OLUWAJIMI . J . THORPE

I have noticed that some men have been relocating their families abroad due to increased and increasing hardship and insecurity in Nigeria. It is important for them to also know the implications of such dangerous decision. When I was appointed the managing director of the Orient Bank of Uganda in 2013, I couldn’t wait to return home to break the news to my wife. The appointment, I reckoned would improve my earnings, career and was in line with my set objectives. “That means that I’m resigning from my own job right away”, was my wife’s instant response to my announcement of the appointment. She was not yet done. “The children will also go with us. I shall make enquires about good schools in Uganda to ensure that our children don’t lose a session”. For my wife, she would not sacrifice her marital harmony for economic benefits or her career. She was a branch manager of a topmost bank in Nigeria. I was shocked. I pleaded, “please give me some time to go to Uganda, settle ...

This is the story of the first oil war, which was fought in the 19th century, in the area that became Nigeria. All through the 19th century, palm oil was highly sought-after by the British, for use as an industrial lubricant for machinery. Remember that Britain was the world’s first industrialised nation, so they needed resources such as palm oil to maintain that. Palm oil, of course, is a tropical plant, which is native to the Niger Delta. Malaysia’s dominance came a century later. By 1870, palm oil had replaced slaves as the main export of the Niger Delta, the area which was once known as the Slave Coast. At first, most of the trade in the oil palm was uncoordinated, with natives selling to those who gave them the best deals. Native chiefs such as former slave, Jaja of Opobo became immensely wealthy because of oil palm. With this wealth came influence. However, among the Europeans, there was competition for who would get preferential access to the lucrative oil palm tra...

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love with a passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints, -- I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! -- and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

1. THE EVADER- claims not to believe in love…He won’t love you or even try to…..remember, he already told you upfront that he doesn’t believe in love…..Love is a verb….a doing word…All he is saying is that you should have no expectations from him….he won’t do anything for you,…he won’t even bother…..Run 2. THE PHYSICAL ABUSER- hits you physically and claims you made him do it……..you caused it……you should have kept quiet when he said so…….he won’t do it again…….run, run, run….as far as your legs can take you? 3. THE BORROWER- always broke and loans money from you…which he never pays back of course……….he is always “on the verge of a breakthrough”…….just about to hit it big……all he needs is your money and continued support……tells you “you are doing this for us”…….a major sign of financial abuse and emotional manipulation…….don’t stay there…..Run! 4. THE MANIPULATOR- wants you pregnant before marriage to “prove” your ability to have babies at a particular age…..and how do you ge...

How majestic is the sound of a Pipe Organ Majestic sounds resonating through a Church or Cathedral. When you hear a Pipe Organ, you feel a strong reverence to the Creator, Sublime sounds infiltrating our hearts and mind. Beautiful exquisite tone combinations you will rarely find. Uplifting a tired heart, raising our consciousness Through organ music, the veil is lifted Transporting us from the mundane to the Divine, Releases us from being spiritually blind, A great calling, a wonderful gift to share, God is the author of all that is beautiful in creation, Its diverse sounds touching our Souls, filling us with such elation, Next time you are in Church, sit quietly and listen. Let the soothing sounds drive away all fears, Transporting us to another dimension, Illumination dissolves all material ties, Let the majestic tones solidify within us. (c) Andrew Pell 

They say silence is Golden, I believe it is true, Because in that Golden silence, my thoughts occur of you. You are the flame in my candle that lights the darkness of my room, You are the scented flowers that makes my heart full bloom. You are the butterflies that flicker in my stomach all day long, When I know I will be holding you before my day is done. You are the stars that shimmer and shine, You light up the skies above In this Golden silence it's truly you I love. You are the thunder of the night, your lightning strikes whenever, Into my soul that makes me whole, and excites my heart forever. You are my paradise, my oceans wide, My mountains standing tall, So in this Golden Silence I love you most of all. Artwork by: Chika Idu

Males are seen by society as the stronger gender who need no loving or protecting, and people who will always be good regardless, but this is not true. Men have valid needs just like women do, and it’s your responsibility as his woman to attend to most of them, at least. But how do you satisfy needs you know nothing about? Well, here’s a list of some of the things men want in a relationship. TO BE LOVED THE WAY THEY ARE Love can make people do anything, even the ones they’re most uncomfortable with. Your man has probably tried to impress you all the while you’ve been together, but the truth is that deep down, he wishes you’d just take him the way he is, and he doesn’t have to impress you. It’s not a bad thing to reassure your man that you love him regardless of looks or status; it goes a long way in boosting his confidence. UNDYING SUPPORT Men are also humans, and they need support in every way you can imagine. When he goes broke financially, he deep-down expects you to a...

