In popular parlance, wherever you turn, you hear: “Naija no dey carry last”. That’s the Nigerian’s way of self consolation, even self motivation. In whatever circumstance he finds himself, a Nigerian is supposed to come out tops, whether the playing field is level or not. It is that self assurance that other Africans mistake for arrogance. It is true that a Nigerian will not tolerate being treated as a second class being, but that’s all there is to his persona. The only problem is that Nigerians are ubiquitous. And that is not their fault. There’s plenty of them — 220 million-plus!
Whether abroad or at home, Nigerians keep an eagle eye on what their government is doing. They are not difficult to please, if one must be honest. Indeed, in most cases, what a Nigerian needs to excel is for the government to get out of his way! When I shared that view with one of Buhari’s ministers about four years ago, he thought it was blasphemous. He has since…