Raiders:
when did I say every Nigerians living in the State is driving Taxi. Your original post sound like because you are a US citizen it means that you are better than 170 million Nigerians living in Nigeria. There are over 35 million Americans on welfare and living in proverty. Many more are homeless. All the different countries in the world have problems. No country is perfect

You need to learn to accept small truths. Meanwhile, the boundless opportunities before me here I can only see in dreams in Africa

black247:


I am Nigerian. I am Igbo in fact. I agree with everything that you said. But you forgot one important thing:

What should we say about the African men and women that flee to white countries - not because of political unrest..not because of political upheaval (read: Rwanda massacres) but simply because they are merely disappointed with their country leaders - and instead of fighting to rebuild Africa - they shamefully burden other countries infrastructure (like America). What about the Nigerian men and women who are so proud to run to England and America, while the natives of those countries are wondering why you - who come from a country that receives aid, millions in fact, are found cowering in their institutions begging for citizenship.

You will not get respect from the average white American - because firstly: they dont want you there...but also because they still see you as the incapable African, and you prove that with your post, you feel too incapable to fight, fight for transformation but you do like most of us do: simply TALK.

What do the English and American see when they look at you? - you are their black monkey - a black monkey that had to come to their land to get properly civilized. For why do you think the whites view the most successful blacks in America as incompetent - talking not of the poor ghetto ones (we all have those) I am talking about the black lawyers and doctors..why are they viewed as so lowly?

Answer: The ruling class still associate even the former slaves (500 years removed) to their ancestors "PRIMITIVE AFRICA".

I agree we have lots to do, but your full respect as a man will never be realized for you until you come back and join empowering movements - even if you start one yourself.

This ravaged continent that we call mighty Africa is a place that ALL blacks will forever be married to. No one can escape this marriage. If the Haitian, the Afro-Cuban, the black American are still associated with Africa..what do you think your association will be? And whats even worse, they didnt have a choice - you did, and you left running..with no plans to fight. And the irony of it all is that you are RUNNING to the very people that takes pleasure in destabilizing US.

America has had the dirtiest of beginnings. But even still - the men who created your mighty new nation that you are foolishly proud to show your face in - actually built their country, brick by brick - saturated in African blood. And they will NEVER respect any of us that have the good sense to provide a sound analysis but not provide solutions - and yet run to them..those who murdered your cousins, they think we are the foolish of them all. I mentioned to Fula (a cool moderator) the other day, Africans - we dont understand racism, and he (thankfully) knew exactly what I was talking about in my posts.

In everything you said, which I agree with it all - even the part that us Nigerians cant take criticism - you forgot the men and women who leave and burden other infrastructures instead of fighting for our own. I don't wish you harm, nor do I wish you to stay in Nigeria if you are being abused...but I do judge people like you that talk about how poorly we are doing when you havent lifted ONE SINGLE finger to help our mighty nation, our mighty continent ...or even think to even avenge the deaths on our screaming soil.

Nigerians are cultural chauvinists.
We are tribal.
We are petty.
Sometimes we brag too much for our own gain.
We are much too flashy.
We have no good sense to respect the hosts that we burden - xenophobia isnt all their fault at times.
We foolishly talk about the West while being in their countries - with our hands and mouth opened up like birds waiting on bread.

And EVERY thing you mentioned...but we are also cowardly, and I hope that you gain the courage to return home...to build an Africa that you dream we should be. Otherwise, you should hold up a mirror.

At least you agree with everything I said. Thank you.

spectroscopic:


Becoming an Ame does not make me any less Nigerian. Remember we have dual citizenship.

