Home Not HOME
A look at the disturbing and retrogressive state of the Nation (Nigeria) will easily bring tears and concern to a worthy citizen eyes and mind. Over time the most populous black nation in the world has become a shadow of itself in all facet of life. The acclaimed giant of Africa has become a mother in her own right which with stick and rod of bad governance and mismanagement chased his kids far away from her protective care and love.
Her arm of punishment is soo lethal and severe that her citizens spread across the faces of the earth like no other country in the world, they troop out in thousands everyday just to avoid the long punishing arm of the country, not minding whatever difficulties or harsh times awaits them across the unfamiliar boarders, to these sorjourners anywhere will do even conflict ridden and hostile environments are always considered an option. Leaving the country and looking for greener pastures elsewhere seems to be the right thing for a right thinking mind to do.
Nigeria is the only country that has citizens in all countries on earth. Over 40m Nigerians are in diaspora. The way it citizen seeks traveling papers is staggering and despite the bad treatment melted down on a visa seeking individual by the foreign consulars, it never deterred them from their quest, some will not even think twice on taking deadly illegal routes through water and land, deserts and jungles to get to their various desired destinations either dead or alive, to even realise that they wouldn't envisage to take up odds and menial jobs in their adopted homes is even more disheartening.
Imagine a Nigerian certified doctor taking up a security job abroad, or a brilliant attorney washing dishes in a shank restaurant own by a Pakistani immigrant.. or what can you say about a Nigerian pastor working as a bartender in a strippers joint. This is a disturbing shame to a country that started soo well. During the course of developing this article, I met with some older generations of the country who has nothing but smile producing memories of what it use to be in the hay days of the country.
With their sweet memory and account of what the country use to be like, one cannot help but wonder where it does go wrong, a lot of where and when, who and how could be pointed at…. to some; it was the premature seek and attainment of independent in 1960, that kick start the deterioration and backwardness of the once safe and steadily growing African juggernaut, the inexperience of the then leaders couldn’t curtail the interference of the snooping soldiers who is always not impressed by the ways of the politicians to sustained democracy., to some; it was when the military started meddling and interfering in the ruling affair of the country in 1966, which sees a settled government toppled to start the first military rule in the nation., to some; it was the oil boom in 1973 when
Nigeria became wealthy overnight and the problem is no more how to make money, but how to spend it, a lot of people believes the oil is a curse rather than a blessing for the giant nation., to some believers; it was 1977 when Nigeria hosted, celebrated and worship idols at FESTAC 77., some say; it was the second republic ruled by the corrupt Alhaji Shehu Shagari and co. ( from 79-83),. In all fairness, this African largest nation have experienced her own shares of darker days. From the effect of the disorienting scars of a civil war, to the destructive ideas and philosophies of some bad leaders, to the deaths of a couple of head of states in office.
The most populous black nation in the world is not done yet, although she is been ridden off her glory and power many times over, been drained and bleeded to his knees and almost to death, it will be unsafe to assert that the black nation is already dead, death is faraway, wounded…Yes, scarred….Yes, disoriented….Yes, but death…..No. Although, all these can still be fix, the decisions of Nigerian citizens to abandon their dear country to the hands of the political murderers and office holding robbers is more scary than whatever a country might have gone through in an entire lifetime.
The cowardice approach of ”checking out” is the most outrageous act of betrayal any country could ever face from its citizens. Should these checking out citizens decide to stay back and savage the country together with the rest of the home living nigerians, maybe the country would’ve been better off. Although the diaspora citizens are full of praises and good tidings of their adopted countries, It is no secret that they also go through hell in their quest to a good life in their respective abode. What could have been worse than a varieties of could be Nigerian future leaders and brilliant minds slaving away in a foreign land which did nothing or less in recognizing their potentials and brilliant minds
The little that found themselves in an environment where their potentials are recognized, are less awarded. Should we be truthful to ourselves and scrutinizing seek for a solution to all the destructive plague hurting this country, we wouldn’t be doing justice to it by not addressing the issue and believe of the ever increasing figures of the trooping out citizens, although they believe they will be well better off in the quest of leaving, it’s not a misguided knowledge that although they are in a place where their standard of living is well improved coupled with the believe that wherever someone lives and live better is home, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that they are home but not HOME.
Like a popular saying that HOME is the resting place of any sojourner. The Nigerian states and residence in diaspora should strive and try hard on this saying and find a way to bring themselves back home to deliver their personal quota of healing and making this country a better place for all. I figured there will be a diverse reactions to this assertion, all reactions are very welcome. I REST MY CASE.
