Oftentimes, what one thinks is a challenge to others, turns sometimes to be the fire that burns one eventually. The wind one thinks isn’t within one’s neighbourhood becomes a whirlwind that blows off the roof of one’s house instead.
We live in a circle of chains where the strength of us all is determined by the strength of the weakest chain.
Nigeria is a country of diversities of strength, weakness, ugly and beauty. Each of these comes to reckoning when one wants to place Nigeria and define her properly.
The financial strength or stability of a family is determined by the stability of the lowest one in their financial ladder. Same is true for Nigeria and Nigerians.
For example, a family of ten with three financially stable persons and the rest wobbling unsteadily would be described as poor and abject.
It is mathematical, scientific and moral. What average can somebody with this result have
1) Maths 70
2) English 80
3) literature 85
4) Chemistry 40
5) Biology 50
6) Physics 30
7) Economics 35
8) Igbo 20
9) Social Studies 15
10) Agriculture 12.
Average: 43.7
That is the reality of such families, Nigeria inclusive with few “Odogwu” and “Asa Odogwu” while the remaining crowd are either lowlifers or struggling to pull themselves by their shoestrings.
Would one with this kind of result be classified as intelligent, average or a dummy? Looking at this result, what readily came to my mind was Nigeria.
Few individuals hoard the resources while the majority scrape up life, most times using spittle to wash their faces at the middle of an ocean.
“Century Bus stop” is a metaphor that mirrors the very depth of decay, instability, lowlife and sense of irresponsibility that have been the identity of many Nigerians especially the younger generations.
It is a metaphor of how the youth have found solace in drugs, alcoholism and gangsterism, while our political class live large, flourishing and blossoming from the very resources that are for the use of all.
“Century Bus Stop” is a metaphorical joint, seen across the length and breadth of the six geo-political zones, the 36 states plus FCT and 774 local government Areas and six area councils in Nigeria.
Such Bus stops stink and ooze with a life of degeneration, hopelessness and vagrance. A Bus stop that harbours those whose futures have been slipped off their grips, wallowing in the darkest depth of their lives, smoked and drunk always into stupor, ready to spill blood and snuff out life for either a coin or bottle of beer.
It is a bus stop, where the political class comes to harvest claws to pick hot nuts for themselves. The catchment areas for their politics of violence, bigotry and fanaticism.
Few days ago, I walked past one of such “Century Bus stops”. As late as 11 pm they would begin to gather for an all-night drinking spree, dispersing around 7am.
What manner of humans are they? What kind of purpose would such a group of individuals have? What possibly could be their object of discussion? How to Industrialize Nigeria? Stop corruption? Stop the impunity of our leaders? Or engage in all-night gibberish talks? Frolicking? Your guess is as good as mine.
They can wake one day and hold any wealthy persons around their vicinity hostage, pull their houses or businesses down and bring them on their knees of penury.
Nigeria is not defined by the flashy exquisiteness of Aso Rock, the bourgeoising life style of ostentation of our political class. These are mere minute percentages of Nigerians and as such wouldn’t count.
Nigeria is better viewed from the lenses of the lifestyle of “Century Bus Stops”.They represent the downtrodden, the weak, the hopeless, the forgotten, the neglected, the hungry, the abused etc They represent Nigeria, the weakest chains that define the strength of the strongest chains.
“Century Bus Stop”, is a dry gunpowder waiting to be exploded. If it does hmmmm! The most influential, the richest, the wealthiest would be reduced to a common denominator’ level.
The political class wants to be the only lion that roars, the only cock that crows, the only peacock that brandishes its beautiful feathers; while the rest line up, dejected and impoverished, cup in hand scrambling over crumbs from their table. They have weaponized poverty, insecurity etc. For now, their arm-rolling chairs may be giving them comfort. Soon, if nothing is done, the dry gunpowder “Century Bus stop” presently rests on would explode.
“Century Bus stop” is a bus stop where people who are “Constantly Expressing Negative Tendencies Under Reckless Yoke”( CENTURY) are found.
Century Bus stop!! Think about it ! A time bomb!! Those negative tendencies as inflammatory as they are, can be managed and put into good and productive use, If only our leaders, the custodians of yam and knife can for once be human!!
I have said it before, still reiterating it, the monies in the pockets of few corrupt and kleptomaniac politicians can turn Nigeria’s economy around. Rather they prefer to hoard it, while the country smoulders in abjection, misery, wants and decay. Time ticks and the detonation of this timed bomb imminent.
Jarlath Uche Opara Jarlathuche@gmail.com
