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PUNCH Newspaper *The unseen crisis facing Nigerian men (moment Otunba Kunle Akinyele collapsed)* *Message not just for Men alone, but for everyone* 5th May 2025. Ganiyu Olowu *When Otunba Kunle Akinyele, a respected hotelier in Lagos, slumped and died at his wife’s 60th birthday thanksgiving, the nation gasped in disbelief. One moment, he was celebrating life and love; the next, he lay lifeless at the altar of joy*. The video is haunting — *a man gesturing, gasping, reaching for help in a sacred space, surrounded by those he loved but alone in his final battle.* This was not just a death. It was a metaphor of silent suffering, buried exhaustion, and what men have come to normalise in the name of strength. Akinyele’s case is not isolated. It is one of many chilling examples of how Nigerian men, particularly in their mid- to late years, are collapsing under the weight of responsibilities, unspoken pain, and undiagnosed illnesses. According to the World Health Organisation, men in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, are 2.4 times more likely to die prematurely from preventable causes than women. This alarming disparity is fuelled by cultural and behavioural factors: men are less likely to seek medical help, more likely to suppress emotional turmoil, and often glorify suffering in silence. In Nigeria, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and untreated mental health conditions are among the leading causes of sudden deaths in men. So This Happened (215) Reviews Death Of Lagos... In 2019, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya—admired for his strength and spiritual leadership—passed away quietly after years of enduring deep emotional losses and reportedly ongoing health complications. His resilience was legendary, but it masked what many now see as untreated grief, intense stress, and likely silent medical conditions. Then came the sudden death of veteran broadcaster Ayo Oduleye, better known as MC Loyo, who slumped while compering an event in Ibadan. His charm and humour lit up stages, but in the blink of an eye, the microphone fell silent. Just like that. Similarly, the passing of Mr Ibu (John Okafor) in early 2024, after months of battling illness, reminded the country of how many male entertainers struggle financially and physically behind the scenes, putting on a show while their bodies deteriorate. Masculinity, when warped, can become a silent weapon—not just against others, but against oneself. *ENDEAVOUR TO TAKE GOOD REST PLEASE* Globally, the story remains the same. In 2014, beloved comedian Robin Williams died by suicide, a victim of masked depression. And in 2022, cricket legend Shane Warne died suddenly of a heart attack, a casualty of silent coronary disease and an overstretched lifestyle. Yet while statistics shock and headlines haunt, the everyday grind of the average Nigerian man tells an even sadder tale. Take Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital—the city that never sleeps, and where many men now barely do. A significant number of working-class men reside on the mainland or in Ogun border towns like Mowe, Ikorodu, Sango Ota, or Ibafo but must commute to the Island for work—a journey that often begins by 4:00 a.m. and ends by 9:00 p.m. on return. This is no exaggeration. Studies from the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority reveal that Lagosians spend an average of four to six hours daily in traffic—with many men doing these five to six times a week. That is over 1,400 hours a year lost in gridlock—time stolen from rest, from family, from reflection. For these men, the day begins before the rooster crows. They rush into overcrowded buses, endure fumes of frustration, only to return home when their children are already asleep. There is no room for hobbies, hardly any time for checkups, no outlet for pain. Sleep is a luxury. Rest is a myth. And joy is rationed, like fuel in a scarcity season. This modern man is constantly running on empty—physically present but emotionally absent, financially committed but spiritually depleted. And society applauds his hustle, without asking at what cost. The idiom says, “Heavy is the head that wears the crown,” but what if the crown is invisible, made not of gold but of expectations, bills, unspoken grief, and sacrificial silence? Men are praised for providing, for showing up, for being “rocks”. But even rocks erode—silently, slowly, and then all at once. The greatest tragedy is not that they die, but that they are dying unseen. Consider the tragic case of a 42 year old engineer in Port Harcourt who collapsed at his workstation after weeks of working overtime to meet project deadlines. His colleagues described him as “dedicated to a fault”, but his sudden death revealed the dangers of ignoring signs of burnout and hypertension. Another heartbreaking example is the story of a young entrepreneur in Enugu who passed away in his sleep after complaining of chest pains for weeks. Despite his family’s pleas, he refused to visit a doctor, citing his busy schedule and financial obligations. His autopsy later revealed undiagnosed cardiovascular disease—a silent killer that could have been managed with timely intervention. One unforgettable story is that of Samuel Okwaraji, the gifted footballer and patriot who gave everything to his country on the football pitch. In 1989, during a World Cup qualifier against Angola in Lagos, Okwaraji collapsed and tragically died of congestive heart failure at just 25 years old. His life, so full of promises, was cut short under