ITS OCT 10 AGAIN ; ISN'T IT IN YOUR CALENDAR?

 ITS 10^TH OF OCTOBER AGAIN, ISN’T IT IN YOUR CALENDAR?

First of all, Alhamdulilah, yeah alhamdulilah for everything HE has done in my life, still doing and would still do, till the time will come for my transformation.

Last year I did  a silly soft side writing because I really don’t want to bore you with stories that may sound like a cliché already (if you miss it, you can read again here)

This year I feel like saying nothing and screaming at the top of my voice at the same time, yeah, so many challenges, so many pains, so many tears and of course a lot to smile for, why shouldn’t I be grateful? I ask myself, perhaps you would give me one reason not to be?

For those of you that have been on this journey with me for a while, you probably are use to my birthday banter, for those of you that are new; I say welcome on board, at the end of it all, you will do either one of this, hiss, smile, nod or feel like giving me a slap but unfortunately (duur; in Jenifa’s voice) you can’t explore that last option.

Back to the matter, like I was saying, am going to bore you again with my birthday tales, you may want to ask ‘ wetin concern  me with all this now’’ but hey this is my own special way of being the first to give myself a birthday gift and not wanting to be selfish about it, decide to share with my friends.

Let’s go back memory lane , October 2010, 2013, 2013 in retrospect, alhamdulilah again , there hasn’t been any birthday that has not be special, just like George Orwell said in his book  Animal Farm ‘’all animals are equal but some are more equal than the others, so am adopting and modifying the saying, all birthdays are special but some are more special than the others.

October 10 2010, was very fantastic, aside from the fact that it was a special date ‘’10-10-10, I got one of the fantabulous birthday greeting ever, back then we were in Jos, as corp members with PRTVC, all residing at the corper’s lodge, with so many girlfriends around. That night before my birthday (9-10-10), being an early bird, I had entered the room to sleep, leaving the door open for my roommate to get in anytime because she was still  busy watching a movie with other flatmates, and while sleeping I was wondering what movie they were seeing that made them stay up so late anyway I said to myself in my mind, na dem sabi me I want to sleep, if I could still remember well, they were watching SALT( which has Angelina Jolie as its main character, so off to bed only to hear sounds of footsteps toward our room at exactly 12 a.m on dot, I quickly got up, it couldn’t be only my roommate and then I was wondering what these ladies could still be doing awake at this time, (shey SALT NOONI), I was  still lost in my though when the door was slammed opened( a bit scared and surprised at the smiling faces that were standing in front of me)  and then the song of HBD TO YOU AND FOR SHE IS A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW RANT THE AIR , UNKNOWN to me, my girls had deliberately planned to keep their selves busy with that movie so as not to fall asleep and be the first to wish me a HBD  on my special day. And then they were going to follow it up with a water bath, I can’t really remember if that eventually happened though, because at that point I was dumbfounded,, that was a great show of love to me, I felt really honoured     ( lemme famz myself small; I  don’t think any other person had that kind of a special birthday greeting till we passed out) we may have been apart for a while now, but I still appreciate my PRTV babes anyday anytime, and am saying this openly I love you all!

2011- fast forward base changed from Jos to Lagos Nigeria (10-10-2011) and it was another birthday, in my usual style all I do on my birthday is make sure I put on something nice for myself, pray and the day just roll by, it was a week day and so I was dressed for work , like every other normal day, am going to work, birthday cakes or biscuit don’t really freak me on my own unless there is a push so, I really didn’t prepare for anything, until my very good friend Doctor Awoyiga called me up and said, babe what’s up with your birthday now, and I answered, what’s up ke, as usual ‘mo n lo ibi ise then go back home’’ and he replied go back home, kilo ma se iwo omo Halima yi na, (what is wrong with this Halima sef)you are supposed to have a little fun outing on your birthday now, and I said okay, and that was how we plan to make the day fun, although we couldn’t make it big because of time but it was fun, I ended up coming back home with a big cake and cups of ice cream that day…my naughty Doctor friend thank you, I still appreciate that day till today.

