The Elevens

I got tagged to do the Elevens by my darling Toinlicious. I'm super stoked. She's awesome. All of you sneaking on here reading but not following and all those who actually follow, please check out her blog, she's awesomesauce.

So:
1. Post the rules
2.Post 11 random facts about yourself.
3. Answer the 11 questions posed by your 'tagger'
4.Create 11 questions of your own
5.Tag 11 people with your questions
6. Don't tag the one who tagged you.
7.Let the tagger know you've answered their questions.

*If I tag you, them's the rules

11 Random Facts About Me

1. I  am 5’0  
2. I am a chronic but recovering nail biter (oh yes, face is firmly covered in shame)
3. I have a LOT of handbags. I am a bag freak. Gimme a bag and I am happy to walk around naked with the bag. Bags are my accessory of choice.
4. I wish I could go back to University. I would do it all so very differently. I will be a lot more social and date white boys. Lol.
5. I have never seen Mary Poppins
6. I was Home Economics prefect in Secondary School. I know, what a useless post. My mates were getting Head Girl, but my longer throat and FFO tendencies recommended me for the job.
7. I bought vip tickets for £60 to go and see BBD in America once. 'Who is BBD?' Exactly! My entire family were on the verge of committing me to an asylum because....who listens to BBD in this day and age???? Well, I do.
8. I am unbelievably grumpy in the mornings. I don’t speak to people and I will thank them not to speak to me. I can’t stand chipper people in the morning!!!!They make me sick. Why so happy and singing about like a retard?
9.  I am gradually becoming a hermit.....bring on the 80 cats that may eat my face off when I die!
10. I have an aso-ebi fetish. I love buying aso-ebi. If i meet you today and you’re getting married tomorrow, I’m buying that aso-ebi. Provided it is not a retarded sum like 100,000. Only ‘best friends for life’ can do that to me and even then, they must name their first 2 children after me to get such an amount off me. It just makes my life so easy. I don’t have to wonder about what I’m wearing to that wedding. I just have to pick a style. Easy peasy.
11. I will do anything for chapman and cake! Judge me all you want. Don’t care. Just kidding about the ‘do anything’. Let me rephrase: I will do almost anything for chapman and cake. Oh and crab too (not the disease variety, I meant the fresh water crustacean variety)

     Toinlicious' Questions

1. What’s the one question you would ask God if you could: The bible says in the beginning, the world was without form and void. What created the ‘without form and void’? How did nothingness exist and was it there before God?
2. What’s your most embarrassing moment: I have a phobia for outside toilets, so one day, I went to the saloon and held my pee for a seriously long time and when I finally made it to the toilet, I didn’t make it to the bowl, I literally peed on myself. What was sad was, when it started coming down, I just stood there and gave up! Oh the shame!!!
3. If you could change one thing in the world now what will it be: The existence of many a mindless reality tv shows specifically anything involving any of the Kardashians, Coco and Ice cube...in fact, I would eradicate (or should that be exterminate?)E! as a whole and move fashion police to a sane channel
4. If you could say one thing to the current pope what would it be: Sir, is it drafty under that dress?
5. What’s the one thing you wish you could ‘un-invent’ right now and why: Bombs well, more like the ability to put together bombs as anything can be turned into an explosive device these days. Bombs are tools for the battle field and they have found their way into the hands of ignorant bastards who have caused are still causing grief all over Nigeria. Fire burn them!!!!!
6. What’s the most terrifying moment of your life: When my dad got shot 16 years ago
7. If you were to be recognized by posterity for one thing what would you like to be known for: I would like to be remembered as someone who was renowned for her impeccable manners. Manners and courtesy are sorely lacking in our society these days
8. What color best describes you? Seriously Toinlicious? Seriously? Well all the colours of the rainbow, cos they are pretty and they are a wonder. Just like me ;)
9. If you could commit one crime and wouldn't be caught, what crime would you commit: Cyber theft. Specifically on the ASOS and Net-a-porter sites. Two things: 1. I’m a bit of a wimp, I couldn't look someone in the eyes and divest them of something they own or just harm them in any way and 2. Loves me some cyber swag.
10. If you had to name one lesson of love that took you longest to learn, what would it be and why: God’s will must take place no matter how we humans try to circumvent it or hope He will see things our way. I got into a relationship that I knew God didn't want me to go into. I knew it, He knew I knew it but I did it anyways and I got burnt.
11. If you could be guaranteed one thing besides money, what would you want: Perfect health; not even a slight headache ever and ever again. I hate being sick :(

