Lord Jeffrey Archer is dead at 86.
The British novelist, politician and master of the twist died yesterday. He had one of the most commercially successful literary careers of the modern era.
But Archer’s life had an intriguing Nigerian chapter.
It involved money, power, corruption, Switzerland and a lawsuit.
Every system decays toward mediocrity unless someone keeps the standards high. Your life is not exempt from this rule. Sometimes you have to imagine yourself as your own parent. That’s basically what growing up is.
I did it again yesterday fam. I looked over at the lady sitting beside me and saw her wristwatch was on her right hand. I leaned over and asked if she was left handed. When she said no, I dropped the trap,
"If you need to correct the time while wearing it, how do you reach the crown?"
I sat back and watched the exact moment logic hit her. She unclasped the watch, switched it to her left hand, and restored order to the universe.
Mission accomplished!!
Vivaldi's “Winter,” visualized in a fascinating way, so that the auditory experience is even more intense; one can literally “see” the music, so to speak
what doesn't kill you introduces you to carl jung, marcus aurelius, epictetus, friedrich nietzsche, james baldwin, bell hooks, audre lorde, frantz fanon, paulo freire, joseph campbell, alan watts, ram dass, gary zukav, brene brown, gabor mate, shadow work, attachment theory, nervous-system regulation, ancestral trauma, existentialism, stoicism, meditation, emotional intelligence, neuroplasticity, metacognition, pattern recognition, game theory, delusional optimism, boundaries and discernment.
It may not be your fault that you don't get to your dreams. But poor, cursed, unlucky; what evidence exists that you actually put your life on the line for the things you say you wanted? The things you say you deserved?
Deep conversation with buddies yesterday:
Mans said we are getting to the age where its becoming clearer who put in the work and who didn't. That it's not just a money thing, but even our in networks. The conversations we are having: what have you done with life? Are we referring to the things we have done, or the things we could have?
He knotted his fist, said, in fact, not achieving the dream is not the biggest issue. It's never having tried. Said he is no longer even concerned with being the biggest artist in Africa anymore, but when his son asks: "what did you do?", he wants to be able to point him to the evidence of his attempts:
That I did one, two, three, and there they are. That's more important than the dream. The things you actually do, not the aspirations.
I said, brother, you know there are disadvantages in life, like not having enough resources? Poor people work hard. They are just unlucky.
Dude, almost lost it. Said, first, I don't know who peddled this notion that privileged folks don't work hard but that aside, "Okuna, how many people do you have in your contact?"
I said hundreds.
He said, "if you were dying right now, would you call them to rescue you?"
I said, yes.
He said, have you reached out to any of them for your dreams? And not just to talk about dreams but to actually be a part of it?
I said, well, you know, everyone has something they are dealing with. I wouldn't want to impose.
He said, exactly! You don't want it bad enough, my brother. You are not dying to get your dreams. You still care about perceptions. And that's the problem, we build networks based on perceived and anticipated values we will never have if we don't ask now.
I said, Brother, it's not that people don't ask They ask and alll they get is a no.
Man banged his fist on the table, said, "Good! Delete number! Next!"
I said, Brother, you can't just discard folks because they refused to give you the value you wanted. They have other values.
He asked, what value?
I said, "Conversations. Sex. Future opportunities."
He said, "Okuna, you are dying. Having a dream, potential... is dying. A little everyday. The lights are going off, my man, and you still want to have sex, Okuna? What good are evening conversations when you're drowning, man?"
He said, "In fact, I hate to hear the word potential in adults because its definitive proof you didn't try hard enough. You didn't want it bad enough. It's better if we didn't know you had potential!"
He went on: Okuna, do you know how sad it is to see a guy who you know to be excellent, failing at life? Because of the sanctity they assign potential?
He said, In fact, I want you to lose people, man. I wish more men lost people. So you can lose the illusion of safety that keeps you floating. Every man should get to a place where he knows it's just him, his dreams, and his God!
That's when his journey really takes off!
He concluded, and said: "You know, Okuna, it may not be your fault that you don't get to your dreams. But poor, cursed, unlucky; what evidence exists that you actually put your life on the line for the things you say you wanted? The things you say you deserved?"
I recall arguing with some people here over the proper order to make when issues have been joined and a party decides to file a notice of discontinuance. My position then was very clear and simple: when issues have been joined, and the Claimant/Plaintiff files a notice of discountenance, the proper order the Court should make is an order of dismissal of the entire suit and not striking out order.
This position has now been reconfirmed and reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in the case of Access Bank v. Nivik Investment Ltd & 2 Ors (2026) 14 NWLR (PART 2059) 147.
Filing a Motion on Notice to discharge him unconditionally could help the situation.
In 2023/4, I handled cases of people who had been abandoned in Oko Prison, Benin City, since 2016. We could not trace their files and the Court that remanded them. The Police and the DPP could not account for their files.
I filed a Motion on Notice urging the Court to discharge them unconditionally, and they were granted. Upon granting my Applications, the Court prepared fresh Release Warrants together with the enrollment order of the Court for the Prison to release them. I personally drove the Court officials to the Prison, where I received the young men after their release.
Another option is to write to the Chief Judge of the State and take steps to present the young man's case during the annual Prison visit by the Chief Judge and other Judges of the High Court.
I believe you will get the desired results.
I would be willing to share the Processes I filed with you.
Enjoy the weekend, brother.
I am looking for two Law graduates who will be commencing their NYSC program in November 2026, must have been called to the Nigerian bar at the same time, interested in building a career within the Legal Dept of a financial services organisation in Lagos.
My DMs are open.
The advantages of choosing your workwear the night before are highly underrated. It saves a great deal of time and allows you to spot possible issues with your outfits.
It looks like a quick decision to make until you wake up and realise that time is against you.