2012- Another 10-10-2012, it’s another birthday and now it was my TROJAN/IMANI BABES like I call them that made it wao, in my usual self, I dressed up , prayed and headed for work, on getting to work, my girls(Bisola and Rodiyah) asked, Halima, how is your birthday going to be now, I said how ke, there’s nothing now, the next thing I saw them talking in hushed voice and moving around together like Siamese twin, and the result was cans of malt and toasted bread to go round everyone in the office plus wrap of gift, which surprisingly was what they know I did like  ‘accessories’ … and today  again I say thank you to my babes, you rock!

2013-10-10-2013, another milestone, a year older, a year better , yes, that was the catch word on the surprise cake I got from my Imani babes with Bukbidath toh pretty being the chief planner, as usual in my normal birthday style I have dressed myself up, having agreed with the girls a week earlier to make yellow our theme colour for the day, I got my yellow gown and accessories  looking all primmed up and was set for the photo session with my girls as usual, and on getting to the office, Bisola was nowhere to be found, quite strange, only to get to the office with a cake with my name boldly inscribed on it and that beautiful caption ‘’a year older, a year better’’ and indeed except for one or two issues which one can’t escape that caption couldn’t have said it better, and it was indeed another wonderful day ending up with gift wraps as usual from my babes. (100 gbosa for my girls o jare)

2014- yippee, 10-10-2014, another year is here, I can’t shout, mio le pariwo, YES, I do not have as much money as I want, YES, I do not have that dream job yet, YES, am not married yet, even though most of my friends are up with two kids already (*laugs in french *but  am not searching) , YES, I haven’t given my parents the wonderful grand kids I promised, YES, am still struggling with good deeds(may Allah help me),YES, am yet to build that fine house for mum and buy dad that latest car I promised, YES, I have not been able to touch as much lives that I promised GOD I want to touch, YES, I have my flaws because am human and not perfect, YES, I could be sharp mouthed but mean no harm, YES I love to make people happy, YES, walahi, I appreciate all of my friends those that have been a victim of my sharp mouth at one point or the other and still stood through and for those of you who haven’t been a victim, don’t worry, your time Is coming soon, it only makes our friendship thicker( he he, laughing in Yoruba)  YES, I have got a beautiful darling who respects and adore me so much and who happen to be my birthday mate, yelz, now you know the genesis of Mr and Mrs 10 ( Abiola mi wa last funmi InshaaAllah)  and yes I have a whole lot to be thankful for.

NO, I would not be ungrateful to GOD because am not there yet, have got my eyes on the price, aint no stopping because I believe through the struggle, the VICTORY would come, NO, I would not be ungrateful because I have lot of unfulfilled promises still, when there is life, there is hope, NO, I would not be ungrateful for those ‘frenemies’’ for in between have got wonderful and true friends, NO, I would not be ungrateful because am blessed with the best of families, my very special and delectable Mr. and Mrs. J ADEBISI(WALAHI E MA JEUN OMO) and the best of siblings who have always been a victim of this ‘’sharp mouth’ from day one and can’t escape it (duur), NO, I won’t be ungrateful because I have you, I mean you; wonderful friends like you who believe in me and always encourage me to do more even without knowing, you are all part of   my life for a purpose and I try to learn and work through that purpose. If I should go on a name list, the list would go on and on, walahi I appreciate you all, your praises/criticisms keep me going and in check, and above all of it NO, I won’t be ungrateful because I  have got the ALMIGHTY IN my life, YAH ALLAH, (YAH ZULJALLALI WA IKRAM), The GREATEST of the greatest, knowing You give me so much inner peace than anyone can imagine, knowing You are always there for me regardless of my shortcomings makes me high and wanna please you more(KABIOSI), AM grateful for those joys coming my way soon, those that I know and that I know not. Alhamdulilah.

inshaAllah, I know 10-10-2015( if the Almighty still spares my life in his mercy) would be even far far fantabulous than the past years, and of course, the present 10-10- 2014..would count well by His special grace.

Before I wrap up this write up, am just going to ask you for one favour and may GOD bless you as you obliged. For those that can say alhamdulilah please say yah Allah am saying alhamdulilah on behalf of Oluwbukola Halima omo Ade, and for those who can’t just simply say am thanking GOD on behalf of this babe. May God jointly bless us as you do this for me.

#morethanenoughsaid, sorry for boring you, I don tell una before say it’s either you hiss, smile, scroll down hurriedly, nod your head  or feel like slapping me, abeg which one you do?

