or are we celebrating the ouster of a Turai Yar’adua?
Goodluck Jonathan I must confess played down all attempts to showcase a power grab on his part which helped in diffusing the tension in the polity, but the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians must remain paramount. Celebrating the luck of a Goodluck is only personalizing and trivializing the matter, what we ought to celebrate is the stability of our nation which is what we need for growth and development to take place. Goodluck Jonathan is definitely a lucky man, to have risen to the position of a number one citizen in his state, and now his country without printing poster or campaigning. But that also makes it dangerous because it goes to show that like the occupants of that office before him, he also does not have any manifesto. Meaning he has no direction and purpose, unless he is quickly able to put his house in order and take charge of the nation’s destiny. The question I would love to ask is not how lucky Goodluck is to act as President but how lucky Nigerians are to have Goodluck as their acting President?
Will the luck end with him as an individual who has suddenly risen to be the number one citizen or will the luck be distributed across Nigeria through provision of visionary and transformational leadership at a time when many things seem to have gone terribly wrong? Can Jonathan be the man who will give the ordinary man food or will he be another man who through anti-people policies force more hardship down the throats of already hyper-hungry Nigerians. Can Goodluck tackle the various cabals holding the nation’s power and petroleum sectors to ransom an effect an era of positive change that will eliminate the problems of these sectors or will he too be held captive by these cabals? Will Jonathan be a National President or will he decide to be a Niger-Delta President as some of his kinsmen are already thanking God for seeing a Niger Delta President in their life time even if in acting capacity for now?
The focus must shift from the individual of the acting President which is only parochial to the transformational leadership he can and will offer. He has the listing of Nigeria as a terrorist nation on his hands, the most recent Jos crisis, and the impeding strikes by civil servants. Let it be said that the Doctors’ have not received their reviewed packages which prevented them from going on their last strike. The power situation has also nosedived after the government failed to deliver on the 6,000 megawatts by December 31st 2009; and the perennial fuel queues are back. The post-amnesty programme has not achieved much progress since Yar’adua left the country and it will be more delicate for Goodluck to independently address the issue without been accused of bias since he comes from that region.
The luck must not lie and end with the man Goodluck Jonathan but it must be an opportunity for him to see the hands of God in preparing him to perform a divine role of salvaging this nation. Public servants and politicians must not be allowed to become sycophants and use our public wealth to place congratulatory messages in the media. If any group deserves an accolade for this triumph it is the ever vibrant civil society groups who from day one have insisted that due process must be followed. Unfortunately political dark horses who have argued that Yar’adua can preside from any where will be the people who may now switch allegiance for their selfish and mundane motives.
Nigeria must not remain a sliding state not to talk of a failing state and Goodluck must be bold in flushing out all anti-democratic elements within the ranks of the ruling clique. He must wither the storm and steer the ship of the Nigerian nation safely to dock at the port of rule of law, constitutionality and people oriented development programmes. He has a choice to write his name in Gold and be remembered like the Jerry Rawlings of this world or seek to go the selfish way which is typical of African leaders and become a present day Mobuto Sese Seko. He can decide to be like the Thabo Mbeki of this world whose intellectual capacity gave him a launching board to become a charismatic leader or choose to go the way of the highly educated Robert Mugabe who has decided to live and will die a Power drunk autocrat at the peril of his nation.
Only when we see a vibrant Goodluck acting as the People’s President can we now talk of a good luck which is national in colour; and not the luck of one man to have at his beck and call the wealth of our suffering citizens for his personal aggrandizement and that of the few but ever greedy ruling elites.
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