DORA AKUNYILI, DISPARAGES NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA?

Nigeria's Re-branding Madam, Professor Dorathy Akunyili, Nee Edemobi, recently said that, "Nigerians in the Diaspora are the worst when it comes to bad mouthing Nigeria". The Nigeria government chief propagandist also added, "When you hear Nigerians overseas talk about Nigeria, you will weep for this country".

Hello, "Madam Re-Branding" what has come over you or have you, chicken, left the knife that killed you and is now bending your head at the pot? Where is your beef with self-exiled Nigerians, majority of whom left Nigeria out of despondency to some distant foreign lands for survival, and in order to maintain their sanity? Madam Akunyili, are you seriously questioning this expression of disgusted disenchantment at Nigeria by these Diaspora Nigerians; when you are fully well aware of where their disappointment is coming from?

It is their privileged position of having been elsewhere, to understand the difference between a non-functioning country, Nigeria and other well-oiled countries of the world that fuel their complaints! These Nigerians have eaten the "Nigerian-forbidden fruit of decency" elsewhere, and are now questioning why their experiences overseas cannot be replicated back home in Nigeria? Simply put, this group of Nigerians have wised up to have an opinion, and can no longer take the tales by moonlight being told to a country of "blind-men led by a blind-man", that it is not yet daytime? These Nigerians now know better and are complaining loudly that things ought to change for the better in Nigeria! A wise person listens to criticisms and improves upon the agitating issues, but the obtuse maddog sees such as ranting of a deranged mind that needs to be crushed. Nigeria should pray that these fury will not boil over someday, wherein there shall be a demand for a rendering of account by the gestapos who have held Nigeria hostage all these years, since her independence and continuing till today?

Those well travelled Nigerians and/or those residing abroad know the difference between not having lights for several months and being able to stock your freezer with meat products that will last you for some years, if need be. This writer still has a goat-head from 2007, just stocked in the freezer for God knows what? For instance, availability of power in Nigeria should not be confined to only those who can afford a generator and this is the gist of the disdain being expressed by these Nigerians in Diaspora? Those Nigerian residing abroad know what it is like to drive on a well paved road for several thousands of miles without encountering any pot-hole? Those Nigerians abroad know how not to be molested by miserable policemen at various checking-points, demanding for some hand-outs of bribes at the pain of sometimes, loosing your life if you piss them off? Those Nigerians living abroad understand that when you have an emergency and dial that magic telephone number 911, that help is on the way? Those Nigerians abroad know that ambulances are for rushing sick people to the hospital and not to carry dead bodies back home or burial grounds? Those Nigerians abroad know that if you are sick and go to the hospital, that you will be treated and your prescription, not adulterated or white-powder stuffed in capsules, is available at the pharmacy? Those Nigerians abroad know that at grocery stores, you can find fresh okra, fresh corn/maize, fresh vegetables, fresh tomatoes and all sorts of fresh produce, 24/7; and that food products are not seasonal? Those Nigerians abroad know that o/s (out of stock) is a phrase mostly found in Nigerian dictionary only? Our dear Dora, those Nigerians are aware that there is consequence for every action and that a country's sitting attorney general cannot be just murdered without the suspect/s being tried for the crime? Nigerians know exactly who these marauders are and have been wondering why they have remained untouchables? Those Nigerians living abroad understand that human-beings have civil-rights and that you cannot just be slapped around by a policeman for just refusing to hand over to him some bills of currency? Dora this is why the refernced Nigerians complain! They wonder aloud why such could not be obtainable in Nigeria due to the curse of bad leaderships afflicting Nigeria?

Madam re-branding, do you want some more reasons why expatriate Nigerians complain loudest about disorganised Nigeria? Madam Dora, who elected your government into power? So you now know why that Nigerian living abroad who knows something about free and fair election is complaining? That Nigerian abroad understands that you can pull up at a gas station anytime, any where and fill up your gas tank? That Nigerian abroad understands that you do not have to pay to play, especially in contracts awards? That Nigerian abroad understands that when a candidate for president or a sitting president is afflicted with an illness, that he goes on a national television to fully disclose the nature of his ailment to the electorates whom he serves at their pleasure? What your boss, President Umaru Yar'Adua is dying from, no one in Nigeria knows and possibly not even you, his information minister? A Nigerian Information Minister whose responsibility it is to inform Nigerians on matters of the state and government should have made the sickness afflicting President Umaru Yar'Adua a top priority; to disclose in full all that she knows about the state of health of the president? Why the secrecy cloud hanging over the president's sickness has not been lifted is beyond comprehension and Nigeria has an information minister busy with beating the drum of re-branding?

Do you now get it, Madam Re-branding, that Nigerians in Diaspora are complaining out loud, asking why can't there be available in Nigeria, the same amenities and/or services as obtained abroad? They are perplexed that Nigeria has refused to do good by and for her citizens? Simply put, those exposed-Nigerians know better and are trying so hard to sensitize other Nigerians on what is out there and also possible in Nigeria. They know fully well the difference between night and day? They know there could be a difference if the Nigeria society understands what is due to them from their leadership and this is the only reason why they complain the loudest! When you are used to certain standards in life, it is usually very difficult to step down from what is given to what is available? Luckily some of these Nigerians are the engines driving some of their adopted countries' economies and you wonder why Nigeria cannot seek their help to move the country forward? Icheoku knows of one Nigerian who is a top manager in a petroleum engineering firm, who had propositioned the Nigeria government before to use his contacts to reposition the refineries in Port Harcourt and Kaduna. He was declined and yet petroleum products' scarcity still persists and Dora, tell Icheoku why this Nigerian would not complain when next he goes back to visit and couldn't find gasoline to put in his vehicle?

Furthermore, these Nigerians are the ones who can look you and your government in the face and call a spade for what it is. They are not pliable or amenable to your manipulations with contract-awards or the shrivelling "madam/oga" syndrome in Nigeria? These few privileged Nigerians speak for the millions of other silent majority Nigerians, some of whom has never left their local government area, to know any difference? Like a blind-man, many of them are used to darkness and does not have a clue of what light means or looks like. The fear you are expressing is that if the Nigerian populace become well informed, they may demand for a change and this is what your pay-masters do not want to have happen? Icheoku says, such a date can only be delayed but for how long?

A paragraph in Sonala Olumhense's "Akunyili: Dishonorable, Divisive", described you in this unflattering terms:- "She is part of a government that does not know whether it is coming or going. This government has all kinds of proclamations, including the seven-point agenda, Vision 2020, rule of law, anti-corruption. But they are all empty, self-serving cliches with no respectable or identifiable content, and no traceable value. Icheoku concurs to this well rounded summation of the despicable government which you serves; and adds that you have seemingly derailed? Your present trajectory does not bode well for Nigeria and fuels the suspicion in the public domain, that a scientist is not a good fit for the information ministry; otherwise you would have started your duty there by levelling with Nigerians on what is ailing their President Umaru Yar'Adua? You have become a victim of the inebriating power which you have tasted; and atypical of all mortals who have once held power in Nigeria, it may not end on a very high note? Hopefully you will wake up from your corridor of power induced-diatribe, soon enough, before you lose your remaining admirers, including our humble self! Icheoku advises Dora Akunyili to concentrate her energies on unravelling why there is a general discontent with Nigeria and not on who is expressing or vocalising such? Until that epiphany, Dora Akunyili, please note that your re-branding has died a natural death and should be buried, without any ceremonies or funfares whatever and immediately!