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with the intellects 2020

Featured with the intellects 2020

ASOEBI SALES – Celebration or Mini hustle?

Intellects and Chill Time

Hello! It is another season for Intellects and Chill and this episode is mouthwatering. Remember the first episode was about the unfulfilled promises of tailors and seamstresses, as well as the amazing styles.

You will agree with me that there are lots of burial ceremonies and wedding parties these days, and the bridal train or asoebi is an important spice in these events. However the spices do not make themselves, real people make real efforts to bring this spice, and we will be talking about that spice in this post.

Ladies and men buy materials for the asoebi, or bridal train, or men in suit. While the both genders are involved, for some reason that of the ladies seem to be more popular.

Notwithstanding, the question is do you think Asoebi materials (as it is popularly called nowadays) should be sold or given free of charge (FOC)?

Personally, I think it should be given FOC!

Here’s what others think…

Spoiler: some think it is okay to sell, for some there’s an element of greed and witchcraft.

(Grab a popcorn for this read)

Maybe

Wills

Yes it’s ok.

I believe for an asoebi to be selected by the bride, it must have gone through scrutiny and approval by her bridal train. Meaning they know the quality of the material and the cost.

Also, the choice of material and cost depends on the economic class of friends selected for the bridal train. Those who can’t afford it can join other units to support their friend.

It is not a big deal.

Jane

Wahala no dey finish oo.

Well Asoebi is good for both sides and just for a few number of persons. But if you like rainbow on your D day let your friends form a committee and decide from your list of colours then sort themselves out in terms of buying materials and matching accessories with this whoever can afford it will buy.

As for the bride selling her Asoebi 3x the price she got it is witchcraft…I mean is better I don’t sell my Asoebi and get reasonable gifts and cash from friends than I sell n get glass cups as gift.

Thalia

You see this aseobi own

First off, as my friend, you no patronize me, or have never, or have never housed or fed me or supported me one way or the other

Please don’t bother to near me😒

It is not a bad idea to sell asoebi material to if u can’t afford to buy for a few. Most ladies like plenty asoebi cos it’s colourful but I rather have just 5 supportive hyping friends than the ones that my smile won’t matter to them
Check your class of friends, even u check yourself, the price u r putting, can u comfortably pay for it without taking from runs or sugar daddy

2b. If you know lace will be expensive, simply use ankara, it’s even cheaper to sew, u see Nigerian tailors, another Wahala with their prices when it comes to sewing lace

I see it as supporting my friend to make her day colourful, Omooooo if ur price pass me and u no book me for makeup, I no Dey buy, I no Dey fear person face, I will just tell u eyah I’m booked for that day😏

Lindsey

I don’t feel good about it, especially when it’s ridiculously expensive and the bride equally feels entitled to it and try to guilt trip you. They’d dictate everything you’re going to wear down and how you’d wear it, from style down to your accessories.

On top of one day wedding o.

😂 I say I no do hair say I no fit do packing gel, na natural hair I carry, so e no go last. Aunty say make I relax my hair. I come ask am weda na me and am on top bed for wedding night. Na so she go tell her mama, dem come call me family meeting! 😂

I’m all for glamor and glitz but, any of friends (friends o) that knows me and asks me to come and buy asoebi that is more than 5k is a serial killer and I should know enough to avoid that person!

When I achieve icon stat and we’re rolling in dollars, then we can buy 50k asoebi. Nobody should stress my bank account biko.

On a reals tho, there are lots of other ways people that are truly your friend can support your wedding, I’m of the opinion that if you can comfortably get your material for 3 of your friends, then those 3 should be on your train, the rest can decide to buy the general material or show up in the color of the day and everyone’s happy.

I for one won’t want a picture perfect wedding where all of my friends low-key resent me for making them go through unnecessary expenses.

Ify

So I think it is about your circle of friends. Understanding people around you and being considerate is the key because the main objective was to support the bride but seem we are deviating from that by using it to make money.

I personally think that people should support their friends but it should not be limited to only buying of Asoebi, just like men do COMMITTEE OF FRIENDS and they come together to deliberate on how best to help in a friend’s wedding and not limiting it to a specified area which is buying of clothes that you might not wear after the said wedding. As a friend if I consider your Asoebi expensive then will go ahead and buy an affordable gift for you instead and wear what I have to your wedding.

In conclusion, Asoebi is good when done with the sole aim of supporting a friend and not as a means of making money (it should be affordable) and supporting a friend should not be limited to only buying Asoebi because there are other ways.

I’m being supportive when I leave every other thing to be there on your big day.

Cheederah

But why would someone sell asoebi?? I think is better you give freely or give at the price which you got the material than adding unnecessary cost to someone.

Mackup

Omo I just believe that your wedding shouldn’t be a means of generating income. Asoebi materials should be given to the bridal train to go and sew. Your husband buys material and gives you then you sell it? Most times these ladies don’t even have the money for these materials but because they don’t want to disappoint the bride they end up making sacrifices to buy the said materials. But women would always tell the man not to interfere as regards whatever she chooses to do with her Asoebi material and for peace to rein you as the man just have to let go. But in my own opinion, I don’t encourage selling of asoebi material.

Gentle heart

I don’t think it’s ok to sell asoebi cloths, allow people to support you the way they can, some can volunteer to pay for their clothes you can also give free to your friends that can’t afford it. The most important thing is that they are there for you and sacrificed their time to support you on your big day, wedding is not a business extorting people in the name of asoebi to me is greediness, I don’t pay for such

Kamilla

Everyone is right with their answers.

I’m just going to point out a few things that we shouldn’t do both as the person hosting the event and as an attendee.

Stop making your asoebi girls slave for you… The main reason they are there is to add color to your day, cheer you on not to help you cut salad and share food… It should be solely out of their own desires

Stop hustling to buy asoebi that is beyond your paycheck, if you cannot afford it, politely decline if it’s a distant friend and finish your close friend who knows your pocket size… Most times it turns you to a bitter person or an unconcerned individual.

You come to your friend’s wedding with your face like shit and pressing phone, killing everyone’s vibe because the money dey pain you or you are not even interested in the bride’s welfare or if she is happy or enjoying her big day because you have spent so much money on the asoebi so you must catch big fish and not allow the money waste.

