The 'Shithole' You Call Home

If you are like me you must have been livid when you read reports that the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump referred to African countries as 'Shitholes'.

It was during the White House meeting on Immigration Reform that President Donald Trump referred to African nations as “shithole countries”, and proceeded to ask the following questions: “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here? Why couldn’t we just take in immigrants from, say, Norway?”

If you are like me, you probably also considered the state of things in the country you call home and shrugged asking something like "are we angry because he may be right? Is Nigeria really a Shithole''?

Recall also how on December 23, 2017, The New York Times reported that during a meeting in the Oval Office to advance President Trump’s Immigration Agenda, Trump made the following remarks about Nigerians: “Once they had seen the United States, they would never go back to their huts in Africa”.

So when in January he made the Shithole remark we were concerned not only because we do not all live in huts but the statements also reeked of racism and an air of superiority.

Some African Presidents called for an apology, professional bodies made up of Nigerians in the United States asked for apologies stating that they were contributing to the economy of America and as such wouldn't appreciate such statements about their home but that was all they could do, make statements.

They didn't get angry enough to come back home at least to teach America a lesson that their economy will crumble without their services.

Nigerians in Nigeria reacted also with some for in support and others against Mr Trump's remarks .

Then fast forward to about 6 months later, Falz a Nigerian musician living in Nigeria releases a single titled 'This Is Nigeria'.

A song in which he chronicles the challenges we have to deal with in Nigeria and how the system helps to increase the enormity of the challenges.

He talked about Police Stations closing at 6pm because of security reasons, the rise in Internet fraud especially amongst youths etal and some Nigerians once again spoke up about how he ought to paint the country in a positive light.

Isn't music amongst other things supposed to highlight societal ills?

I agree that we are all entitled to our opinion but I believe the Nigeria Falz sang about is THIS one we live in.

Recall how in 2016 the Prime Minister of the United Kingdim (UK), David Cameron referred to Nigeria as fantastically corrupt?

As if to buttress that statement it was reported on Friday that monies meant for the payment of April salaries for Local Government employees in Kebbi state were reported to have been stolen in June by suspected armed robbers. This is June and they are yet to get April's pay which has now been stolen I wonder what would become of May and even June.

So you see why I am screaming?

THIS IS NIGERIA!

This is Nigeria where elected officials go abroad for medical checks and treatment while health workers go on strike and ordinary citizens die.

This really is Nigeria a country rich in oil yet not economically self reliant.

This is Nigeria where snakes and monkeys swallow and cart away millions of taxpayers monies.

This is Nigeria where thousands seek refuge in Internally Displaced Persons Camps and have to face the rains, cold, heat, mosquitoes and unsanitary environment because they were chased away and had their loved ones killed by Herdsmen.

This is Nigeria where stable power supply is like a Utopian dream even though billions of dollars are reported to have been spent on power.

This is Nigeria where young men and women risk their lives trying to cross the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean Sea in search of greener pastures. They become undignified while trying to find dignity and value for their lives.

This is Nigeria where elected officials empower members of their constituents with shoe polish kits, beverages and noodles, tricycles, frying pans and claypots.

This is Nigeria where getting a visa to relocate abroad - anywhere in particular, is a testimony.

THIS IS NIGERIA!