Post by Kushuwai (@habila_yakubu)

How true is it?

When I traveled to Nigeria, I discovered how quick and easy it is for people on the streets to throw insults at anyone over the slightest provocation.

You drive slowly. Insult.
You drive fast. Insult.
You drive neither too fast nor too slow. Insult.

The streets are painted and decorated with:

“God punish you!”
“Thunder fire you!”
“Your father nyansh!”

And if you don’t hear the above, you will hear:

“You are mad!”
“Shege!”
“Uwaka!”
“Idiot!”

That year, I had just returned from visiting three African countries. The contrast while driving around Nigeria was too obvious to ignore.

People don’t have patience with one another.
People don’t give others the benefit of the doubt.
People seem so frustrated and ready to pour that frustration on anyone.

To navigate and join moving traffic, nobody gives you space. You have to force your vehicle through.

You obey the traffic light and stop at the red light, and the driver behind you is insulting your mother for doing what ought to be the right thing.

Everybody is in a hurry. Survival of the fittest.

That is why we die quickly. Nigeria’s life expectancy is 54, one of the lowest in the world.

We are not kind. We don’t know the difference between constructive criticism and insults. We don’t know how to talk to one another.

Go and check the Facebook pages of people from other countries. You see decorum even in disagreement. People make their points and move on.

Come to Nigeria… you will hear: ashawo, he-goat, monkey, Ewu-Gambia.

We laugh over things like this, but it says everything you need to know about a people who claim to be religious.

#PurestPurity

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