In your doing, be wise… Tankio!

Sparkle Beauty

In my opinion, it’s okay if you can buy the asoebi for them and they sew it themselves. You should be able to provide a comfortable place for your asoebi.

Ogoo

Well, it all comes down to understanding and being very considerate.

I am always of the opinion that, you have to live within to your means and budget. Selling of asoebi to me, is not totally wrong. Of course you do not put a knife on anyone’s throat to buy it.

If you have circle of friends that are still struggling to get their life in order, it is only kind of you to bring down the price to what they can afford or if you can, give it to them FOC and they cater for the making/sewing.

Adambano

There are cheap materials you can buy, even if na Ankara just give them or if you no get much money just sell it to them at the same rate you got them simple, even if you want to add okay make e be waybill money

Stanley

The real question is, what is the meaning of asoebi? Who invented it and why? Must it happen? What connection does it have with the concept called marriage? 🌝

McAnelka

Asoebi is a uniform to identify with your guest at a particular event
What if I say that practice came into being during colonization.When the Portuguese came to enslave our people, they give the captives uniforms to know where to belong and to differentiate 9ja salves from slaves of other country (fabricated).
Must it happen? Yes… Cos today, it is now a means of generating income from party guests. “You won’t just come to my wedding and eat without contributing to it”…lol.
Not just for marriage, it is now for almost every ceremony 🏃🏃🏃

Shuga

My own is, don’t plan your wedding in another person’s pocket. You’ll buy materials and add extra 10k (ten thousand naira) because you want to use the money to settle DJ or photographer. Everything must not be a money-making avenue

Chiniee

Thank you for this question.

In my honest opinion, selling asoebi is not bad… but where I draw the line is when you try to make money from your friends/ acquaintances through asoebi.

You see someone that will buy material at 5k and come to sell at 15/20k, is this not evil? Some asoebi materials are not worn past that wedding day.

There is no amount that is too little or too much, but sell with Jesus conscience biko and put yourself in the shoes of your friends, if the tables turn, will you buy what you’re selling at that price?

Personally like I said, I have no problem with buying asoebi, I do it with joy especially if you’re my close friend but don’t try to cheat me off my hard earned money in the name of asoebi.

There are cheap Ankara or lace you can buy and give out for free sef. My sisters gave their asoebi to their friends for free, not because they have all the money but they understand that not everything is about buying and selling. These people are coming to celebrate with you, at least let that one enter your head kwanu.

Judy

I see nothing wrong with asoebi, but my problem with asoebi sellers is the exorbitant price – like I don’t understand. They forget that the asoebi ladies will still transport themselves to the location, and most times provisions for feeding and accommodation are not even made for them, they’d still buy matching shoes (these days) and make matching hairstyles plus the face beat they’d still pay for and after all these expenses, not even rubber sieve will be given to them as souvenir…o wrong na.

Also, bride to be should stop beefing their friends or acquaintances who can’t afford or choose not to buy the asoebi. It’s nice having friends and acquaintances wear matching outfits for you on your big day, so yes asoebi can be sold to support the bride on her big day but the bride should also make necessary arrangements for the ladies…tankio!

Dozie

This issue is something that the bride should know how to navigate. You know your friends and their capabilities? You can’t tell someone earning 30k a month to give you 50k just for asoebi… courtesy demands you subsidize the fee so as to make it cheaper for them since you will be the one needing their help and not the other way round.

Thanks

Cheena

It depends on your level. If I carry 50k Ashoebi come here, nobody go answer me 😴. So let me talk from my level. Asoebi is fine but if we buy Asoebi finish, kindly make provision for us. That is, food, clear view at the reception and fine souvenir

I cannot buy Asoebi more than 20K. I feel happy buying Asoebi especially if you be my Gee. If you are not my Gee, I’ll be thinking you waka loss

Why do they keep buying if they find the price exorbitant? (Suffering and Smiling)

Kamilla

Because people don’t like being sincere to themselves. They don’t know where to draw the line between friends and acquaintances. Also the fear of being the odd man out.

Oluchi

They don’t want to be their friend’s enemy, but I will be your enemy in Peace.

Judy

Husband hunting my dear! Husband hunting!!

EXPERIENCES

Chioma

This ASOEBI also affects the male not only female, because I have seen a man pay 55,000 for ASOEBI.

Rejoice

A school mate was planning her wedding for a while, she took 10k from us (till now they never do wedding), and so I had to remove sentiments and asked her to please pay me my money. She stopped talking to me. Me I send kwanu? (But we talk once in a while now). She said the 10k is for material and sewing. Then I asked her to show me the material, abi asoebis are not supposed to see their material?

Later she said the tailor had it, so I asked for the tailor’s number she said tailor no get smart phone, I mean this was someone I rap with one on one, mehn! I nearly entered bus go her state o and I was hunting for the husband’s number to tell them give me my money re-invite me when they are ready.

Story cut short, it took me months for my money to come back to me. Finally I use the money to enter Onitsha 😀😀😀

Andili

I remember when someone told me 2 yards of lace is 20,000 with gele 25,000 😂😂😂

What will I use 2 yards to sew??? I will have to buy material to add … Told the lady I will wear what I have to her big day.

Oluchi

Imagine! One didn’t say thank you to us or ask if we ate. She came to the group to accuse of stealing her jewelry

Judy

I don buy aso ebi 25k before when I was serving (yes, I was once stupid). This girl didn’t make any reservations for us pertaining accommodation, we also had to buy our own food.

After bridal shower the next day, we all went home cause nobody budgeted for extra expenses. This girl had the guts to text us on the whatsapp group that she created for the asoebi that were wicked, yen yen yen. I just had to exit that group and I said to myself never again.Had to give out that cloth cause each time I remember how much I spent and I didn’t even get to wear it, e still dey pain me.

I was in Enugu then and the wedding was in Asaba

Thalia

I brought someone to a friend’s shop, I follow see prices o. She inflated her prices, in the name of she’s not working, she needs to cover extra charges. Na so material of 1350 a yard, take reach12k for 3 yards.

I followed her for market runs o, gave a heavy discount for makeup as per childhood friends, me thinking this babe will even sell mine at the price she got it, she refused o, that I must buy 12k like others, e cos big fuss, she even deducted it before sending my balance, I go tailor, tailor charged 15k to sew (e still dey tailor hand since 2020 December 😏).

