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WHEN guys gather in groups, they usually do so to discuss and argue football but when girls gather, only one thing is strong enough these days to attract their attention, fairly used materials.

From Ekonuwa market in Owerri, thru Tejuosho in Lagos to Dugbe in the heart of Ibadan, the sale of fairly used materials is in vogue, and the ladies are the main patronizers. Just ask the business enterpreneurs. One of them is Emeka who markets his wares in Dugbe market, Ibadan.

He started the business in 2004. Then he was into fairly used male products, basically shoes and bags. Two years later however, he switched over to female wares because of the general consensual assertion that the business is a potential oil field and three years on, his ever growing clientelle is enough to convince any doubting Thomas that he made a wise and smart decision. That's not all.


Some months ago, after an examination, I was strolling back to my room in company of a female colleague. At the famous IMSU junction in Owerri, she dashed to a corner, in broad daylight, to catch a glimpse of the newest fairly used wares on display. After a prolonged [ultimate] search, she settled for a pair of underwear. As sarcastic as I ought to be, my tongue summarily drooped as I was short of words. Ladies!

Ladies always appear trendy, funky, upgraded, confident, sophisticated and somehow intimidating when in company of their boyfriends. But all caution is thrown into the air when they hear the summoning bells inviting them to the open air exhibition.

Sometimes I ideate hypnotization since female wears are quite cheaper than males' who they continually approach with long inflated bills, only to get their things at the bus stop. Nemesis caught up with one, the other day in Ekonuwa market, Owerri.


From where I was pricing Indomie noodles, I was hearing fierce exchange of words like hapumaka (leave me alone), ego le sef? (how much?), iwu onyara (you are crazy)... From the high decibels, you don't need to understand Igbo language very well to know that all is not well.

Like others in the market, I tuned my frequency and gaze to the station where the resounding transmission was coming from. Only to see a voluptous lady arguing with an elderly man over a piece of underwear that got torn while the lady was trying it on.

Sometimes I wonder why ladies prefer okrika to brand new, even when their status show they can afford it. One excuse frequently given is that of durability.

They claim okrika products are strong and durable, standing the tests of time and pressure. To this, I say no. How will a material start developing strength and durability after undergoing severe wear and tear in the hands of its first user, sometimes users?

They might also blame the rising cost of new things. But as said in previous lines, guys' wears are more expensive, yet we still endeavor to get them new. In lieu of these, I've come up with my own reasons. First being greed.

Their love to have it all regularly compels them to forsake exotic unisex boutiques for road side exhibitions. They want both quality and quantity. Haba!

Another reason is obsession. Some of these ladies cherish some designers whose works they cannot afford, forcing them to resort to okrika for the satisfaction of their longings.

One last point I'll to mention is that of demonic possession. A lot of girls are spiritually entwined in bondages that tie them down with fairly used things, instead of seeking new materials. They may not agree with me but I see such ladies as being placed under a spell.

While it is medically dangerous to share certain clothings, we cannot but view this issue from another angle. Many ladies of today are like what they put on, okrika (fairly used). So, why put an old wine in a new skin? They are totally incompatible, and so it is with ladies.
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A Day With The Dead

August 6th 2009 15:38
A Day With The Dead
Hanging out with the dead might not be this fun.


My eyes have seen, my ears have heard and my mind has had several thoughts some of which were off shoots of several experiences and unusual circumstances, which became turning points in my life, but I can't unequivocally place an experience I had yesterday when certain circumstance compelled me to hang out with the dead.

Except for those that work there, most of the living individuals I met would have loved, if possible, not to be there. I saw husbands, wives, children, friends, relatives, colleagues, associates and contemporaries who were there to embalm or collect the embalmed bodies of their loved ones. While the general atmosphere was sober, silent and spiritual, there were however few exceptions.

I saw some relatives who were rather undeterred by their losses or had not faced the fact that their loved one had departed. They were chit chatting and laughing ecstatically, which made me develop interest in them.

