ON THE OTHER SIDE: A short story by Roli Hazel Oburoh

It’s been a hard year for everyone, so you’re told. You’re told because you hardly keep in “check” with the outside world anymore. You used to write in journals, like two years ago. Always wanted to keep everything on record. Then you just stopped. It didn’t seem worth it anymore. You filled in every blank page of that overly decorated pink book and one day you set it ablaze, literally.

 

You felt like you were scribbling down those “wildered” experiences because you needed an outlet, you needed to make sense to your senses what you were experiencing. You were in reality trying to put the bits you could “see” together.

 

It wasn’t clear then what you were really doing. Between the pain filled incomprehensible letters to God and the solitary campaigns you drafted for yourself; your self discovery freedom speech and the endless autobiographies met for no one in particular, you “was” trying to fill up a hunger.

 

At first, you pressed endlessly into Yahweh thinking your hunger came from a need to commune closely with the creator. Then with the hate, anger and feeling of betrayal that followed, you pressed into your career. When it became unbearable, the void, you pressed for love. You thought that had to be it. That hunger, it was always there. No conversation long enough, no food tasty enough, no song sad enough could reach in deep.

 

There was a time, you tried, not too well to bury it in. You could wear neat clothes, brush your hair, maybe teeth and walk on like you had you all in control. That didn’t last very long. When the darkness tore you apart from inside, suppressing made it more difficult, it surfaced. It was everywhere. The pain, the tears glued to your eyelid in broad day light, the unkept look, the unkempt hair, it didn’t take more to give you away.
It wasn’t just Satan’s blow; the literal feeling of being feast for a pack of hungry demons, the hurtful assertions of Jesus’s hate, the massive weight of depression, the conscious fight to retain your faith, your sincerity, your heart. It was hard. The change could slip in and out without will, the suicidal thoughts. No it wasn’t just that.

 

It also wasn’t just the mockery, the pity and betrayal you felt from friends, the attacks and set-up you didn’t even realise were there. What wasn’t clear about it?

 

The conversations with, the experiences with, and the hate adding up to the same thing? Was that bleak? No.

It was that you were too blind to see, too wrapped up in being a lost cause that you didn’t notice you were the very center of an epic Hollywood movie. Finally, your cherished illusions and delusions and presumptions have caught up with you and you are finally almost mad.
And one day you just got tired. Tired of feeling sorry for yourself, tired of wanting to be seen, tired of being asked what your fucking problem was? . Babe, you have everything. If I had half what you had, you’ll only see me through show-glass, they would say. So you stopped running and started fighting.

 

It wasn’t easy at first. Very miserable first attempts if you might add. Still, you tried. You stopped waiting “for” Jesus to come down and pick you up, you started looking to be strong.
Let’s say, you started with the looks.

 

Early two hours morning inconveniences, endless grooming on YouTube and the relatives you made on Instagram who didn’t even know you. And then, with the renewed excitement for life and what the future held, you did it. You were ready. Ready to step into the world and conquer. If it got too hard, well, you had a new circle of friends to pull you through. It was follow come with the glam just in case you were wondering how that happened. That was it, you thought.

 

See, in this narrative from zero to hero, you sometimes forget to chip in that a huge part of your “elevation” is credited, I’m sure you meant inspired, by your encounter with a certain person. The thing about being played is that you don’t realise how deep you are in the story line. Every plot twist, every angle, every line even recess time is determined by the players. And this certain someone was the player. The beginning of a new chapter you could never have seen. A different kind of scheme, an era of a different kind of misery, pun intended. And a higher quality of pain, if you prefer.

 

You could accredit this to life or nature or truth or the compensation of goodness or the consolidation prize of sadness or whatever. In reality, it is really just Yahweh. Satan might be an excellent manipulator and “that” was meant to destroy you but you see, God is a perfect strategist.

