A tow truck, towing a tow truck, towing a car.
My brother in law sent me this. He’s just moved back – I guess mostly he’s happy to be with his beautiful and talented wife (my sister)and his gorgeous kids – ‘the cutest kids ever’. I’m not just saying that…ok well I am, but hey, they put a smile on my face so whatkanfor?
The last time I referred to a conversation I had with a friend and posted fragments of it’s content, it kinda ended up sour – they’re still probably pissed at me and I guess since we’re no longer really talking… anyway I think I’ve lost their trust. However, since this was part of a general email with a post scribe ‘Happy Easter’ hopefully things won’t end up that way here.
If you’re reading this and not Nigerian – then all I can say is this;
Go there. Forget sanitised trips to the safari, or Moroccan flee markets, Cape town beaches. No, no – get down, get dirty, get a yellow cab, get hot, struggle through immigration, change some of that shinny western dollar/sterling in one of the largest black market economies in the world, eat on a road side bukka restaurant, I recommend pounded yam and efo stew, get stuck in a traffic jam, get stuck in a petrol shortage, then the lights go out – NO DIESEL, find your way to the Niger, Jos – visit an uncle who work’s for ‘the government’ in Abuja, wait for a contract. Wait for Nepa – see a Ferrari, a row of X5 BMWs in convoy – see all the drivers are younger than 30, see beautiful stretches of white sand, palm trees, lakes, lagoons, lush green field, meat markets, decayed carcasses – circling vultures, an amputee, a philanthropic welfare state, family, unity, the darkness of coaled back skin, the sound of Afro-beat, Juju, Rap, R’N’B – even Avril Lavine. Loose a hub cab, a mass shuffle of white on a Sunday, the chorus of redemption – ‘Jeysu Christi’ . The surge for democracy, MTV Base, fill your wallet with Mr Chief Dr Prof. Eng Msc, London and Lagos business cards and pictures of a leader everywhere….
So, our dear leader (the President of the Federal Republic) says he is under tremendous pressure to run for a 3rd term of office (thought the constitution says max of 2 terms?). The location and context - he was in Berlin giving a lecture to the German-African Association on Nigeria as a strong emerging economy (shouldn't that be classed a misnomer?). What has one to do with the other? Pressure from what or whom I do not know, but I can tell you what it portends. Answers on a postcard please.
The Education Minister has been arrested for offering (more like asked to pay) a N50million (£192k) bribe to the Education Committee’s of the National Assembly. Stupid fellow raised the money by asking the Principals of all Federal Govt. owned secondary schools to collectively come up with the dosh. I've been put right by people who say it's normal practice; silly me. What does the poor chap want? That the committee’s increase the Education budget; not unreasonable you would think. What's the moral of this story? Go figure!
By the way, a member of the House of Assembly has been suspended for 2 weeks by the House. Why? I quote him "we (legislators) are not the solution to Nigeria's problem" because "every facet of the National assembly stinks with corruption, especially the committee's." Makes you want to go to sleep and wake up next year - problem is, it'll be like Ground hog Day.
Picture this: a tow truck, towing a tow truck, towing a car. Observed on the streets of Lagos but also the story of Nigeria.
The last time I referred to a conversation I had with a friend and posted fragments of it’s content, it kinda ended up sour – they’re still probably pissed at me and I guess since we’re no longer really talking… anyway I think I’ve lost their trust. However, since this was part of a general email with a post scribe ‘Happy Easter’ hopefully things won’t end up that way here.
If you’re reading this and not Nigerian – then all I can say is this;
Go there. Forget sanitised trips to the safari, or Moroccan flee markets, Cape town beaches. No, no – get down, get dirty, get a yellow cab, get hot, struggle through immigration, change some of that shinny western dollar/sterling in one of the largest black market economies in the world, eat on a road side bukka restaurant, I recommend pounded yam and efo stew, get stuck in a traffic jam, get stuck in a petrol shortage, then the lights go out – NO DIESEL, find your way to the Niger, Jos – visit an uncle who work’s for ‘the government’ in Abuja, wait for a contract. Wait for Nepa – see a Ferrari, a row of X5 BMWs in convoy – see all the drivers are younger than 30, see beautiful stretches of white sand, palm trees, lakes, lagoons, lush green field, meat markets, decayed carcasses – circling vultures, an amputee, a philanthropic welfare state, family, unity, the darkness of coaled back skin, the sound of Afro-beat, Juju, Rap, R’N’B – even Avril Lavine. Loose a hub cab, a mass shuffle of white on a Sunday, the chorus of redemption – ‘Jeysu Christi’ . The surge for democracy, MTV Base, fill your wallet with Mr Chief Dr Prof. Eng Msc, London and Lagos business cards and pictures of a leader everywhere….
So, our dear leader (the President of the Federal Republic) says he is under tremendous pressure to run for a 3rd term of office (thought the constitution says max of 2 terms?). The location and context - he was in Berlin giving a lecture to the German-African Association on Nigeria as a strong emerging economy (shouldn't that be classed a misnomer?). What has one to do with the other? Pressure from what or whom I do not know, but I can tell you what it portends. Answers on a postcard please.
The Education Minister has been arrested for offering (more like asked to pay) a N50million (£192k) bribe to the Education Committee’s of the National Assembly. Stupid fellow raised the money by asking the Principals of all Federal Govt. owned secondary schools to collectively come up with the dosh. I've been put right by people who say it's normal practice; silly me. What does the poor chap want? That the committee’s increase the Education budget; not unreasonable you would think. What's the moral of this story? Go figure!
By the way, a member of the House of Assembly has been suspended for 2 weeks by the House. Why? I quote him "we (legislators) are not the solution to Nigeria's problem" because "every facet of the National assembly stinks with corruption, especially the committee's." Makes you want to go to sleep and wake up next year - problem is, it'll be like Ground hog Day.
Picture this: a tow truck, towing a tow truck, towing a car. Observed on the streets of Lagos but also the story of Nigeria.
posted by frieddodo at 29.3.05
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