Breaking the Vicious Cycle - 1

THE 7 HELLS OF NIGERIA (part 1)

Nigeria my motherland,
Nigeria my fatherland,
Nigeria my country of milk and honey
Now turned a country of bile and loony.

I write with a sense of foreboding today. I write with an intense passion albeit from an intensely depressed heart about the 7 Hells of my dear country Nigeria, and in between my writing,
Africa is not forgotten. In many terms, we have been told of different cycles; some virtuous, some vicious, some jagged, some smooth. Nigeria has indeed chosen her own cycle, but alas, it is indeed a VICIOUS ONE.

Living in Nigeria is like living in hell, belonging to Nigeria is like belonging to Hades. I write today, not to dampen anyone’s spirit, but to call to all well meaning Nigerians that it is time to break this vicious circle, for in it we have dwelt for far too long. Revelations in the Holy Book, holds for me so many directions and answers. As much as this is not strictly a religious post, I cannot remove religion from the facts of life. Revelations 2:9 describes the state of Nigeria:

“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan”.

This brings me to the 7 Hells of Nigeria. As I discuss them, I do so in no particular order.

HELL 1 - ARMED ROBBERY

The menace of armed robbers has plagued my mind for so long. Ask Nigerians living abroad, what their greatest fear of visiting or returning to live in Nigeria is, and I am sure the consensus will be – ARMED ROBBERS- http://odili.net/news/source/2008/jan/27/510.html . The same response you will get from Nigerians living at home. I have indeed touched on this subject in numerous posts and comments on African Loft; both on the Discussion Lounge and Community Pages. Armed robbery which mostly results in loss of lives is definitely a Hell to consider in Nigeria. This real life drama has become uncanny and gets worse. The police in Nigeria and particularly in Lagos State last year declared war on Armed Robbers and went out full force to shun this hell. But what has happened, the hell became bolder. Armed Robbers retaliated by declaring war on Nigerians and the Police with a vengeance. Now they raid police stations and kill policemen in their dozens. The Nigerian dailies always have headline news about the wrath of Armed Robbers. I have often wondered why the police seem to be fighting a losing battle. Why is the Nigerian government not voting money to increase and improve the Nigerian Police Force? Mr President wants to enlist the help of the British Police. As usual we hear of things to be done but don’t hear of the final decision or result. Why haven’t we instead enlisted the help of the Nigerian Armed Forces to eradicate the Hell of Armed Robbery? Even so Armed Robbers are now attacking police stations with grenades – visit http://odili.net/news/source/2008/jan/28/702.html

HELL 2 – ROAD ACCIDENTS

The menace of Road Accidents is so great and arguably features more in the Nigerian news than Armed Robbery. Again ask Nigerians abroad and in Nigeria the greatest threat to their lives and of course, the fear of getting killed on the Nigerian road will take first or second position. Most of us have lost a loved one to road accidents. E.g. Iyabo Bolarinwa, RIP. Bunmi Ogunlowo, RIP. Larry Ifedayo Taylor, RIP. Egunsola Ojerinde, RIP. Nigerians die in hundreds daily, due to road accidents. You don’t even need to be on a long journey to fall prey to this second hell. Right inside Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu, Kano and indeed all towns and villages in Nigeria, road accidents claim lives daily. This story years ago may make you want to laugh, but believe you me, it is not fiction and it is not funny. A man dreamt he was involved in a road accident and died. He therefore decided that to avert this disaster, he would remain indoors for the whole of the week. The second day, a trailer with faulty brakes, veered off the road, rammed into this man’s house and killed him instantly. If you are a Nigerian and live in Nigeria, you would believe me. Just this past week, headline news are mostly of accidents claiming scores of lives, e.g. http://odili.net/news/source/2008/jan/27/9.html , http://odili.net/news/source/2008/jan/28/31.html , http://odili.net/news/source/2008/jan/27/608.html

Even as I speak, my heart is praying hard for my next trip to Nigeria is getting closer and I am filled with apprehension and foreboding and I dip myself in the blood of Jesus every second and know that I will abide under the shadow of the Almighty and hence no evil shall befall me in Jesus name, Amen. The fear of road accidents have drawn us closer to God somehow which is a good thing. I took public transport from Lagos to Ondo two years ago and for the first 30 minutes of the journey, we sang choruses and fired prayers for God’s protection and safe journey, Christians, Muslims and even the traditional religious worshippers were all responding strongly to “Loruko Jesu (the name of Jesus)”. Now heaven help those who help themselves oh. The state of the Nigerian Roads need attention, vehicles need MOT certification, Nigerian drivers and their possessed/demonic style of driving need retraining, and a change of attitude. The government need to invest in a Road Marshall Corps with integrity. We have discussed a lot on this 2nd Hell on African Loft e.g. http://www.africanloft.com/nigerian-road-kill-epidemic-calls-for-tough-measures/ .

HELL 3 - CORRUPTION

This third hell is the bane of Nigerian society and a vehicle of disgrace, degradation, poverty, and other lesser vicious circles in Nigeria. This Hell is definitely a great contender to the first two hells mentioned above. Nigeria has suffered and gone from grace to grass due to corruption. Nigeria has suffered the law of diminishing returns due to corruption. The Nigerian and international headlines are screaming with news and reports on corruption in Nigeria. Nigerian names have gone from “cheap popularity” to “negativ popularity” due to corruption. Notable Nigerian names have become synonymous with famous Crooks and Fraudsters and Robbers. We used to talk of the Anninis, Oyenusis and the Great Train Robbers”. We now in Nigeria talk constantly of Ehindero, Ex President Obasanjos, Patricia Etteh, James Ibori, (Un)Lucky Igbenidion, Iyabo Obasanjo Bello aka other names. The likes of Abacha, Babaginda, & Atiku are not to be left out. This third hell of Corruption has become the bloggers delight. African Loft discusses corruption regularly e.g. http://odili.net/news/source/2008/jan/24/306.html, http://www.africanloft.com/nigeria-anti-corruption-effort-why-remove-ribadu-at-this-point-in-time/ , http://www.africanloft.com/nigerias-endless-corruption-controversies/ .

Some blogs have tried anti corruption campaigns e.g. http://www.nigerianlighthouse.org/ivory/?p=53 , http://www.nigerianlighthouse.org/ivory/?p=35

Nigeria has for so long been promising to wage war on corruption. We bless the works of Ribadu and EFCC while reflecting in dismay over decisions loaded with negative vibes e.g. the one year study leave forced on Ribadu: http://grandioseparlor.com/2007/12/efcc-boss-ribadu-checkmated-ordered-to-proceed-on-study-leave/ Undoubtedly our Mr President Yaradua is filled with good ideas and good intentions but with little or slow action and sometimes quick to abandon ideas if met with opposition. Yaradua declared a few days ago that immunity clause for governors will be removed from the Nigerian constitution, days later the Speaker says it will not be done until all petitions on ground are resolved - http://odili.net/news/source/2008/jan/28/200.html.

I honestly don’t see the correlation, or maybe I am just in too much of a hurry to see this new amendment in place for I have eyes on some current governors (especially one who albeit fraudulently but temporarily on sit now), need to face the music sooner than later. Anyway it is not all bad news on this Hell 3 issue for Nigerians, especially the younger generation and in the Diaspora, are heaven bent on fighting corruption and exterminating it. Amen so be it. Revelations 1:16:

“He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength”.

Please don’t forget to add 419ners to this Hell 3 called Corruption. to be continued…