Just a few weeks ago the thought of ANDREW flashed through my mind, and for a long moment in thought I was internally challenged with various questions and answers as to what actually necessitated the national orientation campaign initiated by the then Military regime in Nigeria. No matter how young one might be then, one could still remember very vividly that there wasn’t much excruciating groaning and grunting about the socio-economic state of the nation compared to the present day. And if there was any form of hardship at all, it was mildly enduring. Then, the hospitals were relatively well equipped, the roads were a bit of a ditch than the present commuter coffin, there was portable water, educational system and academic environment still presented a signpost of a means to an end. War Against Indiscipline (WAI) was motivated by genuine intention to fight societal ills at all levels and was fought frontally, not like the recent selective anti-corruption crusade painted in colours of political aggrandizement.
Yet, the then regime saw the need, albeit pretentiously, to orientate the populace on the path of optimism and hope for collective nation building.  For those who do not know or cannot remember who ANDREW was, Andrew was a popular character (acted by Enebeli Elebuwa) used in the passionate national TV campaign in 1984 by the Military junta of General Muhammad Buhari and General Tunde Idiagbon.  He wanted to ‘check out’ (a phrase famously used back in the days by people that intended to leave the country to seek ‘greener pasture’ overseas) because he was tired and fed up with problems of the country. The TV jingle was a social campaign tool employed to reach out to prospective Nigerian greener-pasture seekers in foreign land to have a rethink, stay back and join hands with then military regime to make Nigeria better for all.
 
But now there seems to be a total lack of solicitude on the part of our government towards her citizen both at home and abroad. If there had been an uncanny knack of foreseeing how draconian the immigration policies of these western nations would gradually turn to be, particularly here in the UK, perhaps we would have organized emissaries of traditional, religious, students, professionals and other civil society bodies, to plead to our governments at various levels to continue to churn out national awareness campaign that will present detailed and well informed choices for anyone wanting to travel out of the country for assumed better life in the cold land, most especially to our young citizens.
 
Just about the moment I was still pondering on the ANDREW'S reminiscence, I tuned my TV to a popular Afro-Caribbean TV station owned by a Nigeria here in London. And it was Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo of the Kingsway International Christian Church (KICC) London, the acclaimed largest Christian congregation in the whole of Western Europe, who was invited as a guest on the show to share his thoughts on myriad of issues surrounding the lives and living of Black and Minority Ethnic groups in the UK. The show was also an opportunity to shed more lights on his newest book ''What is Wrong in Being Black'' .The Pastor explained how constantly the immigration rule, has always been changing almost on a yearly basis, since his 25 years sojourn in the UK, and the results of those changes are consistently harsh on the immigrants. Therefore he passionately admonished all immigrants, most especially those from Nigeria to begin to visualise whatever viable initiatives to be instituted and opportunities to harness back in the home country, in order to stimulate the process of gradual home return. He metaphorically sealed his words by linking the present immigration situation in the UK with the biblical tale of Joseph. As he said ''Because a king is coming that does not know Joseph'.
 
I immediately interpreted the metaphor to mean that surely an immigration policy is approaching, and does not identify with your social classification, economic stratum and humanitarian condition. As if a timely and succinct interpretation, a few days after, the UK Cabinet’s Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith announced officially on Thursday, 6 March 2008 the timetable for the implementation of the government’s controversial compulsory National Identity Card Scheme. In the timetable all immigrants residing in the UK are first to comply with the stringent immigration rule; they are expected to have their fingerprints taken and eyes screened in order to have their biometrics details contained  in the National I.D starting from November 2008. From 2009, about 200,000 airport workers in the UK will have to get identity cards as a condition of employment, while every other UK citizens including people from other EU countries are expected to adhere to the rule in the following years and total compliance by everyone with the schedule by the year 2012.

I was never in doubt that Nigerians living in the UK, most especially the illegal residents will be worst hit by the introduction of this card. Before this time, to say life has been very hellish for most Nigerians living here is to say the least. From the consistent servility you are subjected to in the hands of modern-slave masters, to the threat of being harassed or mugged by some unscrupulous yobs, it’s indeed a jungle.

