Akinlabi Olatunde John

Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed. Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup. Turning to her, he asked. “Daughter, what do you see?” “Potatoes, eggs and coffee,” she hastily replied. “Look closer”, he said, “and tou...

A wealthy man requested an old scholar to wean his son away from his bad habits.  The scholar took the youth for a stroll through a garden. Stopping suddenly he asked the boy to pull out a tiny plant growing there. The youth held the plant between his thumb and forefinger and pulled it out. The old man then asked him to pull out a slightly bigger plant. The youth pulled hard and the plant came out, roots and all. “Now pull out that one,” said the old man pointing to a bush. The boy had to use all his strength to pull it out. “Now take this one out,” said the old man, indicating a guava tree. The youth grasped the trunk and tried to pull it out. But it would not budge. “It’s impossible,” said the boy, panting with the effort. “So it is with bad habits,” said the sage. “When they are young it is easy to pull them out but when they take hold they cannot be uprooted.” The session with the old man changed the boy...

  The unholy alliance of bureaucracy and race among the most pernicious of imperial legacies, is very much alive today. So says Vlasta Jalusic, who urges proper political reflection on the implications of this for a world system in which both Africa and Europe are still marked by genocides of the none-too-distant past. We were well prepared by the authorities. We felt we were among ourselves. Never again did we think even for a moment that we would be hampered or punished. Ever since the plane crash, the radio had hammered at us, “The foreigners are departing. They had material proof of what we are going to do and they are leaving Kigali. This time around they are showing no interest in the fate of the Tutsis”. We witnessed that flight of the armoured cars along the road with our own eyes. Our ears no longer heard murmurs of reproach. For the first time ever, we did not feel we were under the frowning supervision of whites. Other encouragements followed that assured us of unch...

Russian President  Vladimir Putin  has once again given Africans a reality check after he was quoted saying that the continent was like a graveyard for its people. According to a popular blog, Putin is alleged to have heavily questioned the ways of the common African man. “When an African becomes rich, his bank accounts are in Switzerland. He travels to France for Medical treatment. He invests in Germany. He buys from Dubai. He consumes Chinese. He prays in Rome or Mecca. His children study in Europe. He travels to Canada, USA, Europe for tourism. If he dies, he will be buried in his native country of Africa. Africa is just a cemetery for Africans. How can a cemetery be developed?” Putin’s remarks have had Africans all over the continent talking, with some taking it as positive criticism while others felt it was a personal attack from the tough Russian President.  

The Nigerian Army has named Brig.-Gen. S. Ibrahim from Nigerian Army University Biu, as the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in a new posting released on Friday. A statement releasing the redeployment and signed by Col. Sagir Musa, the army spokesman said Ibrahim takes over from Major.-Gen. S.Z. Kazaure. Musa said Kazaure had been deployed the Nigerian Army Resource Centre as Senior Resource Person. Musa said Brig.-Gen. B.A. Tsoho from Army Headquarters’ Department of Civil-Military Affairs had been moved to Nigerian Army Language Institute, as Commandant. Others are Brig.-Gen. A.A. Goni from 82 Division Education to Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs as Director Information and Brig.-Gen. F.C. Onyeari from Headquarters Nigerian Army Supply and Transport to Defence Headquarters as Acting Director Catering. Musa said Brig.-Gen. S.S. Ibrahim is now Registrar Nigerian Army University Biu, adding that the postings were with immedia...

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I'd like to think that all the waiting will be rewarded That all the sufferings was for a greater cause and for a reason That my life is not a random thing I exist because I have a purpose I exist because someone want me to And someday ... When the right time comes and all have been said and done I hope I can see everything I asked for clearly Not a blur or a puzzle still Not a blind spot So I want to say to my self Be ready for the things you asked for and work hard for the things that you want Life will always find its way to you The purpose that you crave for of knowing will come on the right time. On a time that you are ready because it was destined to happen You were destined to exist So hold on Cheer up Believe in good things to come Be brave Pray And Love Open the door but don't let everyone come in. Have a talk first.