 

Pain is cruel but what is more cruel is not realising you’re in pain. And while you struggled with the long suffering of unrecipocrated love, the diversions he brought into your life, the more vivid interruptions that was him and him alone and the ever abiding gut feeling that something just wasn’t right about him, you convinced yourself it was okay. It was afterall, he was afterall, better than a perpetual feeling of defeat that wasn’t lacking in your “earlier” oppression.

 

At least, this rat could blow your feet while he fed on you.
So you started to prepare for him to tell you how much you were a waste of space, he told you were beautiful, intelligent and even stupid you, manipulative. Aren’t you the queen of hearts now. For him to tell you he was in love with someone that could never look like you because they were better, he told you he saw only you. He didn’t really say that to be sincere, but he stayed six hours with you on that cold white faculty bench and laughed at all your biting boring jokes. So your friends enforced your cherished illusions again but now you were no longer almost mad. You were happy. “You think a guy would spend so much time with you if he didn’t love you. He doesn’t have other things to do? It’s just, he can’t help it. He wants to be with you” they would say, sounding stupid and smiling silly. But you were happy. And they were happy for you.

So you waited and he didn’t do any of the things you expected, again, you grew tired. Tired of waiting for doom. Tired of not growing tired with him.

 

Tired of knowing you were halfway under and still not feeling subdued because it was him. Tired of knowing you were in an arena but too crippled by love to fight. And this new “captor” grew weary with the futile resistance, mine obviously not his. He restrategized. And one Monday morning you wake up and you realise you’re surrounded by enemies and traitors.

 

-First published in ‘The Pen’ on July 25, 2022

'FIRS Not Recruiting, Beware of Scammers'

 

On repeated occasions, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has cautioned the general public to be vigilant and circumspect not to deal with scam artists who pose as recruitment agents for the Service and collect huge sums of money from unsuspecting victims with the promise to provide them employment.

 

Again, the Management of the FIRS wishes to caution the public to be wary of these employment scam artists.

 

The Service wishes to emphatically state that it is not conducting any recruitment at the moment, and importantly that it does not conduct recruitment exercises through back door channels. Should the FIRS at any instance have need to expand its workforce and consequently seek to recruit competent hands to carry out the task of revenue mobilization for the nation, the public can rest assured that the Service would follow appropriate channels and processes in doing so; including advertisements on public channels of communication, followed by rigorous screening, interviews and examination exercises.

 

The FIRS also wishes to caution media practitioners not to allow their mediums to be used as platforms for publishing unauthorized fake application processes and recruitment portals that hoodwink the unsuspecting public. The Service would take all necessary legal action against any platform found to be engaged in such fraudulent advertisement.

Assembly of Generals, Diplomats, Traditional Rulers and Politicians, as Fatima Buratai Weds Ismail

 

 

Interestingly, Gora Village, precisely Tukur and Tukur Farms in Keffi Emirate of Nasarawa State was on Saturday, July 29 2022 agog with Traditional regalia, Military Uniforms, and exotic Royal Rose captain of industries, Members of the Diplomatic corps, Philanthropist, legislatures, Ministers, Judicial officers, and members forth estate of the realm to witness the wedding fatiha of General Tukur Buratai's daughter Fatima.

 

The unprecedented crowds that witnessed the event explained the kind of person General Tukur Yusuf Buratai is among his family, relations, classmates, professional colleagues and general public as everyone was rushing to ensure he or she did not miss this great historic event of the Nigeria Ambassador to Benin Republic, former chief of Army staff, Garkuwan Keffi, an Jarman Maradun.

What was more fascinating in the event was the welcome delivered in a subtle, heart touching and eloquent Microphone voice with which General Buratai delivered this inspiring speech before the commencement of the grand organized in honour of the new brand bride and groom who were ushered in the reception venue in a simple but attractive Toyota Jeep.

