Naija and Religion

"Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people"- Karl Marx(1844). Trust naija to always pray where the situation demands action. 'Nigeria prays' is a pet project of former Head of State Yakubu Gowon.Two days ago he said with prayers Nigeria will not break up in 2015. The reason why people are saying naija will break up should be tackled and not simply resorting to prayers.The West do not pray much yet they have functioning societies. While our 'leaders' are milking the country dry he says we should pray. No wonder our churches and mosques are bursting at the seams with worshippers. The prayer points mostly are issues that could be solved with a little bit of action. Problems with the in-law,jobs,witches,sickness,etc. Sickness mostly caused by malaria in turn caused by mosquitoes caused by blocked drainages and bad environmental hygiene, lack of awareness etc. Virtually all problems in Naija can be solved by a purposeful political class. The prayer points of worshippers are MARKEDLY different from those of their counterpart in these developed climes. Here, religion is being used mainly to hide the hurt and the pains of reality.Religion is increasingly used as an expression of material realities and economic injustice used by leaders to give the downtrodden a feel good feeling. We are still operating at the basics of human development unfortunately. We have a large quantity of gas yet the populace still gathers firewood to cook. We are daily being exhorted to pray while the looters are daily smiling to their banks. Talk of religion being the opium of the people. The people are daily been brutalised by the police, uniformed officers, leaders in mufti etc and still we must pray. Advocates of praying say without prayers of Naija things would have been worse. But can things get any worse? Or how much worse can worse get?

Mr & Mrs

Naija: Land of Contradiction

Naija is a land of contradiction.We have petroleum in abundance but import all our daily oil requirement. We have abundance gas but cook with firewood. We don't have enough electricity but export same to neighbouring countries. We have no security yet our soldiers are all over the world maintaining the peace. We have a Federal Constitution yet run a Unitary one. Rich yet so poor.Naija should be lending to nations money not the other way round.Talk of exporting what you don't have and importing what you have. A contradiction if there ever was one.A continental leader in female football but our girls are everywhere but Naija. Sometimes ago some girls came to naija to play in our league but left when they found nothing on ground. Can't blame them. Every problem will be solved by the year 2000. The year came and went. Vision 2010? Shonekan and his team went everywhere to put a document together. It was dumped after lot of efforts and fund had been expended. Now we have Vision 202020. Without political will no amount of vision this or that will see the light of day. We've been truly blessed. Truly blessed with one of the worst leadership cadre in the world.

Of Cyber-bullies & Trolls

Cyber-bullying has become a recurring decimal on many internet sites of recent.The case of Hannah Smith who killed herself Friday,2nd of August is the the most recent statistic. She logged on to the ask.fm website to seek help for her recurring eczema.Rather than offer the needed assistance some internet trolls told her to 'go commit suicide', 'do us all a favour n kill urself', 'go cut ur self n die', etc. She promptly tidied her room and hung herself in her bedroom. She joined a growing list of youngsters who committed suicide after being bullied on the site.They include Joshua Unsworth, 15 who died April, Ciara Pugsley,15 who died September, and Erin Gallagher 13, who died October. The trolls were unrelenting even after her death. They went on Hanna's Facebook tribute page with one branding her a coward.

The fact remains that the world is a cruel place and to a more or less extent, the internet where the bully could be faceless by hiding their identity. The trolls would always be with us therefore my suggestion would be to be wise to their wiles and tactics. Immature youngsters should join sites with the utmost caution.Some youngsters claim to be above 18 when signing up while they are in fact below.Parents should teach their

children and wards to be aware of trolls and bullies where ever they may be especially on the net. When a youth suspects or actually experiences bullying on the net such individual should opt out of such sites. It is much easier and tidier that way.

Epic Fail

David,a spectator at a ballgame in Connecticut popped the question. However he was in for a rude awakening as he got a resounding 'NO' for his efforts.Jessica was not to be cowed by the spectators looking on.

He ran off with his tail between his legs. Sorry, better luck next time or better still :Think and calculate well next time.

Igbo and Lagos Yoruba Patrimony

What is this talk about the Igbos being hard working and the Yorubas being lazy?I always read this on many threads. I believe once you can feed your family without resorting to illegalities nobody has a right to call you lazy. The Igbos are adept at buying and selling while the Yorubas are captains of Industry. Don't also forget it is not ALL items the Igbos buy and sell. Where i live only Yorubas sell Mothercare items for example. Please don't ever call the Yorubas lazy again. If you are so hardworking stay in your enclave and sell to yourselves. The Igbos need people to buy from them too. They are not doing anybody any favour. Igbos generally are wise to another Igbo's wiles and tactics hence they need other tribes to buy their wares. Igbos should be grateful for the patronage they receive. They should not therefore call others lazy or hold others on derison. If it is that easy they should stay in their villages or enclaves and try to develop such places. They should not say they develop Lagos as they are wont to say.

