Dele Momodu
13 September 2007
column
Lagos — The more I read some of the reactions to my last week's column, The Mad Man At Charles De Gaulle, the more I get convinced that Nigeria is in desperate need of many brilliant literature teachers, and would even suggest to our beleaguered Ministry of Education that Literature be made compulsory at all levels in our educational system.
Before I go ahead to summarise the tonnes of e-mails and telephone calls I received, since it is practically impossible to publish all the verbiage, venom, praises and adulations, I wish to note that the level of discourse in Nigeria is abysmally low, and, usually, garnished with character assassination. We allow our personal frustrations to becloud reason, and everyone with a fat body such as mine is considered very rich, a friend of the thieves and looters and all what not.
My article was very simple and didn't require a dictionary. I ran into a mad Blackman at Charles De Gaulle Airport, in Paris, France, and employed a literary style to bring attention to the terrible state of illegal immigrants fleeing from the harsh conditions at home, but ending up with harsher conditions abroad. Many die in the process. many go mad, many do menial jobs far beneath their qualification. Some get deported on daily basis, and I meet them on most flights, and take time to discuss with them, and even help some through immigration when they land in Nigeria. Most of them always express regrets at thinking that paradise exists abroad, by wasting their hard-earned money in buying all manner of useless visas, and tickets,only to end up in a most dehumanising situation. The mad man was only a metaphor.
No where in that article did I say Nigerians should not migrate,or travel abroad.No where did I suggest that all Nigerians are fraudsters.No where did I say there are no Nigerians with good jobs, or that even the illegal immigrants don't "make it", in exceptional cases. And I wrote in very lucid English Language. It was a very serious subject that I treated in an easy-to-read style, and those who have ears should listen, and those who have eyes, should read. The job of a writer is to report reality, not to distort it. No amount of venom can change the fact that our youths are in great peril if they only insist on going abroad to seek fortune and good life.
"Macdonald from the University of Helsinki says: "Dele, I must confess that your piece is true.I had a pretty conversation with my German roommate and I was ashamed to know that blacks are "second class"citizens, who are(sic)peddlers in shopping malls in Berlin and other European cities. I have myself been(a) part of a difficult time and still do face one. But I do have a question for you,where does your magazine get its funding from?" I will answer all questions most frankly before the end of this article.
Bisi says he or she did not expect anything better from me, since I associate with those who have looted Nigeria, but did not elaborate on it, and believes that Ovation, my means of livelihood, and that of hundreds of Africans worldwide, should be scrapped. If he ever read Ovation, or any magazine for that matter, he would probably appreciate our efforts in creating a super brand, often described as the Hello of Africa, now published in English and French. He would have remembered the many African superstars we have celebrated, and the thought-provoking and inspiring interviews we published. I'm sure, he and his friends got carried away by the colourful pictures of the rich and famous.
Friday believes the "article is baseless, disrespectful and meaningless in the sense that it failed to offer any solution to the problems of emigration from Nigeria and the rest of Africa Mr Dele, why are you residing in Ghana, to begin with?" Good question. I live in Ghana and other countries as an investor, and not as a refugee.
Alex says, when he left Nigeria in 1994, it was a choice between committing suicide and 'fleeing'and he chose the second option."To every one mad man in Charles De Gaulle, there are thousands on the streets of Nigeria with no hope of rehabilitation because theirs are poverty induced insanity."
Emmanuel's response deserves special attention: "Dele, your write up was quite interesting, but it makes the un-informed think that all Africans or rather Nigerians who travel abroad,do so for the sole purpose of seeking "green pasture". There are Nigerians like me who left the country for the sole reason of change in scenery (sic).
"I was on leave of absence from Thisday newspapers and worked as a special Assistant to a Minister during Obasanjo's first term, before I chose to live in diaspora. Dele, I remember correctly you resided in London, did you or your wife arrive London with a resident permit? I am surprised that you would use the opportunity you have to castigate Nigerians in diaspora, and wash our dirty linen in public I have never seen an American journalist (sic) thrash his/her own people, the way you chose to thrash your own people."
Chyke says: "I do disagree with some of your statements and I can see your Nigerian reasoning. Please note that no job is demeaning. This is a mentality we take with us from Nigeria. Any job worth doing is worth doing well " How come you can accept certain jobs in London but feel ashamed of same in Nigeria?
Biodun asks "who can you blame? I think Dele Momodu has not done much to help the situation, i.e your magazine only (emphasis mine) celebrates those who embezzled Nigerians' money " Those embezzlers must include, if we believe Biodun, Mohammed Al Fayed of Harrods, Ahmadu Samba of The Gambia, Pastor Ashimolowo of KICC, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Ozwald Boateng, Ade Bakare and Adebayo Jones (our fashion icons), Chief Deinde Fernandez, Chief Bode Akindele, Alhaji Asoma Banda of Ghana, film star Akosua Busia, footballers Marc Fish, Nwankwo Kanu, Jay Jay Okocha and Shola Ameobi, scientist Frof Emeagwali, Angelique Kidjo, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Brenda Fassie, Richard Branson and so many distinguished personalities who have graced our beautiful pages. If we coverered events hosted by embezzlers, we did, just like other newspapers and magazines, and it is legitimate in journalism. We are a lifestyle magazine, and even newspapers have adopted our entertaining style.
Tope from Dublin sent these words: "Mr Momodu, your advice that Nigerian youths are better off staying at home in Nigeria rather than (sic) going abroad to turn into a madman at Charles De Gaulle Airport is well said but can you please explain to your teeming readers what are your own wife and 4 children doing in London for the past 10 years?"... My wife has spent her time well as a student, qualifying as a chartered accountant, doing her Master's, and will encourage her to do her Ph.d, by God's grace. My children are in school, and we are working hard from Africa to raise thie fees. Kindly pray for us.
Mobolaji from UK wrote this:"It is very nice reading from you and you abusing those of us living overseas. Though I will agree with you on some of the points you raised, I will never-the-less disagree with the majority of the useless points you raised. I will never support anyone to come either to the UK or any country abroad if they do not possess the necessary documentations as they may end up doing the wrong things as you said but may I say that you should channel your write-ups to the Government to provide jobs that will make us sit down at home as no one wants to become second class citizens in another man's country.
"I can remember when you arrived here in the UK,you had nothing to work with except you want to tell some ridiculous lies. It is the likes of Gbenga Olunloyo, Prince Aderemi, Ayo Togun, Bukky Arojojoye et al. that made the place comfortable for you. You equally arrived here as a refugee on the pretext that Abacha was after your life(sic) as if you were MKO Abiola or Bola Tinubu or Papa Enahoro "
Mobolaji went on and on and on,but space constraints wont allow me to publish the full ranting; and some benefactors he conjured for me I do not know at all.
I take solace in the fact that not all readers are jejune in their analysis.
I will give a few accounts of those who tried to depersonalise the issues raised in my article.
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