Poetry

I didn't know her from Adam...
Perhaps that wasn't very accurate.
What I meant to say was that I didn't know here from Eve... and yet it didn't matter.

She at once represents what is both good and is bad in our world today - I met her through the vast reaches of the Internet and in only a few days perhaps less than a week - I have come to realize the vast similarities between us in spite of the fact that we've never met face to face (at least to my knowledge)

I have spoken to her and allowed the quiet strength of her voice to tease me to no end.
I have conversed and shared bodies of knowledge with her like a bee shares the nectar of a flower.

I've become attached and my mind has framed her in a light that is at once stimulating and frightening.

Who is she?
Beyond the words and the voice at the other end of the telephone line - I'm none the wiser as to her physical state.

I'm drawn into a web of intrigue and temptation and there's no escape in sight... I wonder if when given a chance at freedom - when the light at the end of the tunnel is finally visible; would I take the path to liberty or choose the captivity of her wiles...

she looms and I'm unable to look away...

Random thoughts...

What informs choice?

What informs the decision by another person on what stance to take in a particular issue?

Humans are like self running programs with a modification routine built - they are given a basic set of routines to learn and modify their knowledge base. So it is actually incremental over time.

The key should be to modify the modification routines so that learning is more "aggressive" or "proactive"...

There are parallels between - computers and humans...

May be at the "heart" of the matter - it is all electrical.

Solutions - as requested...

Maybe my problem is the knowledge that we can actually do so much for ourselves with so little...

As a very kind comment to my last post - maybe we need more solutions than complaints...
Maybe Santa Claus should come everyday of the year, maybe pig should fly...

Solutions:

1. Mass Transit Schemes...
They can work.
For instance - resuscitate the rail networks across Nigeria and in metropolitan areas (Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Abuja, Kano, Enugu etc) .De-emphasize transportation by road and if at all it must be done then let it be done in volume (buses).

Ferry services around local water ways would also go a long way to combat transportation problems - since this can ferry both cars and people at the same time.

This will also help contain rising transportation costs and the government at the local, state and federal level can derive the much needed revenue, while providing the essential service of transportation. The private sector can equally become involved.

2. De-emphasize the currently existing metropolises such as the Mega city states: Lagos, Port Harcourt and others - which have become centers for commercial and economic activities.
Other economic programs can be implemented in other states utilizing the core competencies of each state as a building block.
Agriculture, Labour, Mining, Tourism etc - all can be developed and will aid to redistribute the population in the already choked and highly populated areas of this country.


3. Encourage the private sector.
Tax incentives and havens, government concessions and favorable policies to jump start the private sector and turn this country into an entrepreneur based economy that encourages private individuals to become engaging employers of labour - keeping the cycle of self employment in place.

4. Encourage Innovation
Today's society is built on the platform of technology - it can drive development forward and can become an economic resource and a means of generating income for any country or state.
yesterday's dreams are tomorrow's products...
The key is to encourage constant innovation - let us not just be end users but producers, manufacturers and inventors.
Ideas drive humanity forward - they are the currency of the present and future.
To encourage innovation - is to encourage change.

5. Restructure...
From time to time every organization needs this process.
Even Nigeria - a total overhaul of the old ways and policies that cannot and don't encourage diversity, innovation.
Oil is just one possible means of income - it can dry up tomorrow, it can cease to bring in enough foreign exchange.
Agriculture - large scale farming, Mining operations, technology incubators, investment, tourism etc - the list is endless
Policies need to be totally overhauled - if the Okonjo-Iwela's, Soludo's, Ribadu, El-Rufai, Dora (NAFDAC) and others could do it in their respective capacities then it can be done anywhere - period!

The problem with Nigeria is just that: problems - an excuse looking for a hiding place to avoid change...

But...
Change is inevitable and so no matter how long it takes - it must come to pass...

I would rather be attributed to the positive power of change than be consigned to the dark corners of power - too timid to change, too scared to try...

Positive Change - that's the summary

I hope this answers your question: more than one solution...

Constantly baffled by the question: why?

I am a Nigerian.

A simply stated fact that can send most non-Nigerians running for cover to the near by hills.

That word often symbolizes the fear and dread of what is often misunderstood about the average Nigerian - a creature of unparalleled strength and persistence.

As a quote from the last leg of the matrix trilogy where Agent smith at the zenith of his powers asks Neo why in spite of the beatings that he has taken, why he continues to persist and Neo's answer: Because I choose to.

The Nigerian is a creature of parallels - mired in the constant struggle of survival.
The bottom line is to try to stay ahead at all times and thus he will fight tooth and nail, to the bitter end just to keep his lead - even when it has no bearing on his plan.

A Nigerian's motto is: I must always stay ahead.

This is evident in everything and I mean everything.
Driving, at work, even at play (in fact the word play should be substituted or replaced with competition), there is rarely any room for relaxation.

Fifty cent's motto comes mind: get rich or die trying (another twist could be get rich at all costs - the average Nigerian fears death - but then again who doesn't?)

We are stuck on beaten tracks of survival: where the gains are never enough and can be taken from one in the twinkle of an eye. Hence the need to steal more, earn more and bend every rule in the process (in our case we break as many as possible and invent new rules as we go along.)

The Nigerian is a paradox.

Or else how can you explain an armed robber who goes on fasting and prayer sessions to ensure the success of a robbery operation?

Or better still - a police man who routinely breaks the law he is sworn to uphold and protect?

A Nigerian swindler (known by the acclaimed label of 419) who will defraud any unlucky fellow who falls into the trap of sudden easy wealth...

There are so many example to chose from...

But the major question is: why?

Why do policemen collect bribes?
Why do Nigerians give bribes?
Why do we have constant blackouts - with shouts of NEPA or PHCN filling the air like a liturgy?
Why are we constantly in a hurry?
Why are we under paid and over utilized?
Why are are working hours terrible?
Why is the transport system so bad?
Why are there so many cases of insecurity around us afflicting so many poeple daily?
Why do we persist in being corrupt?

The list is endless and yet it barely covers all the ills.

I am not an advocate of a perfect world (that's the definition of heaven) - I am however an advocate of a world of balance...

Something that we seriously lack...