Earthly Tenancy: Episode II [Where is HOME?]

In the previous episode, the questions about the gods remained unanswered. We still do not know where they are, or if they will ever reveal themselves. Their silence leaves us wandering in the dark. So now I turn to a different question, one that sits quietly behind all the others: where is home?

 

Imagine, for a moment, that we know nothing of the gods at all. Imagine we arrived on earth by chance, and our ancestors slowly settled into its rhythms. They grew familiar with its seasons, its beauty, its dangers. In time, they forgot where they came from. The maps faded, the memories dissolved, and the path back was lost. Perhaps we have been trying to return ever since, while those who hold power found it convenient to keep us here, offering stories and beliefs that bind us to this place.

 

So again, where is home? Are we truly from one source? If we are, it seems strange that we cannot agree on where that source lies. Some say their home is above them, somewhere beyond the sky. But what if the sky is only a surface, a boundary we cannot cross? If their home is truly there, why has no one reached it, especially when they claim to see it every day? Who would refuse to return home if they could see it shining above them, promising comfort, rest and peace?

 

Others believe home lies in the afterlife, a world waiting beyond this one. They imagine a place where they will be welcomed by their ancestors, as though returning from a long journey. But what form do they take there? Do they begin again as children, or do they arrive fully grown, carrying the weight of their earthly years? And if their ancestors greet them on the shores of the afterlife, is that not simply a reflection of what we already know on earth, where travellers return to the warm embraces of their loved ones? It feels like a mirror of this world, not convincing enough to make people change their minds.

 

Then there are those who believe that everything ends here. No home beyond earth, no return, no waiting realm. And perhaps they have their reasons. Who would want to return to a home that sent them away and never spoke again? A home that offered no guidance, no comfort, no sign of care. Many people on earth cut ties with their families for far less. So perhaps those who believe in nothing beyond this life are simply choosing peace in the only place they know.

 

But let us return to the question of our source. We know we are not born from the same loins, so why should we expect to share the same destination? Why should someone follow another to a home that is not theirs? Unless they have chosen a new path, as many do when they outgrow the place they came from. And if you truly belong to a place, should you not be free to return without being tested or judged? The idea that earth is a trial to prove your worthiness for your own home feels strange and inconceivable.

 

Most religions speak of returning home, yet none can show the way. How can someone claim a home they cannot remember? How can they be certain of a place they have never seen? So, I ask again: where is home? Do you truly know, or are you holding on to stories passed down through centuries, repeated until they feel like truth?

If you managed to reach a realm beyond this one, would you return to earth, or would you stay and never look back? Perhaps we are travellers in a vast universe, and the moment we step through the door of home, our memories of earth dissolve like mist. If earth is not a place you wish to return to, then where are you going? Do you know the direction of your own longing?

 

Home is a curious idea. I mean the deeper sense of belonging, the place our spirit quietly points toward when the world grows loud. Have you ever paused to wonder where we truly come from? It can feel strange to say we are from one place while sensing we are meant to journey elsewhere.

 

We move through this life as temporary passengers, aware that our time here is limited. Everyone knows, whether they admit it or not, that no one remains on this earth forever. The thought carries a certain weight, yet we continue to rise each morning, to dream, to strive, to build lives that feel meaningful. That persistence is part of what makes us human. We work, we hope, we savour the small joys that come from our efforts

Home, home, home — we repeat the word as though it will guide us. Yet the question remains, quiet and persistent: where is it? 

Brown Envelope [Accepted and Expected]

Brown Envelope, often perceived as a mere noun phrase, holds a profound cultural and historical significance in Nigeria. It is more than a symbol; it is a legacy entwined with the nation’s heritage. The term ‘Brown Envelope’ is synonymous with corruption, a fact that every Nigerian is acutely aware of. It has become a commonplace practice, accepted and expected, to receive a Brown Envelope. This practice is so ingrained that it is difficult for any Nigerian to refuse.

In Nigeria, Brown Envelopes are not just a means of exchange but a tool for corruption, easily accessible to those in power but intentionally given to the masses who have no constitutional powers to question the act. Politicians, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and even police officers are recipients of these envelopes. They are often given during official visits or social gatherings, and the acceptance of these envelopes is seen as a sign of goodwill.

Religious leaders, in particular, often justify the acceptance of brown envelopes by citing religious texts such as “Whoever gives a cup of water to a man of God shall never lack,” claiming it to be a form of divine favour. This makes it challenging to openly condemn the practice without facing severe consequences. 

The distribution of Brown Envelopes is not limited to the elite. Community leaders and heads of families also partake in this practice, sharing the wealth among their most loyal followers. This kind of sharing is often presented as a courtesy gesture, but the reality is that it is a means to secure loyalty and services.

