PART TWO


The Journey

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

A short glance at the country popular known as the Federal Republic of Nigeria by a curious sightseer would revealed a nation with an area measuring 924,000sqm with a controversial census figure that gave the population an approximately 145, million people, 250 ethnic tribes and a three language structure, namely Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba, with English the queen’s language accredited as the official language. But surprisingly the all dominant pidgin tongue naturally dominated the four officially recognized languages across all the regions of the oil rich country, this as a result of the heterogeneous nature of the nation state. The curious visitor would also realize that the country official currency is the famed naira and kobo, and that the kobo is only used in verbal transactions, but never really seen or accepted by majority of the populace. He or she might also deduce that the kobo in actual sense is valueless and a mere name, since no goods or services in the market these days has any respect or value for the neglected kobo. More information would also revealed that Nigeria natural resources includes among others, oil, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, bitumen and zinc. Other rich resources in the country include palm oil, groundnut, cocoa, cotton, rubber, cassava and many others too numerous to mention.
A short inquiry would also reveal that the country has thirty six states and is bordered by Benin Republic on the west side, Republic of Niger on the north, Chad and Cameroun on the east. Religion plays a great part in the lives of the people. Part of the reason the country is stipulated to have about fifty percent Muslims, forty percent Christians with indigenous religions sharing the remaining ten percent among themselves competitively. An average Nigerian is among one of the most religious human beings in the world and takes his religion seriously; though most don’t practice what they preach nor abide by the true teaching of their religion. All the same, they are good at going to church and praying five times daily in the mosque or anywhere the call for prayer beckons. Again, part of the reasons why the country’s rulers have been able to continue to oppress and take due advantage of the citizenry was the easy manipulation of religion doctrines which they use to curtained their opinions and suppressed their quests for a better and just society.
Though Nigeria emerged as one of the world’s leading oil exporters in the seventies, but much of the huge revenue derived from oil sales over the decades have been squandered through massive corruption and mismanagement by the flambouyant politicians and their equally flambouyant military counterparts in power. A prudent research by the curious visitor would further enlighten the visitor that corruption in the country was actually institutionalized during one of the military regime headed by a gap toothed general now retired and enjoying his handwork from his palatial view on top a hilltop villa. The visitor would also learned that corruption was finally privatized into public liability during the second coming of a famous chicken general, who not only gave corruption a new face but made it into one of the most popular negative political brand of the country. And more information would also revealed the bitter truth that despite all the vast rich resources, Nigerian has remained one of the most corrupt, undeveloped nations in the world.

Presently the country was back to democracy after long years of uninterrupted military rule, but the various elections over the years since its return to civilian rule is nothing to be proud about due to the various fraudulent elections across the local, states and federal arms of government. The country’s hitherto vibrant idealistic political class have long gone, ushering in mediocre politicians whose first interest is to make money by all means through their positions, built gigantic mansions , marry beautiful wives and keep as many girlfriends, mistress and concubines as possible. Perhaps no other country in the world has some of the most flamboyant and expensive lawmakers and other government office holders like Nigeria. If the Nigerian nation were to be a human being with a voice, the cry from this looted and oppressed nation would have been heard from a distance of one thousand kilometers away. But despite all the looting, stealing and bad governance, the citizenry are still some of the happiest people on earth, daily enduring their suffering and smiling at their tribulation; Suffering and smiling, as rightly described by Fela Anikulapho Kuti, the country’s revered and most controversial music prodigy.
But one thing that might baffled the curious visitor would be how on earth did the country still able to remain one indivisible nation, despite all the political, economy and social conflicts that has continue to bedevil the rich nation over the decades. Again, the answer might be provided, if the curious visitor luckily understands the setting and the popular Nigerian syndrome, including the die-hard attitude of an average Nigerian.


www.okadabooks.com
www.amazon.com