Or we can all watch...

Dear Nigerian, thank you for clicking to read what I have to say. I'm not sure the reason why you decided to read, but if you're reading this with the intention of looking for a point from me to devour in criticism, then let me assure you that you'll definitely find one, so keep reading. If you clicked to learn, then I also assure you, you'll definitely find something to learn from this article, so again, keep reading. But I wish at the end, you'll realize that my goal for writing this is to open your mind to understand who you're as a Nigerian and what you mean to the world.

It is always easy for us to ascribe blames as Nigerians, but we never seem to be aware when we are making a terrible mistake as well. It's no news that the economic situation of our dear country is in shambles, but believe me you, bad economy is the least problem to deal with. Nigeria has gone or are still backwards in a lot of things relatively, but we've always been beautiful for one reason, cultural heritage. We observe things like greeting, respect, lineage, traditions, norms, sacrilegious acts, virginity, and many more. Some of these, which are discovered to be detrimental to mankind as recent knowledge from religion and academics brought to light, we're gradually eliminating from the society, while others remain in practice. A Nigerian parent would grow a child to first fear the Almighty God, then the parents. They grow to know what virtues like honesty, chastity, obedience among others really mean.

Well, then came technology that brought the new age. We loved it, so we bought it. Our eyes became open because in a click we could gain access to all the western world had to share. Their adverts on the internet about their country and how they “propose” they live, seemed so beautiful, perfect and worthy of emulation. Our cultural heritage, we found a word for it, outdated! We read books by famous authors over there, they explained life as they see it from their perspectives, and it becomes our standard. I am not saying these authors are wrong in what they say, or probably the way of life of the westerners are not better. I’m saying, observe their way of life, pick the beautiful ideas and creativity they portray, then append it to our own way of life to beautify and subsequently get better than them.

 

The western world sees other countries as their competition every single day. They push every side of their economy to make people succumb to their way of life, that way they gain more respect, anything that comes from them has greater value and they end up making every other country need them for what they wish to achieve. Now that is beautiful! That is worthy of emulation! But the issue is, Nigerians understanding the scope involved here. It’s not everything they drop on the internet that shows their real personality, therefore we don’t have to pick everything. Also, their countries are already made, therefore they can actually do anything they wish as their country would have their backs, just like a pampered child of a wealthy parent. We learnt smoking from them without even knowing why they smoke or what they smoke, now we smoke every leaf on any tree. You can argue they do same, permit me to ask, do you have the kind of health facilities they have just in case those leaves decide to attack? We learnt indecent dressing; I’ll give you a task, find out if ladies in the US or London wear indecent clothes during winter. They dress to suit the weather! Yes they go to the extreme in doing that, but unfortunately that's the one we chose to learn. Here indecency is becoming routine all in the name of leaving our “outdated” culture. It’s ok to mimic, but don’t change who you are or throw away what you believe in, you can only modify and give the old culture more value. Ladies, isn’t that what you do when you pick up those old grandma’s “hollandis” materials and modify them into modern day styles? Gentlemen, isn’t it the same with us when we went back to those papas loafers, cover shoes and heeled shoes? We just restyled it and gave it more value! Doubt me? It sells costlier than what daddy bought it back then! We can develop the creativity we have in everything we do and still kick it old school. Our problem is that we don’t know our worth, we always believe the only way to be better is by doing exactly what they do.

Maybe that incited the reigning TV show, Big Brother Naija. Probably the idea was from watching The Kardashians or some other reality show. I’m sure you’re waiting to hear me criticize that show, or probably judge, so let me just throw some of your possible points of arguments to you:

• ·         It’s for entertainment, there are other TV programs where you can learn good things from if you wish so change channel.

• ·         We Nigerians are too religious that’s why we can’t have any fun.

• ·         It’s rated 18 and you’ve got parental control on your remote so seclude it from kids.

• ·         When you bring up other entertainment programs, it will never sell in Nigeria, people won’t view it.

• ·         There are tasks they undergo which people can learn from so I don’t know why people keep saying it’s all bad.

At the end you may even ask me…

• ·         Why don’t you create your own so we can watch, since you’re so intelligent?

It’s all entertainment, true!

 

But only if you understood that this is not about the TV program, it’s all about the Nigerian citizens who are involved in tarnishing their images. Yea, that’s their business, so you vote to encourage them. It’s all about the money, it’s all a game, so we can all watch it. The more this is encouraged, the more other things that have value begins to lose value equally, for instance education! A TV show awards a huge sum for having sex publicly and people applaud them, while a minute fraction of that money is given to a best graduating student, yea because that’s a kid. What would he be doing with such money anyway? It is not the money! It is the value you attach to education! That kid will forever grow to know that being educated has more value and would do well to instill it into his/her own kids in future.

