I had a classmate years ago, very bright and elegantly built. One could easily envy him. Very much endowed specially. The only way we could describe him properly then was with the word infant terrible.
Gifted with power of speech, his hands very artistic, his voice quite angelic. That ones body isn’t filled with goose pimples was that he hasn’t sung.
Those days, his voice before the microphone, rendering solo songs the delight of all ears; so sedating, those suffering from insomnia could snore at the sound of it.
That was a bit description of who he was then. Unfortunately I have not set my eyes on him since after our graduation years ago and wouldn’t exactly say if he has changed.
I know from the above description, the urge to met him and hear him sing can be compelling on many now.
Uwaezuoke( The world isn’t self sufficient)is not just a name. It is a reality of life for all. Each of us however endowed has something deficient, which under our breath wished it wasn’t there in the first place.
Of all these adorable and enviable qualities, he had a chronic halitosis. For clarity sake, halitosis is an awful smell of the mouth. So awful and intensed nothing abates the smell.
His was very chronic. He could brush with any form of classified tooth paste, his mouth would still ooze with a stench that turns intestine.
It was that bad. Nobody could stand face to face with him and have a discussion without expressing discomfort.
Those who bore such stench, did that because of the value he gives and the aura around his person which the stench seriously whittled down.
Nobody prays this for their enemies. One can imagine the embarrassment he went through, impeding greatly on his self confidence.
Each time I look at the drama, the shenanigans, the aggressively and arrogantly barefaced impunity, the decay and stench that ooze out from our government institutions , one thing that comes my mind is that amazing classmate of mine with halitosis. What a bad way to remember a classmate.
Nigeria was that bride any country would want to woo for bilateral relationship.
Years back same Gowon said money wasn’t the problem but how to spend it.
Years back, many countries that struggled to make ends meet but are presently doing great, got relief from Nigeria.
Years back, many countries found succor in Nigeria, for education and economic stability.
Years back, our educational system was top-notch ranked, bursary allowances, free education etc were rights and privileges, a rule not an exception.
Years back, companies like UAC, Leventis, Kingsway, UTC, Standard Bank, Barclays Bank, Lever Brothers (Unilever), PZ, John Holts, CFAO, Dunlop, Michelin, Volkswagen, Peugeot Automobile, Cadbury, NTC, May and Baker, RT Briscoe that flourished are no more, swallowed by the halitosis of corruption.
What happened to Ajaokuta Steel Mills, the Itakpe Iron Ore, Delta Steel Company, Oshogbo, Jos and Katsina Rolling Mills; Northern Nigeria Kano Groundnut Pyramids, Cotton, Hides and Skins; the Western Nigeria Cocoa; the Eastern Nigeria Palm Oil Produce; the Midwestern Nigeria Rubber and Timber produce, Okpella Cement Factory, Ughelli Glass Industries etc. The list is endless.
Years back, our refineries functioned. Life was relatively sweet and naira reverenced, honored and strong enough to match other currencies.
All these are gone, suppressed by the halitosis of Nigeria Systematic corruption, with a stench that is terribly offensive.
From CBN,to NNPCL, to FIRS, to Humanitarian Ministry to Security institutions, to the three arms of government and of course not forgetting the various agencies, ministries and parastatal, the smell is stomach turning.
Nigeria systematic halitosis is embarrassing, so much so, those who drank from her cistern of benevolence are cupping their nose for the stench isn’t mild at all.
A destination point of many, is now a plague to same. The stench from the halitosis of her endemic corruption, awful!
Her economy smells, her politics oozes even her religion very offensive to the decency of godliness.
Everything about Nigeria appears to be halitosis infected. Show me one thing that doesn’t smell in Nigeria? Certificate forgery to kidnapping. Humongous stealing to religious rascality? Rituals for money to gory tales of animals swallowing money? LBGQ to gender anonymous? The halitosis of Nigeria System is heart renching.
Is Nigeria doomed? Swallowed already in this stench? With no hope for a cure?
Medically, does halitosis have a cure? In case it doesn’t, a spiritual cure wouldn’t be far fetched, 😱 what would you have me say?
Can Nigeria be cured of this disease? Who will bring the cure? When? How? And where will the cure come from? South? East? North? West?
The smell isn’t abetting, by day it increases, whittling down the little integrity left in the minds of other nations.
An International butt we have become. A graphic description worse than a skunk we have become. How awful a smell, a nation like Nigeria can be?
Nothing stops this smell, not even the use of the most powerful Listerine mouth wash, flossing and brushing daily. The smell isn’t the problem but the cause of the smell.
What is the cause of Nigeria chronic halitosis? It might be from the stomach. Opening her up( restructuring) May be a step towards discovering the cause and a cure administered.
Until this is done, we may be gropping ,looking for the light that was not, and the curse still strong, since the cause of the curse isn’t yet known.
If you ask me, Nigeria needs an urgent gastric sleeves surgery, to remove whatever that is causing corruption fatness in the system. Until this is done, far flung remains the destination point of our recovery.
Jarlath Uche Opara Jarlathuche@gmail.com
07068420002