 

More importantly was fatherly advised given to the bride and groom by the General that led Fatima broke in tears in appreciation of the lovely life saving advice. This in addition to the friendly football mach, cultural entertainment and hand shaking pleasantries among the important dignitaries that witnessed the occasion.

Some of the personalities that witnessed the event included, representative of His eminence the Sultan of Sokoto, the Emir's of Biu and Keffi, Olowu of Kuta, and host of other traditional rulers. Others are former chief of defence staff, former chief of army staff, the current chief of army staff, other heads of high security command and Ambassadors.

‘Money Miss Road’ Tickles Nigerians with Weekend Goodies at Cinemas

 

As the wave-making action-comedy, ‘Money Miss Road’ enters its second week in cinemas across the globe, the producers have unveiled some goodies for cinema lovers at designated cinemas in Nigeria, to enable more people indulge in the fun.

 

 

Themed: BOGOF ‘Buy-One-Get-One-Free’, the treat allows the audience a chance to enter as a pair from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 of July at designated cinemas like: Filmhouse Surulere, Lagos; Kada Cinema, Benin, Edo State; Silverbird Cinema, Ikeja, Lagos; Silverbird Cinema Jabi, Abuja and Viva Cinema, Ibadan. “Thanks to our sponosrs, we are able to offer you buy one get one free opportunity. It is the chance to grab a friend to see the film that has been described as a breath of fresh air”, says Obi Emelonye, the film director and writer.

 

 

‘Money Miss Road’ filmed at locations in Lagos and Abuja highlights the struggles of two friends, whose lives changed for good and bad after an encounter with a criminal kingpin, as they battled with too much money but little peace of mind.

 

 

The film, which opened on July 22, 2022, was produced by Joy Odiete (producer of ‘Gone’) and features Charly Boy Oputa, Josh Alfred (Josh2funny), Jide Kene Achufusi (Swanky JKA), Oma Iyasara, Anthony Monjaro and Kelvin Oduah. 

 

 

According to the producer: “We know that all societal issues cannot be corrected in one day, but ‘Money Miss Road’ succinctly covered all the salient points on what dynamics certain issues should take in terms of closure. Anyone who watched our first production, ‘Gone’, will like ‘Money Miss Road’.”

Foundation Donates Cash, Educational Items to Pupils In Ogun

 

 

As part of its core objectives, a prominent Non Governmental Organisation, The Omooba Obaruwa Foundation, Wednesday, awarded cash prizes and education items to the pupils of Community Primary School, Iperin and Ogbogbo Baptist Primary School, in Odogbolu and Ijebu North East local governments Area of Ogun state.

Founded by Omooba Adekunle Adebayo Ayoola, the Foundation had embarked on several humanitarian activities within and outside Ijebuland.

Handing over the items to the schools, the Chairman of the foundation, Babatunde Oresanya maintained that its activities are not for political purpose, but purely humanitarian services.

He added that founder of the Foundation never intended it for personal gratification, declaring that “all is for sincere passion developed by the founder himself, Omooba Adekunle Adebayo Ayoola”.

In their separate addresses, the Head teacher of Community Primary School, Iperin, Mrs E.A Hassan and that of Ogbogbo Baptist Primary School, Mr A.O Talabi thanked the foundation for the kind gesture and urged the pupils to emulate the good habit by remaining committed to their academic excellence.

The Headteachers also tasked the pupils to shun social vices that could detract their attention from their educational pursuit, stressing that the pupils should put more efforts in their studies adding that some former pupils of the school now in secondary schools had been awarded different kinds of scholarship.

The foundation aims and objectives include provision of educational services and suppor for girls educaion, social and economic develpmental supports, poverty alleviation and promotion of peaceful co-existence, support for ouths and students for skill acquisition, care for aged, orphan and less privileged as well as creating opportunities for youhs and students.

