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Thursday, 19 July 2007
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Last week a friend of mine fell sick. When i was told,it startled me and i quickly left the office.
On the way to see her, i kept praying to God that nothing should happen to her and then it hit me that i was doing something that i would probably never do for anybody except of course that boyfriend of mine who i love like crazy. ......I was waiting under the rain for a bus to take me to her .
You see Ifeoma has been one of the closest friends i have had in the last eight years . We attended the same university and we met her there.Back then, nothing and nobody would have told me we were going to be close as we are today but after meeting her, i realized that if there is one person i would want God to make as my sister in my next life, Ifeoma Ewuzie is the person.
You know when they say someone has a good heart, that is ifeoma .When they say someone who cannot, does not and will not see the bad in people, that is ifeoma . When they say someone who is willing to give her last dime to save someone, ifeoma Ewuzie is the one .
I remember sometime early last year when i just got my job.I was really short on office clothes since i had been unemployed for a while. ifeoma visited and must have noticed because early the next morning she invited me to her house . When i got there she gave me three bag of high quality office clothes.Just What i Needed!Weeks later my phone got bad and ifeoma gave me a phone. When i needed a midget for work and was saving to buy one,this same girl gave me a midget . When i wanted to travel to Ghana and needed money to get a passport urgently,Ifeoma was able to arrange the money for me. When she read my book " growing pains" she encouraged me to publish it and even offered to make contribution to make the book a reality.I could go on and on and list all the things my friend has done for me,but i guess u would not have enough time to read it.What make her unique is that her niceness is unconditional. Most people do things for people because they expect bsomething in return, but my friend does good things because that is just who she is is!
It's just unfortunate that right now this angel of mine is going through some challenges that could try the patience of a saint.
just want to tell u ify that challenges are bound to come but the manner in which we cope with them is what makes the difference.Keep your head up, girlfriend.I can see you running through.
My world is a better place because you are my friend ify ,that is why today i dedicate this piece to you and your family.God bless you.Ifeoma Ewuzie .
Monday, 04 December 2006
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Growing Pains 2
“Come hug me my son” My father suddenly cried stretching out his hand towards me.
I wanted to,but back then there was a horrible spirit that used to afflict me. For some reason, which I still cannot understand, I just could not show love. I rejected any overt offering of love. In fact, I used to get angry at the mention of the word love. I loved my dad with all my heart but I just could not show him. Five minutes ago, I was crying because I thought he was dead and now knowing that he was alive, I couldn’t hug him.
“No need to get emotional dad.. I will do that tomorrow” I said standing up and stretching to go
He murmured a reply which I did not hear and didn’t bother to ask because I was eager to get out of his presence. I was ashamed of the way I had shown my weakness. I guess that was what was making dad happy that there was someone to love him. All those thought however was not on my mind as I left the hospital. I was supposed to see dad later that night, but somehow I did not go. The activities of that day had taken its toil on me and I slept off
The next morning, I woke up in a very good mood and so I decided that I was going to call my father and tell him how much I loved him. I sat there memorizing how I was going to say it. Don’t blame me it’s not something that I had ever done before …at least not sincerely. I had always said it because of what I was hoping to get or what I was getting. Never because of true love but this time, I meant it. I was madly in love with Papa.
"The next morning however, I got to the hospital with some food to give my dad. As I was about to enter the hospital, I saw someone emerge from the other door carrying dad’s battered suitcase which contained all our documents. This was strange because dad did not have friends or anyone who would have visited him so early in the morning.
The person walked quickly in the opposite direction of me. I edged toward the figure in slow but strideful steps wanting to ask the person why he was carrying dad’s briefcase. I called out to the person but he did not answer, just continued walking very fast and then was almost running. I took quickstep so that I would not miss him because he was only visible by the suitcase.
As I approached him, I suddenly felt a cold breeze blow and I became afraid. Half of me was telling me to follow the man and the other half was telling me to turn and run back to the hospital as fast as I could. With no time to think, I grew courage from an unknown source and continued the chase. I followed him further in, not sure of where he was going or what he was going to do.
I saw him enter an alley just by the hospital and then I quickly turned there too. After a few more steps the man stopped, his back turned to me. For a moment , he pause and then he turned his head around to look at me. His eyes were pale and looked very brigh.
Where are you going dad? You should be ………“I began but was cut short by my father’s voice.
"Emma before I go, I want to let you know that I love you with all of my heart” He paused and then continued, “Before I go, I want you to know that life is full of difficulties so when you feel alone, remember me. I don’t want you to cry this time. You’ve cried enough for now. I want you to spend the rest of your life holding on to God and keeping strong but sometimes remember me. Remember what I taught you my son. Though I cannot see you with my eyes, I see you with my heart and the love you have shown me this few months. As I pass from time into eternity, I will die a happy, happy man because I have learned to love and bless and so...my son... I... bless you” He said
My voice cracked as I spoke aloud "Where are you going Daddy?”