(Picks race as I continue to laugh in Yoruba, honestly I wish everyday would be October 10, so I can force myself to write, am getting lazy in that unit, I need to revive it)

ITS still your girl halybee, emi nooni HB, mrs 10, Orodola omo Ade, aya Akin, o ba won soro nibi ti oro ti niyi, soro kin niyi, soro lola, omo amo oro to lese lese, omo asoro ba gba jeun, omo asoro lola., omo la toro, oro labi, oro a gbe e , ason si owo, asan e si omo, asan si aiku bale oro, nba amin (forgive my poor Yoruba I don’t know how to put do-re-mi ni ooo)

NB; for my non- Yoruba speaking friends, sorry, that was just jara , it's  actually my personal lineage praise, if you need the translation, talk to me…lol

27 THINGS YOU DONT KNOW ABOUT ME

27 THINGS YOU PROBABLY (DO) OR DON’T KNOW ABOUT ME

Well, I know after taking your time to read all these stories, you will do either one of this two: a long hiss or a broad smile…he he he hee. ( I can like to famz myself o jare, erm by  the way don’t mind some of my English abi grammar de ni)

It’s going to be my birthday tomorrow 10^th October, though I did love to write an epistle on how grateful I am to God, of how there are still lots of challenges but am still keeping my hope alive blab la, of how it is minus one from the number of my years on earth and plus one for me to make a positive difference, how God has been so faithful to me despite my shortcomings, how I find joy in knowing HIM and wanting to know HIM more, how I have been hurt: yes hurt, how I have been happy etc.

But naaaa, I don’t want to go through all that now or let’s just say the lazy part in me which has made me not write anything for a while unlike those days when writing comes easy, where all I need do is set my eyes on pen and paper or a beautiful sight and bingo; I just start writing, these days if you like drop a stack of paper and a packet of biro in front of me, you will meet it there intact..lol

I hereby bind and cast every spirit of laziness that is preventing me from writing henceforth.

Ehen, back to the matter jare, I did just do a fun side of   my lazy writing by presenting to you some things you probably already know or don’t know about me.

I present to you 27 things you don’t know (or know) about the brand Halybee..

1.   

      am so madly in love with nature, I could stay staring at the moon or sea or any beautiful natural phenomenon for so long; oblivious of people around me.

2.      

Writing gives me so much pleasure; it happens to be my number one confidant after God( but I haven’t written anything for a while now)

3.   

   I could be very emotional; (don’t be surprised) crying is one of the things that come easy for me, it comes with its own relief, I cry for pain, fear, but most especially joy.

4.      Am not bothered about my small stature, never had been, well..maybe just sometimes ago when a kid, you know actually thought I would make a god girlfriend to him , around that time I had finished from OOU ooo, and was waiting for NYSC, this kid just finished his SSCE, but erm I am not bothered anymore, my dad has the best of words to suit all situations, he would say to me, Buky; never use anybody’s size or form to abuse them, it is the way the owner of the body (i.e, the Creator) wants it that it is, so if you think calling me ‘’iya kekere’’ would annoy me, you are obviously in  OYO, try another trick.

5.      

I love to be pampered (rolls eye), who doesn’t?

6.  

    I love people that have a sense of humour, they bring out the Helen Paul, the Lepacious Bose, and Princess in me..dur! lemme famz myself small now..lol

7.    

  Oh my God! I love ‘’ijekuje’’ like kilode; assorted  biscuit, chocolate, milk etc, wondering why am not fat if I like all these things? I can’t afford them ni..lol

8.      

I can be very good with records well; well unless mathematical

9.   

   I don’t like drugs; as in I always have to close my eyes to take it, I prefer ‘’agbo’’ not that I like it too anyway.

1

0. Trust is one thing I hold dear, I don’t joke with it.

1

1.  I appreciate even the littlest of things/favour, saying thank you gives me pleasure

12.  God! I wish I have and pray for the power to make people smile every day.

13.   Contrary to what most people think; I am not too much of an outgoing type, but erm that is not to say I don’t enjoy outing…but I prefer the less crowded ones.

