“Money doesn't change men, it merely unmasks them. If a man is naturally selfish or arrogant or greedy, the money brings that out, that's all.”
— Henry Ford
NOTHING IS PERMANENT!
By Mr. Donald Duke
"When I See Public Office Holders Misbehaving, I Used To Have This Thought, "Probably They Do Not Have a Good Wife/Husband or a Good Marriage"
As governor, I was on call 24/7 sometimes.
I got very angry and could take my anger on anyone.
So, my chief of protocol bore the brunt one day.
I had a reception for guests and he placed them in rooms, not the way I would have done it, but he didn’t do anything wrong.
He used his own judgment.
I would have done it the other way, but I over reacted.
I spoke very harsh to him.
While I was doing this, my wife walked in and didn’t say a word.
She came in, did some other things in my office and left.
When I got back home in the evening, I’d forgotten about it. It’s just a normal event in the day.
My wife went on her knees in front of me, looked straight into my eyes like a penitent sinner and said, "The way you spoke to this guy was wrong and we have to go and apologise to him."
She said I had no reason to speak to anyone like that.
I said, "What! He did this..." and she interrupted me, "Yes, I heard everything.
"The way you would have done it was different, but he didn’t do a bad thing. He used his discretion. So, what are you going to do? You have destroyed his self esteem. Tomorrow, he is not going to do anything discretionally.
He would wait for orders and then you will get irritated at that. You have made him lose his self-confidence and that is wrong. You need to go and apologise to him. Why should you speak to someone like that? Because you are governor?"
I ignored her, stood up and went into the bedroom, still fuming. As she will always do if she wants to have her way, my wife followed me into the bedroom and went on her knees again to plead the cause of a man as if he had begged her to plead his case.
"You have to do it this night and not tomorrow" because I kept saying I would do it tomorrow.
Onarie, still on her knees and almost in tears, insisted and said, "No, tonight. That man is not going to sleep well and so you do not have the right to sleep well when he was not sleeping well."
Clearly defeated, I got into the car and we drove to his house.
His gate man froze when he discovered I was the one. In his confusion, he did not know how to properly open the gate till Onarie told him to take two deep breaths before attempting to open the door again!
We were ushered into the living room by an equally confused maid who had to stumble over chairs.
His wife turned in.
They were about to go to bed.
She was in her night gown.
She saw me and was scared with the expression of, ‘Okay, you have come to fire my husband finally’.
The guy came downstairs, petrified as my wife and I walked into the private living room.
The wife wanted to get up and leave.
I told the guy I came to apologise for my rude and harsh behaviour towards him and I told him am sorry.
They all got emotional but I got relieved.
It was like a heavy load had been taken off me.
I still get upset with things going up wrong, but I don’t get to a point I feel I am too big to say sorry.
And am learning to treat people better.
You can be referred to as "Your Excellency" today, but, for the best, it will only last eight years.
Senator?
Minister?
It is not forever!
Permanent Sec? It is still not permanent and we all know it's just a title and not a life long position.
Director?
CEO?
DG?
etc.
Life is a stage, a platform for services unto God.
So let everyone take heed. Forgive and have regard for Human beings"
Emmanuel Petit on Premier League clubs mocking Arsenal after the final defeat:
🗣️ “I have to say, I found it embarrassing.
The second Arsenal lost, some Premier League clubs couldn't wait to jump on social media and remind everyone about their European trophies.
That tells you everything.
Instead of supporting an English club representing the league on the biggest stage in club football, they were busy celebrating Arsenal's pain.
For me, that's not rivalry. That's insecurity.
Arsenal were 90 minutes away from doing something special, and rather than show respect, people were desperately searching through the history books for old trophies to post online.
Why? Because they were terrified of seeing Arsenal join that club.
Let's be honest, some of these clubs spent the entire season watching Arsenal compete at a level they couldn't reach.
The jealousy was obvious.
The moment Arsenal fell short, they treated it like they had won something themselves.
That's the mentality of people who would rather see Arsenal fail than focus on their own success.
The trophy may have slipped away, but the reaction from some rivals showed exactly how much Arsenal still live rent-free in their heads.”
🚨A Message From Legend Wenger To The Family.
My dear Arsenal family,
🗣️Football can be the most beautiful thing in the world, and also the cruellest. Yesterday we saw both.
🗣️I watched our players give everything on that pitch in Budapest their hearts, their souls, their intelligence. They played with the spirit that has defined this club for so long: courage, technical quality, and a refusal to give up even when the moments became difficult. Kai’s early goal, the way we controlled large parts of the game… we were so close again. So very close.
🗣️I know how much this hurts. I felt it myself in 2006. That pain is real because the love is real. When you care as deeply as we do at Arsenal, defeat in a final cuts to the bone. But please, do not let this moment define the season or the progress we have made. This team has brought the club back to the very highest level. They have consistency, they have character, and they have shown they belong among Europe’s elite.
🗣️To the players: hold your heads high. You have made us proud. To Mikel and the staff: you have built something special keep believing, keep building. To the fans who travelled and those watching everywhere: your support was magnificent, as always. You are the soul of this club.
🗣️I had so hoped to be with you on the streets of north London for the parade, to see the smiles, the flags, the pride in every face. But sadly I won’t be able to attend. Travel and health make it difficult at this time. Still, know that my heart will be right there with every single one of you, cheering, singing, and remembering how far we have come together.
🗣️The trophy is still missing from the Emirates, yes. But the journey to get there has been magnificent, and the story is not finished. We have come so far. Pain today, but hope and pride forever.
We will rise again. Because that is who we are.
Thank you, and I love this club with all my heart.
Arsène Wenger ❤️
🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: More than 2 million fans have attended the Arsenal parade today!
There isn't even room to walk. Media from all over the world are here. Gabriel is dancing. Arteta has a cigar in hand.
This is LARGEST parade in Football history!