Here and there

Here: For the rich, the famous and the influential:
I read in a magazine just recently of different weddings of the rich, the famous and the influential in Nigeria. Pastor Okotie and wife, Quincy’s daughter, Governor of (which state now) daughter and last and the one that I will talk briefly about here is Halimat Dangote!!!

Picture taking from Bella Naija's blog

I read that the wedding was elaborate and a lot of dignitaries attended. Well, what do you expect of a daughter of a business mogul? A man that owns so many conglomerates in Nigeria. He surprised the daughter by given her an open cheque to shop for her wedding. I read that she went to France, Dubai, London and where else to buy her wedding gowns, shoes, etc. It was reported that she spent about N50, 000,000 (50 Million Naira) on her shopping.

Waoh, I cannot pretend that is not a lot of money. I looked again to be sure I saw the right figure and thought to myself that the press might have exaggerated but Dangote is rich and they might get the figure right. It feels good to be able to afford the good things of life. At a moment I was like why didn’t I have the same opportunity? Why couldn’t my parents be rich? Then the answer came to me: Though I am not physically rich but I have all it takes within me to be rich.

Though not in her shoe but I feel such money could have been put to a better use. Perhaps no other better use can come to mind since she was born into money and all. The material and cash gifts received at her wedding are enough to even feed her new family forever.

There: for the “mis-purpose”, the mis-led, and the “mis-followed”:
I read somewhere too that the Director- General of Nigerian Stock Exchange Ndidi Okereke-Onyiuke, was planning a dinner an event organized by her “Africa for Obama” group. The initial aim I heard was to raise money for Obama’s campaign. For what purpose I asked but could not get any answer. I wonder why they set out to do that knowing fully well that they did not meet any criteria stipulated by Obama funding raising initiative.

Anyway, they had the dinner and raised over 100million. The dinner cost some people N2.5 million for a platinum table. After raising the funds, I was not to wait forever before I saw another newspaper caption that “Obama disowned the group!!!” Then Ndidi announced in another newspaper that the money raised was not for Obama’s campaign but to “mobilize” support for Obama election.

I don’t know how to translate this nonsense. Why do we need to raise money in Nigeria to mobilize for Obama’s election? Are we sending delegate to be going from house to house in USA asking black American, Africans or Nigerians living there to please go out and vote for Obama? Is this a black thing? Aren’t we going to even put Obama at a disadvantage if we go all out screaming he is black, he is our own blah blah blah? Are we racists now? What benefit do we wish to drive from Obama being the president- free visa or what?

A controversial human rights lawyer Festus Keyamo has since petitioned the group via EFCC. I read this morning in the Nation Newspaper that Ndidi has being arrested by EFCC for questioning over the purpose fo the dinner and what they intend to use the money for. We so much like “O wambe” in Nigeria hence the dinner. I just wonder if our “O wambe” can’t be more purposeful like raising money for the orphans, the sick, and the disadvantaged. I have seen other groups for Obama in Nigeria such as Obama Initiative for Africa and some expensive sign post with "Vote for Obama" and his picture on it. I just don't understand our intentions any more “o wambe” means party.