I took the material, allowed her have her way before I become the witch that was against her marriage, I sha wore my statement jumpsuit to d wedding, but that brought an end to d friendship, like this she’s at arm’s length, can never be the same.

Make I buy your aseobi, u no gimme food or souvenir (nne we go dig am, I will drag u😩). It’s one thing to buy aseobi, It’s another to sew. Have matching shoe and purse. Pay for makeup/gele /jewellery, transport still spray money, still contribute to buy gift 😒. The last one I did at osuofia 120k d men paid 😂🤣 for dog head. We ladies paid 20k.

(Thalia must have a handful of experiences.)

Ginika

My last asoebi experience was not funny o. We already paid for material (lace), gele, and hand fan. We travelled a day before the event, one of us was asked to enter kitchen if we are hungry that night. Then the next morning from 6am till 5pm, none of her relatives gave us food to eat. Anyone you ask they’ll say go and meet who invited you. We asked the bride, she said her head don full.

Forget about the rest of the story, cos I found a cooler of chicken laps and took some home.

Hope

My cousin was saying something about his asoebi being 50k and I was only calculating how much value he has contributed to my life…cloth I’ll just dump after 8 hours.

Na only one person for my family know say I fit buy asoebi when she dey marry. The rest already know they’re either giving it to me free or simply going to hell.

I almost use Ankara wipe one aunty like that when she came with one rubber rubber Ankara with her own price to give my dad. I told him to give her back the material, if he feels like helping them with money it shouldn’t be under the guise of buying some silly material for person wey don die. He sha paid for it on a later date after still contributing his own quota to the burial. Mtcheww

Burial asoebi don make me know how people are related in this my area even after burial. 😂😂😂

Na burial cloth people get for this area. In a day you go see about 3 people wearing the same Ankara material.

Luchy

During my Traditional Wedding, I bought the fabrics I could afford; Lace & Gele, and gave it out FOR FREE to my Asoebi ladies. They were 16 in total, 2 groups of 8 ladies each. I also made hotel bookings for the Aso-Ebi ladies that were coming from afar. If I were richer, I’d have given them N20k each for sewing. I do NOT succumb to the idea of selling fabrics for Aso-Ebi. Worst are those who buy low quality laces of N500 per yard and sell them for N5,000 per yard or more. You rip off your friends as a condition to attend your wedding. If you must sell Aso-Ebi fabrics, sell for the actual price you bought them. Your wedding is NOT a business or bazaar for you.

Anyway, I don’t blame you people. It’s the people who buy your fabrics at ridiculous prices that I blame. The fact that your friends are going to pay transport and hotel bills, spend time and money and their resources on you is enough honor. The ripping off in the name of selling Aso-Ebi is unnecessary.

Also, KNOW YOUR FRIENDS AND THEIR FINANCIAL CAPACITY. If your friends are University students, I don’t see why you should try to sell them N50k or N100K Aso-Ebi. At most, N10k Aso-Ebi should do for University students. There are lots of nice laces you can buy for N2k per yard; N8k for 4 yards plus N2k gele.

But, if you work in a multinational company where you and you colleagues each earn over N500k per month, then your friends can afford a more expensive fabric. These things require you to USE YOUR BRAIN.

I made up my mind before I got married that of I cannot give out fabrics for free, then no Aso-Ebi. The Aso-Ebi thing sef is not compulsory. Although it’s beautiful to see your friends in uniform supporting you on your big day. If you can’t afford Aso-Ebi, wear one of your nice clothes and attend your family, friend or relative’s wedding.

If they say “no Aso-Ebi, no wedding”, then just know they are stewpid. Stay in your house and sleep that day, or use the time and energy on something else, more productive.

When people attend your wedding, they are doing you a favor and honor. Stop acting like your wedding is the “Festival of Life” where long life and prosperity is being given out. Instead of you to plan your wedding according to your budget, you want to use selling of Aso-Ebi to extort people to fund a wedding you can’t afford.

REACTION TO EXPERIENCES

Ladywhyte

This one na pure wickedness o people should learn to plan their ceremony according to their capacity. You must want everything whereas you can’t foot the bill. Imagine not having a reservation for your bridal train that came from another state to grace your occasion. People get mind o.

Adambano

Ashoebi girls suppose get separate souvenirs, food and special attention.

Oluchi

Anybody who extorts people who came to celebrate with her does not deserve God’s Blessings

Here comes the end of this episode, No go do pass yourself. Meanwhile, feel free to join the conversation by dropping your opinion or sharing your experiences in the comment section. Do not forget to like or share.

You can reach us through the WhatsApp icon on the homepage.

Thank you for reading us.

August 24, 2022 2 comments

Featured with the intellects 2020

NO NIGERIAN is MORE NIGERIAN

written by Odilichukwu Frances

The Intellects Magazine supports the #ENDSARS #ENDSWATinNigeria #ENDPOLICEBRUTALITY #REFORMTHEPOLICE movement pioneered by Nigeria youths, and continues to lend a voice to building the kind of Nigeria we want posterity to remember us for.
In our article titled, ‘Federal Government’s Relief Parcel’, we reinstated what democracy should be, and the urged the Federal Government to prioritize the interest of Nigerians—that the labour of the heroes past be not in vain.
Interestingly, the #ENDSARS movement that began in Lagos, Abuja, and Owerri on Thursday, 8 October, 2020 illuminates the depth of the impunity in the Nigeria system. It also shows that Nigeria youths have grown weary of the yoke of oppression around their necks, and like Aisha Yesufu said, the youths want a nation “where the child of a nobody becomes somebody without knowing anybody.

What strikes the most is the unity and oneness! Everyone is saying one thing and watching each other’s back, ambulances arrive almost immediately, doctors are on ground giving first aid treatments to casualties, lawyers are working together, ensuring the release of arrested innocent protesters, TV stars are seen on the fore front, hunger is tackled, no loss of properties, no violence from protesters, no gender battle, no nepotism, no tribalism, just one people, speaking one language, identifying as humans and as Nigerians, yet without a unanimous leader, resisting every attempt made to bribe and deny the protesters their right to protest—that’s the Nigeria we want! The place where humans are priority, where no one is self-seeking, a land of harmony!

