Where Does Our 'Nationalism' Go To Die?
Charlie, I know him very, he is like blood, young energetic Nigerian economist. He took the Africanism movement a bit too seriously, he remained a teacher at the University of Ibadan even though all his colleagues sought greener pastures. He was strong, he stood stoutly by his beliefs. He lived and breathed Nigeria, from the retro looks of his afro, to his short sleeved tie and die shirt with matching brown pants. He was a symbol, an attestation to the resilience and the undying believe of the average Nigerian in his home country.
He was hard headed, he lost his job as the project manager of a World Bank sponsored project due to his unwillingness to approve of a Small Scale Business Development center for a village with no source of electricity. I remember vividly has he turned to me that night asking, "If only this foreigners will ask the people in the village what they needed, there would be no use for a 200 page feasibility study". I smile every time I replay his words in my head, he would say, "anybody that is serious about getting the job done in Nigeria, need not come wearing a suit". He was also quick to declare, "all of them (his colleagues then working with the IMF and World Bank) are intellectual prostitutes.
Fast forward 7 years later, Rome Italy, Charlie is rocking a pin striped suit, with silk Oscar De La Renta tie to match. He looked much younger, with a sparkle in his eyes. Life had treated him good, I must say. As we settled for a ride in his late model Mercedes Benz, I asked him the million dollar question. What happened to the philosophy? What happened to the "Nigeria must look inward" theme? Why are you wearing the white man's attire? How come you now work for the UN(FAO)? How come you fit in so well with the so called intellectual prostitutes? Really tell me, why have you sold out?
He looked at me and sighed, and he said, "Son, a wise man chooses his battles carefully, not all causes are worth dying for, and definitely Nigeria is not worth dying for.
He was hard headed, he lost his job as the project manager of a World Bank sponsored project due to his unwillingness to approve of a Small Scale Business Development center for a village with no source of electricity. I remember vividly has he turned to me that night asking, "If only this foreigners will ask the people in the village what they needed, there would be no use for a 200 page feasibility study". I smile every time I replay his words in my head, he would say, "anybody that is serious about getting the job done in Nigeria, need not come wearing a suit". He was also quick to declare, "all of them (his colleagues then working with the IMF and World Bank) are intellectual prostitutes.
Fast forward 7 years later, Rome Italy, Charlie is rocking a pin striped suit, with silk Oscar De La Renta tie to match. He looked much younger, with a sparkle in his eyes. Life had treated him good, I must say. As we settled for a ride in his late model Mercedes Benz, I asked him the million dollar question. What happened to the philosophy? What happened to the "Nigeria must look inward" theme? Why are you wearing the white man's attire? How come you now work for the UN(FAO)? How come you fit in so well with the so called intellectual prostitutes? Really tell me, why have you sold out?
He looked at me and sighed, and he said, "Son, a wise man chooses his battles carefully, not all causes are worth dying for, and definitely Nigeria is not worth dying for.
4Comment(s):
Unfortunately, the portrait you paint describes the majority of young Nigerians. Without the political will of the leadership to change things, it would be difficult to find young Nigerians who are willing to trade the promise of a comfortable life abroad for a life of harrasment by the SSS and long months of incarceration in Kirikiri, or even assasination.
Not everyone will be a Gani Fawehinmi, willing to stand up and fight for what they believe in. I wouldn't consider him a sell out, but in all honesty it's difficult for one person to effect change in a "rotten" system, when others are not willing to change the status quo.
I wouldn't want anybody to die for Nigeria...especially if it's still not going to effect any change.
At the same time I wouldn't want us to give up trying.
Every one should hold on to what they strongly beleive in....
hmm nice lesson