14.  Am not perfect, I have my flaws, I know, I get angry  when am supposed to.

15.  Yeah, I know I have a sharp mouth, but most times walahi, I mean no harm. *shines teeth*

16.  I know it’s no longer news, but I just thought I did add it, I love pictures.

17.  I was almost going to be the last born, until my little brother decided to show up many years  later, information has it that I was always bothering my mum to  go and bring baby from the hospital for me like our neighbours..Do I love the experience of having a kid brother? Absolutely YES! if not for anything at least me too I have someone I can shakara in the house

18.  Well..most people don’t want to believe that I am a gentle girl, but I am, or let me put it in another way, I could be..lol

19.  Mum did thought I would end up studying Law because according to her, I can talk  for Africa…lol, but oh my, I love communication and would not settle for anything but mass communication, I remember when I was very much younger, I would pick up old newspaper, stay in front of the mirror and blab on and on( for my mind I dey cast news)

20.  I am not as rich (cash wise) as you think, forget all the efizy and paparazzi, na demo, I am a first grade hustler, coming soon rich babe In Sha Allah..lol

21.  I wish I know how to draw and paint very well, but I don’t, I remember back then in ss3 biology class when I drew an ant leg because my friend who usually help me to draw was doing shakara for me then, it turned out so beautiful that I showed it to everyone who cared to see it in the block then. I still have the drawings somewhere but I just can’t place my hands on it now, would have posted it.

22.  As much as I like to play and joke a lot; I do not like to cross that thin line for any reason, I don’t like disrespecting people for any reason and each time I find myself doing that, I feel bad and ashamed., always thinking I could have explored other option: silence/ignore.

23.  He heheee he(laughs in Yoruba)..this one is no longer news, I like African Magic Yoruba and Orisun TV, I would pick those two as first choice before any seasonal series, and of course Bollywood  has recently joined the likes..well(roll eyes and shrugs shoulder) but erm its my choice

24.  I may look and act naïve sometimes, I may not know so many things, but naive isn’t the word to describe me, I am a  learner but a fast one..lol

25.  Oh how I love  the classroom, some of my friends did say I may be a lecturer, but I think I enjoy learning more,( yeah; I know I have been kind of lazy these days but it doesn’t overrule the fact that I love classroom and like to learn new and challenging stuffs)

26.  I may appear like an ‘’alapa ike’’ but when I want to work, I work!

27.  Bonus! Bonus! Bonus! Ask me any question and let’s see if I would be honest enough to answer(though i  am not under any obligation to do so). You can only ask one question but please don’t  ask me when am getting married, am tired of that question  already, would sure send you all an invite when that time comes…lol

your time starts now……

Now that you are done reading, do you feel like kicking my ass..lols, was it worth your time?  What did you do at the end? Hiss or smile…

I thought I did give myself this birthday gift..reason I wrote this…

Forgive me if it’s not worth your time

…….Halybee nooni

How fair is fair enough?

It all started with an innocent Facebook post that i shared from a friend’s timeline, i call it innocent because i didn't anticipate the response it generated or that it would form a topic for my writing soon. And here is the post:

‘’if you can’t afford her needs, say it, don’t go about saying she is materialistic, women have needs, while men have responsibilities.’’

As you would guess, the attack came from guys, they were quick to blow it out of proportion, yes out of proportion, as they say that a good and hardworking girl doesn't need a man to be her ATM machine, must be willing to contribute to the house up keep, infact split the cost of running the house into two, and they went on to say why guys these days prefer a working class lady to the one who is not working.

Anyway, their argument may be sound, but it didn't get me convinced or confused, i still maintain my stand, by my own understanding of  this post, men have responsibilities over women, and should not in anyway try to evade it with this our modern thought of a woman should also contribute to the upkeep of the house bla bla.

From time immemorial, God has designed men to be the head of the house and thereby take responsibility over their household which include their wife and children.

Am only wondering how fair it is for men to say women should be part of upkeep, but when it comes to house chores and other domestic duties, we see men doing it as a taboo, and we hear things like ‘’ha, o ti je efo ni’’(he has taken vegetable) but no one says the same when a woman is being compelled to take responsibility on the household.

