Madiba,
Thanks for this forward. It makes a great reading.
God speed!
Pa Mambuna
Madiba Saidy wrote:
> Where we belong
>
> >From the Vanguard
>
> It was a pleasant surprise when an acquaintance told me that her son who had
> emigrated abroad in the mid-nineties, to escape the social upheaval and
> encroaching hard times in the country, had returned to roost.
>
> We all had a hard time trying to convince him then that Nigeria will climb
> out of the abyss and that he had to hang on in here with the rest of us to
> do his share of pulling her out. Like many young people, he thought we were
> being sentimental about a hopeless case. "I'm sorry mum, auntie; I have to
> obey an inner voice," he had told his mother and me. "All I see around me is
> rot and continuing decay. There's no justice anywhere and no-one, absolutely
> no-one, cares about the plight of the poor like us."
>
> "You're far from being poor," I told him. "You have a good job with lots of
> prospects and you're lucky that there are no financial demands on you. Think
> of the thousands of unemployed young graduates in our midst who, several
> years after graduation, are still depending on their parents and relatives
> for survival."
>
> "I think of them, auntie, and I feel that those who can get out should do
> so. I'm disenchanted with everything. Bad roads, no light, no water, no good
> transport system; there's danger everywhere you turn.
>
> If you're one of the lucky ones and you have a good means of livelihood, you
> have to look over your shoulder with every step you take.
>
> In short, you can't enjoy your good fortune because of those who don't have,
> even though you're not responsible for their plight and you're just getting
> by yourself. What sort of life is that? I want no part of it as it is right
> now. I don't want to remain in a sinking boat."
>
> "Life's not necessarily better abroad," observed the mother. "The people
> over there are groaning about unemployment, inflation and danger to lives
> and property. Then you also have the natural disasters too. Home is home,
> whichever way you look at it. You get more justice in your own country."
>
> "Who says?" asked the youngman, with sarcasm. "Where I work, unworthy people
> are promoted over your head if you don't lick the boss's boots. If it isn't
> tribal discrimination, it's ethnic discrimination or something else. Anyway,
> you always say, make hay while the sun shines, mum, so, this is the time to
> get out. I think I'm right. Life isn't perfect abroad, but at least you get
> the basic necessities of constant light, water, good road, and a civilised
> life. Those are important."
>
> The youngman was born in Europe so visa was not a problem. From time to
> time, the mother gave me news of him. He did a short course in his field,
> so, that he could get a job with case. At first, he was contented with his
> lot, even though he complained about the heavy tax he had to pay as a
> bachelor; forty per cent of his salary! Also, he was not being trusted fully
> by his employers to perform well. They put him under the supervision of an
> indigene who was not as competent or as qualified as he.
>
> "Never mind that, son," his father told him over the telephone. "It's their
> land. Just get on with your duties and try to be happy."
>
> "You're right, dad. Mind you, life's good otherwise. I have constant light,
> water, and good roads. There are good programmes on radio and the telly and
> the shops are well stocked. I have friends of all races. My social life is
> great. I go to the parks, the beach, the countryside, etc."
>
> "Fine, enjoy yourself responsibly, son."
>
> "Thanks, dad. I wish you, mum and my siblings could come and live here too."
>
> "No, thank you. We'll slug it out here with the others. When we can afford
> it, we'll come and visit, that's all."
>
> "So, what brought him back?" I asked the mother. "Your cooking? His
> girlfriend? His family? Or was he er, er...
>
> "No, he wasn't thrown out, neither did he lose his job. Thank God for that.
> What made him come home was hearing that three ex-classmates of his had been
> elected around the country into the House of Assembly. He was dazed.
> Suddenly, he realised that at thirty-two, he could contribute meaningfully
> to national development, if he sticks around. Also, he realised that he
> stands a better chance of getting on in his career here, and can be in a
> position to go spend vacation abroad. Oh, and so many other things. Luckily,
> his organisation re-absorbed him. He now agrees that home is home, and that
> if people in the developed countries had emigrated to greener pastures,
> there would be no development in their land."
>
> I agree totally with that last bit. Our young people emigrate abroad to go
> do those jobs which they consider menial here, and they get all the
> harassment and insecurity that go with such jobs. I know that the foreign
> currencies make all the difference, but why run away and leave the running
> of the country to others to do, as they like with? When the competent
> abandon ship, the incompetent will rule. Once upon a time, the desire of
> most young people was to go study abroad, get the golden fleece as it were,
> and then return home to use the knowledge acquired for a better living. We
> can still continue to do that.
>
> In fact, our institutions and parastatals should make provision for this. It
> will help our development. Parents should encourage our young people
> studying abroad to return home after getting the relevant qualifications and
> experience. We need them. They are our future.
>
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