At a mechanic’s workshop, I noticed a particular car that had been parked there for nearly four years. It was quite expensive and still looked in good shape the first time I saw it. But with time, it began to deteriorate. One of the windows got broken, the tyres deflated and wore out completely, and rust slowly crept over what was once a beautiful machine.

Curious, I asked the mechanic why such an expensive vehicle had been left to rot.

He confirmed that the car had indeed been in perfect condition when I first saw it. But even he had become helpless as to what to do. The vehicle belonged to someone from the Republic of Tchad. The man’s driver had been the one bringing it into Nigeria for repairs. On that last occasion, the driver dropped it off, paid for the repairs, and returned to Tchad, saying he would come back to collect the car once the required part being sourced from Lagos was fixed.

The mechanic bought the part, fixed the car, and waited. He had already been paid. But the driver never came back. It turned out he had been on his way to pick up the car when he was attacked by insurgents and killed. The mechanic didn’t know much about him, only his name, and had no idea where exactly in Tchad he was from. So the car remained there, abandoned. The owner likely has no idea where it is or how to recover it.

At a certain car wash, there was another case. Another expensive vehicle. This one had been brought in by a customer who patronised them occasionally. They didn’t know much about him either. He lived in another city but always came for business, and each time, he brought the car to be washed.

On his last visit, he dropped it off as usual and said he was going into town and would return later that evening. He never did. That was three years ago. Still, no sign of him. The car wash owner continues to wash and maintain the vehicle daily, keeping it spotless. But no one has come for it. They didn’t even know his name, and a search of the vehicle turned up no documents that could trace it to anyone. So, it remains abandoned.

Just last week, a friend of mine died after a brief illness. Before falling sick, he had taken some clothes to the laundry. He never returned to collect them. Thankfully, the laundryman knew his family and brought the clothes to his wife last night. She had no idea he had even taken anything to be laundered.

These situations made me think deeply.

Do our families and friends know the people we deal with, our mechanics, our laundrymen, or the businesses we patronise? Do we tell them about the errands we run or the transactions we make? Or do we go about our lives with no one aware of the little details that might matter in the end?

Shouldn’t someone at least know?

One day, you will take your car to the mechanic but you will not be the one to bring it back.
Your clothes will be at the laundry but you will not return to pick them up.
Do you have some pieces or parcels of land? Does your family know about them?
Do you have house or houses any where? Does your family know about it or them?
How many banks do you
have accounts in?
Does your family know about all of them?

Sometimes, the things you worked hard for, the things you loved and valued, will be left lying somewhere, useless and out of reach, because no one knew where you kept them or how to find them. That should be enough to give one the creeps and make one think deeply. Today, tomorrow, it shall come for you.

One day......

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B. R. E A. K. I. N. G. N.E.W.S

SENATOR SERIAKE DICKSON THROWS HIS WEIGHT BEHIND SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN'S REINSTATEMENT.

The Senator representing Bayelsa West, Senator Seriake Dickson, has thrown his weight behind the return of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) to the Senate following a court judgment that nullified her six-month suspension.

Dickson gave his position while addressing journalists in Abuja on Saturday.

The former Bayelsa State governor said he had never supported prolonged suspensions of lawmakers, stressing that such actions run contrary to constitutional principles and legislative ethics.

Dickson said, “I sympathize with Natasha. I have never been in support of any parliamentary body suspending members for long periods.

“The Senate leadership and my colleagues know my position on this, anchored on the law, the constitution, and my conviction.

“Senators are here to agree and disagree in the national interest. So, we have to tolerate and respect one another, even when we differ in opinion.”

Dickson emphasized the need for Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume her duties without further delay, insisting that her voice and representation are vital to the legislative process.

“I was not present when her suspension was announced, but that is not my concern. My interest is that she resumes her seat and continues to perform her constitutional responsibilities.

“I understand the court has already made a decision on the matter,” he added.

Two weeks ago, the Federal High Court in Abuja declared Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension by the Senate as unconstitutional, excessive, and a violation of the rights of her constituents.

Justice Binta Nyako, in a ruling, ordered her immediate reinstatement and awarded a ₦5m fine against her for contempt, relating to a satirical Facebook post that breached a court order issued on March 4, 2025.

The post, which appeared to mock Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was ruled to have violated an interim injunction.