I am not saying it is wrong for women to be part of the financial upkeep of the house, no it is actually a good thing but it should be willingly and not forced under some uncalled rules, neither am i saying it is cool all the way for men to scrub, mob, do the dishes and even wash their wife’s clothes( though there is  nothing bad there , afterall since the women can take up some of the financial duties of the man, the man should reciprocate same)

What am saying in essence is that God has so designed each gender’s role so differently, and so if any gender decides to assist with the other’s duty, it should be seen as a privilege and not a right.

I think it is only fair if we have both parties respecting the right of others and not necessarily acting as if it is must; a woman would always be a woman and a man remains a man, no matter what anyone thinks. Women no matter how rich they are still want their husbands to care for them because it simply gives them a sense of feeling that is so good, so men, when your woman make demand of you, if you can’t afford it, say it politely and gently to her, rather than go about saying she is materialistic because she has asked you to buy a pair of shoe that she so admired.

Mind you, not that she can’t afford it if she wants to, she just want to feel like a woman loved and cared for by her man, that feeling is there when you take responsibility over her than when you insist on your manly ego that things must be done your way.

Call me a feminist if you like, i already made my point and it’s my opinion, yours may be different though, but guys it still your responsibility to take care of your woman, no rule can or should change this.

For BMO...

First of all....

Not introduction oooo, lol, HBD

As i pick my pen this day Febuary 6th 2013, to drop a note, i remember clearly, this time, almost eight years ago, when this gap tooth Hajia walked up to me and said : salam alykun;

Walykun salam; i replied, as so many things started running throuhg my mind, at first i was surprised that she said salam to me, as this big hijab sister like they are called ,see us the small hijab sisters as ''fake'' so to say(it turned out to be an assumption and generalization), and some of them would not even return our salam, how much more initiate one.

And that way, she caught my attention even before saying anything further, and then she continued, i just want to inform you that we do group reading  and if you don't mind (did she even say if i don't mind; no) she wanted me to join the group, which already has if am right four members, Bidemi, Ganiyat, Nimat (of blessed memory) and BMO herself. how could i say no, she has got this beautiful smile and approach you just can't resist.
...And that was how ladies(now women..lol, am joining that club soonest Insha Allah) started thier friendship journey.

I may never have said this to your face before, but really, one of the best thing that happened to me in OOU was meeting you and being a member of that study group.

BMO then served as our team co-ordinator even without knowing,, each time we want to digress and do the normal ladies thing(you know now- gist not gossip oo, ehen) she redirect us back to our purpose , it got to a point where she had to draw up a time table which include, time to eat, gist  read etc.

She is one of the very few friends who derives pleasure in giving me gifts back then and inviting me to programs.

She is beautiful inside and outside, one of the wonderful friends i celebrate everyday.

Sweety, i love you more than you know, remember those text messages we use to send then? lol

As you become a year older, this is an opportunity for me to tell you that i love you as a friend and sister, more than you will ever know, meanwhile, a confession though, i miss those gifts ooo, i am not to old to still get them now,haba!,  anyways you can always give them to Muhammed for me.

Ore, like you like to say, may Allah continue to strenghten your iman,and guard your step, may the Love in your household continue to wax stronger.

And i almost forgot to add, one of the few friend i fight over and over again those days in school, we can go two three days without talking pretending to be fighting, only to make up and confess how much we miss talking to each other...lol


One last thing though, tell Muhammed i said he should give you ten kisses on my behalf, and tell Doctor i said he should give you countless with a special treat..lol, i can help look over Muhammed for this night..lol

Dont let your head over swell jor...

#friendforever#

Lots of love dearie..  igba odun odun kan ni InSha Allah.

Mothers or Murders?

Mothers or murderers

I have always said i did keep this thought to myself because am not really sure it is a general occurrence or just my imagination, until this very scene played right there in my face in the early hours of this morning.

I saw this young man walking frantically as he paces restlessly with a little girl in front of him, well you may want to ask what am doing out so early, because of the peculiar nature of my area, i usually have to set  out very early to at least avoid as much of the early morning traffic as i can and usually i don’t get to see people around my street or the next  while i take my quiet walk down the road. But this morning i saw not just one but two figures, out of which there was a little girl.

