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| Nigerian Embassy, New-York |
It was winter in New-York;
she had visited the city to attend a conference at the United Nations
headquarters as a member of the Nigerian National Assembly. I was doing a
little shopping in Manhattan after visits to the UN and Nigerian Embassy, then we
met through a friend she knew from home who also happened to be my host. We
became friends albeit she was older. Her amiable personality was extraordinary
and she needed company as she found her way through the city anyways.
We later realized that we
were going to be on the same flight to Lagos in few days. We discussed a lot
about Nigeria and American politics as we rounded off our businesses using our
friend’s car for those few cold days. My brother and I shared our views on government
policies and she defended the system with a rare naked passion for Nigeria to
be better. I bet anyone would get that same feeling of hope we had as I often
thought “how I wish all Nigerian leaders can think like this”.
As we stood at the departure
lounge for those final goodbyes and battled with her excess luggage which ended
not posing her much problems since we claimed to be together and the total
weight was ok when spread on three travelers, she kept repeating “Ejima we must
stay in touch o, make una call me o”. Sure we would love to have such quality
person as a friend, so I thought as the air of her status as a member of the
House of Representative or tag as a federal lawmaker never showed up in her
attitude, let alone our discussions.
In a reciprocally
down-to-earth manner with our new friend we took over vacant seats on the half
filled plane as we ate, drank some red wine, relaxed on combined seats and
tried to enjoy the long flight to Lagos. Trust the air hostesses to allow us
enjoy our liberty; they were used to Nigerians and our free spirited communal
lifestyle. We spoke endlessly of how much we could learn from America and its
leadership and how the UN summit had changed her view of leadership and social
impact.
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| UN Headquarters, Manhattan NY |
I was tired of the flight
just 8 hours into it, so as the wave of heat finally blew at me on arrival, I
felt it was truly ‘Welcome to Lagos’. One of those moments you wish baggage
claim did not exist as I was eager to just get home to crash, then her missing
luggage issue showed up. There we all were, running up and down the airport to
get things sorted but we could only leave with a promise from the airline that
she would be called as soon as her bag was found. In about one week we had
shared different sides of life together and the idea of us being friends didn’t
seem out of place AT ALL.
Stepping out to be received
by family, the reality of the Nigerian class theory stared at me right in the
face. Before we could say those final words, gun carrying mobile policemen
showed up from the sun and shoved my brother and I roughly away from her with
the base of their rifles in a manner that reminds you of the middle-east police
versus masses riots. They shielded her into a waiting SUV driven off quickly as
if trying to escape a rain of bullets. Everything happened so fast like in well
directed Nollywood movies. I stood there shocked to my marrow! This remains my
realest ‘Welcome to Lagos’ and never the sudden switch to a hot weather.
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| US Consulate, Lagos |
As I write this I still cannot
understand why they acted that way and how she could not manage to stop them
immediately. I kept asking myself, what or who were they protecting her from?
The same people she needed few seconds ago? What happened to those lessons of
accessibility we learn from western leaders when we go abroad? How come they
could not stop her from being subjected to extra search at the JF Kennedy
Airport? Where were they when she begged common citizens for help when her bag
was missing?
That afternoon I realized one of
the most bitter truths I have ever had to deal with, it does not matter if the
streets of New-York put us on the same level as equal legal non-immigrants; as far
as our own country is concerned we are not equal citizens, neither are we
equal human beings. Sadly, that is the Nigerian theory of human classification and
the manner in which the message was delivered to me still hurts. Naturally in
my heart she slowly changed from being ‘Aunty’ into Madam or maybe ‘Oga Madam’.
Follow Keni Akintoye on
twitter: @keniknows
But sincerely, you shouldn't be surprised by their action. Nigeria is known for that. Aides with awkward attitude all in the name of protection, claiming they are doing their job. dignitaries in nearby Ghana will give you all the attention needed. I went to an event recently, u needed to see the kind gestures and friendly attitude the Ag. DG, Ghana health service portrayed,he was at the event with only his P.A but talk of our dear health commissioner, I bet u, he had a lot of entourage and people were been chased off him like dogs except for reporters who he granted mass interview. I wouldn't know if this is accrued to the insecurity in Nigeria. Lets just pray this country gets better.
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Welcome to the club!
DeleteHnmm.. I think Its a class case the Nigerian system insists on creating artificially, such that even if this class really does not or should not be portrayed in the way that it is, political platform instantly creates it Wether palatable to the people or not, because I see sometimes an obvious insistence to create an atmosphere that should not necessarily be there. I think if the aids did not know better or have the wrong orientation, the people/ politicians they are "protecting" if That's the case have the responsibility to set them right. There is no point if you know better but act same.
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say? WORD
DeleteThis is must be whlat George Orwell imagined when he coined the phrase "but some are more equal than others" ala Animal Farm. This should be lesson to all aspiring leaders..of how not to treat people. I rest my case.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Maxwell...
DeleteI am not sure anyone can totally blame the overzealous gun carrying mobile policemen as Aunty did not make any attempt at showing that they were friends. I'm sure if she had been more cordial on home grounds, even the policemen would have respected the fact that she was with her friends they had not met before.
ReplyDeleteThe ruling class automatically feel like gods & goddesses when they are in Nigeria and act extremely regular outside the shores of the country.
They act as regulars abroad because the western system gives equal chances to its citizens and immigrants... at least relatively, unlike many African countries where Monarchy runs in the blood. It is sad
DeleteI think I was on the same flight with you and remember what you wrote about. There was a daughter of one top Nigerian politician on that flight too, she was received by her father's mobile police\security at the MM Airport same way "Oga Madam" was whisked away, but while we could manage to understand madam's was based on the office she held, I still keep wondering why so much for the teenage girl... Office of the daughter of a top Nigerian politician? Pathetic!
ReplyDeleteYes I remember that teenage girl... Your reference to the politician's daughter proves you were indeed on that flight. So interesting to know many more people must have witnessed that scene I tried to describe in its simplest way. Isn't it pathetic that this shameful practice is being passed down to kids who will grow up believing it is normal?
Delete