    My Questions

1. What is the one thing that frightens you the most?
2. What song would you describe as your ‘theme song’ ie a song that best describes you or how you feel about yourself or certain issues?       
3. Kim Kardashian,  the entire Jersey shore cast ( if they were formed into one body with a medusa head of all the cast members)  and Nene Leakes; if you had one bullet, who would you shoot?
4. What was the last most outrageous purchase you made?
5.   Is it best to have loved and lost or is it best to not love at all giving the possibility of heart break? Give reasons. (P:S: No BS sappy and generic answers too)
6.  Tattoos or piercings. Which do you prefer and why? (‘neither’ is not an answer)
7. Who do you love the most, your brother or your boyfriend? (If married, replace with husband) Give reasons
8. Is revenge ever justified? Give reasons
9. Is religion an important consideration in a relationship? Give reasons
10. If you were president for a day, what is the first thing you would do?
11. What is your first memory of being aware of/attracted to someone of the opposite sex?

            I hereby tag the following awesome persons:

                      HoneyDame

                      Ginger

                      Coy Introvert

                      Lady Ngo

                     @ilola

                     Sisi Yemmie

                     Luciano

                     Che

                     Porcelain

                     Adiya

                     Sugabelly

                     Unveilinggold

Side chicks be winning!

I know!! Me sef, I was shocked when my fingers typed the topic! But a spate of recent and not so recent events are indications that side chicks have been getting one over all of us and having the last laugh.

As against being a side chick as I am, it is clear that these girls are not retarded dummies as I had previously thought. They have a plan and they are committed to said plan, come rain or sunshine.

Main chicks have long been content and complacent because they have the title "main" in front of their own chick. Like a chubby-chaser systematically feeding his spouse to death and telling her she's beautiful at 1000 kg, boyfriends encourage complacency and contentment by calling you things like wifey, iyawo mi etc. That awesome feeling when you know you have centre stage in someone's life. Bliss.

#soundofglassshattering. That's your bliss shattered and scattered all over the floor. Enters the side chick. You know her; that girl that sticks around and just will.not.leave. Main chicks have long be uppity and smug. They are 'the' ones. It is a position of power. Mummy knows you and your mum, the sister gets back from jand and brings you shoes, you're in good with grandma etc. This position is really elevated and you can't help but look down on the pathetic excuse of a human being known as the side chick. She's scum. She's lower than the gum that's stuck to the bottom of your jand shoes. You heap all your scorn on her and rightly so. You were chased, wooed and desired from day one, and here she is busy serving herself up on a platter of gold and is willing to take any crumb your man deems fit to throw at her.  Has she no shame?? She's disgusting!

Some of you know of the side chick, some of you are oblivious to her existence.  Those that know her may not know her by her official title i.e. side chick , she may have been introduced to you under cover. The favored disguise is the 'best friend' disguise. To some, she's just a girl that hung around your boyfriend who has sworn on ogun, sango and obatala that there's nothing going on between them. At first, you found her cute. Remember, you would tease your boyfriend mercilessly about her. Saying things like "how's that your babe sef"? And he never found it funny. It probably ended there for some. For some others, the cuteness grew into mild irritation and panic "why is she always hanging about and calling?" she must know he has a girlfriend, right? Eventually, that will blossom into outright disgust. You may even get your girls and go to her house and get physical with her. But guess what? She's still there.

See, the strength of the side chick lies in something very simple: she doesn't need perks; she doesn't want to be introduced to his parents...she hates parents! She just wants your man and she will do anything, say anything, be anything to get him.

