A Man's FREEDOM

What’s really good people?

I need to start it right this week by sending out a MASSIVE (S/O) to my entire family and friends for all of their prayers, blessings and support. The time and memories of this past weekend is one that will be remembered for a lifetime. I LOVE you and thank you all for everything you continue to do for me, and my two ladies. Now on to the not so good news of the week which was watching my Super Eagles of Nigeria look not so “SUPA” in the Confederation Cup versus Spain. We looked like a bunch of junior varsity amateurs and badly outclassed. To make mattes worse all the text messages received in the past week to gloat over our misfortunes has been very upsetting. One bad week for my favorite football team does not mean all was lost for the “P” man. This has been a MONUMENTAL week for your boy personally & professionally. Stay tuned for the making of dynasty like no other noni.

Ok people; let me get focused…

So all this talk in the news this week about Aaron Hernandez is just crazy. Crazy as in I was all set to build my entire up coming NFL season fantasy draft around this dude. Crazy as in I always liked watching him score touchdowns on Sundays just so I can watch him do his “make it rain” touchdown celebration. Crazy as in I actually liked and have been following his career since he was a Florida Gator. Crazy as in why does a young man want blow a $40 million salary and rising football career?  

Well here is why and if you let the judge tell it, when a man’s pride and ego gets to be so big that it takes control over his emotions that is a recipe for disaster. Man I hate everything about the legal system cops, lawyers, judges, etc. I hate it so much that at the age of 20 after interning at a very affluent and prestigious firm in the DMV and getting to see first hand behind the scenes of how the judicial process really works that I decided my budding law career must come to an abrupt end right then and there. 

Now back to Hernandez, who in his/her right mind wants to wake up at the crack of dawn to be surrounded by law enforcement in your own home first thing in the morning and be escorted by a police cruiser in handcuffs for processing in a courthouse? That whole footage was just too numbing. You see I have experienced and lived some of that stuff created for television this week over the years and it is always upsetting when I have to revisit the past.

I still remember it like yesterday when one of the O.G.’s I grew up around as a teenager pulled me aside and looked me in the eye and said “never allow another man to take your freedom”. Two decades later that messages continues to resonate with me like I just heard it yesterday. So in my moments of anger, rage, immaturity, impulsiveness or plain and simple not thinking I like many of you all out there open myself to this dangerous possibility of jeopardizing not only my freedom but my well being.

If Hernandez truly did have another man’s life taking from him all because as the judge put it he “felt disrespected” or his ego or whatever was hurt then he must have never valued his freedom all along. And ain’t no amount of money, fame and attention in the world could have changed his outlook on life.  I just hope the young brothers out here are able to see and look at his story as the example they do not want to become.

Take a TIMEOUT the next time.

AFRICA'S YOUNGEST BILLIONAIRE ASHISH THAKKAR SET TO VISIT UYO, NIGERIA IN JUNE FOR THE FIRST EVER NIGER DELTA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ECONOMIC SUMMIT

What’s really good people?

Hope the father’s were celebrated the right way this past week by their family and loved ones. CONGRATS to two of my family members with their respective MASSIVE feats accomplished both personally and professionally this week. My SUPA Eagles have proven to not be SUPER thus far in the Confederation Cup tournament but it sure would make big statement in world football if Nigeria were to pull the upset and beat Spain on Sunday. I believe do you believe? Anyways I will continue to stay Naija for life. UP Super Eagles & UP Naija!

Ok people; Let me get focused…

Last week I had mentioned that I was going to start highlighting and profiling several personalities, companies and initiatives that have reached out to the MY OMO NAIJA blogspot for increased support in messaging their causes to the rest of the masses. This week the focus and spotlight turns to the Niger Delta Young Professionals who have organized the 1^st Niger Delta Professionals Economic Summit/Exhibition. The theme: “Building Sustainable Entrepreneurship in the Niger Delta”. The scheduled event is set to take place June 28, 2013 at the prestigious Le’ Meridian Hotel & Golf Resort, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state from (9am-5pm).