Oho!!!! dem say antelope no go born pikin make pikin no jump. Enjoy!!! Feel free to come back when with the few dollars you can harvest and the yankee twang.

spectroscopic:


You need to learn to accept small truths. Meanwhile, the boundless opportunities before me here I can only see in dreams in Africa

There is opportunity everywhere in the world. Not only in the US. No doubt, US is great country but it also have its problem. There are many Nigerians who once lived in the west but decided to relocate to Nigeria and became succesfull. People like Mike Adenuga, MI, Dbanj and many more. You can make it anywhere in the world. I just don't like people putting Nigeria.

spectroscopic:


You need to learn to accept small truths. Meanwhile, the boundless opportunities before me here I can only see in dreams in Africa

There is opportunity everywhere in the world. Not only in the US. No doubt, US is great country but it also have its problem. There are many Nigerians who once lived in the west but decided to relocate to Nigeria and became succesfull. People like Mike Adenuga, MI, Dbanj and many more. You can make it anywhere in the world. I just don't like people putting Nigeria down

Raiders:
There is opportunity everywhere in the world. Not only in the US. No doubt, US is great country but it also have its problem. There are many Nigerians who once lived in the west but decided to relocate to Nigeria and became succesfull. People like Mike Adenuga, MI, Dbanj and many more. You can make it anywhere in the world. I just don't like people putting Nigeria down

You are the one reducing this to Nigeria. My focus was mainly on Africa. Point to me any thing I wrote there that's incorrect.

Welcome to the club. Got mine a few year ago but am back in odua states. I never shy away from flogging my friends whenever they paint an optimistic and rosy future for the animal called Nigeria.
Nigeria is worse than a jungle. Jungles have rules. A country were banning Street trading is being elitist to the masses. A country where enforcing environmental laws is being heartless.
I have travelled widely in my time. There is an innocence common to all the places I have been. That innocence is necessary to build an healthy nation.
Nigeria has lost hers. The country is doomed to fail completely.

oduastates:
Welcome to the club. Got mine a few year ago but am back in odua states. I never shy away from flogging my friends whenever they paint an optimistic and rosy future for the animal called Nigeria.
Nigeria is worse than a jungle. Jungles have rules. A country were banning Street trading is being elitist to the masses. A country where enforcing environmental laws is being heartless.
I have travelled widely in my time. There is an innocence common to all the places I have been. That innocence is necessary to build an healthy nation.
Nigeria has lost hers. The country is doomed to fail completely.

I understand your position. I too, I have traversed the globe and seen first hand how countries are run. Still, I will not give up on motherland, I will not wish any African country ill.

Congrats on your American P, i hope you find happiness with it . Some of us still love naija though. Green all day, everyday. E pain me say your piece is littered with truths but we won't give up. Naija go better.

spectroscopic:


America and the other developed countries are great today because ordinary citizens moan and complain for the government to be better. Silence in the face of societal ill is the worst disease.

Americans and other citizens of developed countries complain but at least they contribute their quota to the development of their country and when the situation arises they will defend their country's with their lives.

Many africans on the other hand don't do shyt. they only know how to cry and complain and hide in foreign lands, but guess what... While africans are b.itching and hiding in foreign lands, foreigners like the chinesse, Indians, Europeans and Arabs are doing thier research and making inroads into the african continent and establishing businesses and acquiring wealth.

Let me tell you. Forget the nigerian government for a minute. Right now there are so much opportunities in nigeria. If only privileged Nigerians like the thread starter could have thier eyes opened to it.

After all the CEO and founder of interswitch Mitchell elegbe is someone who schooled and lived in America, but unlike thread starter he saw the opportunities in nigeria and decided to return to the country and with his limited business knowledge he established interswitch ltd which contributes to the nations economy and employs thousands of Nigerians.

The truth is my anger is more focused towards the privileged Nigerians like the thread starter. If a poor nigerian man hawking on the street, or a market woman struggling to survive said this I would not blame them, but when someone who is privileged and educated like the thread starter begins to think like this considering the wealth of knowledge he has available then something is wrong.

spectroscopic:


You are the one reducing this to Nigeria. My focus was on Africa. Point to me any thing I wrote there that's incorrect.

maybe you should write about the problems your new country is facing like over 30,000 Americans are killed from Gun violence, the killing of unarmed black mens by the police, there are more black men in prison than in colleges and university. Black earn less than whites, the proverty and unemployment rate of blacks is twice that of whites because whites are more likely to be employed by a recruiter. The US justice system is biased to blacks than whites. Leave Africans to solve our problems because you are now a US citizen.

