IDEAS RULE THE WORLD

From the time of the great philosopher Plato until now, Ideas have proven invaluable to humanity and the progress of the quality of life. According to The Merriam Webster dictionary ”an idea is a formulated thought or opinion”

The importance of ideas cannot be overemphasized. Every notable invention started with an idea, the best books written, the best musical pieces composed, the most effective movements and revolutions, the best speeches given can all be traced to an idea. A man’s greatest asset is his mind; therefore refusing to develop one’s mind is absolute disservice to one’s destiny because when you sow an idea or thought which develops in your mind, you reap an action, when you sow an action you reap a character, when you sow a character you reap a destiny.

Nelson Mandela had an idea which later became an ideal which he lived and was ready to die for. It was the actualization of a democratic and freely elected government. Though the idea suffered massive opposition, it initiated the birth of an apartheid – free South Africa. The idea Nelson Mandela believed in and fought for has not only liberated South Africa from oppression but also conferred on him a status that very few attain in history. He is unarguably one of the most respected personalities ever and this can be traced to a major source; the idea of a free and democratic South Africa.

Orville and Wilbur Wright, the two brothers credited with the feat of inventing and building the first ever airplane described their experience with a toy they had children as the initial spark that created their interest in flying. This spark can be referred to as ‘an idea’. The brothers nurtured this spark and the whole world is grateful to them for the aeroplane.

The statue of David in Florence, Italy is an example of the far reaching effects of ideas, the legendry sculptor, Michelangelo Buonarroti had a block of marble standing over seventeen feet high in his studio for close to twenty – five years. However, when a committee of artists of the ancient city of Florence commissioned the sculpting of this statue, the idea came into Michelangelo’s mind. While looking at an almost abandoned piece of marble, he saw with his mind the finished statue of David. This statue is the most popular of all the sculptures he worked on during his brief life, truly a statue of global recognition.

It is worthy to note however that a lot of people treat ideas with levity, they scorn inspirations and thoughts that if valued could generate millions monetarily. Many people fail to understand that money, people, power and generations answer to men who think up and cultivate ideas.

In conclusion, the popular “spark of genius” or “waoh effect” that a lot of organizations nations and institutions seek is simply a great idea that any disciplined mind can generate. How I wish that my active, fast – paced, impatient, present day Nigerian youth would slow down, be still and stir up some stupendous world – changing ideas after the order of Philip Emegweali the father of the internet.

Wetin b ur Nomba? (What is your Number)

I was returning from Ilesha where I had gone to give moral and spiritual support to 2 friends who had lost their father.

We journeyed down the Ibadan – Ife Highway and along the high way we came across nothing less than 4 checkpoints manned by mobile policemen “armed to the teeth”.

Some of these checkpoints are legal while some aren’t, legal in the sense that they serve the purpose of monitoring the speed of motorists and also stopping and searching suspicious vehicles / drivers for smuggled/ banned goods.

The illegal points however are simply “unauthorized extortion posts” for shameless policemen who have gotten their priorities WRONG.

Well we journeyed further, got to Ibadan and accessed the Lagos – Ibadan Highway and surprisingly, there were no illegal checkpoints along that road. I thought inside me “maybe there’s hope after all”

My positivity was short lived because, alas, we arrived Lagos and I had to get a bus to my crib (Eric Moore Rd) from Ojuelegba Bus Stop.

What alarmed me was not the number of illegal check points (2) between Adeniran Ogunsanya and Bode Thomas (a brief distance of 200m)

What disappointed me was not the bumpy, pot hole – ridden surface that characterised the aforementioned roads.

What really pissed me off was the audacity, credibility & stupidity with which these shameless, armed men of the Nigerian Police were demanding for money from the commercial bus drivers.

If any driver attempted to drive by, a mobile policeman was sure to raise his rifle, cock it and attempt to shoot if he did not stop “to pay his debt“ (There have been cases of policemen shooting commercial transporters over refusal to consent to extortion)

Along Adeniran Ogunsanya, the dude driving the bus I sat in told his conductor “ Go give am 100 naira, make you collect nomba”. I was still trying to figure that out when we approached Bode Thomas and a policeman jumped in front of our cruising vehicle brandishing his gun asking “Wetin be your Nomba , Wetin be your Nomba” The driver and his conductor quickly answered thus, he let us go.

Therefore, questions arose in my head.

Do these policemen understand "dignity in labour" at all?

Were the guns purchased by the government to protect the citizens or to harass them?

What if any of these policemen was my brother, father, uncle e.t.c. How would I describe this undignified conduct of his to him?

The policemen give various excuses ranging from low salaries, late payment to rising cost of living for their actions.

I do not concur, I choose to believe that they (bribe collectors & extortionists) have gotten their priorities wrong. I think it is a mindset issue, there is no difference between the shameless policeman at the illegal checkpoint and the bribe – collecting legislators I the corridors of power or the gap – toothed, former Head of State who looted this country to the tune of billions of dollars.

Despite all these, I choose to be content with what I have, I choose to travel the narrow but legitimate way because sooner or later, a time will come that, patriotic, honest citizens will have the opportunity to lead this country and her states, parastatals, states, ministries e.t.c. until then, let us live our lives with a sense of accountability putting this in mind, we will sow what we reap and some day, GOD WILL JUDGE US ALL.

IS THIS LUV OR “HAVE I GOT IT BAD”

I had seen her once or twice before without occasion

Guess I was working thus I didn’t notice her

But even now when I “saw” her, I was working, wasn’t I?

I can’t even explain, Is this luv or Have I got it bad?

Her expressions, her choice of words, her lady – like carriage

Her piety, her attitude, her ambitions, her background, her genotype

Her humility, willingness to step into His service “a higher calling”

All these combine and even make her already beautiful self “more beautifuller “

No….The right word is EXQUISITE

I had shut my heart, built a wall (fortress around it)

Reinforced the concrete of the wall, with reasons why I should NOT be involved

But a brief glimpse at her exquisiteness melted my seemingly fortified walls.

I didn’t dat kinda love yet, I had concluded,,,,,,

Physically, it is said that if u wanna know if a woman is really beautiful,

U need to see her when she is just waking up

Well, I did see her early in the morning right after she woke up

And she looked like a rare flower about to fully bloom.

I coulda sworn that we exchanged glances intermittently and sparks flew.

I wanna bet the chemistry exists, cos though its been a while ,I felt them butterflies

Also, one to many times, I think I caught her looking/ glancing at me

Is there a possibility that, Is this the real thingy,

The discussion was brief, but I bet the connection was deep.

Okay Lord, what do I do?

Have I got it bad or is this love?

All I ask is before u sink this wall to its foundations, is ; please Lord

Give me a Word…………….P – L- E – A –S - E