water everywhere yet not a drop to drink

Why are there suddenly so many agitations for more money in the face of the economic issue? The list is long: ASUU nationwide, NASU nationwide, SSANU nationwide, doctor, health workers, PHCN, NUPENG, secondary school teachers in many states, primary school teachers in many other states. Why did everyone suddenly wake up? Here is one reason.
No one believes the government when they say there is no money.
WHY?
Because everyone sees the lifestyle of the leaders. Sam Egwu was celebrating his wedding anniversary when the children under him were home instead of school. When the ministry under him is on fire. Which real man goes chasing rats when his house is on fire. Once you accept a post like a minister's, you are public property. Forget how much he spent. It is the philosophy that counts.
WHY
Because the leaders hurt public sensibilities. Ibori goes in a private jet. It was his case that pages were ripped out of court records. We are all idiots! Ayoka Adebayo resigns and realigns and no on has seen her to ask even one question. I am the idiot because I do not know that in US or UK, she would be forced to appear on Larry King Live! This is how we will make the list of the best 20 economies.
WHY
Because the idea our pain is that it is only in the dark that objects can gleam and take upon themselves attractions that they would not have in full daylight. They have to keep us in darkness in order that they might gleam. So that we would be thankful when we have six hours electricity in a fortnight. So that we would kneel in glee if the borehole is commissioned. Jesus! BOREHOLE of N80,000 VAT and fraudulent additions inclusive! When we are all in poverty, then we can marvel at their wealth.
WHY?
Because we all buy from the same market. I see idiots who have neither IQ nor skill buying for a week's pleasure what I saved a lifetime and added a loan to buy! I see them giving to their dogs what my children cannot eat more than twice in three months even on my salary that took three degrees and 15 years experience to earn! Not counting the academic papers.
WHY? Because more businesses are opening up and the same people own them. The same people like Dangote are getting concessions to get richer and sell everything. Thank God that air is free. If I had to buy Dangote or Dantata or Danbaba air!
WHY?
Because more posts are opening up as we grow bigger and each of these posts are given to the same people who have been something before and have not been those things creditably. Some of them have hefty files with EFCC. You have to be an erstwhile something to become a new something. Erstwhile governor like Egwu, Udenwa, Shinkafi, flag bearer like Obanikoro, erstwhile leader like Obasanjo and Gowon. The good erstwhiles move up not down. Like Oby Ezekwesili and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Not the ones that go from professional pharmacists to professional dancers to any government tune in a ministry I which they have no training.
WHY?
Because we see and see and see and see! Because they take us for granted. Because they do not care. Because they dangle carrots while wielding a big stick like Obasanjo said. Where is the stick now? Those MEND boys are mending nothing.
WHY?
You are still asking why?

The human mind is an amazing warehouse
it is not just storage space
it has ability to ruminate from its own perspective
and from the perspective of others
and it has no limitations from the outside
the danger... on the inside.
Why ensnare your mind
and deny the world of the riches of your thought
Now is time to speak out.
When others tell you how well they have been blessed
by thoughts you thought stupid
then you will realise
there is no space labeled stupid
No not in your mind.
Certainly not in mine.
Pick up a pen and script your thoughts
Start now.

curse of a muse

those lonely moments

boring lonely moments

when the world is too heavy

when the world deserts the muse

those moments

make the muse

lonely heart, wanderer in the desolate

barren lands, arid landscapes

bare trees, empty catacombs

each holds a story

told only in the quiet solitude

only a muse can bear

the harsh sentence to silence

and bear it still

till the tale is told

recreating, recording, re-telling

re-enacting, re-living

calling out the past

unleashing emotions hidden or dead

the loneliest of callings

there i am condemned

a muse’s calling

that is my curse!

Chuma Okoye

April, 2008

FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN NIGERIAN PIDGIN

Those of us in academics have heard so many reasons why the Nigerian pidgin falls short of international standard. The big talk always ends with codification. This is just to say that nothing is fixed, and if a word cannot mean the same thing all the time and everywhere and is not spelt the same, then it is not a good case for the language. All of us know that this is all talk because even English language get in own fuck-up! but the usual problem is that if you want to get the degree you are studying for and if you want to get published in journals, you must to de do 'I concur'. So, it boils down to the same thing -na who wan talk?