the intense demands of national expectation. The harsh conditions of the game that day, combined with the immense physical and psychological pressures he faced, ultimately proved too much. These stories compel us to ask: What are we doing to ourselves in the name of strength? Why does the world celebrate silent suffering but frown upon seeking help? Dr Salawu Abiola, a psychiatrist at the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba, offers critical advice for men navigating these pressures. He emphasises the importance of prioritising rest, adequate sleep, and regular health checkups. “If you work and die today, someone will replace you at the workplace, but no one replaces you in the family,” he warns. Abiola advocates setting realistic goals, managing time effectively, and creating moments of joy and relaxation amid life’s challenges. He also highlights the need for men to engage in positive activities, such as exercise, hobbies, and socialising with supportive people, to release built-up tension and foster mental well-being. Check your vitals before you check your wallet. Monthly profit means nothing if your heart gives out unexpectedly. Your strength is not in how much you carry but in how well you manage your load. Therapy is not weakness. It is a repair. Just like a car needs servicing, your mind and soul need realignment. Build relationships where you are more than a provider—where you are allowed to cry, collapse, confess. A good name is better than riches, but good health is the foundation of both. As Chinua Achebe once said, “When the drumbeat changes, the dance must also change.” The drumbeat of life today is faster, louder, and less forgiving. Men must adjust their rhythm. Health is the new wealth. Silence is no longer golden; it is dangerous. *Ganiyu Olowu, a public affairs analyst, writes from Lagos*. punchng.com ©️ 1971- 2025 Punch Nigeria Limited *MAY WE ALL LIVE LONG IN JESUS NAME* 🙏 CULLED #olufaderomi #grace

The Only Nigerian That Will Vote At The Vatican For A New Pope God has a way of lifting people, this Cardinal was once rejected by a community in Imo State when he was appointed a Bishop of their Diocese They insisted that , they don't want a " stranger " to superintendent over their zone , they insisted on having their " son " as their Bishop Funny enough , he is an Igbo man too The case was so intensed that the Catholic Church in Nigeria couldn't resolve the matter, until a signal came from Rome that he should be transferred to another place As God would have it , few years later , the rejected stone was elevated and made a Cardinal, he is now one of the top Cardinals in Rome that will vote for the next Pope Cardinal Okpaleke who was rejected at home , is now a hero abroad. Uwa ntooo #Paddylay

I want to share something painful from my past, something that affected my life forever. So, I got married in the year 2000, and not long after, I gave birth to my son, Raymond. From the moment he was born, our lives became full of hospital visits, sleepless nights, and endless medical expenses. The sickness didn’t just affect my son, it affected my marriage too. My husband and I were always stressed. We argued constantly. We blamed each other for everything. Love slowly disappeared from our home. We went from lovers to strangers who only talked about hospital bills. In 2006, the marriage couldn’t survive anymore. We went our separate ways, and I was left to raise Raymond alone. It was hard, so hard that I had to leave my acting career behind. I just couldn’t focus. I was broken. Then came the biggest blow of all, Raymond passed away at the age of 17. That pain is something I carry with me every day. Please, know this before you fall in love, know your genotype. Love is truly a beautiful thing, but it is not strong enough to carry the weight of this sickness called sickle cell. Know your genotype before love blinds you. I lost everything because I didn’t. - Eucharia Anunobi

What will humans be doing in 10 years? 1. In a decade most people will not be driving. What will we do instead? 2. In a decade most people will have robots in their businesses and probably their homes. 3. In a decade we won't be looking at 2D monitors much anymore. 4. In a decade we will be using a ton of brain/computer interfaces to work and play. 5. In a decade AI will be making us all more productive, and, even, happier. It will be reporting our news. It will be running our businesses. It will be helping us with our health. It will be helping us build. It will help us design new things, new products, new ideas, new lifestyles, new experiences. 6. In a decade we will still be needed to work, but on new things that are hard to imagine today. 7. In a decade we will have dozens of virtual beings in our lives. And your AI will bring new ones into your life depending on your goals. Want to learn Spanish? A new group will show up that are different than the group that will show up if you want to learn Chemistry. 8. In a decade new brain/computer interfaces will be here, and will merge humans with AIs in many ways. 9. In a decade our corporate structures will change to be a hybrid of humans and AIs working together. 10. In a decade a robot will attend our city council meetings and report to us about what's going on inside. 11. In a decade we won't use applications, like we do today on our iPhones. We will have a singular user interface. On Star Trek you just said "computer do this" and it did. Star Trek will be real in a decade. 12. In a decade we will have armies of robots and drones moving around our cities doing everything from deliveries to giving tours to tourists. 13. In a decade we still will have artists and storytellers, but they will be assisted by AIs to help make that art, and tell that story. AI's will gather other AIs who will warn the humans that someone is telling an interesting story. 14. In a decade AIs will still be asking humans for assistance. "Hey human can you get a better view of the house that's on fire across the street?" 15. In a decade AIs are assisting humans in coming up with new medical and material breakthroughs. Even designing new computing architectures, whether Quantum, or silicon, or biological, or a hybrid of all three or even something even newer. #focus