My dad’s eye closed and I saw tears hover beneath his lashed face. His aged hands full of grime, pain and hard labor caused from years of sitting by the river - stretched out towards me. I fell into his arm and he gently stroked my back. I stood in his arm awe struck until he finally pried me from his chest unwillingly, longingly as though he was in pain.
When I looked up, my father was gone. "Daddy!" where are you?” I yelled and looked around but he was nowhere to be found. I turn and began to run back to the hospital . I ran faster then I had ever run in my life. Flying past people, I made it to out of breath. With my heart feeling like it would come out of my chest, I burst open the door only to find my father on the ground foaming from his mouth
I grabbed him in my arm screaming “Somebody help me. Somebody help! Papa! Papa it’s me, your own son. Emma. I am here! It is not too late! God has seen fit to bring us together these last years...it’s not too late! I'm here... I'm here! The money has come, I will buy you a car today ……."
I continued screaming as somebody burst into the room, but even I knew it was too late. The smell of death was everywhere. A moment later my father straightened up, stretched out a trembling hand, laid it upon my head, and his hand fell back down to his chest and he died with a smile on his face”
God please send him back, please I know it’s not the way you do it but dear lord let him come back. After all this suffering ,just give him one-year to enjoy. I promise I buy him a car. I will right every wrong. I will …..” I continued screaming
That was the moment the tears came crashing down because I had been given more than enough opportunity the previous day to say i loved him.. I cried as I asked God to send back the only person that has ever loved me and who I have loved,
It was that day that I learnt never to leave a friend or a loved one without telling them how much i appreciate & love them. The truth is we never know when our Lord will call them home. If you love someone, always tell him or her. Don't be afraid to reach out and tell someone what he or she means to you because when you decide that it is the right time, it might be too late.
The burial was quiet just me, his friend Bayo and my mum .As I carried his body on the boat, I remembered what my dad had said once about death……...........
The following is Excepts from the book “Growing Pains 2” by Ebi Akpeti displayed here for promotional purposes only
Wednesday, 25 October 2006
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.......And the winner is..........................
Hi , Xanga Family , long time aint it? So much has happened that i dont really know where to start. Well the major news is that i did not get the price . I was first runner up but it felt like i won.Two days before the D-day , all the nominees had gone in a convoy to Kwara Ilorin State where we were given first class treatment . We went on media tour, hanged out with the Governor, and stayed in five star hotels . Anyway on saturday, the award cermony held and it was awesome. It was aired life on 30 different stations in Nigeria and the turn out was fantastic.
When they called up my category with my picture and entry displayed on the screen for like 50 seconds, i felt reallygood . I saw my face on the screen and i was like " Am in Hollywood, this must be better than the GRAMMY!" Anyway an editor with a newpaper took the price of Capital Market Reporter of the Year. He came up to me after the award "Hi , Ebi i thought you were going to beat me this time. I have been winning this award for the past three years now. When i saw your entry , i was scared because it is a very good story . Honestly you won. I know that your entry was better than me .I am just leaving on past glory " Smiling at his display of humility, i had to shake my head when he walked away because it almost bursted into two.
Honestly this nomination has boosted my confidence. It's amazing you know but i started writing when i became the editor of my church Magazine. From there i got employed at a magazine to write the business news and then the bank saw a story i had written and employed me. I thank God for the gift of writing, he has given to me . Who knows where i might have been now if i had not been able to recognise my gift ? So far my gits has given me a lot of thing , A job , good friends , money and who knows maybe a husband ! I pray that God grant each of you the wisdom to recognise your gift.
Thanks for listening to me AGAIN and may God bless you.
Wednesday, 30 August 2006
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Today has got to be one of the best days of my life. i just got a call from the Nigeria Media Merit Award that i am one of three persons nominated out of over 3,000 entries for the award of Capital Market Reporter of the Year 2005.
Last year while i was working as a journalist in a newspaper house, i wrote a story i titled " Trigger for Fraud" . it was about a new device which was introduced by the Nigerian Stock Exchange. it was one of the best and investigative piece i had ever done. I sent it in when they began to call for entries but did not think for the life of me think i would be nominated.
The Award ceremony is coming up on September 8 2006 at Ilorin Kwara state, Nigeria. I need your prayers . I know what it would mean for me as a person and for my career if i win.NMMA is the award for media excellence in Nigeria. It will be a boost to my life!
I am nothing , i have nothing but in christ i have everything . LET US PRAY.!
