“For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that
increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow” Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 vs.18
Nigeria is known to be one
of the richest countries, blessed with natural resources, great weather, no
history of natural disaster, great landmass and an encouraging population. But
yet the majority wallow in sheer poverty. There are lots of unanswered
questions.
Some of the unsettling
questions includes why did NITEL/MTEL die and Globacom (a Nigerian brand) is
thriving globally? Simply because the
person in charge feels NITEL/MTEL is a national cake, they want to eat mouth-filled,
pocket-filled and in fact pot-filled. Awon
alatenuje! The communication outfit failed due to corruption, everyone
therein took their share of the ‘national cake’ till they burnt down the
kitchen that was baking that cake. Some even took the ashes (Pension funds). And
that brings us to the juncture of re-orientation. We all need re-orientation.
Even the National Orientation Agency, NOA, needs orientation. The fact that our
current as well as past leaders have bastardized our assets and mindset, we
have to open up our hearts and turn away from their corrupt ways for posterity
sakes.
I was at one of our
commercial banks the other day, I made a request for more rubber-band from the
Cashier and to my surprise the lady told me that I have to manage the ones with
me because they do import rubber-band for office use and that they are left
with few ones for now. If we are importing rubber-band, wooden tooth-pick,
flip-flop (bathroom slippers) then soon we will be importing human beings to
live in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria when our Army is done conquering the
Boko Haram militants.
I wish the incumbent
government could channel the money recovered from Late General Sanni Abacha
accounts into rubber-band making factory perhaps a flip-flop making factory.
That will engage a handful of unemployed youths roaming the streets like MTN
network.
I was privileged to attend
a book launch; Segun Osoba the Newspaper Years written by Mike Awoyinfa and
Dimgba Igwe at the Muson Centre in Lagos. The likes of Senator Bola Tinubu,
General Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Bisi Akande and Labaran Maku the information
minister were in attendance. You wouldn’t believe the extent at which these political
heavyweights were hobnobbing, meanwhile on national dailies they tongue-lash
each other. It’s all politics they say.
A company in the United
States that deals majorly in selling mini-aircrafts; private jets, made it
known that Nigerian politicians are their major customers. Now I wonder if the
bullet-proof exotic cars are no longer pleasurable to our self-centred
politicians.
The Bar beach used to be a
natural site for relaxation. A famous place where fun-seekers do enjoy the Ocean
breeze, horse ride, food and drinks. It’s hurting to know that a perfect picnic
spot for family and friends is gone. The Lagos State Government has taken that
away from us. No more Bar Beach. It is now sand-filled and turned into an
Atlantic city. If men where God...na wa o!
“And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know
madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit”.
Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 vs. 17
Even some of our so called
men of God have monetized the art of worship. It is absurd when churches begin
to give preferential treatment and attention to the rich and famous ones in
their congregation openly. That reminds me of a story I heard on the radio
about a ‘man of God’ who asked his followers to come to church with a keg of
water and the sum of one thousand naira for prayer. On the day of prayer, his
followers queue in front of him and he personally collects the money before
praying. There was a particular woman who had no money but she came with her
water and the ‘man of God’ told her “look, God do not have time for people like
you”. She was sent away without ‘blessed water’. So many things will be revealed
on judgement day. There are men that God called and assigned His mission and there
are men who called themselves owing to the fact that they don’t have a gainful
employment.
The educational sector is
in shambles. News have it that some Nigerians are studying in a so called university
in Ghana. The whole of the university is run in a cabin. In a Cabin kwa! Like that of Mama Rasaki’s
container use for selling cement! It’s a shame. Even those that were brave and
strong enough to endure the many years on campus have no gainful employment.
Some lost their life serving under the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC. Unemployment
rate is soaring. With the aim of gaining employment in the Federal service,
some youths were killed due to the unreasonable and shabby arrangement put in
place by the Nigerian Immigration Service.
What exactly is working in
this country? Bah kudi, bah aiki, bah
uuta! We have crude oil but the refineries are not working. We import fuels
which some cabal dictate the price and its availability. We have seas and
oceans but we still import fishes and sea foods.
Everyone in Nigeria seems
to be aware of the alleged missing twenty billion dollars ($20bn) no one cares
about our misplaced priorities. Everyone calls political leaders all sorts of
names but in our homes, street, office etc some of us are exhibiting the same corrupt
act of our political leaders. A little community project which you were in
charge of finance, you cornered few naira and forge papers to cover up. What is
that?
In Lagos, everyone living
here are frustrated hustlers. A minor incidence in which just muttering the
word Sorry or ‘No vex,’ will escalate into violence and in some cases result to
death. Everyone is frustrated due to the lack of food, job, care and
assistance. I remember an incidence on a bus en-route Victoria Island, a lady
stepped on another and just for her to apologies or let’s say before she could
tender her apologies the other lady had started sending missiles of insults. So
she felt no need to say sorry anymore. Like the atomic bombs used in Hiroshima,
they insulted each other through the journey and other passengers began to
laugh after much mediation which the ladies refused to honour. Vexation of
spirits.
Finally, we all need to
understand that under the sun, there are no optimum satisfactions. Once we
attain a height, we thirst for other higher ground. Never bring people down
just because you want to rise because if you do, one day someone else will pull
you down and your crash will be as fatal as a plane crash! We must learn to
appreciate our present situation and be grateful to God. The richest men of
yesteryears where are they today? Dead buried and forgotten.
We all believe in life
after death, so how prepared are we for the eternal race? Money! Money!!
Money!!! After death all the residual money and properties will either benefit
or destroy your surviving family members. Make a wise decision today; get your
eternal passport and kits by accepting Christ as your Lord and saviour! Shalom!
“I have seen
all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and
vexation of spirit” Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 vs. 14
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