4 months after I was born, my mom went back to University to get her degree. I'm her third child. She left me and my siblings with our Dad and paternal grandma and came home only weekends for three years until she finished her degree. She left 3 under-5 and went to pursue her career. At 28, she was doing her NYSC and pregnant with her 4th child. At 40, she already had her master's degree. She has been a civil servant since 1993. Now, at 61, she is at the peak of her career. A level 17 officer, Permanent Secretary grade. (Edit - Note: in 2023, Delta State increased retirement age from 60 to 65.) My aunty who was my mother's secondary mate and got married same year my mother got married, didn't continue with her education like my mom did. She had three children and tried to go back in her 40s when her last child was in secondary school, but she was only able to acquire tc2 (or whatever they call it). At the long run. My mom raised four successful biological children. My aunty raised three successful biological children. No, my aunty's children did NOT turn out better just because she gave up career and dreams to raise them. If you are measuring success based on wealth and quality and level of education, we are far ahead. There are no studies, research or statistics that indicate that children of stay-at-home mothers do better. If I could be asked to choose between an illiterate mother who stayed at home throughout my childhood and gave up career just to watch me VERSUS my mother who is a top/senior civil servant at the peak of her career, a boss in the office and boss at home, I would DEFINITELY choose the latter, and I'm glad that the latter is my reality. My father told me that he had opportunity to travel to the US or UK when I was just four. He was to travel there for research and enroute into becoming a university lecturer/professor. But he turned down the opportunity because he wanted to be there to watch his children grow every minute. Do you know what I told him? I told him that he should have gone. Some of my siblings also told him he should have gone. Imagine the children he stayed for telling him that he should have gone. My father's colleague who also got same offer went and came back for his family one year later. So, I told my father that leaving his family for a year or two would have been a worthwhile sacrifice to pay for a better future. He should have gone and come back for us a year or two later. My father was a very successful man, more educated than my mother and also got to the peak of his career, but not half as successful as he would have been if he had taken some risks, including leaving his children for a year or two. Why am I writing all these? For those women who abandon their dreams, careers and aspirations because of their children. Someday, your children who you abandoned your career for will ask you WHY? They will tell you that you should have pursued your career. Like I said, my father sacrificed career progression for us his children. My mother did NOT sacrifice career pursuit for anybody. While I understand the sacrifice my father made, as a grown adult, I still think my mother made the better choice. So, my dear women/mothers, I can tell you that at the long run, your children would be most proud of you if you pursue your career and achieve great career heights. I went back to full-time studies January to December 2024. I had my daughter in-between in April 2024. I got an extra degree and with that, I'm applying for jobs and negotiating salaries more than twice my salary in my last job. It wasn't easy doing that while nursing a baby, but I did it. My children would grow up seeing a strong mommy who didn't abandon her dreams. I want my daughter to know that she should never abandon her dream or chosen career for any reason or anyone. I don't want my children to ask me WHY? It's not easy combining academic/career and family. But nothing good comes too easily. Just do your best within your power and the opportunity and resources available to you. Copied ✍️

Grandmother Reportedly Brings 6 Live Chickens To School As Fees, After Her Grand Daughter Was Sent Home

#waskydone #TeamB An 18 year old boy stole a phone from a neighbor that was valued at #50,000 the boy was arrested by the police & his parents were asked to pay #250,000 to free him, the parents struggled & managed to raise the money for the police so as to bail out the boy, as they were driving home, the parents pleaded with their son, "never should you repeat this kind of nonsense young man, don't you see how much your bad behaviour has cost us?................" The boy replied to his parents, "don't worry, your #250,000 is here with me, I stole it from the drawer in the police station when I was being released"🤦🏿‍♂️🙆🏿‍♂️ Now the question is if you were the boy parents: 1) Will you return the boy to the police station? 2) Will you return the money to the police? 3) Will you punish the boy?

