HALF OF A YELLOW SUN!!

Finally, the trailer for the movie adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Half of a yellow sun (One of my favourite books ever) has been released. Some clips from the trailer look a bit too modern for Nigeria in the 1960's & I don't think it has enough of the local flavour but I am still very excited to see the visuals of a piece of work I've pictured in my mind for a long time.
I still wish Nse Ikpe-Etim was cast as Kainene & maybe Genevieve Nnaji as Olanna but it doesn't look like Thandie Newton & Anika Noni Rose did a bad job. Chinwetel Ejiofor delivering a perfect Nigerian accent, Amazing! YES! This is how I always pictured Professor Odenigbo.
I cannot wait for the movie premiere, extremely excited. Finally, the kids get to watch an interesting movie on Nigeria in History class.

Onyi.

ON LIFE: TAKE A DEEP BREATH

I was trying to figure out my bus route today so I got on a bus home. The bus passed through George Street. Now, George Street is important to me because I lived in a flat there with my Grandpa in the summer of 2009. He used to take walks a lot that summer. I remember bumping into him a couple of times on my way back home from playing with friends or being a regular 16 year old (Laughs). That was the last summer I spent with him. I started sixth form at the end of summer and during my half term, he was hospitalised. Every time I went to the hospital to visit, he'd act strong, talk to me about the subjects I'd picked at school and assure me that everything would be fine. He passed away on February 10th the next year, I was SHOCKED. I knew he was ill but I didn't think Grand Daddy could die. I thought to myself, "Has Death no respect?" He'd kept my school report cards from the day I started school but he wasn't going to see me graduate? I was gutted. Ever since the day I found out he'd passed, a phrase has stuck with me and it's "Life is transient"

A group of my friends and I were talking, I told them that I thought I hadn't been my real self since I started university and I think I'd found my real self again. Someone then asked who my real self was, I realised that I'd just said that sentence and I couldn't even explain who my real self was. Another friend came to my rescue and said she thought of my real self as very calm and generally sendless. I think that was a very apt description of the person I am right now. I've been really stressed out lately, occurrences have made me almost question my faith but the phrase that stuck with me that has now become my motto has always come to my rescue. I get upset for 5 minutes and then I get upset at myself for even getting upset in the first place because I've realised finally that nothing majorly life changing has happened to me. I don't have a right to sulk or burden myself with grief or bitterness. 

Thinking of life as transient and unpredictable isn't necessarily the best school of thought though because nowadays when things happen, my first reaction is to take it as it is, for that is life. Breathe in, breathe out, keep it moving. A bit too simple a reaction but really, that's life. I'd burden myself with the task of trying to understand what life is and what my purpose is and what my end will be but I'm not interested in finding those answers anymore. I'm just trying to live a good life, praying, laughing and showing gratitude for lesser worries. 

The point I'm trying to pass across is to think of life as a journey. A journey with cycles. Simple harmonic motion, peaks & troughs. Remember to treat the troughs just like you treat the peaks, with gratitude. The troughs help you appreciate the peaks & no matter how bad, life goes on. When all the cards are against us, we can't freeze time. It just keeps going on & all the bullets keep hitting us. Just think of it as a journey, it doesn't last eternity. You'll close your eyes one day and commence another journey so whilst you're on this one; Brace yourself! Breathe In, Breathe Out & keep you faith up.

Lots of love,

Onyi. 

ONCE UPON A GARDEN CITY (1)

Every politically conscious Nigerian on the various social network platforms is expressing their disbelief/ disappointment. It is barely 12noon GMT. Videos from the Rivers State House of Assembly have surfaced online and the most popular clip contains a man in a crisp white kaftan and white shoes identified as, Chidi Lloyd, an honorable member of the house of assembly & also the houses’ leader holding the Houses’ mace and pummeling a fellow member, Michael Chinda.

Various news reporters share their versions of the meltdown that has just occurred in the House of Assembly complex. The general consensus is that 5 out of the 32 members of the house of assembly, who are also members of the anti-Amaechi faction of the PDP in the state have decided to impeach the speaker of the house of assembly, Otelemaba Amachree and appoint Evans Bipi as the new speaker.

The pro-Amaechi members there present make their way to government house to let Rotimi Amaechi know that there is a reign of Impunity in the RSHA. They make their way back to the House of Assembly Complex with the governor and that is when Michael Chinda’s assault by Chidi Lloyd ensues. Since it has become an open for all wrestling competition, Evans Bipi goes into town and gathers thugs to help him handle the pro-Amaechi lawmakers.

In a longer version of the video circulated by Sahara reporters, Tele Ikuru, the deputy governor of the state is seen hugging Evans Bipi and asking him to calm down. Bipi is also heard telling Tele Ikuru that he cannot believe that the governor has just supervised the manhandling of his colleagues.