We Nigerians are too religious…

Well, I wish you could do it all by yourself…I mean things like sleeping and waking up, breathing, creating a human and giving it life like you have…you know, things like that. Religion in Nigeria has gone berserk, no doubt, but that’s not the case when it comes to issues like this. Having sex outside marriage alone is fornication and one of the biggest offences against God, but now we have graduated to doing it publicly and applauding it. We even go as far as paying to see them do more. Firstly, that is a sin! Secondly, that is an insult to your creator! Stop using all those beautiful words you coin up to make it look less of what it is, it’s basically a grave sin! It’s bad enough that we make jokes with sex talks, but not going as far as pointing into God’s own eyes. I’m not judging anybody who in anyway is connected to the sustenance of this program, in the sense of heaven or hell attainment at the end. I’m only saying what having sex means to God as stated in our Bible. Judgement belongs to God who alone is perfect. My question again is, I’m I too religious because I decided I won’t disobey God, at least to that extent? At the expense of our Maker, let’s have fun, so we can all watch it…

Its rated 18 and you’ve got parental control on your remote so seclude it from kids.

What about that 15 year old that has overgrown the “child” tag. Can you control him/her so well? It’s easier to scream these things online because you are not a parent yet. The moment there is this TV program which all the adults in the house watches and seem to find it fun, if ever you seclude them, they must try to find out what it is about that program. Next, they activate their criminal minds, they have to lie, steal and sneak their way to satisfy their curiosity. The day they find out, and woe betide you, they find it fun as well, addiction sets in. They won’t stop watching. Smart ones, you may never catch them. Again, when you let a child know it’s only when they get to adulthood, then they may be free to watch corrupt programs like that, then they would never value all you teach them in their childhood. They would throw them away the moment they turn 18. It’s better to let a child grow, understanding that the beautiful virtues you imbibe in him/her at the moment, is all meant for his/her lifetime. It will enrich his/her wisdom in decision making when grown up.

When you bring up other entertainment programs, it will never sell in Nigeria, people won’t view it.

          Permit me to sing…♫This is super story…Papa Ajasco and company…

These programs swooped the whole of Nigeria, off her feet! It wasn’t just beautiful, it was something families could watch together, and bond with memories. We choose to lose the love of family just to be able to watch more of erotic programs where we can seclude our little loved ones? These programs sell. You just have decided not to spend time to think and build up new ideas. Creating evil is easier and would definitely yield quick wealth, but creating good takes more hardwork. I'm not being judgmental saying this, I'm just stating a fact. 

         

There are tasks they undergo which people can learn from so I don’t know why people keep saying it’s all bad.

     If the amount of stones in a plate of rice you are eating is greater than the rice itself, would you keep eating? Since there are tasks that are done once in a while in the program, which does not outweigh the other negativities, we can all watch it…

Why don’t you create your own so we can watch, since you’re so intelligent?

     I am a public speaker, a secondary school teacher, a guardian and counselor, a tutor in chemistry, amongst other things. I may not be the type that could create a TV program, but I do my part in my own line of work. Speaking to change the mindset of people who are involved in those areas and grooming young kids, assuring them that education is one of the keys to success. But in a bid to answer your question, I can give up this idea! Our country is yearning for citizens to acquire skills. For me, a fight to instill this practice into the existing youths may be a bit of a problem due to the mindset we all have attached ourselves to. I’ll use same scenario, living in a house for a period of time, but this time with kids. They are thought how to wake up early every day and perform chores. They are given tasks to perform daily which would involve a lot of skill acquisition. Every week, they are judged and eliminated accordingly. This idea of course has its limitations but when critically digested and developed, can come out nice! It would impact positively in all ramifications and we can all watch it!

One may still ask, “If I never watched, how did I know it was all bad?” My dear reader, yes I’ve watched this show, but I woke up to the reality of the advice I’m giving. I watched as a Nigerian who supports Nigerian-made products, and it hurts right now that I’m not taking special delight in criticizing a product that would have made me love my country more.

     This article is not centered on this TV program if you have observed while reading. It is centered on reviving our thinking perspectives and helping us in better decision making as Nigerians. We believe in God, and we respect Him. We believe in human beings and their value, we respect that too. Let us learn not to forget,

Or we can all watch…

     Watch our dignity as Nigerians flush down the drain…

     Watch as we do what everyone does and lose what everyone has lost…

    

            If it’s outdated, update it! But remember, all updates contain the foundation of the older version, so it doesn’t lose originality.