Opinion I Essence Of New Year Resolution

ESSENCE OF NEW YEAR RESOLUTION

       

Never give up on something you really want; it’s difficult to wait but worse to regret. Mind you, as your urge or quest remains persistent towards actualizing your goal, courtesy demands that you take a second look of the goal in question and ascertain how worthy it would be to possess such thing because a worthless thing doesn’t worth waiting for.

        

In the same vein, as you wait to receive your heart desire, you are also expected to reconsider the kind of life you live and see if it’s worth living, or if such life can be of help towards attaining your desired height because most of the lives we live don’t deserve worthwhile goals.

       

Few weeks ago, I was privileged to be in the midst of a certain group in Calabar, Cross-River State that was debating the significance of being steadfast in one’s pursuit towards success. I was listening with keen interest. So, along the line, the members of the group got confused and derailed as regards their sense of judgement. I candidly used the avenue to educate them on the real essence of steadfastness or persistence and what is expected of someone who embraces it. And at the end of the discussion, they unanimously appreciated my concern.

       

Persistence, according to the context of this edition, simply means the act at which one continues to do something with determination in spite of difficulty or opposition. But we must note that, there are certain questions we’re required to ask ourselves whenever we persist to do or expect something.

        

First and foremost, you must ask yourself how useful and relevant would that thing be to your person and what impact would it bring on the people around you. Thus, in anything you do, you’re not meant to consider only yourself but others as well. This is so because, if people around you are down by anything, it would in one way or the other affect you negatively.

        

Secondly and most importantly, you’re meant to ensure that the life you live deserves what you are anticipating. This might sound a bit vague but the fact remains that, most lifestyles we possess do not deserve to behold the fruit of most of our aspirations. In other words, if you really want something good, bear it in mind that nature requires something good in return prior to the procurement of that which you expect or want; and don’t forget, no one has ever cheated nature. Therefore, you can never cheat nature; rather, the reverse would be the case. Let’s ride on!

       

Let’s I forget, we are discussing the prime essence of New Year resolution. To start with; abiding by the context of this very episode, a resolution in a concise term is a firm decision taken by someone to do, or not do, something. The decision is usually taken by someone at the beginning of any calendar year, precisely on the first day of January or just prior to the said moment. It suffices to say that it is expected to come up at the beginning of any odyssey.

       

Many people see the above phenomenon as a worthwhile scenario. On the contrary, several others despise it. But the most appalling and devastating aspect of the phenomenon is the situation whereby most persons merely take the decision without sticking to what the so-called decision requires from them in return.

        

To such set of individuals, their expectations can come without any input. I wonder why they would be of the notion that a certain farm can yield an output if the farmer fails to follow up the various crops cultivated in it. After cultivation, so many other farming activities invariably follow suit before harvest would set in.

         

Frankly speaking, New Year resolution is a worthwhile and wholesome gesture required by mankind regardless of age, status, background or religious affiliation. It is a point in our respective lives at which we are expected to make a U-turn or reconsider our lives so far with a view to discovering where that ought to be amended and where we are meant to sustain. This is the reason the great philosopher, Socrates of the blessed memory said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” And I strongly concur with the theory.

         

Having examined our lives, we are expected to take a very firm and tangible decision that would enable us sustain the worthy part, as well as amend the porous aspect of it. The decision in question is meant to be seen as an oath, hence the need for it to be kept sacred. No doubt, keeping the decision sacred would fortify us and enable us actualize our anticipated goals as planned.

      

Having acknowledged the essence of resolutions, at this juncture I enjoin us to sincerely embrace a genuine New Year resolution as we embrace another long awaited year (2018). I bet, you would be glad you did. If you stick to your resolutions as long as the journey lasts, you would surely live to testify how effective and efficient the tool is.

       

The truth is, as earlier stated, no one is exempted when it calls for New Year resolution. For instance, if you are a student, this the apt time for you to tell yourself the gospel truth; the moment to desist from cheating if you have been indulging in it; the period to tell yourself that your future lies right in your hands. Hence, it is the time to review all you have been into since you secured admission into the institution with a view to making adjustment where need be. This must be done diligently and genuinely.

       

I am sure we wouldn’t wish to wait till next century before abiding by it? It’s noteworthy that the ball is right in your court. Think about it!

 

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri

____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador  

 

 

ShortStory I Bridal Deceit

BRIDAL DECEIT

        Mr. Chike Okafor was still waiting patiently for Adanma’s arrival right in his humble abode. Only the blind would be yet to observe that the poor man was almost losing his patience.

       “Where on earth would this woman be?” he thought aloud. Deeply concerned over her welfare. “I pray nothing bad had happened to her.” He added, still looking pale on one of the upholstery chairs in his sitting room.

       Chike’s lost of patience, which was accompanied by series of soliloquies, came in subsequence to several aborted efforts he had made to reach the awaited lady on phone.

        Adanma was his fiancée, and their church wedding ceremony had been scheduled to take place in two weeks time. 