If you have been following the crisis in Rivers State closely, you’d know that there are two factions of the state’s PDP. The faction led by Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the faction led by Ezebunwo Nyesom-Wike. Amaechi has had a series of fallouts with Patience Jonathan and most recently the NGF elections drama with Goodluck Jonathan. The Presidency has thus chosen to support the Nyesom-Wike faction and this was made clear by Patience Jonathan at the wedding ceremony of Evans Bipi a few weeks ago when she expressed her love for Nyesom-Wike. Also, there was a court ruling that removed G.U Ake as chairman of the state’s PDP and installed Felix Obuah. This in my opinion was a move by the presidency to destabilize Amaechi’s government.

The Legislative houses in Nigeria have been known to get physical when members sometimes have conflicting opinions. Remember the various House of Representatives fight sessions. This however, is by far the most embarrassing & most barbaric. The problem with Rivers State is a lack of enlightenment. I have heard some of these politicians answer questions posed at them/ speak in general and I’ve thought to myself, “I probably have more knowledge in planning and Implementation that this man does”

I don’t believe that 5 men would have the capability to impeach a serving speaker. My judgement is that the anti-Amaechi faction bought out some members of the pro-Amaechi faction because with the on-goings in the state, impeaching Amaechi was a very strong likelihood. Hence, with more in-house support, the 5 anti-Amaechi lawmakers were able to stage the fiasco.

If I were mature enough by Nigerian standards to hold an office, I wouldn’t want to hold it in Rivers State. Interacting with most of these politicians is very exhausting. You begin to wonder if they just forged school certificates. I believe that most of the men better suited to hold office have chosen to stay entirely out of state politics as it is dominated by Insane, power-hungry & blood thirsty people.

I am anti both factions as I believe neither has the best interest of the state at heart. In all honesty, I don’t care what these politicians do with themselves. My worry however is for the masses. The current state of insecurity would affect businesses, the Rivers State University of Science & Technology is currently on strike & Civil Servants will definitely have their salary payments delayed. Port Harcourt has over the years become a shadow of its self, thanks to militancy and the surge in kidnapping. Port Harcourt does not need this instability! Two men with inflated egos do not have the right to affect the general public due to their personal differences. The charade needs to STOP!  With all the politicking going on now, and our direct access to information via social media, I’m sure come 2015 with a hope for transparency, we know whom not to vote into office.

These men have stashed away enough to afford them exile if situations go horribly wrong; it is we, the masses who will suffer the effect of a run-down city.

I hope Michael Chinda files an attempted murder lawsuit against Chidi Lloyd. He definitely deserves some jail time. The Jonathan’s need to focus more on National issues and less involve themselves in state affairs. Rivers politicians & thugs need to remind themselves that, home indeed is where the heart lies. We need to re-build the garden city not tear it down. 

2 MONTHS AWAY? NEVER AGAIN

When you start something, it's imperative that you are bursting with ideas and are very passionate. You know you need that Oomph if you are thinking "This must be long term"
I haven't blogged in almost 2 months partly because most of the things I've written lately haven't had the Oomph effect on me/ sometimes I think are too personal (Common I'm not running an emotions diary, LOL) and also because a lot of things have been going on in my general day-to-day life.

I blogged earlier on about being very nervous about my Second year at university. I wrote my last exam on the 14th of May and in all honesty, I got so paranoid that I'd been awful in all my exams. I needed my results to be out as quickly as possible. Thankfully, those are out now & I can eat & have as much fun as I want without thoughts of failure crossing my mind. I made it through!!
The summer's been full of job interviews ( I should've sorted out an Internship earlier on but I chose to procrastinate), catching up with old friends and generally just exploring.

I woke up one morning, my phone refused to come on, my computer's hard drive crashed & my tablet refused to charge (Damn you! technology). One of the most annoying days ever considering life is so techy in this age. I hadn't backed up my hard drive before it became corrupt so that just threw me off as I'd just lost all my documents. At that point, I was over technology. Thankfully again, I got a new phone free of charge (God bless you, Apple!), sorted out my laptop situation and I'm back in love with technology. I just need to somehow time travel and attempt re-writing my lost work (almost impossible but worth a try).

Oo & the best summer story thus far; I'd just had dinner with some friends at a new American diner in Covent Garden, Shake Shack (If you haven't been already, you should try it out!), tried out new Macaroon flavours at Laduree, watched magic tricks in Covent Garden, gasped at all the things going on, on that Saturday night in Leicester Square. Been a little naughty in Soho & finally gone to get yummy fro-yo at Snog and fruit tea from Bubbleology. In short, I'd just doubled up on my London love. Then a man walks up to us and asks if I like magic, he looked drunk so I laughed, he said a few other things and we walked off. A few minutes later, I dip my hand in my bag to get my phone out & bam! It had disappeared (I'm not the only one that had lost something, by the way). I've never been superstitious before but that moment called for crazy theories. My love affair with the city that day had alas ended & I'm a zillion times more careful.

Anyway, I'm back in full swing now. It's of utmost importance to me that I blog at least once a week. Summer time comes with lots of adventure so I hope to be sharing a lot on here. I hope everyone has a lovely summer & creates lots of memories.

