The effects of COVID-19 worldwide are unprecedented and despite having a heads up we were ill prepared. However, in true Naija (colloquial term used in place of Nigerian) form we scrambled about, performed a handful of miracles, praised the Lord and chucked tons of money at the problem. Boom! What’s really surprising is that if we can move with alacrity at a time of need, then why don’t we simply adopt as governance policy, a permanent siege mentality and leverage ourselves back to our promising pre-independence trajectory. Wishful thinking I hear you mutter, mere utterances of a closet pro-colonialist, Naija is what it is and Lagos its economic powerhouse will never fail! Add an Amen! and Amin! for good measure.
Okay now the rabble rousing is over, let’s get to why you are reading this in the 1st place. As a concerned and creative collective we know the status quo needs to be rejigged, and the influencers influenced to listen attentively to the voice of calculated reason, i.e. us the CIA – Lagos. Ola-Dele Kuku (on Conflict Culture), posits that we (Nigerians) exist under a “consistent and persistent threat, which needs a constant and purposeful response.” The big question is what are you, him, her & I going to do about it? Folding our hands in dutiful resignation and inadvertently perpetuating the generation blame game will only come back to bite our buttocks…metaphorically speaking.
It’s 2020 and again the CIA – Lagos responds. Please tune in and contribute to The Listening Sessions.