But we sef know say person wey talk say im mama soup no sweet, the person get another mama for outside. Na original bad pikin e be.

So, I bring you someone's work that I found on the net. Unfortunately, the site is inactive but this work is still there. Please remember it is someone's intellectual property. Dat's why I put only small for here. If you wan thief, go there yourself.

Enjoy what this researcher has done and continue to believe in our pidgin.

Babawilly's Dictionary of
Pidgin English Words and Phrases.

A

---

A whole.. Used when a man of substance is belittled e.g See how mobile police trash the guy, a whole managing director for dat matter
Abeg: Please.
Abi?: Is it not?
Abi na wetin!: What is it?
ABU: Amadu Bello University.
Acada: 1. Intellectual 2. University student 3. Book worm.
Acata: 1. USA or UK 2.Someone who lives in those places.
Acting big man: Deputy exercising power in the absence of the boss.
Adire: Dyed cloth.
Adonkia: contraction for I don’t care attitude
Afang: Efik soup made from Afang leaves, beef, dried fish, crayfish, palm oil, and periwinkle.
Afraid catch me: I was scared.
Afta: After
Afta much:Inebriated after much alcohol.
Agaracha: Woman of easy virtue.
Agbada: Large traditional garment usually worn by men over a shirt.
Agbepo: Night soil man. (See - Onioburu).
Agbero: Labourer who carries heavy goods for a fee.
Agip: Any Government In Power. Derisory term for person who changes alliances as goverments come and go.
Agument: Argument.
Ah-ah: For goodness sake.
Aircon: Abbreviation for air conditioner.
Ajasco: Dancing with fanciful footwork. Also called Ajasco Toronto.
Ajebota: One used to butter; rich spoilt kid. See Ajepako.
Ajepako: Literally means -one used to eating wood i.e. uses a wooden chewing stick as toothbrush.
Akamu: Pap made from corn. See Ogi.
Akara: Bean cake made from fried ground black-eyed beans.
Akara school: Nursery school.
Akata: 1. Recent arrival from abroad (especially UK or USA) into Nigeria
2. Nigerian nickname for an African American
Alaba: Abbreviation for Alaba International Market, Lagos. Famed for the sale of electrical goods.
Alan Pozza: Poser.
Alau: Allow.
Alau him: Give him a break.
All na: It is all a .e.g All na wayo.
All night: Night vigil.
All Weda: Shoes worn all the time, come rain come sunshine.
Along!: Shouted when hailing taxi cabs in some states in Nigeria.
Am: Used in place of 'him' or 'her' in sentence e.g. 'Warn am O!'
Amala: Dough like meal made from yam flour and hot water. Usually served with Ewedu soup.
Amebo: 1. Gossip 2. Name of a character in a Nigerian soap opera (The village headmaster), with a penchant for gossiping.
Amerika: America.
Amugbo: One habitually smoking Indian Hemp. (Marijuana)
And Co: Wearing the same clothes or fabric with someone else especially married couple.
Andrew: One wishing to emigrate out of Nigeria. Term originates from government sponsored advert in which the main character - Andrew threatens to ‘check out’ of the country due to various hardships.
Angola: Prison. Also Angola.
Animal and Sontin: Elephant and Castle (in Southeast London).
Anoda: Another.
Ansa: Answer.
Any attempt!: Don't even think about it!
Anyhow: 1. Shoddy 2. Inappropriate
Akpere: 1. Basket 2. Bad goalkeeper in soccer match.
Apoti: Yoruba word for small stool
Appear: 1. Arrive unexpected usually to something good such as a meal. Host will then say 'you waka well o'. 2. Arrive uninvited.
Apketeshi: 1.Illicit gin. 2.Native gin. Also called Kai Kai, Ogogoro, Push me-push you, Sapele water and Burukutu.
Apkroko: Gossip. See Amebo.
Apku: Cassava flour. See Fufu
Apollo: Conjunctivitis. (an epidemic swept Nigeria around the time of the Apollo 11 moon landing hence the name)
Arrange yua sef: 1. Make your own arrangements 2. Everyman to himself.
Arrangee: 1.Soiree. 2. Exclusive 3.Preplanned set up.
Area boys: Unemployed street-wise youth loitering in the neighbourhood. Also called 'Alaye boys' in Lagos.
Area girls: Female Anopheles mosquitoes.
Ariya: Good time.
Aro: 1.Abbreviation for large psychiatric hospital in western Nigeria. 2. Lunatic.
Aromental: 1. Lunatic 2. Eccentric personality. (See Mentalo).
As: How it e.g. 'Tell am as e take happun'.
As for: That's the way it is.
Ashewo: Prostitute. See Agharacha.
Askology: Sarcastic reply to irritant question. Also- Askor.
Aso oke: Tradition Yoruba fabric worn on special occasions. Means Upper class cloth.
At-all: Not at all. Also- At-all ah-tall.
Atachee: 1. Hanger on 2. Social climber forcing themselves on the in-crowd
Attachment: Small stool placed along the aisle of luxurious buses for passengers who can't afford proper seats.
Aunty: Any older female. Used when first name terms not appropriate.
Awa: Our.
Awoko: Burning the midnight oil.
Awoof: Freebie. Without charge. See FOC.
Away: Foreign especially Europe and America.
Away Baffs: Imported clothes from Europe and America; especially designer labels. See Sputs, kack and Sputeez.