Nigerians have been victims of so many violent crimes, some of which were reported but were treated with levity and consequently consigned to the bin of history. A record number of similar crimes never saw the light of day, reasons for the fear of the victim being inversed as the criminal, and sometimes the victims being afraid of deportation as a result of their immigration status. So they simply suffer in silence. Some even died mysteriously with less convincing and mind boggling post-mortem result as to the cause of death. Just in the case of young and vibrant Gabriel Adeniyi (also known as Tunde a former UNILAG boy) who suddenly disappeared from us in the month of April 2007 and his body was later found floating on River Thames after a week. Every time I remember that ugly incident, I always feel aggrieved because the last I heard of Adeniyi’s death was the words of a Met Police spokeswoman, who mildly said: "A body has been recovered from the Thames at around midday on Friday. Although the body is yet to be formally identified we can confirm it is believed to be that of Gabriel Adeniyi. His next of kin have been informed and we are treating the death as non-suspicious."

Long before this period, immigration status is sometimes used as a precondition for any medical attention to be rendered to any foreigner in the UK, I have read and listened to news on how immigrants are left to die in the hospitals because their lives are determined by their immigration state – which means you cannot be treated without adequate ‘paper’ and some suffer long time diseases without any attention from the medical services. There isn’t any intention to cast aspersion on the UK government with their policies, rather our government should be frustrated to an extreme position of responsibility in order to begin to value life and  provide all basic social amenities.
 
Perhaps the huge amount of money that would have been expended on providing essential social infrastructure and needful national orientation programmes are squandered on foreign media, like the CNN for a superficial publicity stunt to launder Nigeria’s image positively as the Heart of Africa. Charity they say begins at home. I only wonder how foreign investors will be attracted to a nation where its citizens are wallowing in abject poverty, investors having it at the back of their minds that poverty could breed monstrous revolution and crime. Therefore they would certainly not be willing to gamble with any investment with potential catastrophe.
 
The UK government has vowed to release some Nigerians serving jail terms in their prisons in a bid to de-congest the prison system from overcrowding. Obviously, these people will be conveyed right from their various prison gates to the airport for Lagos-bound flights. With the latest I.D scheme, some Nigerians will be reluctantly repatriated home, understanding that there is little difference between a criminal from jail to his home country and deported illegal migrants – both are simply victims of unattained dreams. The result of these people back home will be a colossal multiplication on the dare-devil armed robbery gangs terrorising Nigerian streets on a daily basis. I hope Nigerian government will look beyond wasting excessive funds on useless Heart of Africa project and refocus on sustainable development for the betterment of the Nigerian masses and information resource that will better inform Nigerians, especially the younger ones on purposeful journey abroad.

I suppose there isn’t anything greener in the pastures around here any more, that’s why the western nations are the first to champion the cause of greener environment. It is a passive reality that our clime has always been greener, and can even be better, provided we can maintain and protect it. And wrestle our future from the hands of selfish and greedy politicians. It is understood that Corporate Nigeria is waking up to the responsibility of nation building by proving opportunities for young Nigerians to be gainfully employed and get supported in entrepreneurial drive. So my humble advice to the 21st century ANDREWS out there, observe a long period of musing before you ‘check out’.
 
Lekan Fatodu, London.



