The days of Lament

 I read a statement somewhere the other day about how the most painful part of this shit show situation in Naija is how it has turned everyone into constant complainers and lamenters.

See ehn, unfortunately, Nigerians as a people, have become used to “chesting” the most insane things and allowing terrible politicians to get away with so much rubbish that gradually, stupidity becomes the new norm. However, with the way things are going now… it’s really going to take a miracle to steer that country away from the path of being a failed state.

Again, I know I’m always going on about the situation back home but wait first…just think about it…. If I, sitting down on my lounger in my beautiful apartment in Birmingham can be feeling this way about it, how would the folks back home be bearing this??

Honestly, I always come out a little bit more heartbroken when I get off the phone with my people back home. It’s such a horrible situation to acknowledge the fact that we spend roughly 80 percent of the time talking about the problems of the country and all the ways in which the harsh economy is dealing with my folks. I speak to Ugo and it takes a lot to keep up a strong face when you hear of how difficult things are, I speak with Namo and outside the usual small talk, we are now always running through all the ways he’s managing to survive and keep body and soul together with his family, Uche’s case is that I cant even get to speak with him as much as I would like because bros is hustling himself to the bone.. working all hours to try and make all ends meet. (Not as if he was ever the best at keeping in touch but this economy has just made it even worse.)

Lolo is constantly telling about the horrible situation back in the village, mentioning how people are scrounging for the barest things to eat, raiding farms, and begging for money to survive. Its so bad that she’s even seen a situation where a family was offering to sell off their kid!! Omo!.

At times like this, for someone like me, it’s extremely difficult not to feel conflicted about the difference in our quality of life. Trust Chioma and I, we help out in so many ways and as best as we can, and even though I know it makes such a huge difference, I can’t help feeling bad that I can’t do even more to help get everyone out of this dire situation. At times like this, it takes strong mental effort to keep reminding myself that there’s only so much we can do and it’s in no way our fault.

I was speaking with a Thai colleague at the office during break one day and she was talking about the bad situation back home in Thailand but when I mentioned how Nigeria was and the fact that many parts of the country haven’t seen electric power for months now, her jaw dropped in shock. Imagine other countries that are going through it yet, something as basic as electricity is still a fact of life there. SMH

It's so sad, and the thing that constantly gets my goat is how avoidable this whole thing could have been. A little less wickedness and selfishness from the leaders, a whole lot less greed from politicians, a bit more dedication from elected officials and a whole lot less stupidity and docility from us, the citizens….and you could be looking at one of the greatest countries in the world, no cap.

May God help us.