THE BLACK SHEEP OF NIGERIA AND THE NIGERIAN DREAM .
The dream of every Nigerian boy, girl, man or woman of every culture, tribe and religion is to be a stakeholder of success. This is an enviable dream. But, to every Dick and Harry who would wait until wishes become horses so that beggars could ride, this dream would remain a fantasy. The great people of the United States of America do not only share this dream but, do “work it out with fear and trembling,” and call it the “American Dream”. In contemporary times, the name “America” is, to say the obvious fact, synonymous with ‘the land that flows with milk and honey.’ “God’s own country”, as it is often called, gradually climbed, became and remained an epitome of success and prosperity, leadership and power. In the psyche of the average American concerning this realistic and tangible El Dorado of a dream is deeply rooted a philosophy, that with hard work, courage and determination one can prosper and achieve success. This is painfully not the case with most Nigerians, especially the‘-“black sheep of Nigeria”.
“The black sheep of Nigeria (as I have personally chosen to call, particularly for the purpose of this writing) instead of plying the strait but rewarding route of hard work, courage, and determination with a view to achieving the “Nigerian Dream” (our own version of the American Dream), have arrogantly, and sometimes ignorantly, vowed to bring‘ the image of our beloved country to a stand still via crimes of different magnitudes, both on ‘ home soil and abroad. Today, the image of Nigeria has nothing absolutely whatsoever‘ to write home about. This retrogressive situation is unfortunately not just an issue of concern among well meaning Nigerians and Non- Nigerians who do Wish or pray that things would become okay again for Nigeria, but has become a good point in the right direction for certain folks in near and far away lands and climes to whom the dragging of the image of Nigeria to the -mud has become ‘both pastime and major occupation. Consequent upon this, the future and reputation of the unborn Nigerian child is allowed to remain dicey and abandoned to continue to be in an eternal limbo. God forbid!”But, this is the unfortunate status quo - the handiwork of the “black sheep of Nigeria”.
The black sheep of Nigeria are not masquerades. They are human beings like you and me. They are all those persons who are reaping or would want to reap where they did not sow. ‘Some persons may be quick to involve themselves in finger pointing or name calling to crucify the perceived black sheep of Nigeria). These would yield no dividend – not even half a kobo. The preoccupation of every heart should not be far, from: “Search me O Lord and know my heart today; See if there be a wicked way in me”. Somebody who was not a black sheep yesterday could become a “baptized and confirmed” one today. Have you become one already, or trying to become one? The black sheep of Nigeria could be categorized into different groups.
I have by personal discretion been able to fashion out three groups. The first group is that which I have christened the “My- turn-to-chop-the- national-moi-moi group”. This group of black sheep includes all the so called leaders — elected or appointed, who have sworn to wreck the nation’s treasury with impunity and vigor. An 80 leaves notebook may not be enough to compile the categories of persons who could be found in this group. This is the group where we may find persons who occupy offices ranging from that of the president of the federation to that of the councillor of a ward. You know them. They start by directly or indirectly forcing themselves into office. Thereafter, they misappropriate anything called money. Are you looking for the moneys meant to develop our villages, roads, hospitals,schools and so on? You would find them in their local and foreign accounts. They swim in affluence while Nigeria shrinks.
The second group is that which I want to be known as the “Chop - I - chop group”. The persons in this group do not have direct access to money meant for government, but they could do anything literally to get money. They prefer money to their own lives, not to talk of the lives of others. The list here is endless. The chop — I — chop group includes those persons who are involved in extortion,of which the police are champions. We also have armed robbers and thieves of great and small categories, tricksters (including the professional ones; the ones inschools — bad teachers and students; the ones at homes —- bad husbands, wives, children). The last group of the “black sheep of Nigeria” is the “Sow – seed — in — my — life group The persons here may not steal, but would encourage their friends, colleagues and relatives to steal and give to them. The captains of this group seem tobe those persons who call thename of God. What a shame!