#Waskydone #Spreadthelove My father called and complained that rain removed our roof. So I sent some money to fix the problem. When I traveled home for the holidays, I noticed that the old roofing was still intact. I called daddy and enquired, he smiled and replied "when you were in school collecting money from us for photosynthesis, medulla oblongata, experiments, repair of broken atmosphere etc, you think we didn't know? Now it's our turn. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

My Wife’s Salary Was a Mystery Until I discovered How Much She’s Truly Worth. In 2021 she told me her salary was 9500/- and then two years later, when she got promoted, I asked about her salary and she said, “Oh these people, don’t mind them. They added only 1500/- to my old salary" Because of her meager salary, I’ve taken up so many responsibilities in the house without complaint. I pay for utilities and pay for food. I pay the fees of our two kids, clothe them, and take care of their medical bills. When my wife sends me a grocery list, she adds sanitary pads. She buys dresses and clothes, comes to show them to me, and asks me to pay for them. She started talking about a car when our second child came in. Things weren’t good on my side so I asked her to give me some time. She said, “I’ve saved something. I can add it to what you have so you pay me when your money comes.” . I agreed and took that money from her, topped it up to get her a car. For three months my ears never had rest. She would wake up at dawn and ask me to pay what I owed her. I got tired and paid the money when I didn’t have much in my account. . One evening, I turned my laptop on and saw a lot of emails. I checked and it was my wife’s email that had been opened. I asked her, “Did you use my laptop?” She answered, “Yeah I was checking something.” I told her, “Then you didn’t log out.” She answered, “I forgot. Please log out for me.” I was about to log out when something caught my attention. I saw a mail with the subject, “January Payslip.” I opened and started going through. When I saw her gross salary, I was shocked. 74,734/-. And this girl has been crying poverty? . I went through the details. That night I couldn’t sleep. I was angry. I felt let down. I felt cheated. I felt played. We’ve been married for six good years and my wife earned that much without my knowledge? How much she earned didn’t bother me a lot than what she was using that money for. I decided not to talk immediately but rather do a little bit of investigation. . All my life I’ve held the view that it wasn’t right for anyone to go through their partner’s phone. It’s an invasion of privacy and it breeds mistrust in the relationship but that night, going through her phone was the only way to find out what I was looking for. I started with her best friend. Nothing much was found. Her family had a Whatsapp group. I read the messages there. I got few hints. I went through the chat with her father and that was when I realized my wife had bought a piece of land and had started building. Her father was in charge of the project. He had sent photos of the various stages of the building. At some point, her father said, “Thank you for helping out your brother. He would have been home had it not been you.” . She has only one brother, her senior brother. I went to look for the chat between them. Her senior brother lost his job and was home doing nothing so my wife bought him a car to use for Uber. Every week, her brother rendered an account and they split the money. From all indications, my wife was doing well for herself while she plays poor so she could rely on my salary. Why would she do that? I thought I was being a supportive husband so my wife could be proud of the man she married. When we bought land, it was her name and my name that appeared on the land title. That car I bought for her with a loan from her bears her name. I didn’t mind. I believed what’s hers was also mine. . The next morning she realized I wasn’t looking well. I was boiling on the inside but looking for a good opportunity to start the conversation. When I calmed down a little, I asked her, “So why would you do that to me?” She asked, “What have I done?” I answered, “You bought land, you never told me. You started building on it, you never told me. When are you going to tell me?” She was shocked. She asked, “Who told you all that?” I said, “Your father did.” She stood quiet for a while. She asked, “Why would my father tell you all that? What were you people talking about” I said, “I don’t know. You can ask him.” . We left it there. Some minutes later she came to me with her phone: “My father wants to talk to you.” The phone was already on a loudspeaker. His father was clearly angry. He asked, almost shouting, “You said I told you my daughter has a building, Where