 

Robot  Villager

# 1 Just a few weeks ago the thought of ANDREW flashed through my mind, and for a long moment in thou...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 26.05.2008 21:42

Olamide  Villager

# 2 Deportation might be good for the Nigerians because it gives some of them time to reflect on wasted opportunities. When they return to Nigeria, most see the country from another perspective (Challenges instead of problems) and try very hard to succeed. I have a distant cousing, a qualified Architect, who wasted 13 years in Italy chasing shadows. To live the Italian dream, he even divorced his Nigerian wife who had bored him two beautiful kids and married an old Italian hag. After 8 years of marriage that he spent living more like the houseboy than being a husband, he filed for divorce without been conversant with the divorce laws in Italy. He lost his house, two cars and almost all his savings as compensation to the Italian wife. He has since returned to Nigeria and is now practising as an Architect and making a success of it. The lst time I spoke with him, he told me that if he had known what he know now, he would not have travelled out but stay back home and struggle to make it in Nigeria. He has seen begged his wife and reconsiled with her and I am sure another baby is on the way to cement the comprehensive peace accord:D:D:D:D let those who are going to be deported take heart and return home to make the same efforts they made in Europe and succeed in Nigeria. Posted by Olamide| 27.05.2008 05:01

tanibaba  Villager

# 3 This is an excellent article and the best advice anyone who loves our brothers and sisters in the diaspora can offer at this point in time. The humour (for me) in this article/response was captured in this sentence by Olamide To live the Italian dream, he even divorced his Nigerian wife who had bored him two beautiful kids and married an old Italian hag. After 8 years of marriage that he spent living more like the houseboy than being a husband, he filed for divorce without been conversant with the divorce laws in Italy. I was almost lynched for featuring something similar in my article titled Is this their london? last year. Anyway to think that this is the same UK that Nigerians were going to up to the early 80s as if they were going to Jankara market in lagos in view of the fact that they didnt require a visa to enter the UK , something must have seriously gone wrong to make us get to this sorry pass. And for our nationals who equate the developments and advancements in the UK with their personal advancement, the chickens are coming home to roost. And the rain is about to stop when the Adaba (the dove) will be separated from Adie (hen) whose cohabitation was forced by rain torrents. I sincerely hope that our folks will come back home to develop our land with the useful knowledge that they gained in the white man's land in whatever sphere they choose or find themselves and in spite of our bad roads, etc. more to come later. taslim Posted by tanibaba| 27.05.2008 06:38

Olamide  Villager

# 4 =tanibaba;4295046828>This is an excellent article and the best advice anyone who loves our brothers and sisters in the diaspora can offer at this point in time. The humour (for me) in this article/response was captured in this sentence by Olamide I was almost lynched for featuring something similar in my article titled Is this their london? last year. Anyway to think that this is the same UK that Nigerians were going to up to the early 80s as if they were going to Jankara market in lagos in view of the fact that they didnt require a visa to enter the UK , something must have seriously gone wrong to make us get to this sorry pass. And for our nationals who equate the developments and advancements in the UK with their personal advancement, the chickens are coming home to roost. And the rain is about to stop when the Adaba (the dove) will be separated from Adie (hen) whose cohabitation was forced by rain torrents. I sincerely hope that our folks will come back home to develop our land with the useful knowledge that they gained in the white man's land in whatever sphere they choose or find themselves and in spite of our bad roads, etc. more to come later. taslim Thanks a milion, brother. Posted by Olamide| 27.05.2008 06:59

draftman  Villager

# 5 For every one of your cousin in Italy, there are 100 of Nigerian who married non-nigerian in foreign country for many years, and are doing very well. It is a myth to think all foreign wifes are bad for you, many nigerian women are worst for you. I know many of both groups. I think we should judge people as individual not by their nationality. My relation happily married an american woman for 20yrs now, and he said is the best decision he made. I believe anywhere you're comfortable is your home, Nigerian can be place of birth, and I wish it well. Until we can live in peace without fear, pollution, and lawlessness, the country is not ready for us. Not everyone is doing a menial job, many of us are business owner, or well paid professionals. Some of the deportee will find their way back, bcus they have tasted the sweet fruit and they want more. Posted by draftman| 27.05.2008 10:07

