WHAT MAKES A PROPER NIGERIAN?

This quote by +Ted Nugent  (Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American rock musician from Detroit, Michigan) has got me thinking all day and I want to share some of that thought with you.

He was asked by +Piers Morgan on his +CNN International  show; "What do you think makes a proper American?"

And Ted answered thus:

"...I will start (by saying, a proper American is) with a positive spirit, a herculean work ethic, not just a work ethic but one that drives (people), if you met my family and all my friends and all my band my team my management, everybody; they get up early, they kick ass all day long, they cover every detail... get the job done, we go to bed late at night and we set the alarm, wake up and start all over again, that is the QUINTESSENTIAL America..."

QUESTION:

I pause to ask that same question in a Nigerian scenario: What do you think makes a proper Nigerian?

ANSWER:

Let me start by saying that a typical Nigerian is one whose nationality and identity was by means of unsolicited and unplanned amalgamation got Corruption written into the fabric of his/her skin.

Let me explain it in simple terms:

Natives of the World, especially Britain, France and Portugal in the early 1600 travelled the length and breadth of the atlantic seas in hazardous weathers and perishable ships just to discover the new world in the horizon that offers freedom. Freedom from fascism, debt and encroaching monarchical rules that debilitate the very existence of the human labour. They got it and in late 1700's, they fought with their last breathe just to retain that freedom from Britain. As enshrined in that famous declaration of independence by the United State of America that;

 "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness".

I can't argue therefore, that because 'a lot of blood' wasn't shed for our independence, our independence hasn't produced the needed result of a prosperous and growing nation bereft of endemic corruption, nepotism and religious bigotry. I can however argue that because we didn't discuss our amalgamation which ultimately clocked 100 years this year, we have been beating round the bush, looking for what is not lost and losing sight of what we should be keeping as heritage.

There's no difference between the quintessential american and a typical Nigerian. Those qualities Ted read out can be found in most, if not all law abiding citizen of the country. We wake up early in the morning, hustle the roads, hit the workplace and work as if our lives depended on it (it actually does anyways). Check the roads and see that akara seller (fried beans cake), vulcanizers, roadside mechanics and furniture makers. They work really hard, harder if not, than that American.

The problem however is that the labour put into an unraveling and unstable country like Nigeria with little or no institution that rewards such and punish vices in the genuine and realistic sane society puts a chagrin on the limitless efforts and energy generated by over 160 million people.

They just can't comprehend why things don't work. Why with the abundance of skills, manpower and human resources, refineries won't work for instance; power generation will be below 2,000 megawatts and the government will continue to bandy figures of looting of it's commonwealth with impunity.

The problem is simple and solvable. We need to all feel like we have a share in this project called NIGERIA. And that can start by revisiting the past, even if it is a 100 years old past and correcting it. I don't know why some leaders are saying they don't want the National Conference. Maybe for the fear of disintegration or for the fear of so many secrets coming to the fore, such that have been committed in their capacity as leaders or leader-friends have committed.

Whatever it is, true nationalism enveloped in patriotism that naturally fights corruption as an instinctive norm rather than national mouth say will never be seen.

Nigerians are the best in whatever they do. Best surgeons in the world, designed the best cars, ingenuity, creative and world leaders even in sports, you can't push away a quintessential Nigerian into the abyss of nonentity because he will fight back and seek relevance.

That is who we are; getting things done out of nothing, that is what we stand for.

Atoloye Folahan (mikeatols blog)