When I was about 7 years old, during the Abacha regime, I became a self-identified human rights activist. I wrote letters of protest to newspaper houses against Abacha’s bid to transform into a civilian president, against his imprisonment of the TELL and TheNews journalists (among others), against the coup trial of Genersay Diya and Friends. I wanted to be like my heroes, the Gani Fawehinmis, Femi Falanas, Beko Ransom-Kuti, Olisa Agbakoba, Ayo Obe. But most importantly, I cared about the fear pervading society that felt more real than the air we breathed. The fear and the terror soldiers regularly visited on the Mushin, Lagos end I lived in.

Then Abacha died, democracy grew in and the activists all went to cash in. Became the oppression they said they were fighting. Except Gani. Doubt set in for me.

I got into college, barely 15, and idealistic. I expected the honest aluta solidarity I read about (often fatal but convinced solidarity). I met none. The student unions were all corrupt, their elections very violent, the practitioners/student politicians being mostly cultists.

I left school for youth service, and tried to work with a non-profit. Sore disappointment. These guys had a civil service mentality. They didn’t give a shit about those they were supposed to care for. They only chased grants and money. They had very efficient scams in place to dupe International donors. I ran.

I got a job immediately after youth service. Food manufacturing. The labor union was appalling. Interested in power, respect and performed only the responsibilities that promoted their self-interest. Nothing more.

I’m jaded when it comes to belief in the altruism of Nigerians and Nigerian institutions. And I have transformed from a staunch supporter of unions to a skeptic. I don’t trust them.

No one really cares here. Not even most churches (don’t know much about mosques but I won’t bet in favour). I lost faith in churches much earlier. A host of terrible experiences.

As to the intellectual, those fucks have consistently failed us here since Independence. They are a reprehensible class.

Thanks for your kind engagement! I really appreciate!