[PLEASE READ WITH AN OPEN MIND] This track is dedicated to - TopicsExpress

[PLEASE READ WITH AN OPEN MIND] This track is dedicated to Linda Ikeji, a woman who lived like she had no enemies. I am not here to rejoice over her current predicament, i have nothing to gain from it, i only want to highlight some vital points for the benefit of the rest of us. E sa mo wipe agba to jin si koto, ogbon lo ye ko ko awon to nbo lehin. Unfortunately, we dont usually take our time to study other peoples mistakes and learn from them not to repeat the same. This is the secret behind the man i have become today. I learn from the mistakes and success stories of people. I dont laugh at the downfall of people, rather i critically analyse the things they have done wrong that i need to avoid. Ko seni to gbon tan nile aye, gbogbo wa si nko eko ni. In that light of this understanding, i am not writing from the stance of Mr Too-sabi but just sharing valuable lessons which i have learnt from her matter. Let me begin by establishing these facts: 1. THERE ARE ENEMIES. Dont live your life like you have none. There are people who are hell-bent on pulling you down the moment they realise you are rising. 2. ENEMIES CANNOT GET YOU WITHOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT. You need to be wiser than your enemies and not play into their hands. The only way they can succeed in their plans over you is when you play into their hands. Keep your cards close to your chest. The first out of the many errors Linda commited was that she lived like she had no enemies yet we all know how fast she was accumulating them. Even when these enemies never hid their intentions in bringing her down, she carried on like they never existed until they caught up with her. Lesson: There are enemies. Do not play into their hands. Always be a step ahead of your enemies. Secondly, like most Nigerians, Linda had no regard for rules or authority. She lived the life who want catch me forgetting that her kind of business is borderless, and cannot hide behind the curtain of lawlessness and corrupt legal system in Nigeria. Plagiarism is a serious offence in the western world, but no be big deal for Nigeria. There is a division wether plagiarism can be an offence on a gossip blog or not. I am not a lawyer but i think yes it is. The catch in the blogging world is the traffic. News drive traffic. So in essence, taking other peoples stories wihout reference, to drive traffic to your site inorder to generate money is an offence. About 1 or 2 years ago, Ruggedman copied one of my write-ups and passed them off on his twitter page as his. Linda, seeing it was hot, copied all and equally pasted on her blog. Chai!..e and see mad traffic jam. I didnt know this because i dont visit her blog but some friends who read the article earlier on my FB page called my attention to it after they had already scattered the whole place urging both parties to do the needful and give credit to the original owner. Did any of them respond? NO! They arrogantly called my bluff. So what did i do? NOTHING! Lesson: Always learn the rules before you break them. Dont live arrogantly thinking you can get away with everything. Thirdly, i think Lindas success went into her head and she could no longer think straight. She left undone what she should have, and was doing things that were not neccessary. She should have bought a personal domain name and back up her contents knowingfully well that she was on a free site that can be closed anytime. She was showing off her range of automobiles and Rolex writswatch which was unneccessary. She could afford a N45m SUV but not a $10 domain. All the domain names relating to hers have been purchased by domain squatters who were thinking far ahead of her. Only God knows how much shell be asked to pay if she decides to buy one off them. Her company is not even incorporated so if a big company like Daily Mail, which she palgiarised decided to prosecute her, shell be personally liable. She is not the only plagiarist blogger but she was targeted because of how she exposed herself. Lesson: When ones yam is matured, you dont flaunt it. Just eat it codedly. Apply caution in everything you do. Ti eniti o de loni la ri. A o mo ti eniti o mbo lola. E je ka fi eyi kogbon. AV Written by one of my most admired young men of our generation..Akin VòGg