Are You an Average Nigerian? (Weird Title, but I didn't have anything else so please, make do!)
Many months back, I was scrolling through some pictures somewhere, (can’t remember where) when I came across this cute picture of five babies seated in a row, all of them white...except one who was black. All of them were frowning...except one.
The smiling kid was the black kid.
Now months later, after observing the various phenomenon of violence in the country, I had to ask myself: “Are Nigerians really happy people?” (Not Africans, I’m narrowing my case study).
Check out this conversation:
A: Hello! How are you?
B: I’m doing excellently well, thanks!
Now, what you’ve just ‘witnessed’ is my usual reply to the question.
What is yours? Seriously?
In high schools or colleges, the most popular greetings among students are either, ’How Far’ or ‘What’s up?’
The most popular replies which, as time has elapsed, has gradually become the default replies are “I’m Fine”, “Nothing much” and/or “I dey!” (Pidginized form of ‘’I’m fine).
Really, when I was in college, I – like almost everyone else – took the replies for granted because I was always in a rush to go somewhere or to do something. We hardly had enough time to review how fine we ourselves were, much less someone else!
Now that I am out here, whenever I ask someone how they are, and they tell me ‘I’m fine’, I ask, (OK, not every time, but most times) “Really?”
Yeah, go right ahead and say it is probably because as at the time of this posting, I had not gotten busy enough. You are allowed, though you aren't right!
The reason I want to get feedback is this...
In all my months outside school, I have had time to carry out a research using the Personal Observation methodology.
I have discovered as a result that the situation out here is terrible. The situation where you can’t do Aluta when power or water supply is not made available to you, or where you can’t easily pop into a friend’s room for food when you are flat broke, or where you can’t easily cover distances across campus on foot (in OAU, covering distances on foot can hardly be called ‘easy’ though); or where you can’t easily wake up anytime you like for classes or appointments; or where you can’t party your sorrows away; and most importantly, where you can’t be angry if you don’t get ‘pocket money’ or ‘salary’ at the end of the month.
I'm talking about out here where 'O.Y.O Unlimited' is the 'in-thing'. Out here where you have to fend for yourself, trust me, people don’t smile easily. Out here where you buy a piece of chewing gum from malaam and if you don’t get your #15 change complete, your facial expression transforms into a thunderous one.
Out here where, if a driver enters into a puddle while driving, causing muddy water to splash on your cloth, you’ll curse him to hell and back;
Out here where a frustrated conductor yells and curses simultaneously at an elderly woman who didn't ‘enter the bus with her change’ even though she is old enough to be his grandma.
When I tell you that average Nigerians aren't smiling, trust me, I’m as serious as a heart attack.
Most times when I go on an outing or just go out, generally, if someone annoys me, say a bus conductor or a passerby, I just remind myself that Nigerians are angry people.
OK...it is not the most flattering term to use, neither is it the most positive, but it is the best I can come up with when I am one step away from blowing my top at a person’s rudeness.
Everyone acts like you should pay for the mess they got themselves into and when you don’t bat an eyelid in response, they rant and rave about how disrespectful you are, or about how unfeeling you are, or about how snobbish you are; and all the while, I’m like, “Hey! What the heck have I done to get you pissed off?” wisely, I don’t say this aloud...I just mutter it under my breath because you never know what excuse people need to give you a black eye these days!
As I was saying, not everyone is actually as fine as they claim to be.
The fact that a selected few have made up their minds at the start of the day to be cheerful as they go about their business doesn't mean they are not hiding a world of pain away beneath their calm exterior.
Even now, if I, a total stranger, walk up to you and ask: “how are you?” with a nice and genuine smile, your first thought as a Naija person would be “Wetin I do o!” or “Why is she acting like she really cares?”.
And no, I wouldn't blame you for your thoughts because that is the way the economy and cultural differences have structured our mentality. We have become skeptical and pessimistic people who not only find it hard to trust a smile but also question every good offer that is placed within our grasp. Abi I lie?
Look at this instance:
I was browsing online and decided to pop in to check my Facebook wall for updates when I came across a post that made me smile. It wasn't a funny post, trust me. Nothing comical about it at all.
It had a picture of Bill Gates, world renowned philanthropist and multi-billionaire. Bill was holding in front of him, a medium-sized placard which read something like: “If you share this, you stand a chance of winning a million dollars via Facebook”...I really can’t remember the exact wording on the placard.
You can see that it really is not funny, at least a non-Nigerian wouldn't think it was funny anyway. However, I laughed because when I looked at the amount of shares the post had after 24 hours or so, it was just 2 shares; mine included! I could just picture Nigerians coming across it, reading it and hissing...and maybe even throwing in some curse words for good measure.
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| He makes money even when he's sleeping! |
They wouldn't be able to comprehend why Bill Gates would want to waste good dough just like that. I, also, nearly hissed and moved on but then it occurred to me, “Hey, you might not have anything to gain, but then again, you've got nothing to lose!” *winks* so I shared it!!!
That’s me for you, I could be optimistic in some situations. Hello! It’s Bill Gates (*whispers* not Donald Trump!), the guy who earns millions even when he’s sleeping, so why would it seem far-fetched that he would throw away some of those millions if I took valuable awake-time to click ‘share’?
Make any sense to you? It does to me! *huge grin*
(Aside) ermmm, Bill, if you come across this don’t forget to e-mail me for my account number! Thanks!
So, as we were saying, Nigerians look for the easiest way to work off frustrations and therefore, get it all mixed up and end up getting into even bigger messes in the process.
