By Miss Victory Ezomo
As amusing as it may sound, Nigerians might just win the award for the most hypocritical bunch on the planet. No offense intended, but as a Nigerian who has lived her whole life in Nigeria, let us face it, we are our own worst obstacle.
Who else but us openly and viciously criticizes the government and the same time can not obey simple traffic rules of stop and go? Is it an American who magically takes the presidential seat in the Federal Republic of Nigeria? Or perhaps a citizen from Mars who runs the Ministry of Power or Finance? Oh, and let’s not forget, is Emiefele a Ghanaian or Lawrence Anini a Russian ? Let us be real, if given the chance, these same Nigerians who love to blame the government for everything, would probably do even worse.
•Victory Ezomo
I have encountered countless Nigerians who, when asked what they would do if given political power, immediately think, “I will stash away money for my family first.” Shaking my head in God help us. You could be in a heated argument with one of these Nigerians, who passionately condemn government corruption, only for them to switch tactics and start calling his government connections to intimidate you. Oh, the irony!
Is it not just classic? The same Nigerian who blames the dollar for the outrageous price hikes, even those who sell local products that are not imported, Join in the dollar chant, continuously jacking up prices based on their mood, even with the exchange rate reduction. It is now a usual saying here in Nigeria “whatever goes up never comes down”, Thinking in reverse gravity. Are we going to pretend like bargaining is not a waste of your time because, if you do not purchase it, someone else will.
And let us not forget the delightful experience of visiting a public office, where if you do not grease their palms, they will not even acknowledge your existence, and if you are not from their hometown or lack a certain “connection,” you might as well be invisible. These antics of the Nigerian Version of Civil Servants, could make you tag some of them evil servants.
Ah, the delightful Nigerian paradox! These are the same Nigerians more fixated on lining their pockets than producing quality goods, opting instead to flood the market with counterfeits. It is also the same bunch who betray their own brothers at the slightest hint of success, just to pull them back down.
Let us not overlook the charming Nigerian lecturer who declares, “A is for God, B is for me,” insinuating that if you don’t play their game, you will not pass their course. And of course, there is the classic line, “You will not scale through this course if you don’t sleep with me,” because apparently, academic success depends on more than just studying. Oh, the joys of higher education in Nigeria!
How about those who dangle job opportunities like hot akara, only to demand questionable favors in return. And how could we overlook the ones who play judge and jury, accusing every young boy of fraud and then extorting them?How about Nigerians in diaspora who swindle their fellow Nigerians out of large sums of money promising a better life overseas. Or how about the online vendors who gladly take your money, only to either block you, deliver substandard goods, a vivid example of “what I ordered versus what I got”. We can’t forget dispatch riders who conveniently snack on your food delivery, claiming they were just too hungry. Is that tinubu too ? Oh, the audacity!
Time and time again we see child abusers or muderers who, instead of facing the music, waltzes their way to some high-up connection and magically walks free, leaving the victim without a shred of justice. Some times they even rub it on their faces. What temerity of impunity!
Our dear media, the “fourth estate of the realm,” is not left out. They happily peddle fake news to the highest bidder, all while pretending to be the guardians of truth and justice.Collecting brown envelopes with reckless abandon, they readily abandon the truth and envelope the society with lies.
But hey, who needs self-reflection when we can just blame the government for everything? After all, it is easier to point fingers than to admit that we are part of the problem.
An average Nigerian is often a bully, devoid of humanity, lacking in discipline, unjust, dishonest, irresponsible, corrupt, and let us not forget their impeccable manners! They would practically sell their souls or humanity for even the smallest taste of power or money at their local level, and when they finally get it, they make sure their subordinates suffer.
Most Nigerians would go to great lengths to have a connection in power, just so they can reap the benefits, whether they are qualified or not. And when they do not have that connection, they are quick to criticize those who do, calling themselves activist, because apparently, every Nigerian not in power or without connections becomes an activist.Ah, My fellow Nigerian.
The irony of Nigerian hypocrisy is prickly! It is a sad reality that might never change. But before you start pointing fingers at the present administration, take a long, hard look at yourself. Are you really doing what is right, or are you just searching for a scapegoat for your own misdeeds and mistakes? As President John F. Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” But hey, who needs self-reflection when you can just blame the government, abi ?
Do not get me wrong fellow Nigerians, It is not that our government is good, heavens no! It is just that Nigeria, as a country, is utterly faultless. It is us, the Nigerians, who are the problem, with our double-faced complaints. We only unite under the banners of Tinubu, Football,Tribalism,Religion,the dollar or anything else that meets our interests.
Fellow Nigerians, if we truly desire change, let us start by looking in the mirror. Every President or Governor is a mirror of the society he or she governs.He is just the smartest or luckiest of the lot. Enough with the complaints about Tinubu, Buhari, and the rest. As Professor Wole Soyinka once said, “Unethological specimen of identical plumage invariably conglomerates to the nearest propensity.” Deep, right? Time to shape up, Nigeria!
About the Author: Miss Victory Ezomo is a Content Creator, Writer, OAP, Compere, and Influencer .
