Money does the talking

Ever run into a Nigerian who does not boast of how much 'money' Nigeria has and how much they are making in Nigeria or abroad? Nigerians love money. Even if they make it in 'flirt', while fleecing themselves, it does not matter. I hope you enjoy the pictures and ask yourself the famous movie line question: 'Show Me The Money.'

 

Nigerians have resigned their faith to accepting whatever condition they create themselves or that of those handed to them by their leaders; fathers, mothers, uncles, cousins and in-laws. It is sad to know that what Nigerians have to deal with comes not from the 'colonial' master but from fellow Nigerians known to Nigerians by tribe, birth and all other forms of relationships.

 

How can it be in today's world when it is easy to leap frog from nothing to something that most Africa's nations (especially its so called giant 'Nigeria')  have fallen to ruins with no end to the abysmal drop/fall? Despite all the noise about money in Nigeria, there is no one sector of the economy that has emerged as a sustainable aspect of the collective existence of Nigerians. Even if every village is made a 'state' and each compound is flowing with 'black gold-OIL', Nigerians will default into some other aspects of life as an excuse not to do anything right. A people that love excuses over reasons.

 

Dilapidated car and road

There are constant stories of how much money Nigeria has and how many billionaires there are in the country. But visit Nigeria. What will you see? Heaps and piles of rubbish at the airport and every where, even in the front of houses owned by the 'billionaires'. Nigerians don't care and it shows in what they live in. If the airport is the last and first edifice one sees as they exit and re-enter a country, assuming one is traveling by air, Nigeria has a bad example. As one makes it through the cities/towns/villages, things hardly get better or impressive. All one is confronted with is evidence of decay and decadence, and Nigerians appear to be immune to such conditions. Nigerians love the way their country is and celebrate decadence like no other people on the face of the earth.

 

There is no need continuing to harp on conditions Nigerians live in at home. Now visit events and projects run by Nigerians overseas. One is reminded that a goat does not transform over night to a sheep no matter the cloning. Nigerians abroad who are expected to be 'the new and improved', have become the 'stale and unimproved largely copying the ways of the people at home. In spite of the fact that there are millions of Nigerians living overseas, one is saddened when one visits any project or events conducted by Nigerians. It is always a disaster.

 

Nigerians do not know how to run organizations or plan to execute any project. But one thing they have agreed, is how to form churches. It is no wonder that Nigerians abroad own and have more churches than any recent immigrant group especially in US. Some of these churches are typically no more than a handful, led by some pastor/priest who is bent on abusing the 'flock' while proclaiming his mandate in the name of the Lord. For a people that so much love God, how come God's love is never shown at them either home or abroad? May be the prefaced attitude of God is a mask over the dubious ways and manners that go against God's wishes for his people and as a result, there is punishment for vanity. 'Thou shall not use the name of the Lord in vain', may be what Nigerians do. I have no way of knowing which is true. But I believe if one is a devout God worshipper, one must see result commensurate with the effort. Anything less, is a charade meant to mask dubious ways that go against all the fundamentals that enable a community thrive.

 

It is sad in Nigeria because Nigerians are sadistic, and will continue to be until they de-emphasize one thing they love so much, but hardly know how to use for the common good: MONEY. If the love of money, as said, is the root of all evils, Nigerians may have invented the saying and are living it well.

 

If there is money in the country as we are meant to believe, show it by way of good roads, good housing, healthcare, police and fire service that work and a leadership bent on doing the right thing. Until that happens, it does mean Nigerians live a life of lies and the lies are manifest in that nothing looks good or works in the country, except of course, one like the colorful and flashy attires that are worn on Sundays and at events. Other than that, everything associated with Nigerians and Nigeria, is decay and decadence, and they are happy to display such to the world.

 

The likes of Lagos State Governor Mr. Fashola may offer a dime of hope but then, I am reminded of the era of 1979-83, of then Lagos State Governor Alhaji Lateef Jakande, who tried to be different from the rest of then 19 governors. Lagos still ended up a dump and trash. Success at public service must be a continuous effort; a relay endeavor and never one achieved in isolation and far in-between times. Governor Fashola may be enjoying the limelight because the rest 35 governors are lazy, but Mr. Fashola may just be dancing naked in the square and attracting attention just because he is 'naked'.

 

There you have 'it'. Now, go take on the day and ask for a new arising as there may be a new horizon to brighten the day.

 

Ejike Okpa ii

Next Generation Fellow