The Stone Thrown Returns to Shatter the Glass House

admin · The Stone Thrown Returns to Shatter the Glass House

The Stone Thrown Returns to Shatter the Glass House

Despite the fact that only a minute percentage of Nigerians perpetuate the fraud that has given Nigeria and Nigerians a bad name and a bad image, especially in business cycles, the impact continues to be felt worldwide. Despite the fact that in business Nigerians are not the most fraudulent, the media, especially the American media has gravely affected the ability of Nigeria and Nigerians to do business with their foreign counterparts worldwide.

It's a shame the racial profiling continues despite reports like this: Fraud: Visa Gives Nigeria Clean Bill http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/about313.html

We Nigerians are to blame because we generally don't speak up when misinformation, negative assumptions and generalizations are made about Nigeria and Nigerians as a whole. http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/forum92.php Besides we ourselves are our own worst enemies. We badmouth ourselves and our country publicly all the time (and the internet has definitely made this an easier task), forgetting that foreigners are observing us and watching how we denigrate our very own country and fellow citizens, then we wonder why others badmouth and blacklist us.

That is why it's easier to exploit us (we are a divisive people) and give us substandard services and products in exchange for our hard earned money. Regardless of whether it's used cars, planes, travel services, clothing, computers, electronic goods, vaccines, etc. http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/about12.html

Besides a considerable number of us prefer to remain perpetual consumers rather than producers and manufacturers, and even then, rather than patronizing our own, we manifest the colonial mentality of believing that everything imported (even the substandard and used products) are superior, just by virtue of the fact that they are imported.

Until we begin to change our mindset and our behaviour, no one is going to respect us individually or collectively as a nation. http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/about1494.html Each and everyone of us can choose to be an ambassador http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/about131.html We can continue to contribute to the detriment of our nation. The choice is ultimately ours. I have made mine. http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/about70.html

Cxsm
18th Nov. '05

© Cxsm 2005 All Rights Reserved

admin

Cxsm,

I really like your piece on this issue and admire your optimism about the future of Nigeria, I really pray for that too, for my beloved country. However, I have few questions for you:

Below you wrote,"Besides we ourselves are our own worst enemies. We badmouth ourselves and our country publicly all the time (and the internet has definitely made this an easier task), forgetting that foreigners are observing us and watching how we denigrate our very own country and fellow citizens, then we wonder why others badmouth and blacklist us."

So, what do you suggest we do if, indeed, some of those perceptions of us by others and us, are true? Are you saying that we should stop acting like they're not happening, seal our mouths and hope that they go away? Or, are you saying that we only discuss those image problems, as Nigerians, only in our dinner tables far from non-Nigerians and that, that will remedy them?

Is the image problem persisting because we talk about it or because they're persistently being done by some of us, to us and to non-Nigerians? Even if we seal our mouths and don't talk about it, while it goes on with Nigerians and non-Nigerians the victims, they non-Nigerians will talk about it, nonetheless right?

If we shut down all Nigerian Internet forums where such discussions take place among Nigerians, are we going to shut down the thousand other forums where non-Nigerian victims of these crimes will bring them up for discussion?

Shouldn't the attention be focused on encouraging those individual criminals to understand the damage they're doing to us and to stop, rather than blaming Nigerians who talk about their own experience of these criminals' victimization on them?

I have always thought that not saying anything about criminality and evil is an equivalent to accepting them, as normal and acceptable behavior.

Amechi
11/16/05

admin

Amechi,

Because of my field, I have significant experience in East and Southern Africa, and some in Francophone Africa (although you couldnt tell from my crappy French!)...Let me assure you that Nigeria isnt the only country facing these challenges.

I was talking to an IMF official who had been posted from the Lagos office to one of these ESARO (East and Southern African Region) countries. One that has a 'credible' reputation as a donor baby. He couldnt believe the ammount of fraud he met on ground, in spite of the fact that there is a total black out of negative info on this country. And I know for a fact it must be true - we are warned when we are travelling, in this particular country (as in many others in this region) not to carry credit cards, ATM cards, or cheque books on a day out on town.

I am in total agreement with what CXSM has said. Shouting up an down about the problem instead of actually sitting down to tackle it is not going to make matters better - only worse. We tend to be overly dramatic in our responses as a people. I think Nigerians should borrow a page from this region of Africa, and realize that the image we sell abroad, both indirect and direct, is going to affect how we are able to relate with the rest of the world.

Trutalk
11/18/05

admin · Tru Talked! Buda Atum 11/18/05

admin

Thanks Buda....

I remembered a story that I heard from a Naija couple that live close to a federal penitentiary, and actually have an African Prisoner's Support group to ensure that the prisoners are being treated right, starting from the time they are charged until they are convicted and beyond.

They get regular alerts about prisoners who are being charged, how serious the charges are, and who the defense counsel are, since they are a recognized charity group.

One day, they got information about a Nigerian fraudster who had been nabbed in the act...In their state, the details of the case were published endlessly in the newspapers. They felt ready to visit the accused, and did. He was still in jail, as he was unable to post bail.

When they got to the accused, eventually, they began to ask him a lot of quesitons about where he was from, where he grew up, where he had worked. At first glance, the information gelled. Then he began to make mistakes. And sweat. On the threat of being left to the mercy of the court alone, he 'fessed up. He wasnt Nigerian....He was a Ghanaian who had lived in Nigeira.

Oh why, then, ol' boy, did you say you were from Nigeria? Did you think you wouldnt be found out? Did you think your forged papers wont be discovered? His reply: Well, I thought it would help my case, because Nigeria is the country that people are really familiar with!

True story...Makes you think, doesnt it?

Trutalk
11/18/05

admin