emj  Villager

# 6 =draftman;4295046885>For every one of your cousin in Italy, there are 100 of Nigerian who married non-nigerian in foreign country for many years, and are doing very well. It is a myth to think all foreign wifes are bad for you, many nigerian women are worst for you. I know many of both groups. I think we should judge people as individual not by their nationality. My relation happily married an american woman for 20yrs now, and he said is the best decision he made. I believe anywhere you're comfortable is your home, Nigerian can be place of birth, and I wish it well. Until we can live in peace without fear, pollution, and lawlessness, the country is not ready for us. Not everyone is doing a menial job, many of us are business owner, or well paid professionals. Some of the deportee will find their way back, bcus they have tasted the sweet fruit and they want more. Thanks draftman for your post, the thank u button is not just enough. I was as a matter of fact getting my cyber catapault ready b4 i saw your very sensible post...more blessings ojare.....some people and the way they think/write juess make me arrrgghhh....gad dem:evil::evil::p. Yes there is need for people to look b4 they launch out to away countries....was flabbergasted when someone told me that the reason they applied for US Visa Lottery was the thought of owning their own home and the govt will give them mthly stipend, they will be given a job to boot.....talk about original misinformation......chei:cool: I hope Nigerian government will look beyond wasting excessive funds on useless Heart of Africa project and refocus on sustainable development for the betterment of the Nigerian masses and information resource that will better inform Nigerians, especially the younger ones on purposeful journey abroad Hmm...i hope so too Lekan....sustainable development can only see the light of day when we are finally able to do away with all the daft and greedy rulers pretending to be leaders.....which way Nigeria, which way Africa. Posted by emj| 27.05.2008 12:55

AISAGBON OMOGIADE  Villager

# 7 "I have a distant cousing, a qualified Architect, who wasted 13 years in Italy chasing shadows. To live the Italian dream, he even divorced his Nigerian wife who had bored him two beautiful kids and married an old Italian hag. After 8 years of marriage that he spent living more like the houseboy than being a husband, he filed for divorce without been conversant with the divorce laws in Italy. He lost his house, two cars and almost all his savings as compensation to the Italian wife." @Olamide Iam finding it difficult to believe that a Nigerian who studied architecture in Italy will be totally ignorant of the Italian family -law.Did your cousin tell you he divorced his Nigerian wife to marry a hag?If he did, that was a blunder on his part. Some Nigerians are known to tell wild-stories when things do not go their way.If you subtract the years it takes to study architecture in Italy from your cousin's 13 years stay,you will find out that he may not have possessed those things he said he "lost" to his white-wife as compensation. Deportation is very destabilising to those who suffer it.Very few percentage of Nigerians who suffer deportation achieve meaningful living back in Nigeria.Most end up as 419ers and robbers. Posted by AISAGBON OMOGIADE| 27.05.2008 13:04

Anambra Movement  Villager

# 8 =draftman;4295046885>For every one of your cousin in Italy, there are 100 of Nigerian who married non-nigerian in foreign country for many years, and are doing very well. It is a myth to think all foreign wifes are bad for you, many nigerian women are worst for you. I know many of both groups. I think we should judge people as individual not by their nationality. My relation happily married an american woman for 20yrs now, and he said is the best decision he made. I believe anywhere you're comfortable is your home, Nigerian can be place of birth, and I wish it well. Until we can live in peace without fear, pollution, and lawlessness, the country is not ready for us. Not everyone is doing a menial job, many of us are business owner, or well paid professionals. Some of the deportee will find their way back, bcus they have tasted the sweet fruit and they want more. Thank you for your write-up but at the end of the day, we will all go back (maybe in death) because there is no place like "HOME". It is left for us to stand up and develope our continent, it takes one person to make a difference. God forbid someone I know being buried abroad... Posted by Anambra Movement| 27.05.2008 13:05

