Story By John Oyebanji
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John Oyebanji

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Nigerian Christian Minister
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A CHRISTMAS ON THE MOON
Updated at Dec 15, 2025, 10:29
In 2079, humanity finally lives on the Moon.Haven Crater—Earth’s first permanent lunar settlement—was built as a promise: a second beginning after decades of division, loss, and exhaustion back home. As December arrives, the colony prepares for its first Christmas, hoping the celebration will remind a broken Earth that unity is still possible.But beneath the Moon’s silent surface, something begins to stir.A strange signal pulses from deep below the crater floor—steady, rhythmic, and growing stronger by the day. At first, it looks like a system glitch. Then the ground begins to shift. Power falters. Structural warnings appear where none should exist. The Moon, long believed to be lifeless and obedient, seems to be responding.Liora Jameson, a brilliant but emotionally guarded lunar engineer, is assigned to investigate. She trusts equations, not traditions—and she avoids talking about the past that drove her to leave Earth behind. Christmas means little to her, and closeness even less.Her work brings her face-to-face with Rafael Calder, a former astronaut whose career ended in disgrace after a decision that saved lives—but ruined his reputation. Haunted, observant, and quietly compassionate, Rafe understands space in ways no simulator can teach. He feels that the Moon is not malfunctioning.It is speaking.When an eleven-year-old coding prodigy, Mika Okoye, discovers that the signal is adapting—changing in response to observation—the truth becomes unavoidable: the Moon is not inert. It is ancient. Aware. And humanity’s presence has awakened it.As Christmas Eve approaches and the signal intensifies, Haven Crater stands on the brink of collapse. Earth demands answers. Evacuation may no longer be possible. And Liora must choose between the safety of control and the terrifying vulnerability of listening—to the Moon, to her own buried grief, and to the growing bond between herself and Rafe.Under a sky where snow never falls, amid flickering lights and fragile hope, Christmas becomes more than a celebration.It becomes a test.A CHRISTMAS ON THE MOON is a slow-burning, emotionally rich science-fiction story about second chances, quiet love, found family, and the courage it takes to listen—especially when the universe finally answers back.
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VICTORY AT LAST
Updated at Dec 10, 2025, 05:04
Victory At Last is a satirical allegory inspired by Nigeria’s turbulent political journey, told through a cast of symbolic animals whose world mirrors the nation’s struggles, triumphs, and contradictions. Set in a once-promising land now trapped in cycles of betrayal, failed leadership, and manipulated hope, the story follows a community that repeatedly entrusts its destiny to rulers who speak of unity but govern for personal gain.As power shifts from one faction to another, the animals witness familiar patterns: alliances forged for convenience, revolutions hijacked by ambition, and idealistic voices silenced by the loud machinery of propaganda. Each chapter exposes the subtle mechanics of manipulation—the rewriting of history, the myth-making around flawed leaders, and the exploitation of ethnic and religious fears.Yet the narrative is not merely a chronicle of decline. Woven throughout is the stubborn resilience of ordinary creatures who refuse to surrender their belief in a better future. From the quiet thinkers who preserve collective memory to the small labourers who keep society functioning despite chaos, their courage forms the hidden backbone of the land.The turning point arrives when a new awareness spreads: salvation cannot be outsourced to saviours who rise on grand promises but crumble under the weight of personal interest. True transformation lies in collective awakening—the moment the animals recognise their own agency, reclaim their voice, and dismantle the illusions that kept them divided and powerless.Through humour, irony, and sharp social critique, Victory At Last charts a path from disillusionment to renewal. It challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about leadership, followership, and national destiny, while offering a hopeful vision of rebirth rooted in responsibility, unity, and moral clarity.In the end, victory is not the triumph of a hero but the awakening of a people.
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