Nonetheless, the court ruled that the Senate’s action in suspending her for six months was beyond its constitutional powers.

COPIED FROM: THE PUNCH NEWSPAPERS.
--------------------------------------

Senator Dickson is a truthful leader. Other leaders should as a matter of fact emulate him. More power to your elbow sir.

#bendelgistsblog.

*1981: First National Minimum Wage became ₦125 per month; petrol was 20kobo per litre and US$1 = 60kobo.*

*1990: Minimum Wage was ₦250; petrol was ₦20 per litre; a 50kg bag of rice was ₦400 and US$1 = ₦7.40k.*

*1999: Minimum Wage was ₦3,500; petrol was still ₦20 per litre; a 50kg bag of rice was ₦2,500 and US$1 = ₦22.*

*2000: new Minimum Wage became ₦5,500 and ₦7,500 for different categories of federal workers, petrol was ₦30; a 50kg bag of rice was still ₦2,500 and US$1 = ₦86.*

*2011: new National Minimum Wage became ₦18,000; petrol was ₦65; a 50kg bag of rice was ₦12,000 and US$1 = ₦165.*

*2019: new National Minimum Wage became N30,000 monthly; petrol was ₦145; a 50kg bag of rice was ₦19,500 and US$1 = ₦305.*

*2024: New Minimum wage N70,000; Petrol is ₦955 and a 50kg bag of rice is ₦95,000 and US$1 = ₦1,560.*

*The minimum wage of 1981 (₦125) was roughly US$208. At today’s exchange rate of US$1 = ₦1,560 that ₦125 is equivalent to ₦307,840. So, the minimum wage in 1981 was over 10 times bigger than the current minimum wage of ₦70,000 which is the equivalent of about US$42.*

*The Nigerian worker has to eat, drink, have shelter, clothe self, transport self, settle bills/subscribe for services (DSTV, MTN, etc), access healthcare, provide for dependants (feeding, shelter, clothing, school fees, healthcare, etc.) etc.*

*The Nigerian political officer (elected or appointed) takes life for granted because he scoops from the state treasury like from his domestic soup pot.*

*COPIED*

She was 24. Fresh out of college.
He was 3 months old. Left in a box outside a hospital with a note that read:

“I’m sorry. Please love him.”

No one came for him.
No family. No calls. Just silence.

They called him “Baby Elijah” on the news. But everyone assumed he’d end up in the system.

Except her.

Rachel wasn’t planning on being a mother. She was just volunteering at the hospital nursery.
But the first time she held him, his tiny hand curled around her finger and wouldn’t let go.
Neither did her heart.

The agency told her she was too young. Too single. Too inexperienced.

She told them:

“I may not have a husband. I may not have money.
But I have love. And he needs that more than anything.”

She adopted Elijah.
Her white skin and his dark brown curls drew stares.
She heard the whispers:

“Is that even her child?”
“She won’t last a year.”
“He’ll resent her.”

But they never saw the way he clung to her during storms.
Or how she worked three jobs just to afford his piano lessons.
Or how she cried when he called her “Mom” for the first time.

She raised him on courage, bedtime stories, and unconditional love.

Years passed.

Elijah grew tall, kind, brilliant.

When he turned 18, he got into Harvard. Full scholarship.

At the graduation dinner, he stood on stage and said:

“Everyone always asked where my real mom was.
Well, she’s right here.
The woman who chose me when no one else would.
Who gave me a name, a home, a future.
She didn’t give me life…
She saved it.”

The room cried.
Rachel cried.
But Elijah just smiled and whispered in her ear:

“You’re still holding my hand, Mom. And I’ll never let go.”

Copied!!!

“I didn’t leave my husband because I stopped loving him. I left because I was starting to forget how to love myself.

People assume divôrce means failure. No! sometimes, it’s survival.

For years, I kept quiet, smiling for the camera, wearing my ring like everything was okay. But behind the scenes, I was disappearing, emotionally, mentally.

I gave the best of me to a man who eventually stopped seeing me. Conversations turned to silence. Respect turned to tension. And the home I tried so hard to build started to feel like a place I didn’t belong.

Walking away wasn’t easy. It wasn’t dramatic. It was silent, deliberate. I didn’t need to announce it, I just started choosing myself again.

I stopped posting “Chioma Akpotha” and went back to being “Chioma Chukwuka” not because I hate my past, but because I’m reclaiming my name, my peace, and my power.

