Why do you think God created you? Or, are you like them who think that God does not exist? So, how did you get here? Through evolution, right?
Nonsense, but are you okay? That is, are you intact? Is your brain working, and at full capacity? Are you an animal or a human being?
Do you have the mind of a human being? Do you think or reason well? Do you consider yourself as having a soul? And, while we are at that, do you have a spirit?
Is the spirit that of God or of Satan or of animal? Are you happy with these batteries of questions? Are you aware that finding them irksome is tantamount to your alarm bells going off? Be truthful: are you good?
Do you know God: how? Does God know you: why? Is God happy with you: how do you know? Are you happy with God: why do you say so?
Are you fulfilling your purpose on earth? What is the value of the impact you have made on mankind? How many lives would you say you have touched? How many people have touched your own life?
Is this an opportune juncture to discuss wealth? What do you think about wealth? Are you a wealthy person? How many houses, cars, what else do you have?
How did/do you make you money? Do you think money is wealth? What you call wealth and how you amassed it, are these of any significance to your family? For instance, are your spouse and children happy, healthy, sane; drug free?
Does your wealth show as well on your family and community? What if money, houses, cars, etc. are not the real wealth? How do you shake your head so hard? Is this how crazy you are about these things?
Are you a happy free person? Or, are you constantly sad and afraid of your shadow? Are you an atomistic individual, perpetually at war with self? Are you a sadist?
Are you a killer? How many people have you killed? Did you use a gun, a bomb, a poison? Or, did you employ any of what I call virtual or verbal weapons of mass destruction?
Do you have satanic tendencies? Specifically, are you a wicked person? Do you prefer animals to humanity? Are you happier in darkness than in light?
How is it doing you, right now? Are you happy with your life? Or, please shame the devil, are you depressed and suicidal in spite of and despite all that wealth and power? One last time, are you a truly happy man or woman or youth or child?
What makes you happy? When are you happy? Who makes you happy? Where makes you happy?
Where are you headed at the end of this life? How do you know? How are you sure? I hope you know that there is only one ticket, only one way?
Do you lose sleep over anxiety? For instance: about what to do, what to eat, what to wear? You never consider the birds of the air and the flowers of the fields, do you? Comparing and contrasting those with yours, do you now see your life?
Do you think you can be a better person? Do you think you can lead/live a better life? What’s holding you back? Surely you know that procrastination is the thief of time, don’t you?
What about time and you? How do you treat it? Do you, like many, see it as nothing? Do you ignore it, do you waste it or do you value it?
How do you mainly see people? As bad, or good; enemies or partners? What’s your strategy in dealing with people who are permanently up to no good? Do you squander energy and time on trying to win them over?
What’s your overall impression of life? Always, do you enjoy it or do you question it? Do you constantly or occasionally think that life is useless? Do you wallow in doubt, or ingratitude, or self pity, or stupidity, or unbelief?
My friend, Prof., also troubles me with her own battery: Why do bad things happen to good people? Why can’t we choose our parents or family? What’s really the essence of life, the suffering, the toiling, when we’re not even sure we’d live to a good old age? Just to be sure, dear Prof., who are good people, please?
And, building on that, when a bad thing happens but good eventually comes out of it, do we still count what happened as bad? So, what is a bad occurrence? At what point do we conclude that what happened is bad through and through? Do you think as a person you are too hasty, too pessimistic? Do you think you need some positivity in your life?
Are you a helpee or a helper? What drives you either to get or give help? In what ways have you made or do you make the world a better place? Are your efforts paying off, are your results tangible?
Which is really important, or more: this or next life? How do you enrich this life? How do you ensure you have a great afterlife? Exactly why do you need that?
Finally, do you always find yourself fighting with yourself unable to answer these questions? Are you troubled? Have you heard about Jesus? Do you know that when you accept Him, your life enters a permanent good gear, forever?
God bless Nigeria!
Yahaya Bello: Nigeria at war with Nigeria
I have been struggling to wrap my head around all the drama between Abuja and Lokoja. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, have been dancing the type of public dance that I don’t understand. The hide and seek being played in the public glare is a bit too Nigerian and therefore too familiar.
The other day, live television cameras served the world attempts by EFCC to arrest the former governor at his Abuja home. Then, from nowhere, the convoy of the incumbent governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, burst onto the scene. At the end, everything ended the way it started.
As we speak, that matter is back to status quo ante bellum. Some sparks are still flying, though because in Nigeria life abhors vacuum. EFCC declared the former governor wanted, over 80 or so billion naira fraud.
We have been told that the former governor was so reckless with state funds he paid school fees to an elite school in Abuja well in advance for his children. Nigeria holds all sorts of records but the idea of using public funds to pay nearly a million dollars in anticipatory school fees for one’s children is the crudest and strangest and weirdest first, ever. And, only in Nigeria and only by a Nigerian.
EFCC boss, Ola Olukoyede, has also been up and doing, and blowing hot. Some analysts have criticised his press briefing as a mere script, but what is not? We are probably the world’s most cynical lot.
As a couple of law authorities have said, this whole drama is unnecessary, even the idea of he using the back gate. The former governor should come out and answer EFCC questions. Yes, Nigeria is used to overzealousness and impunity which show up in mistreatment and lengthy detention of suspects, but still: the suspect must never take law into own hands.
Dear Alhaji, man up, go to EFCC and answer the questions you can. If in the process you feel that they are overstepping, say so. But, right now, stop hiding, come out and take them on.
One penultimate thing, the new Chief at EFCC has shown he deserves some legroom vis-a-vis benefit of the doubt. I remember at least one of his predecessors who would have broken both the law and into the Wuse residence to arrest the former governor. We commend the new man for exercising restraint and we hope he continues to show such class, throughout his years.
Finally, just why does synergy not exist with our various security agencies? Why is it impossible in Nigeria for the armed forces, the paramilitary and all others to be on one page, even once? Why should the law stop the law from enforcing the law?
President Bola Tinubu must do something special. He must issue marching orders today. He must let heads roll of that’s what it takes to break this jinx.