ALLOW ME TO VENT

-

As I walk down the street away from the voting center, am perplexed, angry and disgusted. When will I live with absolute believe in my country? When will I go to the office without getting dirty due to the dust on the street? When will green, white, green mean life, purity and plenty food. 

I see their eyes every morning, the stains of neglect, betrayal, confusion. The stressful lines that depict that they haven't had a good night, NEPA obviously has failed and the next meal is a mystery. I see the boy that came from Anambra saying ‘Aunty Aunty I am from secondary school Nnawfia and I walk away wondering if he wants to steal my purse or jazz me. Later I realized that I had known him or he had known me. I thought to myself OMG!! why didn’t I take a second look (secondary school Nnwafia was where I taught English Language two years ago during my NYSC). The depressing thoughts came: What was he doing in Lagos?  Did he come for greener pastures? He didn’t look any greener to me; in fact, he looked like he needed water to blossom. I had even mistaken him for an ‘agbero’. Huh!  na wa. He is probably one of those living on less than a dollar a day.

My thoughts run wild these days, maybe I am getting older and I see more, the pain, suffering, anger, the death. We have to value the most valuable thing which is human life. Our leaders during this unruly campaign have killed more than 50 people according to international statistics. Ki lo de, it must really be a ‘do or die affair’ (OBJ).  I just don’t want to be mediocre, looked upon like shit because can’t get simple things like voting on Election Day. Nigeria is smarter than this, Nigeria is better than this.

We have the talent, wisdom, zeal and greatness that life tries to squeeze out or the Nigerian factor tries to make a fool of.

Seriously the 5W’s and H I was taught in university comes to play. Where are we going? Who is leading us? What future do we see? Why are we still here? When are we going to stand up for change and how are we getting to our desired destination?


Comments

  1. Unknown20 July 2012 at 08:58

    Oh Salewa, you just dissed the one who called you 'copa'. I don't blame you though. We all have to do something about this country, starting with giving birth to it. You wanna know what I want to do? I want to help Nigeria get rid of her addiction to crude oil. Don't ask me how!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Loneliness is a warm bed

-
Image
by Shally A. Walking on my toes, silently, from the bedroom into the kitchen; I cut into the big loaf of bread with the sharpest knife on the cabinet long before you wake. I want no sounds heard; this silence is my power and warm bed. Your food is served- ready to be dipped into when you awake. My mind doesn’t want the bother of words that hold no water, have bad taste and stink like a soiled bed wetter’s mattress. No words, just like it was yesterday. I walk on my toes to the room, lie down beside you and pretend to sleep when I feel your weight move off the bed. You glance at me- idiot, I curse inside. What is left of me but the poundings of anger, neglect and disgrace? Two deaths and promises that fell into the thin air of nothingness. I stood by you when you had nothing, now too much money has stuffed your stomach with pride. Your lies, cheating and insults have shaved all hopes of new beginnings like the drums of bleakness beating in an average Nigerians heart. I have res
Read more

Book signing of The Dairy of a Desperate Naija Woman (DNW)

-
Image
By Shally A. Me, Bola, and my beautiful mentor Mrs Enahoro :) It’s a known fact that Nigerians don’t read, but as I saw numerous people trooping in and out of Laterna Bookstore for the book-signing of  Bola Essien-Nelson  book, I was a little tempted to  ‘yimu’  and say  ‘oyinbo statistics.’ As this is the second book-signing event I have attended, I didn’t really know what to expect but like the Good Book says,  my expectation was not cut off  ( forget I said didn’t have an expectation o! ). At the book-stand, I scrutinized all her books  wella . Indecisive Shally was wondering which one to buy. I was attracted to the colourful cover-page of her latest DNW book. It had a distinctive Nigerian touch. A middle-aged woman sat on the floor with a hint of sarcasm glittering in her eyes, her  gele  was almost reaching the stars and her dress was made from patches of different Ankara fabrics. Nice tableau, I thought. I checked out the second volume of DNW, it was de
Read more

Stand...

-
Image
by Shally A. Sometimes scared Sometimes full of faith Sometimes in the air This too shall pass, I hear I must learn to persevere So unsure Striving to stay alive Hoping I’ll survive Stand.  The wave’s splash along My terror screams “ Lord! Open my eyes, guide my lifes' lines” Stand. I had hoped by now Your arm would have saved my drown The tides toss me around Slitting deep, till red fires gush out You whisper, STAND This too shall pass It takes time to build a corporate work of art. It takes time to build a life. And it takes time to develop and grow. So give yourself, your enterprise, and your family the time they deserve and the time they require, persevere- Jim Rohn.
Read more