THE EXODUS OF HOPE…..ONLY IN NIGERIA?

 

Have you ever wondered why there are so many mad people in Lagos? Or so many beggars in Ibadan, or so many angry people in Warri? Or so many kidnappers in both Lagos and Port Harcourt? Or so many prostitutes in Calabar and Benin?  Or so many child marriages and child beggars in Kaduna, Sokoto and the Boko-haram torn Maiduguri? Or why our police always have "change"? Or why Nigerians are generally hot-tempered? That even at the slightest provocation they are ready to “burn at stake”? I was in a public transport some days ago and saw a woman vehemently insulting and pouring torrents on a bus conductor over N10 change. And I just thought to myself, where did it all begin? How did we get here?  Well, maybe at the birth or naming ceremony of this nation. But like others, it didn’t start as a gory tale, but as a fairy-tale which ended rather abruptly. My version is not of history but of state of being…….

In her moment of creativity, Flora Shaw, the concubine of Lord Lugard, assumed the opportunity of a lifetime, and perhaps sitting on the Cathedra of modern politics, gallant with royalty, her appearance, the splendor of a queen, her audience spell bound with great eagerness to hear her speak; in a convivial atmosphere, she proclaimed the name: Nigeria! Hence, a nation was born (or rather named). An entity, whose default configuration is still uncertain. In her words, “for a people so strong, so diverse, so nourishing by culture and nature, they would tighter form a formidable brand”. Indeed a formidable brand!

Since the naming ceremony of this nation we’ve found ourselves submerged in an unfavorable socio-economic climate that is characterized by a crop of clueless, aimless, visionless, and unfocused gang of looters posing as leaders. There is the incessant cry for secession by the Biafrans, the cries of oppression, repression and subjugation by the Niger Deltans, the threat of the Arewa youths, the absence of our president for months and counting, the undiminishing rate of unemployment staring the youths in their faces, the dearth of concern greeting the educational sector, the epileptic provision of basic amenities to the masses, the exploitative features of religious groups, the diminution of our cherished naira and the seeming down turn of the nation’s economy; yet, on a daily basis, “so-called” leaders soar on high in Arik, British and Qatar airways. Injustice is canonized and justice thus trampled upon.

Nigeria! Who can really understand her? The more you try, the more confused, confounded and sometimes angry you become. Perhaps this explains the shared anger of all citizens. Everything about her defies natural logic. From all prospects she should be one of the most endowed territories on earth, brimming with the Aristotelian potentiality of becoming an economic, social and political base for all to look up to, (well, they look up to us, just not in the positive sense). In the midst of abundance, Nigerians swim in the Mississippi of lack and abhorrent goggled poverty. You will find in Nigeria…..

-          A politician consulting God before stealing public funds and doing thanksgiving afterwards (the lighting and thunder that will hit you eh, will come from Sambisa forest!).

-          In this nation the Code of Conduct Bureau is used as the cage for political dogs.

-          Only in Nigeria would someone win an election he did not contest for.

-          Our economy seems to be on a cruising speed yet hunger stares at citizens like a confused monkey waiting for banana to fall (not that Davido type though).

-          Only in Nigeria you will pay electricity bills while using candles and lantern. (Infact I went to one of their offices recently, and found that they were using a generator set; I gave up immediately-no hope!).

-          It is only Nigeria that takes more than 4000 megawatts of power to generate darkness.

-          Only in Nigeria is it normal for a 70 year old man to be a “youth leader” and representative. (When he should be their “grand-patron”).

-          Only in Nigeria is truth on permanent holiday.

There are more vicious things that you and I know but can’t talk about for “fear of the Jews”. (Wait first o, where is Evans and Mr. President???). I know not of any country that practically celebrates clowns (unless of cause the “Trump-iac” US) and vicious men as leaders, (from the famous “Ajeku e anioje” to the “Saraki-ic plague”). Only in this country will honesty be stigmatic and looting being nifty. (Regardless of the newest job offer of “blowing whistles”). It continues……

-          Only in Nigeria would Abacha’s loot fly to Otta farm, while the death of “Air Nigeria” and “Virgin Nigeria” is still being mourned.

-          In Nigeria, a single senate committee budget rubs shoulders with state budgets. (Where we have tires of committee in the senate established to check if the president’s dinner is safe and they get paid for drinking bottled water).

-          Only in Nigeria would you see the budget for refreshment in Aso Rock, being more than the entire budget of the ministry of agriculture. (I wonder if they order their eggroll or doughnut from heaven).

-          Only in Nigeria would you find the dessert area being more populated than the temperate regions. (You won’t understand until election time).