Raiders:
maybe you should write about the problems your new country is facing like over 30,000 Americans are killed from Gun violence, the killing of unarmed black mens by the police, there are more black men in prison than in colleges and university. Black earn less than whites, the proverty and unemployment rate of blacks is twice that of whites because whites are more likely to be employed by a recruiter. The US justice system is biased to blacks than whites. Leave Africans to solve our problems because you are now a US citizen.

Typical Nigerian, always seeking comfort from the truth. Okay! Go ahead with your childish comparison of Ame and Naija. But note that I only just became an American citizen today. Just yesterday, I was a Green Card holder, but with that card, I probably have done more for Nigerians in Nigeria than most people in Nigeria. Don't you forget that I am also a Nigerian citizen.

spectroscopic:


Typical Nigerian, always seeking comfort from the truth. Okay! Go ahead with it. Note that I only just became an American citizen today. Just yesterday, I was a Green Card holder, but with that card, I probably have done more for Nigerians in Nigeria than most people in Nigeria.

I didn't say Africa is better than US. Im just trying to say that US has problems just like Africa. Your article is onesided. Anyway, Congrats.

Raiders:
maybe you should write about the problems your new country is facing like over 30,000 Americans are killed from Gun violence, the killing of unarmed black mens by the police, there are more black men in prison than in colleges and university. Black earn less than whites, the proverty and unemployment rate of blacks is twice that of whites because whites are more likely to be employed by a recruiter. The US justice system is biased to blacks than whites. Leave Africans to solve our problems because you are now a US citizen.

His article is not one sided his article is the truth...the whole world knows that US is better off than Nigeria in many ways...ur talking about guns killing pple in US..please do u know how many pple are killed by poor health system/facilities in nigeria; go to govt hospitals and see what is happening there eg giving birth to baby using lantern, bad roads, insecurit and environmental pollution all cos of government neglect what can be worse than a government killing its pple ...Talking about the US justice system what justice have been done to bring our corrupt leaders to book? how many corrupt leaders have gone to prison...let's stop deceiving ourselves that other countries have there problem and as such we should turn blind eyes to ours.

The truth is that if a Nigerian citizen stands and a US citizen stands, the US citizens is likely to me more respected and feared WHY? because they have a working government...But as a Nigerian u can be molested and treated like crap WHY? Becos d whole world knows how crap our government is they know our government don't give a hoot about its citizens.

@ Op

Why are you wasting your time , trying to educate the idiots?

Reading almost all the response, I can deduce that, all hope is lost for the country if this is the mindset of an average Nigerian!
For a change to happen, one must first agree, there is a problem.
The people in the zoo called Nigeria has adapted to their problems instead of going out of their way to bring solution or a change!

They are like the Cypher in the movie - The Matrix, who opined that "Ignorance is bliss"
They prefer the illusion rather than the reality !
The OP has just painted the reality, but what do we get, the cyphers of Nigeria, throwing tantrums because once again they have been yanked out of their illusion!

davitogreat:
The reason africa is poor is because many africans are like you.

They only know how to run to foreign lands, worship foreigners and bi.tch moan and complain.

I thank God there are africans like dangote, Mitchell elegbe, innocent chukwuma, tunde kehinde, wale tinubu, ladi jadesimi and many others

The Africans who ruined the continent are not those who ran away (according to you), but are among those who remain there to run it down. True or false?

YungwizzzyPt7:


phock u

And that's exactly what the writer is saying. Wake up from your slumber. Africans need help, expecially people like you who live in the past.

davitogreat:
The reason africa is poor is because many africans are like you.

They only know how to run to foreign lands, worship foreigners and bi.tch moan and complain.

I thank God there are africans like dangote, Mitchell elegbe, innocent chukwuma, tunde kehinde, wale tinubu, ladi jadesimi and many others

Seriously!!! there's no hope for this people. You guys need to visit other countries before engaging in an argument with the op. Indian's are everywhere yet their country is developing. Wake up morons

millos:


And that's exactly what the writer is saying. Wake up from your slumber. Africans need help, expecially people like you who live in the past.

With the way he sounded, one is persuaded to ask if he even has a past. He is just floating around; no past, hardly any present, and of course, no future.

spectroscopic:


America and the other developed countries are great today because ordinary citizens moan and complain for the government to be better. Silence in the face of societal ill is the worst disease.

