WHY I AM NEITHER BIAFRAN OR NIGERIAN
'Secessionist or Nationalist?' A friend once asked, I smiled, awkwardly adjusted my sitting position and fiddled with my pen a little until my smile slowly faded away... I had no answer.
Infact I had more questions than answers. Like what exactly was the labour of our heroes past? It seems as though our 'heroes' of present continuous have learnt nothing from the selfish mistakes or naivety that makes up our history. Where is the unity that should seemingly come out from diversity? That makes meritocracy the standard for elections, appointments, selections and development. Why is it easier to mobilise millions of people in Nigeria for riots and protests, shows and crusades, parties and street revelry than it is to gather young people to clean the environment? That young able bodied men and industrious young women would rather squander the precious treasures of the moment on self gratification and manifestations of offended idle minds on unfruitful gatherings than on productive, growth provoking endeavours. Why isn't there a difference between potential and monetary success? That one is only considered valuable simply because of his or her tangible achievements, achievements that have been narrowed down to elaborate speeches of sweet nothings, the high end real estate projects with roofs erected to high heavens, built upon the foundations of crispy currency dotted with blood and sweat housing nothing but empty concrete bellies as her tenants take shelter in motor parks and under bridges,exotic trips that afford the 'privilledged' the mercy of taking photos in places that only fuel the greed drive of the youth to desire this 'fast money' so they can drive 'fast cars' speeding past their pillars, honking horns at brothers turned hawkers, a nation so eager to 'die fast'. A suicide mission indeed, for a people who have no consideration for posterity. Preying on the helpers, shying away from predators.
Where boys have grown too fast to even learn what it means to be fathers and girls don't even grow before they become mothers. On the fast lane, in fast cars it's almost impossible to stop and dig up what's left of the ancient virtues. Like sharing a tiny piece of meat among nine siblings after a communal meal of eba and egusi soup, the Kindness entwined in the growing arms of a young boy as he backs his baby sister from the community primary school to their house on a dusty path, Respect for ones elders, consideration for the next person, greeting any and everybody including the younger ones just to teach them a lesson by sternly saying 'good morning oga/madam' as their ears got pulled, charity that begins at home and does not stop there, asking for things before taking them, speaking the truth because it added value to reputation, where the word of a person was more valuable than money and integrity gave a good name not ridicule. These things can't be picked on the streets anymore or could they ever have been? How can I choose a side when all sides are made of the same substance. 'It is only the simpleton who swims from a lake to a pond in search of dry ground'. The Pond is as wet as the lake.
I choose dry Land.
Definition: A Secessionist is one who advocates for secession (Independence of a part from a whole) and considers it as a constitutional right.
Infact I had more questions than answers. Like what exactly was the labour of our heroes past? It seems as though our 'heroes' of present continuous have learnt nothing from the selfish mistakes or naivety that makes up our history. Where is the unity that should seemingly come out from diversity? That makes meritocracy the standard for elections, appointments, selections and development. Why is it easier to mobilise millions of people in Nigeria for riots and protests, shows and crusades, parties and street revelry than it is to gather young people to clean the environment? That young able bodied men and industrious young women would rather squander the precious treasures of the moment on self gratification and manifestations of offended idle minds on unfruitful gatherings than on productive, growth provoking endeavours. Why isn't there a difference between potential and monetary success? That one is only considered valuable simply because of his or her tangible achievements, achievements that have been narrowed down to elaborate speeches of sweet nothings, the high end real estate projects with roofs erected to high heavens, built upon the foundations of crispy currency dotted with blood and sweat housing nothing but empty concrete bellies as her tenants take shelter in motor parks and under bridges,exotic trips that afford the 'privilledged' the mercy of taking photos in places that only fuel the greed drive of the youth to desire this 'fast money' so they can drive 'fast cars' speeding past their pillars, honking horns at brothers turned hawkers, a nation so eager to 'die fast'. A suicide mission indeed, for a people who have no consideration for posterity. Preying on the helpers, shying away from predators.
Where boys have grown too fast to even learn what it means to be fathers and girls don't even grow before they become mothers. On the fast lane, in fast cars it's almost impossible to stop and dig up what's left of the ancient virtues. Like sharing a tiny piece of meat among nine siblings after a communal meal of eba and egusi soup, the Kindness entwined in the growing arms of a young boy as he backs his baby sister from the community primary school to their house on a dusty path, Respect for ones elders, consideration for the next person, greeting any and everybody including the younger ones just to teach them a lesson by sternly saying 'good morning oga/madam' as their ears got pulled, charity that begins at home and does not stop there, asking for things before taking them, speaking the truth because it added value to reputation, where the word of a person was more valuable than money and integrity gave a good name not ridicule. These things can't be picked on the streets anymore or could they ever have been? How can I choose a side when all sides are made of the same substance. 'It is only the simpleton who swims from a lake to a pond in search of dry ground'. The Pond is as wet as the lake.
I choose dry Land.
Definition: A Secessionist is one who advocates for secession (Independence of a part from a whole) and considers it as a constitutional right.
P.S. Such a person is ignorant of the fact that it is infact the part that makes up a whole.
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