The Taxi Driver From Yemen and Nigeria- Ive been in Dubai since the 14th and Ive met several people and engaged in discussions with them but no one brought home the reality of Nigerias problems like the taxi driver from Yemen who carried my family today. As soon as I stepped into his car, the following conversation ensued: Taxi Driver:( Speaking in smattering English).. You from Nigeria? Me: Yes. Taxi Driver: Ah, Obasanjo. Me: You know him? Where are you from? Taxi Driver: Im from Yemen. Ive lived in Dubai for 25 years. Me know Obasanjo well well. He came to Burj Khalifa and paid $15,000 for a night. Me: $15,000 for one night? Are you serious? Taxi Driver: When you work for money, you dont spend it that way. Obasanjo didnt work for that money. But Nigeria is very very rich. Though the people are very very poor. Burj Khalifa by the way is the worlds tallest building and has 187 floors. Yesterday,during the course of my conversation with another taxi driver who is from Pakistan, he showed me Burj El-Arab, the only 7 star hotel in the world and informed me that sometimes last year, a Nigerian threw a wedding party at the hotel and had to pay $1m cash as deposit to book so many rooms in the hotel and also shut it down for the period. After the party, Sheikh Makhtoum, the Ruler of Dubai and one of the owners of the hotel demanded to meet with the Nigerian who threw the party. On Good Friday, I saw the Minister for Petroleum, Diezani Allison- Madueke trying out a perfume at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. While I dont begrudge her rights to live as a citizen, one often wonders if they are unable to see the developments in the countries they visit. Ive seen so much in the last few days that Im beginning to question if democracy is the ideal form of government for Nigeria especially when you consider United Arab Emirates is not a democratic country but has made tremendous progress. What about benevolent dictatorship? For allowing Nigeria to go to the dogs, all our past leaders should have a mill around their necks and they should be drowned. I am now of the strong belief that the only way Nigeria can change is by a shock therapy. But is there something wrong with the black mans brain?
Posted on: Mon, 21 Apr 2014 23:21:21 +0000
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