Efemena Onodjae
Lagos Nigeria
The rate at which fears and anxieties are more pronounced among Nigerians continues to bother my mind daily. If you wish to ask me, the reason for this, I will say that I cannot provide any reasonable answers than mention *food and life*.
The fear of what to eat and the fear of losing dear life to killers.
Some analysts have blamed the economic problems facing the populace on the Nigerian government. I am not out to exonerate or indict but to call out our inner mind to cautions.
A friend once argued that the menace of cybercrime and killings for money rituals among the Nigerian youths are not unconnected with the rate of unemployment.
His debate was that when parents sent their wards to schools; spending so much on education and after many years of graduation, the ward could still not find a fixing for earning, such individuals would find an alternative; good or bad to make ends meet.
My friend argued that frustration leads to aggression.
Perhaps he was right, but in my critical mind, considering the profiles of those who nemesis has caught up with, and arrested by security personnel, I began to ask questions because most of these evil perpetrators and marauders are not the educated Nigerian youths who have passed through the various stages of learning including the National Youth Service Corps.
I’m am not saying that the uneducated ones are the evildoers. Not at all, many people we see as elite are darker than the Night.
My point is this, how do you explain a 17-year-old boy or girl who just left secondary school settling for killing for money rituals or cybercrime (Yahoo Yahoo as fondly called).
Is that case caused by unemployment?
I recently met a 16 years old boy seeking admission into the University. Based on his results and my assessment of his academic prowess, I advised him to study Law. He was very keen on the course and the proposed University.
When I asked him why he about his preference and choice for that particular University, I was shocked as my legs could not stand me again.
He said he wanted to make new friends and meet colleagues in the Yahoo business and that his choice of LAW is for protection and disguise.
How can an undergraduate who already has millions illegitimately bother to think aright to establish a business, write a CV, and submit an employment application? Most of the youths are not even looking for a job again, the companies can not pay them enough. All they want is the freedom to do as they wish without any hindrance. Are we not returning to the state of nature where strength is survival? The kill or be killed ideology. Ain’t we seeing anything wrong in this generation?
In August 2020, some secondary school students were said to have resumed with exotic cars in one of the schools in Nigeria. I read that one of the students at a time requested to have carnal knowledge of a female teacher. Are we still in a human or a post-human society?
No doubt Nigerian governments share very largely in the blames by failing in their responsibilities of allaying the fears of the citizens.
Let’s not forget that our leaders are the products and manifestations of our society. This is a two-way thing. The citizens have also failed the government by not fulfilling their part of being responsible followers.
I am now much more bothered by the roles of the media which is now doing worse to bring society down rather than upholding its virtues.
Efemena Onodjae writes from Lagos.
He is a graduate of History And International Relations and a Postgraduate student of Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Lagos State.
Email; Efemena1996@gmail.com