I didn’t lose a marriage. I found myself.

-- Chioma Chukwuka

Me: No drama, no ranting, no press interview...love this!
Choosing self for your mental health.

#highlightseveryonefollowers
#highlightseveryone
Copied

BREAKING NEWS!
Be careful of a sienna Bus that parks in
front of you, and ask you to enter,if you
refuse to enter, they will accuse you of
being *a run away murderer, a wanted
419ner or a Fraudster on security watch list*, their voice will be so loud that
passers by will have to unknowingly join
them to tell u to enter the bus and follow
them to the station.
its a scam, they are kidnappers, that's the
new skill they are using, they do not wear police uniform, they are always in normal
dresses, but all they do is to park the
sienna bus in front of any person
anywhere and accuse such a person of
murder,and drag such a person into the
bus stating that he/she is wanted at the station. They have used this conversation
well and many have being trapped in it.
*What to do in such a situation*
When you hear such
Scream aloud dont run away
Tell the watchers to look around and call police patrol in normal vehicle or that all
of you should walk to the nearest police
station.
At worst scream for more people to come
to your aid before u can ask for their
police identity They are kidnappers
many have been kidnapped
Pls pass this message to your loved ones
May the Lord expose these kidnappers
and ritual killers.

Let the above be circulated to our children, brothers, sisters and loved ones. This is their new strategy now

Eyes open , watch and pray

This msg is from P C R C . Lagos State
*Copied*

BREAKING NEWS!
Be careful of a sienna Bus that parks in
front of you, and ask you to enter,if you
refuse to enter, they will accuse you of
being *a run away murderer, a wanted
419ner or a Fraudster on security watch list*, their voice will be so loud that
passers by will have to unknowingly join
them to tell u to enter the bus and follow
them to the station.
its a scam, they are kidnappers, that's the
new skill they are using, they do not wear police uniform, they are always in normal
dresses, but all they do is to park the
sienna bus in front of any person
anywhere and accuse such a person of
murder,and drag such a person into the
bus stating that he/she is wanted at the station. They have used this conversation
well and many have being trapped in it.
*What to do in such a situation*
When you hear such
Scream aloud dont run away
Tell the watchers to look around and call police patrol in normal vehicle or that all
of you should walk to the nearest police
station.
At worst scream for more people to come
to your aid before u can ask for their
police identity They are kidnappers
many have been kidnapped
Pls pass this message to your loved ones
May the Lord expose these kidnappers
and ritual killers.

Let the above be circulated to our children, brothers, sisters and loved ones. This is their new strategy now

Eyes open , watch and pray

This msg is from P C R C . Lagos State
*Copied*

Breaking News.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the Tax Reform Bills into law, which makes a major shift in our tax system. As a Nigerian, this new law directly affects you. So this is a simple breakdown of the law, read to see how it impacts you.

1. FIRS Renamed: The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is now called the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS).

2. Unified Revenue Collection: The NRS will now handle revenue collections previously managed by agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service, NUPRC, NPA, and NIMASA.

3. Low-Income Relief: Workers earning ₦800,000 or less annually are now exempted from income tax.

4. High-Income Tax: A 25% personal income tax applies only to individuals earning above ₦50 million annually.

5. Small Business Exemption: Small business owners are fully exempted from paying income tax.

6. Corporate Tax Cut: Starting in 2026, company income tax for medium and large firms will be reduced from 30% to 25%.

7. VAT Exemptions on Essentials: There is no VAT on essential items like food, medical services, pharmaceuticals, school fees, and electricity.

8. No Tax Hike: VAT remains at 7.5%, and corporate income tax stays at 30%—there has been no increase.

9. New Development Levy: A 2%–4% Development Levy will now fund critical national institutions like NELFUND, TETFund, NITDA, and NASENI.

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AWOLOWO SPEAKS

*** Please read the letter below, by Chief Awolowo requesting for an education loan from Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola on March 25, 1943 , (the richest Ijebu man in those days) and promised to pay back by 1955. It is fascinating, long and interesting. ****

~ LETTER:

Dear Mr. Odutola,

I think it will be an exceeding saving of time and more business-like if I avoid all sweet preliminaries and go straight into the object of this letter and say that I am writing to ask you to be good enough to lend me a sum of £1,400 (One thousand and four hundred pounds) free of interest for twelve years.

