THE EXODUS 2

“Aunty you no dey see road”

“Ah ah, oga, I am sorry” I got so lost in thought that I bumped into a plantain chips hawker. He was so angry😡. It was almost like he wanted me dead instantly. And for some reason, instead of retaliating, I understood his plight.  It was a Nigerian thing. We all had something to be angry about. If it wasn’t the government, it was the bad roads or the super eagles who travelled all the way to Russia to "fall down" through out a world cup match.  Let's not even talk about NEPA abi PHCN, who refused to give us common light to watch the match sef😒

But as I walked home sluggishly,  I could not get the conversation about  Nigeria with Mr. X out of my head. In fact it made me remember: Ifunnaya, Ada, Didi, pooky, Graham, Chigozie, mimi, Nimi, the list goes on. These were all my peers who had left the shores of this country in search of a better life. I mean, these were some of the smartest people I had ever met and I was certain it was only people like these that could turn this country around. So why was I worrying myself? If these “brainees” had left Naija, is it now me that will be forming superman and become the scape-goat of this country? Tufiakwa! I shook my head vigorously as I stopped at the junction waiting for the traffic light to turn green.

I put my hands in my pocket to insulate myself from the cold, only to feel my smooth N20 naira in my pocket. For some reason,  It made me think of all our predecessors, Uncle Azikiwe, Brother Murtala and the likes.  How was it possible that once upon a time these people thought this country was worth dying for? I mean I stand to be corrected, but abi some of them actually died? Was it that deep or were they just crazy?. Was it even worth it? Because right now, it looks like they were fighting for a Nigeria that will soon relocate to Canada.😂😂😂

As I got closer to my house, I became extremely worried. Like play, like play, It have be for Nigeria oo. Who will now help this country,  if everyone is running away? Don't get me wrong o, I want to run too. If you think I am joking, jokingly give me a Canadian visa 😂😂😂. But one would have thought our independence was all we needed to put this country together. Turns out independence is overrated. It will only help a country that wants to help itself. I turned back to sit at the bus stop. I desperately had to complete my flow of thought. 

I know Nigeria has wahala o, but I also believe that there is such a radical difference in the breed of people we have today. See na, Then, they were thinking fight, now we, including our leaders, are thinking pack your family and run. I think I know why.

Back in the day, our parents sent us to school with the ultimate dream of us getting million dollar jobs right? You remember na, those days when you dare not say you want to be musician or foot baller. They will beat you senseless😂😂. So in order to lead what we were told was the ideal Nigerian life i.e, get a job, marry “Beyonce”👰 or “the hulk” 👱and be happy👪, we were cajoled into going to school...

Do you know what is happening now? we are all finding out it was all a big fat lie 😂😂😂.There is no million-dollar job waiting for you after school! Neither is there any ‘Beyonce’ waiting to marry you? As a matter of fact, “Beyonce” is hustling for her life now and looking for a job. That is why I think we are running. We came out from the educational system completely unprepared for the Nigerian experience.  In my opinion, our parents’ expectations were better suited for developed countries where things actually work and the truth is Nigeria is not there yet. We are at the stage of intense nation building and no one prepared us for that.  

So what should have been the ideal situation in our case? I think instead of being thought to chew and pour answers to questions we didn’t even ask, like where is X, we should have been asked real Nigerian questions that demanded real Nigerian answers, our education should have brought us closer to our Nation not taken us farther. We should not have forced entrepreneurs to be doctors or artists to be lawyers. We should not have told musicians, they were not good enough or told our kids that journalism is not a real course. The whole point of education is enlightenment and my hypothesis is that we missed it right there… Perhaps our faith was sealed a long time ago…long before uncle Bubu....or not…I may be wrong…So what do we do? Are we irredeemable?… maybe

To be continued…

I promise this is the last to be continued.. no vex abeg..😂😂😂😂