No, this is not directed at all Nigerians in Diaspora (NiDs); it is strictly directed to the negative opinion peddlers (NoPs). I know, I know, I know, I have no right to muscle anyone’s view on any issue because it is their fundamental human right.
Okay, let me put it straight, that is me saying I am fed up with the whingers who are strident and vociferous in writing terrible things about how rubbish Nigeria and Nigerians at home are. I am through this medium saying to this class of people to either do something to change what they do like about Nigeria or they might as well renounce their citizenship. After all, ‘Orisa bi o le gbemi, sa s’emi bi o se bami’ (if you can’t help me, just leave as you met me). This write up is also my way of putting the lie to the holier than thou attitude of many NiDs.
How to recognise ‘NoPs’
These people are easy to recognise. One, every of their opinion about Nigeria is vile, volatile as well as violates the dignity and decency of Nigeria and Nigerians at home. Their social media pages are encyclopaedic litany of Nigeria as a terrible place not deserving of human habitation. Their language is negative, disrespectful, disparaging and dismissive. They derisively refer to the country as ‘that place’ and their brethren as ‘those people’. You would often hear or read them saying “Until they do something about that place, I am not going there…blah blah blah. In short they carry on as if they are superior to their brethrens at home. In short, they are negative opinion peddlers (NoPs).
It irks that ‘NoPs’ have no meaningful action, interaction or engagement to redeem the perceived distortions about Nigeria. For example they condemn Nigerian politicians, only to push, shove and step over each other for photo ops when the same politicians turn up in their cities/countries of abode. They are the influence peddlers who set up spurious NGOs for conferring dubious awards on visiting celebs.
The reality
Let me be clear, I am as deeply frustrated, disappointed and upset with the state of our nation today. Nigeria should be a better country than what we currently have. We should have governments that are better responsive and structured to serve people.
But, not everyone is qualified to haul abuse on our nation.
Certainly, not those whose frustration emanated from their various learning centres – beer parlours and owanbe rumour mills. Mostly, their opinions and arguments are picked up from these places where they are either halfway inebriated or where their volubility is induced by the Epicurean desire to fight off pain i.e. stress, loneliness or overwork. It is no wonder that whatever opinion they pick up under these circumstances are not subjected to the slightest interrogation, research or logic. They simply pass on hearsays as facts and opinions as truths.
Putting the lie to their holier than thou attitude.
First, their bubble of superiority needs to be punctured. Folks, we are not better or superior to our brethrens at home! For one, folks back home operate at best in a charged and challenging conditions, yet, some of them, like some in Diaspora, still perform well.
Come to think of it, the major flaw among our people at home is ever present with us in Diaspora. For example, how many Nigerian themed events are well organised in diaspora? What is the success story of various Nigerian bodies that has been set up in the past? Actually how many of us are aware much less discuss about initiatives such as Diaspora voting rights? Who aids and abet the disorder in different Nigerian embassies around the world? Who are the aliens who cause disorder at departure desks of flights to Nigeria at airport terminals around the world?
Of course there are NiDs performers who are making sterling contributions to their host communities. But, I have found those do not slag off their motherland. I guess because they are too busy looking for ways to contribute. It is a truism that true success is kinder in understanding and a lot gentler with words. When they complain, they do not merely suggest, they go a step further to act, to make things happen.
Most NiDs attitude of superiority is contradictory to the qualities of equality and fairness which our host nations aspire to daily. Our attitude and utterances demand we should be accorded favours when we visit home. Many years ago, at an event in London, (then) Gov Fasola encouraged us to come back home to invest and build. A diasporan asked Gov Fashola “What promise do you want to give us if we come back home?”. Fashola’s reply was epic. He asked the questioner “What special privileges did the British government promise when you were coming to the UK?” Gbam!
It is sad that ‘NoPs’ let their dislike or hatred especially for current president to wantonly disparage the Nigerian nation. They forget that Buhari is a passing phase who would soon park out of Aso Rock. But our inaction to contribute meaningfully will negatively affect generations after Buhari.
We need to remember that the beauty we see in our host nations were made possible by the brawn, sweat and action of their past generations. It is simply not okay to sit with our keypads dishing out abuses at those who are at the arena. It is especially a terrible thing to curse your nation when you have done nothing to lift her. Any curse is not on the geographical expression known as Nigeria but on we the people who inhabit that space.
Nigeria does not mind being criticised, but she needs us to encourage her, or at the very least, to not curse her. Those unwilling to develop that mindset should – shut up!