MAN IN THE MIRROR

(Hello. My name is Henrietta from MASCOT NETWORK and I will be interviewing DR. Christine Ajayi. She is a renowned psychologist, well known for her unconventional methods in curing mentally disabled people. Well, we will be needing her expertise in our country today and we’ve decided to ask her over for a short talk, to pick her brains.)

Henrietta:  Hello, Doctor. It’s a pleasure speaking with you today.

DR. C. Ajayi: Thank you darling. It’s my pleasure to be here too.

Henrietta: So, tell us a little bit of yourself.

DR. C. Ajayi: You just said the only thing about me that really matters. There isn’t much to tell.

Henrietta: Well, you’re quite the modest person. I’m pretty sure there’s a lot to you than meets the eye. We know you’re extremely smart and is responsible for the improvement of the mental health of over a hundred patients. That’s quite the achievement.

DR. C. Ajayi: (laughs) Yes it is. It’s been a…well…exhilarating experience. Working with mental patients is a big challenge.

Henrietta: So, tell me what brings you to Nigeria.

DR. C. Ajayi: Well, I’m a Nigerian looking for a cure. This is my country, even though I’ve been away for a while. I’ve been told that there’s a certain ailment that has eaten up this country and my help is needed in purging the country of it.

Henrietta: An ailment? Interesting. So, you have sick people in Nigeria you’re here to help?

DR. C. Ajayi: (exhales) Well, technically...yes. But Nigeria itself is sick.

Henrietta:  I’m a Nigerian and I find that statement, well…a bit disturbing.

DR. C. Ajayi: I’m sorry but it’s the truth. I’ve been here all of six weeks and I’m very certain that this country and its residents are sick.

Henrietta: Including our President?

DR. C. Ajayi: And his cabinet. All sick.

Henrietta: (frowns) You do know what you’re saying Doctor? We have some people in this country that might not take lightly that statement.

DR. C. Ajayi: (scoffs) Lemme guess, the infamous Boko Haram?

Henrietta: You know about Boko Haram?

DR. C. Ajayi: Who doesn’t? They are people birthed by our country, by our leaders.

Henrietta: Please elaborate.

DR. C. Ajayi: This country is a very beautiful one, I must admit. With a set of misguided leaders.

                   The ailment that worries Nigeria is none other than that of corruption.  Corruption is birthed out of selfishness and greed. Everyone wants everything for himself and his family. No one cares about the next person who might need that thing more.

                You see; if our leaders thought first about the people they’re leading…there wouldn’t be much problem in your country. But they’re too busy stuffing themselves with the national cake that they forget that there are people they swore to protect.

                Before it used to be the elites exploiting the masses but now the cancer has spread…the masses exploit each other!

                Every day you walk on the streets and see one injustice or the other being done because one party happens to be better off than the other. Doesn’t it bother you that your justice system is way off balance?

   Court proceedings take years to come to an end. The long procedure doesn’t mean justice in the end. No. It just means more money spent.

                Even the little child on the street knows what a bribe is. Why? Because he watches his daddy slip the cop on the road a fifty naira note to get a pass. Why would you exploit the people you’re supposed to protect? The question is why not? While the members of the House of Assembly in Nigeria earn more than Barack Obama…the police man on the street, who swore to protect the people is earning peanuts.

   Tell me, why wouldn’t he depend on those fifty naira notes? Isn’t there something wrong with the system? With the country?

                Let’s talk about the educational system…I heard the university lecturers are on strike. Students are at home. Tell me why crime rate will not increase?

                The government is doing nothing about it. Instead they spend days sitting in a locked room with the lecturers arguing ceaselessly about money they have but have refused to release. How selfish can you get?

                They’re playing a cat and mouse game with the students’ lives. They can’t graduate and they can’t work…so they’re left with crime or idleness.  What are we not saying?

                Or do I talk about the increasing unemployment rate? One word- nepotism. The so-called  big men are too busy giving their unqualified relatives jobs while other qualified people are left to hang.

    Nigeria is not about who you are and what you know…it’s now about who you know and what you are. It’s a dysfunctional system through and through. It’s disgusting!

        Another election year will soon arrive and the candidates will soon start kissing the ass of the masses just so they can get elected.

                It’s a cycle that continues year after year. What happened to love for our country? Patriotism?

Henrietta: (exhales) That was quite the speech doctor. I had no idea you had it in you. And I will not deny that you’re right…but we’ve heard so much about the problems, what are the solutions? How do we cure our country?

DR. C. Ajayi: One way. Start with the man in the mirror.

Henrietta: Tell me more.

DR. C. Ajayi: The change starts with you and I. Just like the problem began with one person, the solution begins with one person who decides to make a choice not to go with the crowd. One person who stands up for what is right, no matter what happens.

                If the masses will stick together without antagonising each other…then there’s still hope for this country. If we stop being selfish and put other’s feelings first…then there’s still hope.

 If we decide not to support corruption, then there’s hope. Start somewhere. Your family, at work…stand for the right thing.

Henrietta: Wow. That easy?

DR. C. Ajayi: It’s not that difficult. It’s gonna take a lot of discipline to stand for the right thing. And it starts with the small things.

 That security man you slip five hundred naira to get you into the company, that lecturer you give money to sort your admission, those little lies you tell on your CV to get a job…that’s where the change begins.

Henrietta: Pardon me ma’am but that won’t work in Nigeria. These things happen. They’re part of life. You’ll just end up on the side lines if you choose not to do these things.

DR. C. Ajayi: (smiles sadly.) And that’s the mentality that is killing us.

Henrietta: This was a very informative interview Doctor. We appreciate your insight and views.

DR. C. Ajayi: Don’t say all that crap…I know this is just another sermon which would enter the ears of Nigerians and exit through the other ear. Everyone complains about the problem but nobody is ready to change.

     Henrietta is your name? Take a step. Start with yourself. Start doing things right…and maybe there’s still hope for this country. The problem isn’t just your leaders…the problem is you.

I better take my leave now before I’m kicked off the set. It was nice talking with you. I hope I made a difference in your life today.

Henrietta: (smiles) Believe it or not Doc, you did. Thank you.