It is a staggering figure! More staggering indeed does it become, when it is realized that I, who am asking for this loan, have nothing in all the world to give as a security for this money, excepting my good faith and my brains which again are of value only so long as I continue to breathe the breath of life!

Nevertheless, I here proceed to outline in brief why i want this big loan from you. And I hope you will be kind enough to sacrifice some time to go through what I have to say, even though, in the end you might find yourself unable to do me this grand favour.

One great ambition of mine since my boyhood days is to be a lawyer, a politician and a journalist, rolled into one. I cherish politics and journalism as a career, and I desire advocacy as a means of livelihood. For you will agree with me that a politician or journalist who has no money with which to support himself and family comfortably, is like a blade which has no razor.

Now, at one time, I was on the verge of making enough money with which I could proceed to England in order to pursue the object of my ambition; but I suffered a twist in my fortune, and I crashed. Ever since, I have tried without success to recover lost grounds, financially. But spiritually and intellectually, I have made appreciable advance in spite of towering difficulties, all of which have now been surmounted.

As you are aware, I have just passed the intermediate Bachelor of Commerce Examination. Next year, I am taking the final B.Com. Having a degree is not my goal; I hate to be a government or mercantile employee. Otherwise, there are opportunities for me here and there to get a suitable and well paid job under government or one of the mercantile houses. As you know, however, once I become an employee of government or a mercantile establishment that is the end to my career as a politician and journalist. I have therefore resolved that under no circumstances will I take up such employment.

That is just by the way. I am now thirty-four years of age. After careful thought, I have come to the conclusion that if I could raise a loan free of interest sufficient to cover expenses, I should go to England, this year and within three years, I should qualify as a Barrister –at –law, and also obtain with Honours the LL.B Degree of London University. In addition this degrees apart from giving me good backing as a solicitor and Advocate will help me immensely as a politician and journalist.

But where on earth could i get the money? Who in Nigeria today could give £1,400 free of interest to help his fellow-man? J. Henry Doherty, Esq., of illustrious memory who did the like to many successful Nigerians is no more. But after meticulous, shifting and weighing, I hit upon you.

I have no doubt whatsoever in my mind that out of the bounty with which providence blesses your grit and efforts as a businessman, you can well easily afford to advance such a sum of money. I have no doubt too that as a young and progressive man you will be quite happy to give the money for the pursuit of the project for which I desire it.

But then, could you take this risk?

That is the question. As I have said before, I have no security for this loan. Moreover, I want it free of interest. So that you stand to gain absolutely NOTHING in the whole transaction, except the satisfaction that by helping me to achieve my ambition you are indirectly or even directly helping Nigeria or even Africa.

This risk becomes greater when it is borne in mind that I might die in the course of my studies or immediately after, so that, since I have no security or surety, you stand the chance of losing not only the money but also the satisfaction which you may cherish that you are contributing to the uplift of Africa. It is indeed a great risk; the greatest any man ever embarks upon.

But, this is a big BUT, if I live, as I have no doubt I will do, you will not only get your money back in full, but you will, to the end of your days, have cause to rejoice that you have done one of the most outstanding and most philanthropic acts any human being ever does. Among other things, I shall make excellent use of the money while in England by breaking records in my examination. On my return to Nigeria, I shall strive to be one of the foremost advocates, politicians and writers in West Africa, and while I do all these, I shall make it a point not only to pay your money back in full, but also to repay your kindness and generosity towards me in every way I can.

All the same, it is a big risk! So, Sir, I like you to think seriously about it, and see if you can take it in the interest of a young man who has brain, industry and determination to back his ambition, but lacks the money. I know we have never been close friends, but I have a shrewd idea that you may take the risk and help me.

On this assumption, therefore, I proceed to the next and last stage of this letter.

I shall not require the whole £1,400 in a lump sum. To start with, you will help me pay a sum of £208-13s-3d to the Inner Temple. I have already received an application form from this Inn of Court; and from the details forwarded, I gather that the sum of £208-13s-3d will cover all the cost of training as a barrister, examination fees excluded.

When I am ready to sail, you will advance me a sum of £100 to cover passage, provision for my family and any other incidental expenses (NOTE: If I got torpedoed on the way, you would certainly lose this £100 but you will recover the £208-13s-3d).