That is why a man driving on the highway back from his office, hurrying home to his harried wife, will try to over-take a vehicle and then because he wasn't allowed a space, he gives the driver of the other vehicle the middle finger (if you know what I mean...) not realizing that said driver is chauffeuring an army commander. Tell me, how much more trouble is he in now?
This post, unfortunately, doesn't contain a solution to all our problems because I have come to the realization that Nigerians will always do what Nigerians want to do. The only change that we can experience will come from our inside.
The average Nigerian is a walking time-bomb; press the wrong (or right?) button and they’ll explode...GBOA!!!
I don’t want to get into the topic of "Things that Could Cause Nigerians to be Frustrated"...you know them now...shebi you are a Nigerian. Some non-Nigerians know the issues we are dealing with here so if you don’t, you might need to consult your news-vendor.
So, no solution to the problem but an advice is available. Here goes...
Do not leave your house in a hurry without sorting out the issue of your mood.
Bad or cranky moods have led to a lot of disasters in this country. Make up your mind to be cheerful before you put your feet on the ground when you wake up.
I’m not asking you to be smile even when someone purposely goes out of their way to mess with you. Just don’t allow them the joy of seeing how well they have succeeded in upsetting you.
Be cheerful.
...and don't be the average Nigerian...thanks!
Check out my other blog... http://subulolajiboye.blogspot.com/
God bless Naija peeps!Nigeria Go Survive! (Nigeria Will Make It!)
That is what I'm starting this post with.
Don't misunderstand me.
There's no news of Nigeria falling apart..and there won't be by God's grace.
Just so you know, I am a Nigerian...that lovely country where everything is green...from our flag to my blouse!..that country that regards respect as all that's important...now, I'll be honest, I'm really sorry to say this Nigerians but its the truth...here I am, lying in my bed, my lappy on my laps(forgive the pun), right here on blogger; where any of my followers or audience could easily read this blog, and I am typing, trying my darnedest best to think of at least 5 really awesome qualities that could make Nigeria stand out but I am @ a loss for what to say...point clear, huh?
But how about we take it from the other end? Now here goes...innumerable not-so-awesome 'qualities' that make our country stand out, BIG TIME! Take a deep breath and work with me on this one...
- Bad roads
- Bad and make-you-wanna-go-crazy power supply
- Congestion (ever visited Lagos?)
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| Please Light Candles! |
- Corruption in every tier of government which of course is the perfect way to teach our kids and youth that one cannot make it in this country(or anywhere else) if they don't dabble into things that are not totally pure!!
- Civilian rule or military rule? we really can't tell because we can hardly hear our own voices over the sound of your greedy mouths chewing all our rights and privileges!
- The land where traffic rules are made only to be broken by drivers and motorcyclists alike!
- Free education?- hold on a sec, who the heck are we kiddin'?nothing in this country is free...though it might start out as being free but along the way prices are introduced until the masses have to withdraw!!!
- Price hike- mhen! aren't we pro's at that? We could hike the price of anything...you just name it...fuel, sliced bread, books, razors, biscuit, polythene bags...and eggs!!!(please, when did chickens start complaining of an aching ass?)--well, blame it on the ECONOMY!
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| Road Indeed! |
...and loads more, you could fill in the blank spaces! Now all of these not-so-awesome 'qualities'(you'll soon know why I call them qualities) have succeeded in polluting not just the environment, but also the citizens.
I'm not a politically-minded person in any way/form but when I see 'wrong', I call it by name, no point fleeing from the truth!!!
Now, it's not hard to spot a person in a moving bus finishing their packed junk and throwing the nylon or paper bag out the window and into the street.
It's not hard to spot a guy who needs to go really bad taking care of it by the roadside, polluting the air with his urea.
Its not hard to spot, (especially on our freeways) policemen stopping a vehicle, checking its boot and though seeing bad stuff in it collecting money from the driver and waving him off.
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| Really! You don't have a Generator, how do you survive? |
Its most especially, not hard for you to get used to the fact that as a Nigerian, planning your day before leaving your house is equal to not even planning it at all what with all the time-consuming hold-ups as a result of bad roads, unreliable power supply and frustrated bosses at work...to name a few!!!
Now you know what the big problem will be??? If you've read what I've written above and you are still unable to identify the problem and are wondering 'well why the heck is she getting all worked up???'!!! Boy, do you need help!!!
As stated above, I choose to call them qualities because our way of doing things now seem like the way they should actually be done when that is anything but the case so we have grown to believe that when things are not done that way, we are being rebellious!!! We are taught to see these ways
as values. I tell ya, if that is the case, I'll choose rebellion over conformity any day!!
as values. I tell ya, if that is the case, I'll choose rebellion over conformity any day!!
Recently, I received news that the fees of one of our federal schools have gone to the skies...which means that the parents of some of the students in that school are going to have no choice but to withdraw their children (who are probably already showing great potentials) and send them to learn some trade or other...and we keep wondering why we have so many disillusioned people around and why the country is teeming with robbers and good-for-nothings?...well quit wondering!!!
I am all for making a change in my world...I am all for setting the pace, creating my footsteps in the sands of this country and shining a bright torch but how will that be possible if the people I desire to reach out to have a negative mentality? Some of you are probably calling me a fine one to talk about negativity and all that from what you've read above but if the problem(s) are not identified, how then will a solution be discovered?
What I am saying now is this:
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| Say this instead and watch a change occur! |
Ever heard an American citizen give a political speech? They end it with God bless America.
You should try it too. Maybe not in a political speech but rather than curse your motherland, say what is written in the above image!
P.S.--> Don't forget to cast your votes in the navigation bar on the right side of this page.Thanks!
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