depirate  Villager

# 9 It is funny how many of these articles are written by Nigerians who have left Nigeria and made a home for themselves abroad and feel that having now "arrived" (valid stay, good jobs, property owning and settled family) they now have a monopoly on wisdom especially when it comes to what happens in "abroad", my take on the whole situation is if you feel the wahala of living in the whiteman's country is too much then go back to Nigeria and leave those who have no problem with living there remain and that will also have the effect of making more room for those who want to come over from Nija. I have found that most of the problems people have with living abroad has to do with the fact that they cannot live like they do in Nija (mainly being indisciplined and being able to cutting corners) forgeting that it is those same qualities that have kept Nigeria limping at 48, also people are fond of making an issue of violence against the immigrant community an issue, as well as the stupidest thinking of them all - that Nigeria will always be your home and conversely that you will never belong to your current society of abode, well i wonder why so many people then mention peace of mind as one of the benefits of living abroad and are we to say that Nija is some sort of Utopia where we all love our fellow man and violence based on tribe, ethnicity and religion are unheard of, which explains why flight from violence is never a reason by Nigerian asylum seekers (and where will you feel safer walking alone at 2am in a deserted tube station or at apkongbon) and regarding "home" am i then meant to belief all those who say i am just being a fool calling Lagos home (having lived there practically all my life) since my father is an igbo man (just like myself) who moved to and settled in Lagos (and regarding racism am i the only one that has noticed the atavism that crops up on NVS whenever there is even the slightest whiff of tribal disagreement - and we are supposed to be the enlightened ones). I for one will encourage anyone that wants to travel abroad to make a better life for him and his. Regarding marrying Italian hags, might he have happier with a Nigerian hag and i am sure all the Nigerian men and women married to foreigners feel rightly insulted by the writers insinuation that the only reason for marriage is for "papers" and that their spouses are in some way inferior to beta Nija husbands and wives and i think he owes them and more especially their better halves an apology (don't take as long as BA o! and the boycotta continua ciao). The world is becoming a village (slightly bigger than the NVS) and i will fight anyone who insinuates my children are not Irish - be they white or black - just as much as i will if you suggested they were not Nigerian. I have worked on factory floors, been a hospital and care home (elderly and disability - one of the greatest environments i ever worked in) care assistant (yes those that help clean up those who can't do for themselves), my valid 3 month visit visa expired and i stayed on illegally until i was able to get them regularised having gotten a job that enabled me do that and all this while i had a better quality of life than the vast majority of Nigerian back home and definitely had peace of mind which is more that could have said if i stayed drinking beer in the vicinity of Ikeja busstop. To end this rant i will say there are no perfect societies and yes there is racism but what you having working against you if you want to live an honest (forget about a little illegal stay, half of Americans' ancestors went there illegally) and decent life are by far less if you live in the west as compared to Nigeria and i welcome to you all in advance Ps i am a pacifist Posted by depirate| 27.05.2008 20:38

bababoyz  Villager

# 10 =tanibaba;4295046828>This is an excellent article and the best advice anyone who loves our brothers and sisters in the diaspora can offer at this point in time. The humour (for me) in this article/response was captured in this sentence by Olamide I was almost lynched for featuring something similar in my article titled Is this their london? last year. Anyway to think that this is the same UK that Nigerians were going to up to the early 80s as if they were going to Jankara market in lagos in view of the fact that they didnt require a visa to enter the UK , something must have seriously gone wrong to make us get to this sorry pass. And for our nationals who equate the developments and advancements in the UK with their personal advancement, the chickens are coming home to roost. And the rain is about to stop when the Adaba (the dove) will be separated from Adie (hen) whose cohabitation was forced by rain torrents. I sincerely hope that our folks will come back home to develop our land with the useful knowledge that they gained in the white man's land in whatever sphere they choose or find themselves and in spite of our bad roads, etc. more to come later. taslim You seem to take delight in anything anti-Nigerians Living Abroad. I am just wondering what type of Nigerians you were exposed to during your trip to London that gives you this much disdain about Nigerians who chose to live outside Nigeria. I do agree with the writer that living abroad without valid papers is fast becoming more of a nightmare than the dream they had before jetting out of Nigeria. However, I can assure you there are many Nigerians who are living the dream, (As we call it here in Yankee) and I hope you will be lucky enough on your next trip to come across such Nigerians. I am extending an open invitation to you. Best Wishes. Posted by bababoyz| 28.05.2008 17:01

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