Wednesday 5 October 2016

CURSE OF 'THE ABROAD'



CURSE OF 'THE ABROAD'


Do you remember that Classic Nigerian song 'Nigeria go Survive' Sang  by Veno From back in the day?. I don't suppose many Mid - Late 80's babies will know of it even though it dropped in 1984. The song is a song that still gives me Hope till today. In the song a Man named Andrew was being Implored not to leave the country because of how bad things were getting at the time, He was being encouraged to stay because things were going to get better. Over time, this became a metaphor to describe Nigerians looking for greener pastures in other countries.



The Question However should be : If 'Andrew did 'Check out' out of frustration and in quest to make his life better and grow himself, Does that automatically means 'Andrew' should no longer have a voice or a say in anything pertaining to the country he checked out from?



AM i the only person who has noticed how Fellow Nigerian brothers and sisters try to guilt trip you into feeling ashamed or bad because you live in 'The Abroad?' .  I'm sure You're wondering : 'What concerns a Wheel Barrow Pusher with Petrol Station?'. I know there's no relationship between a Thong and Back-Pocket, but Like an Unwanted pregnancy between Teenagers, we need to talk about it.


Why is it that If you're a Nigerian who lives Abroad, you cannot in any way have any Opinions, Views or express your thoughts, disgust, worry, anger etc about On-goings back home just like any other average Nigeria who is based in Nigeria. Your Crime? You live Abroad!


The other day i expressed my anger, worry, disgust and despair at the New Rate of the Naira to the Dollar and i wondered out loud on my facebook page what independence we are all spending money we don't have to celebrate and before i could Blink twice, one of My facebook Friends challenged me on why i would have anything to say and ended with those famous words 'Shebi you Live ''Over there''?.


Like a Man who cannot afford to pay rent amd who has been told his wife is sleeping with their landlord, What could i have said to this? How can a man who Spent the larger part of his life in the deep trenches of Lagos namely Surulere, Amuwo odofin, Lasu Ojo, okomaiko, Not have an opinion on what is happening in his Country? because he now lives a few thousand miles away?


I remember how i and my mum escaped death at the hands of Hausas at Alaba rago, just before okokomaiko in lagos when M.K.O Abiola was murdered and tribal clashes was happening all over Lagos. We had to lay flat and hide under a 'Danfo' Bus for 12 Hours till the whole thing died down, while people dropped like flies all around Us


When we Hit rough patch and My mother lost all her Life saving to the Forum Home savings and Loans Scheme which later turned out to be a Fraud and a sham, My family resorted to Moving from a Mansion to a face-me-i-face-you Room, We had no Electricity for about 4 years straight and i remember how we would huddle around our Radio to listen to Kola Olawuyi on fridays, Ray Power Top ten Hits and Livi Ajuonuma's 'Open House Party' on Weekends... Oh how i Lived for those Programmes!!



During these period in My Life, I worked as a casual Labourer for almost Two years in the blazing Sun, doing back breaking work while my Mum (of Blessed Memory would sell what Yorubas call 'Wosi-Wosi'', just so we could make ends meet. I also worked as a Bus conductor along the Amuwo odofin, lasu oJo iyana Iba route in those days..


During my time living Abroad, i have met friends and colleagues who have similar stories to mine. A colleague of Mine actually got shot while protesting the annulment of June 12 Presidential results back in the day. Are we now to say because he now works for the Biggest health care provider in the world as a doctor, he shouldn't have a say in what goes on back home in his country?


Most of you forget that whatever happen back home still affects us one way or another. Just 3 days ago a cousin called me to help with his University school fees which have now been Inflated due to the 'Naira Situation', I had to get it for him because i am his only Hope. Have i not indirectly been affected by Situation back home?

The other day, a doctor friend of mine was telling me how he had to send half of his salary to help a friend get his wife who was kidnapped back home to pay off her ransom. Has he not been affected Indirectly?


What some of you need to do is take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself why you react so negatively towards your fellow brothers and sisters whenever they try to contribute to or have an opinion , express theirr views/disgust/anger/hope/frustration exactly the same way you do, just because they dared to better themselves and grow their lives by Moving to another country?


Who says the oasis in the desert is happy because of its hidden spring of water? Do you think Living Abroad means i am happy about the situation back Home? When i have relatives and extended Family there?



If a person who used to Live in Lagos moved to Abuja, does that mean that person must never have any views or opinions about anything happening in lagos? Am i the only who sees how stupid this is? those Nigerians that Live abroad, did they just find themselves there? because you can be sure that most Nigerians in Diaspora left Nigeria at some stage to better their Lives and grow themselves. The fact that they have now spent a decade abroad doesn't in any way mean they never experienced what you are experiencing now, or that they don't understand what you are going through


I would also like to say to me fellow Nigerians in Diaspora who have lived a sheltered life, Let's try as much as we can to offer Hope to our brothers and sisters back home. Let's be sensitive and show Empathy to what people are going through. A Nigerian proverb says 'A child doesn't breast feed from a stepmother if its mother is still alive', No matter how long we live Abroad, Our Home is still Our Home.



If we do not come together as One, how are we going to effect this 'CHANGE' everyone is talking about when all we do is segregate each other all the time? It is High time people stopped this Negativity directed at their own people. Remember, If the owner of a calabash calls it a worthless calabash, others will join him to use it to pack rubbish.


 It is said that Opinions are like armpits, everybody has one.


This is Mine on This Matter.