Youths of Nigeria, Citizens of Naija,
Inhabiter of a land so blessed but looks cursed,
Hearken to my joyful tidings
Of the Golden future time.

Soon or late the day is coming,
Tyrant rulers shall be o’er thrown,
And the fruitful fields of Nigeria
Shall be a blessing to us all.

Corruption shall vanish from our land,
Infant mortality shall be a thing of the past,
Democracy shall be a thing of beauty,
Our pride as a nation shall be restored.

Riches more than mind can picture,
Prosperity, good health, good infrastructure,
constant electricity, quality education,
Shall be ours upon that day.

Bright will shine the fields of Naija,
Purer shall its waters be,
Sweeter yet shall blow its breezes
On the day that sets us free.

For that day we all must labour,
Though we die before it break;
Men and women, young and old,
All must toil for freedom’s sake.

Our kids will forget what Up NEPA means,
Water shall flow when taps are opened,
We will have leaders, who truly lead,
In that time that comes so soon.

Youths of Nigeria, Citizens of Naija,
Inhabiter of a land so blessed,
Hearken to my joyful tidings
Of the Golden future time.

(Adapted from George Orwell’s Animal Farm – the anthem titled Beasts of England)

I was in JSS1 in 1991 when I first read the great book Animal Farm. I love the book so much that I have read it a lot of times. It is the story of a revolution. A simple illustration of how a subdued people can team up to achieve emancipation. It is a satire using animals to depict what actually happened in a real country.

This might be our last chance to defeat the cabal that has held us to ransom for a long time. People are angry but we must turn our anger to a positive force that would destroy evil and install good in our land. Enough is truly enough. All aspects of our nationhood is now a mockery and hope is fast fading.

But the question remains: Are we ready to do the rightful? Are we ready to chase out the idiots who have murdered a lot of our own. I speak for those who have died as a result of senseless road accidents caused by potholes? I speak for the mother who died at childbirth because our hospitals are moving mortuaries? I speak for the many that have died in the many barbaric ethnic and religious crises in our nation. I speak for the Nigerian child and youth whose futures are daily mortgaged in the favour of the foreign bank accounts of our moronic politicians.

Even if you are my relative and you have held a political post and as a result destroyed lives; I hereby disown you. Would every sensible Nigerian disown these idiots? Can’t you see they don’t care about us? If my dad and mom as much as vote for any of these idiots in the next general elections regardless of the fact that they are acquaintances in my LGA and State; I promise to go to the extreme and cut ties. Yes it has come to that, many of our parents are guilty of this wrong and they then wonder why many of their children don’t have jobs and are wasting away. They wonder why only 1.8% passed the last NECO examination. They should stop wondering and wake up to reality because they are part of the problem.

Same goes to every young person who will allow intimidation. The young person who won’t register for the Elections. The cowards who are going to sit at home on Election Day. The compromiser who will hurriedly leave the polling center even when he senses the ballot is going to be compromised. Never has there been a time when we can be so angry and justified than now. This might be our last chance to shut out the few who are destroying the rest of us.

It is just months to the elections but there are many things we can do. A few young people have shown example by marching to the National Assembly. The movement must continue and supported and it must not grow cold. We all have a duty to reach out to our communities and let them understand the need for freedom. It is possible! The 500 Naira used by the politrickcians can be rubbished when they are faced with the weight of the consequences of the stupid money.

Now back to the Animal Farm. The war was won by the animals. Farmer Jones and his staff were chased off Manor Farm. But the same comrade Napoleon who was part of the change became a tyrant himself. We know there are many with great resemblance to Napoleon but note that the time is up. There will be a spiritual dimension this time around. Be warned and go and watch Agogo Eewo by Tunde Kelani and you will understand. The bells of the gods will sound and the crooks will fall down and die. Nigeria, here comes your emancipation!