And her super power? I hear you ask, simples: Devotion.

 Main chicks, this is where you are completely lacking. Main chicks feel so entitled so they sometimes act like brats. The name for this smesme is Drama. As a main chick, you believe he ought to remember what he went through to win your heart in the first place, all the work he put in stalking your sister and your friends, all the money and time he expended just to be with you. He wouldn't want to throw that down the drain. When he annoys you, you just let it rip! Who has time for rubbish? You lash out and put him in his place. The two of you will beg yourselves later.  Side chicks on the other hand.....annoyance ke? ki lo n je be? wetin be that? Even when he is clearly in the wrong, she is contrite and apologetic straight away. If na correct yoruba babe wey grandma train, one...two...she's on her knees. The butty side chick is sending ice cream factory double chocolate muffins to his office cos she knows they are his favorite and blowing up his phone; begging. Main chick, on the other hand, is keeping malice.

A side chick's best friend is heart break. She's almost immune to it. Your man breaks her heart every single day when she calls and he can't talk cos he's with you.  And when you're the side chick, old dude gives it to you straight. Hiding and subterfuge is only for Madam. She takes it on the chin  and overlooks everything in the interest of the long term goal. She knows how to play the game and she's a team player for Team Your Boo. She consoles herself with things like 'he didn't mean it' or 'he's having a bad day' or 'she (that's you btw) is stressing him'. Main chicks do not play that mess o jare. They may overlook some things but they have a bullshit quota system and once you use up your quota, you're getting it in the nads with a side of guilt. Gotta love main chick's ability to guilt trip.

It seems like a lot of work just to be with a person that was never yours in the first place but she's willing to put in the work for the eventual pay off. See we women underestimate the power of dedicated devotion and how it makes a man feel. It may start off irritating but gradually, men begin to warm up to it and then it is curtains for Mrs. Main Chick and she wouldn't even know what hit her.

Practical Example: my sister gave me one gist last week that inspired this post. Her car pool driver told her about how he ended up marrying his wife. He had been dating another woman for years and his family really liked her. She lived in Ghana so he was shuttling between Ghana and Nigeria. His present wife was his 'friend'. The Ghanaian babe had gone to beat up the current wife in the past. But she still insisted on being his friend (what a lovely person) The Ghanaian babe had always had a temper but once he started being very friendly with his friend, he started to notice it more and more. In the end, he just felt there was no need for him to condone her drama when he had a perfectly nice friend who wanted to be more than friends so he gave Miss Ghana the boot (Nigeria 1- Ghana 0). The Ghanaian babe knew that the side chick in this story was a threat to her and went to arrange the babe. If you did not have an ulterior motive as a woman, when another woman comes to arrange you, won't you back off on that note?

The side chick in this story, had a goal and she stuck around to see it to fruition. Now that's what I call determination. People like me and my cousin will be talking about how we have self respect and no time for drama meanwhile side chicks have tossed all self- respect to the wind and are now sporting huge blings on their ring finger.


So to the side chicks who have won the war and those still in the struggle; I have no choice but to salute you. Being a side chick is no mean feat yet you have managed to create art out of what others perceive as  low-lifeitude and esteem problems. Well done.

P.S. eyin ololufe mi, my lovers, my sweeties, my honies esp. HoneyDame, please forgive my tardiness and my computer's effrontery to put up an empty post. I will behave better in the future and be on top of my blog game. Sowi!

WTH??????

Hi guys. I'm so sorry I've been so 'bloglically deficient' this year. I've had some sort of writers' block and I've been going through a lot of drama at work, which should hopefully sort itself out next week. Thanks Pancake, for pulling me out of my funk today. So, yeah, enough about me. Let's get to the real, shall we? 

 This a full on rant. Brace yourselves. We were all largely uninterested (well I was) when on valentine's day, Tuface proposed to his long-term and long suffering girlfriend, Annie Macaulay. Amidst a lot of tears and 'spoil face' the beleaguered Annie accepted. 