Lots of Summery love,

Onyi

QUESTIONS UNANSWERED; I PLEDGE TO NIGERIA, MY COUNTRY.

United we stand, Divided we fall,
An Ode to Unity I was taught as a little child,
I grew up in a Nation, the elders referred to as Nigeria,
A vast number of them, the "generation of the bewildered" were very reluctant to belong but for Unity sake they obeyed Nigeria's call,
I listened to eye witness accounts of the starvation, pain & death that came upon the East in its first attempt to secede,
These deaths and devastation to the Eastern Land did not ensure that the Sovereign State of Biafra survived,
January 15th '70, we pledged allegiance to the one Nigeria cause,
Why then are we now at the verge of history repeating its self?

I am your sole provider, says the South to the North,
This statement has been provoked by a sect of blood thirsty extremists in the North,
With the emancipation the world enjoys today, how dare you attempt to make a people conform?
Diversity should be a strength but it is in fact the greatest weakness,
An unending tussle for the mantle of power,
Power is violence, or have we forgotten?
We are a marriage based on lies,
So many patriots have been slain in the quest for equalitarianism,
Did they die in vain?
Have we lost control?

Are dwellers pledging to radicalism?
How many divisions will there then be?
Have we given thought to the degree of our diversity?
Some say, "We need a revolution",
Are we ready to dump our fears and lay down our existence?
What really is the solution to our multitude of quandaries?
I pledge to Nigeria, my Country,
United we stand.

SWAGGIN' SINCE '93

When I was 16, I had a lot of hippy dreams. I thought I'd have eloped at 20, well not really run away but secretly get hitched! Don't judge me yet, I had other big dreams. I dreamt I'd be at a prestigious university studying Chemical Engineering and I'd also take creative writing classes. My hippy dreams help my mind explore all the different life possibilities and my grounded dreams keep me in check. I knew at 16 that where ever the wind took me, and how ever delusional my creative mind got, hard work, success and happiness had to be a part of my plan.

I turned 20 today and as I normally do when I achieve milestones, I transitioned into a moment of solitude reflection. Thankfully, I am not living my hippy dream! I still have my head on my neck and Yes, I am at a prestigious university studying Chemical Engineering and even though I wish I hadn't made up my mind so early with regards to what subject I wanted to study, I am thankful for how driven I am to get the best possible grades I can and how much optimism I've built inside of me. 

I am most thankful for my family today and how supportive and tolerant they've been. Many of my friends view me as a very kind person because that is the only side to me they've seen. My family however, have seen all my different phases. When I was 14, I started going through a phase where I just didn't want to talk to anyone. At school, I was the really funny & cool clever girl but every time I was back home for the holidays I'd just walk into my room and only come out when I needed to do something that couldn't be done in my room. Even though I always seemed upset & was never interested in sitting down in the living room with my family, everyone still loved & provided for me. When I was back home last summer, My Grandma was talking about something and I contributed to the conversation, she smiled. On my way back home with my Mum, she said "Grand mummy was so happy to hear you speak, she's probably never really heard your real voice" 

I've grown so much and I am so thankful. I talk now. In fact, I think I talk a bit too much to people I love. I am so much happier in life and I love that it is second nature to put people I love before me. At 20, I'm not entirely sure what exactly I want to do when I graduate but I have ideas and plans. I am proud of all my achievements, I am proud of how strong I have become, I am happy that I've not lived a boring, routined life. I've had a fair share of Young, Wild and Free moments. I am very grateful for all the love family and friends have shown me. I woke up elated, feeling very appreciated and ready to transition into a new phase. In my pursuit of spirituality, I now pray the prayer of Jabez.. I shall not cause pain, I shall indeed be a blessing to all I come in contact with. 

Wishing everyone a great day & God's blessings,

Love,

Onyi. 

ADVERSITY? RISE ABOVE IT.

I know this little girl,
Her friends tell her she is strong,
They've watched life happen to her,
They've seen her meltdowns & they've seen her rise above them,
They've seen her grow.

She thinks to herself, "I need immense strength"
Strength that diminishes her fears,
For she's very frightened by the unknown,
She wonders what her earth sojourn would be like if she had psychic vision,
She wouldn't have to deal with unprecedented turns,
She wants to let loose but she can't help but ponder on what exactly her purpose is.

Constantly worrying has created Insecurities,
Her once shielded sensitive layer has been opened,
Words spoken stick now,
She is unable to laugh off the usual,
Because now, she actually pauses to think, "Is this true?, "Is there a possibility?".

She set a standard in her mind which, she fears she may not be living up to,
Maybe her woes stem from watching everyone else grow and feeling static,
It may be from all the pressure around her,
She wants to close her eyes, say a prayer, breathe out and have life easy,
But what would life be void of adversity?

I tell her that she might find her greatest strength to be not breaking in these seemingly tough times,
She knows she has a gift but she needs to believe in its ability,
I reassure her that however chaotic the journey may be,
At her destination, it will all be worth it,
For that is Life.