The Traumatised Nigerian Life
When I saw the video of another Nigerian killed in India, it did not surprise me one bit. When so called Nigerian leaders do not value the lives of their own people due to primitive allegiances, ancient tribal differences, and religious fanaticism, this is what we should expect — the devaluing of the Nigerian life at home and abroad. Of course, we do not know the context of this recent episode of violence against Nigerians, but no one should be killed or punished for a suspected crime, before a trial or investigation. Nigerian lives have been devalued, are being devalued and will continue to be devalued until we sacrifice for the generations yet unborn and do something about this madness.
Yes we are good at maths, science and the arts. We are doing well in promoting Africa through music and theatre. We are making ground breaking scientific discoveries in universities and scientific institutions abroad and we are hustling while suffering and smiling at home. But, Nigerians are a very bruised, traumatised, hurt and exploited people. What makes this even more painful is that this exploitation is led by Nigerians themselves.
We devalue our girls and traffic them for sex abroad or we commit violence against them at home. We objectify them and put pressure on them to conform to perverted ideas of feminity. Our girls are suffering immense violence as house helps in Arab lands and from sex crimes in Europe. The traditional rulers and elders have become shamelessly compromised in greed and callousness. They care not one hoot for the plight of our people. All they know how to do is roam around in convoys with corrupt uniformed men, sirens blaring to announce the arrival of their vanity and pomposity. Shameless bosses pressure even married women for sex in return for favours and career advantage, can you believe it ? We have been dehumanised.
What about our sons, brothers, and fathers? Even worse. No gainful employment, no land to farm, no social and economic programmes to alleviate their hopelessness and pain. Yet they are expected to remain law abiding, submissive citizens. In some states salaries have not been paid for years. Workers are dehumanised by their cruel & psychotic bosses for the crime of being lucky to have a job. The most dastardly crime of all is the holding back of pension money from the most fragile amongst us , retirees, many of whom have sacrificed the ‘best parts of their life for a better Nigeria, a one Nigeria. Instead they are rewarded with early deaths in penury or prolonged miserable lives lived in abject poverty.
So tell me, when the Nigerian life is devalued, diminished and in many cases extinguished by Nigerians and Nigerian leaders, why won’t Nigerians abroad be brutalised, killed and traumatised with zero consequences. After all, the Nigerian government never summons the ambassadors of these countries to complain or take other necessary action. Their only concern is $$$$$$$. Greedy morons everywhere.
Even religious clergy men devalue the Nigerian life and take advantage of already bruised people to further sell them hope that is hopeless. Yes, our leaders are heartless, but many Nigerians are equally as heartless. So, I watched this video, and I was almost overcome with indignation and thought to myself, why are Nigerians even leaving Nigerian to go abroad?? We have everything we need at home — fertile land, resources including human resource, a massive hustling and innovative spirit ? Simple . Because our so called leaders , fail again and again and again and again. In their thinking , so long as Lekki, Ikoyi, VI , Abuja etc are doing well, everything else is perfectly fine by their standards. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few leaders who are trying their best and making progress, especially in Anambra state to my immediate knowledge. Why can’t other leaders follow suit and work tirelessly for their own people.
What we need is change, a kind of change that will lead to the permanent eradication of poverty, war, religious violence, exploitation, and the persistent, consistent and pervasive dehumanisation of the Nigerian life. We need to start valuing our lives, the lives of our neighbours even if our neighbours are of a different tribe or religion. We need to start protecting and providing for our women. In fact we need a total overhaul of the current system to bring about desperately needed change, so that the humanity, dignity and spiritually of all Nigerians suffering at home and abroad is restored.
I think I will stop here for now.
