Being Nigerian – an identity crisis

An identity crisis

I like to think I’m a patriot, I fancy myself a true Nigerian, but the problem is … I don’t know what that means anymore, actually I guess I never did. So I ask myself: what does it mean to be Nigerian? what is the Nigerian identity? what does it symbolize? What in it’s essence am I proud to be identified with?

Not such a good picture

It’s usually easier for me to point out things wrong with Nigeria, than the things right about it, I don’t feel very proud saying that, just honest. If you need insights into what happens in my country I could help but it may not be such a good picture, I’m afraid:

One time in Lagos, our government actually put uniforms on the back of touts and payed them to harass fellow citizens in the name of levying transporters or whatever. Most of them have lost that job, some of them merely lost their uniforms, or wear it like tattered rags, but those touts still linger on the streets of Lagos today doing their business. I’ve heard nothing too drastic can be done about them, lest they turn all the way into armed robbers, and become even more dangerous.

A more important agency of state or the Government is the police force. Alas! our riffle totting Men In Black also, seem to be more about the mission of terrorizing innocent citizens than protecting them. I speak not only from first-hand witness now, but from personal experience, having once been hit by a policeman for sincerely no reason, save maybe he was drunk. The police is your friend… my black Nigerian foot! It’s a fact that the average Nigerian hates or dreads the sight of a police man. It’s unfortunate how that the supposed icons of state security, now appear to be the most popular emblems of corruption, extortion and terrorism. (N.B: I should make a note here that the actual criminals are the least terrorized by this black on black institution).

When will the Government begin to protect the rights of the poor, defenseless majority of Nigerian citizens? Respecting the masses, Recognition and response to their needs is key to preserving the soul of our National pride and community. Am I lashing out at Government and police men? Oh no! It doesn’t end there at all, in fact, from the things I see everyday as I go out, I’m appalled at the disrespect and injustice with which we common citizens treat our fellows. True… things fall apart when the center cannot hold… (thank you Chinua Achebe); When we have no self esteem, no personal sense of national pride, there is little wonder that we don’t treat our neighbors well. If we actually had a strong sense of identity, there would be something almost ominous about maltreating a fellow Nigerian, as it would be tantamount to abusing a valid national icon.

Help our unbelief

I find that more and more Nigerians are loosing faith in the Nigerian identity and I’m having more and more difficulty blaming them, unfortunately. Being deprived of basic amenities of life, starvation, illiteracy, hardship etc. are the consequences many youths face and will face for being born Nigerian.

Nigerians in the diaspora, are being stigmatized for our earned reputation of dishonesty and corruption. Nigerians at home blame those abroad for misrepresenting us, those abroad say it’s those at home that have given us a bad name. Well, for a fact our leaders have embezzled money shamelessly. We citizens also defraud one another looking for a quick escape from our poverty. Some of our musicians seem to be proud about it: our victims are mugus, while we are the Nigerians living true to our name… duh! I think we all embarrass each other. The whole thing makes me sick. I don’t want to be a part of it. If this is what Nigerians will continue to be known for, I’m no longer one… after-all I’m a born-again Christian, the stigma of my birth place is passed away, isn’t it? … duh! duh! ~ Never mind that.

It is this sad unfortunate reality, that I have attempted to portray so far, that our leaders have many times hoped to re-package and re-brand. They are again re-packaging a bad product to sell locally and abroad… so typically Nigerian, I think. Okay so the “rebranders” say we should celebrate and promote the good qualities of Nigeria and then what about the bad… wish it away? O please help my unbelief! Okay I should have known better, maybe we can keep faking it until we eventually make it. But, If they require us to convince the world that we’re a happy, satisfied people, they might as well see to it that we are at least not suffering so. Then, we wont have to be such bad pretenders, as it is , we are fooling no one.

A Nigeria to be proud of

Re-branding from leadership; re-branding by justice

If our leadership truly seeks to restore the Nigerian dignity and to give a common citizen like myself a reason to be proud of my identity, then first of all, they have to be an example of what the true Nigerian Identity should be. The Re-branding Nigeria’s slogan said: good people… great nation. Then our leadership must be conspicuously made up of people of high personal quality and integrity – Just the kind of people you and I would gladly trust, identify with and emulate.

The second thing I require from our leadership is justice. People of character should have no problem upholding or enforcing Justice and the rule of law, when they are given the power to do so. I’m tired of political excuses. I want to see the rich and poor equally protected by the law and equally punished for breaking it, without respect of persons. This would make me a very proud Nigerian.

A new brand: Land of opportunities and prosperity

Prosperity in all of it’s ramifications, including access to health care, education, social amenities and security, is a brand we all want to identify with. I’m yet to see the welfare of the masses become the priority of our Government in the way they plan and spend public funds, in the projects they engage in and how they execute their policies. Every God honoring government will take the plight of the poor and suffering seriously. Unfortunately, the story of Nigeria resembles the case of people perishing for lack of vision. I’d like to see leaders who are able to envision a prosperous Nigeria and to work creatively towards it by conceiving, implementing or aiding practical solutions.

… You’re proud of it or you’re just a fake!

Nevertheless, I choose to have faith in the future of my beloved country, It’s home for me anyway; I choose to believe in this generation of youths rising now to re-write her destiny. I believe that God has given us the right and power to effect the change that we desire and I see us making that difference, this is something I’m proud to be identified with: a struggle for rebirth.

I think Nigeria is blessed with too many brilliant and decent minds and has contributed too much to too many positive developments globally, to be treated like we don’t matter, we do. We deserve better; we deserve to be treated better and rated better, and we would be. We have fallen, we have been dragged on our belly in the scum of the world, but we are getting on our feet, we only need a few hands to hold us up, hands of integrity, hands of purpose, I’m sure the others will join on our way up. If you’re a decent and honest Nigerian, at home or abroad, you have nothing to be ashamed of or you’re just a fake, raise the banner were you are and wave it proudly, Nigeria will be great again.