A Meeting with the General

I met the highly decorated and accomplished General Lawrence Ngubane today. Our meeting was not accidental. I had gone to Voti (the palace of the Hama Bachama) to pay my respects to the Hama, His Royal Majesty Homun Stephen Honest Irmiya, Kwire Mana, Kpafrato 2, and to specially invite him as a royal father to my book launch and public presentation. In his characteristic head-on approach to issues, he asked me where I intended using as venue. I mentioned the assembly hall of GSS Numan. He immediately replied that he knows a better place, a modern facility, we could use. He added that General Ngubane is putting finishing touches to an ultra-modern events center he is building and he is sure it will be ready before the proposed date. The Hama picked up his phone and called the good General, informing him about my event, telling him that I will come to see him right away. Off I went to see the General.

The General, dressed simply in Jeans trousers and a sweat shirt, received me and my Kinsman, Dijango – who guided me there – in the building site. I was highly impressed by what I saw; a spacious structure with a high seating capacity, state-of-the-art fittings, twin terraces, toilet facilities, outdoor landscaped space for outdoor functions, and an adjoining guest chalets and a diagnostics center a stone’s throw across the road. The General talked about the reasons behind this great investment here in Numan. He said he is driven by a desire to give back to the community and promote the welfare of the people and not financial gain. Let it be said that Numan also hosts world-class facilities. He added that if monetary gain was the reason for building such facilities, he would not have built in Numan. Lagos, or Abuja, or any of those big cities would make more economic sense. I conceded he had a point there.

He was happy about the two books (Numan My Numan and All For Love) I was planning to launch in Numan. I gave him autographed complementary copies and we exchanged contacts. Then we began to talk about the state of things in Bwara, especially the nonchalant and disrespectful attitude of our youth. He lamented how lazy and unambitious our youth have become. There are exceptions of course, but a majority of our youth are not willing to push for a profitable life and prosperous future by working hard for success, preferring rather to be spoon-fed by their well-to-do uncles and aunties who, ironically, worked their butts off to be where they are today! He then narrated how things were when he was growing up.

General Ngubane mentioned how, as a young man growing up in Kaduna, he will pound grain, carry it on his head from Police Barracks all the way to Katsina road to grind it and carry it back home. Then he will fetch water and fill all the pots in the house before taking bath and walking the distance from the Police Barracks to the Kaduna Stadium where he attended school. He did that week in and week out! That did not stop him from becoming a great person and a famous Nigerian Army General. As a matter of fact, work made him a better person and opened the doors to success in life.

Work does not kill. It never has and never will. It is laziness that kills; it kills potential and talent, imprisoning enterprise and initiative. No matter how talented and gifted or connected you are, you will die unaccomplished if you are lazy. Hard work and commitment promotes; it liberates potential and talent, conferring accomplishment and attainment. If you work committedly on your potential and talents, you will gradually rise to success and be celebrated. You need not be afraid of failure and obscurity if you are a smart and hard worker. You will make it big time in this life. The Good Book agrees:

“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men” – Proverbs 22:29.

This is the way to go. Our youth must imbibe and cultivate the profitable habits of commitment and purposeful work. That is the only way they can secure a great and profitable future for themselves and our land.

Preordained Ride

We shall survive

As our root revive

And luxuriantly thrive

Against those who contrive

Our heritage to deprive

Exulting greedily as we grieve

Planning more wickedness to give

Smarting to consume our hive

But in a turn of the tide

Following a preordained ride

Bringing full recovery our side

And a healthy bouncy stride

Jailing failure that we deride

Never again to backslide

But into oblivion to start to slide

As they scurry in the dark to hide

We stand victorious

In everything glorious

Producing things stupendous

Replacing things dangerous

Tackling things disastrous

Promoting things prosperous

By things industrious

It’s simply marvelous

© 2014, by Agoso Arnobius Huladeino Bamaiyi.

Finishing Big

“Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase” – Job 8:7.

Beginning small is not a disadvantage. Not at all! In many cases, it is indeed a blessing in disguise; a spur to work hard and plant seeds of greatness in the soil of visions and dreams; a motivation to launch one’s life on the pathway to relevance and success from the remote recesses of smallness and nothingness; a dark background to highlight the brilliance of success secured on the platform of grace, education, talent, and committed pursuit of self-improvement and self-actualization; a chance to pursue the natural progression of things - from smallness to greatness - employing the various principles of growth and increase; an opportunity to test your faith in God and see him create sublime greatness out of hollow nothingness; a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to write a testimony from the experience of tests-too-many.

