Work Hard. Live Hard. Love Hard (…the past 10.5 months of my life)

Really, words fail to express the exact way I feel right now. This is that moment when you look back and safely conclude the essence of ‘Work’ is to ‘Live’ and the essence of living is to ‘Love’.

ON BOKO HARAM ACTIVITES…

*Opinions expressed in this post are personal and the stories represent the fictitious imaginations of the writer

Amina had to go back to school for her exams. She was a SSS3 science student, like I was some 5 years ago. She went back to write a core science subject, Physics. There was so much insecurity where her school was located but since they had not written Physics, they were called back to write it by the local officials. She looked forward to writing it too, in preparation of Ahmadu Bello University’s October admission exercise. Aisha, another science student was back in the dormitory on Tuesday morning in preparation for her Physics WASSCE, she convinced her skeptical parents to allow her to write it. Sofia, was in her room all through Tuesday morning and afternoon, she had very serious menstrual pains and she just had to stay still on her bed. I hear her telling her mother on the phone not to worry about her health, she was determined to write the exam despite the sharp uterine pain. Mr Kangi, the guard had left his wife at home with Abubakar, his 1-month baby and Kaffy, his 3yr old daughter-he had worked in the school as the guard for 5 years and he collected N15, 000 per month, though very small, it was enough to take care of his family’s hospital bills in a government hospital and put food on their table.

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They were all at one location, Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Bornu State when suddenly, a loud gunshot was heard, Mr Kangi, the guard jumped on his feet and went out to see what was happening. A masked guy placed a bullet right through his chest, he fell and died immediately. Well, we know the remaining story, about 240 girls were kidnapped from the school dorm by a terrorist group and rumor has it that some of them have been taken to Cameroon and others Chad, some say a number of the girls have been married while others think they’re hidden in a forest. Just when I was pouring out my anger about the present Nigerian State on my poor roommate who had no answers to my “why” questions, I heard of the Nyanya bombing that killed about 20 people....yes, the same Nyanya station that was bombed and took 80 lives some 3 weeks ago.

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My questions: What is wrong with Nigeria?... Or rather, What is not wrong with Nigeria? Where are the girls? Is it a crime to be Nigerian?

These are girls, like me…. these are young women who, despite the insecurity  and shootings in Bornu decided to still write their exams, these are children of some parents… and yes, they are sisters too. Why is this happening? Why are we still looking for them 2 weeks after? All I can hear is that the acts are condemned by Senator whatever and President GEJ and that investigation is going on…before nko? So is condemnation  of  the act what we want to eat? Bring back our girls jare! Excuse me, can’t we for once just get results in this country.  Almost all the sectors of this country are very highly densely flawed. Please what does the IG of police have to say? At least, he’s the chief security officer of his nation, I suppose.  The Nigerian State has thrown many into wailings and cries….why exactly is Nigeria not working? Why? Ki lo de?

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Well, I’ll open the almost-closed arms of optimism and hope for a better Nigeria. Somewhere in my mind, I see a better Nigeria, I see a Nigeria where the nations of the world flock into, I see the green passport becoming the most-desirable passport in the whole world, I see results-driven people in Leadership, I see men and women stand up and take their place, I see small businesses sprout and bloom, I see improved health care, I see transparency in our political system, I see our economy bloom like the morning glory. I see it, I see it

A man I respect a lot once told me that for things to work, it takes God and determined conscious efforts. I think God is a constant, He will do his part, but it is left for us to take our places and do our part. I think with a made-up mind, with election of capable people into government (not by how good their name sounds), with reduced complaining and lamenting and with DETERMINED CONSCIOUS EFFORTS by EVERY NIGERIAN, we will get to the promised land.

We owe our children, the next generation, a Nigeria that works...Honestly, we do.

May God help us all.