did I say that and when?” I asked, “Is it not true that my wife has a building project going on that you’re supervising?” He asked me, “I told you that?” I asked, “Is it true or not?” After the back and forth I told them, “I read your messages last night. I saw the pictures. I read the various budget you had sent to my wife. I read the confirmation of the money receipts that you sent her. You’re a man. Would you be happy if your wife does this to you?” He started fumbling. He started apologizing saying he thought I was aware.... . My wife stood there motionless, didn’t know what to say. When her father hung up, I told her everything I knew, from her salary to the car she bought for her brother. I said, “Yet, even your sanitary pad, I buy them. You think I’m a fool? You’ll use your money to acquire your own properties and live on mine because you’re my wife? I hear. We’ll see.” . Trust was lost. Love was broken. We had to find a new way of living our lives going forward. Her father called me every morning and evening apologizing for everything and sometimes taking up the blame so I didn’t have to blame his daughter. I told him, “The emotional state I’m in right now, it would be hard to think straight or think forgiveness. Just give me space.” Three days later, they were in our house. The father, the mother, and the senior brother. They came to apologize. “Don’t let this break up the beautiful marriage you both have. If nothing at all, consider the kids and be lenient in your judgment.” . I listened to them. My position was still the same. “I need time to clear my mind. Just leave me alone to think.” From last month to this moment that I’m writing this, my wife had changed totally. She doesn’t ask for money but the house is being run smoothly. She has started paying for things she never paid for but that doesn’t move me. She has taught me a very great lesson and I’m taking it seriously. That in everything, I have to look out for myself and my family first. Last she told me, “If you want us to change the names on those properties, we can do so.” Guess whose name is on the property…her father’s name.” . I told her, “You don’t need to change anything. They are yours. You suffered for them so you can decide what you want to do with them.” The land I bought has our names. I’m selling it and take my money back. The car she’s driving has her name. I put a for-sale sticker on it some weeks ago. She agreed she’ll pay for the car. I’ve given her two months to pay up or I sell it and take my money. She’s getting the message and I’m glad. Each one for himself, God for us all. She keeps asking if I’m going to leave her. I keep telling her I won’t but if she wants a divorce, I will gladly give her. I’m not going to leave the marriage. I would give us some time to heal and see what may happen but when it comes to money, I’ve taken the lesson she taught me through her actions... #copied #Discipline #beopentoyourcouple

KAI, THIS WORLD SHOULD JUST END. I AM SHOCKED 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭Oh , OTUKPO Mrs Ikpi travelled out of Otukpo for an official duty to Makurdi. She was expected to spend 6 days but as fate would have it, the programme only took 2 days. Since she could not reach her husband on phone because of poor network in Makurdi, she decided to return home unannounced. At home, her children told her that their father had a female visitor the moment she left and that the lady has been with them since then. On hearing this,she became so furious and jealous. Learning the lady was in the visitor's room, she peepped: loi and behold, the lady was there; even putting on her wrapper. She quietly went to the kitchen and boiled water in her very big kettle. As the water was boiling, her husband drove in. The husband went straight to the visitor's room calling out: 'MY LOVE I'm home.' not knowing his wife was also around. The wife was even more angered when she heard that and said to herself 'today, you will bele full. She took the hot water she boiled in a very big kettle which had already reached 100% degree centigrade and made very Big eba (ÈBÀ) and Okoho soup for her Husband, Herself and the Mother In-Law in the Guest room to eat, while her children ate Noddles. Imagine the heights of your Standing 👂 And the readiness 0f Ur Mind at the woman's Action hmmm. .. IT IS WELL... GOD WILL HELP Us What where you think while reading this story? #olufadderomi #grace