Beginning small is a wrapped gift that unfolds beautifully – in progressive stages – as you commit yourself to visionary pursuit and purposeful work. It is not a curse; so do not waste time praying against it. It is not an end; so do not waste time worrying about it. It is not a judgment; so do not waste time trying to appeal against it. It is really not a disadvantage; so do not waste time feeling sorry for yourself. It is not a betrayal; so do not waste time feeling hurt. It is not an excuse; so do not waste time explaining it.

Beginning small is a chance - an opportunity - for an outstanding story and glorious ending; grab it with both hands and work it to validation and vindication. Do not be frightened or intimidated by it; if you could not handle it, it would not have come to you. Do not be fazed or crazed by it; if its prospects were above you, it would not have come to you. You are able to turn the table. That is why this task came to you in the first place. Your circumstances are tailor-made for your abilities to tailor them together into a fabric of rare quality. You can do the seemingly impossible and finish big from a position of smallness.

That is right! Out of nothing, God can do something. Out of a black pot, He can bring forth white nutritious porridge. Let me tell you – and I want you to hold assuredly to this truth – in this life, despite an abundance of people and circumstances around us saying the contrary;

-          A beggar today can become a giver tomorrow.

-          A borrower today can become a lender tomorrow.

-          A dependent today can become a supporter tomorrow.

-          A follower today can become a leader tomorrow.

-          A tenant today can become a landlord tomorrow.

-          An employee today can become an employer tomorrow.

-          A servant today can become a master tomorrow.

-          A poor man today can become a rich man tomorrow.

-          A subordinate today can become a superior tomorrow.

-          A student today can become a teacher tomorrow.

-          A barren woman today can become a mother tomorrow.

-          An orphan today can become a parent tomorrow.

-          A fugitive today can become refuge tomorrow.

-          A prisoner today can become a president tomorrow.

-          A weakling today can become a strong one tomorrow.

-          Someone who is merely and barely tolerated today can be celebrated tomorrow.

-          A small one today can be a big one tomorrow.

It is all possible. You see, tomorrow is not a mystery to be stumbled into blindly. Not at all! It is a product of our investments – not our circumstances – today. So, do not be deterred by your present circumstances. Invest in education, training and practice, polishing your talents and stretching your abilities, mentorship, visions and dreams, hard work, prayers and fasting, commitment, integrity, patience, faithfulness, wisdom, etc., today and walk in a glorious tomorrow. Open wide your sails and catch those drafts of smallness as you move forward and upward toward bigness. The drafts will grow into strong winds behind your sails, pushing you to great speeds towards the objects of your belief and pursuits.

Everything big today, started small yesterday; Coca Cola, Pepsi, Microsoft, Dell Inc, Facebook, Google, KFC, CNN, Toyota, Mercedes Benz, Honda, Boeing, Soccer, the Olympics, Tantalizers, Sweet Sensation, Mr. Biggs, etc. This is a fact of life.

Every big city today, started small yesterday; Ibadan, Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Harare, Johannesburg, Cairo, Jerusalem, Mecca, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Dubai, New York, Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, Rome, etc. This is a fact of life.

Everyone big today, started small yesterday; Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Jimoh Ibrahim, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Michael Dell, Enoch A. Adeboye, David Oyedepo, T. D. Jakes, Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Michael Jackson, Kanu Nwankwo, etc. This is a fact of life. You might have started small, you will end big. This also is a fact of life.

“All great things start from small beginnings” – Marcus Tullius Cicero.

Keep working on your awesome potential. Keep moving forward and upward. You will make it to greatness.

See you at the top.

I love you.

(C) 2014, by Agoso Arnobius Huladeino Bamaiyi

Innocence

My innocence sleeps

As fleshly evil creeps

Coming in disguised ships

The undesirable sips

With lustfully loaded lips

Turning into bitter drips

The making of monumental slips

But I counter the trips

With a hold on righteous grips

Standing on godly heaps

My innocence awakens

As the touch of evil slackens

To confront the deadly tokens

Of the temptations that smittens

Trusting in grace that whitens

And Agape love that sweetens

Not irrational fear that deadens

Or misleading doubt that shakens

But self-control that deepens

The committed pursuits that widens

© 2014, by Agoso Arnobius Huladeino Bamaiyi.

This poem is inspired by the moving testimony of Dr. Ada Igonoh, an EVD survivor. Her story made me to cry as I witnessed the titanic battle for survival, in a duel where faith and science united to defeat a deadly disease, through the eyes of one who went down but came up a winner. May we all be winners in all our battles.

