I have tears in my eyes as I write….
No, not tears of joy but tears of sadness.
No, not blinding tears but tears that enable me to still ’see’.
Tears from my heart.
Going through my sisters mail today I realised that one of her classmates was involved in the plane crash. A doctor, he did not survive.
Only 2 nights ago, I realised that someone I knew when I ‘served’ in Sokoto state was also involved and lost his life leaving behind a wife and children.
One is truly distant and aloof when you ‘think’ you do not know anyone on board. However, when news comes that someone you knew was on board your perspective changes.
I had asked a friend of mine (who I believed would be objective enough) to go through my blog and tell me what he thinks.
He said “ I have scanned through the entire blog….you write very well no doubt….but you need to put that writing well to very good and constructive use…the tone, theme and language of your writing conjures helplessness with Nigeria’s situation….you should have a strategy for why you write and to what intent and purpose….Do you want to market nigeria….or do you want to hue and cry about some of our “realities”….the question then becomes…”Quo vadis?”
I believe what the country needs are marketers…Pr blogists for the country….ofcourse..we have issue…really serious issues…..i will say..dont take a position against the government or against the leaders….it has been the case since the 60s…where has it gotten…not very far…the truth..it just doesn’t work and takes nobody far….“
I believe what the country needs are marketers…Pr blogists for the country….ofcourse..we have issue…really serious issues…..i will say..dont take a position against the government or against the leaders….it has been the case since the 60s…where has it gotten…not very far…the truth..it just doesn’t work and takes nobody far….“
I guess its no use just crying but making sure our tears are not blinding and do not leave you unreasonable and with an incapacitating headache.
I agree with him. There’s no use just highlighting Nigeria’s problems but stating and acting out solutions to them. Our problems might seem complex and intractable but I firmly believe that the solutions might just be as simple as instructing that young child beside you in the bus who is about to throw out his biscuit wrapper out of the window not to but to wait and dispose of his waste properly (in a dustbin that is!).
ps: A prayer for the families affected by the air crashes in the last few weeks. May God grant your hearts peace and solace in Him who comforts alone! And may these deaths waken us (Nigerians) out of our slumber and cause us to insist that things be done the right way in our country.
23/01/2007 at 1:45 pm Permalink
its true that there are some responsibilities we have as citizens of Nigeria that we have to take seriously, and i like your reference to keeping the strrets clean.
many nigerians dont even feel any sense of shame or guilt when they throw things out of their cars on the streets. its terrible!
things really have to change!
nice post, am wondering where you ve been since your last post in november.
23/01/2007 at 2:08 pm Permalink
Thanks Sola for your post. I’m also wondering where I’ve been o! will be back soon d.v
28/01/2007 at 3:00 am Permalink
your friend is right…. we need to project Nigeria in good light…. if we do that then other nationalities we see the good in us…
You need to come back to blogsville… update ur blog…