FROM ANOTHER PLATFORM By Obi Nwakanma And I hear you, bro. But think about it: from 1970- 1979, the generation of the Igbo who had fought and funded the war, were not talking of marginalization. They took on the task of restoration. I remember the story the late Mbazulike Amaechi told me when I once visited him in Ukpor. At the end of the war, the Igbo business elite who had been in PH, and whose property had been forcibly acquired by the new government in Rivers state went to Asika to intervene. Asika sat with them and urged them to seek the intervention of the courts and make this a seminal case on the defense of Igbo property rights in Nigeria. He did not want to seem to put undue pressure in a very sensitive time on the government of Rivers state. The Igbo were being harassed and stopped from work and resuming their life in PH. Asika encouraged them to seek the legal benefits of Awolowo who was the most powerful politician in government at the time. These Igbo businessmen met Awo, in Lagos, and after he heard them, Awo demanded that they go and pay 1 million pounds into his Chambers account, before he would could take on their plea. The Igbo business men asked Awo where he thought they could get one million pounds, having just come out of a devastating war. He said it was their business and dismissed them. The men later met in ZC Obi’s home, and after rounds and rounds of discussions, they agreed at ZC Obi’s urging, that they would no longer pursue the matter. ZC Obi said, “ let us ge back to work. Let us send our young men back to work. We shall build Aba until it gets into Port Harcourt, and no one will know the difference.” And that was precisely what they set out to do, and were about accomplishing that feat up till 1987. By 1979, the Igbo were powerful enough to ge a serious factor in Nigerian politics. Between 1979-83, the Igbo were not talking about marginalization. They were engaged in restoration . Mbakwe had asked Ihechukwu Madubuike as minister for education, to place as priority the establishment of another federal university in Igbo land. Thus FUTO in 1980. Between he and Jim Nwobodo, they launched an industrial policy that quickly turned the East once more into an active economic belt. They did not wait for the federal government. Imo state University and Anambra state university of Technology were the first state universities to be established under the state laws. I was reading the Imo State University Act that established the charter of the old Imo state university the other day, and I am still utterly impressed by the quality and precision of thought that went into organizing that university under the inimitable MJC Echeruo, one of Igbo lands sharpest minds of the 20th century. The same goes for ASUTHEC. Nwobodo went specifically to Harvard to make Prof Kenneth Dike to return to Enugu and establish ASUTHEC. Now, compare that Igbo, to this generation of the Akalogoli. Mbakwe took Shagari specifically to Ndiegoro, in Aba, wept publicly with dramatic impact , and forced Shagari to promise to establish the ecological fund to deal with places like Ndiegoro in Igbo land. He compelled Shagari to understand that Gas and Petroleum were abundant natural resources from Imo state, and that Imo deserved and must be given new shares/ consideration , if the federal did not want Imo to sue, and even begin to raise questions about the federal government’s s seizure of Eastern Nigerias oil and gas investments, like the PH refinery for which no compensation has even to this day, been paid. Mbakwe pushed the oil issue and said to Shagari that the proposed Petrochemical Plant must be located in Imo, otherwise he would begin to build the Imo Petrochemical Industries himself . The grounds had been cleared by October 1983, and work started at the Imo Petrochemical Plant at Izombe by the time the military struck on Dec. 31, 1983. It was Buhari who later relocated that plant to Eleme. Mbakwe began the first Independent Power company with the Amaraku power station under Alex Emeziem at the Ministry of Utilities. The father of my high school buddy at the Government College Umuahia was the project manager who designed and installed the power station at Amaraku and had begun work at the Izombe Gas power station; all with engineers and technicians from the Imo state ministries of work and public utilities. They did not go to China to sign a contract. They just went to South Korea to procure the parts they designed and which they installed themselves! By 1981/2 most towns in Imo state had electricity under the Imo state Rural Electrification project. Same with the Five Zonal water project under the Mbakwe program. The project manager was Engineer Ebiringa. They did not go to China or America or wait for the federal government. 