It of course caught my attention, and the journalistic instinct in me sprang up, i wanted to know what they were up to, a young man and a little girl and why the young man appeared to be disturbed. While i wait patiently for the vehicle i take off with, they moved closer and knocked on the gate of a house just beside where am sitted and i continued to watch closely, while they waited for response , the young man got on phone and i heard him say:

‘’...that is what i am facing ooo my brother, i just didn’t mention it to anyone, because i can’t say it, but that is just it’’

What could he be facing? I had to strain my ears to pick what he was saying on phone, while we were at it, the gate was opened and an elderly  man came out  with two little children and the young girl who led the man there, while the man was making the call, the young girl had been allowed to go in and the children were actually what they were looking for.

According to the man’s narration, this situation isn’t happening for the first time, he had returned home late after the day’s work only to find out that his wife and kids were not at home, well am not sure if he had tried to contact his wife but not being  the first time he had known or just assumed like in the past that his children were somewhere in the neighbourhood, and as for their  mother, well???

So he had set out very early in the morning to look for his children and he has gone to one, two houses with no result, it was at the second residence  he tried that the young girl that followed him was asked to lead him to the house where they eventually found the kids, of course without their mum, the elderly man had said that the kids were playing in their house yesterday and when no one came for them, they felt it was only safe to let them sleep over till anyone of their parent show up.

The young man happy and sad at the same time thanked the elderly man and left with his kids, as he leaves , i hear him saying to the eldest, a girl of about five or six: you see what  your mother is doing to us? You see what we are going through? That is how the other day i asked her to take you to school she took you to another place, the young girl was trying to say something, though not so audible and i heard the young man say again, you want to lie to me too, don’t be like your mother!

That morning, i could not help but think as that scene led me back to my earlier thoughts; some of the so called mothers that we have nowadays, are they mothers or murderers? Murderers of great destiny, not necessarily serial killer.

Before i witnessed this scene, i have seen mothers who leave their children all through without care just to attend a party that they were not even invited to in the first place.

I  have seen mothers who would rather buy an aso-ebi because she doesn’t want  her friends to mock her, rather than assist her husband in paying for the kids school fees, the children can stay at home for as long as it will take their father to pay, she does not  mind if the children stay at home, she just have to get that aso-ebi.

I have seen mothers who do not care if their child look unkempt  or not, so long as they can afford the latest design of gold and make-up kits.

I have seen mothers who do not even care to know if their child does well in school or not,

I could go on and on, as that scene keeps playing in my head, no it wasn’t in the movies, it was real and i felt really bad, being a woman myself!

Whatever happened to those days when mothers are truly mothers, one of the sayings of  Prophet Muhammad(PBUH)  is that a child’s paradise lies at the feet of his mother and then am wondering if such kinds of mothers are included? Mothers who don’t give a hoot about their child’s well being?

I am  not trying to be mean on anyone here, you may want to argue that am not an authority here, because am not one yet but then i know you don’t have to be a biological mother to know that it is paramount for a good mother to care very well for her wards, no matter what a woman is going through in her husband’s house, lets even assume the case in this story that the husband is not meeting up to his responsibilities ,her children should come first, her decision shouldn't be at the expense of her children .

No good woman should leave her children to be ‘’community children’’ that sleep at any house night falls in on them in the community.

Our mothers should be our pride, our models, and not murderers  of our destiny or future...such kind of mothers may murder the future of their children with their careless attitude, some other children may not get the opportunity to sleep at neighbour’s house, it is really a situation for concern, what kind of parent are we making or do we want to make in our generation?

Mothers or Murderers?

I leave you to answer that!

In the midst!!!

In the midst!!!

Indeed it is a journey

Where we foray

And in the midst

We get the gist

People come and go

So we need to sow

In order to win

And live and dine

With the best

But how do we tell

Except to try

For in the midst

We do connect with wonderful creatures

That make the journey worthwhile

They are the true  friends

Loving us for just who we are

Standing by even if the entire world disappear

Because they know they have been destined to be part of the journey

For in the midst of all these

They remain true ...

Dedicated to all true friends out there who know, understand and act the true value of friendship, and of course to you IB, for insisting i write a poem for you...

These Days..

…whatever happened to the good old days?

I was listening to this programme on radio  called “Nigba Tiwa ( it is a programme that bring in oldies to talk about their time as children) and the guest for that particular episode while narrating how things were during their time did mention that  one of those things they competed with those days was neatness, they made sure their clothes were not dirty and well ironed because they would not want to be embarrassed by any teacher  for being dirty.