All over Nigeria since Thursday October 8, 2020, protesters are painting the picture of that Nigeria on the protest ground with teary glands tired of shedding tears, and are online building a strong network, hoping that the Federal Government will take a bold step and make things right—evidence that the people are not the problem, but the system and hence should be purged.

However, the solution is not creating another unit on impulse, nor calling for indoor talks—Nigeria youths cannot be fooled again. This what should be done:
All defaulting officers should be brought to book
The government should address Nigeria youths straight from the heart, and not with written scripts.
The government should ensure that a team be set up in each state to pay condolence visits to the bereaved.
The government should not redeploy the disbanded SARS officers until they have gone through medical and psychological tests, and re-orientation or training.
The entire police force must be reformed because if law enforcement agencies lack orderliness, then anarchy rules the society.
The government should increase the salary of the police force.
The government must duly establish the duties of anti-crime squad, take them off the streets and provide better technological means of getting them informed about crime locations and the perpetrators of crime.
An independent panel must be set up to address police misconduct in all states. The system must stop shielding bad officers.
The government should understand that every unit of the force requires trained minds; that’s the essence of sociologists, psychologists, philosophers, criminologists, and other crime detecting, or socio-humanity (social sciences and humanities) disciplines.
Getting protesters off the streets is not an issue, the issue is implementation, and restructuring Nigeria. Once the government deals with what brought the protesters to the street, the protesters will leave the streets. The system is bad but the protest shows the government is the problem, and not the people.

Attempting to lobby and divide this movement will not work because the movement has no leader, therefore all energy should be channeled towards creating a nation free of police brutality, where the child of nobody becomes somebody without knowing anybody, because “no Nigerian is more Nigerian than other Nigerians” (Aisha Yesufu).
In the same vein unleashing armed thugs on peaceful protesters will only fuel the protest! FG should wake up to their responsibilities.
This is democracy give the people good governance! SóróSóké!!!

*We are Nigerians we deserve to be heard!*

October 15, 2020 11 comments

MY VOICE OUR EQUAL FUTURE (Theme of the 2020 International day of girl child)" data-src="https://theintellectsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/46A36E1B-9DBE-4471-8E3D-057689547B0D.png">

Featured with the intellects 2020

MY VOICE OUR EQUAL FUTURE (Theme of the 2020 International day of girl child)

written by Odilichukwu Frances

Pages: 1 2 3

October 11, 2020 63 comments

Biafra Featured with the intellects 2020

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’s RELIEF PARCEL

written by Odilichukwu Frances

“Who is the Nigeria system?”

“Is the system really immuned to pragmatic democracy?”

These questions have stared me in the face, and dwelled in my head over time. Regardless of its intensity, the answers seem to be far fetched.

On some days, unfolding events sing the praises of the citizens, the streets robe the roads ahead of their steps, and even the breeze blows currency notes their way.

Election campaigns are the only event capable of such. The one event that makes the executives and legislatures prostate, posing to be servants with whom Nigeria will reach the promised land. They seek to physically meet with the masses in the streets, the markets, the church and the public places. Moreso they plant billboards that echo “ultimate importance”— a strategy to make citizens feel that they own the system; a democratic practice.

Soon, they shed some skin and their identities are revealed; ambassadors of chronic poverty.

The billboards that echoed ‘change’, in 2015 are still evergreen in my memory. They were at strategic points stirring debates among the people in commercial buses, in market places, in clubs, in bars, in schools, in newspapers, on TV, everywhere. While the masses were absorbing that, the assurance to equate =N=1 to $1 was given without any insurance! It rang an alarming bell because coins have gone extinct in Nigeria and =N=1 has no place in the currency notes. How can the one Naira we see only in figures be equated to one Dollar? Albeit we are five years past 2015, under the regime of the same government that made the awaiting promises above, yet sachet water does not sell at =N=1. Nigerians are skillful in all forms of inflation adaptations, so we have adapted to the situation that nothing sells at =N=5 and now see it as ‘normal’. Maybe that’s why there is =N=5 always added to our fuel price (=N=125, =N=145, =N=165) — to add relevance to the note that cannot afford a sachet of table water.

Unbearably, after two months of total lock down in Nigeria, businesses and works resumed, but the economic effect of the pandemic left a heavy yoke on the necks of the populace — the proletariats. The Federal Government, in the tenure of General Muhammadu Buhari (President), and His Excellency Prof. Yemi Osibanjo(Vice president) thought that like other African countries who temporarily relieved citizens of fundamental bills, and the developed countries who paid their citizens allowances, that Nigerians deserved proper reliefs aside the media camouflage decided to send Nigerians their packages in parcels they considered appealing.

The power sector, the bank, and the oil industry, were the suitable delivery men for such relief package.

Fuel price has been increased from =N=125.00 to =N=165.00. The same fuel that Nigerians were promised will sell at =N=40.00 once this incumbent took over in 2015 and later, in 2019. When was the last time fuel sold below =N=100?

Furthermore, to make sure this Covid-19 palliative was properly distributed, there was an increase in the price of units for the prepaid meter. In 2008, =N=1,999.62 could buy 317.4 power units(kWh), and vat was 95.22 at 5%. As at June 2020, =N=10,000 could buy 271.4 power unites (KWh), at rate 34.28, and vat 697.67. Yet, an increase has been made.

Bank charges keep beeping slowly yet =N=5,000 in a savings account become =N=3,000 over time. The transfer charges that were reduced from =N=50.00 to =N=10.00, have suddenly risen to =N=16.00.

How convenient?

How heart warming is the parcel from FG?

Jean Jacque Rousseau asserted; “we all give up our rights that the Government will through the general will’ protect the state and her properties”. A means to abolish the brutish state of nature, perhaps the system in Nigeria is immuned to this.

Peaceful protesters are either arrested or bullied of the streets, and all the pleadings to revert these hikes seem to fall on deaf ears!

Road users who have their paper for road worthiness are made to pay for the loads in their wheel barrows, or cars, or trucks, or tricycles. My heart bled when a food hawker was asked to pay “for load”(the food cooler on her head)before me. The weapons and brutality that clothes the perpetrators didn’t let me move a muscle, that hawker explained she had paid already =N=100.00 twice at different junctions without making sales, but she was made to pay again, and was told that it is generating revenue for the government. What people oriented government unleashes touts on its citizens? Arrest them today, they get released and double up the next day.

Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Ironically, the actions of the government are clothed in tyranny, neatly adorned in the labels of “democracy”.

The Federal Government should prioritize the interest of Nigerians. Nigerians deserve that in their father land and should not be expected to adapt to an economic downward slope that leads to inflation, and impoverishes the people! That’s not why the heroes labored and died!!

#REVERT fuel price

#REVERT bank charges

#REVERT electricity bill

#END brutality on road users

September 19, 2020 94 comments

Featured with the intellects 2020

The Federal Republic of Nigeria; a democracy or an illusion.

written by Odilichukwu Frances

Could this be all we can ever be? A green and white Flag?

If we are to rewrite history in Nigeria, the art should be focused on projecting the humanity in our culture and the strength of the people before the British colony and amalgamation of the northern protectorate and southern protectorate.

The streets of Nigeria do not project democracy as expected after reading the heroes deeds.

For a better landing, how do you explain to the ten year old who in 2017, learnt that democracy day is May 29 which is why after elections, candidates who win are inaugurated on that day?

Suddenly the norm is changed to June 12 because someone supposed to serve, thought to compensate a people politically by commemorating the death of their icon hence June 12 became the democracy day!

The question is how much of an iconic act is shown in shifting democracy day and what good has it done in our history?

A pandemic hit the world and nations subsided bills for citizens including African countries like Ghana and Rwanda, the western world paid allowances to their citizens but we met an inflation, subsequently a lockdown with nothing to stay home with from the government except on lip service giveaways.

It is a capitalist economy, no doubt but there are still spheres controlled by the government! The price of crude oil was slashed globally by 60% in the oil market which when carefully analysed means that fuel should sell below a hundred naira in Nigeria yet only twenty naira was withdrawn from the price of fuel.

There are still killings going on and a Ruga settlement letter passing round southern NIGERIA asking indigenes to give lands for settlement to nomadic men as though they were asked to evacuate their lands.

The world is frowning at racism in the media yet we die daily by nepotism, imperialism and tribalism in Nigeria, exactly the things Chinua Achebe talked about in “The Trouble with Nigeria“.

Two point eight billion us dollars has been invested in a gas pipeline that will have thresholds in Ajaokuta, Kaduna and Kano all the way from Niger-Delta for the industrialization of northern Nigeria without any state from the south being partakers of this. A plan approved since 2017, yet today we lift the flag and banners to celebrate democracy in the land and with strange voices we echo “one Nigeria”. Meanwhile, only one seaport is active and in portharcourt, far from Onitsha main-market that constantly puts Nigeria on the map as the largest market in West Africa. Ironically, the government bans importation of goods, but lacks the will to industrialize the southern and northern parts of the country so as to increase the nation’s gross domestic profit.

Moreso, the government is yet to acknowledge Innoson Vehicle Motors (IVM), the same way Ibeto was crippled economically by marginalising policies. If IVM was to be a Dangote product like cement, maybe there would have been a ban on allien automobiles and a regulated price like in the cement industry; who knows? only reality puts that in check.

Independence day will come calling soon and we will be faced with the same problems perhaps with different names until we put to full vain the labours of our heroes past. The government should start making our democracy and independence worth the while, compatriots should arise and take responsibility, otherwise the democracy we see today may one day become an aristocracy or a full fledged dictatorship.

June 12, 2020 413 comments

Featured with the intellects 2020

Hell hath no fury

written by The Intellects Mag

(written by Violet Ejiata, Face of Girlpreneur)

Debates on gender roles and some gender stereotypes sidetrack the core conversation of the yolk of Feminism, which is on equal rights and privileges for both genders; to the best of my knowledge, that is the alpha and omega of Feminism.

My immediate elder sister had just moved to a boarding school, joining my eldest sister who moved the previous year. I was in primary 2 at the time. Roughly two years after, my older brother decided it was time I pulled my weight around the house. Because my sisters were mostly absent from home (they returned for holidays 3 times a year), I grew to become the caretaker of the home. At the age of 8, I was introduced to sweeping and cleaning. It was a gradual process- I started off with just the sitting room and corridor while one of my older brothers handled the courtyard because we both attended the same school and we had to be done in time to catch the 8am assembly.

Eventually, by the age of 9/10, everything was handed down to me; I swept the bedroom, living room, corridor and courtyard for Saturday sanitation. I swept so much that I’m ambidextrous with the broom.

From arguments that counter assignment of gender roles in the home, what I garner is that women raised by this yardstick that measures strength and ability for determination of functionality in the home front grow up to feel inadequate and less than their male counterparts because the primary upbringing conditions them to be so. This, of course, is very detrimental to the female and the root cause should be tackled. However, I’m yet to read or hear of an individual who has been personally affected by gender roles in the society.

So far, I’ve read of more speculative than subjective submissions. So, here is my own real experience.

I was raised in a home where the disparity on chores was drawn with a clear, fat line, like the broad walkway that was created when Moses parted the Red Sea with his staff for the Israelites to cross in the Bible- that’s how wide the line was. My sisters and I were designated to “feminine chores” which included keeping the home clean, cooking and doing the dishes. Lobatan!

My brothers, on the other hand, did all the “masculine chores” in the house which would be everything other than the three aforementioned activities e.g. washing the rug, emptying the bin, fixing faulty electrical appliances, fixing other faulty props like leaking pipes and broken stools (my father is multi-skilled so strangers rarely came to fix anything for us, and of course, his sons were obliged to join him through the process until they learned to do it without his help), operating the generator, etc. They were useful in the kitchen though- for pounding yam and Akpu (native meal made from cassava).

Gendered chores in my home are well earmarked that neither my sisters nor I were sent to buy diesel or engine oil or anything generator-related, and we couldn’t operate it either, not even one time when they bought a gen that uses a key start. The most we did was go to the generator shed, welcome it and “Daddy it’s nice o”. Lobatan! I can’t fix a lightbulb in its socket. (Sighs)

My father’s bias at the house keeping front begins and ends with gendered chores. At the academic front, everyone was drilled equally with same expectation of outstanding results! He accorded everyone equal treatment and anyone lagging in one or more subject(s) attracted extra lesson fee to his bills. You basically had no excuse to fail! My father was so unbiased that no hand could be placed on who his favourite child was.

