Something to think about – The EndSARS Movement

Something to think about…

Many persons see thinking as a hard job, but that’s not true. Strategic thinking is a very sweet something, so get your ass down and think about this!

Very recently, I was discussing with one of my mentors about politics in Nigeria, our discuss took another route – The EndSARS Movement.

Here is what he told me:

“While I commend your efforts to raise your voice and make demands on the government, I must say, Nigeria youths are very lazy! They are never ready to work. They don’t want to do anything. They just want to make money. He went further to explain how he had employed many young Nigerians who may be zealous about work the first few weeks, after which they begin to drag feet, hating their jobs and showing nonchalance. His conclusion of the whole matter, Nigeria youths are too lazy”.

Just so you know, my mentor has been in government for many years. He knows what’s going on with and in the Nigeria system. But he is not the conventional politician, and I respect him greatly!

Now, here was my humble response to him:

Dear sir, first, I need you to know that Nigeria youths are one of the most hardworking in the continent! And I will repeat that, Nigeria youths are the most hardworking in Africa!

You see that initial energy and passion we bring when we first start work, that’s our real self.

And if we are sure of an honest and very decent pay at the end of the month, with the right working environment plus incentive, trust me, that energy will not only be sustained but will increase as the day goes by.

But sir, help us consider the situation of things:

We work with passion and zeal the first four weeks and at the end of the month receive a meagre pay of 30 to 50k.

Now if this amount could comfortably cover our basic needs and still leave us with some cool sum to save and to flex, sir, there will be no problem.

But see the situation of the situation of things:

Our house rent is 10k a month which is barely even a comfortable apartment. Electricity is 3k in a month, that’s only because we have less than six hours light a day.

A quarter bag of rice is 10k sir, which we must supplement with other food stuff. Plus water.

Transportation to and fro our work place usually takes nothing less than 10k a month.

Now sir, this one is a bit off, but please be patient with me.

If I continue to wear the same per of shirt and jeans to work everyday, even you will be worried for me. So I decide to buy a shirt and trouser for 2k. Ridiculous price. hain!

But let’s assume you were lucky to have it that cheap, and come across that very affordable per of shirt and jean. That’s 2k flying out of your 50k monthly pay already.

By the way, How many young persons even earn up to 50k in this Nigeria? If you do, kindly let us know in the comment session.

Now you have to pray hard that month, there should be no unforeseen expenses, don’t even dare to fall sick because if you do, Oyo is your case! You would have to depend on family and friends to even get yourself tested or diagnosed before your proper treatment.

Now sir, if you are the last born, blessed art thou among living, but thunder fire you if you are first born and you will not even care to drop anything for your parents, are you a cursed child, is something worrying your head?

After they have trained you in school, prayed that God should give you a job, how dare you be so ungrateful and wicked!

The average young person in Nigeria has no super rich parents to fall back on, they have got to support their parents.

Please sir, help me do the final calculation, my head is already spinning, I just want to know how much I have left to invest and save for my future.

Chai! See what’s even coming to my mind now, I should keep 5k for cinema and some other enjoyment of life. Nonsense and enjoyment! That’s why they are calling you lazy youths up and down na…

Come on, go and get ready for next month’s job my friend!

Sorry sir, I won’t lie to you, I am not coming to that job the next month full with energy and excitement as I was the first month. Please accept my apology.

I got bills to pay and I need to start looking elsewhere or at least start thinking about my life.

Quick Bridge

Now all of what I just explained will not be too much of a challenge if I knew that our leaders and those in government which include you sir, earn such similar pay in their own level.

But that’s not the case sir, you guys earn so much that mainly looking at your children, that’s if we ever see them in the shores of Nigeria, could make us depressed

Baba na.. Are you a better Nigerian than I am?

And don’t come and tell me you didn’t get there in one day because you would have to answer this questions:

How many young persons like me will ever get the privilege to get there someday without connections or some extra cash.
Please sir, check it out very well. There is no system presently in this country that guarantees a better tomorrow for young people.

By saying EndSARS, we are demanding an overhaul of the whole thing!

People should be able to work hard and get tangible result for their hard work.

Nigerians should be able to live a decent life from their salaries at the end of the month, our Government should understand that their first obligation is to SERVE us, and even so, our life span should never be determined by one angry, greedy and uncivilized police officer!

Is that too much to ask for?

Yours in Enjoyment,

Mercy Omoregie

Writer.

BeInspired Show

See our previous post on “Write Your Hustle Series” – My Adopted Daddy.