The dream of every Nigerian boy, girl, man or woman of every culture, tribe and religion is to be a stakeholder of success. This is an enviable dream. But, to every Dick and Harry who would wait until wishes become horses so that beggars could ride, this dream would remain a fantasy. The great people of the United States of America do not only share this dream but, do “work it out with fear and trembling,” and call it the “American Dream”. In contemporary times, the name “America” is, to say the obvious fact, synonymous with ‘the land that flows with milk and honey.’ “God’s own country”, as it is often called, gradually climbed, became and remained an epitome of success and prosperity, leadership and power. In the psyche of the average American concerning this realistic and tangible El Dorado of a dream is deeply rooted a philosophy, that with hard work, courage and determination one can prosper and achieve success. This is painfully not the case with most Nigerians, especially the‘-“black sheep of Nigeria”.
“The black sheep of Nigeria (as I have personally chosen to call, particularly for the purpose of this writing) instead of plying the strait but rewarding route of hard work, courage, and determination with a view to achieving the “Nigerian Dream” (our own version of the American Dream), have arrogantly, and sometimes ignorantly, vowed to bring‘ the image of our beloved country to a stand still via crimes of different magnitudes, both on ‘ home soil and abroad. Today, the image of Nigeria has nothing absolutely whatsoever‘ to write home about. This retrogressive situation is unfortunately not just an issue of concern among well meaning Nigerians and Non- Nigerians who do Wish or pray that things would become okay again for Nigeria, but has become a good point in the right direction for certain folks in near and far away lands and climes to whom the dragging of the image of Nigeria to the -mud has become ‘both pastime and major occupation. Consequent upon this, the future and reputation of the unborn Nigerian child is allowed to remain dicey and abandoned to continue to be in an eternal limbo. God forbid!”But, this is the unfortunate status quo - the handiwork of the “black sheep of Nigeria”.
The black sheep of Nigeria are not masquerades. They are human beings like you and me. They are all those persons who are reaping or would want to reap where they did not sow. ‘Some persons may be quick to involve themselves in finger pointing or name calling to crucify the perceived black sheep of Nigeria). These would yield no dividend – not even half a kobo. The preoccupation of every heart should not be far, from: “Search me O Lord and know my heart today; See if there be a wicked way in me”. Somebody who was not a black sheep yesterday could become a “baptized and confirmed” one today. Have you become one already, or trying to become one? The black sheep of Nigeria could be categorized into different groups.
I have by personal discretion been able to fashion out three groups. The first group is that which I have christened the “My- turn-to-chop-the- national-moi-moi group”. This group of black sheep includes all the so called leaders — elected or appointed, who have sworn to wreck the nation’s treasury with impunity and vigor. An 80 leaves notebook may not be enough to compile the categories of persons who could be found in this group. This is the group where we may find persons who occupy offices ranging from that of the president of the federation to that of the councillor of a ward. You know them. They start by directly or indirectly forcing themselves into office. Thereafter, they misappropriate anything called money. Are you looking for the moneys meant to develop our villages, roads, hospitals,schools and so on? You would find them in their local and foreign accounts. They swim in affluence while Nigeria shrinks.
The second group is that which I want to be known as the “Chop - I - chop group”. The persons in this group do not have direct access to money meant for government, but they could do anything literally to get money. They prefer money to their own lives, not to talk of the lives of others. The list here is endless. The chop — I — chop group includes those persons who are involved in extortion,of which the police are champions. We also have armed robbers and thieves of great and small categories, tricksters (including the professional ones; the ones inschools — bad teachers and students; the ones at homes —- bad husbands, wives, children). The last group of the “black sheep of Nigeria” is the “Sow – seed — in — my — life group The persons here may not steal, but would encourage their friends, colleagues and relatives to steal and give to them. The captains of this group seem tobe those persons who call thename of God. What a shame!
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