BBA and Morality

I do not understand what BBA is about. What i thought was that the show was about entertaining. But it beats me how soft porn has now become the staple. BBA is trying to be more catholic than the Pope. The housemates are in South Africa but it seems the show is taking Western Culture to the limits in an African setting.

The argument for it may be:if you don't want it don't watch the show.However i believe BBA should rachet down the shock value for conservatives like me who want to see the intrigues,schemings and backstabbings that people living in close quarters are wont to pit on display. The pix are that of Nigerian Beverly Osu and South African guy Angelo throwing decorum to the winds and succumbing to the flesh despite the cameras last Friday night.I call it a public show ofshame

Bizzare Protest

Brazil: Bare-breasted protest for the Pope only

Published on July 28, 2013 bypmnews·4 CommentsProtesters pose as they demonstrate against the Catholic Church and in favour of abortion during the landmark visit of Pope Francis to Brazil, as hundreds of thousands of young Catholic pilgrims attending World Youth Day (WYD) gather at Copacabana beach for a prayer vigil with the pontiff, on July 27, 2013. AFP PHOTO /

Man Inhumanity to man

The four-year-old (centre) resembled a 'concentration camp victim' and weighed less than a toddler when he died after prolonged and painful abuse at the hands of Magdalena Luczak, 27, (left) and stepfather Mariusz Krezolek, 34 (right). The couple showed no emotion as they were jailed for life today. Both will serve a minimum of 30 years each for this 'deeply disturbing and shocking' murder, judge Mrs Justice Cox said. The little boy was imprisoned in a locked box room, force-fed him salt to make him vomit and held him underwater in a bath until he was unconscious during 13 months of 'escalating and incomprehensible cruelty'. A series of appalling blunders by police, social workers, teachers and NHS staffallowed the boy to be killed with a 'massive blow to the head', Birmingham Crown Court heard.Culled from dailymail.co.uk

