Obama’s father did not spend as long a time in the United States as the Hausa-Fulani have spent in Jos. Yet the one is now the next President of the United States, while the others cannot even aspire to a mere chairmanship of a local government.
It is the end of quarter again, in fact the end of another year. The only time your columnist allows himself a break (wish it could be more!). At the end of every quarter (in March, June, September and December), your columnist sits back, relaxes and let readers write the column. Though some urgent reactions and rejoinders are usually produced after articles which elicit urgent attention, many similarly important comments have to wait until the end of the quarter.
Again, as your columnist has said several times, because of space constraints not all comments can be accommodated at any one time. But every single comment is appreciated. But there are some who would write and ask that their comment was private, not public, and as such they would rather not have their comments in print. For them also, we say thank you very much. But because some of those ‘private’ comments are sometimes very illuminating, we would continue ask the contributors to remove the ‘immunity clause’.
And again, many readers, especially those in the Diaspora (and also in-country where the hardcopy of the paper is not always readily available when due), have been writing to complain that they have not been finding the weekend columns online, and hence have been missing several. This columnist has discussed the issue with his Editor who has promised to do something about it. In the interim, before the online version picks up, if a reader finds he has missed an article which he would like to read, an email to the writer is all that is needed to have it sent by return post.
Meanwhile, over to you.
RE: HARMONY
Yusuf Muhammad: It is very sad indeed that though both our religions preach peace and we have a lot in common in our Holy Books, for almost no reason Never-Do-Wells create social disharmony among us. For us to live in harmony, we must act what we preach.
Muntaka Dabo: Religious leaders should know that the nation that lacks peace and harmony will never develop. They should avoid making unnecessary accusations without evidence. Kudos to the Kano State Government for introducing the A Daidaita Sahu programme. Mallam Shekarau, please spend every Naira and Kobo in your treasury to ensure security. Allah (SWT) will reward you.
Kabiru Inuwa: With the kind of mindset some people have, peace will forever remain elusive. We should all learn from the people of Benue State who, during Obasanjo’s attempted balkanisation of the North, said they are Northerners geographically and politically. If we do not do something concrete about this debacle, it may graduate into something more horrible.
RE: SOIL
Abubakar Kassim: Obama’s father did not spend as long a time in the United States as the Hausa-Fulani have spent in Jos. Yet the one is now the next President of the United States, while the others cannot even aspire to a mere chairmanship of a local government.
RE: BEIJING
Umar Gwadabe: But for your write-up, I certainly would not have known anything like: You Are One When You Are Born; Never Give A Clock As A Gift; Mrs. Wang’s Husband Is Not Mr. Wang; and Wife Walks Behind Husband! I recommend this article to serve as travellers’ guide to anyone wishing to visit Beijing.
Ibrahim Musa: The Hausa say “Tafiya Mabudin Ilmi” (Travel Is Key To Knowledge). I have always believed that our population is not the cause of our present predicament.We are just 10 percent of China, but they are forward-thinking while we are backward-looking. Why? We lack two things that they have – patriotism and practicable punishment. Nigeria should emulate China by applying one looter, one bullet.
RE: NIGHTMARE
Ahmad Ismail: I never imagined that you would have time to reply ordinary mails from unknown persons. You really taught me a lesson in life. May Almighty Allah bless you with more knowledge and kindness.
RE: DREAM
Sani Aziz: Would the becoming of a black man American president change America’s policy? I think not. If becoming of Obama the president of America will not change the system and policy of America towards other countries and the world, the dream is useless.
RE: JEWELS
Abba Muhammad: May your write-ups be beneficial not only here on earth but in the hereafter also.
RE: TRUST
Umar Faruk Kabir: A similar incident to that of the millionaire husband and wife in your story happened to a friend here at ABU Zaria. The friend was once chatting with his fiancé (whom he was marrying after graduation) when a total stranger (to my friend) came in. Without as much as a ‘hi’ to my friend, the ‘stranger’ exchanged kind words with the girl and left. After he went away, my friend was furious: “Ke dai kin cika kwashe-kwashe!” (meaning: you cheapen yourself). The girl retorted immediately: “Ai a cikin kwashe-kwashen na kwaso ka!” (meaning: it was because of my ‘cheapness’ that you were able to get me). My friend was speechless!
RE: LAUGHTER 3
Bala Abdullahi Kwatu: Your write-ups on laughter has cured about 50 million Nigerians who are depressed. Please do not hesitate to tell the world that laughter is the best medicine
And now we end with the following story contributed by a reader (one of those Jewels flying in the cyberspace trashcan). It is titled: “Yes We Can (A Tomato Story)”. Enjoy:
A jobless man applied for the position of ‘office boy’ at Microsoft. The HR manager interviewed him, then watched him cleaning the floor as a test. ‘You are employed’ he said. Give me your e-mail address and I’ll send you the application to fill in, as well as the date when you may start.
The man replied ‘But I don’t have a computer, neither an e-mail address’. ‘I’m sorry’, said the HR manager. If you don’t have an e-mail address, that means you do not exist. And who doesn’t exist, cannot have a job.’
The man left with no hope at all. He didn’t know what to do, with only $10 in his pocket. He then decided to go to the supermarket and buy a 10KG tomato crate. He then sold the tomatoes in a door-to-door round. In less than two hours, he succeeded in doubling his capital. He repeated the operation three times, and returned home with $60. The man realized that he can survive this way. He started to go out earlier every day, and return late. Thus, his money doubled or tripled each day. Shortly, he bought a cart, then a truck, and then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles.
Five years later, the man is one of the biggest food retailers in the US. He started to plan his family’s future, and decided to have a life insurance. He called an insurance broker and chose a protection plan. When the conversation was concluded the broker asked him his e-mail address. The man replied, ‘I don’t have an e-mail address.’
The broker was very curious and incredulous: ‘You don’t have an e-mail address, and yet have succeeded in building an empire? Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an e-mail address?!!’
The man thought for a while and replied, ‘Yes, if I had an e-mail address I would have been an office boy at Microsoft!’
Morals of the story:
Moral 1
Internet is not the solution to your life.
Moral 2
If you don’t have Internet, and work hard, you can be a millionaire.
Moral 3
If you received this message by email, you are closer to being a office boy than a millionaire.
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