-          Only in this geographical and demographical enclave called Nigeria would you find 160 million people nearly hopeless!

Where did it go wrong? At what time exactly? Who are the players of this game? Well, these are primordial and fundamental questions that must characterize the daily lives of all well-meaning citizens. Nonetheless, in the midst of all these, we are termed the “happiest” people on the face of the earth, one of the richest countries with the poorest peoples, one of the 20 largest economies in the world when more than 50 million citizens are homeless, hungry and forlorn. What an irony! Was this ever anticipated at the naming ceremony of this nation? I think I now see the reason that woman was angry; but was it the fault of the conductor that the nation was messed up? Well, I guess we are Nigerians and …….“that’s how we roll”.

RE-LOOTING THE LOOTS: A Tale of Thieves

I've heard alot of stuff about the recovering of the looted loots, but this is my own tale of the re-looting of the looted loots............

Daddy always bought meat pie and Limca for all of us in the house, everyday on his way from work. This was yet another highlight of our growing years. Though, we lived in what is considered face-2-face two-room apartment, he could afford the basic things of life according to his means. This was in the heat of the early 90’s, whence the socio-economic climate of the Nigerian state was somewhat cloudy as there were mixture of feelings as to the possibility of a better future. But of course, things were better off. Those of us who grew up and stayed in typical face-2-face neighborhood could afford three square meal. Presently, the black gold (even though it has reached its menopause in terms of its produce and relevance to the economy) still contributes to the economy, plus there are other means from which the government generates income. Yet, Nigerians can’t make ends meet. A civil servant cannot afford three quality square meal; meat pie and coca cola have now become luxury! (Ask my father for clarification,*I laugh in Urhobo*). But in the midst of all these, government officials go about in fleet of cars and travel abroad for treatment of “common cold”. They hinge their inability to manage the situation on the previous governments who have eloped with a vast majority of the nation’s treasure. But have these loots not been returned or so they say?

For a long time, the Nigerian antigraft agency, the EFCC has been ostensibly recovering funds looted by protuberant office holders. From the reign of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to the administration of Ibrahim Mustafa Magu, trillions of naira have been said to have been recovered. While we applaud this unprecedented giant stride, we often forget to question the whereabouts of these “recovered loots”. Or are these great recoveries just mere propaganda to make us believe that the war against corruption is actually being fought? It is no longer news that Nigeria is currently experiencing unparalleled economic hemorrhage, worsened by the fall in oil prices and the obvious devaluation of the Naira that has placed Nigeria behind the tide of economic activities in the world.

We seem poor today because of unrestrained merciless siphoning of the treasury by every Tom, Dick and Harry saddled with the charge of managing our Commonwealth. Salaries are not being paid by states who actually get monthly allocations from the federal government as well as generate revenue internally, in spite of the fact that Nigerian civil servants are actually underpaid, and the employment ratio is actually abysmal. That’s by the way. But wait a moment, has anyone ever tried to X-ray the educational system? To find out the rot in our government universities? That's a story for another day. The loots allegedly recovered from “corrupt Nigerians” by the EFCC is enough to fund the entire Nigeria’s budget for years. Funds recovered from the Late Sani Abacha, the ever celebrated James Ibori and a host of others have eye-propping figures that can get to every Nigerian when shared even in millions. But, where are these recovered funds? What have they been used for? The EFCC cannot claim to be fighting graft when it cannot render fitting account of how the recovered loots, which according to them runs into trillions of Naira have been spent or saved. The federal government cannot claim to be fighting corruption if issues such as these cannot be made clear. I think it is high time we stopped this “Buharization” of Nigeria because it seems to be heading for ruins! You can imagine the hogwash he said about corruption during his October 1^st speech.  “Corruption is a cancer which must be fought with all the weapons at our disposal. It corrodes the very fabric of government and destroys society. Fighting corruption is Key, not only to restoring the moral health of the nation, but also to freeing our enormous resources for urgent socio-economic development…..”  (No.17 presidential speech, October 1^st ‘16). Has there been any record of account read to any committee on the looted funds? Has there been any proof that these returned loots have been put to full utility? Or Nigerians are not entitled to these information? Yet, a supposed president came out with his political jargons of anti-corruption achievements! On a day the nation ought to be celebrating freedom and fairness. Oh Nigeria!

The problematic with most Nigerians is that we often show “I-don’t-care” approach to matters regarding our communal wealth. There’s nothing to show that the recovered loots have been put to civic use. Even if they have, the impact has not been felt. We need detailed clarification in that regard. I dare to say that as far as loots recovered are re-looted, we would continue to cuckold ourselves in the fight against corruption. The “Dasukigate” and “Metugate” are just a few of the thousands of “gates” that we have not yet unearthed. Ribadugate, Wazirigate, "Melayegate", Lamordegate, Magugate and of course Buharigate should be investigated. Did I just say investigate?  Wait! Who will investigate the investigators? This Nigeria sef!

