I was at an event recently where I sat beside the Governor of one of the states in the East of Nigeria. Someone talked about the fact that Nigerians in Diaspora constitute a huge force and could influence the future of Nigeria come 2011 election. The governor laughed out loud and said, “Mr. Kay that is a dream that we will not be actualised with this generation”.
I thought that was unfair and asked him why he made that statement, he responded in a very firm tone with a rhetorical statement “Is it not you people in London, can you raise £1000 today in London, look Mr. Kay, start calling people you have their numbers and tell them you want to raise £1000 for politics, most of them will stop taking your calls or tell you long stories about bills and tax”.
I was tempted to put my mobile on speaker phone and make a few calls to secure commitment from people that I want to raise £1000 as His Excellency the Governor said, but I allowed common sense to prevail and not react immediately. I told him, he was underestimating Nigerians in Diaspora and that his perspective on how Nigerians abroad behave and respond is based on the fact that a lot of people at home in Nigeria have a warped image of how easy it is to make money here in the UK and then expect us to spend lavishly.
But I knew in my heart that I was making excuses for a lot of brothers and sisters in diaspora. Yes we have challenges living abroad, yes the tax system here in the UK does not challenge Nigerians alone, but my friends who are consultants and executives also complain about the fact that you give almost half of your salary to government as tax once you go over a threshold. When my accountant does my tax return, I always wish I do not have to pay so much in tax, but I look around me and the necessities of life that the tax has contributed to making happen.
Let me not digress because I was unhappy with the Governors dismissal of Nigerians in Diaspora as people with limited or no passion for Nigeria beyond just complaining, whinging and groaning about thieving politicians who are not doing much to improve the lots of the country. But then, I also know that if you fail to put your money where your mouth is, you might as well be described as one speaking through the area of the body that never see sunshine, if you catch my drift.
This incident is less than a week old and an opportunity presented itself last night as I got a call that a Nigerian who has passion for politics in the UK is on the verge of being elected as Mayor of Southwark and will be sworn in this week. I was being myself when I made a few calls to spread the news that our friend and brother will become the first Nigerian Mayor in a Borough that is known to have a large population of Nigerians.
I made a couple of calls and asked that those who are living and running businesses in Southwark should join hands with me to put some money together for us to organise something for our Brother/Friend, to celebrate him, showing our appreciation of his tenacity and diligence. I am not asking that we give the Mayor money, the option was to arrange an event where he will be Guess of Honor and we all show support and encouragement.
Let me make a point clear here, I do not live in Southwark, I do not run business there, I have never gained anything in that borough or needed any assistance from the council, so definitely my intention, to the best of my knowledge is sincere and honourable and designed to show that our people do understand the power of unity in achieving purpose and influence.
Without going into a long story, the people I called said yes, its a sure thing for them, but we should get a handful of others so that the fund raised will be considerable and achieve something more worthwhile. Well, they made some calls and both of them came back this morning to complain about how our people never seem to see beyond their noses and yet expect to be people of influence.
No matter how many hours and days you spend in church and other religious environment, God will not come down to make you a person of influence and secure respectability for you. My Dad in his days used to talk about the fact that your heart and wealth are intertwined. If all you seek is money, you may never really be truly rich because money was never designed to be the end, rather, it is means to an end.
The lesson in this whole experience is that a random and unintended sample of people proved His Excellency the Governor right. I wonder if I say that I am interested in becoming chairman of a local government in Nigeria, state governor or senator, I guess the people that will be asked to support my ambition will be saying the same old thing that has kept a lot of our people outside the sphere of influence they would love to operate... “What will he do for me when he gets in there” or “why should I spend my money to support him?”
I have a penchant for not dwelling on a problem, I like to focus on solution, both at work and outside work environment, my passion is to be solution-driven in all my dealings. So what do we do about this and how do we see a solution implemented? I am sure a sizable number of people that would read this blog will fall into category of those that would do nothing when they are asked to put money into anything, apart from big owambe parties that enables them to show off the wealth they acquired from flashing credit cards that they are struggling to pay back.
OK Mr Kay, focus on solution now... J fine, I will, so here we go... a challenge to my facebook friends, show your colour and show your hands. I would like to collect a list of names of people that are happy to put their money where their mouth is, so step one, put a note below stating you will be happy to put your money where your mouth is in terms of influencing change in Nigeria. Step two, send your contact details to my inbox and I will discuss a project that I believe can influence or impact change in Nigeria. Step three, be ready to make your money work for you and secure that which you will not get unless you put something into it – as you know, where you invest nothing, you end up getting nothing, unless of course you are a thief, rogue and criminal J
Come to think of it, we talk about what is wrong with Nigeria so regularly and expect change, some people even go to church and pray for change, their Pastors and church leaders speak in tongues and others have their Alfas and Juju men chant to the oracles they believe in so that miracles or magic will happen.
There is no magic or miracle that will change Nigerian situation, we have to be the change we are praying and hoping for. We have to be able to put our time, our money, and our other resources on the table to enable positive things happen to our beloved country.
I am waiting to see the handwritings on my wall, I will not hold my breath in the hope that 100 will be inspired, rather I will hope that I have stirred something that could lead to something which can then lead to something... if you catch my drift or follow my roundabout way of saying what you already know... tee hee hee...
Anyway, this is no laughing matter, show your hand so I know who are the Nigerians inspired or aspiring to become people of influence in the shaping of the future of our nation.