The phrase “turn by turn” reflects the cyclical nature of corruption, where one administration hands over the responsibility to the next, and the cycle continues. This mentality makes it difficult to combat corruption, as it is seen as a burden rather than a problem to be solved. The acceptance of Brown Envelopes is so deeply rooted in Nigerian society that it is hard to imagine a future without it. However, to eradicate corruption, I suggest that the practice of Brown Envelopes should be made illegal, with severe punishment for those who give and accept them. 

The culture of brown envelopes has become a way of life in Nigeria, shaping behaviour across every sector of the nation. A brown envelope, money given quietly and informally, is more than a gift. It is a tool used to silence criticism, buy loyalty, and tie a person’s hands. Once someone accepts it, they lose the moral authority to speak against corruption because they have already taken their share. 

This practice is widespread. Police officers, civil servants, politicians, religious leaders, and traditional rulers all take part in it. Some people even beg for brown envelopes indirectly using expressions such as anything for the boys or anything for the girls. Over time, the exchange has become normalised and almost expected. 

People justify it as national cake, a share of what everyone believes they are entitled to. The danger is that brown envelopes weaken accountability. When wrongdoing occurs, those who have benefited remain silent. They simply say it is only four years, take your share while you can. 

This mindset allows corruption to flourish from the local level to the national level. This is why many people defend corrupt politicians. They are not defending them out of genuine belief, but because they benefit from the spoils of corruption. 

Brown envelope has become part of the culture. It is seen as a normal gesture, a traditional gift, something you give to a king, a pastor, a community leader, or a civil servant. Yet behind this tradition lies a powerful tool of control. Once you accept it, your mouth is sealed, your hands are tied, and you cannot speak against wrongdoing. 

In many communities, when you visit a palace or a leader, you are expected to give something. If you are a politician, this makes it difficult for that leader to criticise you later, because he knows you will return with another brown envelope. Churches also have their own versions of this practice, often disguised as offerings or sowing of seeds. Community leaders receive brown envelopes in the name of gifts and support. 

All of this makes the culture extremely difficult to dismantle. Brown envelopes are one of the root causes of corruption in Nigeria. Many Nigerians receive them, and this is why corruption is often treated like a family matter. People excuse the wrongdoing of those who give them money. 

They say he is a good man, even when he is corrupt, because they personally benefit from him. Eradicating this culture will be extremely difficult. It is not just a habit, but a way of life passed from one generation to the next. 

Laws alone cannot solve the problem unless they are applied to everyone equally, including politicians, civil servants, religious leaders, and traditional authorities but the gospel truth is that there is nobody bold and unbiased enough to enforce such laws in Nigeria without being castigated and dragged by the masses. 

No one should be above the law. Yet change is possible. I once witnessed a preacher refuse a brown envelope in Delta State, saying he came only to deliver God's message. That moment stayed with me. Such moments are rare, but they show that integrity still exists. If more people reject brown envelopes, corruption will gradually lose its power.

Another group involved in the brown envelope culture consists of private citizens who have no political authority or genuine political commitment yet maintain close friendships with politicians. These individuals are always at the forefront of the practice. I describe them as the foot soldiers of brown envelopes because they hold significant influence within their communities. They are well known, they mix freely with politicians, and although they lack the power to steal public resources, they often benefit from government contracts.

They distribute brown envelopes with remarkable ease, almost like rainfall. They function as watchdogs, acting as the eyes and ears of corrupt leaders. Their influence over the community gives them the freedom to hand out large numbers of brown envelopes. 

This is the strategy behind the practice, as it secures loyalty and suppresses dissent. As a result, it becomes difficult for ordinary citizens to criticise corrupt politicians in power. Once these private individuals discover that someone who has received their brown envelopes has spoken against their political allies, they simply cut off the supply. That is how their system works.

The most damaging custodians of the brown envelopes culture in Nigeria are lawmakers, federal and state agencies and the so-called permanent secretaries who oversee the issuing of business licences and approvals for citizens and foreign investors. These officials routinely demand bribes in the form of brown envelopes, and they do so with an air of absolute authority, often threatening to obstruct applications or withdraw their support if their expectations are not met. 

The result is a climate in which corruption is not merely tolerated but normalised. It is both dispiriting and profoundly frustrating that prospective investors feel compelled to comply, thereby reinforcing a practice that has become entrenched at every level of public administration in Nigeria. The persistence of this culture undermines confidence, discourages genuine investment and erodes the integrity of institutions that should serve the public rather than exploit it.

Brown envelope culture is widespread in Nigeria. It is deeply rooted and difficult to eliminate. It has become a tradition, a way of life, and a custom embedded in every sector of the country. This is one of the reasons corruption remains so persistent. You cannot remove a problem when the same people who condemn bad governance continue to participate in it willingly. Nigeria's fight against corruption must begin with dismantling the brown envelope culture if we must move forward as a nation. 