        Chike came across Adanma in Calabar, Cross-River State barely four months back. They were both residents of the said city. And luckily for them, they hail from neighbouring states, Enugu and Anambra, respectively.

        Their relationship commenced jokily during one fateful weekend, Saturday 24^th August 2013 precisely, when Chike drove to one of the hottest joints in the city to have some drinks.

        Having parked his Red Toyota Camry car at the designated spot, the moment he walked into the bar, he abruptly sighted one fair, tall and plump pretty damsel clad in a blue mini-skirt, pink top and a pair of pink sandals who was seated alone at one of the corners in the area. She was already sipping from a bottle of Smirnoff which was accompanied with a plate of pepper soup.

         Amazingly, within a twinkle of an eye, she saw a slim and chocolate-skinned young man of an average height who appeared to be in his late thirties standing right before her. He was putting on a pair of three-quarter jeans, green T-shirt and a pair of leather slippers, coupled with a multiple-coloured baseball cap.

        “Hi!” He exclaimed cheerfully.

        “Hello!” the lady whom seemed to be in her early thirties responded accordingly.

       “I am Chike,” he informed. “Chike Okafor.” He added, still standing.

       “Ok, Adanma.” She said, placing her left palm on her chest.

       “Are you waiting for someone?”

       “Not at all”

       “Can I join you?” the dude requested.

       “Suit yourself.” She replied in a very friendly manner.

        Chike joyfully sat on the white plastic seat positioned directly opposite her. “You are really beautiful; I must confess.” He quickly dished out.

      “Thanks” Adanma gladly appreciated.

        He didn’t hesitate to order for his own drink, bottle of Star to be precise, coupled with a plate of pepper soup to balance the equation.

        The conversation lasted for over one hour after exchange of several pleasantries including phone numbers and what have you. After all said and done, Chike gladly dropped her at her place of residence at about quarter to seven in the evening (6:45pm).

        Exactly two months after their meeting, they got engaged. On the third month, Chike joyfully took his kinsmen to Anambra State to pay her bride price.

        According to Chike’s faith alongside that of his family, he was not meant to live with her after observing the traditional marriage rite until he had successfully taken her to the altar.

        That very fateful day, which marked exactly two weeks to their wedding, Chike was anxiously waiting for Adanma’s arrival because she was already two hours behind schedule. Both of them had earlier agreed to meet on that day at his place by four O’clock in the afternoon in regard to the proceedings of their forthcoming wedding ceremony. But as at ten minutes past six in the evening (6:10pm), Adanma was yet to arrive. The young man tried many times to reach her on phone, all to no avail.

        Having dosed off on the upholstery seat, at about two minutes past seven at night, Chike’s door bell rang.

        On receipt of the blaring sound of the bell, Chike walked reluctantly to the door. “Who’s that?” He queried in a low tone.

       “It’s me, Adanma.”

         As soon as the name ‘Adanma’ was mentioned, the door was widely let open.

        “Baby, are you okay?” Chike worriedly asked. “I’ve been trying your line but it was switched off.”

        Adanma, speechless; appeared tired and exhausted. She quietly walked to one of the seats in the sitting room and lousily sat on it, looking pale.

        Chike followed suit having closed the door. He was seated adjacent to her. “Baby talk to me,” he tenderly urged. “What’s wrong with you?”

        “Honey, I had a very busy day.” she eventually responded. “I worked overtime in the office.” She lied.

        Adanma had falsely informed Chike that she works in one of the telecommunication firms in the city. And Chike, having trusted her, never cared to go for further enquiries on what she actually did for a living.

        “Oh, so sorry about that.” Chike uttered. “That’s company work for you. They will stress you, exploit you, and at the end, you would be paid peanut.” He added.

        “Yes, you are absolutely right.” Adanma complimented. “I wish I’m a civil servant like you.”

        Mr. Chike Okafor whom was a graduate of Business Administration from the University of Port-Harcourt, was a successful civil servant. He was engaged with the Cross-River State Ministry of Finance.

        Whilst, Adanma was a drop-out from one of the Polytechnics in Nigeria. But she lied to Chike that she had a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marketing.

        On that very day, she passed her night at Chike’s place and left for her place the following day.

        Three days on, which was barely eleven days to the proposed wedding ceremony, something very terrible transpired. On that day, Chike got an indelible and unimaginable experience in his lifetime.

        After office time, he was slowly driving along one of the busy streets in Calabar metropolis to purchase some fruits, as usual, for himself as well as his fiancée at about some minutes past five in the evening. Surprisingly, he noticed someone who appeared like Adanma, and the lady in question was walking into a certain brothel situated along the street. He quickly stopped his car and hurriedly walked out.

       On reaching the main entrance to the brothel, he saw a life image that gave him the greatest shock of his life. Frankly, the lady he saw while in his car was really Adanma and no one else. This time, she was facing him, though from afar. She was almost nude.

        Little did Chike know that his so-called bride to-be had been a prostitute in disguise all those while.

        He couldn’t believe his sight. It was like a dream. He stood still, seemed froze.