I may be quite young, but I do remember meeting something like that in my primary and secondary school days, I remember pupils/students would rather miss school  than go in dirty uniforms or decide to hang around until assembly is over before they come in because they know  they would be openly flogged and disgraced and as big boys and girls now, they wouldn’t want that to happen…I wonder if any teacher can still try such with any student today?

How did we get to this point, yes how?  While growing up and even now, it is always a pleasure to listen to my dad tell me beautiful stories of how things were back then in Nigeria, this same Nigeria, and after each story, I just wonder and ask how did we get here?( topic for another day)

These days, a whole lot of things seem to have changed, life is now “care free” so to say, people no longer give a damn.

These days, you see children walking the street dirty, going to school in dirty uniforms, some even have their lunch box taken to school just as it is without being washed the next day, because mum or dad was too busy to check.

Home work, don’t even go there, these days, lot of children go back to school without doing their home work. I remember when we were growing up, though my mum, not so learned, ensures we do our homework, she checks our book to make sure that no page is missing, she check our nails, ears, uniform and everything everyday you get back from school, along the line, it became a routine that we were good at observing ourselves and she trusted us with the task overtime with only supervision once in a while, because of course she has inculcated that habit in us.

These days, I doubt if most parents have time for such, even the so called educated ones are worse.

As told, those days  anybody( and even strangers) can correct a straying or stubborn kids, even if it has to do with beating, these days, even neighbours  dare not try  such as it would result into a fight even  in the presence of the children, some  Yoruba’s  would even go as far as  saying  “ se mo fi egba omo mi le yin lowo ni? ( did I ask you to discipline my child for me), even teachers who have the right to correct , tread with caution, especially in private schools, you hit a child, prepare to look for another job, infact some parents would go as far as demanding for the sack of the teacher just because he beats their child.

Those days in Nigeria, I hear a stranger coming from far can decide to knock on anybody’s door to pass the night before continuing on his or her journey the next day, these days, both strangers and house owners don’t even trust themselves, how much more another unknown person, even neighbors try to play safe with themselves, how much more with strangers.

Those days I hear “wole-wole” as called in Yoruba( Sanitary inspection officers) go round houses and surroundings to check, as I hear, they go as far as checking your drinking water, your room, your clothes etc, just to make sure they are safe for you and if you are found wanting, there is a penalty and trust me, no  one wants to face it, and this reminds me of a popular TV drama series back then, where the inspection officer got to a particular house and found “tanwiji” ( a kind of cockroach I think) inside their drinking water, the household knew it was trouble for them and to avoid government trouble, they had to cast a spell on the officer and he went mad and started the song that became popular back then which goes thus: wole wole ki lo ri…tanwiji wiji wiji tanwiji( inspector what did you see? I saw tanwiji)

That was how things were, government were concerned  about the citizens, they could go as far as punishing them to get it right, not these days where they seem not to give a damn. (well with some exceptions though).

Those days schooling and learning was fun, you dare not come back home with bad grades at the end of the session ( ta lo fe fi jo), people compete with good things, the best grades, the neatest, the most outspoken etc, oh not these days, I don’t want to think about what our young ones compete with these days.

Respect for elders, that one has taken flee a long time ago (well, some of these elders are actually responsible for it sha) those days, a child would allow an elder go in front of them in a queue, they would stand for the elder to sit, these days, any elder that tries that (especially in a BRT queue) would get serious tongue lashing from  the young ones( though am not saying there are no exceptions)

I can go on and on, and would not stop, but the truth is I miss those good old days, where students/pupils are inspected on assembly ground every morning, from their hair, to the nails etc.

Those good old days, when strangers and house owners trust each other with no fear of one attacking the other.

Those days,  when elders know themselves as elders and the young ones accord them due respect.

Those days when jobs were ready made for graduate and the environment  was conducive for entrepreneurs to grow.

Those days when people tell you “walahi” and you know they are being 100% sincere (not these days they have merely turned it into a slang.

Those days when  we have more educative and informative programmes on radio and TV than now,

Those days when oh oh oh

Those days when being a child was fun.

And most especially, those days when evaporated and condensed milk was just #5 ( oh I would drink milk everybody)

Oh I miss those good old days.