What happened/is happening in Imo state just about sums up everything that is wrong with the Nigerian state. How there is zero accountability at all levels and how those at the top are unafraid of any tangible backlashes or reprisals.

Not long after Gov. Okorocha incomprehensibly erected the humongous statue of a man he has no business erecting in the first place, he coupled it with a nepotistic appointment of a commissioner that adds no pertinent value to the betterment of Imo state (I really still refuse to believe the news)

How do we respond? We make jokes. Yes, we are Nigerians, we make jokes from every situation. We are all naturally gifted in comedy. Our plights has gotten so hopeless that we need jokes of hopeless situations to stay afloat. Maybe a couple of serious outbursts here and there from really concerned individuals before the jokes [which are cracked by the larger number of insensitive Nigerians] take over.

"Nwanne, akpuola gi?" (Have they moulded you brother?), and the ilk – I don't know them because I don't bother, it's so irksome. After the commissioner's appointment, a parody Twitter account was opened in her name which started disbursing stale jokes, (what's funny is relative, yea) but I never find them funny and you shouldn't either.

That's all we do, we create parody accounts, do mimics, and/or coin funny phrases for a couple of weeks or months, then go back to status quo — which is untold hardships, incessant complaints, fervent prayers and worship and what not. This is where "men of God" swoop in and start manipulating the masses.

I never laugh at such jokes, I find it hard to. I don't know how you people do it. There is nothing funny about the recent events in Imo state. Nothing at all. Why won't our politicians mess with us when they already know what the outcomes will be? I bet Imo state Governor thinking, "What will they do kwan? At worst, cry and make jokes, then rest". All he (and every other politician for that matter) need do is just weather the storm for some time, then commit another atrocity.

We need to stop making jokes out of our hopeless and precarious situations. It is not funny at all. We need to stop romanticizing mediocrity, stupidity and suffering. Let's be mean in our disapprovals & condemnations, let's call a spade a spade, it's not much but it's a start. When they see we don't laugh off serious issues, they will become self-aware and sit up (hopefully).

Sorry for the long rant.
ONUGBOLU P. C, JOS NIGERIA.

moderators please move this to front page, is a front page material, piece like this is needed to reawaken the consciousness of many Nigerians especially the youths .

Stop crying over spilt milk.

Nigeria under Buhari and Osibanjo is a failed state. The world is a global village.

Leave Nigeria and start a life elsewhere. Canada, USA, Ireland, Australia, etc the list goes on.

Don’t wait until it’s too late and ur kids are forced to live in that hellhole.

A word is enough for the wise.

Obijulius:
Stop crying over spilt milk.

Nigeria under Buhari and Osibanjo is a failed state. The world is a global village.

Leave Nigeria and start a life elsewhere. Canada, USA, Ireland, Australia, etc the list goes on.

Don’t wait until it’s too late and ur kids are forced to live in that hellhole.

A word is enough for the wise.

bro every one cannot leave Nigeria, just know it

Dosinspector:
bro every one cannot leave Nigeria, just know it

Okay. Since Nigeria would not allow its most productive part leave then I must say it’s a doomed situation.

On Twitter, my sister, Oby Ezekwesili, is complaining about the idea of politicians and power.

I say to her as I say to you: nobody in Nigeria is serving in any office and this is not limited to government officials. As opposed to "serving in office", every Nigerian is "in power" or "on seat" vis-a-vis other citizens.

We loathe lateral social relations. We go that extra mile to turn relations into a crude vertical line in which we are on top, exercising asymmetries of power over others.

The Nigerian grumbling about the impunity of government officials gets home. To his driver, gateman, and house help, he is a tyrant. His relationship with his domestic staff is worse than the relationship of the worst Governors in Nigeria with their people.

When a European Prime Minister rides a bicycle to the office, he becomes an instant sensation with middle class Nigerians on Twitter and Facebook. Yet, none of the admirers of that European bicycle rider would contemplate anything short of a master-slave relationship with their driver.

Anytime I sit in the front to be able to gist with my assigned driver in Nigeria, it is a social faux pas. I get gentle rebuke: Prof please go to the owner's corner now.

In Ilorin, last year, I was caught up one day in a monster traffic jam. I thought there had been an accident. It turned out that an ordinary Nigerian suddenly discovered that he would not be able to make it in time to the Mosque for Friday prayers. He parked on a busy lane in front of Kwara Hotel, spread his mat right there on the road, and began his prayers. To my amazement, he was joined by other citizens. They all blocked the road. Just like that. No consequences.

Now, those citizens are exercising power. They are exercising impunity over other citizens and with the agreement of other citizens. They will then finish their prayers and resume their resentment of Saraki's impunity because they do not know that they are also tyrants in their own personal stations in life.

Ours is a collective sociopathy. That is why one of our greatest social theorists, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, famously theorized the power of the omolanke pusher over his omolanke.

In Nigeria, everybody get im power everywhere and intends to use it to oppress everybody everywhere.