        On her part, virtually all her face was covered with fathomless tears while standing like an electrocuted vulture.

 

Fred Doc Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri

___________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador 

Opinion I Bizarre Extortions By Banks, Telecom Firms

BIZARRE EXTORTIONS BY BANKS, TELECOM FIRMS

        

I grew up to learn that customers or clients are at all times treated like kings as if they are in charge of various empires. However, in recent times, most service providers in this part of the world, particularly Nigeria, had disabused their clients of that ancient belief. 

      

Aside my personal experiences, I had in several occasions been reliably informed that for quite some time now, millions of Nigerians have been subjected to an untold hardship in the hands of the various commercial banks as well as telecommunication companies situated across the federation, via instigation of unending bilious charges.

       

The last time I thoroughly checked, the nauseous practice almost got out of hand that it required only a stiff measure for it to be bade an eternal farewell by its innumerable victims. It suffices to assert that it has already eaten deep into the sufferers’ bone marrow.

       

I would have considered this critique as frivolous, if I were to give a listening ear to a casual and spontaneous utterance tendered by a childhood friend resident in Texas, USA. The buddy unequivocally asked me, albeit carelessly, to ignore the said phenomenon since Nigerians are used to suchlike experiences.

       

The point the dude was frantically trying to make was that the ongoing anomaly, among other related ones, is synonymous with Nigeria thus not unlike a norm. Though I assented to the assertion, he was ignorant that not all traditions are meant to be upheld, hence the need to acknowledge that some trending lifestyles arguably deserve to be holistically abolished without contemplation.

       

Come to think of it, why would Nigeria be invariably reckoned to be a place where such uncalled and unwarranted practices are ostensibly acceptable or a step in the right direction? Rather than protecting the interests of their clients, these banks and telecom firms prefer to unleash on them villainy, as if they are mere slaves.

       

Incessant deductions often reportedly attributed to VAT, SMS alerts charge, ATM service/maintenance interest, monthly card fee, stamp duty charge, and what have you, constantly and consistently made by the commercial banks on their clients’ accounts have become so worrisome that if left unchecked, one may wake up one morning to observe that about 95% of the total money deposited in his or her bank account(s) had been debited from it. We were told that ‘stamp duty charge’ becomes necessary only when one’s account receives a deposit, but currently such charges are being deducted incessantly.

       

Before an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card is issued to a client on demand, a sum of N1200 or above – depending on the bank – would be deducted from the recipient’s account, yet such a whooping sum of money wouldn’t be enough to cater for the servicing rendered by the card as long as its use lasts. It’s even mind-boggling to realize that the duration of the card does not exceed between two to three years, or thereabouts.

       

On their part, the telecom companies would always make use of imposition mechanism to actualize their dubious motive. In most cases, their customers would be taken unawares as regards subscribing to a certain tariff or promo as if the airtime on their SIM cards weren’t purchased by them. A situation where someone would buy a #100 airtime and all the money would instantly vanish into thin air, really and absolutely calls for a public outcry. Among all, unsolicited text messages and phone calls – especially the ones on advert – continually received from these service providers are another thing of great worry to the concerned public.

       

The aforementioned callous and villainous attitudes of most firms operating in Nigeria, which are to say the least very appalling and thought-provoking, have become a case study to hundreds of thousands of researchers in the country. It’s indeed pertinent to acknowledge that Nigerians at large are seriously suffering in the hands of those they patronize or whom are required to treat them like kings. How would you reconcile this?

       

This lingering impunity has made many concerned stakeholders in Nigeria to insinuate that the country lacks competent and reliable regulatory bodies. Of course, in a situation like this, embracing such speculation wouldn’t be far-fetched. We are all aware that each commercial bank and telecom firm in this nation is answerable to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), respectively, as well as the Consumers’ Protection Council (CPC). But what the people aren’t aware is if the said relationship is really being upheld.

       

The other day I overheard an official of the CPC who played guest on a particular radio programme, saying that the major problem with Nigerians was inability to report to appropriate authorities whenever they are aggrieved or witch-hunted. Consequently, via a phone call, I retaliated by asking her (the official) why they would always wait for the public or consumers to lay a complaint before they take action, even in a situation where the commission or any of its members happened to be one of the victims/sufferers of the ordeal, or when the unbearable circumstance is very glaring.

       

So, if a police officer, for instance, happens to be in a commercial bus and therein one of the passengers is accused of theft or was caught stealing, the said security personnel instead of arresting the accused person or doing the needful headlong would expect other passengers in the bus to come over to the police station to lay a complaint before he would take the action expected of him? I’m just thinking aloud, but every sane individual needs to be deeply thoughtful over it.

       

It’s high time we awoke from our respective slumbers with a view to living up to the expectations. Any firm or person accused of any foul play or punishable offence ought to be brought to book by collective efforts of the apt authorities having acquired the needed evidence for the prosecution.

       

For crying out very loud, the consumers or clients, as the case may be, cannot continue to be treated like nobody by these legitimate consortiums. Think about it!

 

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri
________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Follow me: @mediambassador