On privy knowledge, I was made to know that they were at the morgue to embalm their aged mum who kicked the bucket at a tender age of 94. I subsequently pondered on a certain issue which is: at what age is death acceptable or desirable as the case might be?

I almost accepted the notion that old age makes death acceptable until I saw, a room away, an able- bodied man crying inconsably over the death of his granny at 90.

My attention was also drawn to the morgue staff who went about their daily responsibilities without much remorse. To them, they were just doing their jobs. And they were highly meticulous at it.

From the selection of the right volume of embalming fluid through the arrangement of the bodies in the various compartments to the final preparation of the bodies for burial, they were so good at their job or service as I was made to know by alfa.

Alfa is a middle aged man of average body size who has been an embalmer since time imemorial. He said he has seen a lot while on his job. He developed interest in the job after an experience he had at a friend's burial.

He said the friend's body was not well prepared and signs of decomposition could be seen. He later developed a passion for embalment, a profession that daily shows him, and others like him, the vanity of most human pursuits. He said every material acquisition quests are worthless after death, the only priceless thing being a good name.

Talking of the dead, they are also like university students as they can be classified as both freshers and stalites. While the 'freshers' are the new ones, the 'stalites' are old timers who have stayed on ice for long.

The morgue is a place where there are no disparities or preferential treatments as each body is handled in similar fashion. In essence, except you know the departed, you can't tell if the dead was rich, influential or powerful when alive. All were given same treatment. No siren blarring, no security stampede and money show offs that are signatory of power and influence among the living. The stupidity of the living human race.

I also tried to know what goes on in the minds of the dead. I think I got close by a faint experience that I had sometime ago.

Everything went blank as I couldn't remember anything that happened. If this is true for the dead, then our individual pursuits and collective prioritizations are all wrong. No wonder The Preacher in the Bible was so vehement on our human affairs before crossing the living line.

While talking of death might sound scary and socially out of place, knowing what goes on after death isn't a bad idea either.

As individuals, we need to start setting our goals right. More efforts should be channeled toward good causes that would benefit humanity and glorify God. We also need to start thinking of what name we want to leave behind because that's the only thing that remains our's after demise.

Politicians and leaders should know that although power intoxicates and makes one feel invincible, and immune, death can dissolve all powers and false invincibilities in the split of a second and put their owners face-to-face with the members of the society who died as a result of their activities (and inactivities).

The poor should also know that inspite of their evident limitations, they will also end up like the rich ones hence should not see their social and financial status as excuses for not being useful to the world. And no matter how simple and little their contributions might be, it could have positive impact on someone.

We the youths also need to know that life is not all about exuberances, indulgences and social vices, but about applying one's energies and resources to the betterment, and not embitterment, of all and sundry.

Like alfa, the mortician, said in his remarks, his job makes him appreciate life and the power, the talents, the gifts and the opportunities God has given to each and everyone of us while He (God) patiently looks at what we do with them, because the decision is ours to make.
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I've never for once given it a thought that I would be interested in a case like this. I've always been an easy going and highly responsible guy that gives honor to whoever deserves, and that includes the spiritual world. But recent incidences had made me reconsider my stance, especially when it has to do with spiritualism.

My attention was first drawn to the current face of 21st century idolatory when I was passing through Shell Camp in Owerri about 2 months ago. While cruising my way through the hinterlands, something caught my attention.

I saw 3 bottles of chilled soft drinks (Fanta, Coke, and Sprite), 3 assorted biscuits, and a stainless plate at a strategic junction. At first I thought they were mistakenly placed but when I put one and two together, I realised that I was staring at a sacrifice portion. What surprised me however was the advancement in theingredients that made up the potion.

In times past, and as depicted in several Nolywood and other African movies, sacrifices are usually made up of unsually bizarre components that are not synonimous with the usual human world like horn, leaves, faeces, tooth and the likes, which are reserved for the deities. But with the current events however, there seems to be a conglomeration between both worlds. Man's and the gods'.

