What's The Difference?

So what's the difference? Between hating someone and drinking acid? Between not voting and rigging? Between knowing how to read and never reading?

I was thinking about the difference between GEJ and Obasanjo and I decided to shove it off until GEJ's tenure as president comes to an end. But as usual, my mind started wandering in all directions of "what's the difference?".

And it brought me to the topic of Islamic Banking. So I ask: "what is the difference between christians and ******?" Hey relax. I'm not insulting anyone here ok? I'm just asking a simple question. I mean look at what has happened in the country over Islamic Banking for the past months. Arguments and accusations flying left, right and center. And to think that the major players are "men of God" who should guide the flock in the path of peace and progress. Haba!

I am not here to say that the Northerners do not have vested interest in Islamic Banking but let us all step back and see exactly what this system of banking is all about:

Definition: Islamic Banking is the system of banking which is consistent with the sharia law. The sharia law prohibits the payment or acceptance of interest or fees (Riba or Usury) for loans of money. However, this same sharia law that prohibits interest rates et al is found in the Bible (Exd 22:25; Lev 25: 36,37:Deut 23:19,20; ). Now if you look at it from a selfless point of view, it could mean that Muslims who are core and are strict adherents to the instructions of sharia may actually not be an owner of a bank or a borrower, not due to no capital or willingness, but because their religion forbids them to pay or accept interest on loans.

As we speak, the interest rate a bank pays (at average) for a customer's deposit of N100million is about 6%. But to lend it will be nothing short of 17% and up to 22%. This is contrary to the +4% that the CBN recommends. This means that for a loan of N100million, the bank should lend it out at 6%+4%=10%. Look at it again, it means they make a margin three times that recommended. I think it is way too much a profit.

Looking at the current system of banking that we have; a young, honest fella, say Ahmed, from a farming family in Kano, whose dream is to expand his father's farmland into an agricultural powerhouse that produces crop and dairy products (what naija really needs) cannot gain access to a loan without having strong collateral and at the same time have to pay huge interest rates and fees. And we all know that interest rates can pull down a business faster than they help you build it. If the Islamic Banking system is introduced, Ahmed can definitely have his dream come true and at the same time, not go against his religious beliefs. 

To make things better, Islamic banks are not owned by just Muslims, but a christian can decide to open a bank that pays or receives no interest in repayment (thus, an Islamic bank). A christian may also borrow and lend or even buy shares of such a bank too without his/her hands/legs being cut off. Also, think of how much  lower the interest rates of commercial banks will be when Islamic Banking comes into play due to healthy competition.

For a fact, the United Kingdom and Malaysia are two sound examples of economies running smoothly with the Islamic banking system. What I expected of our "men of God" and "Christians" was to ensure that the system is approved and licensed while ensuring that the constitution, the appeal courts and the supreme court maintain authority over and above the sharia courts assigned to govern these bank.

Creating unfounded accusations and manufacturing conspiracy theories and directly dampening the development of our own country cannot be the calling of Christians. Christ (who we say we emulate) showed much love to everyone and even asked us to turn the other cheek. We have always called ourselves Christians, but if we have turned into our own enemy then we should ask again: "What is the difference?"

Shay Na So We Go Dey Dey?

Have you ever repeatedly found yourself in trouble? I mean like the type we saw in Anezi Okoro's "One Week, One Trouble" and "Double Trouble"?

As a child I was nicknamed "Spencer" and its always one wahala here another there and I began to ask the same question my aunt, Nwanyibuaku (pls don't bite your tongue) always  asked: "Emere gi ya eme?" (dem swear for you?/are you jinxed?).

On Monday I was coming back to PH with my colleagues, Emeka and Udeme. As a very un-slow person, I got into the plain with them just few steps behind me. I took my seat and lo...there were no more seats for the others. At least 20 more passengers were on the aisle and the tarmac. Oh its Error Contractors my people so I had to disembark and join them at the tarmac as a show of team spirit. What would I do in PH without them, they're my family mehn...

Meanwhile Emeka and I missed our flight going to lagos last week just because of a demonic traffic jam  that possesses the entire PH city. I had to pull off the kind of stunts you see in movies but still ended up missing the flight anyway. But to be fair, I had a nice time thereafter as I beat Emeka severally and severely on PES 2010 back home. Lol

Now I remember two weeks ago when I was rushing off to the Ikeja airport. My uncle's wife, Angela, was doing me the favour of dropping me off at the airport so I relaxed at home. Afterall the agent must have checked me in and Arik will surely keep me there for the next two hours. Then the travel agent, Joe, called. "Are you in the airport already? You have about 20 mins to board. I have checked you in though. Its Dana air." What?! Its Dana not Arik, not Aero. With those ones you could never miss your flight. I had to act like a fast five.

I raced like Vin Diesel never did before. Cutting corners and using one-ways like say I be mopol. Then the real police caught me as I was turning illegally at charity bus stop, Oshodi. The RRS guys were all over over me and asked me to stop there. They came in and asked me to start moving to the station. I started begging sharp sharp "oga you see, I'm so sorry. Just that I'm late for a flight and need to get there fast. E joor." The officer continued his oyinbo "You look like a gentleman. You know that this offense is punishable with N250k in the office. Give us just N50k?" I have been there done that. I looked at the officer and said "Oga its just that this is a kind of accident, we didn't plan it. If we know say you go catch us we for try carry plenty money. I don't have anything here but my sister has just N2k." "What?! The officer turned red. You're not serious. Let's go to the station." 