85% of the Imo Water project had been completed by the time the soldiers struck. There are still giant iron pipes buried underground in almost all the towns in the old Imo state under that project which was designed to give Imo the first constant, clean water of any state of Nigeria. Only a phase of the Owerri water project was completed by the time Mbakwe was kicked out of office, but even so, Owerri had the cleanest, most regular water of any city in Nigeria. Imo organized her public schools. Imo organized a first class public health system. My own father was commissioned under the Health Management board as the government’s Chief Health Statician, to conduct the first broad epidemiological survey of Imo state in 1982. I saw him at work. They were serious and professional men, who took their duties very seriously because they were highly trained. The Imo state civil service was possibly the finest civil service in West Africa; finer than the federal service, because they had a highly selected and well trained pool of civil servants who delivered value to the people. They were not talking about marginalization. You may say what you like today about Jim Nwobodo, but he started the independent satellite newspaper In Enugu, which balanced the story coming out of Lagos. No one was talking about marginalization until Chuba Okadigbo, rightly used that word to decribe the way the federal military government of Nigeria was treating the Igbo, in terms of access to real power. There were not enough Igbo officers represented in the organograms of the military governments, and yes, that word was apt, in that period . But we have taken it too far, and turned it into an excuse for our intellectual and political indolence. The Igbo have waited for their comeuppance on Nigeria, but shit ain’t happening. Nigeria is moving on without us, for better or worse. We must now recalibrate and engage. Let us use the final gas in our tanks, all of us now, between 55-75 years, to complete the work of restoration which the last generation began but which we have abandoned because we dropped the ball. We may weep all we want and complain that Nigeria is unfair, but the universe is indifferent. I dare say, Nigeria actually has no capacity to marginalize the Igbo. We better stop marginalizing ourselves or risk our children and their children inheriting the slave’s mentality!! That’s the danger we court with this story of Igbo marginality, which is actually self imposed, and self indulgent! I pray we rise again!!!! Happy New Month to us all!!! #Discipline

™ I went to Jeremy's school yesterday. I went and parked in front of the school. It was the same spot I parked on Tuesday when I came to look for him. When the school had closed, I stepped down from the car, I was anxiously watching to see Jeremy walk out of the gate. I waited for a while and suddenly, I saw him amongst a group of friends strolling out. One of his friends tapped him on his back and pointed to me. Jeremy screamed in excitement. "Daddy..." And ran to me. He embraced me warmly. His friends came to say hello to me. I greeted each of them, brought out some change, and gave to them to buy something for themselves on their way home. They were so happy. Jeremy looked at me. "You came to pick me up?" "Yes. I did." He grinned in excitement and waved at his friends. "Bye, everyone. See you tomorrow." And he entered the car. While we were driving I noticed a finger mark on Jeremy's cheek. It was like a cut. It had the shape of a fingernail. "Who gave you this cut on your face, Jeremy?" He touched it with his hands. "My mum. She slapped me this morning." "Why?" He looked at me and turned his gaze back to the road. "My mum insists that I should take the public bus to school from now on. She doesn't want me to follow you anymore." "Why?" "I do not know." "Before now, did she know I dropped you off at school?" "Sometimes. I told her." "And she is not happy I do that?" He nodded his head and turned to look at the road. "I came by at your house today and heard her shouting at you. I am sorry I could not intervene. I was scared it would make things worse for you." He was speechless. While driving past Kilimanjaro, an eatery at the old airport, he kept staring at the place. I saw his face and knew he'd want to go in. So I took a turn into the building. I told him to come down so we could buy some snacks together. He smiled. We walked in, picked some snacks and ice cream and both walked out. While we were driving home, Jeremy said to me. "Thank you, Dad. My friends have told me about about how they visited this place. Today I visited it too and will tell them the story. Tomorrow they'll also be telling me how rich my dad is because of the money you gave them today." I laughed. I dropped off Jeremy at home and drove back to work. This morning I waited until 7:15 and when I didn't see Jeremy come to my house as he usually does, I drove off to work. I knew he had taken the bus just like his mother instructed. I am at work now, and considering the second option. I want to meet Jeremy's mum tonight. I am not evil. I am just a young man who loves her son as much as she does. That's all. My name is #Chibuzo Eze and I am the best at what I do. #Discipline #nakupenda