I may be the girl who returned home after school to do dishes and wash bitterleaf till it gets bland, but my father was not the man to accept a bad result (bad here includes average result) from me or anyone. One time, he made one of my older brothers repeat a class because he was not impressed with the result even though the school didn’t require my brother to retake the session.

My father is a hard man to please, and my eldest brother was his partner in academic drilling. I must admit that these two cemented my academic foundation when I was younger. During my holidays from the boarding school, my brother would give me “assignments” to write essays and poems. I remember the very first essay I wrote, the topic was “Girl child education: a panacea to poverty reduction in Nigeria.” As an SS1 student, the word ‘panacea’ was just introduced to my vocabulary; it didn’t stop that 16/20 from getting stamped in red ink though.

The reason the anti gender role argument does not hold water is because the females in my family turned out the opposite of what proponents of this school of thought have claimed.

Apparently, my parents did not see gender, our fire was fueled to burn the hottest. Hence, I finished secondary school as the Best Graduating Student. The credibility of this feat in this context may be contested because it was a single sex school, so I’d employ a contest that involved boys. In Junior Secondary School 2, I became the Leader of the Junior Debate Team in my school (a unisex school), and I was the youngest to ever do it at the time. In 2010 (SS2), I led my school to participate in a debate competition organized by the Federal Ministry of Education to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence at 50, and was awarded the best preliminary speaker in the Northeast geopolitical zone. This competition included boys and girls from 15 Unity Colleges in the zone. My father saw and treated these as wins, not as “girl wins”.

We were raised with the notion that effort, not gender produces results. So, pardon me if my conviction supports that.

Biologically, women and men are different entities of the same unit, there is no debate about that. Hormonal and physiological components of the male child therefore, are OBVIOUSLY the motivation behind gender roles. I am a weaker vessel; I say this a lot and this is not a joke. The first time I carried 25 liter jerrycan of water from the dining tap to my hostel room in boarding school, I panted heavily enough to in seconds lose all the extra fat in my body! Need I mention the numerous breaks I took between the two ends!

Gendered chores only stem from the fact that all children are required to contribute their quota to housekeeping. Who else is gonna take care of the habitation?? It reminds me of the duty roster we maintained in boarding school where the chores were literally a DUTY because they were categorically assigned to all students per term.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, I do feel like in modern times, gender roles should be delineated according to interests rather than perceived capacity. It is no news that there are men who can cook oxygen and make it delicious!

Feminism has been so derailed in times past and it definitely feels very all over the place, so much so that defending it feels draining.

Here’s what I know for certain, the fundamental elements of this epic movement are neither erased nor tottered by gender roles, gender stereotypes and traditional gender gestures.

For instance, it is global knowledge that the colour pink is associated with the female gender while the colour blue is male-pegged. Some individuals opposing this status have claimed that the colour attributes portray women as a weaker sex.

The vital question here is, what effect do these colours have on individuals’ psyche?? Can similar effects be traced in individuals whose baby rooms were painted in a different colour? Do you even remember the colour your room was painted when you were little? ‘Cause I don’t! How has the colour of your ONE YEAR birthday dress affected your ability to set and achieve goals? These are questions we truly need to ask ourselves and answer honestly. If dire consequences are not derived from the answers to the effect of these colour stereotypes limiting a woman’s rights and privileges to succeed in the world, then, just maybe we should let sleeping dogs snore.

Imagine the confusion that would erupt if yellow balloons were popped at a baby shower. What gender would that be?? Knowing humans, same people asking “why pink” would still ask “why yellow though”?

My favourite colour is White, and there’s no way my mum would have known this prior to my delivery because I only started fancying White some two years back. Instead of over flogging gender roles and exaggerating impacts laced with fallacy, I think more energy should be geared towards addressing the nature of upbringing of a child. The family is the first point of socialization for any child, it’s only typical therefore that they grow to reflect the family’s configuration.

A friend once told me of something that happened in her family when she was younger. One of her elder brothers and elder sister were in the same class. They were both to write UTME but their father made a decision to only pay for the elder brother’s form so that he would proceed to the University first because he was a man. Mind you, the sister was even older than him.

If a child is raised in a home with disproportionate yardstick for different genders, it would indubitably affect not only the way the child sees him/herself, but also the way the child presents him/herself to the world. For instance, my brothers were groomed to be protectors and helpers. Helping has been so ingrained in them that you would see them even helping random people carry heavy stuff so long as they are female because they are already conditioned to think women are weaker vessels. I, have on the other hand, definitely made the mistake of thinking all guys are helpers because numerous times, I’ve been hit with the reality check that the next dude is nothing like my brother.

“I think holding the door shouldn’t be gender because we should open the door for everyone. I hold the door for men and women. I have trouble with the idea of holding the door for a woman because she is a woman; because chivalry is the idea that women are somehow weak and need protecting but we know that there many women who are stronger than men”. ~ Chimamanda Adichie

Sometimes, high profile personalities forget to clearly state the difference between their personal fancies and the concepts that drive feminism. A classic example is this Chimamanda’s controversial tweet quoted above.

In my honest opinion, this is a personal perspective of a traditional gender gesture and it should NOT be treated as feminist ideals that should be cast in gold. If no one gets hurt in the process, why then is it an issue of concern, enough to be expressed and enforced? It is rather unsettling that because Chimamanda Adichie is a renowned feminist, even her most remote thoughts with regards to gender stereotypes including notions which in my opinion derail the essential nucleus of the movement are treated as words on marble. As a globally renowned and celebrated flag-bearer of the campaign, I think she should be able to sift her personal perspectives on small beers from core feminist principles.

The problem is, she probably doesn’t even recognize the difference, hence cloaking all her prejudices with Feminism.

For instance, I personally do not grasp the rationale behind a man purchasing three rings-the engagement ring and 2 wedding rings. He bought the engagement ring to engage the woman, he’s gonna buy the wedding ring to say “I do” to her, why isn’t she the one to buy the ring she wants him to say “I do” to her with?

