#smwLagos 2015 Live

Live Blog #smwLagos 2015

Go-To Girl

My go-to girl let's me slip in anytime
She lets me rock her, morn till dusk
leathery pair of black loafers

A PLAY OF TIES AND FIGHTS

So, yet again on the issue of political thuggery partisanship and #NigeriaDecides, I got invited to an inter-party marketplace debate organized by @playforumng and her boss, Charles Okpaleke on Sunday, February 1^st, 2015 at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel. This time around, it was about political leadership amongst youths, and it was aptly called PLAY forum, with sponsorship from the @IRIglobal and the American aid organization, @USAIDNigeria.

#EventWorthAttending: The Play Forum | February 1, 6pm | @HiltonAbuja | RSVP ~ @USAIDNigeria pic.twitter.com/TPHqqvb7YT
— KoloKK | #SocialGood (@KoloKennethK) January 31, 2015

And yes, it was a black tie event, so I went to play. And it was refreshing to see faces of party goons, e-rats, e-thugs, e-prostitutes enthusiasts from twitter. To be fair, the lighting, seating, stage, montage and sounds were of the best touch. And the tweet-wall was topnotch amazing. Well, until party supporters started using it to take swipes at each other. But overall, the event organizers were very professional. Except on the matter of time!

It was great seeing @donlaz4u, @mukhtar_dotun, @eggheader, @sandrasandygold, @ToluOgunlesi, @purehaire, @Estherclimate, @Keneike, @gentleojay, @bint_moshood again, a few other "bigz bwoiz and gehs" and to also know that the ninja - @countfreemont, was somewhere in stealth mode. And then ofcourse, that @mr_ochonogor and @martharrazi were somewhere in the hall, and refused to be found; and then @demolalagos whom I was seeing for the first time, and who afforded me the courtesy of a selfie. And the greatest part of the early evening was that it didn’t matter if they were aligned to @apcnigeria or @pdpnigeria.

With @KoloKennethK and @SandraSandygold at the #playforumng. pic.twitter.com/ovkoLyQmRS
— Esther Agbarakwe (@estherclimate) February 1, 2015

Wait na, can’t I continue in to details of the night before you contest what I said? Kamdan. Gist never finish. Oh, and there was @chigurl, who didn’t afford me the chance of setting her P. Mehn, there were plenty beautiful gehs in the audience, and I just kept counting the faces and wondering why there are just a few gehs in my DM. And the few sef are not living and working and twerking in Abuja. Mschew. And then I was busy eyeing Nana from the side, while @tonyatambi was somewhere trying to spoil my runs by trying to find the venue.

@kolokennethk Yo!. Where you guys at?. I'm around Congress Hall.
— Tony Atambi Esq. (@TonyAtambi) February 1, 2015

And the lad ended up there in some sweet body hugging t-shirt, which left Nana’s smile from one ear to the other.

The guest speakers as well the guest acts didn’t disappoint. Of note, was the @JaiyeKeyz guy, who had this guitar looking keyboard, and for the entire time he was on stage, was just fingering the darn thing.

@mr_ochonogor did you see Jaiye fingering that guitar thing? #PlayForumNG
— KoloKK | #SocialGood (@KoloKennethK) February 1, 2015

  As you’ll expect, there were more girls screaming than guys nodding. And even though the sound guys almost “effed” up @timidakolo’s act by not turning up the volume, dude kept at it, and from the depth of his bowels, sprang forth rendition that the hall was on her feet in no time.

Sprawled between these acts, were the handsome speeches of the delectable @obyezeks, whose #BringBackOurGirls’ troublemakers campaigners, stayed true, and were vocal from the start till the end the time I left. She mingled raw humor, sermon and truth in speech about why governance must never be about the individual, but about systems.

Confidence, even economic confidence is built upon the understanding that institutions are greater than individuals ~ @obyezeks #PlayForumNG
— KoloKK | #SocialGood (@KoloKennethK) February 1, 2015

Without a capable and effective government, it is impossible for the private sector to operate at her optimum ~ @obyezeks #PlayForumNG
— KoloKK | #SocialGood (@KoloKennethK) February 1, 2015

If you run a stupid budget, you'll have a stupid situation ~ @obyezeks #PlayForumNG
— KoloKK | #SocialGood (@KoloKennethK) February 1, 2015

At a point, while she was referring to the best case practice of Singapore and Lee Kwan Yew, my mind veered to the popular TV advert “Lee Kwan Yew did it…”

@obyezeks mentioned Singapore and policies, and my mind veers to "Lee Kwan Yew did it..." #PlayForumNG
— KoloKK | #SocialGood (@KoloKennethK) February 1, 2015

And when @franknwekeII made the podium his own, he hammered on why now is the time to be partisan. He hinged on why leadership is no longer an option but a responsibility which must not necessarily be political, as the private and third sectors provide ample opportunities for young Nigerians to seize leadership for the collective development of the country.

Your casual commentary is no longer accepted. You have to get involved ~ @FrankNwekeII #PlayForumNG
— KoloKK | #SocialGood (@KoloKennethK) February 1, 2015

It is this burden of responsibility that made me decide not to sit on the fence, but run for senate ~ @FrankNwekeII #PlayForumNG
— KoloKK | #SocialGood (@KoloKennethK) February 1, 2015

He again, confessed his belief in systems, and expects a favorable result in the courts (dude was nudged off the senatorial race by god fatherism or party shenaniganism if you like).