I confirmed this new nexus between the heavens and the earth while plying a major route in Ibadan. Unlike the Owerri gods that relax with chilled Nigerian Bottling Company products, the Ibadan gods are however steps ahead and somehow sophisticated, especially in their demands.

I saw another sacrifice containing quite unsual ingredients that were once not requested by the spirit world. What caught my attention was the Mr. Biggs wrap that popped out of the vessel. On a closer examination, I saw fried chicken laps, fried rice, Hernessy wine and several other assorted products and wait for this, recharge cards.

These two experiences made me to wonder what the gods are now up to.

What sort of deity demands chicken when it is expected to be powerful enough to create some if it needs it? What sort of god requires it seekers to appease it with fanta when the god knows that fanta, the requested sacrifice, is a manmade product? What god needs mtn recharge cards to keep in touch with other gods when it is expected to be well ahead human comprehension that birthed the global system for mobile communication (GSM)? The only conclusion I could think of is one that is synonimous with Dr. Bailey of Grey's Anatomy and which is "the stupidity [and gullibilty] of the human race".

We need to be kept abreast of the exploits of extortionists that hide under the guise of god-worship to dupe their unsuspecting patronizers. As individuals, we also need to know that God has given each and every one of us direct access to Him that doesn't require any bogus sacrifice and inexplicable procedures that has for ages characterised god-worship.

The basic principle has always been that of "God is attentive only if you are willing to talk to him".

As the gods (and goddesses) restrategize, regroup and formulate new ways to exploit those that forsake God to seek them, we can not but appreciate their creativity and ingenious acts which seem to be the right retribution for a nation that forsakes God.

Happy New Month.
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5 Funny Shots From Nigeria

July 25th 2009 17:26
I'm starting a weekly 5 top shots from eastern Nigeria. Grade them using your own scale.

Laboratory Practical In Progress
Laboratory Practical In Progress

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What Ladies Want In a Guy

July 5th 2008 18:41
In search of Mr. Right
What a lady wants in her guy: The looks or the Brain?


The human mind is always preoccupied with a lot of vonceptions and misconceptions. The type of thoughts that wade through one's heart is determined by a lot of factors which include race, gender, level of education, standard of living, age and a host of others. Because of the diversified nature of human beings, we tend to sometimes have conflicting ideas about issues that are sensitive, and those that are just silly


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They aren't America's heaviest newborn twins on record, but they certainly tip the scales: Sean William Maynard and Abigail Rose Maynard weighed in at a combined 23 pounds and 1 ounce at birth this week, a North Carolina hospital announced Friday.

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Chris Brown Versus Usher

June 18th 2008 12:16
Chris Brown and Usher
The present and the future of dance and music


Usher no doubt has been on the international music seen for some years now. He is a guy that is endowed with the mastery of the art of singing and dancing. In his active youthful days, he was a delight to watch on stage. He has a way of reminding one the good old days of Micheal Jackson. He also smiled to the bank with platinum selling albums like Confessions. I cherish his high- pitch voice and ladies love him as a handsome man while photographers love his smooth face. As fate would have it, he never got deterred from his primary objective- making good music and crisp dollars


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The world we live in

June 18th 2008 11:51
So many incidences happen in different parts of the world- many are worth writing home about while some are gory! These are what make the world what it is- eventful. Living in this present age where everything goes with the speed of light, one cannot but find a means of keeping him/herself abreast of the latest happenings in the world.
science and technology are 2 inseparable brothers that have done the world a lot, both good and bad but no matter what school or schools of thought you belong to, you cannot easily shun the other aspects of the implications of science. From medicine to politics, arts to crime and criminalities plus terrorism, science and technology are finding their voice and once again agitating the need to give voice to the voiceless, even when it comes or gotten at the expense of life.
I am not here to bore you with science and technology only but to intimate you with the rapid changes that the world we are in is witnessing and empower you with the full compos mentis to change, and in cases where changes are impossible or difficult, adapt to your environment


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