God bless your heart!! There's light at the end of the tunnel with people like you.

Raiders:
Who cares if you just became a US citizen? Good luck being a slave to Uncle Sam. All countries have their problems. No country in this world is perfect.

What's this one saying

Pangea:
@ Op

Why are you wasting your time , trying to educate the idiots?

Reading almost all the response, I can deduce that, all hope is lost for the country if this is the mindset of an average Nigerian!
For a change to happen, one must first agree, there is a problem.
The people in the zoo called Nigeria has adapted to their problems instead of going out of their way to bring solution or a change!

They are like the Cypher in the movie - The Matrix, who opined that "Ignorance is bliss"
They prefer the illusion rather than the reality !
The OP has just painted the reality, but what do we get, the cyphers of Nigeria, throwing tantrums because once again they have been yanked out of their illusion!

You couldn't have said it better. Thank you

Congrats @OP for your new citizenship. But the reason why there are so many criticisms here is not because you made progress and they are hating, but cos it seems you deliberately waited till now to rub it on their faces and knowing Nigerians no mattter how stupid you claim we are, we always try to defend ourselves.

All in all, you made some good points. These have always been our problems in Africa especially Nigeria. We are too conservative yet we want to be liberal. Tim Cook just came out to say he's gay but I expect Nigerians to stop using iphones since we have banned being gay. Not to get me wrong, I'm not gay at all and infact I don't see the sense in it but I'm talking about the hypocrisy where we want to be like America overnight but don't want to take the necessary steps. We want to move from 0 to 10 without going tru the other numbers that make them up.

If we want to move forward then we must stop our "religious and ethnic bigotry". If we settle these two problems, then Nigeria will definitely move forward. We are hard working people and all we need is a level playing ground where you can go and invest at kano without fear. Imagine Ghana mapping out a particular part for Nigerian traders different from the normal market cos the Ghanians don't want us and we claim we are brothers.

Anyway, I believe in "luck at home". Not that having what you have isn't good but this country has potentials and I intend tapping it from here.

black247:


I am Nigerian. I am Igbo in fact. I agree with everything that you said. But you forgot one important thing:

What should we say about the African men and women that flee to white countries - not because of political unrest..not because of political upheaval (read: Rwanda massacres) but simply because they are merely disappointed with their country leaders - and instead of fighting to rebuild Africa - they shamefully burden other countries infrastructure (like America). What about the Nigerian men and women who are so proud to run to England and America, while the natives of those countries are wondering why you - who come from a country that receives aid, millions in fact, are found cowering in their institutions begging for citizenship.

You will not get respect from the average white American - because firstly: they dont want you there...but also because they still see you as the incapable African, and you prove that with your post, you feel too incapable to fight, fight for transformation but you do like most of us do: simply TALK.

What do the English and American see when they look at you? - you are their black monkey - a black monkey that had to come to their land to get properly civilized. For why do you think the whites view the most successful blacks in America as incompetent - talking not of the poor ghetto ones (we all have those) I am talking about the black lawyers and doctors..why are they viewed as so lowly?

Answer: The ruling class still associate even the former slaves (500 years removed) to their ancestors "PRIMITIVE AFRICA".

I agree we have lots to do, but your full respect as a man will never be realized for you until you come back and join empowering movements - even if you start one yourself.

This ravaged continent that we call mighty Africa is a place that ALL blacks will forever be married to. No one can escape this marriage. If the Haitian, the Afro-Cuban, the black American are still associated with Africa..what do you think your association will be? And whats even worse, they didnt have a choice - you did, and you left running..with no plans to fight. And the irony of it all is that you are RUNNING to the very people that takes pleasure in destabilizing US.

America has had the dirtiest of beginnings. But even still - the men who created your mighty new nation that you are foolishly proud to show your face in - actually built their country, brick by brick - saturated in African blood. And they will NEVER respect any of us that have the good sense to provide a sound analysis but not provide solutions - and yet run to them..those who murdered your cousins, they think we are the foolish of them all. I mentioned to Fula (a cool moderator) the other day, Africans - we dont understand racism, and he (thankfully) knew exactly what I was talking about in my posts.