When the offers came, I didn't think it was the right thing to do - to become a party prostitute ~ @FrankNwekeII #PlayForumNG
— KoloKK | #SocialGood (@KoloKennethK) February 1, 2015

What really is your play? What do you stand for? What are you about? ~ @FrankNwekeII #PlayForumNG
— KoloKK | #SocialGood (@KoloKennethK) February 1, 2015

Then the evening delved in to inter-party debates, with the panelists, entertaining questions from good governance, security and the economy. The moderators were @toluogunlesi and @chigurl.

As a fencist, you have to love #PlayForumNG. You'll have a fill of laughter...
— KoloKK | #SocialGood (@KoloKennethK) February 1, 2015

As a fencist, I was keener in learning how the panelists will answer questions. I was eager to see young party policy strategists coming to the podium to answer questions with hard facts and future-proofing evidence. However, what transpired was a bout of mudslinging, name calling, accusations and allegations of misuse of trust. Some questions while irrelevant, were met with even more irrelevant answers.

I saw a replica of these violent youth at #PlayForumNG in APC peeps, very violent, divisive and unruly. pic.twitter.com/rc9y2Or3KW
— Thεόphilus ||Shalόm (@Shalomttheo) February 1, 2015

Some of the @APCNigeria youth at #PlayForumNG debate have behaved in a very disgraceful manner with their threatening and inciting behavior
— tolu ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) February 1, 2015

Some panelists even had to take to screaming at the top of their voices, in trying to make themselves heard. I laughed a bit, then wondered what a calm demeanor and welcoming mien on the podium will do to get the audience to listen to you. One PDP panelist tried, aptly answered his questions with simple facts, but was before long, caught in the throes of screaming. Another APC panelist had the calm with his grasp and all the while I was there and he had to come on stage, he had his cool. Surprisingly, Doyin Okupe was sat in the PDP panelists section, and was doing more of tinkering and directing than talking. I heard he stood to talk at some point when I was already on my way home; and that was when the entire place turned in to some arena back in renaissance times when the Roman Empire held sway.

Are we the generation that has been talked about with respect to taking over? Is this the appropriate conduct? #Disappointed #PlayForumNG
— #BringBackOurGirls (@Bukkyshonibare) February 2, 2015

One party should have taken the high road, and perhaps displayed more maturity at yesterday's #playforumng. Ladies and gentlemen, NONE did!
— Tony Atambi Esq. (@TonyAtambi) February 2, 2015

See them? Very unruly APC members. #PlayForumNG pic.twitter.com/aF3QGBt4Rm
— N. M. Nwachukwu★ (@PUREHAIRE) February 1, 2015

They said only suits and what was left of pancake make up distinguished men from animals in that hall. Well, I’ll say anyone who remained in that hall is…

What I learned tonight: @APCNigeria: We represent change. Any else is false @PDPNigeria: Evidence or not, we are working #PlayForumNG
— KoloKK | #SocialGood (@KoloKennethK) February 1, 2015

So, I rushed back home to the comfort of le Bey, waiting with a hot shower, cocoa and erm, honey. I’d had enough of PLAY.

@Badmus_Ope I was at #PlayForumNG all the while it was sane. As soon as they started bickering, I knew my night was done!
— KoloKK | #SocialGood (@KoloKennethK) February 2, 2015

I WASN'T HE WHO CHOPPED THE TREE

I wasn’t he who chopped the tree,

Amadioha.

Why have thou cursed me?

The Ogene bounces off the sides of the mounts,

Horns and flutes purr at the heart of still waters...

Why am I in the way of a burst cistern?

Waves disturbs the calm of my dreams;

Of trickles come from the cistern’s cracks.

Why am I the cursed of them all?

Off they run to Nkwobi’s warm bossom,

Salted. The alligator pepper well done!

But upon shards of glass my heart is thrust

Oh, Dear Baro

Oh, dear Baro 

Petty gamble o'er the matter 

Emptying of thy belly 

Gives them fame, sheared 

Mosquitoes awoken of staccatos

Mosquitoes in swarms, fishes in droves

The Wind In Her Wings

Le Eagle soared away at dawn
But we were not lorn
Father Sky was kind - we tarried much
Then she caught the wind in her wings
Same which I purred from my pipes
So I was breathless when she was gone
With kindred spirit in formation
Umunna in tow to new breeding fortes.

Plucked

They're getting plucked all around me;
Spinsters, ripe - soft to the side
Will there be fruits left when...
My rod grows long enough?

Udi

 Udi, cast upon dark combustibles
Is it true? That I'll revel in thy belly?
When the moro brings me nigh,
Altine visits again, be ready!

The State of the World's Midwifery #SoWMy2014 report Launch in Nigeria

Live Blog #SoWMy2014 Report Launch in Nigeria

 

She, chic

There they go - infidels, rogues
Plucking towns shamelessly;
Minced meat, sooting grills in their wake
And what does the chic do?

She, chief-in-command, is...
Distraught, limp, then cools off.
Timbuktu, Boakye were neighbors
Merry and laughter in tow

But a litter of bleeding girls wail.
The rest are cracked, then armed -
Cannon fodder are sent with fear
Emissaries to chic, from a bloated war.