1. Thread
My aburo, @ayosogunro's brilliant submissions on d damage we, diaspora Nigerians, sometimes do to the body politic reminds me of an essay I wrote back in 2013 entitled "Wish me What You Live Abroad or Get Thee Behind Me, Buddy". I want to thread excerpts from d essay.
My aburo, @ayosogunro's brilliant submissions on d damage we, diaspora Nigerians, sometimes do to the body politic reminds me of an essay I wrote back in 2013 entitled "Wish me What You Live Abroad or Get Thee Behind Me, Buddy". I want to thread excerpts from d essay.
2.
D Nigerian who is wrongly wired at home has a formidable ally abroad. This foreign-based ally of the home-based defender of the status quo is one of Nigeria’s most dangerous enemies. Unlike his partner at home, he does not possess the valuable excuse of ignorance.
D Nigerian who is wrongly wired at home has a formidable ally abroad. This foreign-based ally of the home-based defender of the status quo is one of Nigeria’s most dangerous enemies. Unlike his partner at home, he does not possess the valuable excuse of ignorance.
3.
Our friend has perfected d art of experiencing his world in Euro-America with one set of standards & Nigeria with an inferior set of standards. Whatever he'd never accept in Euro-America he joins up with career rationalizers of mediocrity in Nigeria to praise to high heavens
Our friend has perfected d art of experiencing his world in Euro-America with one set of standards & Nigeria with an inferior set of standards. Whatever he'd never accept in Euro-America he joins up with career rationalizers of mediocrity in Nigeria to praise to high heavens
4.
That which he rejects abroad he justifies & rationalizes for his fatherland in Nigeria. In d unusual circumstance that a snowstorm disrupts power to his neighbourhood abroad, if power isn’t restored within hours, he is on the phone screaming, “this is not acceptable at all”.
That which he rejects abroad he justifies & rationalizes for his fatherland in Nigeria. In d unusual circumstance that a snowstorm disrupts power to his neighbourhood abroad, if power isn’t restored within hours, he is on the phone screaming, “this is not acceptable at all”.
5.
But when he hears that an entire city has not had power for two weeks in Nigeria, the career rationalizer of mediocrity for Nigeria in him takes over. He joins forces with his local teammates to shout at and abuse concerned citizens for complaining about power failure.
But when he hears that an entire city has not had power for two weeks in Nigeria, the career rationalizer of mediocrity for Nigeria in him takes over. He joins forces with his local teammates to shout at and abuse concerned citizens for complaining about power failure.
6.
He takes over Facebook and Twitter, preaching patience. While flipping channels between baseball and basketball in his New York or Toronto living room, he tells Nigerians coping with darkness that Rome was not built in a day.
He takes over Facebook and Twitter, preaching patience. While flipping channels between baseball and basketball in his New York or Toronto living room, he tells Nigerians coping with darkness that Rome was not built in a day.
7.
He churns out constipated data about how many electric poles the Nigerian President he worships erected last year all over the country and urges the people to be grateful to the President.
He churns out constipated data about how many electric poles the Nigerian President he worships erected last year all over the country and urges the people to be grateful to the President.
8.
Yet, in all d donkey years he has spent in America, Canada, or Europe, he has never encountered that strange beast called gratitude to govt officials & public servants by members of the public for doing the job they are supposed to do with tax payers’ money in the first place.
Yet, in all d donkey years he has spent in America, Canada, or Europe, he has never encountered that strange beast called gratitude to govt officials & public servants by members of the public for doing the job they are supposed to do with tax payers’ money in the first place.