Touching. 

The only thing I could think was: why in the hell is she so happy that a serial impregnator proposed to her? After 12 years of wasting her time, 3 baby mamas and five babies later (with one on the way), he was finally ready to settle down. Oh the relief! She has been through beat downs, public humiliation, the prospect of step kids but oh! she's definitely winning now cos there's a finger with a rock at the end of that tunnel. BULLSHIT!!! 

My friend SO and I were pondering the mysteries of life one late night and one of the questions for determination was 'is the amount of bullshit a woman can put up with in direct correlation with how much she loves a man?'. See, before Annie's 'happy' news, we were getting ready to go to the wedding of a girl who had stomached so much bullshit to get her man, it was unreal. 

They weren't dating, he was engaged to someone else but her ability to just be there come rain or shine, to almost jeopardise her education and future career irrespective of the fact that he was committed to another woman, stood her in good stead and won the day for her. SO was of the opinion that all is well that ends well. I was of the opinion that she's a home wrecking doormat. But the one consensus we reached was we didn't think we could go to such extremes and hence we are yet to marry.

And then the news broke about Annie and Tuface

And we became even more convinced that being single is not necessarily that bad. Since the bullshit bar has been raised too high for us and it seems to be a fad amongst the young ones these days. 

I was even more peeved when I read comments about the impending nuptials. Things along the lines of 'congrats girl. True love won at the end of the day' and more tribalistic ones like 'Annie was always our wife before those ugly yoruba girls came into the picture' or something like that. If Annie was always 'your' wife, dear 'commenter', you could have helped her out by having Tuface neutered after baby number 2.

And true love didn't win the day....... Desperation did. 

Why are you termed a good woman just because you can turn a blind eye to indiscretions and pretty much roll over and expose your stomach to allow someone kick it in again? Is that really a function of love? Love as I understand it might be patient, kind and bearing no grudges. Looking at the spirit and intent and not just the words of that scripture, I have come to the conclusion that this doesn't translate to 'love should always be taken advantage of and be taken for granted'. In addition, it goes without saying that the 'love edict' (as I like to call it) applies across the board to men and women alike. I don't see a man willing to look the other way when a woman he loves takes it upon herself to single handedly ensure that the human race doesn't die. Those type of girls get labelled as sluts. And a night vigil of epic proportions will be held by the family of a guy who wants to marry a girl with numerous baby daddies. 

This is not 'baby boy' or any other badly written 'urban' movie. This is life! What legacy are we leaving for our kids? "Mummy was so hugely inconsequential that she stood around for 12 years waiting for daddy to come around......you can be or have anything you want if you put your mind to it!". That....does not a female president make neither is it a rousing or motivational speech to your child, Mrs. Desperate House Wife!

I am so over women refusing to hold men to a higher standard and wondering why they are acting the fool. Do we not deserve men to whom we are primary priority? THEY hold US to a VERY high standard. So why can't we? I saw the cheesiest but simultaneously poignant thing like last year: don't make someone a priority to whom you're just an option. That makes sense. But it seems a lot of us women, are just sprinting to that finish line of getting a rock. Being a priority or something a man holds dear or cherishes,is secondary. He can do as he likes so long as I get that rock. Fantastic. I've been at the end of many a conversation where there's been a ring and a marriage but the guy is still an asshole. You know why? COS HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ASSHOLE!!!! You decided to turn the blind eye for the ring. You got the ring, honey, you should be happy. That was your goal. You weren't wanting him to love you unconditionally then, or treat you right, or not put you through so much crap. All you wanted, was the ring. So what do you want him to do??? What do you want from him? He's done all that you asked...he's given you a ring. You can't change the game mid-play!!! Have you ever seen a football match that becomes a cricket match after half time because one side was losing? I haven't. The losing side knuckles down and plays the game to whatever outcome. 

The funny thing is, it is us women, that dictate the pace for these relationships. A few years ago in my church, a man thoroughly humiliated his wife during a bible study service. He said she was always harping on about him not smoking, when, when they met, she told him that the thing she liked most about him was how he held his cigarette. She set the pace, now she doesn't like it anymore. Well, tough!

