Somethings happen in our lives to jostle us out of our euphoria or dream state and we know for sure that we need to take a stance. One of those things for your 9jachic is the recent response of the Nigerian President to his wife, Aisha Buhari following her comment on his approach to Governance.
So quick update for my readers who are not aware of what I am referring to…
- Aisha Buhari is the wife of Muhammadu Buhari (the current Nigerian President). They got married in 1989 and have five children together, a boy and four girls (source BBC).
- On the 14th of October 2016, she (Aisha Buhari) granted an interview to Hausa Service of the BBC where she in more words than none, demanded a reshuffling of the current Nigerian cabinet, claiming that most of the appointed were not aware of the “party” vision, threatening that she might not join her husband in the 2019 campaign trails if he decides to run for a second term; especially if nothing was done to better the lot of the many impoverished Nigerians.
- Later on the same day, snippets of this interview was played back to the Nigerian President during his visit to Germany and his response caused major news headlines. In his own words:
Quick note: 9jachic readers and fans are not used to coming here to read about Politics …and true to form, you are not about to be taken down that lane."I don't know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room."So I claim superior knowledge over her and the rest of the opposition, because in the end I have succeeded. It's not easy to satisfy the whole Nigerian opposition parties or to participate in the government.'' (Source BBC)"
Ok so back to my story…
When your 9jachic heard the interview recounts from Aisha Buhari, truth be told, I did not support her…I am of the impression that you need to be loyal…and by this I mean…not wash your dirty laundries in public. What I am saying is, if she really felt so strongly about her husband’s exploits, she should share her thoughts to people in his party or elders who he absolutely respects…they have been married for over 25 years, so she must know one or two people he will listen to.
However, my blame for her was completely erased in the coming hours when news of the Nigerian President’s response to her comments were made known….
I was stupefied to say the least…and this Igbo proverb “Do not throw the baby with the bathwater” quickly came to mind. In other words, the President should have at least taken a pause to listen to the words from his wife …and probably decide what to heed to if any.
Get me right…the President as well as everyone else has a right to an opinion…and because this issue has been over-flogged, I will not go on and on about what is wrong and right about the President’s comments
What this piece is intended to do is get us back to right thinking: in times when negative words are thrown at us, it is always great to latch on to positive vibes. So, the best response suitable in this case, is a description of what you are and not dwell on condemning someone else’s opinion of you.
This I can say is best summed up in the words of my classmate fondly called Dr. Eden ….she wrote this beautiful piece and has given us permission to repost this. The piece says it all, every woman or indeed man who has felt a deep anger or resentment towards the Nigerian President’s comments should take a deep breath and read this piece…it is guaranteed to make you quickly focus on what is important...”Positivity, Growth and Self-assuredness”
"The Other Room"
I make fond memories in the living room
I let sweet hospitality flow from the kitchen
I increase wisdom and knowledge in the study room
And decrease ignorance in the counselling room
I grow in faith, kneel in petition in the prayer room
I lift my faith, & fix my gaze on His Throneroom
I teach, I train, I reach the pain in the conference room
I scream, I play with my kids many ways in the children's room
I deepen and receive unconditional love, in the bedroom
I speak, I write, I raise the bar in the boardroom
Attimes, I sing aloud so glad I'm alive in the bathroom.
I live not solely in any one of these rooms
Each room represents a part of my journey to my purpose room
Neither roles or rooms or tools define me,
I'll gladly put them to use, inorder to refine me.
I leave you with this remarkably insightful statement about self-esteem that is usually credited to Eleanor Roosevelt, the diplomat and former American First Lady “NO ONE CAN MAKE YOU FEEL INFERIOR WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT
So if I sit, I stand, I kneel or I lie
I add great value in every single room.
I'm a progressive woman and;
My Other room....
is the purpose room
Eden A. Onwuka (C) dreden2016
Cheers y’all…& ..Keep the faith as always!!
Great write up from a rather unpalatable sequence of events. However, Aisha was not speaking for the many impoverished Nigerians but for party faithfuls who felt they deserved juicy appointments as reward for their campaign efforts and were feeling left out. Takes nothing from the insensitivity of the president's response and beauty of the write up. Kudos!
ReplyDeleteWell and explicitly written. What a piece, "the other room". Everyone should learn a lesson or two from this write-up.