I’m not attaching this to feminism because this genuinely has no business playing on that playground. I’m indicating instead, that my stance stems from my fancies. I want to walk into the ring store myself, and after critical analysis, select a ring that I believe will remind my husband of me. I’d emboss on it words that he’ll be pleased with till death do us part. I just need him to understand that when I saw the ring in the showroom, I thought it would look better on the finger of the father of Viola. But then, that’s just Violet Ejiata. Integrating it into the grand scheme of an age-long, well-defined campaign would indubitably be a stretch.

Similarly, some socio-cultural practices in my opinion, should be left to lie like sleeping dogs in cases where they cause no harm to anyone. For instance, some sect contest the Yoruba and Igbo traditional marriage custom of brides kneeling to their husbands to present kola or palm wine.

Where is this same energy when the congregation only rises upon entrance of the bride into the Church? Are the men suddenly less significant or invisible?? It’s even a wonder why no one has tried to suggest that ladies should be allowed to wear black to weddings since men wear black suits too.

I consider it pertinent to point out that even the Nigerian Law protects individuals (male and female) from harmful customs e.g. forfeiture of an intestate man’s property by his widow without a male child which hitherto obtained in the Igbo custom, annulled by the Repugnancy Doctrine.

Truth be told, it was hardly surprising when Teni’s tweet surfaced on my Instagram timeline. It was rather agitating that such benighted expression would be made by a woman. Why mock the very cause that’s afforded you a voice? If you won’t support a cause, it’s best not to sabotage it. Regardless, I’m of the opinion that this ignorant statement wouldn’t have been made if the focus hadn’t been shifted by Feminism frontline advocates from the compass of equal gender rights. As women, we really should have a uniform front against the pervasive inequality in our society.

Feminism is really just about promoting a level playing field so all genders would be afforded same opportunities politically, socially, economically, legally, educationally, to ensure everyone can thrive in an unbiased world. The imbalance only favours one gender which is why naturally, the aggrieved gender is championing the cause to demand what is due to them.

Gender roles are like a pedestrian platform on both sides of the highway (where gender rights constitute the highway). Feminism is the vehicle- it plies on the highway to arrive at its destination. Attempting to ply the pedestrian platform would not only cause damage to the car, but also hurt the driver.

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June 4, 2020 122 comments

IS YOUR STYLIST AN ASSURANCE or AN INSURANCE? IS YOUR STYLIST AN ASSURANCE or AN INSURANCE? " data-src="https://theintellectsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/IMG_20200501_225513_889.jpg">

Featured with the intellects 2020

IS YOUR STYLIST AN ASSURANCE or AN INSURANCE? IS YOUR STYLIST AN ASSURANCE or AN INSURANCE?

written by Odilichukwu Frances

Did you know what I missed most this Easter and Lockdown?

It’s that I didn’t see clown (horrible) attires that trigger unending laughter any time I remember the design, courtesy of the tailors and seamstresses who are supposed to clothe us in fitting attires for events.

Thinking about that now, you also missed that especially when you are not the person in the attire. We have all had a fair share of that, at least once.

To usher you into the moment we decided relive a few moments. Grab a drink because it’s INTELLECTS and chill time!

PRIZY:

I was to go for Kay’s wedding, then I decided to sew a style I had admired for a long time. I relocated temporarily to Anambra state from Cross River, so I needed a new seamstress. I found a particular shop attractive and it seemed to be worth the try. After a little chat, I showed her the style and she assured me it was a done deal, I gave her my material and paid. Confidently, she called me to pick my dress. What I saw was like the case of ‘what you ordered versus what they delivered’. I wore it that way.

HOPE:

Last December, I was only interested in having something to wear for my parents Chieftaincy Installation. I trusted this seamstress with the only attire I needed for the season. The day we were to travel to the village, I went to pick my dress. The woman had not even cut the materials (perhaps she was planning to help me resell). I just wore a jean and top in low spirits. Till this day, even the shoe I bought for the attire is lying untouched.

EUPHEMIA:

I fell in love with a fabric I found in the market, so I bought and thought to add a new dress to my wardrobe. I went to my seamstress and gave her a style as usual. The day I went to fit and pick my dress, we exchanged pleasantries as usual and she asked if I came visiting since I had no material. I laughed it off, meanwhile at the entrance was the same material I gave her but a different style and size. To cut the long story short, my seamstress used my material for another client. What manner of act is that?!

EMMANUEL:

My birthday was on a Saturday last year, and same day was a friend’s wedding, and I was in the league of his groom’s men. I looked forward to the day in high spirit. I decided to gift myself a customized suit which I will be wearing to the wedding. My tailor gave me an assurance that all is well. For some reasons we agreed I will pick it the early that morning; I wish I could see the future because that was a real wrong decision. So, on Saturday morning, while the boys were teasing our friend in church, and the wedding was going on, I was dressed in a casual wear, sitting in the tailor’s shop and waiting for him to finish my suit because going home was going to get me stuck in traffic.

NKEM:

I belonged to the girls’ guild and we were preparing for a march past to celebrate the girls’ week in the church. Marching was an activity I enjoyed and I was very good at it, so I joined the girls’ and was behind the flag bearers but I needed a uniform. The uniform was a white shirt tucked in a green skirt, a cap and a tie. Every member had one, I had one but my white shirt was old; so I got a material and took the shirt as a sample to a seamstress that always beckoned on me to patronize her. A day to the march past, I went to pick my shirt, it looked beautiful but the collar was nothing to be a seamstress for. My friend encouraged me to try it on with the tie. I almost choked that day, looking like a ram being dragged to church for a child dedication. The group provided with a shirt I could use that evening.

GLORIA RUBY:

It happened sometime last year. I had a function to attend and needed to be nicely and stylishly dressed for the occasion. Nigerian stylists and their usual disappointments, I wasn’t going to take chances so I got the fabrics and gave them to my seamstress ahead of time. I made sure to call from time to time to supervise the making of my outfit and for each call, my seamstress gave me an assurance that all was going well. The due date for collection was here, I was in her house by 9:30pm to meet the highlight of the day; she had just finished cutting my fabric! And was yet to sew it!! I felt my world crumble because I had no alternative wear and I had to leave for the neighboring town very early the next day for the occasion. I left my seamstress’ place after much arguments but of course without my clothes.

