INSERT MOMENT OF E-SILENCE HERE
Of course we cannot forget the comments section. Thank you to everyone who wrote, even "privileged guest" who, despite being a "freedom fighting" pompous windbag, was probably voicing the opinions of some of the people who read the post. So, kudos to him/her for speaking up. Even though I still have not been convinced of the "right-ness" of showing those pics on Facebook, I will be sure to let my parents know that it is only because we are poor that we remain in America. After-all, in the words of "privileged guest":
I'll have you know that if you really had the oppurtunity to go back and live in a mansion sorrounded by wealth, you will most definitely not be in America 'struggling' to survive in your parents 'modest' home.
Clearly, spelling was not part of this person's "privileged" education, but aside from that...wiser words were never spoken. All you broke Nigerians in your "modest homes" abroad, the jig is up! Return to the "motherland" else your relatives will assume you are poor! They are only asking you to send money to Nigeria in order to test the limits of your foreign bank account! They don't really need your help because, everyone who is rich in Nigeria goes back there after going to school abroad. Only those without money remain outside Nigeria.
It is truly unfortunate that in an attempt to "defend" the Jos victims from my "selfish" and "brazenly unpatriotic" post, this person had to talk about how wealthy he/she is in Nigeria. I am surprised NEPA, sorry PHCN, didn't "take light" while the person was spewing diatribes at what is clearly my personal opinion (made based on facts). But then, PHCN may not be an issue. "Privileged guest" probably has a diesel generator powered by the blood and sweat of the gateman and housegirls in his/her parents' 100 room mansion in Lekki, (unless of course he/she has ULTRA wealthy parents and lives on Banana Island). But I digress.
"Privileged guest" did remind me of something I have always thought about.
To the "wealthy" and "privileged" Nigerians in Nigeria, this post is for you. For those of you who have decided to remain there, as opposed to those who remain by force (i.e revoked/denied visas), if you truly are "wealthy" and "privileged", know that it will not and cannot last. I am not trying to "swear" for anyone. It is impossible for the country to maintain such a glaring disparity between the rich and the poor, have almost no middle class, and expect things to continue. You are outnumbered and that is a fact. It wont matter whether you "donated to the poor" or not. When the angry mob comes to your house all they will see is the impossibly white walls of your mansion and the 5+ cars in your garage. I know that Nigerians are not prone to revolution but the time is coming--it has to.
Many of you must realize this is true. Even if the people in my generation don't, our parents know very well that they cannot continue to flaunt their wealth without consequences. Its part of the reason why they send so many children abroad. This way their children will always have the option of returning to a foreign country when (not, "if") things go bad. Afterall, there is no point in attending school in the U.K/U.S if you are just going to go back to Nigeria and work for your father's company forever. Some will say that the foreign education is so that you can go back and "re-build" the country. Maybe, but we all know it is also a safety net for whenever you reach your threshold of suffering in Nigeria and want to return to good roads and hospitals.
As for the online freedom fighters. You cannot use developed world strategies like Twitter and Facebook in a country where running water and constant electricity are still a fantasy for millions of people. It may make all of you feel better, but is it really helping? Will #lightupnigeria and other "e-advocacy" ideas do anything except earn you a handshake with some self-serving politician so that he/she can say they are "listening to the youth"? If you truly want to make change in Nigeria you have to go back there and be prepared to fail multiple times. You will have to dedicate all you have financially and emotionally to helping "the cause" and it probably still won't make a difference. Are you all ready to do that?
I always thought this was an interesting picture of Lagos. Beside the shiny cars and beautiful building, on the left side you can see a beggar. The person who took the picture may or may not realize the juxtaposition and the clear representation of what is really happening in Nigeria.
Some of you may ask what I am doing. My answer, nothing. I am not going back there to "help". I am simply not a "save the world" kind of person. I never have been. My immediate vicinity is all that concerns me: family, friends, and my local community. The reason I have said I am apathetic towards the negative that goes on in Nigeria, is because I have reached my threshold. I cannot care about a country that does nothing for me, my family, or even the people who actually care about the country. Before you rush to tell me how little the U.S cares for me, I beg to differ. This country cares more about me than the place I was born in. I am not saying it is utopia on earth, but I would rather stay here and work hard than go back. It is not a decision you have to agree with, but it is mine to make. If it makes me selfish to stay where I can focus on things I can change and where my family and I can truly be successful then so be it.
P.S: I consider the term "brazenly unpatriotic" to be a compliment. In fact, I may just add it to the byline of the Ego Du Jour heading. Maybe I should make it the name of a section and put all the Nigeria-related posts there? What do y'all think?
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