Tuesday, 25 July 2006
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The Perfect Church
"Pastor, we really must do something about this visit of Pastor Andersen. This is the first time he is visiting this country and what an honour to think that he choose our small church to come and minister” Sister Lola said
Pastor Brown looked at her smiling “You are the one that thinks that you are small. The way people talk about your voice is amazing. The other day ...…
Pastor….. Sister Lola cut in; I wasn’t talking about my voice. I was talking about the church. God has been so good to us. Remember how it was when we first started there was no roof over our head. I have to confess to you so many times I felt like leaving the church then".
The pastor leaned forward with a smile on his face " Well I am surprised. I never knew you had such doubts" he said
"Yes I did pastor so many times. It was embarrassing to think that a
"That sad I wish you would have shared those doubts with me. Imagine the soul that could have been lost because of what you did, just imagine" Pastor said
She paused for a while smiling and then said“I have an excuse then pastor I was still growing in the lord unlike now that I am strong and can openly declare my love for Christ anytime.
"Praise God for that" the pastor said smiling
"Ah pastor I have to go ….. I have to go to the market to look for the fabric that the choirs would wear for the crusade" she replied
"God be with you my dear" the pastor said.
As Lola came out, she bumped into Mr and Mrs Ojo coming into church "Good evening" she greeted
"Sister Lola I really enjoyed the service today your voice was as always amazing. You tend to bring..." Mrs Ojo said
"Ahhhh: said Lola laughing. "Don’t go on and on and on. It is the glory of God upon my life. At the same time I envy your marriage. I pray for a husband like yours, a man that loves God and is willing to serve him with all his heart and clean and well breed children"
"You will find him in Jesus name" the couple echoed
"I am off to the market" she said.
She walked briskly to the bus stop. At the bus stop she bumped into Brother Benson
"Ah Sister Lola, I wanted to see you, I was hoping ……………..
"Later" she said. "I have to get to tejusho before they close".
She knew what he wanted to say and was irritated because she was not in the mood to hear it. Brother Benson had been chasing sister Lola for a very long time and she just wasn’t interested in him at all. He was one of those brother that she normally refer to as over spiritual because he had a way of doing things
"Na me kill Jesus and he doesn’t have any money at all. Does he think I came to this world to suffer? Instead of him to spend his time looking for a job that he will use to take care of a wife, he is busy loving …
All these thoughts were on her mind as she reached the junction and got on the bus.Soon enough she got to the market but funnily she did not cross the road instead she stood for a while at a spot looking. Anybody looking around would have thought that she was looking for something to buy but the truth was that she was looking around to make sure that nobody was going to see what she was about to do . Sister Lola the so called perfect sister had been having a clandestine affair with a married man for a while now.
She had met Valentine Bagana in the course of her job. She was a journalist and in the course of her job she used to meet so many people who had always tried to befriend ber ecause she was a very attractive girl but she had kept her grounds that was until the day “Val Love” came as she used to call him came . It wasn’t the fact that he was very rich that made her fall in love with him. Coming from very wealthy family money meant almost nothing to her; there was something else about something she had never ever met in her life. It was like the joy someone felt when eating forbidden fruit.
It began as friendship and an unusual closeness but anytime she left him, she always felt a familiar stirring …...things she thought she had forgotten long ago came back to her. Then one day she had visited him at his office and he offered to drop her home. Just in front of her house she talked to him briefly and they kissed. In fact she was the one that had initiated the kissing. Even though she knew it was wrong to even be close to him in the first place. She had been warned during believers’ class about being to attached to anyone married because she would be taking attention fron the other party but she couldn’t help herself.
She had prayed to God to help her and she knew he had given her a way of excuse if she really wanted it but had she taken it? No! because when he stopped calling she found herself calling him. The only way she used to console herself was that at least she was better than all those sisters who used to sleep around with men.
“After all she reasoned all we do is just to touch each other. He does not have sex with me. Mine is a lesser sin than all those sisters.
Once she got into the hotel room, he grabbed her and they stood together touching each other in dangerous parts. When he tried to go further she stopped him .
“No val no …..i cant” she said “ I am a Christian”
"Why are you doing this to me" he asked "Don’t you love me? don’t I give you everything you want? Do you want a car, tell me?
"I want a car but I can’t sleep with you because I am a Christian" she said
"Then why did you come to this hotel with me? how long are we going to be playing this game do I look like a baby" he said snapping at her.
She was silent and then burst out in tears. A way of appealing to his emotion because she knew that he could not bear to see her cry.
"Okay sorry, stop crying"he said.
She stopped and he held her close. He did not touch her again but told her she could go. Opening his wallet, he pulled out a fat wad of money and offered it to her.
“I don’t know why I keep doing this . I really have a weakness for you" he said handing it over to her.
She took it pecked him and went home thinking that once again she had taken advantage of Val. She failed to notice the evil look on his face because if she had, she would have realized that nothing is free in this world –EXCEPT JESUS.
The following is Excepts from the book " The Perfect Church" by Ebi Akpeti displayed here for promotional purposes only.
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