Those in attendance were Miss Temilade Adegbesan who represented the Chairman of the occassion, High Chief Abimbola Banjoko the Baale of Ogbogbo, ably represented by Chief Odutola Ogunleye, the Ekeji-Ilu of Ogbogbo, Rev Canon Ogundipe, Mr Dare Kazeem, Mr Olumide Ayoola, Chief Segun Onakoya (Bra) the Oloritun, Prince Ademola Adegbesan, the Kakanfo of Ijebu Mushin, Mr Funso Awonuga and Mr Sesan Odukoya.

Others include Mr G.A Odubanjo (Baba Rere) PTA Chairman, Revd (Dr) Akanji, Revd Canon Femi Odeyemi and Mrs Alice Odebunmi.

Lancelot Imasuen in Germany with 'Invasion 1897' Movie

 

Africa's most consistent fillmmaker, Chief Ambassador Okpioba, Dr. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, has landed in Hamburg, Germany, for the screening of his landmark movie, Invasion 1897.

Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, also known as 'D Guvnor' who was recently awarded a honorary Doctorate Degree flew in to Germany after completing the principal photography on the set of 'SENIOR MAN', a production of Nosa Rex, shot on location in Asaba.

Dr. Imasuen is expected to be a special guest of The Markk Museum, to officially present and screen his all time blockbuster movie, 'Invasion 1897', as part of a special exhibition of "THE Looted History' a project put together by the museum in marking the decision of the German Government agreeing to send back to Nigeria a total of 1,300 pieces of Benin Artifacts in their collections.

It will be recalled that Amb. Dr. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen has been in the forefront of advocating for the return of Nigerians stolen artifacts, reason he made the movie Invasion 1897, which was funded by Senator Daisy Danjuma.

The movie, 'Invasion 1897' which was screened inside the British Museum and released 9 years ago, have been receiving worldwide acclaim and tons of award both locally and internationally.

The Markk Museum presentation of the movie takes place on Tuesday July 26th Museum am Rothenbaum Rothenbaumchaussee 64 20148 Hamburg, Germany.

Chief (Dr) Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen is a multiple award winning filmmaker and culture activist with almost three decades of active practice and has directed tons of award winning movies to his credit.

Some of his landmark movies are; Issakabaa (parts 1-3), Last burial, August Meeting, Adesuwa and most recently GBEGE, 'The Omodion Saga', which is due for theatrical release on October 7th, with premieres billed for 28th September in Lagos, followed by a massive show in Benin tagged "GBEGE movie Premiere concert " on October 1st and another special premiere in Port Harcourt in honor of the lead actor Sam Dede.

Top Nigerian Firms, Stakeholders to Converge for 7th African Brand Congress

 

 

Distinguished business personalities and establishments are getting ready for this year’s annual African Brands Congress scheduled to hold on Friday the 12th of August 2022 at the Lagos Sheraton Hotels & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos.

 

The event which is in its 7th edition Congress is designed to educate, engage and inspire Brands Managers and professionals in the pursuit of Best Practice in Brands building and value creation. It is an appropriate platform. the African Brands Media Ltd, a Leading Brands Magazine providing opinions, Research and News for all Brands Owners and Industry players to discuss how Brands in Africa can increase their Global Competitiveness.

 

According to the organizers led by its Convener, Desmond Esorougwe ,the theme for this year is Digital Technology AI & IOT: A Catalyst for Brands Growth. The ABC is an annual fiesta of best Brains behind most successful and sought after African Brands. It is meant to stimulate, motivate and excite the creativity in individuals, seeking to enhance professional development skills in the area that are most relevant to the business community today; the Congress will provide hands-on skill building experience for Brands and the Brands Management community.

Expected at the Congress are participants from all over Africa to benefit from thought provoking, insightful and tangible ideas, from great Speakers.

 

The focus of this one-day African Brands Congress in Nigeria (the host country) will be to support establishments in the journey of excellence in Brands Building, discuss and influence the issues of sharing the African Brands future. The platform will provide an ideal opportunity for interactions among leading companies and keynote interactive discussion.