The Survivor

(Dedicated to all who fell to EVD and those who survived it. In this piece, I merely speak for survivors, having not been a victim myself!)

It came through a diplomatic channel

There is no suspecting such personnel!

We offered willing services

As part of our routine offices

But what started as a routine work

Soon turned to a deadly york

EVD knocked on my door

And soon I was on the floor

When the test results came in

I was forced to dig deep within

Walking the blurry regions of unbelief

I embraced denial to secure relief

But with the onset of the disease

I quickly turned to God for release

My faith whirled and turned

As every cell in me burned

Where in all these contradiction is God,

As I struggled with this unbearable load?

He seemed all so remotely far

As I fight this intimidating war

Trying hard to remain sanely positive

Under a deluge of thoughts negative

Keeping my head above water

Like an old-time Spartan fighter

At first I did not know

That God has been in the show

Right before the very beginning

When everything was so confusing

So I searched for answers

Working to stir all my powers

To put up a worthwhile battle

Against this accursed demonic rattle

God was in that still small voice

That kept saying ‘life is your choice’

He reached down from above

In my friends’ and family’s love

In the committed medical team

Volunteers of a unique stream

In the governmental intervention

To treat all by prevention

God was in relevant science

The extension of His omniscience

In the iconic ‘HAZMAT’ suit

Dressed for a merciful pursuit

In the common Oral Rehydration Solution

Designed to neutralize any complication

And all supporting medications

And the outpour of supplications

God mercifully came through for me

Affording me another chance to be

In the efficacy of faith and medicine

A veritable and workable vaccine

Though I feel deeply for those who fell

I chose to humbly and thankfully tell

That He is my blessed savior

By His grace I am a survivor

© 2014, by Agoso Arnobius Huladeino Bamaiyi.

Rare Courage

(A tribute to The Black Scorpion, Gen. Benjamin Adesanya Maja Adekunle, 1936 – 2014)

Born in cosmopolitan Kaduna

Embraced by Ógbómóshó[i] and B́achámá[ii]

Nursed with the juices of Dangana[iii]

Jack plugged to the fiery nature of Mama[iv]

And Papa’s [v]lofty dreams and coded Magana[vi]

Mentored on the principles of Mazan Fama[vii]

Inspired by visions of a glorious Nigeriana

Noble fighter of the ignoble carcinoma

Adekunle joined the Nigerian Army

Doing greatly until he stood as a brigadier

Earning respect in the war economy

Sold to feisty courage like a true soldier

And serving a good model to all that volunteer

Never accepting the incapable Negro dummy

Yielding to labor like a dedicated mountaineer

And his efforts paid off in securing our synonymy

Man of strategic mobility

Attending to business with dispatch

Joining forces with reasoned adaptability

And inner abilities that make up the patch

And the world saluted your rare courage

Defined by the necessity to quell the rage

Earning laurels in the Congo and delta stage

Knocking down walls that fear arrange

Until unity and faith, peace and progress merge

Networking the nation till greatness emerge

Lending Nigeria spaces that we can enlarge

Escaping failure and unnecessary damage

(C) 2014, Agoso Arnobius Huladeino Bamaiyi

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[i] A major town and the name of a famous Yoruba clan in South Western Nigeria, known for culture and enterprise.

[ii] A major tribe in North Eastern Nigeria, famous for their warlike nature and outstanding courage.

[iii] Hausa word for reliability and dependability.

[iv] The general use word for mother.

[v] The general use word for father.

[vi] Hausa word meaning talk or speech.

[vii] Hausa expression meaning men of endurance and courage, referring to performers against all odds.

The Days of Small Things

Let me start by saying that success is not a single huge event or a single giant leap into El Dorado or Paradise. No! You do not succeed in anything by chance or by accident nor does it come suddenly. It is not an out-of-the blues thing. Nobody sleeps a failure today and wakes up a success tomorrow. There is no ready-made, single-dose, cure-all, no-work, no-time, now-now, maza-maza, beat-all-odds formula to success. No! Success is an accumulation of small events or several single steps coalescing into an outstanding or noteworthy event or a glorious outcome or destiny. You know the saying – the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step? Yes? When you arrive at the thousandth mile safely, you consider yourself to have had a successful journey; yet between mile one and mile thousand are hundreds of thousands of single steps painstakingly taken. The success of that journey is the total accumulation of those painstaking individual steps. You see my point?