At the same time you will remit to a London Bank the sum of £491-6s-9d. It is out of this amount that I shall pay the university fees for LL.B course and for special courses in political science and journalism, when I land in England. This is to say, the initial advance will total £800.

At the end of the first year, provided I make satisfactory progress in my studies, you will give instruction to the bank to honour all cheques from me drawn on this account. There will be an arrangement to be signed by me on my return.

On my return, I shall require TWO years within which to establish a solid practice and build a good reputation. After these two years, I should commence to pay at least £200 per annum either in monthly, quarterly or annual payments. So that in seven years after the first two years, I should pay back the whole sum of £1,400. That will be TWELVE YEARS from the time you help me to pay this in April or so this year, then I should be due to pay the whole of £1,400 by April 1955.

Now, as you yourself will see, this is the farthest limit within which I can pay the money. It may be possible for me to pay the money within THREE to FIVE years of my return. As a matter of fact, the sooner I pay it off, the better. But it is much better to be on the safe side in a matter like this. It is no making promises now which will be difficult to fulfil in future. On the contrary it is better to mention a period of twelve years and pay within SIX or EIGHT years than to mention FIVE YEARS and fail to pay within TEN years. Personally, I prefer that I should fail to get the loan under theses unattractive but sure conditions, rather than succeed in getting it under attractive but precarious conditions.

Now, this is all I have to say. You have my request before you, and the reason why i make the request. It is left for you to decide whether it is worthwhile to take the risk of helping me in the manner outlined above or not.

If you do me the great favour, not only myself and all that are mine, but also God and Africa will be grateful, I shall have no cause whatsoever to grumble or to blame you, FOR THE RISK IS GREAT.

Since this is a very selfish request, I enclosed herewith a self addressed stamped envelope to be sent under a registered post.

Obafemi Awolowo.

Merciful God!

* Chief Odutola refused him of the Loan, Awo could not travel that year. He buckle up his lace and by August 14, 1944 (one year later) he travelled to England, became a Barrister at law and was called to the Bar in November 1946. Amazingly, by 1954 (A year to the time he promised to pay Chief Odutola the Loan ) , Chief Awolowo was already a Premier in the Defunct Western Region and already giving out Scholarship to over 200 undergraduates (First of its kind in Africa).

I find it a great pleasure, to replicate the full version of the Awoistic dedicatory letter, following a stiff request by friends that the Nigerian Youths need to see and digest
*copied*

*Taqwa(Piety)*.

*What is Taqwa?*

*Taqwa* is not only about manners.
*Taqwa* is not about looking Islamic...
*Taqwa* is not about sporting a beard or wearing a Hijab...
*Taqwa* is not about appearance

*BUT*

*Taqwa* is when you miss a prayer, you feel uneasy the whole day...
*Taqwa* is when you speak a lie, you feel bad...
*Taqwa* is the guilt that follows when you hurt someone knowingly or unknowingly...
*Taqwa* is the shame and regret that follows a sin you committed knowing full well how it stands in the sight of Allah...
*Taqwa* is when you cannot sleep after disobeying or disrespecting your parents...
*Taqwa* is to cry in the depths of night fearing none but the one above the Arsh...
*Taqwa* is the fear that refrains us from sinning when nobody familiar is around...
*Taqwa* is the guts and the will to please Allah, even when the whole world is hell bent on displeasing Him...
*Taqwa* is to wear that beard and Hijab for the sole reason of pleasing our Creator and to keep it on as per Sunnah....
*Taqwa* is to stay happy and smiling, knowing that this world is a prison for believers...
*Taqwa* is the good manners and character we practice for the sake of Allah...
*Taqwa* is the struggle to better ourselves according to Islam, with each passing day...
*Taqwa* is not just about rising in deen, but about falling, rising again and never letting go!
*Taqwa* is all about what is IN OUR HEARTS.

And if our hearts are filled with proper *Taqwa*, then actions automatically follow..._
And the sweetness of these actions is so fulfilling!
Allah(subhanahu wa ta'aala) assures us:
*And if they had believed and feared Allah, then the reward from Allah would have been(far) better if they only knew*
(Qur'an 2: 103)
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Yah Robi, Yah Allah, bless us and our offspring with Taqwa and by it, grant us good in both worlds🤲🏽🤲🏽


*As-salaam alaykum warahmatullah, good morning and have a fruitful week ahead*