The Niger Delta Young Professionals is a non-governmental organization made up of a group of young enterprising individuals who have achieved great success in their various careers and endeavors and desire to utilize their expertise and experiences in our drive towards sustainable economic and social development in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.

This summit has been designed to encourage young people and young professionals from diverse fields of endeavor ranging from Oil and Gas, Information Communication Technology (ICT), Agriculture, Environment  and the Creative Economy in order to create a platform for exchanging ideas and design networks where professionals of the Niger Delta Region will learn by engaging successful entrepreneurs like Ashish J. Thakkar( Africa’s Youngest Billionaire), CEO of Mara Group, Dr. Michael Arumemi-Ikhide, Group CEO ARIK AIR, Dr. Alex Otti, GMD Diamond Bank, Tunde Kehinde, MD and Co - founder JUMIA and other relevant stakeholders as mentors working to increase and optimize economic opportunities for the young people within the region.

The summit is hosted by the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Sir Godswill Obot Akpabio, while the President and Commander-in-chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR) is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour.

Prospectively, it is an avenue to share some insights, build capacities, obtain ideas, get well framed views and inputs, present practical options and strategies that would be beneficial in maximizing the investment and development opportunities in the Niger Delta Region.

For sponsorship details, enquiries and registration, log on to: http://ndypnigeria.org/summit/ or call 08092646955, 07046097310.

Help spread the word

The Father I Want to Be

What’s really good people?

What in the world is going on with the very maddening Super Eagles of Nigeria and its governing body Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)? These yahoooooos totally laid an egg versus the Namibians mid week and will have all of Nigeria sweating it out in hopes of advancing into the world cup qualifying playoff knockout stage come September. As if this was not bad enough, these same jokers follow it up by going on strike right before the opening of the Confederations Cup tournament in Brazil all because of a $5k performance bonus rift. WTF! I mean talk about a total national and international embarrassment. Why do we continue to shame ourselves in this fashion? I have said this time and time again, let the “P” man come to Nigeria and run this football body. If you want quality, excellence, results and accountability I am your man. Go check my resume.    

Ok people; let me get focused…

Look here folks the Super Eagles and NFF ain’t the only ones in crisis these days. More important than any football match, conflict over bonuses or lack of patriotism in sports is our most important assets the CHILDREN. That's right; the youngins, little ones or as I like to call them the “Kool Keedz” need our help. Too many of our children today are lost, confused and disconnected and the number one common denominator that I attribute this to is the absent fathers. I often get upset when I start to write about this topic because it is a damn shame that a man if that is what he still calls himself these days has to be reminded and motivated to take responsibility for his actions for bringing a life into this world.     

So you know what people let us flip it on this time around as we celebrate father’s day weekend for 2013. This time last year I shared with you all for my father’s day blog how I am truly a representation of all the quality GREAT men in my life from my father, brothers, uncles, and friends. BIG (S/O) to all of these men again because it is because of their influence, experiences and words of wisdom I wake up everyday knowing that I have a fighting chance and can conquer many obstacles in front of me. But by no means shall I slight the mothers who are serving in a dual role of mother/father in their homes as they too work to raise their children to be upstanding contributing members of their communities.     

It is crazy how I went from being a novice in the field of fatherhood to a certified expert in a span of twelve months but hey I am living proof. So let me drop some knowledge on the people, why is it that when it comes to responsible parenting it is almost as if we are often forced to pick sides? Moms are better raising children. No dads are better raising children and back & forth we go. No wonder so many kids today are stuck, torn and emotionally detached. Just look at all the senseless acts of violence carried out by young people in recent months in our schools and communities. The first thing people dig up are the parents, what type of home life or up bringing and were are the parents are the first questions people want asters to.     

