We promised our readers we were going to tackle some difficult topics and we are. I am sharing an email we received last month, this article doesn't reflect where I stand on this, but tomorrow I will share my thoughts on the topic. Please, leave a comment or let's discuss this further on our Facebook Fan Page.
This is in line with the article BLACKS DON'T READ, which we followed up with THE AFRICAN AMERICAN – POWERFUL BEYOND MEASURE.
Remember the essence of the blog is to provide a forum where we come Face to Face with issues that affect us. We value your input.
Are Nigerians Ungovernable?
Author, Mishe Fon, sent out to ACCDF-GA group on Nov 29,09
A day at the hyper-consumerist and Onitcha Market style city of Guangzhou, China left me with no other conclusion than the fact that NIGERIANS are ungovernable and are a disgrace to Africa
especially those of a certain ethnic group called IGBOS.
I was on a private mission to China and Hong Kong a few days ago. First stop after an eighteen hour flight from Los Angeles, CAN (Guangzhou International Airport). First surprise,, I saw Blacks at the Airport. It took me thirty seconds to discern their nationalities. Once you hear people talking VERY LOUD in a language that sounds like they are about to Fight …"A na ma bia…Kedu.. .Keh Fih meh…Ego leh etc… You don,t need to be a rocket scientist to conclude that the "loud mouth" individual must be of IGBO extraction.
My analytical mind immediately posits … What in the world are these Nigerians doing here, running all over the Airport begging to transport passengers bags and baggages and serving as escorts and translators. These guys were all over the place at the International arrival terminal. With the appearance of the well dressed (The Chinese believe in well polished uniformed officers) Police men, I noticed my African "Brothers" Running away from the scene. Remember, this is in China…anyways Let us get out of the Airport.
Let me digress for a while before my China story. Nigeria is a country I love and respect. I went to school there for five years.
Imagine this : There are 27 Federal Universities, 35 State Universities and 41 Private Universities in Nigeria with approximately 10 in the process of being Licensed. This lone statistic could tell any observer that Nigeria is a citadel of Education and would be at a lost as to the ungovernability and negative news that bedevils this beautiful country. Nigerians have been described invariably and erroneouslly by many as Crooks, Rogues, Heroin Traffickers, Miscreants, Internet Scammers, Thieves, common criminals,Experts at Adulteration of Goods, Self seeking, cheats and what have you. What I know is that Gangsterism is not synonymous with being Nigerian as the Western Press will have us believe. There are very good people also in Nigeria. Not all Nigerians are unpatriotic. While some of these accusations are Urban Myths, Nigerians are not helping themselves with the negative image they portray abroad.
Back to China. I am in the main hub of the business district of Guangzhou called Guangyam Sillou. There is a bustling population of approximately 20,000 Africans doing all manner of businesses. Majority are into Buying of various articles for resale in Africa. I identified many from Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cameroon and of course … Nigeria. Nine out of every Ten Africans in China is Nigerian. They have constituted themselves into a force to reckon with. The Boys are now engaged in all manner of fraud, petty theft, grand theft, larceny, and surely their stock in trade 419activities. Their girls simply undertake the oldest profession in the world…Prostitution.
I sincerely don,t know how they survive. The Chinese will only give a Visa of One month which can be renewed only once. But some of these guys have been in China for two years…without Visas. When the Police make their constant raids into the African (Nigerian) neighborhoods, it is total pandemonium. Some of them even get killed in the ensuing skirmish. You would think these fellow Africans can learn to be calm … Hell No.
They Fight each other, they fight with the Chinese citizens, they Kill each other, they flout existing laws with impunity to the extent that all other Black Africans who are non Nigerians are all categorized as NIGERIANS i.e all BLACKS are CROOKS.
I have always known that the persistence of WAYO, Indiscipline, 4!9 mentality stems from the Self Survivalist tendency inculcated in most Nigerians of IGBO extraction but what I saw and observed in Guangzhou, China, takes that to another level. The Nigerian Government should take a serious look at what is happening to Nigerians in China and Hong Kong as if the present negetive trend continues… I predict DOOM.
My conclusion for this part one report is that NIGERIA IS A TOTAL DISGRACE TO AFRICA and the earlier, Nigerian authorities do something to educate their populace especially these youths who are suffering in foreign lands, it would come back to haunt the entire continent.
Mishe Fon
NB: For the sake of full disclosure.. .I am a Cameroonian and have nothing against any specific ethnic group in Nigeria nor do I have any lesson to teach Nigerians on how to run their country.
Very interesting article. I second the writer as she comment on how loud Nigerians can be. But on a more serious note, although i can understand why one would think Nigerians are a disgrace for the African continent,I think we, African, have a lot to learn from them. They are extremely hardworking, fierce, and will stop at almost nothing to meet their goal. Persistence and creativity are qualities that characterized them. Most fellow African let pride put a full stop to their ambition because they don’t want to start a a “low” level when they are on foreign land, Nigerian usually don’t let that aspect slow them down. I could go on and on about it but i am sure we all see the point. Now talking about intelligence and creativity, that’s where the problem rises and where everyone would be better off just following the good example , for my fellow brothers sometimes ( actually more often than not), use their creativity to develop scams and other non conventional means of achieving success. As much as i have respect and admiration for Nigerians, especially the Nigerian on a foreign land, I wish not to be identified as one int the context widely used today in our society
Very interesting article. I second the writer as she comment on how loud Nigerians can be. But on a more serious note, although i can understand why one would think Nigerians are a disgrace for the African continent,I think we, African, have a lot to learn from them. They are extremely hardworking, fierce, and will stop at almost nothing to meet their goal. Persistence and creativity are qualities that characterized them. Most fellow African let pride put a full stop to their ambition because they don’t want to start a a “low” level when they are on foreign land, Nigerian usually don’t let that aspect slow them down. I could go on and on about it but i am sure we all see the point. Now talking about intelligence and creativity, that’s where the problem rises and where everyone would be better off just following the good example , for my fellow brothers sometimes ( actually more often than not), use their creativity to develop scams and other non conventional means of achieving success. As much as i have respect and admiration for Nigerians, especially the Nigerian on a foreign land, I wish not to be identified as one int the context widely used today in our society