INSPIRED BY THE BLIND

Compliments of the season

 This year marked the begining of a lot of things in my life, for instance i began to take my writing more seriously hence this blog and already i am planning my first Anthology of poems which would be released next year.

 well as the year drew to a close it was time to head to kaduna for my yearly outreach programme with the LXG (League of Extraordinary Gifts). however this year was a special year as it was our 10th year anniversary and it was tagged IMMORTALITY...

as God would have it i was in charge of protocol(why am i always in protocol ooo, well sha na so i don take meet many many important people who end up remaining my friends) and on the morning of the show(dec 29th) my phone rang, 

grrring grring... 'hello' i quipped

'toffy, our special guest has arrived' shouted ope

'ok' i'll go pick him.'

and i headed to meet up the special guest. 

 i got to the car and there he was... i was finally face to face for the first time ever with famous Nigerian producer and gospel artiste, 

Cobhams Asuquo.

we had been talking on phone so as soon as he heard my voice he hailed me and we hugged(yes hugged, i was pleasantly shocked. so celebrities still hug peeps they meet for the first time?) well we made little talk and my team whisked him to the new council lodge(one of the most exotic lodges in Alheri camp reserved for VVIP guests and Executive council pastors). i don't know what i expected to see but i was awed by the way he moved, carried himself about and joked. at some point i discreetly went to pass my hand around his face to be sure he was really blind.

his fluidity in movement was one to be envied. however my greatest shock was still to come when we talked about internet connection and i fumbled with my android, next thing i know he whipped out an ipad, opened it, and began to operate, looking for wifi. and he pronounced with surety few seconds before my android told me same 'no network within range'. i almost blurted out. how do you do that sir? years of exercising self control kept my mouth shut.

he joked with his friend silver saadi(another musician) about how Alheri camp always gets one fat and he reminisced about the first LXG programme he attended in the year 2004. he was only in his early 20's then and God had brought him thus far since then. after making sure they were settled in properly, i begged to take my leave and then i got the third shocker for the day.

 actually he was to come with his wife and son and i had made bookings and paid for them, seeing only him and his friend i kinda felt this tweak inside(yeepa money don waste ooo...) but cobhams apologised that they couldn't make it and he didn't stop there, on his way down he had stopped at the airline counter, stopped the ticket, placed it open. and informed the airline that we would be needing a refund, a slip for refund was printed out and he handed it over to me saying he couldn't allow our money go to waste.

at this point i couldn't stop the tears from flowing through my eyes, here was someone who had not only made up his mind to conquer his disabilities but also has refused to allow success get into his head...

later on as he led the assembled crowd in worship, i could not but stand in awe of God who continually uses the foolish things of the world to confuse the wise. 

barely 30 minutes with him and i had been so inspired i wondered why i had never met him beforehand. i'll highlight a few points from the boss himself

Do not Excuse Failure, for any reason on any account

Focus is in itself Blindness

there are more lessons i learnt from him before he departed but those are quite personal and i'll play them close to my chest for now... well i'm back in lagos now and preparing for an awesome crossover service. i'll see you all in the new year.
God Bless.

N.B (whispers) Cobhams will be releasing his Album early next year... stay tuned