ReplyDeleteInteresting...and quite a positive perspective to these rather unsavory series of events. Indeed...our response to whatever life throws at us would always determine what we make/get out of it. That said, I reckon that the issues that brought about the 'other room' debate should be carefully addressed. The First Lady does not strike me as ignorant as the President portrayed her...albeit ridiculous the premise of her complaints.
ReplyDeleteWow 9jachic..this is a great write-up and positive way to look at such a negative situation. I love the breakdown by Dr. Eden of the different types of rooms and the purpose for each. I agree that for every negative statement/situation/event, there is always something positive to learn/gain. Let's think before we leap, before we respond, before we react. So important. That piece from Dr. Eden really says it, there is some good coming out of each and every "other room"..☺..Nothing negative but all positive coming out of the "other room"
ReplyDeleteLoving the positive outlook to a seemingly negative situation. Brings a breath of fresh air. Thanks for sharing this well written piece 9Jackie.
ReplyDeleteLoving the positive outlook to a seemingly negative situation. Brings a breath of fresh air. Thanks for sharing this well written piece 9Jackie.
ReplyDeleteLoving the positive outlook to a seemingly negative situation. Brings a breath of fresh air. Thanks for sharing this well written piece 9Jackie.
ReplyDeleteGreat piece and views. Beautiful poem too. Life is indeed all about viewing situations and actions from a multi frame approach.
ReplyDeleteWow! I like the twist you put into this political drama. You know, even though I was gutted by the presidents statement, the more I listened to it the more "fascinated" I became and now you have just inspired me with this piece. Nice!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poem.i think this poem could assist the president's handlers in saving face and perhaps bring better perspective to his words. Good article.
ReplyDeleteAmazing! Who would've thought of a positive side to this situation. So much depth in just one piece. Good job! 9ja chic
ReplyDeleteBeautiful piece. Thank you Dr Eden
ReplyDeleteNice write up. Dr Eden has written it all so well and indeed there is purpose therein. May we continually fulfill purpose and not be drawn back by any negativity. Well done 9jachic
ReplyDeleteThis is a fresh and interesting perspective to the "ugly saga". Thanks for the write up 9jachic
ReplyDeleteLovely piece
ReplyDeleteA brilliant write up..the woman's prestige is salient and cannot be overrated
ReplyDelete9ja Chic! Nice write up. I really like the poem by Dr. Eden ..."So if I sit, I stand, I kneel or I lie
ReplyDeleteI add great value in every single room.
I'm a progressive woman and;
My Other room....
is the purpose room"
Nice.
This is a breath of fresh air. Made for good reading too. Thumbs up. And the piece from Dr Eden? Speechless! Well thought out and great perspective. Thanks for sharing it with us
ReplyDeletePowerful write-up
ReplyDelete*THE OTHER ROOM*...
ReplyDeleteThe other room
Where a woman pretends
To be weak
So that a man
Can believe he is strong
Where a woman pretends
To be foolish
So that a man
Can say he is wise
Where a woman stoops
So that a man can conquer.
The other room
Where gods of men
Become worshippers of women
Where leaders of thought
Become minions
Of the bleeders of blood
Where wielders of power
Succumb to power.
The other room
Where the brashness of testosterone
Yields to the bra straps of estrogen
Where the bravado of masculinity
Is tamed by the wiles of femininity
Where the turgid
Becomes the flaccid
Three rooms
In a house
One in which a man
Believes he is king
Two in which
He realises
A woman is god!
----Copied from a friend's wall.
*THE OTHER ROOM*...
ReplyDeleteThe other room
Where a woman pretends
To be weak
So that a man
Can believe he is strong
Where a woman pretends
To be foolish
So that a man
Can say he is wise
Where a woman stoops
So that a man can conquer.
The other room
Where gods of men
Become worshippers of women
Where leaders of thought
Become minions
Of the bleeders of blood
Where wielders of power
Succumb to power.
The other room
Where the brashness of testosterone
Yields to the bra straps of estrogen
Where the bravado of masculinity
Is tamed by the wiles of femininity
Where the turgid
Becomes the flaccid
Three rooms
In a house
One in which a man
Believes he is king
Two in which
He realises
A woman is god!
----Copied from a friend's wall.