In everything you said, which I agree with it all - even the part that us Nigerians cant take criticism - you forgot the men and women who leave and burden other infrastructures instead of fighting for our own. I don't wish you harm, nor do I wish you to stay in Nigeria if you are being abused...but I do judge people like you that talk about how poorly we are doing when you havent lifted ONE SINGLE finger to help our mighty nation, our mighty continent ...or even think to even avenge the deaths on our screaming soil.

Nigerians are cultural chauvinists.
We are tribal.
We are petty.
Sometimes we brag too much for our own gain.
We are much too flashy.
We have no good sense to respect the hosts that we burden - xenophobia isnt all their fault at times.
We foolishly talk about the West while being in their countries - with our hands and mouth opened up like birds waiting on bread.

And EVERY thing you mentioned...but we are also cowardly, and I hope that you gain the courage to return home...to build an Africa that you dream we should be. Otherwise, you should hold up a mirror.

My man, your eyes are open. You are my kind of Nigerian. I school in England, I have been here for 5 years now and I can tell you that virtually not a day goes by without some caucasian idiot calling me a me or a friend of mine (a beautiful Ethiopian girl) a monkey. Spectroscopic will learn in America, don't worry. Over here in England, Africans possessing Masters and Doctorate degrees work as ordinary labourers in warehouses and are bossed around by oyibo secondary school leavers and even uneducated fellow warehouse labourers who are not their supervisors. O boy, black man is at the bottom of the totem pole over here o.

pix or it never happened.

EroticAngelina:
'I'm not giving up on Africa and Nigeria' then why did u leave to get citizenship in another country?? mtchew. hypocrites. since u are now american citizen, wetin u still de find here?

He has dual citizenship. Can't you read abi na adult school you go

zeongeon:
OP ur right ooh..please we have to talk and speak against evil...Nigeria is a sinking ship, the country is suffering ....u travel out to other developed countries and u wonder why Nigeria isn't like them and funny enough what country on earth can boast of the kinds of resources we have...Nigeria has everything u can think off BUT in the mist of plenty the citizens are suffering.

When u hear the billions being looted u wonder so Nigeria has such money and the citizens suffer as in no education, no electricity, no health care, no housing and unemployment while one person somewhere carries all d money and nothing is said.

Its just a pity that some pple are talking against OP well its normal some pple can't deal with the truth...I pity our unborn children and I pray they are not born into a Nigeria like this where my only source of power is generator, where I dig up boreholes, wells and make taps to get my water, where I employ aboki or pay opc to guard my streets, where I have no access to good health facilities, where my lecturers go on strike and I don't get quality education, where the govt have no plan for the youths and where I have to fast, pray, probably no somebody and pay money to secure a job.

We need change.

That's what i don't understand. The same people condemning the OP are the same active ones on nairaland travel section finding a means of jetting out to the US by queuing at the embassy as early as 3 am in the morning. Some even cry when they deny them ordinary non-immigrant visa.
OP, congrats on your citizenship and for not also rejecting your nigerian nationality despite all the troubles and challenges in Nigeria.

Do I need to say next to petrodollars, the second biggest source of foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria is remittance from Nigerians from abroad.

''FOREIGN aids and Diaspora remittances are key relief to poor Africans. While foreign aides have stagnated in recent years, remittances become the financial lifeline, which, unlike the former, places money directly in the hands of those in need. But it is being threatened by extortionist fees charged by money transfer operators (MTOs). The planned tougher regulations of the channels, suspected to have been explored to fund terrorists, is now a source of nightmare to beneficiaries.

In 2012, Africans received $32 billion from their sons and daughters abroad. The 17 million officially documented Nigerians in the Diaspora funneled a whopping sum of $21 billion to the country as against the $23 billion they sent in 2011. With growing Diaspora communities in Europe, America and Asia, the figure is growing tremendously.''
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/business/177970-diaspora-remittance-africa-s-billion-dollar-loss-to-intermediation

BUSHIDO5:


My man, your eyes are open. You are my kind of Nigerian. I school in England, I have been here for 5 years now and I can tell you that virtually not a day goes by without some caucasian idiot calling me a me or a friend of mine (a beautiful Ethiopian girl) a monkey. Spectroscopic will learn in America, don't worry. Over here in England, Africans possessing Masters and Doctorate degrees work as ordinary labourers in warehouses and are bossed around by oyibo secondary school leavers and even uneducated fellow warehouse labourers who are not their supervisors. O boy, black man is at the bottom of the totem pole over here o.