It will take time, perhaps generations, but without confronting this practice, true reform will remain out of reach. For anyone who does not know, when Nigerians speak of a brown envelope, they are referring to one of the most powerful symbols of corruption in Nigeria. It is the seed from which much of the corruption grew and still bearing its soured and tasteless fruits in every sector. This is not a political or a tribal or a religious fight. It is a moral one and it begins with each of us.

Earthly Tenancy: Episode I [Where are the gods?]

Who exactly are the gods? Were they the first humans who happened to display unusual abilities that others interpreted as divine? Or were they simply more advanced beings who, in those early days, had the freedom to call themselves whatever they wished, passing those titles down through generations until they became accepted as tradition, much like many beliefs today? Or could it be that the idea of gods was crafted by clever elders who wanted to control the lives of people they considered vulnerable and easily swayed by the promise of unseen powers?

 

Can one say that the gods, if they exist at all, are complicit in the decay of the very world they created? Would it not amount to complete failure if they truly were in charge of their own creation? Look around and tell me if there is any kind of umpire overseeing the affairs of this world. What we see instead is that certain cunning individuals have taken it upon themselves to reshape this untested reality in their own image.

 

I have been doing a lot of thinking, and the questions in my head feel genuinely valid but such questions could easily be branded as blasphemies by people who would rather react with fear and emotions than allow logic and reasoning a fair trial in the court of common sense. For many, it would amount to heresy to suggest anything that challenges the belief that this world is still under the influence of the gods, which is rather unfortunate. The first questions to ask are these: where are the gods, and are they too afraid to show their faces in the world they created?

 

Allow me to walk you through the first part of the question, okay? Now imagine the earth as a piece of undeveloped land. The gods decide to develop it, much like real estate developers who transform empty plots into estates. Yet developers rarely live in the properties they build. They might visit occasionally if something needs attention, or they send assistants to deal with any issues on their behalf.

 

Earth, however, is different, even though it sounds the same in this context. Its inhabitants have never seen the gods, nor had any physical contact with the beings many believe created this world. It is like tenants who rent a flat through an agency, pay their bills, follow the contract, yet have no direct access to the actual owner. Everything is filtered through the same agency. In this case, the “agency” is made up of religious leaders who claim they were chosen, anointed, or appointed by the gods to manage the estate on their behalf.

 

So, the real question is this, why have the gods never visited their own estate, this world, and shown themselves to the people who have been waiting, hoping and searching for the truth behind this foggy reality that no one fully understands? Oh, they will return at the appointed time, or so the familiar rhetoric goes. It is the same line repeated whenever people dare to ask thought-provoking questions, the same story passed down through past civilisations who also waited, yet never encountered the gods. Perhaps the gods are no longer interested in their estate, this world, because someone else has taken charge. Let me ask you a question, who builds a dream home and then abandons it, allowing someone with no rightful claim to take over and rule it as their own? Does it make sense to anyone?

 

My mother is a poultry farmer and a businesswoman, and there is not a single day that passes without her visiting the birds, tending to them, or balancing the accounts. Even when she travels for church conventions or business, she assigns each of us specific tasks to keep everything running. The very first thing she does when she returns home is head straight to the poultry farm to make sure everything is in order. So, tell me, what kind of gods would create a world, never visit it, and then allow it to fall into disarray under the care of another who knows nothing of its foundations? Or who would begin a project, bring it to completion, and then hand it over to someone else with nothing more than a promise to return one day, without ever overseeing it?

 

Or are we really just tenants here, or even prisoners? And if that is the case, what are the terms and conditions of this supposed arrangement? What exactly did we do to deserve being sent here? Were we forced into this life, or did we somehow agree to it before arriving? And if we did choose this life, is it part of an endless cycle that we have no power to stop, no moment where we can simply say we are not coming back once we have done our time here? Or are the gods simply gatekeepers, standing between us and other worlds, and by keeping us here they maintain their own relevance in the eyes of whatever powers they serve?

 

There have been countless stories about how this world came into existence, yet none of them offers any definite proof about its true origins or what the first inhabitants even looked like. All we have are religious claims on one side and scientific guesses and theories on the other. But if this world really was created by the gods and they once lived here, why did they leave? Where did they go?

 

This is not an attempt to mock anyone’s beliefs. It is simply a search for understanding, born out of curiosity, because nothing in our past or present truly suggests that our world is being guided or supervised by any divine presence. Yes, the wonders of nature unfold in ways that can feel magical, as though she pulls surprises from her sleeves whenever she chooses, but that alone does not mean the earth is under the watch of gods who seem too afraid to visit the world they supposedly created or to reveal themselves to the people who now live here.

