A Cry for Utopia ( 0ngoing )
"I am tired and a frustrated Nigerian", was how Donald
Duke, a former governor and presidential candidate in Nigeria described his
state of mind. Most Nigerians feel the same way but they rarely expressed it in public. More than 82
million Nigerians live on less than $1 a day. Nigerians are seen in the public
smiling and expressing gestures of optimism despite poor quality of life.
Record showed that Nigerians were
some of the happiest people in the world. A survey by NOIpolls had shown
that Nigeria remained happy amidst economic, social and security challenges
they experience on daily basis. At a
glance, Nigeria appear to be the happiest place in the universe, but closer
look reveals the opposite.
"Suffering and smiling" as they search for utopia,
continues to be the commonly repeated phrase, made popular by the iconic
Nigeria musician, Fela Anikulapo-kuti. A case can be made that over the years,
the people of Nigeria have developed the capacity to endure suffering caused by
bad leadership. Believing in miracle is commonplace in Nigeria, happiness comes
from seeing and living through the worst that life can throw.
What has changed now? The emotional atmosphere of Nigeria is charged
negatively. Nigerians seem to have stopped smiling yet the suffering has no end
in sight. The mantra, "suffering and smiling", is replaced by
"suffering and angry". Everybody is angry the young and the old.