You can lie.
The same England I lived in for some years where I met Nigerian doctors, nurses, VP's in investment banks, Soldiers, Policemen, Lecturers, business owners, pharmacist, Engineers, Entertainers, labourers e.t.c
Are you an illegal immigrant cos those are the ones i know white people of the BNP stock call monkeys.

Duplicated

BUSHIDO5:


My man, your eyes are open. You are my kind of Nigerian. I school in England, I have been here for 5 years now and I can tell you that virtually not a day goes by without some caucasian idiot calling me a me or a friend of mine (a beautiful Ethiopian girl) a monkey. Spectroscopic will learn in America, don't worry. Over here in England, Africans possessing Masters and Doctorate degrees work as ordinary labourers in warehouses and are bossed around by oyibo secondary school leavers and even uneducated fellow warehouse labourers who are not their supervisors. O boy, black man is at the bottom of the totem pole over here o.

You have only been in The UK 5 years and you are talking about me learning? Before you get a US passport , you would have lived in the US at least 3-5 years with a green card and several years prior, with a visa, the number of years depending on your entry visa, family and educational status. And I'm not talking of visa lottery winners. Being discriminated on the basis of race depends on many cases, on your level, especially for new immigrants (different from the original Afr Ames who see race in everything). By God's grace, I came into this country already well qualified, academically and professionally, and so my job has always been at the top level. I have white people working under me. Just saying this to rebuff the notion of racism by default for all Africans.

If you are an illegal immigrant or non-contributor to the development of their society, of course they will despise you.

Note that the US is more welcoming and integrated than anywhere else in the world

BUSHIDO5:


My man, your eyes are open. You are my kind of Nigerian. I school in England, I have been here for 5 years now and I can tell you that virtually not a day goes by without some caucasian idiot calling me a me or a friend of mine (a beautiful Ethiopian girl) a monkey. Spectroscopic will learn in America, don't worry. Over here in England, Africans possessing Masters and Doctorate degrees work as ordinary labourers in warehouses and are bossed around by oyibo secondary school leavers and even uneducated fellow warehouse labourers who are not their supervisors. O boy, black man is at the bottom of the totem pole over here o.

You are my kind of Nigerian!! And you are my brother for sure - a wide awake man! You know a truth that is global - a truth that we will never escape...until we ALL come together, they will continue to destabilize us wherever we are..for surely there is no where to hide! They kill us in different ways, in different places..but they kill us all the same!


So sorry to hear about the racial abuse you and your sister friend are experiencing! I am glad you were bold enough to speak the truth because it wont come as such a surprise - because it is a different type of poison ..racism..it really and truly is!! You stay strong my brother - and when you and your sister are ready to come back home, we will have the door open - ready for your new ideas!

We will be waiting! I am trying to work on some thing now! We will rebuild Africa.

spectroscopic:


You have only been in The UK 5 years and you are talking about me learning? Before you get a US passport , you would have lived in the US at least 3-5 years with a green card and several years prior, with a visa, the number of years depending on your entry visa, family and educational status. And I'm not talking of visa lottery winners. Being discriminated on the basis of race depends on many cases, on your level, especially for new immigrants (different from the original Afr Ames who see race in everything). By God's grace, I came into this country already well qualified, academically and professionally, and so my job has always been at the top level. I have white people working under me. Just saying this to rebuff the notion of racism by default for all Africans.

If you are an illegal immigrant or non-contributor to the development of their society, of course they will despise you.

Note that the US is more welcoming and integrated than anywhere else in the world

Racism exists my friend, you being able to employ whites at various stages in your stay there doesnt negate the very TEMPORARY grounds that you stand on in a white mans land. But, like Bushidos said - you will see.