The Weaving of Wants [...every thread holds a story]

I might be with a child, she murmured delightedly

Easing out of the emperor's robust embrace warmly

Not sure what her sudden illness meant in a castle

She thought wasn't just her footstool but a vessel

 

She had pictured and assumed the title of an empress

A burden she never imagined would make her acquiesce

To her servant's inconceivable advice to spirit away

The only known heir to an emerging empire on display

 

Fate guided her path to an unbothered committed bachelor

Whose principal intention was merely to be her counsellor

An unsavoury choice she made in a hurried bid to thrive

Where she sought solace just as a bee resting in its hive

 

Her reluctant host inevitably became a person of interest

A quiet man pulled into her orbit against his old precept

An unbowed soul whose light faltered before her presence

And in that shift, their fates synchronised in resonance

 

Like a leaf in creation, their utmost passions sprout out

Undoing the reason that once made them distant and devout

A dramatic turn of events that roused the faintest notion

Where the seed of emotional bond begins its sacred motion

 

What was mistaken for a chance emerged as a divine blessing

A trial forged in silence, now has a warm heart confessing

An undying love, born of hope and honed by seamless grace

Whispering a shift in destiny as it moves to take its place

Dedicated To Everyone:

Follow the thread toward what you seek, and let your deepest yearnings take form.

Who Are You Angry At?

Who enflamed the blaze behind your gaze?  

Was it my opinion or your draining days?

You throw your wrath like shards of glass

But I'm the friend who tends to your scars

I spoke heartily when silence felt unjust  

I raised my voice in solidarity and trust

You asked me to stay out of all your fight 

I withdrew so you could use all your might

 

Now your sorrows wear a borrowed face

Yet I am the mask you berate and deface 

I am not the cause of your aching wound

Nor am I the threads that fate had tuned

 

I miss the real you everyone used to know 

Before your world turned into ice and snow

You were the hub of joy, the light, the flame

Now everything feels like bowing to shame 

 

You admit that I drown you with my peace

That my words make your suffering cease 

I am not the tide that is pulling you down  

Nor am I a cloak disguised as a real gown

 

Who are you angry at, my gracious friend?  

Is it me who spoke the truth until the end?

Or the forked tongue, but with a false face?

So think before you choose who to replace

Dedicated To Everyone:

Who has ever lost the shoulder they once leaned on, the face they once trusted without question, the friend who felt like family, and the place that once felt like home.

mi reina [...a paragon of beauty]

You are a beam of hope and light in a heart mired in sorrow 

A day without a thought of you is an echo in the dimmest shadow

You have proven yourself a million times as a symbol of divine love

A sign that you were divinely chosen and sent to earth from above

I seek your divine and warm embrace with passion of certainty

I promise to adore you from this moment till the end of eternity

Your whisper is the surest nudge I need to roost in your nest

A miracle you alone can give a heart in need of a peaceful rest

I know doubt resides in your heart and it does with great cause

We have come too far to let trepidation overshadow our essence

I shall satisfy your life with endless streams of joy and harmony

And I solemnly vow to meet your needs and other expectations

I humbly request a permanent residency in your imperial heart

That I may resume my eternal duties for its care and support

As the absence of my care could make it grow weary and lonely

So that I may show you true peace and my unmatched loyalty

My heart is overjoyed to seek out your love in this fashion

As we strive to rise above the ashes of fear and utter confusion

Where our love for us is the only balm we need to keep us devoted

As you and I are ready to bound together by our shared principles

Dedicated To:

Women Who Have Won Their Men's Hearts

Marital Remnants [...Crumbs That Look Crunchy]

She was a believer until reality jolted her out of her reverie

She was sleepwalking in the endless when she bumped into you

She thought dreams were meaningless until she dared to dream

She was unsure about what it meant until you gave her a hint

 

He thought your reception had ensured him a place in your abode

He thought his coronation had earned him the kingship in your empire

He thought your interest in his future would make him yours

He thought your resistance was a test to keep him fighting

 

Your proposal was tempting but it was not what she bargained for

Your denials stripped her of her right to residency in your heart

Your act of diplomacy was a ruse in order to manipulate her

Your constant rejections almost made her unworthy of love

 

The emotional pains he endured drained him of his faith in love

Your love résumé was great but your agenda ruined your chances

You had the freedom to explore his life but you chose to exploit him

He thought he made it into your dreams just as you made it into his

 

It is true life goes on but the memories are forever imprinted

It is obvious you could care less but your reputation precedes you

Your heart is turbulent and nobody wants to experience it.

A slice of bread is good but a lifetime meal supersedes a leftover.

Dedicated To Everyone

Just like the ocean, there is surface and depth in all of us.