1. Never shake a man’s hand sitting down. 2. Learn how to cook a signature dish. 3. Spend 30 min a day reading up on current events. 4. In a negotiation, never make the first offer. 5. Request the late check-out. 6. When entrusted with a secret, keep it. 7. Hold your heroes to a higher standard. 8. Return a borrowed car with a full tank of gas. 9. Play with passion or don’t play at all… 10. When shaking hands, grip firmly and look them in the eye. 11. Don’t let a wishbone grow where a backbone should be. 12. Stand up when she enters the room. 13. Carry two handkerchiefs. The one in your back pocket is for you. The one in your breast pocket is for her. 14. You marry the girl, you marry her family. 15. Be like a duck. Remain calm on the surface and paddle like crazy underneath. 16. Experience the serenity of traveling alone. 17. Never be afraid to ask out the best looking girl in the room. 18. Never turn down a breath mint. 19. A sport coat is w...

1. Once upon a time I met a man who told me that telling the truth and making someone cry, is better than telling a lie and making someone smile and happy. 2. He said to me your true friends are those who will never avoid you just because they have met new friends. 3. As he kept on speaking to me, he said If some people do not appreciate and value my presence, I should work hard to make them value and appreciate my absence. 4. He said I must not be angry with anyone who is quiet on me because there must be a reason why they are quiet, and that I will get to know the reason later. 5. He told me it is always better to be a blessing to others at all times than to be a burden at all times. 6. He said I must learn to forgive others not because they deserve it but because I deserve the peace that comes with forgiveness. 7. I must know that everyone deserves a second chance and many more chances if they ask for forgiveness, but I must not loose my guard over their intentions. ...

There are many who, like me or you Seek gain without a loss We work and work, by hook or crook To win and be the boss. To win alone, we've all been shown, Is only an illusion. The balance holds, that truth unfolds. This law you can rely on. Advance. Retreat. By love, complete. We seek illumination. Our loss offset by love's duet The 'Law of Compensation'. By Him alone, the Work gets done For all, both less and greater. He comes to Earth in human form To be Here Now in Matter. The World you see’s 'dualities'- Defines our point of view. To seek to win, ' not lose again, Is just my need to beat you. When love's the way I live my life I give my self to others To be a light to show the Way To live as sister or brother.

The Buhari Administration has commenced construction of Cattle Colonies, rebranded “RUGA” in 36 States of Nigeria. The project has started in Kotongora, Niger State on a 31,000-hectare piece of land.  The project will be initially replicated in 12 States with six (6) of such colonies to be constructed in each State. What is RUGA aka Cattle Colony? RUGA or Cattle Colony is a SETTLEMENT for Fulani Herdsmen, their families  and cattle/livestock. It will contain ranches, grass or feed farms, abattoirs, dairy, meat and skin/leather processing plants, housing, religious houses, schools, roads, power and water supplies and the complete range of infrastructure required to support and sustain an ultra-modern local government area . Okay, lets talk now FACTS FIRST. 1. Taking a cue from the first RUGA in Kotongora in Niger State, the land size or landmass  of each RUGA is at least 31,000 hectares of land or 310 SQUARE KILOMETERS.  That is the size of an average ...

I am not all rose If you do come close You’ll realize I am a mess A beautiful mess in yesterday clothes But if you like art You will love me If not, don’t come near. Ladies come around me like critics Adorn in fancy clothes Looking at a piece they can’t afford Wondering what’s special about me And why my price is damn high Making sure collectors don't patronize my type of art Or come any near The curator makes a muse of me But the paper review isn’t so amusing. Interesting discussion on the pollution of souls Burnt magazines, texts explaining demon engineering Handshake, but no clue what was sold Oh! What’s that smell? I understand some men are demons Burnt beyond recognition But not me, am blessed beyond human satisfaction Some may criticize or hate the choices I make Question my person because hearts, I refused to break I am left on the wall naked Whilst other arts get purchased Dare not question collectors over choices they make But am not a...