So I started making a face like a hungry puppy "God go help me make N50k. So if to say I get this money you for fit leave me abi? Kai! Oga try show me one love nah" I was just smh and trying some emotional blackmail. Then the most important call came at the right time. It was Joe. "Err... Chiemela have you reached? They have announced the final boarding oh!" "Mr. Joe see, I'm in police custody along the airport road. Maybe I'll miss the flight oh. Ok just gimme 5 minutes and I'll let you know." Then the officer in front said "oga oya stop here! oya where is the N2k?" Angela produced the last card in her pocket and the officer jumped off immediately.

I turned the car fast and raced off to the airport. Luckily, no events, no traffic and I was just able to walk into the aircraft as the door was being shut. Home run. But you see before we reached the airport, I had asked Angela to open my wallet and take her money back. As she did she saw a lot of money and was like "you be smart boy oh! I would never have thought you had this amount of money on you." Yes I'm smart and that's why I'll never take one way again without looking around properly. NEVER!

Have a groovy weekend and happy sabbath y'all...

Kids Say the Darndest Things

This lil' kid uses tooth picks after her meals. Ask her mother...

Hello everyone how was your week? I believe it has been great so far. Sorry I didn't blog yesterday as I was caught up in heavy traffic and had a lot of issues. Well, welcome back and TGIF...

The entire country celebrate kids today and I wonder what each set of parents think of it all. Have your kids been good so far or have they shown a caterpillar side by destroying the entire neighborhood like I did in my time?

 Kids listen well to us when we talk and can re-echo us anytime, anywhere. It was that time, during the Sunday morning service, for the children's sermon. All the children were invited to come forward. One little girl was wearing a particularly pretty dress and, as she sat down, the pastor leaned over and said, "That is a very pretty dress. Is it your Easter Dress?" The little girl replied, directly into the pastor's clip-on microphone, "Yes, and my Mom says it's a b*tch to iron." Hehehe!

Kids can also be quite creative in being naughty. An exasperated mother, whose son was always getting into mischief, finally asked him "How do you expect to get into Heaven with this kinda behavior?" The boy thought it over and said, "Well, I'll run in and out and in and out and keep slamming the (heaven's) door until St. Peter says, 'For Heaven's sake, Dylan, come in or stay out!'''

 

Kids have a rare ability to retain and imitate behavior they see in adults. One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her son into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, "Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?" The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. "I can't dear" she said. "I have to sleep in Daddy's room." A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice; "The big sissy. Mschew!".

Kids give joy. They are the reason many parents stay together despite tough times. Their cries may be annoying, but parents who have not experience it yet yearn for it. See it now as a blessing.

Dear adults, we have a responsibility to teach by absolute example cos these children are listening, watching and re-creating our behaviors. Show love and care to your kids no matter how they look or how much sleepless nights they give you now. One day you will see them all grown and useful and tears of joy will roll down your cheeks. After all, MONKEY NO FINE BUT HIM MAMA LIKE AM...

Yesterday, a kid was in a bus with her dad while coming back from school. It had rained and the entire road was flooded due to the usual poor drainage system. The kid innocently said to the dad: "Daddy, tomorrow is children's day and I will like to come back here for swimming". Imagine?!

Happy Children's Day y'all...

AFRICA AND THE DIASPORA

How many of us know that today is “Africa Day”? Or that on 25 May 1963, the OAU (Organization Of African Unity, not Obafemi Awolowo University) was founded? Well today is Africa Day and the OAU has decided to focus on “Africa And The Diaspora” and the following are my thoughts:

As a kid I thought that “Diaspora” was a person’s name but Diaspora (noun): a word of Greek origin from diaspeirein to disperse was used for the scattering of the Jews to countries outside of Palestine after the Babylonian captivity. So we understand it now abi?

There are two major fashions:

1. Diaspora via SLAVERY
2. Diaspora via MIGRATION

We, Africa, thank thee "Diaspora" for:

1. EXPOSURE: Having an education is cool and having an education in a very developed environment is way too cool. What’s more? You get to live and interact with people whose minds  live the technology you learn. This gives the Africans an opportunity to come back home and assist develop the society. Now aint this cool?
2. DILUTED CULTURE: the African culture(s) has been hit hard due to contact with the whites. It is good that barbaric, unholy traditions are banished but then we also lose certain values in our culture.
3. MODERN DAY SLAVERY/ HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Some of us WILLINGLY give ourselves to slavery in a bid to just be on the other side of world. It seems that if you do not LIVE in US, UK or other developed parts of the world you are suffering. Don’t misconstrue me here. I am just saying that it is not a “DO-OR-DIE” affair. Take it easy oh my people.
4. “REDUCED” RACISM: Maybe being in Diaspora has made the whites and other races mix to an extent that racism is seen as at least a “politically incorrect” behaviour. If you live with someone you see as a lesser mortal and it he happens to beat you in school everytime then...sorry he is a human...
5. BRAIN DRAIN: Don’t you agree that is the main thing eating into Africa? For instance in my paternal family where there are about 8 siblings, only 3 are in Naija while the rest reside in the US. The same goes for my maternal family where 3 are in the US with 2 back home. When I say these folks are in the US I mean they are all citizens, have lived all their lives there and are major people (highly placed doctors, nurses, academicians, et al). These are brains that could have been useful in our African society. Unfortunately, it is the same issue with your fam too...

People go always enter ghana-must-go bag waka go Russia sha but the real question is "what positive exposure do we bring back home?". So I leave you with the words of a wise man:

“The moment the slave resolves that he will no longer be a slave, his fetters fall. Freedom and slavery are mental states.” – Mahatma Ghandi


Note: I must have failed to address some important facts. Please leave a comment on your thought. Many thanks.

The Exodus...