|
Ever since The Nation (Sunday) newspaper published a
profile I did on a Nigerian promoting African culture in Hungary, Nigerians
have been seeking advice or even urging me to get them necessary documents –
especially invitation letter – so they could “check out”. Reading them is
insightful, for I have realised most of them are ignorant about the actual situation
here. Majority have been the victims of a monumental swindle by fellow
Nigerians who usually invite them to
Hungary – usually to play football.
Yes, a Nigerian is so desperate to "check
out" of her country to the extent she violently believes that whatever
happens thereafter would be a bearable storm. In that moment of despair, she often
mistakes foolhardiness for bravery. Anyone that opposes her plane or ship
instantly becomes enemy – enemy of her progress. This Nigerian often beats her
chest saying, "If I can weather bad patches in
Nigeria, I am ready for any house
of weathered shingles abroad".
So off she went to the land unknown. Her preparation
was simply a policy of desperation. Otherwise why should any right thinking
person believe such a jingle that the road of
Budapest
or
Rome or
London
or
New York
is paved with dollars or euro? Why should my sister fall for such fable that
money grows on the trees in
Germany?
The last time I checked, my sister had finished her first degree in sociology,
yet she knew so little about the land of her new destination. It might surprise
you that my sister thinks
Hungary
and
Germany are in
England. She
doesn’t even know that the official language of
Austria,
Sweden, and
Switzerland is
not English.
To start with, she has been brainwashed by her relatives
who had embarked on similar journey some years back. They might have told her
sweet stories ranging from "Omo, na here world end o". To support
such claim, they might have sent some exotic photographs taken in front of an imposing
house or car. And such materialistic spinning must have entered into my
sister’s head. She too must go yonder. She too must go to Oyinbo land go make
her own money. If it favours Lagbaja, it must also favour Tamado.
Or it might have been her friend who after spending
two or three years in 'Yankee' decided to come home – for Show time. Her friend
had decided to buy
New York City simply to show
them in
Nigeria
that he has arrived. It doesn’t matter where he works – McDonald’s, pizza
joint, mortuary – he just must show that he’s coming from abroad. He may even have
borrowed money in order to impress or oppress those in
Nigeria.
Meanwhile those relatives who seem to be sincere about
the nature of life they live abroad are often considered a no good person whose
aim is simply to discourage others from being like them. They may ask, "If
it’s so hard why is he still living there?" This is no doubt a moving and
honest question but it’s much more than that. Living abroad is tough and I
won’t say more than that. I want you to see it for yourself because no amount
of preaching would deter a determined or should I say a desperate mind from
going to "
London
or 'Yankee' or even Asian countries".
I understand my sister’s plight. She needs to get out
of the system that seems to have forgotten her existence. She could not secure
a reasonable job since she finished her education. Or it could be my brother
who needs to save face by going abroad. I mean that such voyage is
automatically a kind of status from Nigerians perspective. Whilst I understand
such parochial thinking, I must say that I detest the situation whereby people
respect me just because one is living in Europe or
America
or
Asia. Of course this is ignorance on the
part of those who have not been abroad, for many of them may even be better
off.
Personally, I consider it an inferiority complex for
those Africans living in Europe or
America to feel important just
because they live there. They are those the Yoruba referred to as Omo
ai’ jobe ri, ti n ja epo si aya. It is true that things
seem to be working in these countries. For example, here in
Hungary, there’s no oil or other mineral
resources,
yet things do work. Constant electricity, adequate drinking water, health care
system, compulsory education until the age of 16, good security system, good
transportation system and roads etc. But this is not to infer that everything
is well Tax is about 40% of your salary.
No matter the amount of one’s exposure in
Nigeria or
Africa
in general, one is bound to marvel at the way things work here. There is no
need to bribe public officials in order to get documents. An international
passport or other similar documents are your birthright, however you may need
to pay an administrative fee which is moderate according to the average salary. A birth certificate for instance, is issued free of charge and adequately
documented immediately one is born, meaning it’s nearly impossible to lie about
one’s age.
Furthermore, public officials here are not under
pressure to steal. For example, government financial transactions are not by
cash but through post office cheque. Nearly everything is paid by cheque even
private companies use this system. I do not object to ordinary Nigerians coming
here - most of those in Nigerian government have their relatives here and
there but would try to persuade Andrew from checking out. What I abhor is their lack of
knowledge about their destination and temptation to engage in crimes in order to
survive.
So my brother, think deeply before you decide to come
to
Europe. Remember that getting visa is just
the very beginning and not the end. The hardest part is securing necessary
papers to live here. This is frustrating and there’s no other word for it. Some
people are being swindled right from
Nigeria. Obong (doesn't want his
surname printed) was invited to
Hungary
to play football. "Nobody told me it’s going to be like this,” he says. “They
told me to claim asylum when I reach here, but it’s not as easy as they painted
it. Now I am stranded and have to use someone’s paper to work. I paid them a
lot of money".
Obong represents thousands of African immigrants
leaping in the dark. This is not a good idea although one may be lucky and
eventually get the necessary papers to reside; one must be prepared
psychologically because the task would turn you into something else - mostly
negative. Perhaps this explains why most engage in illegality like pushing
drugs, prostitution, and other crimes. Another social problem one may encounter
as a result of leaping without listening and looking is, marrying for papers.
This seems to be the in-thing because EU respects family. However, this is also
becoming complicated as it may take years, making you live at the whim of your
"wife".
It is not advisable to come to
Europe
with a tourist or visitor’s visa with the intention to live, especially if you
are a professional at home. Gone are the days when you could do this but not
any more. Certainly those who make money out of your ignorance would not tell
you this fact. If you are earning over 50,000 naira a month and you have job
security, then you might be wasting your time paying a fortune to reside in
Hungary
for example. Believe it or not, over staying your visa is a bad omen.
Of course there are exceptions to every rule. However, you
may be deceiving yourself or living a fool's paradise should you think coming
abroad means richness. Do you think I am limiting your limit? Whatever you
think, just be careful – be very careful. This is because you are indirectly
blocking your compatriots' chance with every lie that comes from your mouth. If
you care to know, your ignorance or inconsiderate attitude has worsened Nigeria's bad
image here. Virtually every Embassy believes a Nigerian tourist or visitor is a
potential immigrant, hence genuine Nigerian visitors have been refused visas.
This is painful.
The bottom line is this: don’t come here anyhow. For
instance, you may want to come here first, observe and go back, then apply for
a longer term visa. Or you may want to come as a student and then take it from
there. This is not only the right thing to do, it earns you respect as well.
Sure it is expensive but you will have preserved your dignity and that of
Nigeria. You
should realise that countries all over the world frown at what they call
illegal immigration. Many of our brothers and sisters have perished during such
arduous journeys. Europe or
America
are not like they were before. But my people are right when they say, Bi a gun iyan si inu ewe, bi a se
obe si inu epo epa, e ni ma yo a kuku yo.
mysmallvoice@yahoo.com
|
Authors 
Posted by Robot| 03.10.2007 05:55