About a year ago I started writing a book “How Shit
Started” where I planned on sharing how simple the solution to our bourgeoisie
problems are- that if only we can change the way we ACT the ripple effects of
our actions would change those around us hence, the Nigeria we’ve always longed
for.
But then I stopped writing after completing 5 chapters. I
stopped not because people said nobody except my mom would read my book or
because I had nothing else to write.
NO! I stopped because I was am a Nigerian….
Flash forward 6 months>>>> I was involved in
a hot argument with some “patriotic” Nigerians. We were discussing the reactions
of the Govt and the… wait a min. (PS: holders of public offices are referred to
the Govt in this article and that includes NEPA, NPF, and NASS… I think you dig
now) to the GAY bill and why it wasn’t passed and the effects.
We almost threw punches at each other. They were really
passionate about the GAY bill as if their lives depended on it. And they were
not alone. Every single person I talked to (except my mom) never agreed with me
on the GAY ish.
We took it personal. Clerics declared vigils and prayers.
Some people even threatened war chanting “we no go gree o. we no go
gree” it was all bull shit to me. “If you be GAY wetin be my own. At
least you no kill anybody, you no steal Naija money” this was my argument.
So I stopped writing my book because I thought nobody
would read after all-we are all Nigerians. This time even my mom saw me as this
super-hero crazy fellow from another planet.
But something happened that made me realize how wrong I
was. My best friend was harassed by the police. He was to go get something not
far from where he stays when he was stopped by a man claiming to be a policeman
with a gun and a plastic ID carrying the NPF logo hanging around his neck… this
was their convo:
Police man: hey stop there
My guy: yh, wassup any problem?
Police man: Who are you? Where are you going? Wetin you
carry?
*pauses* is this some job interview or what?
My guy: well
I am a student?
Police man:
where is your ID card? In short my oga wan see you.
So my friend
left with him to see the “oga” that was seated in one “danfo” (they probably
hijacked) across the street. He was then frisked and harassed publicly by those
that were supposed to be enforcing them laws. He was not the only victim. He
saw other innocent young Nigerians too.
He then told
me he felt like crying. Not because he was publicly harassed but because he was
a Nigerian and there was nothing he could do about it.
Maybe he is
right. Maybe he isn’t.
I think
being Nigerian is a perfect excuse you could use anywhere because nothing works
here.
Why did you
get to work late? Ha! Don’t you know I am a Nigerian?
Why are you
jobless? My aunty in the village is a witch I am a Nigerian oo
Just say I
am a Nigerian>>> and you might even get a free pass to heaven.
But who says
things can’t get better?
The only
reason why nothing works here is because we don’t want anything to. We are
satisfied with the status quo.
I have never
seen many Nigerians stand up against something like they did against the GAY
bill (except during the fuel subsidy-occupy Nigeria-ish).
Everywhere
you went then it was GAY, GAY, and GAY. Offices, schools, motels, churches, everywhere
you went.
And this was
something that never really affected us individually and even the nation as a
whole. It won’t make Nigeria any worse than it was.
But we all
(at least 70% of Nigerians did) stood together, held hands; some even fasted
because they didn’t want no GAY in Nigeria.
If only we
can come together and battle the real deal. Even if all it takes is to see these
problems as GAY. I think we should.
Let’s see
our government as GAY, let’s see Boko-Haram as GAY, let’s see these abnormal
things as GAY…
Let us speak
our silence. Don’t just say “I am a Nigerian”. There are so many abnormal
things we tend to see as normal because we are “Nigerians” and we think there
is nothing we can do about them.
Remember the
NIS recruitment scam, the killings by the Boko-Haram sect, the poor educational
system in the country, bad road networks, poor power supply amidst all other
abnormal things… these are the real GAY.
There is no
Nigerian (except maybe the president) that has not fallen victim to one of
these abnormal things.
Graduating
after 8yrs for a 5-year course is GAY
Screaming “UP
NEPA” for power supply that won’t even last 5 minutes is GAY
Professors
forcing students to pay else they fail is GAY
Killing of
innocent people is GAY…. “Super-GAY”
Hike of
school fees from #25,000 to #250,000 when the minimum wage is barely above
#18,000 is GAY.
234,230,18,1 (the number doesn't matter) school girls abducted is "SUPER-SUPER-GAY"
So let’s
stop the “e no concern me thing” or the “I am a Nigerian, there is nothing I
can do about it. There are things we can do.
Let’s fight them anyhow we can; pray, fast,
shout, scream, write, just do something but more importantly change the way
react to these things. Let’s see them as those abnormal things they are or GAY
(anyone that works for you though).
Let’s take
one step at a time. Change the way we act. Let’s see abnormal things as
abnormal. Do not be satisfied with the status quo.
Sadiq Daniel
is a GAY crazy entrepreneur that blogs on
business, Self- development and his country’s
bullshit. He is currently working on his latest book: Everyone Thinks I’m Crazy, Slated to be out by
February 2015. You can pursue him on Twitter:
@sadiqspeaks BB: 27621DB4 and Email:
Sadiqdaniel@gmail.com
Photo Credit(s): VanguardNigeria, InformationNg
Photo Credit(s): VanguardNigeria, InformationNg