OUR "HEROES" ARE OUR PROBLEM

Yes! I mean that! You must be trying to reconcile the paradox right? Now let me take you on my journey…..

It was Christmas; a time to make merry, to meet friends after a long while of “hustling”; a time for family re-union; a time to re-establish connections with loved ones, to celebrate, to make people feel loved, and most significantly, a time to lend a helping hand. One evening, my mom returned from the usual sharing of “Christmas gifts” organized by St. Vincent de Poor group of the Catholic Church, and was complaining bitterly of how low their turn up were. Just five days after, in the heat of the December sun, we heard a rumble outside our house, with cries of a wounded woman and her child strapped with a torn cloth to her back. She was bleeding from the ankle and her child seemed to have had a bruise on the forehead. Blood was gushing out from her son’s head like water from an overfilled tank. This woman had fallen into the gutter in the midst of the rancor. Those around gave no attention to her or the baby, because they were engrossed in what appeared to be a battle for survival. In fact, it was during the process of this struggle that she fell into the gutter nearby. Ahead of the unscrupulously disarrayed crowd, comprising mostly of women of low economic standing (as it appeared) and children with clothes similar to the toilet mop stick of our neighbor, was a small platform with a Mercedes Benz (G-wagon) and a truck parked beside it. Inside the car was a female figure who seemed to be the “boss”, giving orders and ranting like a confused lioness. In the truck were items that could be classified as “essential commodities”; they included rice tied in small polythene bags, tissue papers of cheap quality, cartons of Noodles, some bags of salt, a number of Chickens that resembled birds struck with the flu with a touch of Ebola; baskets of onions amidst other items.  These items seemed to be the bane of this injurious struggle. Each person wanted a package of these “goods” and so must struggle to the front where the show was hottest. Upon inquiry, we discovered that the woman in the car was the wife of the Local Government chairman and the items been shared were their “Christmas gifts” to the community. They were been showered with praises and prayers by the women (recipients of this “kind” gesture). They were “heroes” who came to the rescue of the people.

Now the indices………..First, this LG chairman was earlier arrested for embezzling the money meant for building a market for the community and for renovating the derelict hospital in the community. The roads within the community were nothing but death traps. Secondly, during his campaign, he promised to pay all outstanding salaries to the local government workers and to give loans to all promising young entrepreneurs to start up small trades. All of these were not met even after the first term in office. Thirdly, this was the same man who bought cars worth N350, million for himself and his wife on their return from their “world tour” and told the people that they were gifts and I asked: which road are they going to drive them on? More so, the people had not seen 24hrs electricity or a trace of it since his assumption of office. (Four years and counting). And these people are the people’s heroes! But instead of giving the people dried and broken fish, why not teach them how to fish by providing them the implements and environment for fishing which are their entitlements? Oh no! They are our heroes. The funny thing is that after Christmas, everything went back to status quo. And these “heroes” went again, into hibernation.

Have we not noticed recently that there are many lies, rumors and half-truths that are paraded in the media, social media networks? These are handiworks of politicians and supporters who would go any length to win elections and to sustain their perceived “heroic” personalities. The trend is same. Facts are distorted and shared daily as truth. Pictures are manipulated and shared as originals. Everybody has turned to video producers, as we make and share video clips that are either full of lies or half-truths. Some hitherto reputable broadcast stations have thrown professionalism to the dogs, as they join in the “show of shame.” Events such as the one pulled at the front of our house are paraded as been “in favor” of the people.

Prior to the 2015 general elections the status quo in Nigeria was simply horrendous. (As we were told by the opposition), life was as its lowest ebb. The government of the day was busy pursuing shadows. Mayhem and complete insecurity of life and property was the order of the day.

Now, there is a new government with promises of change. Salaries of most workers at various strata of government are still been negotiated; health workers at different states of the federation go on and off strike, oil prices have fallen, the Naira has refused to stand up to its peers in terms of value, economic austerity measures are choking, the insurgency of the “Boko Haram” sect is not ending, kidnapping and maiming of life of innocent citizens is on a daily basis, empty political campaigns and promises for various public offices are going on unabated, political wrangling, rumors and speculation about Nigeria’s disintegration is widespread with the problematic of “Biafra Rising”; there is general disorientation and a sense of hopelessness that looms large among the citizenry. One might begin to wonder what the so called general elections brought in. One is poised to think that the prospect for a better change in Nigeria is less tenable and we might just end up with another change disaster. But where are the “heroes” that promised to bring change?