We all get what we think we deserve. If a piece of jewellery is all you think you're worth, then that's it. The ring is NOT the love. It is just a symbol. It represents so much more; love, respect, friendship, commitment, longevity etc. But my fabulous generation has it all twisted. We don't sort out the preliminary issues first. We just want the ring. It is what we are gunning for from day one. 

Guys, here's a cheat note; you can act any kind of fool you want, so long as you dangle the promise of a little, round piece of jewellery before any girl's eyes. You don't even have to commit to the sentiment behind the ring. Most girls don't care. Even more importantly, try to catch the girl in the 25-30 age bracket or make sure you've been dangling her along for more than 2 years! Oh, the Jackie Channess of that desperation!!! She will never leave your ass! Just say 'undeep' things like 'why are you acting out babe? Ehn? Future Mrs....whatever the hell your last name is' and watch her light up like a retarded christmas tree in July, all transgression immediately forgiven. You have the sweetest end of the deal guys. You lucky devils. 

So....yeah......here's to desperation! Where would all these assholes be without it?

Full Disclosure

*sneaking in and attempting to act like I've been here the whole time* ok, ok, ok, sorry I've been gone for so long. First of all, happy new year (I know....but better late than never) I have really missed you guys. It has been miserable without you. It is work o! I will tell you about it later jare. Anyways, I have plenty gist o. So am I forgiven???? Yes??? Thank you. Anyways, let's talk.

The expression "honesty is the best policy" is the most overused adage in this country in my opinion. It is usually always spouted by dishonest people but I digress. How feasible is the concept of honesty in the grand scheme of things when you're embarking on a new relationship? Are we always 100% honest with a new guy/girl? If you are, when does the honesty clause kick in? A day after you officially start dating? A month? A year? there are so many things that as people, we have done and intend to forget about in life, in general. Some have to do with our dating lives. You know, you dated one kwokriko boy that after removing the relationship googles, you couldn't believe you did such a thing to yourself etc. But when you go into a new relationship, bearing in mind that you must disclose, you don't get to live those mistakes down. Going into a new relationship is always like putting a scalpel to an injury that is a day away from closing up properly and ripping it down the middle again. In that stage when you're getting to know someone, it is always expedient to decipher who they are. History contributes to who we are. So you start asking mundane questions not knowing if you will like the answer or not. As an aside, I find that at this stage, women are prepared for anything but guys, surprisingly, are always shocked. The questions vary. It could be how many guys have you slept with or have you been tested for HIV.
What I want to know is,  and please feel free to comment and help a sister out, is full disclosure necessary? Is 'surface disclosure' not enough? What purpose does full disclosure serve other than causing strife and mistrust? Dont get me wrong, I don't like lies and I don't have big secrets that i need to hide or whatever. I am just wondering about the relevance of full disclosure. Maybe I should paint scenario and then you can see where I am coming from.

Before getting married, you've been a fool for love like 3 times. 3 different guys have promised you marriage and you stupidly believed them, as you do. Those relationships didn't work out but unfortunately you got pregnant in the course of those relationships. Naturally, you had an abortion in all 3 cases. Very stupid of you, you know. But you have since made your way right with God and it is a present but distant memory.

 Now you've met a guy, you're engaged. He doesn't know of this sordid past. At what point do you disclose the fact that you've had 3 abortions? Is before the engagement the right time? You know, to give him the  opportunity to make an informed decision as to whether or not to go ahead with the engagement? Or is it after the engagement?
Let's even consider that perhaps, you told him and he's had time to mull it over and he decides that he loves you so much that he can't live without you and goes ahead with the marriage. What if 2 years down the line, you're unable to get pregnant? Even if he doesn't say anything, I guarantee that the thought that he secretly blames you will drive you to the point of almost killing yourself.