VERA:

A certain seamstress convinced my mum to convince her and my material was the first trial. First, she missed the style, but my sisters said it wasn’t so bad, so I wore it to granny’s house we had a little family event. After the meal, the dirty plates were quite much so we had to wash them outside; my cousins (peers) and I. As soon as I bent to wash the plates, I heard a cracking sound, it was my dress. I stood up to see the part that covered my stomach was torn. I would have been better off wearing a crop top than that dress. I told mum patronizing that woman was going to be an error and it did happen.

We draw the curtain here!

Make sure your fashion stylist is an assurance not an insurance except you want to make it to The Intellects’ Magazine screen in the next episode.

May 1, 2020 208 comments

Featured with the intellects 2020

WHY NOW?

written by Odilichukwu Frances

Before the end of year two thousand and nineteen (2019), the two thousand and twenty (2020) calendar was almost ticked; at least from January to Easter or even Summer as the case may be for institutions and the world at large. A lot was said about two thousand and twenty, but right now, the world is not sure any more what to do or where to turn while still making plans for next year.

Like an ice hit Titanic, a pandemic hit the human race. There have been so many speculations about the virus on social media.

In the beginning, it was considered a virus contracted from aquatic animals in Wuhan, theories that postulated some virus and bacteria are harmless to animals but could be harmful to humans. Some consider it a bio weapon, perhaps the type that can replace nuclear weapons and grant one country the plaque of world power; yet there are still others who consider the pandemic a punishment for the evil man has perpetrated on planet earth.

To accept one of these could be accepting all because there is a common ground for them all. One of which is for such pandemic to occur despite of artificial intelligence, the advancement of technology and a few forecast by data analysis it shows that something is not sitting right on the human planet.

Inevitably, countries are on a severe lock down because people are expected to sit at home to reduce the spread of the virus in affected areas; except an occupation or vocation does not involve any throng.

By implication there are few or no producing companies working, retailers are probably not able to sell, wholesalers possibly have their money in the clouds from trying to strike a deal with manufacturers and retailers. Consumers are not left out of this chain because those who are not economical could be running out of supplies if that has not happened already and if the lock down persists. Well, digital learning has really been promoted and a good tech savvy educationist can find a good ground online.

While there is doubt in the report of countries and the cause of covid-19, one is certain, that there is a huge imbalance in the world, ranging from recession, global warming and the advancement of technology; and this happened to create balance. Yes, balance and shift to give who wills an opportunity to start afresh or to advance to a more fertile ground.

Of course, it is always good to have a plan, so that opportunity becomes more revealing except where opportunity requires a fresh plan. Look within, there is need for a fresh plan in your area, and in Nigeria generally.

However, while waiting for the government to initiate good policies for socio-economic growth, there is need for subsistence industrialization. Start small scale farming, and other vocations. Meanwhile, take a leap to the digital world for more efficiency; as long as you keep trying, your efforts will take power and make demands the law of attraction will supply. Don’t forget that Titanic did sink but everyone did not sink.

Remember this, power is rarely given, it is taken and the ecosystem is providing a balance for financial, socio-cultural, relationship, physical, spiritual and political growths.

This is happening now for you to make a demand!

April 9, 2020 364 comments

Featured with the intellects 2020

TO WHAT END?

written by Odilichukwu Frances

TO WHAT END?

We begin this year confronting the issues that matter!

A few months ago, the world witnessed the trial, impeachment and acquittal of Donald Trump. The American citizens and how America should be seen posed the real center of the discourse. People have their reserved view on what should be or not be, whether the discourse was political or religious, at the end of the day the citizens were the main focus.

Hitherto, in Nigeria there are so many discourses on going, but where is the center?

The essence of government is that everyone be protected from the state of nature which Thomas Hobbes described as brutish, nasty and short lived because violence and oppression to gain absolute control was the order of the day.

Scholars perhaps saw a glimpse of the future and came up with theories they believed to be instruments necessary for a humanity enabling environment.

Today, the Nigeria political system says we practice democracy; government of the people, by the people and for the people. This is vague in practice and in describing the true essence of democracy; hence I like to elaborate democracy in Rousseau’s theory, ‘general will’.

Rousseau in his discourse said: “I give up my will, that every man gives up his will, and we all have a collective will. We have an all-powerful sovereign whose main aim is to express the general will, and each obeys himself, thereby obeying the general will and everyone is free.” (paraphrased)

Consequently, the idea is to provide constitutional stability legitimacy through universal participation and every country who adopted democracy, cannot feign ignorance to the implication of this. It includes lives and properties!

New business policies that do not favour the tax paying businesses are made.

Ranging from the ban on foreign goods without enabling factors to encourage local made goods to rejection of Nigerian made cars and vehicles over foreign made cars, to a monopolizing and a competitive cement market. Today, there is a value added tax attached to phone calls and text messages.

Apparently, it seems the 2019 elections remain inconclusive in some states, and that the electoral rules and what the constitution says about elections are not quite clear considering the interpretations and application or that perhaps in Nigeria, Oligarchy is the practice and democracy, a mere name.

In states like Anambra, citizens who have paid for road worthiness are made to pay for the loads in their tricycles, vehicles and even trucks. Failure to do so, the driver becomes a victim, and the vehicle or items become subject to destruction as the oppressor claim to be following the directives of the government.

More so, the charade that takes the cake is the issue of security. Heads keep rolling, pools of bloods flood around the streets of both the northern and southern protectorates. During the killings of Nigerians in South Africa, only the victims and refugees were heard wailing until Allen Onyema of Air Peace came to their rescue. The government or the voices of the Nigerian diplomat to South Africa and the Federal government were not clear on the issue.

To what end is the will of Nigerians trodden and neglected? To what end is the rising insurgency?

Chinua Achebe could be right in asserting that the center cannot hold!

One of the aims of the government is to secure the territory and protect her people. If the government cannot do that, if Nigeria is drowning in imperialism, her citizens need to know!

Nigerians try to get by everyday with the little value attached to naira. The least the government can do is to provide security since making good business policies are hard and the devaluation of naira seems to irreversible.

Get Nigerians security on all sides and watch her industrious nations grow!

To what end do we lose lives to insurgencies?

February 20, 2020 159 comments