My Musings

Good evening dear ones,

I could come up with a tub-full of half baked reasons why I have not so much as typed a "full stop" here in 5 long months but they would be just that - half baked. 

Now that we have exchanged pleasantries, here's what is on my mind today and has been for a while. How is it that we, (Nigerians) have formed the habit of making jokes of the most horrid and unpleasant situations? I mean, are we so shallow and dense that we feel nothing or what we feel does not stay with us for long or do we just totally lack understanding?

Let's take a look at this year. First, it was the removal of fuel subsidy by our very own GEJ (side eye) and all sorts of pictures and joke lines went viral on all social media over the very cruicial matter, taking away from the seriousness of the situation. Then came more Boko Haram brutality and ofcourse, we went on to make fun of it even as fellow human beings were gasping their last breaths while others prayed for mercy. Then came the Mubi mass murder. and now, the very gruesome and open murder of the four UNIPORT students by the Aluu community. 

I had seen some jokes already but this one was the most asinine of them all and really got me "NYSC official: You have been posted to ALUU for your service. AKPORS: O O Abeg Sir, space still dey North?".. HOW DOES ANY SANE PERSON FIND IT IN HIS/HER SICK, DERANGED AND SUBSTANDARD MIND TO FIND ANYTHING REMOTELY FUNNY ABOUT THESE MURDERS??? As if that were not enough, a number of people are tweeting and facebooking more tasteless jokes. How then do we expect people to take us seriously when we do not even take ourselves seriously? How do we demand rights when we are first in line to strip ourselves of the very right to demand rights?I understand that people have their differnt ways of coping with pressure and maintaining sanity but a bit of sensitivity always helps. 


IF YOU HAVE NOTHING CONSTRUCTIVE TO SAY,  KEEP YOUR FOUL MOUTHS SHUT! We must not always have something to say. Even the Bible says "Better to be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt". There's a huge difference between being strong and resillient and being plain stupid.

Koko.

Now here's a short story.

A single and not unattractive young woman works for an organisation. A few months after joining the organisation, she meets a male colleage, a superior. Sparks fly, they decide to date and as many relationships go,irrespective of the environment,it ended not so long afteer. The young woman in question, has been labelled all sorts in the orgasnisation simply because she dated a co-worker. Now she's said to be loose and spoilt and what not.

I have heard these things happen. Indeed, many people have found partners in their places of work. Some have led to marriage and others have not, again, as is the case with any relationship.

Here's what gets me. Why does the woman get to bear all sorts of silly side talk and the man, no one notices him. How does one conclude that a woman is bad because she dated a co-worker, especially when the said relationship does not end in marriage? In reality, dating someone you have to see at home and at work, with other people looking on and waiting for the "outcome" (since they do not have lives of their own), can take its toll on a relationship.Not many people are able to handle this pressure. Bearing that in mind, is it wrong to date a colleage? Do you decide to not try with someone who you think may be good for you solely because you work together?

"Husbands are scarce" ," I can't find a woman to marry". I hear statements along these lines all the time and yet, weekend after weekend, the roads are flooded with "about to wed" cars, or I'm attending a friend's wedding, buying one gold and burgundy aso-ebi or a blue one. Why then do we keep saying  "no husband, no wife for market" ? Who then are the people getting married to? Or dare I say "what then"?

Today,I think I heard the dumbest thing yet this year. I was so shocked at the absolute lack of common sense on public display I very nearly called the fellow to order but for fear of my life ( you will see why soon) I quietly quickened my steps and went on my way. Here's what I heard;

Two men were walking along the road and one of them brought up the Boko Haram issue. After a bit of argument, one said " The government of Nigeria doesn't understand Nigerians. For instance, Boko Haram is fighting against western education in Nigeria and all Nigerians are supposed to join in the fight!! Western education has had no positive impact in the life of the common man! All of Nigeria should join Boko Haram in its fight!!" 

My jaw literally hit the dusty ,harmattan floor at the level of "mumuness".(I'm sure you see now why quickly walking away was a seriously wise decision. Couldn't be too sure if homeboy was packing something beneath his shirt) . How does one think that way? How does any sane person believe such horrid destruction is going to bring about any solution let alone want to be a part of it? And really," western education has added no value to the common man????". Is that statement based on fact or fiction? Not to say western education is the sure or only way to success but would it not be true to say that it does have its very positive uses?

If even one more Nigerian has the same ideas as the man above,then we have a more serious disease than we know. Heaven help us!!!

WHY ARE NIGERIANS QUICK TO CONDEMN ALL THINGS NIGERIAN?  I have been taking a few training courses in the past few weeks and I have had different instructors; one Nigerian, one white American. During a short break a few days ago, a couple of  "lunch mates" decided it would be really cool to trash the Nigerian facilitator and sing about how great an instructor the white guy was. There was talk of how many of them would have made "A" grades in school if they had had him as their instructor. Then I asked "what is the basis of this comparism"? "Because he is white" , they replied. I felt like I had been knocked over the head with a hoe!!

Why does a person's skin colour have to be a basis for judgement on intelligence and efficiency? You are either good at what you do or you are not, be you black,white,green,orange or magenta!! I am no racist, but I don't hear any white people saying blacks are better than they are so why on earth do many Nigerians blindly jump to the conclusion that the white skin makes for a better person than the black skin? I like the black instructor's methods as much as the white instructor's, and if any comparisms were to be made, I'd like to think we could be wise enough to make those comparisms based on genuine substance.

This is just one case out of hundreds that I have witnessed. What is the cause of this seeming lack of value for ones' self Nigerians have? Do we blame this on our "leaders" ? On ourselves? On Nigeria? It kills me to see and hear these things especially from people who could be considered literate and "enlightened". A little reagard and self respect goes a long way. I have come to realise that people will call you what you wish them to call you. If you call your dog Bingo, Bingo all your neighbours shall call it. If you call yourself "Valueless", Valueless your neighbours shall call you!