I said earlier that girls are usually more receptive of any bs that guys throw their way. This is not a broad generalization, it has been proven time and time again. "Examples" I hear you say. Boys are quicker to come forward when they have children outside wedlock. It is a proof of their virility. It is essentially a proof of a girl's sluttiness (don't stone me. That is not my view, it is society's view.....pesky little society!). Anyways, I completely digressed. Most girls will readily take this on the chin. But for most guys,it is a deal-breaker. If a woman likes you, she will literally figure out a way to make things work. Most guys can't handle even the simplest things. Take for instance the question "how many guys have you slept with?". That question is fraught with many dangers. When guys go on that road, to me, they already have the answer they want to hear in their heads, so anything above the grand total of zero becomes an issue. As  one of my favorite comedians said and i quote "you ain't discovering s*#t. Just be glad you are hitting it now. Any answer she gives will be too much for you. She could say two and you will go "two.......two???!!! I guess that is how you was raised'" women know this, so we lie. Deny! Deny!! Deny!!! It is our default setting. Or deliberately omit certain facts. Which opens it's own can of worms as it will be construed as being intentionally deceitful.

It has been my experience that guys are not so forthcoming anyways. They prefer to remain mysterious whilst asking you to lay yourself bare in 5 minutes. I'm even shocked survey firms have not found their way into relationships and courtship yet, considering how impatient men are about knowing whether to drop anchor or sling their hooks.

So if you know you are going to lie anyways, is there a point to conducting any discoveries? We are back to my first question, is full disclosure feasible? I think it causes more harm than good but they say confession is good for the soul. So what is better; excess guilt in your heart and a happily oblivious significant other or a good, clean soul and a hurting or dead relationship? Hit me up and let's talk.

GEJ Presidential Palace Subsidy Must End- Nigerian Bloggers' Protest

I am not much of an activist. I have strong views and opinions that I express to friends and all those who care to listen but I've never been much of an activist. I approach life most times with light hearted whimsy. But there is nothing light hearted or whimsical about the issues affecting Nigeria today. Our government in their infinite foolishness have decided that of all the issues affecting Nigeria such as insecurity, wide spread poverty, the national embarrassment that is inadequate power supply amongst others; the removal of fuel subsidy is the next thing to tackle in a New Year.

The government of President Goodluck Jonathan greeted Nigerians with the news that petrol will now cost 140 naira per litre from the previous 65 naira per litre. A more than 100% increase. I watched the Finance Minister and other mouth pieces of the government on Channels TV attempting to rationalise this massive rape committed on all Nigerian people. She had all sorts of charts and figures to show that we were getting it 'good' in Nigeria. The undertone of her speech was that the government was practically doing us a favour. She compared us to other oil producing countries like Saudi Arabia and insisted we were still getting the fuel cheaper than they were in those countries. I said to my father that the ONLY statistic they weren't showing which was perhaps, the most important, is the fact that 90% of Nigerian live on $1 or less a day (please note that the Naira has now fallen way below the Dollar so perhaps, the correct figure is now about $0.88 per day. But that is a topic for another day)

How do you justify putting the price of fuel at 140 Naira when people are LIVING on 150 Naira PER DAY? Is this a government of the people,for the people, by the people? How does a government in a democracy justify spending over a Trillion Naira on its own expenses and stating that it is unable to afford 160 million Nigerians the same privilege? This move has shown Nigerians that we are literally on our own. We have to fight our own battles by ourselves because the people we have elected into government are simply there for self enrichment and self aggrandisement. How dare the Federal Government of Nigeria remove the only thing we benefit from petrol as an oil producing country? In the program where Okonjo-Iweala was highlighting the benefits of removal of subsidy, she failed to acknowledge the domino effect of such removal. The knock on effect of removal of subsidy is that EVERYTHING becomes more expensive. So everything the average man living on 150 Naira a day needs for his daily living has shot up by 100%. Gala as at 2 weeks ago cost 50 Naira. My cousin's colleague as at last week was told that Gala now costs 110 Naira. I haven't received the figures of the cost of rice, garri, beans and oil. Yet our President needs 1 Billion Naira to feed his family this year.

