Whose Naija?

Can Nigeria ever change? I hear the hopelessness in conversations as highly incensed groups at the newspaper stands, on the street corners, in buses, boardrooms, breakfast rooms, at workshops and conferences articulately analyse and dissect multiple reasons why progressive change is impossible. On this matter everyone is an expert. Everybody can be the critic but, who’d bear the responsibility of transformation?

The truth of the matter is that Nigeria cries for burden bearers. The simple statement, “My country” connotes ownership, and hence, responsibility. I’d take care of my room, my home, my street??!! Eerrr!! My city? Eerrrrrrrrrr!! My country?????!!!!!  Wetin?!!

Countries are not simply geographical locations, they are people. Therefore, the anomalies experienced in Naija are attributed to its citizens. Unfortunately, quite a number of us have resigned from our citizenship. No one wants to bell the cat. It is everyman for himself and God for us all. My Ekpomsky friends would say, “Abegi! Leave matter for Mathias. Abi na only me kill Jesus?!!”

Yes! Na only you kill Jesus!! It is one man who litters the streets with refuse. Then another and another… till our drainages are clogged by them. A man may labour to bring down a wall with several hits to it with a sledge hammer and initially, not see the effects of his actions. But, with persistence he soon sees a crack, and one more.., then another hit, and the wall comes crashing down. That’s the power of unrelenting pressure on any facility. So, you throw your refuse in the gutter, (Gbam!!) one hit! Someone channels her kitchen drainage to the gutter, (Gbam!!) another hit!! Another tosses a pure water sachet in, (Gbam!!!) a crack in the wall!!! And it comes tumbling down; as we create smelly, flooded streets and eroded roads…then, blame the government. So, the cycle goes on in every sector and industry. Remember, we all experience the negatives and positives as a nation. There is a government of the people. So, let’s all play our part. It is your Naija and mine. We no fit leave matter for Mathias. Abeg this one na our ministry!!