B

---

Baba: Father (Yoruba)
Baba Jiga: Derisory name for a person suffering from Jiga infestation. Also Baba sore.
Babawilly: Internet pen name of the author of this dictionary.
Babar: Verb. Hair cut
Babariga: Large traditional robe worn by man. See Agbada.
Babo!: WOW! Also Ibabo!
Babi: 1.Baby 2. Pretty girl.
Babi pancake: Girl fond of make-up.
Back: Carry a baby tied to the back with lappa
Backyard: Bottom. See Yarnsh.
Bad bad: 1. Severely e.g Di man wey moto jam wound bad bad. 2. Absolutely e.g She fain bad bad.
Bad-belle: 1 Malice. 2 Player hater.
Baffs: Trendy clothes. See Away Baffs Bakassi: 1. Name of Igbo vigilante group. 2. Bottom. See Yarnsh.
Bale: Eat greedily.
Baler: One who eats greedily. See Long throat.
Bam: In good condition. See Kampke.
Banga: Palm tree fruit.
Banga soup: Soup made from Palm tree fruit.
Barawo: Thief
Basia: Large aluminium metal basin.
Bata: Shoe.
Battalion: Large family. See Papa Battalion.
Baze: Woo a girl. See Spin.
Beat am die: Beat to the point of death.
Been to: Well travelled.
Beg beg: One always begging.
Begin go: On your bike mate. See Hanlele.
Belle: 1. Stomach 2. Abdomen 3. Mind 4. Heart
Belle full: Satiety. See Gauge and Load.
Belle-sweet: Hap

NOSTALGIA'S Got Me......

Nostalgia
Do you ever feel it?
do you ever wish hose days would come back
all the haunting emotions they bring
thinking of people who have moved on
thinking of so many things that could have been
love and success reduce the pains - temporarily
because some day everyone takes his dose.
Sometimes it looks like the past was wasted
the man is lonely now that once frittered hearts
and left everyone in adoring wonder
all the glories walk with those that knew them
there he lies, wasted and no bard to tell
to think that once, those moments meant everything
now no one wants it; blast from the past
even today's idiots think they have a better deal
even when what they have is empty nothing.
Then we wonder was it all worth it.
Ever so often, it seems like the best is done
and what is gone is more than the future can give
Well, afterall, the past has no anxiety
Why can't we just bask there
or perhaps allow time to swing ...random
past future present future past present past past
Oh! My mind is going again............