They keep harping on about a cabal that is benefitting from oil subsidy. The removal of subsidy is supposed to smoke out this phantom cabal. Removing subsidy does not assure me as a Nigerian that the executive is doing its job in curbing the cabal. All it tells me is that I am being punished for the incompetence of my government. To add insult to injury, the President came on TV yesterday to highlight 'palliative' measures to cushion the removal of fuel subsidy. Palliative for who? 1600 buses, 2 per Local Government Area for 160 Million people. 25% cut in basic salary for all those in power. What about the allowances they are all 'entitled' to? Reduction in foreign travel and entourage size. Yet he is South Afrca and has taken 2 Planes to 'accomplish' the trip. In a third world country, a finance Minister is earning as much as the President of the United State if not more and yet it is not feasible to allow Nigerians the one consolation they were getting from being an oil producing country. We have not been told that the subsidy will be applied to the development of the refineries in Nigeria. They just said the money will be applied to development programs. Where have we heard that before? They keep 'proposing programs' they never 'initiate' or 'complete' programs.

That speech was an insult to my sensibilities as a Nigerian. It was forced, insensitive, lacked any empathy for the plight of Nigerians. It was a speech that was clubbed together by a Government that was for the first time in recent history facing a showdown by a fed up citizenry. Nigerians are an accommodating people. We have put up with successive incompetent dispensations. Terrible after bad governance, mediocre leadership, harsh policies, wanton greed and corruption. We have kept quiet and suffered in silence. We have been unified by this cause much to the surprise of our leaders.

Brothers and sisters, I am a stakeholder in Nigeria. Nigeria belongs to me and my children unborn. We own this country yet we are being taxed for fuel by a government that is asking us to make sacrifices whilst being unwilling to make any. These people in Government work for us and until they understand that, we will not move forward. I am livid. I have bought petrol for the new unsubsidized price. A government that is so far removed from the plight of the people, I repeat, is a government that we cannot reckon with. Sanusi Lamido, CBN Governor, admitted to not remembering the last time he bought fuel. I remember the last time I bought fuel before the subsidy was removed. I paid 3500 Naira to fill up my tank. It is now double that price and we are being enjoined not to Occupy Nigeria. His declaration shows clearly that our government lives in Narnia whilst we live in the real world. They have distanced themselves from the suffering of the masses the way a two year old sticks his fingers in his ears to avoid hearing what you have to say. Our government is delusional if they believe that this removal of subsidy is for the benefit of Nigeria.

We must stand up for our rights. The time for a revolution is now. Sadly, this revolution will not be televised. At least not by local media. This protest has unmasked the true face of this government. A government that encroaches on free media is a dictatorship. I voted for a democracy.I suggest that we all arm ourselves with a copy of the constitution and begin to take proactive steps towards taking back our fatherland. Know your rights within the constitution. It is your right to recall a law maker that is not representing your interest in the Legislature. Recall your Senators or House of Reps members if they are not doing the job for which they were elected. Sitting allowances and furniture allowances were not the reasons you put them in power. Things have come to a head now. Fuel subsidy has opened the floodgates for all the grievances we need to air and have addressed. This window of opportunity must be effectively utilised before it closes. We must not get suckered in by false promises and false hopes. The mantle of revolution has now fallen upon us. I support the Occupy Nigeria movement, I support an organised Civil disobedience. I support my right to speak my mind without fear of sanctions. I support being free from insecurity in my own country. I am disgusted by a government that wants to silence me, a government that is steeped in wanton waste of resources whilst the common man wastes away on the streets, that frolicks in illegality and unpatriotic policies. My impassioned plea to the Nigerian people is not to let the government get away with this injustice. If you are a blogger and/or you support the movement, here is what you do:


For a week starting from today, all Nigerian bloggers and other interested parties are enjoined to:

