SundayStarter: Buhari to Kill Corruption! Elrufai to Chaseout Poverty! FOREVER!! Chai!!!

by ahjotnaija

“@OakTVOnline: “I ask you to join me to chase out poverty forever”- Nasir El-Rufai @elrufai #KadunaState #FocusOnElRufai”

So, now that change has come, I can tell you a story. E ma ba mi kalo!

This morning was a reminder why I returned to Dortmund. Till today some friends and family would not stop joking my zealousness and positivity for Nigeria. I would not be told otherwise that Nigeria was not worth it! I was a strong believer in that country! I still am 🙂

Tumi ran up to me, cry-shouting while trying to let me know something was wrong. I could not figure out what could have gone wrong, so I shouted instruction at him. “You talk to me now so I know what is happening here! Talk! Talk!! Talk!!!” I held him in my arms. In my panic I was trying to figure out what could be wrong.

He had swallowed a sweet in error. It was painful and the stonelike sweet might be stuck in his throat or lungs. I left him standing, dashed into my room, grabbed my mobile phone to call the emergency service. I told the officer about my boy. I gave him my address and family name. “Yeah, that’s the name on the doorbell…Yeah…Thank you…See you.” I hung up.

When my babysitter rang, I knew it was not the emergency. I let her and her boyfriend into the appartment. I let them in on the incidence. We all waited together for the emergency to arrive. And they arrived! Less than ten minutes after my call for help. A young woman emergency doctor led the way. They were five in all.

Andre was surprised they came with two ambulance vehicles to attend to my son. He saw the vehicles when we got downstairs, on our way to Essen. I had been about to leave for Essen when the sweet incidence interrupted me at the kitchen-sink. I nodded and and answered a simple yeah to his wonderment.

Three and half year back. In my apartment. In Nigeria. Midnight. I had thought I was the only one who heard the sound of a gun. I refused to shake. Deep down I was scared like shit. Come to think of it, I had barely ten thousand naira in the whole house. A pregnant woman and other people’s children in my care. What would I have done if the thieves we heard came calling in the middle of the night had happened on us?! My worry cum fear knew no end.

When day broke and the pregnant woman in my house told me she heard the gunshot the other night, my worries notched up many inches. I could bear it still that Ibukun was mosquito-bitten. The big bite-wound would heal up soon enough to leave only scars and memories. But how would I deal with a pregnant woman inflicted with potential thief-visit hypertension?!

The last straw that broke my camel’s patience was a ride in a BRT enroute to Sango-Ota.

So, the driver switched on the airconditioner. It was yet to circulate the whole bus. We were lucky to be on this bus. Yes, lucky that the driver deemed us worthy our busfare to turn on the thing. What shall we have done if the thing was bad?

I thought it was a joke when two people began this argument. The other had opened the window, and the other argument-partner wanted him to close the window! Before long, other passengers joined. Some wanted more windows opened so the airconditioner could work better! Others joined the fight of the person who thought it good for us if the windows were closed. After a while, we did not know what the problem was, we were all shouting and cursing this-or-that.

I said “we” not because I was part of the madness. Of course not. The “we” is alone an indication of my presence on the bus. I was beginning to realize I was in the wrong place almost all the time.

I was deep in thought. Only days back I fought in a bank because they would not pay me my money because a friend had paid in the big money the same day. On a bike to work, I tried to make my rider understand why he deserved better than he had. He did not understand. Another woman exchanged harsh words with me because I had insisted on sitting comfortably on a seat I paid for on a bus etc etc.

I ran back to Europe disappointed, broken and broke!

Back home, I was beyond happy. Here I could be who I was: A poor teacher who earned so much I could afford the kind of comfort reserved for the likes of Buhari and the Lion of Bourdillon in Nigeria.

So, you think I am interested in political office or feel better when I shout on social media why no senator deserves a better life than a (homeless) child living in Ijoko-Ota or Igasi-Akoko with a secured future in poverty etc?!

No, I am not. I am fine without one.

I only wanted the wife of my uncle (your uncle too) with ten children or even more to know where to run to when a newphew swallowed a sweet in error. Even if his father has no money!

Yes! And it is not your grandfather’s fault he did not choose to die when he was young! After all, those would-be-grandfathers who did the other time lost their life in the immigration job scam!

Our cultures love old and young people, no matter what their background is. They deserve to live their old and young age in peace on a dignifying pension and secured social system!

After all, Jonathan will too. As of now, he is making plan to return to Otuoke with our stolen wealth. Like all PDP’ers who shall become APC member anytime soon, for loot and convenience sake.

Truth be told, Nigerians who are poor do not deserve the kind of poverty that torment them at present. They need not be this poor to begin with.

So, now that change has come, it must begin with the fulfillment of what El-Rufai promised on twitter yesterday (or at least what oaktv twittered that he said): I ask you to join me to chase out poverty forever! in Kaduna state.

Why wont I just believe the promise?! The forever part?! I don’t know.

Think of change this way: Two years uninterrupted electricity for all in Nigeria, LOYOLA/ABTI-standard schools for all and sundry, hospitals good enough to repair (yes! repair!) Tinubu’s leg and your legs in Nigeria etc etc.

Impossible?! Then, we might be in  for another PDP-arrangement of 16 year-democracy-scam! Achieved by 2019?! That will be kicking out poverty FOREVER and that is change!

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