Going from the title of this post; I am sure you would think it is another bashing for Big Brother and other reality TV shows. But I am about to shock you because contrary to what you might think; there is really a good lesson that Africa can learn from these shows if we are ready to look inwards.
When I was growing up in Ibadan, there were various game shows on the first Television station in Africa- NTA Ibadan. The most popular of them was anchored by Yemi Ogunyemi, a very nice show called Embalaya (Eni ba laya) which literarily means Who Has The Guts? People came from far and wide to participate in this game show and won various gifts. What made the show stand out were the ingenuity and the wit of the presenter who also sometimes acted in various plays including the masterpiece from NTA Ibadan that made network service – KOKO CLOSE.
The kiddies were not left out of game shows even back then. I have forgotten the name of one presented by Toyin Adegbola (now known as ashewo to re Mecca). It was showing on BCOS Ibadan and I remember she was still married to the late sports presenter also with BCOS – Tony Adegbola. Other shows evolved later including one for the inner-city Ibadan people (Some call them razz, I don’t) called O’n rosy ni galaxy. Gboyega Lawal still presents this show on Galaxy TV in Ibadan (Touted as the first private TV in Nigeria). Yemi Ogunyemi went on to anchor Royco Ladun many years after Embalaya was rested.

Recently, the popular game shows in Nigeria are mostly those imported from other climes but that does not take the fun away from them. Today is not a bash on the dearth of local content even though I am tempted to go that route but that will be the theme for another day. Hence we have shows like Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, Don’t forget the lyrics, etc. The success of these games shows and the rise of the telecommunication industry in Africa prompted the owners of the brands of reality TV shows and some shrewd business people to focus on Africa. And thus, the Big Brother phenomenon, Idols, Dancing with the Stars, etc were all brought to Africa thanks mostly to MNET Africa.

You still don’t know where I am headed with this, but please relax and enjoy the ride. We all know that we are not a very inspired continent with the ways our political and economic climate remains far from being perfect. Reality TV shows have helped to douse tensions. One finishes and another starts. We are even clamouring for Season 2 of West African Idols. Many of us watch American Idols, South African and all other Idols from all over the world. Now I am about to get to the point.

The organisers of the shows make money from various means including adverts, endorsements and SMS revenues. I am interested in the last part and the reason for this post. Take Big Brother as a good example. The housemates nominate their fellow mates for eviction every week. The nominees are then left in the hands of the voting public to determine if they get evicted or remain in the house. I have been in the Telecoms industry for some time and it is mind boggling the amount of votes weekly from these shows. That is in one network alone meaning that the cumulative votes cast weekly in Nigeria only is massive. We are talking about several Millions of votes. Someone in just one network in Nigeria just reported making 20 Million dollars (not naira) in just 100 days from these premium SMS.

The revenue generated is not my main reason for this post but the massive amounts of votes cast. I am wondering if no one has linked this to our election system in Nigeria and other African countries. How would you feel if I tell you that more votes are cast weekly for big brother housemates in Nigeria than for our national elections? That is the bitter truth and the reality on ground. People find it easier to pick their phones and burn between 50-75 naira several times to save their favourite housemates. In fact, MNET was so pleased with the level of participation from Nigeria that it gave 3 slots to Nigeria for the current season. And it is a fact that the three of them are still in the house while other countries with 2 housemates have lost one or both housemates. Shows we are really keen on saving our compatriots, hmmmm. And we also even save people from other countries when our people are not up for eviction.

Two questions arise here. Is it that Nigerians think it is better to save our Big Brother housemates than in saving Nigeria? Or is this an indication that our electoral system has to wake up and embrace technology in voting? I guess it is for all of us to ponder and think about it. We can no longer sit down and think a miracle can save us. It is time to think and move forward by answering those two questions. The right to vote and be voted for are a fundamental right of human beings. Many died for that right in America and today, a black man is on top of the affairs in the White House. We have that right in Nigeria already but we don’t use it citing violence during elections, rigging etc as our excuses. But we all know that even when we don’t go out to vote, the nonentities are elected, they loot our treasuries and indirectly murder us via our bad roads, health facilities etc.
Out technology elite must also collaborate with the political minded ones to bring innovation to the voting process and push for legislations backing such. But meanwhile, the voters registration would soon commence and I hope you will not be found wanting.
God bless Nigeria, God bless Africa.