1. Do a similar post of your own on your blog using the title "GEJ Presidential Palace Subsidy Must End: Nigerian Bloggers' Protest"
2. Add the pic/tabled diagram in this post
3. Publish your post today or latest by tomorrow
4. Please allow for seven days on your blog or place in a prime position on your blog for seven days.
5. You can still play your part as a non-blogger: share on facebook, twitter and other relevant social media.
6. Journalists, use your media space.
7. If you've done a post or published elsewhere online, please leave a link at  Naijalines Thanks.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing- Edmund Burke

WHEN, WHERE, HOW AND WHY OccupyNigeria by Azeenarh

I'm a bit upset that my first post in the New Year is a call to arms but I'm also very proud that a revolution is taking place and my peers are at the forefront of it.
I read a very intelligent post about the how and why of the protest and it just stoked my already burning fire. If you're interested in the protest and you want to be a part of it, please read this post on http://azeenarh.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/when-where-how-and-why-occupynigeria/ for a more concise rationale for the protest. Here's an excerpt from the post:


by Azeenarh Mohammed (@xeenarh)
(Closeted optimist, provocative writer)

The people are restless and the demands for a demonstration are loud. I am very happy to hear those calls, but once again I must call for caution. The events that took place at #EagleSquare in Abuja and other parts of the country yesterday the 2nd January 2011 only serves to buttress my point: we simply aren’t ready…YET.
What started out as a call by Dino Meleye to take down the names and details of volunteers eventually ended badly. Citizens were tear-gassed, bullied, chased, beaten & some where arrested. As I write this, some of them are still in custody. Although I am unhappy with these events, Japheth Omojuwa has pointed the glass as half full for me because the turn out was massive despite just having only 1 or 2 hours to mobilise.
But as much as we want to rush out and demonstrate, we have to do it with reason. Why not use the few days we have left to organise and prepare ourselves? Let me tell you why.

RULES GUIDING THESE PROTESTS:
A written notice shall be delivered to the police, SSS, road safety and other relevant agencies stating the intention for a peaceful protest in accordance to Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with particular reference to Sections 33, 34, 35, 38, 39, 40 and 41 of the CFRN which will contain the date, time, where the protest will take place (from which streets it starts and to which it will convene) and the estimated number of people expected.
We shall not stoop to the level of fighting the security forces physically, with arms, or engage them in verbal arguments. They are first of all Nigerians and we have to remember that.
Protesters will not obstruct traffic, or antagonise people going about their normal business.
With crowds, absolute control can not be achieved but we must try our best. Violence is NOT an option. I repeat, violence is not an option. Let’s not give this people a reason to turn on us. A single life is too costly-and we’ve lost too many already. We can do it peacefully and we will. We are going to rely on the educated ones among us to broker & maintain peace in case a disagreement ensures.
We will ensure that every excuse used in the past to intimidate and harass citizens are minimised and if possible, completely extinguished. Hopefully, the police, army, civil defence and co will join us shortly.
Now remember, Mr President has said he is willing to risk civil disobedience by removing subsidy. This tells us that they are ready for us. We not only have to match their resolve, we have to beat them at it.

Please visit the blog for the conclusion of the post. We have to stand for something. It has now become clear that we have an insensitive, unsympathetic and removed from any sense of reality government. The time of mediocre government is now gone. Elected officials must recognise that we will not be brow beaten. A government that is willing to dialogue with terrorists whilst spitting in the faces of legitimate citizens is certainly not what we signed up for. Lives were lost to ensure the fair election that brought Mr. President to power and this is not how they should be honoured. I support the protests 110%. I stand shoulder to shoulder with all those who risked their lives and went out today to show the government that we mean business. My only plea is that we should ensure that the protests are peaceful so that lives are not lost. Martin Luther-King led a non-violent resistance that helped to end the biggest human rights infringement of our time. It is our turn to walk in his steps and show our leaders that we will not descend into the dung-hill with them. We mean business and we know how to achieve our goals as civilised people, living in a civilised society. Support the civil disobedience. If you cannot be physically present, send tweets, talk about it on Facebook, discuss it on other forums, if you're a blogger, please 're-blog'. Let our voices be heard. Nigeria is OURS.