My Country from My Perspective

I've been feeling nostalgic lately, this is the longest time I haven't seen my family  (7 months). I miss sitting on table on Sundays and racking my brain for the next religious/science/current affairs question my father would ask. I also miss the taste of dried peppered Kilishi and juicy Suya! the smell of fresh fried fish and the taste of Palm oiled starch and Banga Soup!

These are but a few things that keep me in love with my country, although we have a pretty bad reputation, I don't quite see myself settling anywhere else unless its not God's Will. In the past and recent times Nigerians have been labelled as crooks and criminals as a result of those who care less for morality nor human dignity and this has made it quite difficult for us as a whole to be trusted. Media is quick to judge our actions and many always have bad stories to tell about one or more places in the country. We all know the horrible things some of our kinsmen have done but I believe we have hope to redeem this sad reputation.

Our country is not all bad. Although it has its problems and issues, there are still a few good things:

• There is still some form of respect for elders. In my opinion we still honor the elderly and perceive their words as wise, the only thing we might need to work on is to understand that we can learn from any and everybody, a child can learn from the mother and the mother can definitely learn from the child. Many elders or people in authority get upset when someone lesser in rank or younger than they are points out important issues or corrects them in some form (not referring to being impolite). I do not think they should see it as a form of challenge to them, I believe a young man and his father can have a decent conversation and reason their opinions out without the elder feeling the young one is being disrespectful.
• a large majority of  Nigerians still believe in God and go to church! we still have a sense of God's existence in our lives and that is a major attribute. What we could work on is truly living our faith. A million people may go to church or pray for hours but if we do not love God and live in the way He wants our going to church becomes superficial.
• we have a sense of community. If a person is trying to steal from another person, someone around would definitely shout "ole! ole!" and strong hefty men would come out of nowhere to chase and deal with the culprit even to the extent that they overdo it. Also when you are driving I'm sure one must have spotted someone waving his arm out of the window shouting  to another person driving beside him and some times trying to get your attention, you see him pointing  and mouthing or shouting "your tyre! your tyre!" words are so often repeated that way. There is also a form of family bond, although it could be worked on a bit, parents still try to spend time with their children and children still communicate with parents plus every family friend and relation is called "uncle" or "aunty". This is a very good trait we have and I pray we keep it (well, not exactly the "uncle" and "aunty" part lol)
• Nigerians are happy people! with the state of the country people still find ways to make themselves feel good from countless sewing of Aso Ebi and going for many parties to normal games like "ten ten" and "suwe". An average Nigerian always looks for ways to make his life better, to search for happiness and joy, he constantly refuses to be melancholic and that in my opinion is a wonderful thing. We could just try not to achieve happiness at the expense of others and try to be morally and spiritually upright which are the keys to true happiness!

So we are not all bad and our country isn't either. We have our few perks like other countries do and like other countries we can do something about it. We cannot look to our government, system nor our leaders to form a good reputation for ourselves. Although life is not all about having a good name but we could give ourselves some self respect, if we want change we have to be the change by changing ourselves. In this way we touch many lives without our knowing it which could affect our country as a whole and make it a better place so that through faith and hope, it shall be.