Where is our pride for God's sake?

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When we cry, we shouldn't stop seeing- African Proverb


Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TED speech (The Danger of a Single Story) is instructive. The wisdom I gleaned from it is that "When we cry, we shouldn't stop seeing". It is true that this country brings out the skepticism and cynicism in her people. The elements (common bond and patriotic sentiment) that make up a nation are missing from the Nigerian state. I know that not all is bad for us but,

 
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A good friend of mine was involved in a domestic brouhaha with a neighbor which ultimately led to a Police case. He called me in to provide moral support and I was glad to do just that. The scene at the Police Station sank my soul. Permit my seemingly harsh choice of words but I couldn't phantom that a right thinking human would even consider being in such an environment. Hungry looking, shabbily dressed Policemen littered the shanty looking station. It was an eyesore to say the least. It was difficult to tell the difference between the "criminals" and the "Officers". To think that this is a microcosm of what my society looks like makes my heart sink. Although it wasn't a bank, I couldn't but notice some Naira changing hands. Shame no dey catch us!



My optimism has never been this challenged. For a moment, I struggled to find a reason not to allude to Wole Soyinka. Really, how can you not think the future of this country is bleak except through the eyes of faith? There is something fundamentally wrong with us as a people. The men who rule us are disconnected from reality and we the followers are busy scrambling for the crumbs. Everyone is busy looking for breakthroughs. Religious institutions all want to move to the permanent site. 



An average Nigerian is angry with the system and why shouldn't it be so? Our is a country where the government has so much penchant for being irresponsible. Just consider the level of impunity in the system; the kind of things people get away with in this country is just amazing. It is my sincere hope that the future has not been mortgaged. It is my prayer that God will help us find our true identity and convert our over-aged potentials into visible results. 



Hard as it is, I choose to believe. 






Image Credit: Google

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