Paying attention, therefore, to the small events or single steps in the entire process is the key to success. The process may be long but it has a definite end, which is the goal the process aims to accomplish. And if that goal must be accomplished successfully, careful attention must be given to each step in the process. Booker T. Washington (1856 – 1915), African-American educator, author, orator, and Presidential advisor, pointed that fact out when he said:

“Success in life is founded upon attention to the small things rather than to the large things; to the everyday things nearest to us rather than to the things that are remote and uncommon.” – Booker T. Washington.

All things are possible. You can do and achieve anything you set your mind to. Whatever you dream of becoming, you can become. Yes. But to do that successfully, you must pay attention to details, the small things and intervening small days. For example, if a student wants to be successful in his studies, he must pay attention to little details such as:
- Regular and prompt attendance in class.
- Attentiveness while lessons are going on.
- Note taking.
- Asking relevant questions to gain clarity and better understanding.
- Regular revision of notes.
- Doing all assignments as and when due.
- Doing all project works as and when due.
- General reading and studies.
- Preparatory reading.
- Taking all tests and exams.
Any student that does these things faithfully will meet the requirements and come out with flying colors. Attaining to details, especially during the days of small things, is the key to success in all pursuits. Vincent Van Gogh (1853 – 1890), Dutch post-impressionist painter, pointed out this truth when he said:

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together” – Vincent Van Gogh.

Life is in the details and those who despise the details, the small things and the small days, will not amount to much. The security, prosperity, and greatness of your tomorrow are secured by attending to the details – the small things – of today. Tomorrow is a magnified reflection of today. Frederic Henri Amiel (1821 – 1881), Swiss philosopher, poet, and critic, captured this fact rather succinctly. He said:

“What we call little things are merely the causes of great things; they are the beginning, the embryo, and it is the point of departure which, generally speaking, decides the whole future of an existence” – Henri Frederic Amiel.

You see, when you attend to the small things and small days of life as and when due, the big things of life take care of themselves and attend to you, in turn, as and when due. When you secure and ensure the small things of life, the little details, you secure and ensure your life. Always bear in mind the fact that the pedestal of life is safely ascended by a flight of stairs that are scaled one step at a time. Always remember also that life is manifested in stages and successfully attaining one stage opens the door to the next stage. The main key to successfully moving upwards from one stage to the next, and finally up to the grand stage, is careful attendance to the details each stage presents. Failure or inability to carefully and diligently attend to the details any particular stage of life presents will result in stagnation or even possible retrogression. The key to ever-increasing progress in life lays in ever-increasing and ever-faithful attendance to the issues, no matter how small. Each stage of life presents.

The fact that you are presently small or are going through your days of small things is not a proof, in any way, that you will always be small or will end up small. No. the smallness and tightness of your present life and circumstance is a probe, a stir, an urge, to work committedly and push for bigger things and better days. The fact that you are presently small or you are going through the days of small things is not, in any way, the end of the matter. As a matter of actual fact, it is just the beginning of the matter. It means:
- You have time and room to grow.
- There is still more goodness and good things ahead for you.
- You have a golden opportunity to plan and work committedly towards bigger things and a better tomorrow.
- You have the chance to gain relevant experience and grow into maturity and glorious manifestation.
- You have the privilege and opportunity to observe those ahead of you, learning from them, avoiding their mistakes, and building on their strengths.
- You have time to train, practice, and exercise yourself in your field of pursuit, gaining necessary expertise which will result in specialization, eventually securing recognition and promotion for you.

And, if you do all these things, you secure for yourself a great future. It is a mistake and a weakness, one that you are bound to regret, to despise or look down on someone who is presently small or going through a season of small things just because you are in a better state. The one who is small today is bound to be big tomorrow, as long as they are faithfully attaining to the small things of life purposefully. So, I encourage you to fortify your pursuit with:
- Diligence – Proverb 22:29.
- Persistence – Luke 9:62.
- Purposefulness – Ecclesiastes 3:1.
- Excellence – Daniel 6:3.
- Prayerfulness – Psalm 32:6.
- Integrity – Proverb 11:3.
- Teachability – 2 Timothy 2:15.

The days of small things will pass, and you will remain standing in better days and greater things. You were born to shine in life, and you will shine. That is God’s promise to you:

“Though thy beginning was small, yet thy later end should greatly increase” – Job 8:7.

Keep moving forward with purpose and focus. You will get to your days of big things.
See you at the top.
I love you.

© Agoso Arnobius Huladeino Bamaiyi.