The Ideal Nigerian

Timileyin has officially given up on ASUU and it's wahala, which is funny because she has already done that for a while back. She now spends her time reading African literature, watching kdramas, playing house girl and thinking about her life. Matter of fact, this blog post was inspired by Eleghosa Osunde's Vagabonds which is definitely a must read.

The Ideal Nigerian

I think about the state of things in this country as often I breathe. It's not something you can actually ignore, for even the richest of people are not immune to Nigeria's many evils. I think about the government, our leaders and our people and wonder at what point did we all quietly yet collectively decide to just yield. There's undeniably something in the air of this country, something that eats at you insidiously- slowly at first, then faster- until it has robbed you off of your empathy and humanity, until you too have become what you once greatly despised. A common phrase that people often say whenever tragedy has befallen upon us is that "we as a people are not angry enough" on the contrary though, we ARE angry, in fact I reckon that I've never seen a people more angry as Nigerians. Our anger though, is thoroughly and terribly misplaced.

 The ideal Nigerian is frustrated at the constant feeling of impending doom, at being treated like meat for slaughter by the country's elite, so they end up turning their backs to look at the next person who suffers like them, if not more and pour out all that pent up anger on them. It could be a wife, children, your junior staff or colleagues. It could be -their personal favourites- the country's most targeted; women, children and queer people.

We may not have a standard system for many things, but you simply cannot deny the untouchable cycle of oppression we have going on for us. It is an irrefutable structure thriving off of the complete apathy of other nigerian people, our society was built on enabling it, you see.

 When a woman's willpower is being beaten out of her by her husband, the Nigerian thing to do is look on, It is not your business. When a girl dares to shake the structure and speak out against her rapist, it is Nigerian of you to blame her for allowing it to happen, to ostracize her and call her a witch for wishing on the downfall of her abuser.

 When a man loves a man, it is your duty to wish on them the most evil of things, to celebrate and cheer on as they are lynched and killed for loving, for being. You cannot question this working system or else, you too are in danger of becoming prey. If you ask a Nigerian why they idly watch and let it all happen, they will tell you that it is all they've ever known.

So you see, we will forever continue in this way because we are a holy country. We are servants of god and all our actions are for him. We judge, we hate, we kill and steal, all for him.

I used to think that our generation would be the beginning of the end, the answer to it all but I was perfectly wrong. I was wrong because we only continue to churn out even angrier, bigoted and selfish people. Only exception is that they are a bit hesitant to get violent but absolutely would if necessary. 

It really isn't hard I believe. It isn't hard to remove yourself from your own reality and put yourself in the shoe of others. Of the women around you, of the men you force to assume roles that were not predestined, of the queer Nigerians you've been taught to hate, of your friends, family and strangers with different stories as yours. It really isn't hard because they too are human like you are, they too live and love and want as you do. All you have to do is open your mind, past what society has taught you, past what you believe to be true and right because who are you even to determine that?. 

So yes, we are angry people. But until we realize that our anger isn't directed at those it should be, we may never break the cycle of oppression .

I hope dear reader, as you've reached the end of this article, it resonates with you and challenges you to be better, thank you for reading❤️.