The true answer is it takes TWO; both a mother and father in order to get the best out of a child. Now if you already knew this then that makes you also an EXPERT. So being a good father is not about bragging on how you pay your child support on time, how your child stays fresh with the newest J’s or designers, giving your child whatever he or she wants on command just to keep them quiet. The truth is there is no such thing as a perfect father because good fathers should always tell their children that they too make mistakes and often.The best gift you can give your child as a parent not only a father is your TIME. So Tick, Tick, Tick…

Are you available? 

Words Can't Hurt Me

What’s really good people?

Been a crazy couple of weeks for sure; I took off on my peoples last week on the blogspot to go throw down in H-town and support my beloved SUPA EAGLES of Nigeria at Reliant Stadium and boy did I have a blast. I had the privilege to have two of my brothers with me (OD & J) against an army of El Tri football fans and I must say we held our own even though there were 62,000 fans in the stadium and 60k of them was for the Mexican national team. The end result was a 2-2 draw but we were able to garner respect and confidence from the experience that propelled us to victory earlier this week in beating the Kenyans as we continue to march towards a world cup 2014 birth. Up next is Namibia and Confederations Cup in the coming weeks in Brazil. Please can you all beg “Mrs. P” to let “P Love” go see his team in Brazil? I BEG O. Baba God please continue to BLESS us with more Goals! What else went down? Oh man, my boy the “Forgiving King” Rob Stark of Game of Thrones got made an example of this week when a man does not keep his word. Boys and Girls always remember in life that your word is bond and when you break it thou shall suffer the consequences. What else? oh the blogspot has been asked to help feature several press releases on some exciting projects  in the month of June highlighting young and ambitious Nigerian businesses, artist, youth summits all happening in our homeland. We are honored that such request have come our way in recent months and we thank you for all the support and positive feedback. Do remember everything we do on this forum is for the people so if you have something that you want to share with the rest of the masses that is original, inspiring and generates a healthy conversation this is the spot for you.     

OK people; let me get focused…

Now the BIGGEST story for me this past week by far is the whole “NO HOMO” story. Oh am sorry did I say NO HOMO? Yes I did…NO HOMO! NO HOMO! NO HOMO! First of all (S/O) to Roy Hibbert for being himself, a graduate of Georgetown University who chose to express himself through the use of a street slang in front of the national media and before you knew it, bored out of their minds they ran with it and blew everything out of WACK. Now before we get into the whole debate about if what was said is offensive or undignified, I do recall writing a blog about two years back on the momentum and power of the GAY Mafia and how their ultra sensitive a** need to calm down every now and then.

Now let us get into the debate and for the sake of full disclosure, I personally have been using the slang “NO HOMO” over ten years if not longer. I say it to my junior brothers all the time when they act silly around me and amongst my peers when we have guy talk. The primary reason people were crying, all hysterical and easily were able to make an example of Mr. Hibbert is because of MONEY. In America those that have the money have the power just like in many other developed and underdeveloped countries. The real question and true debate comes down to whose money is longest? And whenever this becomes settled you typically easily find the winner just like in presidential races, policy reform and country club member selections.

Many athletes earn a very desirable annual salary and make a good living for themselves and their families. But rarely do we see athletes own mega studios, media outlets print & television, host black-tie dinners or fundraisers for politicians, etc. The quandary athletes generally find themselves in is if they there buck the status quo and go against the grain, their careers is over in an instant. Therefore; many choose to stay quiet or quickly apologize when the backlash hits. And like we say in the hood “Leon can’t cook without da dough”. In simple hood terms; “shut your mouth & don’t f**k up the money” you DIGG.

What really annoys me the most is people use and say slurs more offensive and homophobic everyday at work, school, grocery stores, barbershops, fitness centers and gain little to no attention from it. As a Nigerian I have grown accustom to all the negative and painful adjectives one can throw at another human being. It is to the point that I only hear them as noise or words with no meaning. My advice is the next time he goes up in front a podium for a post game interview, step up your street slang and just say “PAUSE” and they would never figure it out.

Catch you on the Rebound