The funniest thing about the subsidy protests in Nigeria right now is the one thing that most Nigerians probably did not until now realise about themselves: We love our country.
If we didn't, we wouldn't march out into the streets, rich, poor, buttie and paki.
I am so proud.
You are not likely to encounter many Nigerians that would come out, chin up, and admit something so foolish.
Love? What does love have to do with anything? Man must chop, and they can not kill us!
Love? My guy where do you think you are? OYO l'o wa oh, all that love nonsense na jand yarns.
And yet.
Wasn't it only days ago that the same computer-literate, blackberry-toting elite were side-talking each other for sitting in their comfortable houses protesting via satellite communication? And yet.
The subsidy removal is just one manifestation of the argument that constitutes the core of the protests: Corruption. Odd how, one seemingly little thing, the one government move that probably has the most sound economical case to support it is the straw that broke the pure-water seller's back. This is a fight against corruption, against subsidising the governments excessive spending, looting, and misappropriation of funds. There, in one short sentence.
I grew up hearing about Vision 2000... oh it seemed so far away! The government was making plans to steal all they could before they had to shape up, in 2000.
In the year two thousand suddenly arose visions for 2010. Two thousand and ten! I had to lick all my fingers and bend down to touch my toes to calculate how old I would be in the year two thousand and ten! Wow. It is two thousand and twelve now, and the government has visions for my children. I'm not interested.
The only thing the government does provide for its citizens is cheap fuel. Affordable petrol. That is the only social security that we have, the confidence to boast about our counterparts abroad paying hundreds of naira for a litre while we complain about a few tens of naira. That's it.
Our roads are murderous, our buildings are falling down on us, and our government is looting our contribution to our economy. Taxpayers money is used to buy private jets, to fund brand new Range Rovers, and our senators receive the money meant for their constituencies as personal allowances.
And now they say the country is going broke. No! Not broke, certainly? The bottomless pit of the country's GDP is suddenly a shallow little stream, and they need us to fill it back up.
"We will provide jobs..."
We heard that in 1990.
What else, good roads? Poverty alleviation? How about, you promise to the the utmost best that is within your capabilities as [insert public office] to make sure that the masses... what? What??
The one thing we have is the subsidy, because they have taken everything else away. If they're going to take this away they need to give us something in return.
Like maybe, electricity, running water, or safe roads to drive on. We could live with that.
If we didn't, we wouldn't march out into the streets, rich, poor, buttie and paki.
I am so proud.
You are not likely to encounter many Nigerians that would come out, chin up, and admit something so foolish.
Love? What does love have to do with anything? Man must chop, and they can not kill us!
Love? My guy where do you think you are? OYO l'o wa oh, all that love nonsense na jand yarns.
And yet.
Wasn't it only days ago that the same computer-literate, blackberry-toting elite were side-talking each other for sitting in their comfortable houses protesting via satellite communication? And yet.
The subsidy removal is just one manifestation of the argument that constitutes the core of the protests: Corruption. Odd how, one seemingly little thing, the one government move that probably has the most sound economical case to support it is the straw that broke the pure-water seller's back. This is a fight against corruption, against subsidising the governments excessive spending, looting, and misappropriation of funds. There, in one short sentence.
I grew up hearing about Vision 2000... oh it seemed so far away! The government was making plans to steal all they could before they had to shape up, in 2000.
In the year two thousand suddenly arose visions for 2010. Two thousand and ten! I had to lick all my fingers and bend down to touch my toes to calculate how old I would be in the year two thousand and ten! Wow. It is two thousand and twelve now, and the government has visions for my children. I'm not interested.
The only thing the government does provide for its citizens is cheap fuel. Affordable petrol. That is the only social security that we have, the confidence to boast about our counterparts abroad paying hundreds of naira for a litre while we complain about a few tens of naira. That's it.
Our roads are murderous, our buildings are falling down on us, and our government is looting our contribution to our economy. Taxpayers money is used to buy private jets, to fund brand new Range Rovers, and our senators receive the money meant for their constituencies as personal allowances.
And now they say the country is going broke. No! Not broke, certainly? The bottomless pit of the country's GDP is suddenly a shallow little stream, and they need us to fill it back up.
"We will provide jobs..."
We heard that in 1990.
What else, good roads? Poverty alleviation? How about, you promise to the the utmost best that is within your capabilities as [insert public office] to make sure that the masses... what? What??
The one thing we have is the subsidy, because they have taken everything else away. If they're going to take this away they need to give us something in return.
Like maybe, electricity, running water, or safe roads to drive on. We could live with that.
Wow! Your writing is just fantastic....the words just seem to jump out (sign of a good writer)....and good to see you are actively pursuing a career in this. All the best...
ReplyDeleteThanks so much :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome...still trying to figure out if you remember me...lol.
ReplyDeletesorry... remind me?
ReplyDelete