 With the present, there seems to be no shift in paradigm as promised by the propaganda government that hitherto, continue to make scandalously insurmountable promises that might never come to fruition. Things can only be changed for better by change-agents of vision, not some propagandists who share polythene bags of rice as a show of philanthropy. And we are all part of this process. Nigerian situation will only change for the better through the sacrifices of such men of vision like you, who would use their time and talent for the common good. The history of great nations has always borne witness to the volume of commitments and sacrifices of its patriots and statesmen.

 I dare to say that Nigeria does not need a hoopla of a government that will ultimately do nothing different, what she needs is dedicated pragmatism for this change to occur. This entails conscious efforts directed at solving problems in practical ways. It means people would have to start thinking and acting differently from the way they used to. This is when re-orientation comes in. It is believed that for handy change to occur, good orientation has to be entrenched in the lives and consciousness of the citizenry. We need to start seeing our acclaimed “heroes” for who they really are- pretenders!

This re-orientation is premised on the fact that Nigeria has lost direction at a point of our political cum social history. Thus, re-orientation implies orienting the one that has been oriented before but veered off the right path. That is what our government needs. That is what Nigerians need! The present dispensation claims to have what it takes to change the future of the country. (Well, have you really seen anything different? Or the future is not yet here?) They promised to deal with issues decisively and within time. They promised that every facet of the country would change and above all, they would hit the ground running.

Perhaps, it is not the case that they underestimated the problems of Nigeria or that they over-rated their administration’s ability before taking the paddle sticks; it seems rather, that it is the case that they discovered that the nation is not where it was about 40 years ago. Whether or not they knew their promises were unrealizable within the time frame that the constitution allots them would not be tenable on the day of reckoning.

On the other hand, the collective enterprises of the citizens in service of the common good are the index of a nation’s development. No nation can develop above the well-being of its citizens, it is the well-being of the citizens that determines the parameter of its national development. The Nigerian state needs to work hard against the “tragedy of the commons” and she needs chivalrous contributions of its patriots and statesmen for the needed socio-economic transformation that everybody is preaching.

The concern is not entirely with the politicians though. It also pinches the followers. Nigerian political supporters are known to be fanatics, who only see the good in their leaders and are ready to “violently” defend anything negative said about them. When properly “tuned” and “wired” they can go to any length. They are very “ignitable” at any slight prompting. We are witnesses to the aftermath of unguided statements by some politicians before, during and after elections in the past. Some fundamental cum reflective questions I pose to fellow citizens are: after you have consumed these perishables given as charity and/or bribe, what next? Will you wait until the next public celebration before you eat? Can we not avoid the situation of that woman and her son, wounded whilst they struggle for what should be their rights, rather treated as scavengers and refugees in their homeland? And after been manipulated by these “heroes” during elections, what next? Why have you not realized that it is your right as citizens to be paid salaries after work, to aid your living and not a privilege given to you at Christmas or other celebrations? When will you realize that you are entitled to good roads, good water, electricity, and other rudimentary amenities and not some “handbag” rice with some “leprosaic” chicken given by those who, should in the first place, provide for your resources; not out of their own self-acclaimed “goodwill” but from the state’s provision, which you are entitled to, by virtue of your membership. When will you see that these gifts are peanuts compared to what you deserve as a citizen? When will you see these “show of kindness” as mere propaganda to keep you locked in the vertex of cumulative want? When will you wake up from you ignorant slumber and realize that our “HEROES” are our problem?

Eroma 'Ruona Paul-mark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Range Rover versus "Keke na pep"......

Okay...........Now to the AVERAGE Nigerian....

I keep on ruminating on the reason behind the quest and lust for luxurious and exotic cars....is it the case that we allow our material possessions to define our essence? Or the quest to show the "other" that we are better is what constitutes the propelling force for this continuous acquisition of "goods" that have no direct bearing and impact on our lives in relation to the larger Nigerian society?
I was in a tricycle yesterday (popularly acclaimed as "Keke na pep"), and a Range Rover Sport drove past us like a whirlwind..... Instead of the "keke man" to be mindful of his well being having survived a "near-accident" scenario, he was swearing thus: "Chai!!!!! O boy...I must buy my own Range o...I must do wetin dis man do me so".......
Seriously???? Who does that?? Nigerians!...must we continue to be propelled by vengeance?? Wait sef o...is that one even vengeance or stupidity married with unscrupulous anger?????

Anyway.....just a thought from a Nigerian MIND.