Gay: Pope&Charly Boy

By Charles Oputa The first 20yrs of my life, I seriously had this dream of being a priest. I was overfed with an overdose of religion which has always been a very serious business in my family. You dare not be late for morning mass or else you get the whipping of your life, yes my father was that strict, no nonsense when it came to going to church or anything spiritual. That’s where I’m coming from, we were a family that prayed together and were very staunch Catholics for that matter. When I turned 16 I became an altar boy, at that time that was the coolest thing to be, considering years of going to bible classes and regular confessions. Eight months into the spiritual things as an altar boy, I made a big goof; I drank the priests wine and ate a bunch of Holy Communion enough to fill me up. I figured I could be more spiritual by that action, but I got expelled as an altar boy, needless to say how scandalized and angry my father was then, OMG. By the time I turned 20, I’ve had enough religion to last me two life times. By 1974, I left to further my studies in the USA, I was overjoyed because for the first time, I was going to be on my own. I was really carried away with my new found independence. Being an adventurous young man I started dabbling into not only the occult but with metaphysics, Buddhism, astrology, magic and all that Jazz. However, I still believe I was fundamentally a Catholic by birth, but the catholic fate has suddenly become boring and old fashion for me. When I read that controversial book, “In God’s Name”, all the negativity I started to feel about the Catholic Church became magnified in my mind. What about the sex scandals about priests and little boys. Hummmmmmm! I am aware that the Catholic Church is not a perfect body, and doesn’t claim to be one. Of course it is plagued with the same corruption, scandals and sin as any other organization. Last night as I was watching CNN, the Pope’s visit to Brasil was being beamed to the world and all of a sudden, there it was, “who am I to judge as long as they walk in the light of Christ” Pope Francis on Gays. As reflexes would have it, I jumped out of my seat and hugged my TV, funny ha ha. Not because homosexuality has been part of my advocacy through the years but because I feel that every adult has a right to make their bed and lie on it as they choose, and who the hell are we to judge. I have always said that it is really not our place to judge those who do not fit our view of normal. So once again the church is attempting to evolve in order to keep up with the rest of civilization. That is how a religion survives. Its belief has to be flexible enough to stay somewhat relevant to current or the public will abandon it. Ever since the Popes election, my man has taken actions that seem to be very ‘unpopelike’. He even used public transport as a cardinal, he lives in a smaller quarter, he asked for blessing before blessing the crowd which gathered in St Peters square on the day of his election. But my people, what is stranger than Pope France’s action have been evangelicals’ reactions all over the world. Never before has a Pope become so widely accepted by Protestants and evangelicals. It’s a proud day for Catholics and all mankind. Finally a Pope who doesn’t see himself as equal to God, unlike our men of god down here. It is really amazing. Every Pope in the Catholic Church’s past has had a mastery over catholic rhetoric, because theoretically they always say the right things. But Pope Francis has decided to lead with his actions. Before delivering his message at the Holy Thursday Mass, Pope Francis spent time on his Knees washing the feet of young women incarcerated at a nearby prison. This is the first time a Pope has ever washed the feet of women, not to mention that one of the women was a Muslim, which is another break in papal tradition. In the holy book, the bible calls us to be the light to the world if Christ is to be present to the world. This is why Pope Francis’ way should be imitated for imitating him we make Christ visible and that is what influences others to walk in the way of Christ. So much to be said for our so called “men of god” in this neck of the woods who strut around as if they are God’s gift to mankind, most of them bunch of con men and fraud stars who are continually ripping off unsuspecting Nigerians, living in fancy houses, building universities their congregation can’t even afford for their children and buying private jets because their God is not a poor God, as Nija’s hand over their pay checks in return for a miracle because they have bought into the Hocus-pocus that is Pentecostalism. Just look at our churches today, tell me those priest, pastors or our so called men of god, who makes Christ visible. Jesus needs us to make him Visible and present in this troubled world. Blessed mother Teresa is a perfect example of showing us the love and mercy of Christ in the millions she cared for. The gospel calls us to imitate Christ and it is in the way we live that the gospel of Jesus gets proclaimed, that is how we speak Christ to a world that does not know him. I am very scared for this Pope, he is a little too Christ like for his own good. There are still some die hard winches, vampires in the Vatican. I fear assassination, probably by the very people who call themselves “devout”. If any Pope can show us what Jesus was saying, I think this one is the one. At least I hope so. I am impressed with this Pope not for his Catholicism but for his Christianity. As I lay in the comfort of my room watching the Pope’s visit to Brazil, it was clear to me that Pope Francis will go down in history as the greatest Pope ever, I just pray that he lives out his Pope ship for many years to come as to spread his light and make our lord Jesus more visible in the world. More than 3million people where at Copacabana beach for the re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross and farewell mass. This world Youths Day smashed previous attendance records and goes down in the record books as one of the best attended papal events ever. In short, this Pope is a rock star. Here is a Pope who speaks the language of the people; In fact in Rio he kicked his penchant for simplicity, humility and accessibility into high gear. The security operatives were all overwhelmed by zealous pilgrims, he insisted on leaving the windows of his car down so he could extend his arm to those seeking his blessings. Countless babies kissed, photo ups with adoring faithfuls only added to the pontiff reputation for being a man of the people, and all of this took place in the roughest side of town, a crime ridden zone in Rio. Pope Francis is now standing up to the Mafia. First the Vatican honoured Rev Giuseppe Puglisi, killed 20yrs ago by mobsters for preaching against the Mafia, as a martyr. Pope Francis himself demanded that Mafia members abandon their “evil ways” especially those who exploit their fellow humans via human trafficking, drug dealing and prostitution. “They cannot make our brothers slaves; let us pray that these Mafiosi convert to God”. Hummmmm na wa, if the Mafia decides to take Pope Francis out in retaliation for his words against them, I pray that there’s a Pope Francis army out there ready to throw down. If the Pope manages to mobilize all of Italian society against the Mafia, his days maybe numbered, but he will be unable to do so, and as a result I pray that the Mafia won’t remember him. They say the only thing needed for Evil to exist is for good men to do nothing. I am glad that he is doing something. He looks and sounds to me like he has a beautiful spiritual light burning inside of him and is preaching goodwill for all and trying to turn around the corrupt so they too can walk in the sunlight of the spirit. I really admire him for standing up to the Mafias. I recognize the Popes effort in trying to bring a better image and name to Christianity. Anyway you flip it, the Holy Father is full of surprises, born of true and faithful humility, at another occasion, he declared that all people, not just Catholics, are redeemed through Jesus, even atheists. “Those people must still do good. Infact, it is in doing good that they are led to the one who is the source of all that is good” In essence he simply restated the hope of the church that all come to know God, through his son Jesus Christ. Pope Francis is saying more than ever before, that Christ offered himself as a sacrifice for everyone. That has always been a Christian belief, but rarely do you hear it said by Catholics so forcefully, and with such evident joy. And in this era of religious controversies, it is a timely reminder that God cannot be confined to our narrow categories. Thumbs up for my man Pope Francis, nothing do you.