Fix it or change it? Part 1

Hey people! Happy Mid Week🤗 (Yes, that's a thing)

Today we're going to explore a phrase that every Nigerian should be thinking about,

"Fix it or change it?"

images from VectorStock.com and healthline

Last week, we talked about Martin Luther King, the legacy he left, and what it meant. On that same day, however, while America was celebrating an activist, Nigerians especially the youth were mourning the loss of one of their own, David Ntekim Rex. You probably have heard about the story but in case you haven't, the summary is David, a promising young Nigerian was shot at 8 pm. When this happened, he could not get immediate treatment as the police delayed and he was transferred from hospital to hospital. At the end of the day, he gave up the ghost. Now this story as frustrating and sad as it might sound is not in isolation. In fact, this story is quite common in Nigeria. Someone gets shot, they are rushed to the hospital, the nurses are slow and unresponsive. After wasting time, they will ask for a police report before they can treat a person who is literally on the verge of dying, and most times this unfortunate individual passes away.

Now I am not here to tell you the many stories of such individuals because we all know enough of such stories to fill our own books. Instead, I want to talk about something I saw in the comment section (and frankly, if we think about it, we all see in the comment sections of stories like this.)

Most comments went something like,

The police failed David

The military failed David

The doctors failed David

The nurses failed David

The government failed David

Nigeria failed David.

And then other people would comment nodding or crying emojis in agreement. Oftentimes, I try to wean myself off Twitter because there's just so much information on there. You can only control to an extent what pops up on your feed. After reading all these comments, I was quite depressed. And not just because of David's death but because I knew that there would be many more like it, only that they may not be as publicized as his.

The death of so many people and dreams as we all know is because of the system of the country. In every sector thinkable, there seems to be this unbreakable bond or cycle that is determined to keep Nigerians at the short end of the stick. This is the reason we had to protest last October. The continuous slavery to our country's systems.

After a while, I proceeded to Instagram to share my thoughts on the tragedy. While I was on the live, a fellow youth joined in on the conversation and we talked about the many systems that were failing in Nigeria; from the agricultural, employment to the electoral; how farmers could not get enough fertilizers for their farm; or how despite our votes, the wrong people always seem to get into power.

And as many of my friends finally resume university after almost a year of striking, I am reminded of the educational sector that suffers constantly from misappropriation of funds, lack of infrastructure, faculty, or motivation, all of which is compounded by the ever consistent strike that never fails to occur at least once every year. Even as I write, as one body suspends it's strike, another one prepares to embark on its own. And the reaction? Students, parents, and many concerned citizens complain bitterly as they did last year and will do next year. This is not to insult or throw shade at anyone but to only point out the obvious. This has been the behavior displayed by so-called "school authorities" for decades, as many of our parents can attest to, so what makes us think that a change can happen suddenly, without cause.

In every aspect of the Nigerian life, there is a sector that affects its progress whether directly or indirectly. The education sector is crippled, so you see teachers who cannot pass a standard certification exam training the leaders of the next generation. The health sector is so underfunded and consequently expensive that many resort to self-medication and treatment until they reach a critical condition in which the professionals may not be able to help and so give the hospitals an even lower rating among society.

This is the Nigeria that we live in. The Nigeria we all imagine is the one where things work, people live, and dreams can actually come true. Like many of us, it is easy for me to become depressed when I see how far we are far away we seem from this vision; but unlike many others, I don't believe in this abandonment movement that seems to be spreading.

Even though we are all quite frustrated with the way our country works, we still have a choice. As I have pondered on the many systems of our country, I found it quite fascinating that the broken pieces are quite exposed. These are not some hidden mysteries that need to be discovered, we all know what they are. But this is where it ends for most of us, we do not want to take the pain of even trying to believe or visualize a better country so we take solace in harsh criticisms and comments.

Don't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of constructive criticism, and citizens are definitely allowed to express their grievances but what happens when we stay there, crying over spilled milk. Nothing.

A common point in every "Nigeria conversation" is how everything seems to be controlled by our politicians; they get to determine who gets what, what goes where and how much to each person. I believe that this constant admittance even though true has done more harm than good, especially online. It creates an echo chamber of the same negative thinking. The one that we are all slaves to some greedy individuals who have no compassion. I don't think that is true, well, at least the part about slaves. Many of us know Nigerians who have gone abroad, many of us have heard stories of our brothers and sisters who have traveled and excelled. And many of us will admit that some of these trailblazers were able to reach their full potential because of "the system abroad". The system! That is the problem!

Unfortunately, no matter how much we wish it, not all Nigerians can go abroad, there will always be that village or town in the middle of nowhere, there will always be that person that's denied a visa, or who can't even afford to apply for one. If we believe that the grass is greener on the other side, then how are these people supposed to have a chance at a better life? And I know a common response here would be something like, "Oh, it's just destiny, anointing, it's not my fault they are in the village or don't have money." and even though some of this is true, it only provides a means of escape from the real question.

What are we going to do about it?

Hi there! Thanks for reading. This is only the beginning of my train of thought on this topic. What do you think about the system? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Stay safe and blessed.

Kamikun✌🏽